First Day of School and Stehekin!

It has been over 500 days since all three kids had all-day school. DeA is beside herself with excitement that they are all back this year. An 8th grader, a 6th grader, and a 4th grader.

We've kind of created a tradition where we spend a few nights up in Stehekin every year with the kids. They are always excited to go, which hopefully doesn't change as they get into being teenagers.

We took evening walks

Ate a lot of delicious food

Hiked 95% of the way to Bridge Creek, but had to turn around because some of the group didn't want to eat the sack lunches that were packed and wanted to get back for the hot lunch at the Ranch.

Ryker had medium rare prime rib and made fun of his mom's well done heel (that was put on the grill for another 5 minutes)

Rock had quiet time to do some drawing.

They tried to play croquet without knowing the rules. Spoiler alert: it didn't end well.

We went on a family horse ride.

It was really pretty.

DeA ended up at the end of our group and ate quite a bit of dust.

We did about 7 miles round-trip with a stop at Howard Lake.

That's a good looking cowgirl.

You know it's a good trip when Rock runs out of gas.

 

Trip to the Temple

The ward had a mini youth temple trip on Saturday, we decided to go down Friday and get some school shopping done. We went through Moses Hole to see the progress on the new temple down there. 

It's coming along, although the kids think that they'd rather drive the extra hour to the Tri-Cities and have Costa Vida and Krispy Kreme than have the shorter drive to Moses Hole and have nothing good to eat.

DeA and I were able to go in with Rock, and Jens and Ryker hung around outside. Ryker had my phone and did about a bajillion youtube videos and took a bunch of pictures.

He continued taking pics after we were done, like while at lunch

We came home through Yakima (which isn't on the way home from the Tri-Cities) to pick up a cheap used Peloton bike. We sure made that think look classy in the back of the truck.

We got home in time for a nice walk at sunset.

DeA found a pretty big paw print on our loop.

The bike has been helping Rock get ready for football.

I know I take a lot of pics of DeA in the sunsets, but she's just so darn pretty.

New Neighbors and a Visti From Mama Zista and Aunt Linds

The kids have had a blast with Max and Leo, and even went on a long walk together.

They found some bamboo sticks from Doug and Jama's and had a lot of fun with those things

Leo was dirty, and DeA wanted him to roll in clean grass. She even showed him how and where to roll, and he just ignored her like he was one of the kids.

Jens will still cuddle with a dirty dog.

DeA was worried about how Linds and her kids would do with Leo, apparently she didn't need to worry.

Mama Zista and Linds convinced DeA to spend our anniversary in Wenatchee. She was really ready to party.

We were all minding our business at home when suddenly a naked Leo baby walked through the door. He was trying to escape his bath.

Linds told the kids that they would all sleep out on the trampoline. She made DeA feel guilty (and old) for not wanting to so they had a bet with each other that they would stay out there all night.

The kids were excited even though the wind was blowing 20-30 mph.

Max didn't understand all the talking, he thought that they were sleeping on the trampoline and he was tired.

DeA wore two pairs of footie pjs to try and stay warm.

Everyone made it through the night, so they celebrated with "small" cotton candies.