Judd/Lord Visit 2025

The ice cream machine is up and running for the season. It's a faint Dole Whip with the fake stuff, not a bad combo.

My beautiful Schnoogies.

Little Grayson is quite the cute guy.

He can be very cuddly when he wants to be.

Leo Puppy got all the attention he could want.

Jens had her last softball game of the season in Wenatchee. She and DeA were able to sleep while Ryker drove us down.

She kind of became the starting and main pitcher for the team, some of the other girls are getting reps at travel level, but also, Jens throws more strikes even if she doesn't have the velocity yet.

Because of the stupid dropped third strike rule (which makes no sense at this level) she struck out SIX!! batters in the second inning and 11 in three innings. That has to be some sort of record!

 

Return From the Dalles

It's important to get 15-year-old drivers experience, even if it gives their mother an ulcer. At least that's what the Driver's Ed instructor said.

It was a fairly easy drive home. Greyson got to annoy Leo Puppy and that was good for both of them.

Pa and Ma Judd brought their motorhome.

It fit like a glove.

The germaphobe city kids were exposed Chaos Farms, and it went about how you would expect.

DeA does not like birds at all.

Brixton held a chicken for about two seconds

No one wanted to hold the turkey, but they liked watching Javi with it.

Brixton felt left out of the Chaos Farms vibe and took matters into his own hands.

 

The Dalles

Six years ago, we stopped in the The Dalles on our way back from Medford to tour the Anderson Homestead where DeA's great-grandma Lela lived when she was a little girl. DeA wanted to tour it again, and talked her sister and parents to meet in The Dalles for a family heritage trip. Grayson was his happy, cuddly self.

The kids loved the almost life-size doll.

We convinced the kids to re-enact this photo.

This is the bedroom where Grandma Lela would have stayed.

I'm not sure what Brixton is doing in the bushes, but it's probably what it looks like.

All the Anderson descendants, and Dave.

Great-great-great-great Grandpa and Grandma Anderson

Anderson descendants, this time without Dave.

DeA was very excited to take everyone to Cousin's, because this was a trip about discovering family. The mature teenagers discretely bought straw glasses for the elegant dinner.

Then they ordered Sprite, so they didn't quite think things through. 

As we were walking into church on Sunday, my cousin Tyler and his wife Lori were coming from the other end of the parking lot. DeA was a little upset that I found my living cousin, but all her family members were underground. It is interesting that every time we run into members of my family that she doesn't know very well, DeA usually leaves saying "wow, they were really nice" like it was a surprise. So, if any of my family is reading this, now you know what DeA's default opinion is about you.

Teenagers

This is what life with teenagers is like. I don't know what they were doing.

We hit 100 degrees, Jens went old school and ran through the sprinkler.

We have spent a lot of time at the fields finishing up softball. DeA always looks good in the sunset.

Jensley has become the main pitcher and it wears her out.

The teachers will ride 100 miles over three days and to get them ready we had them ride 1.5 miles.

They were cooked after that and wanted slurpees.

Flygirl DeA discovered that her nose isn't the right shape for aviators, but I think she still looks hot.

We had a chance to run to the temple. We never get to go as much as we'd like, but I guess that just isn't our season in life right now.

Baskin Robins has a sour gummy shake that surprisingly slaps.

We basically went from the temple to Jens' game.

She pitched 3 innings which was impressive after doing Slidewaters for eight hours earlier.

Reach and stretch, reach and stretch.

Leo was there to support Jens. Not by actually watching, but by being there with his Minecraft. She felt the support.

 

4th of July HillhHike and more softball

The YM have their daunting Mt Adams climb and 100 mile bike ride and Ingolls Lake hike coming up shortly. We tried to help them prepare by climbing 4th of July Hill. it's 1.25ish miles and 1300ish ft up. It was straight up at some points.

I walked up with one of the deacons who was struggling and was the last one to the top, so I took a picture with everyone that was still up there.

The ice cream sandwiches seemed to make everything worth it. My elevation graph on my watch looked like we walked up and down a pyramid. 

The dogs helped Javi out by digging a rock chuck out of his wheel well. 

More softball. We aren't even travel ball parents, and it feels like we are always driving to or being at the field.

Nama and Hampa were very excited.

Ryker was bored, and since he doesn't really 3D print anymore, he wanted to build. Grandpa Dave taught him how to pick out the good lumber. 

He even knows how to strap it down and say "that's not going anywhere".

He requested milanesas for dinner, so I made those while he was working away in Horcha's garage

His project was a hanging shelf for some of his printing stuff.

I guess we'll just re-sheetrock the whole room one day. As the saying goes, we aren't raising walls, we are raising boys.