Week #25: Family Hike

This Week...

...we went on a family hike up the Oregon Butte, the same trail that I use for the fourth year hike. I wasn't too thrilled about bringing Marty, but he actually did really well. He didn't run off. We didn't have to chase him down. He didn't seem too maxed out. We stopped to get gas and he was king of the van. The weather was great for hiking. We left the heat of Pasco behind and enjoyed the breeze on the trail. Thankfully it was cooler than it has been of late at home.

We stopped at a park to use the bathroom and play a little. 

We stopped for a picture in the Canola field. It was calling to me!

Our pre-hike selfie. Everything looks better before the hike. We were only about ten minutes into the hike and people were complaining (it is pretty much uphill right at the beginning, but still). Lainey was ready to head back to the van. Forget the view at the top! Jason decided to pull everyone in for a family prayer; we prayed for good attitudes and the strength to hike to the top. After that, we had fun. We were laughing and giving each other nicknames. Lainey earned the nickname BS for Back Stretcher. She kept arching her back to stretch it out, but she did it every two to three steps. 

There were lost of trees that had fallen over the path that we had to climb over. It made for interesting climbing.

There was also lots of SNOW on the trail! I couldn't believe it! Snow! It was so fun to see so much of it in June. They were tempted to eat it, but I discouraged that.

They loved the Spring water as much as I knew they would. The kids were excited to try the cool, mountain water that I always talk so much about. Plus, knowing that there's only 20 minutes more to the top helps morale. ;)

We made it! But we were sure tired!

Headed back down...We enjoyed the view and then they were ready to get back to the van. Too bad we had to hike back down to it. Haha!

Goodbye until next time!

...we had Kent and Julie over for dinner. Jason put some pork loins on the Traeger. Yum! It was Kent's birthday and a great day to get together.

This is our Sunday GQ photo! Don't those kids look great?! 

...the river calls us all summer long. 

...we had our craft night with a super cute and tasty lemonade bar. So fun! I signed up for the patriotic burlap banner, yahtzee yard dice, and the flag blocks. I worked on the banner, but took the other projects home. Whitney hadn't sanded the blocks and there wasn't one available. I wasn't about to sand by hand. (finger snap)

...Benjamin had Cub Scout Day Camp. I went Thursday as a walking leader with Shannon Greenhalgh, Peyton's mom. We had a good time. It was fun to hang with Benjamin for the day.

They played water games. The snake pit was the first part of the water relay.

They made ice cream in a bag. It was so yummy! And so easy!

They had a gentleman from the Whitman mission come and talk about Indian folklore. He shared some traditional songs and passed around some animal pelts.

Charith led out last station with team building games. She had such a rapport with the kids and it was nice they could be up and active.

...we had a discussion with Elders Owen and Gwilliam and Selina. It turned out so well. Selina is a wonderful young mother who is preparing for baptism.

...Grandma and Grandpa Zirker brought Vierra's donuts. Let's play create a caption for this photo:
"No don't eat all these donuts at one time!"
"Save me the maple bar!"
"You owe me $20 for these!"

...we had Savannah and Lily Greenhalgh with us for the day. Their parents were at Day Camp all day. We hung out at the house, but finally got out to play at the river.

Week #24: Cracker Caroling

This Week...

...we went cracker caroling to Paul and Suzanne. It was the best! We love to be random. This time we decided to sing I am a Child of God at the door and present them with Saltine crackers for a random treat (which our kids ate most of once we went inside to visit). It was so much fun to drop in on the Boehnings that it somehow grew into visiting others from there. We have a lot of widows and older couples in our ward. Some of them don't get the chance to get out of their home very often or to visit with other people very often. We decided to be a random ray of sunshine in their lives...and we brought Paul and Suzanne along for the ride. We decided to call it widowing because we're caroling to the widows. haha!

Our first stop was to visit Rosemary Klugg. She was so surprised to see us and to get the random crackers. Emma brought the keyboard and accompanied us on I am a Child of God. Then we stayed on the porch talking with her a little bit about her history in Pasco. It was the best!!

...Claire received an AR award at school. So did her friend Emily Little. It was so cute to see them standing next to each other sharing a side comment in front of the assembly. Claire really took off in her reading this year. She read the Land of Stories books and read way more than her 20 minutes a day requirement. 

...Jason did a cop presentation for 6th ward's activity day girls. I went along because I enjoy hearing what he shares and because I'm a stabilizing presence for him. I can also remind him about the time and if his stories get too morbid.

...I got a photo of Emma Joy and Emma Pitzer after school. It has been so great to have Emma P at Stevens with our Emma. They have been good friends.

One last look at Stevens as the school year draws to a close.

...Last day of school! We took the kids to the mall! Jason wanted to spend time with them and spend some money. I said, "Alrighty! Let's go!" Emma and Jason played rock, paper, scissors. I think Emma trumped Dad. ;)

We made a stop at Old Navy...got a few things.

We walked by Claire's Boutique and Jason got the crazy idea to let Claire get her ears pierced. It was Emma and Arizona all over again. There's no stopping Jason when he gets that glint in his eye. This was actually a fun one because Claire had asked about piercing her ears just a couple weeks ago and I told her she would have to wait until she was 10. She got her wish early! She was ready to do it, so we stepped into the shop and got things rolling. "Ignorance is bliss" was the perfect phrase to describe the experience for her. We told her it would be a pinch. I held her hands and we had two attendants do each ear at the same time. She didn't cry, but there was a look on her face that said, "That was way worse than a pinch."

We were at the counter getting Claire's account cleared up. Lainey was begging to have her ears pierced and I told her she would have to wait. That's when I caught Jason's eye above Lainey's head. He had that glint again. I threw my hands up in mock surrender. I knew there was nothing I could do to top him. He knelt down in front of Lainey to giver her the good news. She was ecstatic.

Jason and Emma are enjoying that new shoe smell. Interesting...

...Paul went on his first camp out with the young men and eleven year old scouts. He was happy to finally get out there and camp. The prospect of passing off those requirements was super exciting. He was upbeat and ready for the adventure.

This is Paul when I picked him up from the church, after the camp out. He was wiped out! He had a lot of fun, but it really drained him. I had to laugh at the difference in energy from when I sent him off.

...I went to a Scentsy Bingo night hosted by Naya. It was $10 a person for dinner and five bingo cards. I talked Cherice and Shelly into going with me. The theme was fiesta. We had authentic tacos with all the fixings. We didn't know a whole lot of people, but it was fun to eat good food and shop a little.

Yes, we had to wear name buttons. Shelly was modeling hers beautifully.

Cherice is waiting for the next number to be called...we didn't win anything. :(