Friday, September 12, 2014
School Is Here
Another school year has begun, ready or not....
Kylene, Fourth Grade, Mrs. Eileen Ayersman
Skyler, Kindergarten, at home with me!
Spencer, Second Grade, Mrs. Michelle Hennessy
Kylene and Andon; he is showing off his new favorite face for photos.
The joys of my life, stair-step order. I keep telling them to stop growing, but they don't seem to be listening.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
The Rest of August---Sad to See the Summer End
We finished summer with a bang! So much fun in a short period of time.
On Saturday, August 23, we threw a surprise 40th birthday party for my dear friend, Sara Edge. We actually pulled off the surprise! Her husband, Mark, took the family to the first Eastern Washington football game while Julie Dumlao and I went over and decorated and welcomed people as they arrived. She was very curious when she pulled into her long driveway full of cars! Surprise! It was a great time.
The next Tuesday we left on our final family vacation of the summer. Besides our trip to Oregon, our only one, actually. I was really stressed about leaving in the middle of all the yard work, end of summer things to accomplish, getting ready for school, etc., but we had planned it at least nine months ago with the Brown and Bybee families (Beth and Memory), so ready or not, we were going. And I'm SO glad we did. It was a complete blast and just what we all needed!
We left Tuesday and headed to Seattle with Kyle. He needed to go visit a couple of accounts out that direction, so we decided to go a day early with him. We stopped at some neat viewpoints to see the Washington Gorge (beautiful country), and loved the drive through Snoqualmie Pass into Seattle. We then made a brief stop at the Seattle Temple and enjoyed walking around the grounds. We got a little goofy trying to mimic the different family statues. It was a beautiful day.
We stayed at a hotel about a block away from the Puget Sound waterfront in Lynnwood (north of Seattle). We booked two hotel rooms--one with Kyle's business account, and one personal, then asked them to put us in a room which was connected. Of course, they didn't. Then I realized that Kyle would be gone half the night. (He was mainly going to Seattle to visit an account that was installing a brand new kiosk in a mall; they can only install kiosks while the mall is closed, so he was there from about 10 p.m. till 2 a.m.) My children are still too young for me to feel comfortable leaving them in a hotel room by themselves. So....the kids and I got a room and Kyle got his own. So much for the first night of togetherness:). I got to sleep in the same bed as Skyler, though, so at least we got to be close:). We went swimming at the pool, pigged out at their free breakfast, and walked around the pier and boardwalk along the Puget Sound while we waited for Kyle to get done working the next morning. So, it wasn't totally spoiled after all.
Then we headed back to the East. We drove through downtown and saw the Space Needle and experienced too much of Seattle traffic. Then we stopped and got food for a picnic and drove to Snoqualmie Falls and ate and walked around there for a little bit. (The picture on the bottom left is from the Washington Columbia River Gorge.)
Then we headed to Ensign Ranch for the real start of our vacation! Ensign Ranch is in Cle Elum, Washington, just east of the Cascades. It is a beautiful, huge ranch owned by the LDS Church with all kinds of neat amenities: horse back riding, lake, river, fishing, canoes, rope swing, a huge slip-and-slide, hiking, cabins, teepees, tent camping, playground, etc. We rented the "rustic" family cabins for only $35/night. It has electricity, beds for four, a huge loft area, fridge, microwave, picnic tables with fire pit, etc. We each had our own family cabin close to one another, but we mainly hung out at Beth's cabin/campfire area, and took turns doing the meals, which was super nice. We had a campfire with s'mores each night and the kids played games in the dark, we sang a few songs, told hilarious stories (that didn't always make sense, but who cares?) and laughed a lot. It was sooo fun and so incredible to me that there I was 20 years later with my two best friends from high school and their sweet families. Good times for sure.
Each of my kiddos got to do a led horse ride around the corral for 20 minutes (for only $3!). They loved it. Kylene is hoping she gains 10 pounds in the next year, so she can go on the trail ride next year. (You have to be at least 70 pounds to do the trail rides.) The mommies and teenaged girls all went on the hour long trail ride (for only $15!). It was beautiful riding through the woods, crossing a river, and trotting a bit. I really wish I were more comfortable with horses; they are so beautiful and I love any chance I get to ride one.
We went canoeing a couple of times on the little Crabtree Lake. We even had a race; Kyle's "boys" canoe won, not surprisingly.:) It was very picturesque.
