Other summer fun!

Wrestling and crawling all over Daddy!  This is an activity that the kids are enjoying more and more!

Red Robin Kid’s Cook off

Annie’s Creation: The Chicken – Nugget burger “a great burger for the kids meal because it’s like having chicken nuggets on a sandwich.” She also had fun creating her own sauce called “metchup” (yes that is a cross between mustard and ketchup – so creative). She was hoping to win a trip for four to the new Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida. So far…no news. Bummer!

   

Swanson Park in Albany was a cool excursion for our family in the heat of the summer! We met Amy and Lily for an afternoon of fun in the sun!

 

The Riverfront Carousel and Park was another fun weekday trip I took with Annie and Nathan this summer. The kids enjoyed their ride on the carousel!

Summer Work in the heat of August

While the weather was warm I began the huge project of painting our kitchen cupboards. 3 weeks of my life went into sanding, priming and painting the cupboards. I only took a few pictures of the process…but in the end…it was well worth the work!

    

FINAL RESULT!

Someday we will have to think about getting new countertops. 

Old Miner’s Meadow – July 8th-11th

This was our third group camping trip to Old Miner’s Meadow!  I think in we had over 30 people come this year staying part or all of the time we were there. We had our annual potlucks where Friday and Saturday for dinner there was so much food it was crazy! But it was so much fun as always!

Fun around the campfire, playing games (board games, ladder golf, volleyball, horseshoes, etc.), visiting and just enjoying one another’s company! 

It’s funny how this group camping trip has evolved over the years. It started when Ammon and I decided we wanted to go camping and invited our siblings to join us. As the years went on we just kept adding parents, cousins, extended (and even shirt tale relatives) to join our summer camping trip. From a couple of sites at a campground each year, to reserving an entire group site to make sure everyone who wants to come is welcome.  It’s been tons of fun and a tradition that I hope to continue for years to come!

One of the first to set up camp on Thursday night. By this time we seem to have our “regular tent spots”  Our family tried something new this year. Annie and Nathan were allowed to stay in a tent on their own. Quite a big step for our campers. They seemed to have a fun time too!

One of the highlights for Annie this year was getting to go fishing with Grandpa Larry and her Dad.  Not carrying a fishing license, I went along for moral support. Annie definitely out-fished all those in her company! As she was reeling in one of her trout, I screamed, as she went head first into the river. Don’t worry though…she kept a hold of her line the entire time, stood up and after Grandpa fished her out of the river she keep pulling in her fish! I couldn’t believe it! Soaked head to toe she came bounding over the rocks and showed me her “amazing catch.”  

Nathan caught a fish this trip too! But I think his highlight had more to do with Pirates…

Old Miner’s Meadow has seen it’s share of stories develop over the past few years. In 2007 a Green Peter Pirate treasure map was discovered by Annie.  Following the treasure map she found in an old glass bottle along the riverside, she unearthed a treasure box full of foreign coins, jewelry, and valuable treasure. 

This year the Green Peter Pirate treasure hunt continued after Nathan and cousin Garrett found their own glass bottles with maps in them when put together, surprisingly led the boys to a bag of treasure buried deep beneath a stone on the far side of the campground.  Amazing how that happened!

 

Ralph, the resident expert, had verified that the treasure map was indeed real and sent the boys off with Grandpa Larry following the treasure map to it’s final destination.

 

Grandpa enjoyed watching and helping Nathan and Garrett on their little pirate adventure.

In the end, not only did the pirates leave treasure (coins and jewels), but they also had left a telescope, a small pistol, pirate turban hats and eye patches. Amazing!  Of course, the story of the pirate treasure map and treasure will be told for years to come. Who knows…maybe there is still another treasure to be found.

And of course…Water fun!!!  The weekend we were camping was the hottest of the season. It reached 100 degrees two of the days we were there! Thankfully, the water was amazing and we spent lots of time down by the river’s edge…staying cool!

We did have several day visitors on Saturday. Dad and Mom  decided to come up for the afternoon and evening and join us for games and the potluck! Erik’s parents Brian and Vicki also joined us for the day as well.

 

Rick and Kim welcoming the “new arrivals.

A beautiful meadow…a fabulous river…an amazing group of people! No wonder we can’t wait for summer and the group campout every year! 

4th of July Festivities

General Canby Day

Our annual trip to General Canby Day was marked by tradition! It’s just what we do on the 4th of July! Yep, we came by noon…eating at several of the booths with Thai food, yakisoba, elephant ear for dessert. We sat down at next to the park and watched the kiddos play, we chatted with friends and family that we “ran into” people we don’t see often enough…but those we just know we will meet every year at the same time because tradition runs deep with those from our town. After making another trip around Wait Park (getting those last minute eats/treats) we head north on Grant street, past my elementary school and towards the place that we always “park ourselves” for the parade.  After the parade we head back to my brother Craig’s house for the BBQ he and Sarah put on each year for the Pearson/Arzie families in addition to friends we invite to share the day with us! And then of course we end the day with fireworks at dark! A great day! A great tradition! I am sure we’ll be back next year!

