Summer Reading

I haven't been very good at having the kids read this summer.  We have been really busy, and it is hard getting in a regular routine when you are not at home.

Uncle Brian and Uncle Dustin helped me out.

Grandma helped too.

Grandpa is a really good listener.

And this is just because we are missing Mark...

A lot!

Looks can be Deceiving

She looks all sweet and innocent, but watch out...

She'll take a big bite if you're not looking.

bad carma

It is this guys fault!!!

He is bad luck!!!

We were at the water slide and he was trying to make the least amount of splash.  He didn't have any splash, but his face hit the pavement on the bottom of the pond in the process.

Last night I went to go get my hair done, and it was dark by the time I was done.  I didn't see a big rock in their driveway (it is a new build), and I ran right into it...

We'll see how much damage I did.  But all the fluid drained out of the radiator...not good!!!

coming home

I love going to Grandpa and Grandma's house! I love the smell, the yard, all the memories I have had there. I wanted to capture some of the things that I love about their house....hanging on the clothes line, getting rides in the old wheel-barrow, grandpa's old truck, playing in the old shed, grandma's beautiful yard, the creaking garage door. I love coming home.

Mark is here!!!

Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle Brian were so nice to take our kids for a night and let Mark and I play in Seattle.

Mark flew into Portland and then found a ride off craigslist from Portland to Seattle.  I met up with him in Seattle, and we headed off to Pikes Place Market.

Pikes is a huge Farmer's Market...fresh veggies, flowers, fish...

You can't see it very well, but this is one of the fish markets where they throw the fish around. Sadly no one bought fish while we were close by.

I love the smell of the Puget Sound.  The ocean and the fish.  I have good memories of living in Snohomish and going to Whidbey Island and Jetty Island on the ferry boats.

We walked down by the piers too.  It was so pretty!

Then we ate the best fish and chips right on the pier.  I'm sorry, but you can't find better fish, tartar sauce, or cold slaw than in Seattle!  SO GOOD!

I love how many people are walking around too.  It makes it fun, when it is busy with lots of people.  Although, there are some strange people here.  I would have taken pictures if I didn't think they would mug me after.  A little scary.

Then we headed home the next morning.  I had to take a picture of this lake.  We call it tree-stump lake because when it is low, the whole bottom is covered in tree-stumps (original name, I know).  I missed the best shot of the lake because we couldn't pull over, but I still thought it was pretty.

We have been away from mountains for such a long time, both Mark and I were enjoying the Cascades.

This is the east side of Washington.  Dry, desert.  People don't generally think of desert when they think of Washington...but here it is.  This is the Columbia River on the drive home from the airport.

I am so excited to have Mark here with us.  It has been a long 25 days without him!!!

Smoothies anyone?

My dad is notorious for making YUMMY smoothies for breakfast...or anytime!

Everyone enjoyed the goodness...

Bailey was even nice enough to share, which doesn't happen all that often, so we need to document it.

Reilynn would scream every time someone tried to pull the cup away from her mouth.

Look at that cute face.  Could you say no to that?!?!?

I'll take you for a ride on my BIG GREEN TRACTOR

My dad helped his brothers corrugate a mint field (which is put rows into it, in case you didn't know).  My mom took all the kiddos to have a ride in the tractor.

Bailey thought she was pretty special to ride with grandpa in the BIG tractor.

Here's Kas.

And they are off...

Addison and Jessica...

Grandpa's little right hand man thought he was pretty big stuff in the tractor!

Bye mom, I'm off to corrugate!

Everybody was waiting so patiently for their turn.  A little ditch water isn't going to hurt anyone.  Well, my cousin did loose her hair one summer from swimming in the ditches...but it grew back...no big deal.

That van in the background is my party wagon for the summer.  My aunt and uncle had this van from a while ago...it didn't run, so we paid to fix it (we only had to buy parts, because my dad is a genius) so we could use it for a couple months.  Thanks Uncle Dave and Aunt Debbie!

Can you find all the kids in the corn?  How many faces can you find?

Did you miss anyone?

I love being out in country again.  My kids have had so much fun!!!

Just another day in paradise...

This is a normal family activity.  We like to get into trains and rub each other's backs.  Mark thought this was very strange when he first joined the family...now he just tries to get into the front of the train.

I don't claim the two weirdos as family!

This picture is a little fuzzy, but I still had to add it in.  Aunt Karen is more like my sister.  We talk on the phone at least once a day, sometimes more.  It has been so fun getting to see her a little on this trip.

Here is my dad with a bowl of his homemade ice cream.  SO YUMMY!!!

I love night time at home.  The kids are settled in bed after running all day long, we get out the snacks and sweets, and we play games or chat.  It is the best.

What a trooper!

Great Grandma Taylor is here.  My Grandpa passes away almost exactly 2 years ago.  Grandma has been traveling around visiting her 11 children.  She is slow moving, but she does pretty good.

The kids love to jump on her walker and she gives them rides around the house or the store or at the park.  She is a trooper!

SMALL town, BIG fun!

I had pictures of this slide last summer when I visited home....but it has gotten better since then!!!

They drained the pond and added cement to the bottom, so you don't stand up on rocks at the bottom of the slide.

They dug a well, so that the water in the pond is fresh water instead of irrigation water.

They brought in truck loads of sand to make a nice beach at the side.

It just can't get any better!!!