Summer Synopsis

 We had a very full summer, filled will some firsts, and also revisiting familiar places.  Darcy finally learned how to ride a bike.  Mason was 8 when he learned and so was Darcy.  Bree probably will be too.  They just don't have the right temperament to keep trying over and over till they get it when they are younger.  We've discovered they have an excellent sense of balance by age 8 and they take off after the first or second try.  Works for me.  Fewer scrapes and tears.

Bree lost her first tooth!  She was just a tad bit earlier than her siblings but they all lose teeth late.  Drew is almost 13 and still has 4 teeth to lose, putting off braces.  She's thrilled.  Bree lost the second tooth shortly after the first and they are just now growing back in.  Can't wait till she has the top front missing.  I love kids faces when they are empty of teeth.

We spent the 4th of July with Aunt Alloa and family.  These are Paul's neice, Wendi's girls.  That makes these kiddos first cousins once removed.  We had a picnic with the family and then were home for wussy fireworks in our driveway. But really, our neighbors had some good ones, totally illegal, that we enjoyed too, so it wasn't that bad of a holiday.

The kids and I took only one trip to the beach this summer.  We usually hang out at the Peter Iredale Beach at Fort Stevens.  It has great access and not too many people bugging us.  Except for the family of 15 that decided to play and stand right in front of where we were set up on the beach about 10 feet from the water.  Its beyond me why, with miles of open sand they felt the need to stand right there, but I had a great view of butts till I got up in a huff and called it a day.  I love people.  I always tell Paul in my world I will be the only one there, and the rivers will run with Dr Pepper.  We live in such a beautiful area of the world and I am thankful that our kids appreciate the beauty of nature and exploring the world like Paul and I do.

Darcy attended Activity Day Girls Camp for 2 days in July.  This was her first year and I was able to spend a day there also, as my calling at church is Activity Day assistant.  Drew was totally jealous to see that archery was one of the activities because they never had that when she attended camp.  I even "shot" two arrows.  Pretty much straight down.  More like a drop than a shot even.

Mason had his last Cub Scout camp but I don't have any pictures.  He is an awesome shot at BB guns, and impresses the other scouts with his aim.  He's so good, there was a rumor going around that he pre-ripped holes in the bullseye section so he could say he hit it.  Have I mentioned how much I love people?  For real?  Can't we just congratulate someone on a great shot?  Bleh.  Next summer he will have an overnight camp I think with the 11 year old scouts.  Once he turns 11 and is out of Cub Scouts I will hand him over to Paul to take care of his scouting needs.  I've done my time.

Drew was super lucky in that the Stake did a trek this summer.  She is also super lucky that she has parents who took her personality and age and desire into account and didn't make her go.  In four years if they do it again Mason and Darcy will also be of age so we'll make them all go together.  They'll love it :)  Since they had trek they didn't have a week-long Girl's Camp, just a two day thing which she missed while we were at the beach house.  I think she counted herself lucky in missing it all but my bet is she is looking forward to it this year.  She has some really good friends from church to hang out with and it means days away from annoying family!

 We joined Samantha and Jay's families in Naselle for the Finnish American Folk Festival.  As much as I dreaded going leading up to it, I really had a great time.  I grew up in Naselle and hadn't had an excuse to go back in years since my parents moved.  It was fun to go back and show the kids the house I grew up in (they didn't really care), the school I attended (they didn't really care), and the old friends I hadn't seen in 20 years who they were introduced to (they didn't really care).  They did like skipping rocks and wading in the Naselle River, where my mom would take my siblings and I to hang out every day all summer when we were little.  Such good memories there!  I don't think I gave Naselle the credit it deserved for being such a great place to grow up till I went back for this visit.  My goal was always to get the heck out of the tiny town but it was truly a blessing to live there.  Took me 26 years to finally see that, unfortunately.

On our way home we took the ferry from Cathlamet, WA to Westport, OR.  I have lived in the area all but a couple years of my life and never had I taken that ferry.  It was so much fun!  I could go back and forth all day.  So pretty and so freeing to be out on the water.  What a gorgeous view it has of the surrounding area.  This definitely won't be the last time we ride it!

We completed our third annual family tennis camp developing our meager skills.  Darcy got in on the action and she developed a wicked slice on her serve.  Its so much fun to have big kids to get out and get active with.  Bree did her best as the ball girl and is severely disappointed to see the tennis courts have been fixed because she loved to line the balls up in the cracks of the pavement.  Simple pleasures.

We got in a trip to the zoo and local pool a time or two also.  We had a full summer with lots of fun and family togetherness.  As the kids get older I can see that togetherness slip away so I'll take what I can get in this sweet-spot of ages we are in.  Life is good.

OSU basketball camp 2016

We headed to OSU basketball camp the day after our beach house adventure.  Drew invited her friend Autumn to join us this year which made it a lot more fun for Drew.  She gets a little intimidated by those bigger girls at camp so it was good for her to have a friend.  Bree, Darcy, Drew, Autumn, and Ruqayyah were all campers this year.  All 3 of my girls were in different age groups so it was fun trying to get to see all of them play, sometimes simultaneously, and keep them all fed in between sessions.  We did it and they survived!  The OSU womens' team, who had just played in the NCAA Final 4, were the coaches and Darcy had my favorite player, Gabby Hanson, as her coach!  I was so excited, I acted like a total dork and got my picture taken with her!  She was a good sport.  Darcy started slow and then got into it all.  She was playing full court with the regulation baskets for the first time so it was a change at first but she was good in the end.  Bree totally dislikes basketball I guess and she was not having fun.  But I know I saw her smile a few times, I think.  I won't force her into going this year if she dislikes it so much.  Mason is always a good sport being drug around from court to court to support his sisters.  We also got some swimming in and had fun hanging out with cousins.

 




 
 

 

Erickson Beach House

Shortly after school got out, we headed to Lincoln City to hang out with the Erickson clan.  We all shared a huge, amazing house near the beach and had a great time.  We ate a ton, played games, made tie dye shirts, painted pictures, and played on the beach.  Bree was so excited to sleep in the closet of our assigned room.  She was just the right size.  We spent 3 days enjoying each other's company, except during the ultimate frisbee games, and then it was cut-throat!  I've never seen so many grown men take down women and small children.  Play at your own risk.  We all survived, with a few bumps and bruises, and hit the Tillamook Cheese Factory on the way home for our favorite ice cream.  We're looking forward to an Alaskan cruise with everyone this August!

                                                                                     

             

 






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Darcy Gets Baptized!

Because Darcy turned 8, the age of accountability, she chose to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Dad baptized and confirmed her a member of the church.  She was surrounded by lots of family and friends who love her and supported her very important decision.  Darcy wore the same dress my sisters and I wore, which was made by my Grandma, who Darcy just happens to get her middle name (Evans) from.  Drew and all the girl cousins on my side of the family have all worn this very special dress.  I hope they pass it on to their daughters someday too.  After the ordinance was performed we all came home and had a taco party to celebrate!  Always a good time when you are surrounded by fun family.