Back to School

Today was our first day back to school. The kids were able to get up and get back into the same routine that we haven't done since June. And luckily we had a few minutes to spare to take a few pictures in front of our gala orchard (it's supposed to be picked tomorrow - can you tell?) . The girls were excited that I bought them burgandy polos this year (school uniforms can get quite boring). Morgan loves that we bought her the same flats that I have. I love that the dog, Max, posed in all of the pictures too.

Chelsea - 1st grade- Ms. Phillips (the same teacher Cameron had in Kindergarten 30 yrs ago) - Elementary School

Morgan - 3rd grade - Ms. Christian - Intermediate School

Collin - 6th grade - many teachers - Middle School

Mia came home and decided she wanted to watch High School Musical 3 and I snuck the picture of her watching and acting it out with Barbies. So cute!! She once again gets to be my buddy at home while the kids are gone from about 8 am- 3 pm.

Top Chef

Chelsea and Mia have been playing with play doh today. I knew they were pretending to make food (mostly desserts). Later I heard them setting up to serve it at a party. Next thing I heard was that they were taste testing and critiquing what they had made. It sounded like they were judges on Top Chef (and were also the chefs who made the food). I think my girls have watched a lot of reality TV with me this summer since I'm noticing things like this reenactment more and more.

Pedicures . . .

Make Me Happy!!!

Morgan learned . . .

to drive a tractor today! Cameron was raking a field behind the house today and invited Morgan to come along. He taught her to drive and she came home an hour or so later pretty proud of herself. I don't think she's ready to spend as much time behind the wheel as Collin does (or anytime soon). But it will be fun for her to do it every once in a while when Cameron is around to supervise her.

What's Collin up to Today

Collin was out of bed and off to work by 3 am this morning to rake hay in Othello (along with Cameron and 3 other boys). When he was done with that he got to run this tractor to disc wheat out. Today he was teaching his cousin Regan to run this tractor with auto steer in it. I can't believe what a hard worker these boys are! And all they ask for most of the time is to be well feed (today he got Burger King for breakfast and Jack in the Box for lunch). He's still not home but I'm hoping he'll be home soon so he can get some rest. After a few crazy days like this he usually gets very burned out and cranky. He's an awesome kid and hard worker!

Found!

Over a year ago I was devastated to realize that the watch that a wore on a daily basis and given to be by my loving husband was missing!!! It's an awesome watch (purchased at Costco) that is solar powered so it never needs a battery as long as it gets light and was water resistant to 100 ft which meant I even wore it when I swam in the Caribbean Sea! I was lost without my watch. My kids kindly tried to replace it for Mother's day with a cheap watch from Target but it was just not the same. So finally my husband replaced it with an equivalent watch that he purchased when we were on a cruise in Alaska. Fast forward to Sunday morning and I was looking for a pair of earrings that I had stupidly left on the arm of the couch the night before. I was digging under the couch cushions (which I had done many times before including vacuuming more than once and moving) and instead of pulling up an earring pulled up my beloved watch! Oh happy day! Now I have 2 nice watches to wear!!!

Our First Family Camping Trip

Rebecca invited our family to go on a camping trip to Lake Kachess. We had never taken our kids on a real camping trip before and finally decided it was time to go. Jane has a pull trailer that wasn't getting much use and told us to bring that which made it nice that we didn't have to sleep in a tent or pack kitchen supplies. After a very late start on Wednesday night (8pm) and a few stops including back tracking to find a open gas station, we finally arrived at the campsite (Mia called it a website the whole time we were there -lol). Thursday morning after breakfast we walked down to the lake and the kids were in heaven! It had a great little beach and roped off swim area and some fun logs floating for them to play on. And the scenery was beautiful!!

Cameron bought this paddle boat on the way and it was a big hit.

Rebecca's friends, Cary and Melanie Mitchell also came and brought their boat, tube and skis. Cameron enjoyed being a passenger rather than the boat driver and was able to relax some on the tube!

The boys tried to fish a little in the creek and Collin fell off the bank and got a bit wet. Sadly, no fish we caught.

We sat around and relaxed around the campfire and eating all the delicious meals that were made. Cameron made some excellent pork and corn on the cob on the fire on our night for dinner. It was true camp cooking!

Mia loving on her blanket, Sydney and Morgan

Rebecca and her friend, Melanie working on their tans while watching the kiddos on the beach

I love the sheer look of terror on Christian's face riding with Collin and Logan

I heard Collin rode the tube the most but amazingly my dear little girl, Chelsea who normally has to be forced into it rode a ton also!!

Chelsea, Mike and Logan

Rebecca on the boat with her girls, Sydney and Taylor

This is a view of our campsite (website) from the trailer while we're eating breakfast.

Cameron took me on a "romantic" paddle boat ride

Jane came up and spent an afternoon with us and was not prepared for the hot lake weather!

The girls spent lots of time playing on the shore . . .

and playing make believe (like tinkerbell fairies) and posing in the trees.

Cameron and Collin took baths in the lake at night

We all ate way too many yummy smores!!!

Morgan became an expert at making the perfect marshmallow.

Doesn't that look so good!

Rebecca decided we needed to try waterskiing again.

It took me a while to get up and going and then I still felt out of control and my arms hurt! I want to get better again and want to buy a ski finally for our boat.

These are the awesome girl cousins on the last day (Saturday)!

Collin hugging his cousins, Logan and Christian

Cameron and Mike our cleaning up after our big breakfast

Yuck! It's time to go home because I went far too long without washing my hair! I am so glad Rebecca finally convinced us to go camping with them. My kids loved it and want us to go back there again before school starts (but we hope that the mosquitos aren't there as bad next time).