Squeezing it in

Summer isn't summer without at least a quick trip to Canada.  This year, we had to go without the girls because they had way too much going on.  So while they were at girls camp, Tyson, Summer and I headed up for a few days of fun.

We went to meet Ginny first, so we got to cross at the Peace Arch border.  This border reminds me so much of when I was a kid living in White Rock and crossing to go to our cabin in Washington.

We met Ginny and her kids at Crescent Beach where we hung out for about 5 hrs!!  We thought we better get out of the sun, so we went back to Gin's for dinner.  Whenever we are together, it's always hard to leave.  We could talk for days...

Vienna was so good with Summer.  I think she played with her the majority of the time we were at the beach and back at Ginny's house.

 We spent a great day at Hayward lake with cousins (despite the crazy amount of smoke from the fires burning in Canada).  I think the little kids could have stayed all day, but for us who didn't get in the icy cold water, it started getting a little hot.  

Staying with my parents is one of the highlights of going to Canada.  After the kids go to bed I get to visit with mom and dad and...this is what I get to wake up to!  I love that Peeta lives with mom and dad so I still get to see him.

Bowls of blueberries everywhere...definitely a scene from summer up in Canada.  Love it!

Ensign Ranch 2017

I have a friend who books a bunch of campsites at Ensign Ranch every summer and invites a bunch of us along.  We went last year and had a bunch of fun, so luckily we could go again this year.  With a slightly different/bigger group of friends, I think our kids had more fun this year.

As soon as we got out of the car, Summer put her foot down and was instantly covered in prickles.  She screamed like she was being murdered for about 10 minutes while we tried to get them out...after getting just one or two, we gave up and put shoes and socks on the rest of the time.  She didn't complain about them again.  Weird.  Summer and slivers...never ending.

 Ukulele seems to be the "in thing" this summer.  

 The boys set up their own tent as part of a scout requirement.  

Some of the kids drove about 20 min. away to go cliff jumping.  They had a great time and the pictures were so beautiful that I think we'll all have to go there next time.

 

Summer wouldn't eat anything at breakfast...except this bag of gummies.

The boys had to get kicked out at about 1 or 2 am--oops.

 

Everyone went horseback riding except Summer.  She got close to the horse and freaked out.

High Adventure 2017

Since we moved into Woodinville ward right at the beginning of the summer, I was a little worried that my girls wouldn't have any youth activities to allow them to bond with the girls in the ward until the fall.  Boy, was I wrong!  Not only did this ward have youth activities every week during the summer, but they also did their very own High Adventure.  What a great opportunity for my girls to go white water rafting, hike Mt St. Helens, and camp with the girls and leaders just in our ward.  They had so much fun!

We thought these next two looked like naked pictures...just life jackets and water shoes:)

Kya's face...hahaha!

 

 See that spec on the top left corner?  That's Jordan after falling out of the boat--eeek!

These girls of mine are so brave!!  I don't think you could have paid me to get on one of those boats.  Grateful that they have leaders willing to go with them on these daring adventures and keeping them safe!!

TREK

My kids were dreading trek.  Walking for days, dressed like pioneers, organized in families with people you didn't choose, without phones, or air conditioning, or tv...yeah, I can kinda see why they weren't too excited.  But when I picked them up, I was shocked to hear that they had a great time!  They had almost only positive things to say and made friends and memories that I think will be with them for a lifetime.  So grateful to be a member of a church that does things like this for their youth and for the leaders that make it happen.  Priceless experience.

JORDAN

 

KYA

Franklin Falls

Last year just after school got out, I took my kids on a hike to Wallace Falls....but I intended to take them to Franklin Falls.  Well, it took a whole year, but we finally got there--and it was amazing (besides the fact that my GPS took me to a random spot on the freeway and said I had arrived at my destination--haha)!!

Summer has learned from her siblings that posing for a picture is the worst thing EVER.  The older kids, know when to stop...she doesn't.

 Summer's hiking speed is S L O W, so I let the other kids walk ahead and Summer and I took a decade to walk the 1.5 miles BUT she walked almost the entire way.

 Franklin Falls was one of the few water falls I've been to where you can go right up to the bottom of the falls and even swim in you want to.  

It was so beautiful.

I didn't want to take off my shoes since I didn't bring a towel to dry them off before putting them back on, but I wish I could have put my feet in that crystal clear water.

Now we need to go back...with a towel and Mike:)

Kya Turns FOURTEEN

Kya has had her birthday at the lake for the past 2 years...this year was the only difference was that she had boys there too!!  A beautiful day at Waverly Beach Park, then home for cake and trampoline and a fire.  

Purple Ombre cake turned out cute!

We love you Kya, and hope you had a happy birthday.