Summer Wrap Up

Weather this week has been hot and crazy!  Tuesday, we were hoping to escape it by heading out to the coast.  Evelyn spent the night with Natalie and went out with her.  Anna drove out to hang out with Megan, but the rest of us were stuck here.  Dan and I are still trying to get over the sinus/ear infections.  We both scheduled video appointments for the morning.  Dan's prescribed him more medication.  Mine said - just wait, you can make an appointment with an audiologist.  So I did and the only one they had was that same day (that or wait until October....) So no beach for me...  Though I'm not sure what the point of the audiologist appointment was - they tested my hearing and told me I had moderate hearing loss in my left ear due to fluid behind the ear drum.... which I already knew....  

This week was the beginning of the water polo season.  Aaron had his practices at Raleigh Hills in the late afternoon, and I was with the girls at Aloha at night.  Working with the girls has been so fun - they are an amazing group of girls and this week of practices has been great!  The biggest stress so far has just been trying to get to know everyone (names especially) and trying to decide on a captain.... 

Dan ran the Hood to Coast this weekend.  He left EARLY Friday morning and was gone until Saturday night.  It was a fun group and they had a great time.  Dan did amazing and came home exhausted! 

Friday, I took David and Evelyn with a group of Evelyn's friends out to Hagg Lake.  The day was hot and beautiful.  The lake was rather low and you had to slog through mud to get to the water, but the cool water felt so nice on a hot day and we had fun!  

Saturday, Aaron and I went to Parkrose to play water polo - it was a good group and a lot of fun!  Also I played pretty well.  It was funny, a new guy came - and he looked familiar, but I couldn't figure out why and I was pretty sure it wasn't water polo.  I finally figured out most of the way through the scrimmage that he was one of the regular swimmers at THPRD.  He had also thought I looked familiar, but with out the red lifeguard shirt, he hadn't placed me either.  Then I went to hang out with Paxton's mom while the boys played and swam.  It was a busy, but fun day!  Evelyn had band stuff in the afternoon, then flute lessons and finally the Youth Music Festival and dance in the evening.  

Church today was wonderful and then in the afternoon we had fun playing Settlers of Catan with David and teaching him how to play.  We did back to school blessings tonight before David's bedtime.  It is such a wonderful tradition! 

More Band and More Baking

Dan has been baking again - he made pinwheels this time with raspberry and peach jam.  Yum!  

This was Evelyn's second and last week of Band Camp - the kids worked so hard this week and also had tons of fun!  We went to the preview Saturday evening.  Dan went early to help grill for the BBQ, then Aaron, James and I went for dinner and Dan and I stayed to watch the preview.  Evelyn has been loving it, but I think she is also looking forward to a the next week off before school starts.  

This week has been crazy getting ready for the water polo season - It feels like things are changing every day.... new changes even as recently as tonight....  I'm really not sure why everyone needs to put stuff off til the last minute....  

We had a fun Sunday afternoon. David played Dominion with us for the first time.  I had to leave part way through for a meeting, but Eileen took my place (but she hated my hand) and David was super excited that he took 2nd.  

Band Camp Starts

We are starting to get back to school year routines.  Evelyn started band camp this week - so she's at the school every day from 10 am to 9pm.  She is amazing and working so hard and loving it!  We are excited to see the preview next weekend!  

I've been sick all week - Dan has been a bit under the weather too and David still has that cough that won't go away.  So we have spent much of the week hunkering down and taking it easy.  I'm still stuffed up, but feeling a bit better.  Good enough to go to water polo - but not good enough that I played well!!  LOL  

Dan is still getting ready for his Hood to Coast race in a couple weeks and running regularly.  It's been fun having Anna back - she has been working a lot and picking up as many shifts as she can.  She's been inviting friends from the single's ward over and she and Eileen have been having fun hanging out with friends and playing games and stuff.  

David still wants to spend every day with Paxton and so they usually do, either here or at Paxton's house.  

Dan and I have been watching Great Brittish Baking Show in the evening's sometimes, and that has been prompting a lot of baking on Dan's part.   Including what I'm calling (in homage to Killer Bunnies) a large prune danish.  It's actually a raspberry danish and SUPER yummy!  

