Playing Catch Up

July has zipped by, things have been a little crazy around here.  I have to go back and fill in the holes for July. It started out with the 4th of July, my sister came up for the weekend, I love having her close enough to come up on a pretty regular basis. McKenzie and Chloie came to the parade as well they said they had nothing better to do, but I think McKenzie secretly likes the parade too. We headed to the parade, we got there early enough to get good spots and wander around the booths before the parade because after it gets really crazy, of course everyone wanted kettle corn.

 The people watching is always good at the parade and they are the ones usually in the parade!

 The bouncing cars were the highlight of the parade, well next to the candy!

 After the parade the girls went shopping and the boys went on a bike ride. Scott took a fall with his elbow landing right on a rock, he probably should have gone to the ER and got stitches but it was just an elbow so we called the best RN out there and had her come over and take a look. She was really excited to be able to work on it, she cut away all the dead skin, picked out the rocks and leaves, then took a toothbrush to the gaping hole and started scrubbing while Scott washed it out with the sprayer. It was really gross and now 3 weeks later the swelling is gone and it has scabbed and healed pretty well, for an elbow.

Scott was worried that he would not be able to do the Mt.Baker hike but he wrapped it up nice and tight and it only bothered him when Ryan bumped it several times during the night.
We had a BBQ and watched the fireworks from our deck, we are pretty predictable around here.

Wedding Take 2

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 We had a fun, busy week with Katie and Jeremy, They made the most out of everyday and packed each day with fun stuff from morning until night. On Monday they went on the whale watching cruise with Tim and McKenzie and saw a great whale show and had fun in Friday Harbor. Then we celebrated Katie’s birthday Monday night with her favorite food and chocolate pie for dessert. Katie and Jeremy brought bikes to ride so the found time in the evenings and mornings to go mountain bike riding with Scott or Ryan almost everyday. On Tuesday they went wakeboarding in the morning and on a hike up to Oyster Dome with Tim in the afternoon.    

Wednesday Katie and Jeremy set off early to go to Canada and then we met them for a picnic lunch and headed to the Suspention bridge in North Vancouver. It was also the little girl’s first trip across the boarder and into Canada the green cards worked.

We then headed home and went to Lake Padden for dinner and canoeing. It was a jam packed day from morning until night.

Thursday was more bike riding in the morning and then we packed up the canoe and headed to Cranberry Lake by Deception pass, we had a BBQ and watched Avrie play in the sand, Destina has proclaimed that she is too old to play in the sand. Avrie and another girl started digging a hot tub and pretty soon they had about 6 other little boys helping them. The girls were sitting in the “hot tub” and ordering the boys around telling them were to dig and where to put the dirt. Then one of the boys had a air mattress that they were playing with in the water and playing “king of the hill” Avrie had so much fun playing at the lake she did not want to go home.

When we arrived home we had a huge surprise Uncle Dan and Jennifer were sitting in our kitchen. They had flown out that day from Maryland to be there for Katie’s reception and arrived at out house about 5 minutes before we did. Katie was so surprised and so happy that they came out.  The little girls were very happy that Jennifer came and the played together non-stop all weekend long. Now it was late nights playing cards.

On Friday they all went on a bike ride again I stayed home and started baking for the reception. Katie also managed to have a couple of dentist appointments and a few cavities filled on Friday. She spent the afternoon resting for the first time all week. Friday night we headed up to Lynden for Destina’s basketball tournament and watched her play 2 games. When we got back home grandma and grandpa were jest getting here and it was fun to see how long it took them to discover the surprise visitors. 

Saturday morning was more basketball and then getting ready fore the reception. The weather was perfect all week then Saturday morning we woke up to rain, sprinkling at first then by 2:00 it was pouring, we were having an outside reception with no back up plan, I was getting a little nervous.  We had more family arrive Scott’s other brother and wife and grandchild came then my sister and niece arrived, yep that’s 15 people hanging out at my house. We had a big BBQ in the rain and then at 3:30 I jumped in the shower and low and behold I peeked out my window and I saw a patch of blue sky. By 4:30 we had sun shining and the 

warm temperatures back burning off all the rain. The evening turned out to be perfect for a reception. We had the reception in my friends backyard it was the perfect setting and she had the tables decorated so cute and everything was perfect. We had plenty of food and it was so fun visiting with all the people that came. Katie said it was perfect and she was beaming all night long.  After cleaning up we went back home to open presents. Katie and Jeremy started gathering their stuff and packing up they left first thing in the morning on Sunday. It was such a fun busy week and I was so happy to have Katie home they are so cute together, but it was sad to see them go, I hate goodbyes.
More pictures to come....

Mt.Baker Climb

I go from nothing to post about to having several things I would like to post about but don't have time.
Last weekend Scott, Ryan and Jayden and about 6 more people, summit-ted Mt. Baker! They have been planning, preparing and working on this for about 6 months. Scott, and Ryan were totally excited and Jayden was forced to go, but, according to Scott, he did not complain except for a little bit on the last leg up. Jayden just put one foot in front of the other and made his way to the top of the mountain. They made this a 3 day event leaving on Thursday morning, hiking to base camp, setting up camp and watching the sunset. On Friday it was all about learning to tie the proper knots, learning how to use the ice axe and how to fall etc. They had a great time playing in the snow. Ryan even used his sleeping pad as a sled. Saturday morning at 12:00 am they woke up and started the 6 hour climb to the top. They missed being at the top at sunrise but they were pretty close. At the top of the mountain it was really cold and the wind was really blowing. Scott, Ryan and Jayden came home with a pretty bad sunburn on their faces, it was the first time Jay has ever been burnt and today he looks like a leaper with all of his skin falling off. (yes the used sunscreen, just not enough) They had a great time, Scott marked that off his bucket list not sure if he will do it again, Ryan would go again next week if he could and Jayden never wants to do it again, but he is glad he went and glad it is over.

