Summer has begun

My cousin Taylor Searle came to visit us for 2 whole weeks, one of which the kids were still in school. We were able to do many things with her added help in the kid dept.

Todd ran the Helvetia Half Marathon. I ran out to mile 5.5 to cheer him on, then ran back to grab the camera and take pictures of him coming in. 1:50:13. Only seconds off his goal time! This was a well organized half with nice finisher tech t's, Helvetia Tavern Burgers and Jamba Juice!

Took the kids to the zoo.....

Brody's first time and he was lovin' it!

Had a Luau with Taylor. The kids decorated themselves and the backyard. Had BBQ pork sandwiches, pineapple and Karen's cookies for dessert!

Went hiking to the McEnry Bridge at Round Lake, ate trail mix and threw rocks in the river.

Went out boating a couple times on the Columbia and Lacamas Lake. Griffin did the knee board but most fun was spent tubing and finding waves the bounce the kids around on.

In true "clean teeth" style I had a plaque check to test how good kids are brushing. It turns the plaque pink and in the process, your tongue as well.

Our favorite neighbors Jeff and Rebecca came to visit on evening for a couple hours. They said we made their top 3 list of things they missed about the Northwest....I think by the end of the evening we bumped Mt. Hood and took 1st! We miss seeing them.

Now the kids are officially 3 days out of school. I'm packing to head to the Mother Land with the 3 youngers and Taylor. Griff is preparing to leave on the Pioneer Trek in the morning for 4 days, 3 nights.

15 Years ago....

To celebrate our 15 year anniversary I thought it would be fun to climb Mt. St. Helen's since it had been about 10 years since we'd done it. This time we brought along two strapping young men. Caleb and Griffin.

They were good for laughs and great young hikers. We were saying movie lines and having a grand old time.....once we got out of breath, the laughs quieted down a little!

It was a beautiful day, and once we broke through the tree line it was pretty foggy.....up we climbed through the cloud cover to the most magnificent views these boys had ever seen. We switched off between climbing the boulders and the snow fields.

Catching up to several other groups we took a only short stops for water and pictures so we wouldn't be bunched up on the final climb.

While in the boulders a loose lava rock collided with my shin and landed on my foot. I took one for the team.

The final stretch of hard-to-climb-in loose rock or ash before the summit.

View looking Northward inside the crater, some smoke and low clouds rising out.

Griffin carried up Taco Bell Bean Burrito's which tasted so good at the top.

Going down was much more fun. Just begining to walk through the cloud cover and sliding down the snow.

We could literally ski down on just our boots! It was so much fun. At one point I just sat down on my bottom and sled down these tracks. The boys followed right behind.

On the final two mile hike through the trees we laughed about the last STEEP perilous hill we had to slide down. I was scared the boys and I wouldn't be able to stop and slide right into a big pile of lava boulders. We used our fingers to claw into the snow as well as the heels of our boots to slow us down. Griffin came sliding fast towards me and took me down with him a about 10 yards before I could stop us both. Todd and Caleb came the same way. Luckily I was able to reach out my hand and save them both (that's an inside joke, although it's pretty much what it "looked" like had happened!) Just ask Caleb, he'll tell you I was very courageous :>

More than a dozen times the boys expressed their gratitude for this experience....and for the fact that we let them miss the last day of school. I'm loving that Griffin is at the age to do this with Todd and I.

Thanks to my cousin Taylor for coming to visit us, we were able to leave the girls and Brody in her capable hands and have a fun filled day on the Mountain!

Racin' through Downtown

Correction.....after checking the event website I see Todd and I finished The Great Urban Race 18th out of 232! We took off to get Todd some pizza and didn't stick around to see the final results. If we hadn't had that heavy backpack we could have done even better! Oh, and if we wanted to go to "nationals " we qualified for that as well....now that's funny!

Blue Man Group meets Miss Piggies

To see what this picture is all about.....you'll have to read the end of this post.

The end of school year is always busy, but seemed to be even more so this year as Griffin was involved in more middle school activities.

He qualified for Districts in the 1600 meter run. Holding steady for 1400 meters, he sprinted in the last 200 passing 3 boys and securing 6th place. I was so proud of him!

What a photo finish!

Griffin also was chosen to be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. They held a formal program for the new 6th graders based on academics, character, work ethic, standards ect....

The ceremony was held in the evening at Pacific and the kids enjoyed the refreshments to celebrate Griffin's studious work ethic.

Todd and took the kids for a BBQ at the Lake and I dared him to walk all the way across this log in front of the dam. He was half way out before discovering the last log was not anchored onto anything and that water is green!For some reason anything tastes better in the woods, but my own invention of S'mores simply can't be beat! Invite us to a campfire if you want the recipe!

