Happy Birthday to Me!

I wanted a new cruiser bike I could ride with the kids, that was also a little girly. This is the one we found. It's pink, but not too pink, and has gears so I can still ride up hills if I want. And I'm liking the "step through" frame. When I'm wearing pants or jeans, it's so much easier to get on the bike. All I need is a little basket on front so I can ride to WalMart to pick up a few groceries!

Camping at Lake Pend Oreille

I love camping when we can stay long enough to make it worth the effort. It requires the same amount of effort (and stuff) to stay for a week as to stay for one or two nights. And we can really settle in. After the first night of initial excitement, the kids are so worn out each day they just fall into bed. They rode bikes and scooters, ran around looking for rattlesnakes and freaking each other out, played at the playground, and had a great time together. No TV or movies or computer required!

The food is always great when we camp, too. Probably mostly because we're so hungry! We had some great dutch oven food, and a fabulous cherry cobbler. I always think we should cook that stuff at home, but it never happens. Maybe that's why it tastes so good--it seems a little special. We had great campfires and roasted s'mores, too. One morning, we had a fire going, so we ate s'mores for dessert after breakfast! The kids loved that!

I also don't mind sleeping in a tent. The girls have their own tent now, so I don't have dirty kids coming in and out of my space, which means my area stays pretty clean. We had some rain on Tuesday, and drove down to Coeur d'Alene for the afternoon, and when we got back our tents were still dry. We just snuggled in for the night and were fine.

The hardest part about camping is the clean up when you get back. The PILES of FILTHY laundry, the tub of utensils and dishes that needs to be cleaned out and organized, and of course, the dirty, wet boat and equipment. But it's worth it. The week was great and we're making memories with our kids that I hope will last a lifetime.

Lake Pend Oreille

We had a great time camping with the kids for the entire week. As promised, the lake was HUGE with hardly any boats on it, and great water all day long. This is one of the highlights--three of us up behind the boat. Now that was fun!

More Boating!

It took so long for summer to finally arrive, that we were obviously itching to get the boat out. And our friends, the Jacksons, cleared their schedules enough to get their boat out too. (We still don't believe they are spontaneous enough to be boat owners, but we're working on them.) Because the river is receding a little, there is still very little beach and it was MUDDY! Hayden's board shorts started out white, but were khaki by the time he was finished. The kids LOVED the mud, and dug around in it for over an hour.
I also have proof that Jon got the boat out of his garage and onto the water. It looks goods out on the water, Jon! And you're a great captain!


That's Jon, in the corner with his boat:

On the Columbia River

The weather is FINALLY starting to get warm
enough to justify getting the boat out, and then actually enjoy it. The river is so high, there isn't any beach, but the kids didn't care. All they wanted was to ride the tube. Seth refused and stayed in the boat.
I guess the girls' swimming lessons have paid off, because they both got out to swim without any parents.

Random Summer Pictures

We've been eating outside in our backyard, and the kids love it.

We went to the zoo and ate lunch there. The highlight for Seth was the train ride.



Seth is fascinated with all things related to what he calls "hookers," as in, "Our truck has a hooker and a boat." He wanted to hitch the bike trailer to his bike, but didn't know how, so he held the connection in his hand. When we went to the movie yesterday, he saw a van with a trailer hitch on the back, and he said, "Mom, look, it's a van with a hooker!"

I haven't told him it's really not an appropriate thing to say.

Fourth of July

Fortunately, we were able to spend some time with the Wilsons before they moved this weekend. They came over for a barbecue and then we met around the corner at the McKagues' to watch fireworks together.

My dear friend, Heather, who I will miss terribly! Our kids have grown up together.

My girls with Ashlynn, who they proclaim to be their "very best friend."

Cute little Logan, covered in cupcakes.

Aaron and Tyler

Now for the fireworks pictures: for some reason they never turn out anywhere close to how things looked at the time.

The Wilsons. Ashlynn hates the noise and covered her ears with pillows.

High-flying fireworks look really cool in real life, not so great on camera.

John lighting Seth's monster truck for him. I couldn't leave the fireworks stand without that lame, $6 "toy". It's show wasn't at all spectacular.

This $6 fountain was WAY better:

It's a Boy Thing

Seth saw the 4-wheelers in Uncle Doug's garage, and Uncle Doug was nice enough to get one down for a ride. I think Seth couldn't believe his good luck!