The pictures did not load in the right order:  Ryan will do anything for $50.00 including stripping down to his skivvies at the top of the mountain, notice that everyone else is bundled up it was really cold and windy.

First day out getting ready to climb to the base camp.

Ryan at the top of the mountain before stripping down.

 Jayden made it alive!

 Scott on top of the world - or at least the mountain.

 Ryan practicing falling into a crevasse and having to climb his way out.

 Getting ready to head out in the wee hours of the morning!

 This is the group hiking up on Thursday to base camp.

 Jayden trying to learn the ropes!

 

Sitting at base camp at the table and chairs they made out of snow.

The best lesson the boys got out of this trip was that they can do hard things and no "mountain" it too hard to climb if they just put one foot in front of the other and go! Jayden was really proud of this accomplishment and we were really proud of Jayden as well.

Seattle

2 weeks ago we met up with my sister and most of her kids and grand kids in Seattle.  We headed down about lunch time and arrived in Seattle just in time to be caught in the traffic for the Gay Pride Parade. It took us an hour to go from the freeway to the waterfront usually about a 10 minute journey. Once we finally made it past the parade and caught up with my sister and her family we had a fun day walking all over Seattle. 

 The people watching was excellent!

 For some reason we were all really entertained by the gum wall, it was the first time I had seen the wall, must have walked past it several times in the past. The kids thought it was the grossest, yet coolest thing they saw all day.

 Braden the little photo bomber!

 We split up and my niece, her husband, Avrie and BreeAnn went to the aquarium Avrie saw lots of cool fish and it was feeding time so that was pretty cool. We went shopping and bought nothing. We ate dinner then headed back home. It was fun hanging out with family!

No More Braces

Two and a half years ago I had four kids in braces, Kate's were the first to come off, after her first semester of college, now it is Kelsie's turn 2 weeks after she graduated from high school but before she goes to college. Ryan's are coming off next month and then Jayden's the month after that. I might be done paying for them this time next year and then it will be Destina's turn to get them on. The Gordon's have made our orthodontist very happy, and he has given our kids a great smile with straight teeth. I hope the kids appreciate it and take care of their teeth!

Happy Birthday Kelsie!

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Happy Birthday Kelsie!  It really is hard to believe how fast time goes. I remember the day she was born, 6:30 at night of a Sunday night. I wanted at milkshake right after and couldn’t wait to get home. Kelsie was not my easiest baby; she would not let anyone hold her except Scott or me. Even my mom had to work up to holding her, and she wanted to be held all the time.

She had 2 big sisters that doted on her and then it wasn’t long before she was the big sister. When Kelsie was 2 I started calling her my “girlfriend” and that was the magic word for her, if I called her my girlfriend she would listen and get a big smile on her face and be so excited, it was our special code word.  Kelsie was stuck right in the middle between 2 big sisters and 2 little brothers, she didn’t fit with either for quite a while and that was really frustrating for her, and I dropped the ball, with Kelsie during that time and should have been more attentive to her needs. 

She was a difficult child but maybe if I had been a better parent she might have been better. Something changed when she turned 12 I remember the exact day. She threw a big fit about getting her shots for school; it took 4 nurses plus me to hold her down for the shot. She came home and spent the rest of the day in her room while we went out boating without her. While she spent the time in her room she decided that she needed to change her behavior and from that day on she has been wonderful. She has been the easiest teenager. She is great friends with her big sisters and had become great friends with Ryan, which I thought would never happen. She has loved being a big sister to Destina and Avrie, she is so helpful, kind and responsible.

 She is mature and so ready for the next steps into adulthood.  I have less than 2 months left with Kelsie living in our home, I am excited to see what her future holds and the adventures she will embark on. Kelsie I love you, you are a beautiful person inside and out, and despite my poor parenting.  I am so proud of you! Happy 18^th birthday!

Summer

 We are having a busy summer so far, Scott and the boys went camping for 3 days at Lake Constance it was quite the hike, Jayden came home and said it was horrible, but Scott said that Jayden was a trooper and didn't complain, went right up the side of the cliff and had some fun. The highlight for Jayden was gutting a fish, cooking it and eating it. He made it home uninjured, a little sore, but I call that a success.
Ryan and Scott had fun, Scott learned more patience as he had to help another scout come down the mountain one baby step at a time, what took the other boys about an hour and a half took Scott and the other scout 4 hours. The camping trip included a ferry ride and about a 5 mile hike into the campground, then the steep climb to the lake. Scott and Ryan's muscles were sore and they spent the next two days punching each other in the quad muscles to see who could inflict the most pain, all in good fun!

The sign says it is a 3,400 climb in 2 miles, pretty much straight up.

Both boys tried fishing but without success, but one of the other leaders caught a couple of fish.

Ryan loves camping he had a great time!

The excitement is just oozing off of Jayden!

All this is in preparation for the scout troop to summit Mt. Baker next week, I hope they all survive, Scott and Ryan have been looking forward to doing this for years. Jayden is going along for the ride!