Sucia Island State Park, WA
Jul 17th
On June 22-26th, we took our newly Scuba Certified Venturing Crew #206 up to the San Juan Islands for a week of exploring, boating, camping and Scuba Diving.
Two days before we left for the week our dishwasher died and the week or so before that, our computer blew up. So, in the three days before the high adventure, I had a pretty full plate rebuilding my home entertainment PC and purchasing and installing a new dishwasher so that my 7 month pregnant wife would not be left at home with 3 small kids, no easy entertainment or dishwashing service. The night before the trip, I did not sleep more than 35min.
Being exhausted, I took a nap in the forward cabin of our captain’s boat. When I awoke we were surrounded by fog. It was so dense we could see only 30 or 40 yards and only once saw a tug boat on our way north. Our capable captain navigated via compass and map right to where we wanted to go, even though he had to get out maps later to figure out how he did it.
Once on the island, the fun began. See the pictures. They are each worth a thousand words.
Testing out my skills.
Jul 16th
For a long time I have wanted to obtain portraits or pictures of Christ to give to each child to have as their own. My taste leans rather towards the old masters and I found a surprising lack of pictures available to buy at the church stores that I thought were pretty much staples. The old masterpieces having been replaced by, in my opinion, much inferior Kinkadesque versions.
This past week though I decided to try my hand at copying an old master painting in conte and pastels. The picture is my result, which I don’t think is too shabby after six years of only a handful of art projects. This is going to be Marie’s Christmas present and with luck I will draw another picture for Oliver before the baby is born. I have to be careful though, art is rather addictive.
Happy Independence Day!
Jul 6th
Despite rotten weather and sick kids we managed to enjoy our 4th of July with a yummy dinner and front row seats out our window of the fireworks in the cul-de-sac. The kids were rather excited and handled the fireworks better from the safety of their home. Peter requested to go to bed and once he was tucked in we took Marie and Oliver out to see the “Grizzly Bear” fireworks go off. Those are the really big ones that apparently roar like a bear. Any direction you looked you could see fireworks going off. It was the first time the kids experienced this phenomenon. We let Marie stay up until 11pm and she was so tired she couldn’t stop talking!
The next day was predicted to be cold and rainy again so Shane determined to take us over the mountains to Leavenworth for sunshine and warmth. The drive was worth the warm pine smell that greeted us when we stopped for lunch. We walked the vendors, showed the kids a taffy pulling machine, went to a nutcracker museum and basically enjoyed a break. But apparently the local add for 1st of July sales that stated, “It’s July 1st and summer’s almost here” was actually true since our week of sun has suddenly appeared to be this week and not forever in next weeks forecast. Click here to see more pictures.
Happy Father’s Day!
Jun 20th
This Father’s Day the kids had a fun gift to give Shane. A month previously the Primary had an activity where the kids decorated old ties for their fathers to wear on Father’s day. Marie be-jeweled her tie for Shane and Oliver glued miniature games and a kazoo for entertainment during sacrament meeting. Shane employed his great creative brain to figure out how to wear both ties today. He wore Oliver’s for the morning and sacrament. He wore Marie’s for the second half of church and home.
We are thankful to have such a great Dad at our house and for the great Dad’s that helped us become who we are! I firmly believe that our relationships with our fathers can help or hinder our relationship with our Heavenly Father. I am so thankful for righteous fathers that set foundations of righteous living and healthy relationships with the most important being to have a good relationship with, our Heavenly Father.
Out Camping In Winthrop.
Jun 6th
The fun of our family camp out started Memorial Day weekend with pouring rain and highs well below 60 degrees. Honestly we were so depressed that we considered calling off the camp out and flying somewhere, anywhere but here. Shane even made me a batch of PA sticky buns for one breakfast to cheer me up. Thankfully ticket prices were not in our favor and we spent all of Tuesday getting ready for our camp out post Memorial Day rush as we had planned many months ago. Wednesday after lunch we started out over the mountains to Winthrop and it was raining hard even after we got over the mountains, but things cleared up and although it wasn’t as warm as usual it wasn’t raining! Thanking Heavenly Father at our evening prayers we slept pretty well and woke up to a beautiful day. The kids could not get enough playing with Daddy in. We went for an adventurous bike ride around the lake, swam, read books together and ate ice cream. It was nice to just be together and play.