Back Together

We've had a crazy week.  It's been busy and started out hot!  We planned on Tuesday to go to the beach with a bunch of friends.  As we were getting ready and packing up the van, we heard what sounded like a bird in the garage.  Then we saw a bird fly into the house.  It flew up into the craft room, where we spent at least 10 minutes trying to catch it and get it outside.  When we finally did catch it, we still heard cheeping in the garage.  Eileen traced it to a small bird who was stuck - she got it free and set it back  out near where we thought it's nest was.  

We had a great time with friends at the beach and made new friends and got ice cream and enjoyed a beautiful (if a bit windy) day at the beach!  

We spent most of the rest of the week playing and hanging out together.  On Thursday, I took Evelyn to the mall to hang out with a friend and we had fun (mostly) window shopping.  :)  We got her some pink crocs and she is super excited about them.  lol

Friday, we had planned to pick peaches, but the peaches were all gone, so instead we went to the Stevens' garage sale and then picked blackberries.  

Then in the afternoon, Dan and Evelyn and I went down to Woodburn to browse and maybe come home with more shoes....  

Satuday was our anniversary.  Dan and I headed out to get some lunch at the food trucks, then headed up to hike to the Witches Castle and Pittock Mansion.  It was a beautiful day to be out hiking around and we had a great time looking around and diving in to some Portland history.  Then we got some Shave Ice and browsed Powell's Books for awhile.  

In the evening, I took Evelyn to Open Polo and Dan went to the airport to pick up Anna!!!!!  

She's back and we are excited to get to have her home for a bit!  She's starting to do what she needs to do to put in her papers to serve a mission! 

Church today was wonderful - I am subbing on the organ this week and next, which is fun and primary went well.  We had a quiet afternoon with some napping and an evening of food and games and fun.  

FSY

Monday morning, after I went to swim, we loaded up the car with kids and gear and headed down to Monmouth to drop the kids off at FSY.  We had a good full car with lots of friends and we had fun singing Disney songs the whole way down.  We got them checked in and in their rooms, then I headed to In-N-Out for my lunch!  

It was super quiet around the house with 2 more kids gone.  Just Eileen, James and David at home.  We did some swimming and doing stuff around the house.  

On Tuesday, I took David and Landon and James to the pool to hang out and swim.  Caleb met us there too and we all had fun together playing and swimming.  

Saturday morning, I picked the kids up bright and early and took them for donuts.  They were super yummy and we had lots of fun!

Saturday morning, Dan also left for a skydiving training up near Seattle.  He also got to hang out with Steve and Claire and their family and see his parents and attend Ezra's baptism. 

Saturday, Aaron and I went to Parkrose to play water polo, then after, we went to Mike's house on the Washougal river for a goodbye party for Dominico and we had fun eating and floating down the river and playing some innertube river water polo.  So much fun with awesome people!!!  

Sunday was quiet, but nice.  Church was wonderful and we had a mostly quiet afternoon together! 

YW Camp and YM Camp

We had a busy week.  Evie and I along with a few other girls we were driving headed up for girls camp Monday morning. I got to be a cabin mom as well as a lifeguard.  The girls were awesome and we had a great time together.  The cooks conspired with me to do a night swim for the adults after the last evening meeting.   So Wednesday night, we all came in our swimsuits and then went to the pool for fun and giggling and talking.  The last day - Thursday - was an overlap day with the Young Men.  We had a day of lessons and games with them before we headed home.  It was fun to see Aaron and help out with the games.  We had a nice drive home - it was fun to listen to the girls talk about camp and friends and stuff.  

Aaron was at YM Camp until Saturday afternoon.  Dan went up to get a couple jumps in.  I went to David's scrimmage which was fun and he did great!  Then I picked up Aaron and took a couple of our vehicles to Evelyn's car wash with the Mountainside Band Boosters.  The van especially needed it after all the camping trips!  Then in the evening, I went to open polo.  It was a fun group and I had a great time!  

Sunday, after church, some friends from Colorado (Mark and Marie Young) and their kids stopped by on their way back to Utah (where they live now) from a family reunion on the coast.  We haven't seen them in many years, but it was so neat to catch up with them and visit for a bit!  

Busy Summer!

The last couple of weeks have been crazy busy!  We've had fun at various pools, various lakes and went camping with friends for a few days.  We celebrated Davids birthday after getting home from Bass Lake - we had a little party with Anna and David before Anna left for Study Abroad.  

Grandpa was flying in for David's baptism at the same time that Anna was leaving for her study abroad, and they happened to cross at the airport.  I got a call from my dad letting me know he had arrived at the same time that I was dropping off Anna - so he met us by her check in door and hung out with her for a bit before getting his rental car.  

