Tiger Mountain Adventure

I woke up on a cool August morning and got the bright idea of going on a hike a few days before school started. It just felt like a hiking kind of day. I remembered going on a family walk at Tiger Mountain several years ago so I convinced Rebecca to come along and we jumped in our vans and headed out.
When we got there I couldn't quite tell where we had walked before so we asked a fellow hiker which way to go. He suggested a 1.5 mile loop and pointed in the direction to start. We headed out without a second thought.
I don't think we passed a single hiker even though the parking lot was packed.

Bradley had to drop large rocks downwaterfalls.

Rebecca was more prepared with a two backpacks...one for kids and one with a first aid kit, water, food, and an emergency whistle that the boys used so they could go ahead.

Paige used the first aid kit.

We had weeping and wailing along the trail...that kept going and going. We finally got to a road, but didn't know which way to go....we chose one path and walked for about 1/2 a mile and finally turned around. Then we went the other way for several hundred yards and didn't feel right about that way either. We could use our cell phones to make calls, but didn't know where to tell anyone we were so they could help us!

Finally we decided that they only sure way back was to turn around and go the way we came. So the exhausted kids and moms had to buck up and make it back. Well, we walked and walked and finally made it back. After 3 hours of straight walking the girls ended on a good note holding hands...

Later that afternoon I looked online and mapped out that we (including Paige...still 2) walked 5 miles!

Closing the summer at Coulon

An afternoon at the beach and park. Dig, dig, digging

None of the boys would join Tyson, so he took the swimming test and enjoyed with diving boards on his own.

Sydney, Kate, and Susie

Rocking on the giant playground.

Teeter-totter.

It was so nice I told Rebecca I wanted to trade my house in for a condo and boat on the water. With a giant park, great beach and a dock nearby it sounded great to me.

Camping Fun at Ensign Ranch

We had 3 days filled with fun at Ensign Ranch with the Gealtas, Ellsworths, and Humphreys. Many canoe rides..

Including one where Bradley got stuck in the lake in a canoe by himself and I was in a canoe with 3 kids...that was interesting trying to toe him in against the lake current.

We sailed off the rope swing, including me!, despite the warnings of the leech filled lake...sure enough several of the kids ended up with them on their legs...gross.

One of my favorite shots...diehard watersliders heading in for a wet ride.

The girls went on pony rides

while the boys practiced lasso-ing. We also went on a group hayride complete with camp songs.

We got to go rock wall climbing. Paige waited so patiently while all 12 kids and few adults climbed and she still wanted a turn. They let her go and she made it pretty far, giggling all the way.

There was also a ropes course that the men did with the kids. Working together as a team, they did several fun activities.

The 5 boys got to spend the night on an island in a large tee-pee. They biked all of their supplies over (using a bridge) and camped out for the night. The moms went to check on them and were more scared than the boys!

The girls got cute Rebecca hairdos. Running in the dirt and eating smores were favorites.

BFF Up and down the slip n slide we went, eventually making trains and riding on laps and backs to enhance the fun.

Goodbye Hanbys

The Hanby family moved to Spokane. We had a nice evening and the park to say goodbye.

Renton River Days Celebs

Bradley, Kate, Paige, and I headed off to Renton River Days on our own while Rick and Tyson were at Scout Camp. We ended up being interviewed by the Renton Reporter and had a picture with a few quotes written up. I never saw a hard copy, but was able to look the article up online. We went on bouncy houses, crafted fancy headbands, tried the hamster ball,petting zoo, and many other fun booths. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon.

2011 Youth Pioneer Trek

Rick and I were priviledged to be able to be 'Ma and Pa' to 9 youth during a 3 day Trek in southern WA. We met up with the group of youth from Kent at the Columbia River Temple on Wed afternoon. We headed to the site near Hermiston, WA and met our new children. We started treking and went about 3.5 miles the first afternoon in about 100 degree weather; that is decked out in pioneer clothing.
We slept in a tent, while the youth slept under the stars. The next day we went several more miles, but had to change our course because of 35-40 mi/hr winds. It helped with the heat and the bugs, but not the dust in the face or the ability to talk to each other well. We continued on the next day and made it to Zion (pictured below) after about 5 miles that day. It felt sooo good to toss our shoes off and run with bare feet in the grass. We enjoyed having our hair washed and the shade of the trees that night. As well and good food and dancing.
We had an awesome group of kids and ended up with even a few others 'joining' us. Many firesides and reinactments helped us really come closer and appreciate the pioneers and what they did for us. Despite many other adults warning us about how hard it would be, we loved every minute and would do it again.

Summer Swimming

Our annual trip to Tri-Cities for summer fun and swimming came to fruition. Kate started out with water wings and ended up jumping off the diving board and swimming to the side all by herself, and she does a mean dive off the side of the pool.

Paige refused to swim with her boy teacher for the first week, but gave in towards the end. But she loved with water and would swim all afternoon.

4th of July was celebrated on the Columbia River. We took the seats out of the van for a nice comfy seat, while the boys had their fun sitting on top of the van. Rick got a ride over and joined us the next day, Sunday evening.

Baby Josh got blessed on Sunday.

One of my favorite summer photos. Cousins at Leslie Grove Park, visiting with friends.

Tyson joined the swim team and had his first meet at the Racquet Club, my former employer..(just a few years back ;).

Tyson and I got to do baptisms for the dead with my parents since they work in the baptistry. It was his first time, since he just turned twelve. The interesting part was that it was in Spanish!

The girls got treated Monkey Dooz..so fun. Hair washing, cut in a barbie car with a movie, hairstyle, sparkles, balloons, and candy!

"Mom, I think you're getting confused!"

Well, I did just have a birthday, but I didn't expect to have that phrase pronouced quite yet. Kate braided my hair today and I said "Kate, how did you learn how to braid? I didn't teach you that. In fact, I didn't teach you how to tie shoes either. I'm missing out teaching you these things, where did you learn them." To which the comment came..."Yes you did, Mom, I think you're getting confused."
I guess she's a quick learner and my brief explanations (that I barely remember) worked! Or maybe I am becoming senile in my young age!