Camping at Pine Flats

As mentioned in an earlier post my sister and I took the kids and went up to the Lowman, ID area and camped at Pine Flats campground. We found it on the US Forest Service website. You can check out photos and all the amenities a campsite has to offer and make your reservations too!
We had a great time. The kids loved exploring and making up games, playing in the hot springs, and roasting marshmallows for s'mores. We even sang songs by the campfire. Emily did NOT loving the nights! She would fall asleep and wake back up 20 min. later and do this all night long. The first night I thought maybe it's because she is teething. The second night was just another repeat of the night before. My sister got up and took over about half the night and that saved my sanity! When we got home Emily's nightly routine returned to normal! Go figure! Steve was just sure that she didn't like sleeping away from her Daddy!
I have trimmed my photo selection from 300 down to 33 that I have placed in a slideshow.

4th of July Celebration

The children had a "blast" setting off fireworks. Grandpa made sure that he got stuff the kids could light off. I am not sure if he even lit one firework! The trick is keeping everyone in the right order so they don't think they have missed out on a turn to light stuff. Emily was a real trooper through all of the loud fireworks, she didn't seem to be frightened at all! The neighbors must have set off hundreds of dollars, the big stuff you see in shows!There were fireworks for a couple of hours after we were done. We could have just watched what they set off and been just fine! But the kids don't see it that way. They want to light some too!

4th of July Trip to Washington

At the last minute we decided that we would pack-up the family and head to Washington to visit Steve's parents for the 4th of July holiday. It is quite a chore to get everyone packed-up and leave the house in order too. Our life is an adventure, always something exciting coming our way. The adventure began this trip when our van overheated less than 2 hours into the trip. I should have taken a photo but did not. We are on the side of the freeway, sitting on the back of the van in the shade. The kids have their blankets and pillows spread out like we are on a picnic at the park. We asked them when was the last time they got to sit and watch cars go by on the freeway anyway! Many people stopped to see if they could help. We just needed to the let the car cool down enough to inch along to the nearest exit. Meanwhile, Steve is calling his friend who has done car repair in the past and talks through some troubleshooting trying to figure out what the problem is. We finally make it to Baker and coast down the exit to the gas station and Steve checks the radiator and it is bone dry! Well, go figure! He filled the radiator and bought two gallons of water and we were on our way to the grandparent's home! Hooray!


On the agenda for the next day was to go and watch the Tall Ships come into the harbor in Tacoma. The kids got to run the beach and find treasures which I informed them needed to stay on the beach.














There is a new park in Sumner that Grandpa wanted to take the kids to and they loved it!

Family Fun on Spring Break

I took over 300 photos during our trip to the coast.
There are plenty in that collection that are not worth looking at or just need to be deleted. I love digital photography because it just doesn't matter how many bad photos you take, it's free! However, it does pose a problem when blogging or digital scrapbooking! How do you choose just the few when there are so many that are fun!
(Steve took this cool shot!)


So here are a few more of the most fun shots from our trip.
Emily made her first trek to the beach. I had her all bundled in her snowsuit and the hat that I made for her on our way to the coast.










The kids would go down to the beach with Grandpa and Grandma and come back with their treasures!










Logan loves to pose for a shot!












Carson was warming his feet by the fire when Steve saw this great photo op!






Katie & Grandma flying in the wind!








This big tree had been blown down recently.








The kids love MREs. A stay at a military post would not be complete without them.







Sunday we found the Seaside Oregon ward and went to meetings. It was amazing to go to this small ward and we saw eople that we knew. The kids came out of class having made new friends too. I love going to a new ward and seeing that the gospel is the same wherever you go! I am also glad for my children to see this too.

Spring Break 2008

We have two weeks of Spring Break! Two weeks of no homework, no catching or meeting the bus! We can run our own schedule! Sleep-in! (haha)

For our middle of break trip we headed to the Oregon coast and met Steve's dad at Camp Rilea. Steve's mom had been visiting and caravaned along with us to meet up at Camp Rilea. We took the kids here a couple years ago over a Thanksgiving break. They loved it! This is an active military post that is situated on the north-western corner of Oregon. And just a hop over a sand dune and you are at the Pacific Ocean. The kids don't care how cold, windy or wet it may be they love to go to the beach!

The kids love seeing the Soldiers and salute each time they see one pass by. Grandpa tells them about the different equipment found around the base and this is a big hit with the boys! I mean to see real tanks and different artillery is just the best if you ask Jonny. He remembers all of their names too!

We take day trips from the camp to the surrounding area. Last visit we went to the State parks and earned Junior Ranger badges. This visit we went to the Tillamook Cheese factory and a Air Museum housing WWII aircraft. I will post photos of our beach adventures and the aircraft the kids got to sit in at the Air Museum.

More to come.....