The weeked was crazy!!!!  Steve and Claire (and kids) stayed a night with us before going down for a Tough Mudder.  My Dad was staying with us Friday and Saturday nights and Gene and Ann also drove in for the baptism.  David waas super excited and everything went well. I gave a talk, Dan did the baptism and the Grandpa's were witnesses.  

Aaron and I were also competing in a water polo tournament that same weekend.  He was playing with Newberg, and I was playing on a women's team.  It was a ton of fun to play and watch.  The weather was great and we had an amazing weekend! 

The next week, I took the kids to the pool on Monday, George Rogers Park on Tuesday and on Wednesday, David had a birthday party.  He had a bunch of his friends over for water balloons and spray guns and pizza and cupcakes and fun.  His big requirements were water balloons and a pinata - we nailed it.  They kids had a blast together and lots of fun was had by all.  By that point in the week though - mom was exhausted!!!  Thursday we went to the pool again - Monday we had gone to an outdoor pool, but on Thursday, the kids wanted the diving boards, so I went to swim with the afternoon masters swim practice and busted out 5000 yards, then the Aaron took the kids up to meet me to swim and play in the water.  I ended up rescuing someones fitbit from the bottom of the deep end and had a blast with the kids in the water.  

Friday was the 4th of July.  We went over to the Olsen's and had a blast eating and chatting with friends and of couse, setting of fireworks.   The boys especially had fun - and Evelyn of couse had a great time since she got to hang out with friends.  Eileen stayed home - she hates the 4th.  

This week, we started out the week with a camping trip with a whole bunch of friends.  We went to Kilchis River again this year and the kids loved it.  They had tons of fun playing in the water and hanging out on the playground and making new friends and of course, hanging out with old friends.  We made some stops at Tillamook for ice cream and cheese and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  We got home Wednesday afternoon, then it was back to the normal.  David was exhausted from late nights, but was still asking for sleepovers.  He had a great time sharing his tent with Landon during the camping trip.  

Yesterday, Eileen and I went down to Salem for Sydney's baby shower.  It was wonderful and it was great to see everyone!  The shower was lots of fun and I even won a prize! 

We are now gearing up for girls camp and YM encampment next week. 

So I have pictures.... theoretically, but my phone and my computer are struggling to communicate with eachother and they aren't transferring well..  I'm not sure what is wrong or how to fix it.   It's super frustrating and because of it, I lost a bunch of pics from our Bass Lake trip...

Bass Lake!

After some solid driving and a few stops for food and bathrooms, we made it to Bass Lake in the evening.  It was dark though while we were setting up camp.  The kids were super helpful, but we were all pretty tired and just got the necessities up before going to bed.  We spent the next day in the lake waiting for Sandi and the kids to get there and Grandma and Grandpa to get there.  They all got in close to dinner time and we figured out the sleeping arrangements before heading to bed.  

Sunday was Father's Day.  Since we would be gone, I had wrapped and hidden some presents around the house for Dan, then I sent him clues to find his presents.  The kids and I went to church with Grandpa in Oakhurst, then headed back to the campsite.  

Paddleboarding to Miller's Landing became a favorite activity and we went most days and got snowcones or ice cream most days.  The weather was hot and sunny - perfect for being in the water all day!  

On Tuesday, we went to Yosemite.  Mostly we drove around Yosemite - it took us over an hour waiting in line to get into the park, then lots of time driving around to find parking and get to the Yosemite Falls.  We had fun climing around the falls together before heading back.  It would have been nice to have more time to hike, but the kids patience was about gone.  

Wednesday, we rented a boat for most of the day.  The boat they gave us had some steering issues, and after some convincing on our part - they finally accepted that it wasn't driving well and gave us a different boat.  We did some water skiing and wakeboarding and lots of tubing.  It was the highlight of the trip for most of the kids.  

Thursday we did a treasure hunt with the kids in the morning, then paddled to Millers for one last Ice Cream/Snow Cone and some fun in the water.  Then we spent most of the evening packing up whatever we could.  The kids and I went to Grandma and Grandpa's place to take showers so we could be not so stinky in the car on the way home.  

We had a lot of fun all week swimming and playing and singing around the campfire and roasting marshmallows and just having an overall great time.  The biggest downsides were the sunburns and bug bites.  The kids were getting eaten - despite having on bug spray.  We all got a bit burnt despite lots of sunscreen.  But it was wonderful!!!  

