Baby Samson

Kevin and the kids went down to Adna where we went for our Family reunion. Our Uncle Jeff's horse Millie was pregnant, and her baby was born on the 25th. So they had to see the colt. He was 5 days old...and really warmed up to Jaycee fast!! He even layed his head down on Jaycee's lap...Jaycee was DYING...but so happy that he was comfortable with her. She said " his tail is so soft and furry....he's just like a big dog...with a big head! TOOOOO cute!!

It was a success!!

So much fun to be a part of this amazing program...course I loved our stakes costumes and all the youth being together!! Shaylin was really glad she kept on going and that I didn't let her quit...it was all worth it in the end!! Her last event of YW's, as she is graduated and accepted her first calling in the church. She is the primary pianist...and she is doing an amazing job!! I am so proud of her and for keeping with the piano!! I love to hear the piano being played in our home!! Especially primary songs!! They're the BEST!!

Dance Festival

So tonight is the big production that the youth have been practicing for....for 7 months!! I was at the Tacoma Dome yesterday all day with them (and all night), and they are AMAZING!! It impressed me how 11 stakes, and 2300 youth can come together and blow us out of the water with all of their work that has been put into these dances!! It is going to be SOOOOOOOO good to watch them all in costume tonight. I can't believe all the work some of these people have gone too!! With sewing costumes, their time...it's going to be awesome!! They have one performance tonight and 2 tommorrow. We had a mini youth conference yesterday, and Elaine Dalton the Gereral Young Womens President was there to speak to us, with Brad Wilcox and Kenneth Cope. I loved them all!!

While the youth were practicing...we had a chance to hang around Sister Dalton and visit with her and her husband for a while. She is so genuine and such a classy lady!! She made my day...just her sweetness and love for the young women is wonderful to see!!

Poor Shaylin was getting over a horrible stomach bug that has spread through our Family and alot of others...so she felt horrible. But she hung in there. Luckily she is feeling much better today, just a little shaky...darn it! I might have to sneak over to the dome today and get some more photo's!

The Airshow

We went to see the Thunderbirds perform their show at McChord Airforce base last Saturday....it was a VERY hot day....but well worth the walking. These planes are SOOO amazing...fast....and loud. I loved watching and wondering what they were going to do next!! We got to get on a huge cargo plane and sit in the cockpit, and the kids got to hop on a tanker and pretend to shoot a gun with the nice helper guy!

(Ryan would be so mad at me for not knowing his title)...I do know his name was Adam!! So patriotic to see this beautiful flag waving...just had to snap a photo!!

Seems like we NEVER stay home...but then again..it is SUMMER...time to play!! We are going to Alaska to see our kids and grandbaby's....hooray!!! So excited for this trip....Aug 23-31st! Ryan and Casey and their 2 kids will only be stationed there for another year, so we decided we needed to take a trip when its not 21 degrees below zero, and see a little bit of Alaska!!

More tubing!!

I think we LIVE in the water....so glad we take the opportunities to play when the weather is nice!! I hear we have only had a quarter of an inch of rain in the Seattle area in the last 33 days...unusual for Washington...but were not complaining...we've really enjoyed this weather!!!

This 1st picture...THEY knew they were in trouble.....the second picture...they ALL wiped out!! Kevin says it's our first time flipping this particular tube....we were hitting some pretty BIG waves!! Lake Washington was SOOOOO warm today....which was awesome, because it was Shaylin and Jon's days off...and they really wanted to go boating and be in the sun!! Then of course we have to eat at IVAR'S...then back out boating...

ONE happy Shaylin!!!

July 4th

My blog is a little out of sync here..we were without our computer for a week...but it's back now..so just updating our summer so far!

We had a nice 4th of July weekend. We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge for a night to see what that was all about. They have quite the set-up there...indoor waterpark and all. We swam and swam..We met Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty there...then went to Kevin's Uncles house ( near Chehalis) for the rest of the weekend, where we had all sorts of activities going on. Horse riding, John Deere Tractor riding...and driving, Kayaking, Kareoke...and visiting with cousins, which is always nice since they don't get together very often. Tanner and Dad Kayaked on a double...then Tan said "Dad..I want to paddle my own." Kevin was a little aprehensive, but let him do it...and he was AMAZING!! He took to kayaking like he'd done it before...so fun to watch!! ( I can't even use those darn paddles, and get them to go the right way!) It was hard to leave all the fun behind...but time to get back home. It was a nice change from the usual 4th activities. Course we had fireworks and a BBQ as well. A great weekend had by all!!

Is this a STUD picture of Tanner or what?! Caught him off gaurd...and I love it!! Dad gave him this hat, and he is SO proud of it!!

A beautiful day at the lake!!

These 3 were having the time of their lives they said!! They kept wanting to do number eights in the water...SO, Kevin kept them going! They have become alot braver in the tube this year. Jaycee invited her friend Kami to come...and maybe Tanner was just showing off for her, but they were pretty daring! The water level was high, and the water was just beautiful!! We got off the boat and climbed around a little, and the water in that area is ALWAYS SOOOOO green...as seen in the photo below with Jaycee. And...we saw a frog swimming in the water!! (bonus!)

We love to boat at Alder Lake!! And we saw 2 deer grazing on the grass after we got the boat out...and they let me get within 5 feet to take pictures!! A great day!!