And, here are a few pictures from the hit of the trip: the giant slip-and-slide. It was sheer laughter and smiles. You can go down on your bottom or tummy, but it is better with one of the inner tubes. We went every way we could imagine: by ourselves on tummy and back, with a buddy (Andon was my buddy), in a train, and spinning. Kyle spent at least 30 minutes one day swinging people like a pendulum, then letting go and sending them spinning down the slide. I don't usually like spinning, but I loved this! I sat at the bottom and just laughed and laughed. Beth and I went down once together (one of us holding on to the others feet), and we fell off our tubes at the bottom laughing hysterically for about five minutes. I haven't laughed this hard in a very long time. It was very good for my heart. The kids loved every minute of it.
We stayed there Wednesday through Friday morning. Then we drove right outside Ensign Ranch and stopped along the Yakima River to have a picnic lunch and try our hand at a little fishing. No success, but in the trying, I suppose. The kids loved practicing their casting and playing in the water. It was special family time.
Our final stop on the trip was the Grand Coulee Dam. It was "on the way home", or so we thought. We were supposed to meet the Edges and Arbogasts there at 4:30 to do the final tour of the day at 5:00. But, things didn't quite go as planned:).
Kyle wanted to take the scenic route through Wenatchee, which was beautiful country. The only problem was my not-so-fine navigating skills. My phone had no service and his was dying (with no car charger), and we missed a very critical turn. We thought we were going the right way just because we were still following the Columbia River. We realized it when we had gone 30 miles past the correct turn! We made a fast u-turn, turned his phone back on to see if there was another route, and quickly took that one. We sped across amazing high-country farmlands with the most interesting rock formations, and arrived at the Dam at 4:58! Only problem, it turned out we were at the WRONG Visitors' Center. Oops! After all that, we still missed the tour, but it turned out the best part of the tour is closed for 11 years (!I know! They are replacing the turbines.), so we didn't miss much anyway. We met up with the Edges and enjoyed the Visitors' Center and a couple of movies about the history of the Dam, then went to dinner at a little local pizza place, then headed back to the Dam for the laser light show. We made hot cocoa on our little gas camp stove for everyone enjoy while we waited (not because we were that cold; mostly because it was fun!), then watched the show and headed home. We got back home at midnight, exhausted but full of fabulous memories. It was so fun being at the Dam with friends, too. We had a great time visiting and the kids loved being together.
Everything about the Grand Coulee Dam is fascinating to me. Just its' size and the remarkable engineering feat it was at the time it was built is neat. But the difference it has made to the Washington economy, and the millions of acres of land which it irrigates and provides sustainable agriculture for is fascinating to me. I look forward to going again, especially when the glass elevator is re-opened and I can go down into the dam and see the turbines.
Anyway, that was a long post, but suffice it to say, we had a great vacation and time with dear friends the last week before school started!!
On Saturday, August 23, we threw a surprise 40th birthday party for my dear friend, Sara Edge. We actually pulled off the surprise! Her husband, Mark, took the family to the first Eastern Washington football game while Julie Dumlao and I went over and decorated and welcomed people as they arrived. She was very curious when she pulled into her long driveway full of cars! Surprise! It was a great time.
We left Tuesday and headed to Seattle with Kyle. He needed to go visit a couple of accounts out that direction, so we decided to go a day early with him. We stopped at some neat viewpoints to see the Washington Gorge (beautiful country), and loved the drive through Snoqualmie Pass into Seattle. We then made a brief stop at the Seattle Temple and enjoyed walking around the grounds. We got a little goofy trying to mimic the different family statues. It was a beautiful day.
We stayed at a hotel about a block away from the Puget Sound waterfront in Lynnwood (north of Seattle). We booked two hotel rooms--one with Kyle's business account, and one personal, then asked them to put us in a room which was connected. Of course, they didn't. Then I realized that Kyle would be gone half the night. (He was mainly going to Seattle to visit an account that was installing a brand new kiosk in a mall; they can only install kiosks while the mall is closed, so he was there from about 10 p.m. till 2 a.m.) My children are still too young for me to feel comfortable leaving them in a hotel room by themselves. So....the kids and I got a room and Kyle got his own. So much for the first night of togetherness:). I got to sleep in the same bed as Skyler, though, so at least we got to be close:). We went swimming at the pool, pigged out at their free breakfast, and walked around the pier and boardwalk along the Puget Sound while we waited for Kyle to get done working the next morning. So, it wasn't totally spoiled after all.
Then we headed back to the East. We drove through downtown and saw the Space Needle and experienced too much of Seattle traffic. Then we stopped and got food for a picnic and drove to Snoqualmie Falls and ate and walked around there for a little bit. (The picture on the bottom left is from the Washington Columbia River Gorge.)