Friday morning - we packed up and headed out.  We had a long drive home and only made it after midnight.  It was so nice having Aaron and Evelyn to help with driving!  We got in safely, but saved unpacking for the next day.  

Saturday, after we unpacked, it was back to the usual - water polo, hanging out with friends and time together.  

Sunday was a great day - church was wonderful and primary was fun.  In the evening, Eileen decided to bust out Killer Bunnies  - so we taught David to play and had a fun time together.  

End of School!

This was the last week of school for the kids.  They had school on Monday and Tuesday and then that was it! After school on Tuesday, Evelyn had an appointment to get her hair cut.  She cut it short and it looks so cute!  David has been having fun playing with Paxton and the rest of the kids are mostly chilling and getting into summer rhythms.  I still had work on Wednesday and an inservice on Thursday - Aaron and I were both going to the Sunset inservice - but didn't realize it until the day of.  It was fun to do the inservice with him.  The rest of the week was spent getting ready for the camping trip.  Cooking food for the trip, packing for the trip and loading up the van for the trip.  We managed to get everything ready in time, and I didn't even have to stay up too late doing it.  The kids were super helpful as was Dan.  Friday morning, bright and early (we bribed the kids with donuts to get them up early) we headed out on our camping trip!  

End of School Year Crazies

For Memorial Day, Dan took Evelyn and a bunch of her friends on a hike up Saddle Mountain.  They had great weather for hiking, but less than stellar for views at least some of the time.  :)  They all had a great time together!   

The rest of the week was busy with water polo and school and work.  Evelyn had her end of year band concert on Wednesday evening - which also happened to be the same day as her Track banquet and my OHSWP spring coaches meeting.  So Dan and David and I went with Evelyn to her banquet, then Dan took David home and I went into the school to sit in the meeting (thankfully I was able to be there by phone) and then went into the concert.  Evelyn did amazing!  Their band really is incredible and it's so much fun to watch her do something she loves so much!  They all put in so much hard work this year and it has paid off!!  

This weekend was the Newberg Summer Kick off tournament.  Aaron was playing there with the 18U Newberg Team and David and Paxton played their first tournament with the 11U Thills team.  It was so fun watching and coaching the little kids!  It was also nice to get to talk to their parents some!  Paxton jumped in with lots of enthusiasm and did a great job!  David was a bit reluctant - it was a little deep for him - he could touch, but barely.  He finally tried a little bit - then he tried playing goalie for a bit.  Coach Blake was really great with him - helping him and encouraging him.  The other players were also really supportive!  

He claimed that he wasn't tired and that he got enough sleep, but he crashed in the car on the way home.  :) Maybe letting him sleepover at Paxton's before the game was a bad idea.....  

Sunday afternoon, David wanted to go on a walk, so Anna and I took him out on a walk at one of the local nature parks.  He loved looking at the flowers! 

Birthday Boy

Monday was Dan's birthday.  He had made a Texas Sheet cake for Sunday when we had the Wilde's over for dinner, so he didn't want to us to make another one, so we just used the rest of that for his birthday cake.  He got a 3D printer for his birthday, and it's been going almost non-stop ever since.  

Monday morning, I met up with Sara and Emily for our bi-annual lunch.  I always love getting together with these women.  It makes my heart happy and heals my soul.  I'm so glad to live near them and be able to see them semi-regluarly!  

We've had school and water polo and track and work.  Anna has been picking up as many shifts as she can find.  I've been busy coaching and working and playing.  Aaron is getting Senior-itis already and he's not even a senior yet.  Evelyn is cramming every moment full of everything.  

She jumped pole vault at Varsity Districts this week - the PR'd at 7' 11" - This picture was her moment when she finally made that next height up!  We were all so excited for her!  She did amazing!  

David and Paxton have been going to the youngest group of water polo.  Paxton talks all the time about how much he loves it.  David has parts he likes more than others.  But I've really been enjoying working with the younger age groups.  

Saturday this week was Dan's Annual surprise Birthday Party.  We had a good turn out and had lots of fun with friends and family.  It was great to have John and Melissa and Emmmalee and Johnny and thier kids come up for the party!  Plus lots of friends from the ward and neighborhood.  

Church today was wonderful and we had a great day of church and family and games.  

State Champions!

