Activities, lots of activities

We had family dinner here after the temple dedication, it was great to see the kids enjoying the big lawn.

Leo Boy and Luca sure know how to make themselves at home at our house.

Jens had her first volleyball match. She was super nervous, but probably not as nervous her mom.

She was so fun to watch doing her thing.

The combined activity was at the park, it felt like a crisp, fall night.

I went to watch the HS volleyball games and noticed that Whitney's girls could use some time outside, so I brought them to our house. They seem to love the country life.

They definitely know how to pose for pictures much better than our boys.

It was a fun get together, especially once we added in Leo Boy's birthday party.

It's just too bad that the girls don't seem to feel comfortable around us...

 

Late Summer and Speedy Bullet

It's still technically summer, and the kids are trying to squeeze out the last drops.

Jensley started volleyball and is loving it.

DeA and I had to renew our recommends, and then enjoyed delicious papusas.

Rock went to a CHS football game to hang out with friends that he worked with over the summer. I stopped by to watch the second half and pick him up. It was fun to talk to old friends and watch some of the kids I coached in youth ball.

We bought a fishing trip from one of the kids in town during the school auction. He did a great job with Ryker and his friend, and they caught something like 17 delicious bass.

He kept two and realized that cleaning them wasn't as fun as he thought it would be.

The chapel was going to be used for the Moses Lake Temple dedication, so the YM pressure washed the building to make it cleaner.

Well, the YM started pressure washing the building...

We helped Sandy Stutzman get a piece of driftwood from her parents' house, and Javi could help but notice an old boat that needed rescued. It hasn't been in the water in 39 years, the cover is rotting away, and the inside is full of mold and yet he's still interested.

Ryker had his first cross country meet, and DeA had her first as a coach. They were all pretty nervous.

He was ready to be speedy bullet!

We tried to get him to be aerodynamic, but he wanted to keep wearing the undershirt.

He wanted to beat 10min, but ended up 10:35 which is still pretty good for his first race.

We tried to get him to sprint down the stretch, but he said he was already feeling like he was going to throw up.

DeA and I In Stehekin

A healthy marriage is based on three things: 1. Spending time together 2. Spending time without the kids 3. Spending time in Stehekin. We hopped the ferry Friday after work and headed on up. DeA can't take a selfie without looking at herself and checking her hair, eyes, whateves.

As she usually does, she fell asleep once we were on our way.

We got to the Ranch a little before dinner (ribs and brisket) and took a little evening walk by the river.

DeA strives to find the balance between wearing herself out and relaxing. That usually means a hike in the morning, and on Saturday we went up Mt McGregor about 2.5 miles. 

Howard Lake on the way up.

About two miles up, she was struggling (she says due to a cold that she was battling) and mumbled "I'm not supposed to be the one out of ...". I asked what she was going to say and she snapped "nothing, nothing, just nothing". 

I am 100% sure that she was going to say that she wasn't supposed to be the one that was out of shape. I'd bet my left kidney on it.

We got back, hit the bakery for lunch, and then rested at our cabin. We did another after dinner (prime rib) walk.

On Sunday we did the Agnus Gorge hike. It was hot and dusty, but we were able to beat the busload of other hikers to the trailhead.

We played on their swing a little when we got back.

We had to ride the bus like commonfolk, but it was good. We stopped at Rainbow Falls. The water was pretty low and would have been unimpressive if it were the first time we had seen it.

The ferry ride back was smooth and easy with perfect weather. It was a good weekend. It is always important to remind DeA why we started this mess 18 years ago.

 

Summer is over and School is starting

During our baseball trip, Ryker kept asking "hypotheticals" about getting a cat. I told him I was against the idea, but I am not surprised that DeA and Hampa Dale helped him pick up a cat from Thompsons.

So far the cat lives in Hampa's mancave, but Ryker already ordered a pretty elaborate cat house that will be in our garage. This cat will be inside before the Seahawks lose a game.

Ryker had a baby tooth that just would not come out, and he had an appointment to get it pulled. He promised that it would be out before then, and he kept that promise by yanking it out in the parking lot right before his apt.

Somehow, Grandpa fashion became popular with the youths.

Jens had a great activity where they made flowers at Christensen's

Finally, the first day of school got here. We now have a sophomore

an 8th grader

And a 6th grader. They are all in the same building again.

By a sweet stroke of luck, I had the day off work while the kids were in school and DeA had massages. I tried to make dinner and ended up with a metric ton of mac and cheese.