Then we headed to Ensign Ranch for the real start of our vacation! Ensign Ranch is in Cle Elum, Washington, just east of the Cascades. It is a beautiful, huge ranch owned by the LDS Church with all kinds of neat amenities: horse back riding, lake, river, fishing, canoes, rope swing, a huge slip-and-slide, hiking, cabins, teepees, tent camping, playground, etc. We rented the "rustic" family cabins for only $35/night. It has electricity, beds for four, a huge loft area, fridge, microwave, picnic tables with fire pit, etc. We each had our own family cabin close to one another, but we mainly hung out at Beth's cabin/campfire area, and took turns doing the meals, which was super nice. We had a campfire with s'mores each night and the kids played games in the dark, we sang a few songs, told hilarious stories (that didn't always make sense, but who cares?) and laughed a lot. It was sooo fun and so incredible to me that there I was 20 years later with my two best friends from high school and their sweet families. Good times for sure.
We stayed there Wednesday through Friday morning. Then we drove right outside Ensign Ranch and stopped along the Yakima River to have a picnic lunch and try our hand at a little fishing. No success, but in the trying, I suppose. The kids loved practicing their casting and playing in the water. It was special family time.
Kyle wanted to take the scenic route through Wenatchee, which was beautiful country. The only problem was my not-so-fine navigating skills. My phone had no service and his was dying (with no car charger), and we missed a very critical turn. We thought we were going the right way just because we were still following the Columbia River. We realized it when we had gone 30 miles past the correct turn! We made a fast u-turn, turned his phone back on to see if there was another route, and quickly took that one. We sped across amazing high-country farmlands with the most interesting rock formations, and arrived at the Dam at 4:58! Only problem, it turned out we were at the WRONG Visitors' Center. Oops! After all that, we still missed the tour, but it turned out the best part of the tour is closed for 11 years (!I know! They are replacing the turbines.), so we didn't miss much anyway. We met up with the Edges and enjoyed the Visitors' Center and a couple of movies about the history of the Dam, then went to dinner at a little local pizza place, then headed back to the Dam for the laser light show. We made hot cocoa on our little gas camp stove for everyone enjoy while we waited (not because we were that cold; mostly because it was fun!), then watched the show and headed home. We got back home at midnight, exhausted but full of fabulous memories. It was so fun being at the Dam with friends, too. We had a great time visiting and the kids loved being together.
Everything about the Grand Coulee Dam is fascinating to me. Just its' size and the remarkable engineering feat it was at the time it was built is neat. But the difference it has made to the Washington economy, and the millions of acres of land which it irrigates and provides sustainable agriculture for is fascinating to me. I look forward to going again, especially when the glass elevator is re-opened and I can go down into the dam and see the turbines.
Anyway, that was a long post, but suffice it to say, we had a great vacation and time with dear friends the last week before school started!!
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Part of August and Trip to Oregon
My parents came the last day of July and first week of August to help in our yard. My dad had a business trip in Sandpoint, so they came early and stayed after to offer some major help. We built the trampoline retaining wall one day, brought in the gravel to back fill it and the river rock for underneath another day, brought in the 50 yards of dirt, and roughly shaped the lawn another day. It was amazing how much we got done in a short time period. My mom helped out in the yard and in the house, keeping the kids fed and in control, and kept us hydrated. My dad was a workhorse out in the yard: the Energizer bunny who didn't want to stop even when Kyle and I did:). We hired Caleb to work for us a few of those days, too, and he was a great help.
August 2nd was mine and Kyle's 11th Wedding Anniversary! We went out to dinner with the kids and my parents on our actual anniversary, then had a "get-away weekend" planned for the following weekend. We had tickets to Huey Lewis & the News in Sandpoint, then were going to go hiking to a natural made waterfall that flows into Priest Lake. Unfortunately, some of the kids started throwing up two days before we left and kept it up for three days. We ended up deciding we couldn't leave throwing up kids with the babysitter we had planned (Mary), and we cancelled the plans. It was a major bummer but definitely part of life. I also ended up having to cancel a baby shower I was hosting at my house, but we still made the freezer meals for Ashley, so it all worked out. This was the first time we were sick since being in Oregon last Christmas, so I couldn't complain too much.
The next week, August 13, Kyle left for his High Adventure and the kids and I left for Oregon. I had been wanting to get there all summer, but with the yard and house keeping us busy, it just hadn't happened. I decided we'd better go while Kyle was gone as well. I had caught a mild version of the "bug", so didn't feel very well, but we headed out and made it there fine. Once we got there, the kids had a blast playing with cousins and friends, so I got to lay low and felt better.
