soccer is back!

the boys had their first practices this week! they are excited to be back and use their new skills that they learned during soccer camp last month.

both boys are on the same team this year - hooray! and they are on a team with some friends from past teams and a few new boys, but the new boys are friends of the friends so it's going to be so fun to hang out with our team! i'm looking forward to a great soccer season. games start next saturday and are at the same field we've played at the last few years. as always, if you come, we'll feed you lunch before or after!



schedule:

aug 22 2pm

aug 29 11:30am

sep 12 9am

sep 19 2pm

oct 3 12:45pm

oct 10 11:30am

oct 17 12:45pm

oct 24 9am

oct 31 9am

nov 7 2pm

nov 14 2pm

nov 21 12:45pm

vacation - day 13

wake up at mt shasta koa

why stop in stockton? to visit wild horses

ports - minor league baseball

sleep at rest stop near three rocks, ca

vacation - day 12

we drove from kah-nee-tah to bend - where grandma grew up and her friend sheila lives. she brought us home-made cookies and accompanied us to the lava lands visitor center.

next we went to the lava caves and climbed down into a lava tube with a lantern for light. it was near closing time and we were the last ones in there - SCARY!

before crossing the border into california, we stopped to use our last sparklers. we used them at the wedding to see off the bride & groom, but most of our kids had already retired to the hotel. since we can't do sparklers at home, we thought we'd take the opportunity to let the kids do them.

vacation - day 11

after breakfast (the best french toast my husband's ever had!), we took off from longview, washington and drove to

kah-nee-ta, warm springs indian reservation in central oregon.

it was a nice drive and there was so much beautiful scenery.

vacation - day 10

this morning we headed out to silver lake to go fishing! all the kids have never been on a boat until yesterday, nor have they been fishing, so this was a real treat. we went out on the lake adn found a nice spot, got out all the fishing poles and waited. it was beautiful weather and we really enjoyed the time. grandpa saw a 12-14" fish swim by jojo's line, but that was all the action for the day. the kids didn't mind. we all had fun. i held a pole for a little while - my first time fishing too!

afterwards, we headed a few miles down to the mt st helens visitor center and learned all about the 80's volcanic explosion. we watched a little film and saw many exhibits. lots of photography- including a second-by-second timeline which was incredible. at home we had another yummy meal. aunt marilyn & uncle gaius are wonderful hosts and fed us well for the entire time we were in their care! dinner was late (we'd had a late lunch too) but nobody realized it because it didn't get dark until almost 10pm! another little bit of learning - being further north means more daylight into the night during summer.

- a great day! also the day my camera broke (it will go back to the shop when we get home), but the pics from here on out will have to come from other sources.)

vacation - day 9

i woke this morning and headed to the gym again. don't know where i get the energy, but i've enjoyed working out first thing in the morning and coming back to everyone still asleep at 740! it has to be because the kids have been up so late (like 10 or 11pm), but its just working.

i spent my time while they slept loading the motorhome with all our stuff. when they woke, we had breakfast in our room (it was still yummy, but the little breakfast room was so crowded there was no room for a group of 6).

we said goodbye to the family we'd been with for the past few days. it was so good to spend time with them as they live so far away.we loaded up in the motorhome and headed for my uncle shawn & aunt ai kin's house in vancouver.

i've not seen my uncle in over 10 years. the last time was at my grandmother's funeral. but before that, we saw each other in hawaii, where he was stationed in the navy. they hosted a friend and me for a couple weeks the summer i was 14. it was so good to see them and just chat for an hour or so before we got on the road to longview, washington to see scott's uncle. (it's uncle day).

mom's brother, gaius and his wife, marilyn are hosting us for the next couple days. today we met them for a picnic lunch along the colombia river. after our picnic, we set out on their boat to cruise the river. we had planned to fish, but fishing has been closed. so we will try to fish tomorrow.

the boat ride was especially fun for the kids because they've never been out on a boat! (just the 5min balboa ferry.) after the boating, another first - riding in the back of a pickup. the kids were thrilled some more. then, we went to their home and their mom & kids came over for dinner. gayna brought the kids gumballs, which was another first and they were being so funny. i had to excuse their silly behavior explaining that they'd never had them before - what a fun day of firsts!

david brought his family - lisa & 3 of their 4 boys (to oldest is at college). their kids were 8 11 & 16. they were so great with our little ones. we had a great time with all of the family. there was much good food, great fellowship, and fun for the little people. what more could we ask for? (the house next door is vacant - and i am tempted!)

the views from their house are incredible - day & night! i took these photos as i went to sleep and woke up!

vacation - day 8

today is the day we came for! tonight is the wedding!

i woke up before the family, but it was already 7 so not too early. i took the opportunity to head down to the gym. i had a nice work out and was ready for the day. got the kids up and dressed & we headed down to the breakfast room.

once scott was up we left the boys with him & dad while us girls (mom, ky, and i) went shopping for shoes for ky for the wedding (her new white sandals were not looking so new after a little wear - my bad for letting her wear them.) we found shoes right away and then went in search of gift wrap for the birthday gifts we'd bought yesterday at ikea - for the birthday party in a couple hours!

we got back to the hotel just in time to pick up the boys and head to the party at a park just about 15 minutes away. the kids had fun, (it was a park), spending time with family. we had lunch and cake then headed back to the hotel for a nap before the evening wedding festivities.

ky & sy napped, the boys swam then read quietly for a few minutes before getting our wedding gear on. we headed to the church and got ky ready then took some family pictures.

the wedding was beautiful. the boys were silent. ky did walk down the aisle after much prodding (and i even said pleeeease once). she almost skipped down and after the wedding started she said "mommy, i forgot to drop my petals. i have to go throw them." i told her no, but she started shifting laps from one relative to another getting closer to the center aisle! fortunately, she was not at all disruptive.

jake & katie were so great to watch as they became united that they may "glorify God"! they are an amazing couple and we pray that God will do amazing things with this couple united to serve Him!

after the wedding, there was a reception with food, stories of the couple, and a yummy cake! when it was all over we sent them off with a celebration of sparklers. that was a treat for ky because they're illegal where we live. it was a treat for me because that's what i wanted at my wedding, but - once again - illegal. the boys had already gone home so we grabbed a couple extra for them. what a fun day!