The kids made a "craft" that I had used for cub scouts this week. Edible campfires.

Saturday Todd and I participated in this event I had found downtown Portland called the Great Urban Race. 150 teams of 2 raced throughout Portland, namely the Pearl, PSU, Saturday Market and down Broadway to take digital pictures and complete detours and tasks for 12 clues. Teams are encouraged to dress in costume and although we didn't, we got a kick out of those who did (1st picture at top)!

Looking like a fish at South Park Block.....

This was a stop at the Office Max in the Pearl......

Wearing a plunger and saw "hats" in Saturday Market".

It was fun to see so many teams scampering away in different directions. We came in 30th out of 150. It was a good workout if nothing else.

I've been ready to host one of my own and already had clues ready to go....but got a few good ideas from this event as well. Who's in?

Memorial Day Activities

Memorial Day Morning our ward had a Scripture Scavenger Hunt at Round Lake. I hid the clues....some I guess were harder than others :> I love taking my kids on this hike, we do it all the time when the weather turns nice and eat some trail mix at the bridge. Families played at the park at the end and had donuts. Todd and the kids looked for the clues and I played "Phil" from the Amazing Race to check teams in at the Bridge.

The missionaries were the first across!

Afterwards we went to Derek's gravesite with the Lakes and decorated it with flowers. He's been gone 6 years and would have been 33 I believe. His grave overlooks a beautiful view of Portland and it was the perfect morning to sit and visit, sharing memories about him.

We put the boat in the Willamette since we were right downtown anyway. I loved boating past the festivities going on along the waterfront. Such a beautiful city from the view in the water.

Fighter jets flew overhead which the kids loved watching!

Todd took us up towards the St. John's Bridge where there was less traffic and smoother water for the kids to tube and have a picnic on the boat....which of course is a must for the kinder. They love the built in cooler hiding under of the cushions filled with juice and snacks.

The Rose Festival Fun Center was in full swing

Since we weren't actually getting IN the water, the weather was perfect.

The kids loved going under all the bridges and I was helping them to memorize all the names,

Sellwood, Hawthorn, Burnside, Steel, Broadway, Markham, 405, St. Johns and one railroad bridge.

Pray tell, what did the door man say?

To celebrate his 42nd Birthday Todd thought it might be fun to work back to back 48 hour shifts. (actually he was dreading this work week!) So for his one day off we packed it full of fun to celebrate. We took the boat out on the Columbia where the beauty actually takes my breath away! Who woudln't want to live in the Northwest? I mean, really. It might rain, but it's not snowing and in the teens for weeks on end.After a few hours of tubing and a yummy picnic on the Columbia we headed out to see Jerry Seinfeld. I was star struck! I have loved watching that show for years!....and to see him up close. He's just so funny. It doesn't matter what he says. Now, granted I think the cast of Seinfeld made the show what it was, but his comedy was the best Jerry, the best! His opener was the "door man" from one of the Seinfeld episode, someone Miller?
Today 6 situations took place in which Jerry had made fun of and it made me laugh in my brain thinking of his jokes about it.

1. 3 year old birthday parties....gimme a break (Emma's announcement on my fridge:>)

2. Why didn't you pick up any scotch tape! Say this instead of telling your hubby you hate them!(The girls always wrapping up presents with it, leaving empty).

3. Face grease on your cell phone (yes, it's gross!)

4. Inflation of movie theatre consessions and for that, let them fall where they may (I saw KNOWING with some girlfriends and dropped the bucket all over the floor!)

5. Email being the lowest form of human communication....(which I am ALL about!)

6. You Portlanders, gimme a break already with the bike helmets!
(I bought one for Brody today and he wanted to keep it on for the car ride home, complete with the new plastic packaging still in place).





I think you had to be there....which we were, front row and it was great!

After School Activities

Tonight Camdyn's Activity Day Leaders put on a darling little fashion show. Commentary was given by the Style Co. (2 sisters who do this for a living) on modesty and accessorizing girls of this age, and any age.

Camdyn was nervous to walk down the red carpet, but by the end all the girls were getting into it and even posing at the end for a picture. Brooklyn and Camdyn looked adorable. I love track. I love any sport that gets a kid out running and breathing in fresh air for 2 hours each day after school! Griffin prefers track events but does the running long jump just to check off as his 4th event.

He has stuck with the mile at each meet and continues to set a PR. Today he came in 1st for Pacific 6th grade with a PR of 5:55. He says "it's so hard", but he's so good at it. I told him to keep running this event until his time stops going down.

Kennedy absolutely loves gymnastics. She and Brinley go afterschool once a week and it's the highlight of their week, no doubt. The faced the fear of flipping into the foam pit, and now can't get enough of it.

They'll be sad when summer comes and gymnastics gets put on pause!