This year I have to say it was FUN to include our friends Michael, Heidi, Olivia and Jack!  In fact, I told Heidi it was a little different driving into town this year. Our small town celebration felt a little small and hokey…as I drove in. Seeing it through the eyes of another person left me wondering how they were going to enjoy their day. However, I quickly realized that I’m all good with small and hokey…it’s our tradition…it’s our town and I love it! I am pretty sure they had a good time though!

  Kiddos enjoying their turn to hang out in the Canby Fire Truck

Nathan, Annie, Jack and Olivia gearing up to snag the candy thrown at the parade.Hanging out at the BBQ at Craig and Sarah’s!   Before dessert, the kids recited the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

Awesome day! Awesome family! Awesome friends!

 Awesome tradition!

July 3rd Civil War Reenactment

Grandpa Larry joined our family on our trip to the Civil War reenactment at Willamette Mission State Park. Since moving to Keizer Ammon and I have been curious and interested in going, however we never made it till this year!

The reenactors were in time period dress (Union/Confederate Army uniforms and women and children wore clothing representative of the time period as well).  We learned that the entire weekend the reenactors lived in time period camps the entire weekend.  They would sleep with their army brigades as they would’ve during the civil war. They were asked to stay “in character” the entire weekend. 

Annie and Nathan were fascinated.  They loved watching a mother and daughter play and “old fashioned” game.  We also witnessed a “funeral procession” and as we walked through the camp Annie had a great time talking with numerous women sewing, knitting or preparing meals. Annie was thrilled to get a bonnett from one of the tents selling items. Nathan was pleased getting a cap rifle.

We had a very fun afternoon! We were all impressed, especially watching the how they recreated one of the battles of the civil war.  I’m sure we will be back in the years to come!

Summer Camps and other fun for Annie and Nathan!

Annie started the summer off with “Dive Camp” at the Kroc Center. She and 7 other brave campers learned diving techniques 2 hours a day for 5 days!  It was fun to see her enthusiasm!  Annie’s favorite dive to do by the end of the week was actually the “backward fall-in.” That’s the one that scared mommy to death!  She went backwards off the diving board…arching her back into the water. I was sad I didn’t get a picture of this dive! Below are some of her forward dives that she worked on!

Annie also went to “Canyonview”  this summer as well! Canyonview is the Church Day Camp that many of Annie’s friends go to. Annie said she loved swimming in the lake (this year she passed the swim test and got to go down the water slide and in the deep section), playing games, riding horses and she definitely came home with lots of fun camp songs that we all have heard many times throughout the rest of the summer!

Nathan wasn’t quite ready for “summer camp” this year! He’s more of a homebody than Annie for sure. While Annie was off doing her fun adventures at Dive camp and Canyonview…Mommy and Nathan had a fun time playing games, Legos, going to different parks and having some special “bonding time.” 

Later in the summer both Annie and Nathan had fun attending two different Vacation Bible School weeks! One of them had a Superhero themed week, the other was all about the Harvest and had a kind of “on the farm” theme. Both very fun!!! Nathan wasn’t quite so sure about it…but after the first day…he was excited to go back! 

Father’s Day Weekend!

Ammon had one request this year for Father’s Day…”Let’s go to the coast.”  So I got on-line and booked a great deal in Newport. We had Ammon open his Father’s Day gifts before leaving…the kids were so excited to give Daddy the gift they picked out all by themselves!  but headed off early on Saturday morning!

 

We ended up at the Shilo Inn in Newport.  Grandpa Larry, Grandma Peggy, Aunt Laura, Uncle Adam, Garrett and Micah met us there. The kids were thrilled to get to do so many fun things over the two days we were at the beach!

Swimming in the hotel pool was a highlight for Daddy and the kids! The kids were thrilled that Daddy could use the snorkel and flippers that they got him for Father’s Day.

The beach weather was perfect all day on Saturday! We spent the majority of the afternoon outside playing in the sand, searching for sea shells, starfish and other fun “treasures.”

  A great picture of the Fathers with their kids!

   

This little game of throwing the kids into the air is NOT going to last too much longer. Ammon was saying how heavy the kids are getting.  I’m glad I captured it this year on camera.

Sunday a typical day on the Oregon coast…lots of rain. We felt blessed to have had a perfect day to play on the beach so we were happy to head to the Oregon Coast Aquarium! Lots to see and most of the exhibits are indoors.