This One's For My Dad

So I was thinking about you yesterday and today Dad. Luke was popping at a car show in Wenatchee. They had approximately 300 restored cars there......you would have been in heaven right? The boys were loving it and kept talking about how much they thought Grandpa would like this car, or that car.
I don't know a single thing about cars but I told them about your GTO, so we went hunting through the masses to find one. We found a red 1964 (don't know what year yours was). Unfortunately my camera decided to stop working today and I didn't get a picture of it....but this one is pretty close to what it looked like.


The boys really wanted you to see that one and another that they thought you would like. It was a 1918 something or another (like I said, I don't know cars). Looked like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to me!

Anyway Dad, know that we were thinking about you as we looked at all these cool old cars. It really was fun! Maybe next year you can come up and look with us!
Love you!

A Little Camping Getaway

Last Sunday we headed up North to camp for a few days. We didn't bother to check the weather forecast because it NEVER rains here (right Tami?). We got about half way to our destination and it started to rain. It didn't stop at all! We hurried to get the tent up but it wasn't fast enough and it got wet inside and out and we couldn't get it dried out or stop the drips. Luke made a quick (hour and a half round trip drive) to a WalMart for some more tarps but that didn't help either!

The boys were tired, cold, wet and exhausted by 10 pm so we all piled into the Explorer with the dog and slept there. Not to much fun for the grown ups who only got an hour or so of sleep, but at least we were dry.

At 4:30 in the morning, because it's fully light outside by that time, we started packing things up and headed out. After a stop at home to regroup and repack, we headed back out for another try and a different spot where it wasn't supposed to rain.
It was gorgeous and we all had a great time!

Braden really wanted to whittle like his big brothers, but isn't quite ready to do it on his own yet.




Jacob would find sticks several times a day and whittle all the bark off, then throw them in the fire. The last morning, as I was washing dishes, he calmly looked up at me and said "Mom, I accidentally cut my finger".....more like, cut the tip of his finger off! He's tough, and it's healing nicely.

Our little 3 man dome tent that all 5 of us and the dog slept in because the other one had to be hung in the basement to dry out. When Samuel tired of playing in the dirt or fishing, he would take a break in the tent to read some Calvin and Hobbes to his stuffed tiger, appropriately named Hobbes.


We did some fishing on the Icicle River where we camped but I only got pictures of the day we went to Fish Lake. Or, as Luke now calls it "No Fish Lake" We didn't catch anything, but had a good time trying and playing in the water.


They look like pro's don't they?!


Samuel was determined to perfect his casting so he would cast and reel, cast and reel...never leaving the line out long enough for a fish to notice it. He got pretty good by the end of the day though.



There was a lot of playing in the dirt too. Samuel made an elaborate web of roads that went all the way around our camp site


Jacob and Braden would just dig big holes, bury things and then try to find them again.



Our first morning was pretty cold, but we warmed up with hot chocolate, weak camping coffee and pancakes.


It wouldn't be camping without Smores! Technically we aren't supposed to eat marshmallows because they have modified food starch in them, which sometimes contains gluten. But, we splurged this time and had a couple each night. I found a gluten free graham cracker recipe though and they were delicious! They tasted like the store bought kind, just a tiny bit thicker because I didn't roll them as thin. So yummy!
We are looking forward to our next camping trip and will be sure to check the weather next time!

A Gorgeous Hike and Three Tough Boys

Our family has really been enjoying the hikes around here and there are so many of them that we plan to tackle one long one every Monday through the summer.
Luke's sister was here for a short visit and being a hiking fan herself, was up for a little walk in the woods with us.
We packed a lunch and drove up river 35 miles. Our plan was to hike in and hang out at Mertyle Lake for a little while....snack, let the dog swim, and rest our legs before heading back out.
It was a 4 mile hike in to the lake and the boys did it without a complaint!

We got to the lake and were instantly swarmed by mosquitoes! So we ran and backtracked a quarter mile to the river to have our snack there. We were so intent on getting away from the thousands of mosquitoes that I did not get any pictures of the lake ( don't think Tami did either)....maybe next time!

Here are some shots that I did manage to take.




Zoe calmed down after several miles of pulling on the leash and the boys were thrilled to take turns walking her.

Samuel as our guide. He loves to be the leader and that boy did not slow AT ALL on the entire hike!

Snack and a few minutes of rest at the river before hiking back out to the car. It was a nice warm day.....notice the long sleeves and sweatshirts......just mosquito protection.


Even Braden walked most of the way. He was the curious one of the three, stopping to point out every flower he found, every ant on the ground and pick up every "walking stick" he passed by. With all of his little stops, he probably added 20 minutes on to our hike.


Like I said, he walked MOST of the way. He easily covered 6 miles on his own little legs!

Almost back to the trail head! Samuel was looking a little tired but that still didn't slow him down!

We three adults were so impressed with what these boys accomplished! To hike 4 miles in and 4 back out with hardly any rest time is amazing....and they did it in 5 hours! 8 miles in 5 hours! WOW! I'm so proud of them!
Funny thing is, today Luke and I are exhausted and a little sore......the boys.....not so much!

Moving On Up

Monday was a big and busy day for Jacob. It was his last day of school! He and his class mates got to enjoy slip and slide and swimming pools in the school yard along with a bbq for lunch! They had a lot of fun! The school field has a steep hill and they had the slip and slide running down the side of that hill. Wish I had gotten pictures because they made it look like a blast.

Then Monday night was his kindergarten graduation "ceremony".
We got to hear some songs they have been practicing and they even walked with caps and gowns (ok, maybe a little over the top when they still have 12 years of school ahead of them, but they looked cute anyway!).

This would make a cute series picture when paired with another cap and gown shot in 12 years don't you think?



Singing a few songs and waiting for their name to be called. Jacob is of course standing by his best friend in the whole wide world EVER....Kyle, to his left.