Church Camp 2010

Sunday - Wednesday, 8/1-4/10

Mayfield Lake

It was an even better time this year because we were camping with our friends this year, where last year we were just getting to know all of them. It really is a special way to get to know your church family better.

Lasts year we followed Zach around and around the loop on his bike and this year we let him run pretty free. Though in the first half hr he had already scrapped his elbows running down a big hill. Thankfully we he had no more injuries after that.

Elissa loves church camp. The freedom she has and the sheer number of people to talk to, can't be beat. LOL! We would track her down every now and then and there was no telling which campsite she would be at. Sometimes playing with the other kids. Sometimes - usually at meal time - at her babysitter's camp. Rachel's parents love her. :-) And one night she had brought our little camping neighbor girl, Ella, to the evening sing-a-long. Elissa whispered to people that Ella doesn't go to church. It was a little too much for Ella and she wanted to leave soon after, but came back around for ice cream.

We thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with our friends and getting to know others better.

Here are a few of my favorite photos.

A little fishing....

Rob, Elissa, Emily, Tommy, John, Perry & Payton

A little beach time....

Tyler and Zach rowing around.

The Sutherland's gave several of the kids a ride on their banana. This was definitely a hit! Especially when they all fell off during the ride. Elissa thought it was awesome!

Darin and Zach are waiting for their turn to ride a jet ski. Zach wouldn't let Darin rest until he took him on a ride.

John and Tyler got their ride in first.

Zach doesn't look very excited here, but he is bursting with excitement inside. He LOVED it! He had Darin take him on another ride the next day.

Here is Zach giving Pastor Tim five after that awesome ride!

Here is the banana the kids were being pulled on. It was fun to play on in the swimming area too. Also they had tons of fun on it at the Sutherland's campsite. They used it like a bouncy toy.

Around camp......

When we came back Zach zonked out while waiting to talk to Papa. Tired boy!

Rick showed Perry & Darin how to play this game. They had fun playing and Zach decided he really wanted to play too. Any game where he gets to throw things. :-) We are going to have to get it, whatever it is called.

Another great year!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Friday, 7-30-10

We love you very much!!

U

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of you on your special day.

We had a fun time celebrating your day!

We wish you a blessed year!

Darin's New Ride!

Saturday, 7-31-10

We didn't intend this morning to get up and buy a new truck, but that's what ended up happening.

Darin has been looking to trade in his small truck and our Tahoe for a big truck to pull our trailer. Eventually we want to go to a truck/camper/boat combo for camping. This is step 1.

Darin found a 2008 Ford 1 ton short bed with only 9k miles in Kent for a great price, so he decided to go down and look at it. It was a nice truck, so I brought the Tahoe down with the kids (after trying both our babysitters to see if they could come over at the last minute - no luck).

While I was coming down, Darin was looking around the lot and found a couple of 2010 3/4 ton long beds for just 4k more, soooooo when I got there we compared the used to the new and of course the new won out! :-)

While Darin did all the haggling and paperwork, I took the kids to Kent Station and we had Coldstone ice cream and ran around and then had some impromptu time at the sprinkler park.

 (I bought Elissa some clothes at the thrift store so she would have some dry clothes)

The we came back to turn in the small truck and pick up our new truck.

They are getting Darin's truck all cleaned up and shiny!

Look at all the room the kids have. Love it!

It was a l-o-n-g day, but so worth it for Darin to get his new ride!

I told you there was snow!

Saturday, 7-24-10

It was a beautiful morning, so we decided to go on a little family hike.

Darin told Zach that we were going to go to Mt. Rainier and Zach said "but there is snow there!" Darin told him that we wouldn't be going up high enough to be in the snow. Zach told him to look at the mountain and that he would see the snow. :-)

Well, Zach was right. There was snow everywhere! It was warm and beautiful and LOTS of snow!

We drove up the mountain to Tipsoo Lake. It really wasn't a "hike". Just traipsing through the snow around the lake with beautiful views and really warm weather. It was perfect for our little ones. :-)

The kids loved throwing snowballs at us.

Elissa found this natural spring. It was so weird to see this water just bubbling up from the ground.

Elissa is getting tired now and is taking a rest.

You can't ask for a more beautiful back drop then this.

On our way back down.

I love this pic because it shows Elissa shying away from going down this somewhat steep snowy hill and Zach putting his hands behind his back because he doesn't think he needs Dad's hand to get down.

Views on the drive back down.

The kids taking a nap as Mt. Rainier gets farther away.

We ended our adventure at Wally's Drive-In in Buckley for a late lunch. Yum, Yum!!

It was really cool having a new adventure with the kids!

Gigi and Her Little Ducklings

Friday, 7-16-10

The kids and I got to take care of Gigi last weekend while Grandma and Papa went and had some fun in Coeur d'Alene with their friends.

While they were boating, the kids were following Gigi around the culdesac and riding bikes. It was really funny. Gigi was set on her path and getting her walk in. The kids would try to talk to her and ask her questions, but she would barely look back at them to try and figure out what they were saying. She is so set in her routine that it is hard for her to come out of it. The kids didn't mind. They just kept on following her around. :-)

I'm sure Gigi is thinking here....why do these little kids keep following me?

We had a nice time.

Splish, Splash!

Here is our summer fun for today! :-)

The kids rigged up this water slide. The pool got a little fuller then I planned.

She was a bit scared to go down first, but then she got brave.

Now it's Zach's turn. He is afraid too!

But down he goes!

And now he is saying, "That was so awesome!"

We hope you are enjoying the summer too!!