Father's Day 2009

Maybe our family just isn't meant to have holiday pictures???

Joe went progressively downhill until he was finally turned completely around backward.





But you get the idea...maybe next year we'll pull it off...

Scout Olympics

Jason and Jacob attended a three day camp out with their troop this week. Friday night, the families were invited up to watch the obstacle race and then stay for a potluck dinner and the Court of Honor!

The Young Women's group went up to a campground nearby to complete some of their precamp certifications and came over to the scout camp for the race and dinner.

On our way up to the camp, we met Grandpa Gary and Chewelah and gave him his Father's Day gift...Happy Father's Day, dad!!



I was asked to take pictures of the kids as they went through the "Walk on Stilts", "Archery" and "Zipline" parts of the course. (If we get any pictures of our kids at other stations, I'll add them later.)

I wasn't able to get any pictures of the our kids on stilts - the pictures turned out too blurry. But here they are at Archery...Jacob and Maddie (Jason decided to run a station this year and not compete in the race.)




At one point in the course, the kids had to dive through a huge mud...puddle...(puddle is an understatement). Then they came down the zipline.

Maddie at the end of the zipline - then her full mud pose...after which, she full on hugged her mom!




Jacob on the zipline and his mud shot - and he was kind and DIDN'T hug his mom!




After the race the younger kids got turns on the zipline...here's Megan at the end.



Jason and Joseph messing around...




These guys were sure little troopers! Somehow Jared, Dad & Meredi managed to dodge the camera the entire night! We'll have to make up for it next time!!

Happy Birthday, Melanie Jayne!

Melanie turned 5 yesterday! She had a great birthday! Dad stayed home and spent the day with us - helped bake her cake, blew up balloons, did some last minute party shopping - it was a great day!

Jaynie and her Tinkerbell cake! She had seen a white wedding cake at the bakery that had pink roses and told me she wanted her birthday cake to look like that...I thought we came pretty darn close, but she informed me that it didn't have "levels" (tiers) like the wedding cake! Ok, mom can only do so much with Betty Crocker!!



Jaynie posed for a picture after opening each picture...(here are a few)





Just before blowing the candles out...

Still...

Four years later we STILL miss grandpa. There isn't anything we wouldn't give to have him back. Sure, we take comfort in knowing where he is and that we'll see him again...but that doesn't keep us from missing him...daily. We are so grateful for the influence he was, and will always be, in our lives.

Jacob's Day

Don't suppose it would surprise anyone to hear that the reason Jacob's birthday update is late is because we were having internet problems, would it?? :) Thankfully, everything is now 100% fixed (at least for today) - new satellite provider - hopefully that will do the trick!

Anyway, here is Jake's birthday...the fun stuff!

Yes, mom gives boring clothes...



iPod Nano - which I think has been attached to his hand since he opened it! Didn't get a picture of him with his Super Smash Bros Brawl game for the Wii or of him with his new scriptures. 12 is an expensive age! :) (I also forgot to give the grandma's a thank-you for the cards/$$ that they sent. Both Grandma Margaret and Grandma Lee were early for Jacob's birthday and I forgot to mention them...thanks for remembering our boy's special day!...and I did mention the Leatherman that Grandma & Grandpa gave him earlier in the month so he could take it camping, just not here.)



We had angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream...it was all scooped together as we served so there wasn't a cake picture to be taken.



And a token "Surprise Mom" picture I found of Joseph on the camera...