A Very Blue Lake

We are National Park type of people. 

Jeff and I always say we should have been Forest Rangers. 

We took the kids to Crater Lake last week and I hope someday they will take their kids. It is such a beautiful place. Greta and her super brain reminded us very often that it is an active volcano, we reassured her that it wouldn't blow the day we were there. She was our guide telling us about rocks and trees and taking photographs. Maybe she will be the Ranger one day. 

 Despite the elevation of between 7,000-8,000 feet (we are sea level type of people) Fieldin was running up to viewpoints while the three of us gasped for air. 

 The kids and Crater Lake. I want a picture just like this years from now when they are grown to compare. 

 It was hot there. Very hot. 

 but so amazing...Phantom ship above and the pinnacles below

 Fieldin loves us photographing his big teeth, which is just one big marshmallow but he finds this hilarious.. 

 In true Greta form she got a guidebook on flowers and the kids named the plants they could find. 

 studying her book. 

 Walking through wildflowers

 So very blue and peaceful.. for now. Remember it is active. Greta has it ingrained in my brain :) 

 You think we would have tired them out. They were up reading until pretty late that night. They didn't even notice when I took the picture. 

 A picture for me and a silly picture for Fieldin. That is the new photography rule these days. 

Around Here

 The kids spent their evenings last week at Kids Kamp at church. They both had a lot of fun and came home with some fun crafts and stories to tell. 

 My friend brought me flowers from her garden and they remind me of my yard in Pullman and the cutting garden I had there. It is making me think I have finally figured out something to do with our empty side yard next year. 

 Happy 3 year adoption Chomps. You are loved in this house very much. 

 While the kids were gone at Kids Kamp it gave us a chance to get some stuff done. Fieldin's room is slowly starting to look like the Star Wars Room he has been wanting..the circa 1970's version. 

 making a hanging lantern reading nook for Greta. If you look close she is sitting under them.. 

and we have still been busy with swim lessons and summertime stuff. I've been trying to make time for the kids just to veg and relax... before we know it school will be here once again! 

Random

The weather has been hot here so there has been alot of time in the pool with friends and for lessons. Below we were playing a game of water balloon baseball 

 And water balloon volleyball 

And he hasn't slowed down with lego making. He and Jeff are working together now on larger creations! 

Random

We are enjoying summer.

The kids have been taking swimming lessons, spending time with friends and just been busy. Our house looks like a hurricane went through it since we aren't around much to pay it any attention and that is ok. 

 One of the afternoons we were home we got out the slip n slide finally. They had fun slam dunking. 

 Greta's Easter Lily she was given a few years back that blooms on July 4th

 Greta with her little solar powered robot she and Jeff worked on

 Greta spent the last few days at volleyball camp. She is really starting to love this sport and I enjoy watching her play. Here she is below serving the ball. She has had a busy week and feeling very tired. 

We Never Knew What Greta Looked Like Scared Until Today

We had honestly never seen Greta scared until today. We've seen her get up in front of the school numerous times, act up on a stage in front of people, go on extremely frightening roller coasters, pet boa constrictors...the list goes on and we were starting to wonder what would finally spook this girl. The closest I've seen to nervousness is when she gets a shot but it turns out piercing freaks her out a bit. 

 This was her yesterday with her clip on earrings. She has been wearing them for months and trying to decide if she wanted them pierced. I was fine either way so the choice was hers. She's very responsible so I knew she could handle it. She decided if she found a person that was good in Portland today she was going to get it done. That way she'd have the summer to take care of them and she would be able to change her earrings by the beginning of school this Fall.

 Looking a little nervous. The girl was VERY thorough in telling her how to care for her ears and the WORST case scenarios if she didn't.... I loved it. She gave Greta plenty of time to bolt if she wanted to and talked to her about earring care for a long time. We had to make sure there would be posts she could use for Fall(she can't wear earrings during games) They actually have rubber posts for her to wear that are approved for play. Once we got that figured out then it was on to finding where to put the holes..Greta looks like she is thinking this all through.. 

 Taking a deep breath before the pain.. 

 and it's all ok...

 Here she is with her new earrings. She picked green stones to match her eyes. She's been mulling over ear piercing for over a year now so I am glad she was happy with her choice. 

 We celebrated with a trip to the art museum to see a special exhibit on the art of the Louvre's gardens in Paris and then got some ice cream downtown. 

 When asked if her earrings were pretty we got Fieldin's usual eye roll, which usually means that they are ok. 

A very good and exciting day for Greta. 

4th Of July Part II

 It was a good 4th! we spent the day with our good friends and later that night we were invited over to another friends house to watch their neighborhood fireworks show so we brought our fireworks and joined in. The kids ate ALOT of food and had a great day! 

The Fourth Of July- Part I

We have been filling up every minute of summer so far so I haven't been as good about posting. Lots of late nights and I keep wondering how the kids can keep going without tiring out.. 

The kids spent some time with their cousins at the beach and to watch some fireworks. 

 The kids running to the beach, Greta was holding Emme's hand

 it was a nice day, not too warm or windy. Fieldin and Logan were working hard on making a moat out to the ocean. 

 Greta and Emme were on water patrol

 heading back from the beach, Fieldin held Emme's hand on the way back. 

 waiting to watch the fireworks. They were very good at keeping each other entertained. 

 They ate smores 

 and made it to ten to watch the fireworks at Waldport. It was a good fireworks show.