Friday started out pretty miserable with a cold morning and lots of rain, but we made the best of it with hot oatmeal and warmed peaches. Then we went for a drive. The kids slept as we climbed higher in the mountains, we were planning on going in a loop. It got a lot cloudier and then we hit a huge burnt out section of forest. Snow began to appear on the ground and then finally the dirt road so we turned around. I can’t describe how desolate it looked and the sight impressed the kids who woke up. When we got back to camp the clouds had broken up and the wind had dried everything so it was off for more fun in and by the lake. We ate out for dinner and enjoyed a windy evening reading new books and flying kites. Saturday was sunny and everyone slept in. After we dried everything out and packed up camp we had a picnic lunch and one more swim.
The drive home was beautiful and uneventful…except for the van sized boulder in the middle of the road. The kids were so helpful unpacking when we got home I went out and got them root beer floats. As Marie was tucked into bed that night she told me, “Mom it’s nice to go camping sometimes, but it’s also nice to be home.” Click here to see the MANY more photos and details of our wonderful trip.
Oliver’s Birthday Fun!
May 25th
We had a lot of fun for Oliver’s birthday. Shane headed off to work and I put aside all my chores to read with the kids. Then because it was sunny out we went for a long walk and visited all three parks in our area. After lunch Daddy got home and the playing and screaming commenced once they realized he wasn’t going back to work. Late in the day I asked what Oliver wanted for his dinner. “Pizza!” he replied. So they watched Transformers (the cartoon) while I made pizza’s up. After dinner we opened presents and ate Oliver’s much anticipated cake. He already knows what he wants for next year. We will see how long that lasts. We all told Oliver what we like about him and then the kids played with the new toys while Shane and I relaxed. There is something about little family parties that are so relaxing and fun. To top off the day the kids took their squirt guns to bath time. We are so happy Oliver is part of our family. Click here for more pictures.
The end of the rainbow.
May 23rd
Shane took this shot one day right when he got home from work. Ironically the house itself is the money pit at the end of the rainbow, but the people that live in it are definitely the gold. After all who wouldn’t enjoy people comfortable wearing these sunglasses. 
Homeschooling at our house.
May 21st
We have been working into a “school” schedule at our house so when the baby comes we already have something going and can take a break of sorts until we normalize out. In fact it has been so gradual that Marie didn’t even know she was doing “school” until she told me that she wanted to go to school after a friend of a few days told her it was better. Over dinner I explained to her that all the reading lessons, books read, time outside to play and fun projects were her school. She was surprised! I have uploaded some pictures of our projects so anyone interested can see some of the things we are doing at our house.
The new “Sandbox”
May 16th
T
he debate has been waging at our house about what to do with our back yard play area. We got rid of the old sand box and didn’t want to put down wood chips again since the kids get slivers from them. The kids gave us their own opinion by playing in the pile of sand left from the sandbox for hours. It seems that a pile of sand without boundaries is WAY more fun. So after checking out other play equipment Shane simply went to Lowes and bought 24 fifty pound bags of sand. We raked the old wood chips to the side, laid down ground cloth and whala! the kids personal beach. We are now one of THE most popular houses on the block. We will be getting the kids their own little table soon with an umbrella and they will be set. Click here for more pictures
Mother’s Day
May 15th
We have been really busy at our house so these pictures are late. My mothers day started Friday when Shane came home with a bench for the front yard and a beautiful Japanese maple for the back yard.
On Saturday Marie and I spent some girl time shopping for flowers to finally finish filling in our landscaping. The rest of the day was spent planting and playing. It took all day but I would say the garden is done! When the day was done the kids had so much fun they wanted to see pictures, but we hadn’t pulled out the camera. Marie told me we need to take pictures of special days. Since we won’t be going many places this year I have made a note of that for the future.
Sunday Marie and I wore matching wrist corsages. I have never seen her be so reverent during church in my life. It was cute. Shane had no meetings and it was so nice to have him help me get ready to go. It was a beautiful day and I am so grateful for my mother!
Recent Comments