My parents were watching Alva & Wendy's six kids while they were in Mexico, so they were at my parent's home when we arrived. Grandpa spent the week spoiling the kids day after day. We had a great time. We went to the Family Fun Center (go-karts and miniature golfing), to Critter Cabana (a great local pet store), out to eat, to Costco and got ice cream, swimming in their pool a few times, roasting s'mores in their fire pit, to Fir Point Farms (a fun local farm with goats, turkey, rabbits, ponies, a yummy sandwich shop, etc.), and to ride the "donut" train. (You ride the local commuter train to Tualatin, walk to a donut shop and get donuts, then ride it home.) Kylene had two "late-overs" with her friends, Lidya and Hailey. I got to go to lunch with Beth and Memory (always wonderful!), and we all went down to Salem one day to visit the Schnell's and Weber's. While we were there, Gwen came over, so Kylene was able to see three of her good friends when we lived there: Gwen, Gabe, and Rachel. They did two years of preschool together and and had lots of play dates from the time they were toddlers. It was so cute to take a picture of the four of them together, all grown up! It was also a lot of fun to go back to Wilsonville Ward and see lots of familiar faces; they were so full of love for us.
Even though we missed daddy while we were gone, we had a great trip.
August 2nd was mine and Kyle's 11th Wedding Anniversary! We went out to dinner with the kids and my parents on our actual anniversary, then had a "get-away weekend" planned for the following weekend. We had tickets to Huey Lewis & the News in Sandpoint, then were going to go hiking to a natural made waterfall that flows into Priest Lake. Unfortunately, some of the kids started throwing up two days before we left and kept it up for three days. We ended up deciding we couldn't leave throwing up kids with the babysitter we had planned (Mary), and we cancelled the plans. It was a major bummer but definitely part of life. I also ended up having to cancel a baby shower I was hosting at my house, but we still made the freezer meals for Ashley, so it all worked out. This was the first time we were sick since being in Oregon last Christmas, so I couldn't complain too much.
My parents were watching Alva & Wendy's six kids while they were in Mexico, so they were at my parent's home when we arrived. Grandpa spent the week spoiling the kids day after day. We had a great time. We went to the Family Fun Center (go-karts and miniature golfing), to Critter Cabana (a great local pet store), out to eat, to Costco and got ice cream, swimming in their pool a few times, roasting s'mores in their fire pit, to Fir Point Farms (a fun local farm with goats, turkey, rabbits, ponies, a yummy sandwich shop, etc.), and to ride the "donut" train. (You ride the local commuter train to Tualatin, walk to a donut shop and get donuts, then ride it home.) Kylene had two "late-overs" with her friends, Lidya and Hailey. I got to go to lunch with Beth and Memory (always wonderful!), and we all went down to Salem one day to visit the Schnell's and Weber's. While we were there, Gwen came over, so Kylene was able to see three of her good friends when we lived there: Gwen, Gabe, and Rachel. They did two years of preschool together and and had lots of play dates from the time they were toddlers. It was so cute to take a picture of the four of them together, all grown up! It was also a lot of fun to go back to Wilsonville Ward and see lots of familiar faces; they were so full of love for us.
Even though we missed daddy while we were gone, we had a great trip.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Yard Update
More progress--and mess--in our yard. We are getting closer, and I love how it is taking shape. Feel free to skip this blog post if all these pictures of a yard get boring. I have taken a LOT, and believe it or not, this is only a few!
Below: Kyle, looking cute in the Mustang front loader, which he spent about 8 hours in, bringing 50 yards of dirt from our front yard to our back. The underneath of the trampoline, showing our beautiful retaining wall. Each of those blocks weighs 65 pounds and I got good at moving them, although my dad was better! My mom, standing in front of the mountain of dirt from which we took the first 15-20 yards of dirt from. And one of the three dump trucks of dirt we had delivered because it was so much easier to work with than the hard clay soil across the street.
Below: Pictures of us and the young men we hired (Caleb and Dirk) dragging the dirt with the kids acting as weight:). Planting our new trees. I'm so excited to have cherry and apple trees! Skyler, working hard. He is such a trooper and loves to come out and help us dig and water.
Below: Each of the kids, taking a turn "driving" the Mustang. (I think Kyle would have preferred a different kind of Mustang to drive!)
