Presidential Cookie Contest

Spoiler Alert....Do not read this blog post if you don't want to know who will win this year's Presidential election. Oliver and Grammy did a little project a couple weeks ago and the results are in. Over the last 5 or 6 elections, the first ladies have had a cookie bake off. The winner of the cookie bake off's husband has become the President in all but one election, so Oliver and Karen put these results to the test.

Oliver and Ruby getting ready to start the cooking making

Mrs Obama's cookies included chocolate mints so Oliver is unwrapping them in this picture. I wonder how many found his mouth instead of the bowl?

Here he is mixing up the oatmeal that was in Mrs Romney's cookie

Fresh out of the oven...smells good!

The next step was to divide a couple cookies into separate baggies to hand out to people so that they can taste test.

In each baggie was the instructions and survey - here is O cutting the surveys to include with the cookies.

The contest board when the cookies started being distributed...

And the winner is...Mrs Obama. Great job Oliver for seeing this one through and thanks Karen for the great activity...oh and the yummy cookies!

Oliver turned 4!

What do dinosaurs and water slides have in common? How about Oliver's 4th Birthday! We had a few of his friends over on his birthday for some fun on the slide - check it out below:

Avery, Oliver, and Gavin at the top of the slide planning their way down...yeah, the slide was 2 stories high!

Cousin Julia joining in the fun

Oliver's friend Liney after a successful trip down the slide!

Oliver in action

And super excited after the trip down!

Hayden showing off his dino mask

Kelly went above and beyond once again on a birthday cake...check out the cool dino cake

The kids had no problem devouring that art of a cake

Last year it was trains...this year it was dinos.

Ruby and Hayden warming up from the cold water with a bit of swinging

Shana and Taylor getting their swing on


Cousin Nicole experiencing what it's like if you stand too close to the slide when someone hits the pool full speed!

Happy Birthday Oliver! He's already requesting a water slide birthday again next year.

Ruby is 10 months old!!!

Ruby turned 10 months old in July. She is getting so big, so active, and so smiley.

In action - one of the one clear shots with the 10 months sign

Smiling for the camera!

So cute

Laid back kickin it

And of course Oliver had to get in the photo shoot for a quick shot

July photos

July included a lot of fun adventures for the Stevens family. Here are a few caught on the phone camera:

Honey bees...with the garden in the backyard going strong, we had thoughts about keeping this bee swarm and starting to make honey, but decided to call in the expert and someone who could add these bees to their current swarm.

Here is the masked man collecting the bees

Really cool to watch him put the bees in the box and take home...better latch that one tight so it doesn't tip over in the car

Oliver taking a break from a ride on the waterfront to climb on the statues

Ruby chillin in the swing at home enjoying a sunny day!

We hit St Edwards park for a hike a few weeks ago. Great family shot...although Bogey didn't quite make it in the photo

Ruby was all smiles on the hike

Oliver showing off his muscles during snack break down to by the river...he is tougher than a T-Rex!

Great snack spot!

What fun...

Oliver testing out dad's bike after solid cheering at the Lake Stevens 1/2 Ironman.

Someone got on top of the car to help put the bike racks on...

Avery, Oliver, Gavin, and Hayden hanging at Red Robin...I'm sure they were super quiet

Ruby is definitely getting more mobile and loves to climb up slides

The swing set is getting some great use now that the weather is getting better!

Showing off those teeth

Someone follows in his dad's footsteps for favorite treats

Learning the game of Battleship

Ruby at the adventure park

Oliver joined Gavin and Avery at the park - they were hunting for something

The new fire pit in full use with the Johnson, Leptich, and Kruse family

Ruby and Kruser relaxing and talking training

Bogey is amazing with the kiddos. Here Ruby is pulling on her leg and hair

Giving a sniff and lick right back to Ruby

What's this?