 We've had a busy and exciting week!  In addition to all the usual school stuff and sports stuff - we are getting into the end of year stuff.  Evelyn was inducted into NHS this week - she works so hard at school and is an amazing student and an amazing person!  Even better - she got to be inducted along with a bunch of other kids in her friend group - we love that she has such great friends! 

On Tuesday - I was called to jury duty.   So Anna picked up my shift at work and I went down to Hillsboro to sit in a room and wait for a couple hours.  Finally I was excused as part of a group that would have been called in the case hadn't settled out of court.  So I got to head out with only a bit of my morning used up.  So I ran by Nothing Bundt Cake to use a 2 for 1 coupon - then went into a Great Harvest Bread right nearby for some yummy bread and butters.  Then I got my hair trimmed and grabbed some lunch.  

 

We mostly had decent weather, so the kids could stay and play after school a bunch.  The boys have a blast playing together.  

On Friday, Dan took David and Aaron for the Priesthood commeration Father/Son campout.  The boys had a great time, but Dan came home reminded of why he hates camping.   It doesn't help that his cough still hasn't gone away and it's been a couple months.  

Also this week, Evelyn had her band State Championships.  The Mountainside Band tied for first place with West Salem who has been a long-time reigning champ.  We are so excited for them.  They put in so much hard work and this is a major accomplishment!!!  

Sunday night, we had the Wilde's over for dinner.  We had a lot of fun with them and a had a great time playing games together and chatting!  

Encore and Back to the grind!

Last Sunday was Evelyn's final Encore concert of the season - I'm so glad I was back in time for one of them!!  The concert was amazing and Evelyn was amazing!!  I tried to get a group photo after the concert, but I was too slow - so instead I got this photo.  :)  

This week has mostly been getting back into the swing of life.  Getting back to routines and such.  One evening, I had scratched my leg and David noticed it bleeding - so he runs off to get me a bandaid.  He comes back yelling "Here comes David Doctor!!!"  And bringing a damp paper towel to clean it off and a bandaid to cover it up.  It was so sweet and reminded me of when Sandi and I used to go to "Daddy Doctor" to get our scratches and cuts cleaned up! 

Daivd wanted his picture taken on top of the sign on one of our walks home this week.  The weather has been beautiful all week, so we've enjoyed playing after school - chatting with friends and enjoying the sun!  

I'm now helping coach the younger age group kids water polo teams with THills - the kids are adorable and a ton of fun to work with.  The range of skill levels is wide - but its been fun to work with them!  David and Paxton got signed up for the 10 and under group this week - so on Friday and Saturday, David and Paxton came to water polo with me!  David much preferred Friday which was only the younger kids and in the shallow water only.  He didn't like Saturday at Connestoga with the 12 and under group too and scrimmaging in deeper water.  They are both doing great though!  It's been fun hanging out with them and doing something I love with them! 

Saturday was a bit nuts though - Between swimming, Parkrose, coaching water polo and open polo -  I was thoroughly clorinated by the time the day was over.... 

Today was Mother's Day.  I've been blessed with awesome examples of motherhood in my life - both in my family and my friends.   Dan really hit it out of the park today though.  While I was gone in Scotland, he learned how to make Eggs Benedict and surprised me with that for my Mother's Day breakfast before church.  I don't know how I got lucky enough to be married to the biggest green flag ever.  

 

Back at Last - and Oops

It's been an eventful couple of weeks.  The swim team was finally able to do their awards banquet.  Conner was awesome and kept it short and sweet - Evelyn lettered and got a most improved award.   

Anna got home from school and immediatly started cleaning and sewing.  It's been awesome to have her back.  She and Dan went to swim up at the 50 meter pool and she ran into Elizabeth who said she should pick up some shifts while she is back - so she has been picking up some lifeguarding shifts.  

David got to be one of the kids leading the school spirit song for the whole school during their assembly.  He did an amazing job!!!  

Evelyn had her Terra Nova plant sale and it went super well - also she has been planting a garden in our back yard!  

On Saturday, David wanted to go to the "bike dirt hills" so he had a great time riding around and enjoying the beautiful weather.  

Dad and I had a great couple of weeks - going up to Orkney, going to York, London, Dundee, Durham, Inverness and more - The weather was fabulous and we loved getting to be out walking and out learning and out exploring! 

We enjoyed talking and eating ice cream and just had an amazing trip over all.  However I'm too lazy to put all the details in here having already put it all into facebook and my journal.... :)