Below: pictures of some of our trees pre- and post-planting. Kyle showing off the over three foot long boulder we found and altered our landscape design so we wouldn't have to remove it. The trenching machine they used to put in our irrigation. The gravel base for our front walk-way and driveway expansion. And the bottom right picture shows the other front loader they landscape company used to bring in 25 more yards of dirt (top soil) to prep for the sod.
We are now waiting for the concrete to be poured and the concrete curbing to be placed, then we will be ready to put the sod in. Our front yard has taken a beating with all the heavy machinery on it, so we've decided to replace that as well. So we need to get that all prepped for sod. Then we need to do some finish work on our back patio. But after these things, I am really hoping to stop yard work for the season and tackle it anew in the spring. As fun as it is, I'm ready to focus on other things!
Below: Kyle, looking cute in the Mustang front loader, which he spent about 8 hours in, bringing 50 yards of dirt from our front yard to our back. The underneath of the trampoline, showing our beautiful retaining wall. Each of those blocks weighs 65 pounds and I got good at moving them, although my dad was better! My mom, standing in front of the mountain of dirt from which we took the first 15-20 yards of dirt from. And one of the three dump trucks of dirt we had delivered because it was so much easier to work with than the hard clay soil across the street.
Summer Youth Activities
Kyle works with the young men in our ward (boys, age 12-18), and really enjoys it. They have had some wonderful activities this summer. One was a young men versus young women survival competition. They had six different smaller competitions, for which they earned points. Whichever group had more points at the end, won. The prize: the other group had to make dinner and provide entertainment for the winning group. The different competitions were rope tying, making fire, an obstacle course, dutch oven cooking contest, putting up a tent the fastest, and an orientation/compass course. They had scriptures that went with each competition to relate it to their own life and orienting themselves safely through the challenges of life. It was so well done and the kids had a great time. They spent several activities prior to the actual competition day preparing and practicing. The girls lost by only six points! It was so close. They ended up taking the boys on a water skiing/boating activity and providing them dinner.
Another great activity Kyle was able to participate in this summer was the Scouting High Adventure. It was a survival training camp on the Air Force SERE Training Ground a couple hours north of us. (SERE is the military's acronym for Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape.) Having the Fairchild Air Force Base in our ward gives us lots of exposure to different Air Force/Military opportunities. (They been able to go into the flight simulator and weapons simulators on base, for example.) We have a few SERE Trainers in our ward, two of whom serve in the young men, so they were able to get access to the property where all Air Force members do this training. Kyle had a blast on this four day, three night survival experience. They ate only what they could find off the land, except for a few potatoes, three live rabbits and eight live chickens which they skinned and and boiled in a stew for a royal feast! Kyle ate berries, ants, ant larvae, leaves, etc. The young men got to enjoy the rabbit eye balls, and one young man swallowed a six inch fish whole just after they caught it. (Ask Kyle about that story; it's gross!) They made their own shelter and had only the clothes on their back. Kyle said the first night was the second coldest and longest night of his life. (The first being his night on a cliff on Honopue in Hawaii.) The last night they gave them sleeping bags to sleep in. The boys had an awesome time, their testimonies of Christ were strengthened, and they learned important life skills. They hope to make it an annual tradition.
Kyle texted me the large picture of himself below while he was on the High Adventure; I barely recognized him and wasn't sure what they had done with my husband!
Another great activity Kyle was able to participate in this summer was the Scouting High Adventure. It was a survival training camp on the Air Force SERE Training Ground a couple hours north of us. (SERE is the military's acronym for Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape.) Having the Fairchild Air Force Base in our ward gives us lots of exposure to different Air Force/Military opportunities. (They been able to go into the flight simulator and weapons simulators on base, for example.) We have a few SERE Trainers in our ward, two of whom serve in the young men, so they were able to get access to the property where all Air Force members do this training. Kyle had a blast on this four day, three night survival experience. They ate only what they could find off the land, except for a few potatoes, three live rabbits and eight live chickens which they skinned and and boiled in a stew for a royal feast! Kyle ate berries, ants, ant larvae, leaves, etc. The young men got to enjoy the rabbit eye balls, and one young man swallowed a six inch fish whole just after they caught it. (Ask Kyle about that story; it's gross!) They made their own shelter and had only the clothes on their back. Kyle said the first night was the second coldest and longest night of his life. (The first being his night on a cliff on Honopue in Hawaii.) The last night they gave them sleeping bags to sleep in. The boys had an awesome time, their testimonies of Christ were strengthened, and they learned important life skills. They hope to make it an annual tradition.
Kyle texted me the large picture of himself below while he was on the High Adventure; I barely recognized him and wasn't sure what they had done with my husband!
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