Summer Fun

As I was looking through August pictures I realized there was a reason my house isn't the cleanest...we were busy having fun!

Cassidy started her first round of swimming lessons and loved it!



Only at our pool do they get to practice in kayaks...I love this area!

 The audience payed close attention to what was going on...as long as there were Cheerios

 Goin' ridin' involved a few extra steps, but we worked it out!

 And then there was the slip n slide that was by far the most fun to play on and for us to watch

It gets a little crazy around here....

 

We found a great deal on a sandbox, a real one with a lid, and couldn't resist...the girls couldn't either!

We were blessed to have lots of friends over to play often...so much fun

Then there were trips to the beach of course

 The twins did well on the outings with all the action to watch, but I wasn't brave enough to let them out.

 Our first trip to the NW Washington Fair in Lynden with Auntie Laura, her two nieces Marin and Drew, and step-mom Karen

Everyone got their face painted...what fun!

The food, ohhh the food.  Cassidy ate that whole ear of corn, plus some fries. 

 Of course it was "horse day" at the fair and we were able to watch everything from big draft teams to crazy little 4 abreast ponies with chariots...quite entertaining.  Not to mention the two monkeys we were sitting with

 Some sisterly love with Cassidy and Rylee

 Not as many crabbing trips this summer, but a few and Cassidy was right in the middle

 Summer means fresh blueberries and yummy blueberry pancakes

Sawyer and Rylee thoroughly enjoyed their pancakes, and the following bath!

 

As you can see, it's a pretty tough life around here, and I love every crazy minute!

Man vs Woman

The original plan, back in December, was for Chad, Jerry, Caden, Brady, Matt and I to do a 5 day backpack somewhere around Leavenworth.  But then about July I decided there was no way I could be away from my 3 babies for 5 days, even for an amazing backpack, Chad hurt his knee chasing a guy in the grocery store, a new football coach for Caden and Matt got sucked in at work and long story short, plans changed.  Cari and I decided to do a 2 night backpack up Thunder Creek and the boys headed up to Baker Lake for some day hikes and fishing so those who needed to go back early could. 

Turned out that Cari and I did a total of 28 miles with some interesting creek crossings and a bear and the boys never left the campground!  Yeah, girls kick butt! 

We did have to share our campsite with a "friend" who made us take
our bear bag a little more seriously

Hay

Despite a really wet summer and a small tractor fire we managed to get a good crop of hay in yet again this year thanks to family, neighbors and almost the volunteer fire department!  The hay crew seemed to continually change with the exception of Caden, Alexa and Chad so here are all the versions, and I can't forget about the very important babysitting crew as well! 

 This included some of the babysitters too

 The first load headed to the barn.  Caden helped Chad stack this year and the two of them did a great job.  Caden worked his tail off, stacking every load and helping to unload in the barn too...THANKS!

 Cassidy was right there to help drive with Auntie Lisa or Auntie Lori and then was ready to  help salt in the barn.  Alexa and the girls all did a great job, no worries about moisture and I'll probably be able to not have to buy salt blocks this winter as a bonus

 So where were the babies??  Entertaining the grandmas of course, and neighbor Debbie.  They did make a few appearances for pictures though.  Rylee is in purple, Sawyer in yellow

 Giving their best "this is serious" farmer/supervisor pose, complete with chewing on stems

Until their true personalities came out!

Of course they got into a little mischief...

 But also got rewarded with their first popsicle...as you can see, Sawyer is a little more interested than Rylee

Thanks every one for another full barn...YAY!!



Camping??

Yep, camping and yes in a tent.  A rather large tent that proved to be a great investment...even Chad admitted it "worked out well" and complete with an air mattress for us it sure did! We had a a great time on 2 different adventures, granted a ridiculous amount of gear, but a great time.  The first was an hour and half up the road towards Mount Baker, a trial run that if things weren't going well we could easily get back home.  But things worked out well in a great camp right on the lake, Cassidy's first camping s'mores, some successful Sockeye fishing that Sam and MacKenzie came up to join in on, a good swimming area and a beautiful view.  Even though we fought off a little rain the first night the rest of the 3 days were very nice, the bugs were minimal, the twins did great, Cassidy had a blast and we couldn't wait to do it again.

Yes, that's a trout in MacKenzie's hand, but the next day she caught a real one!

Rylee's first beer...

Home for 2 days and then off to Eastern Washington and 5 days at Alta Lake with Matt, Lori, Lindsey and Brady.  We left home in thunder and lightening storms.  All the way over we kept saying "oh, this will break on the east side of the pass" but it didn't.  We pulled into the campsite with a forecast of damaging hail and strong wind gusts through 11pm....YAY!  We decided to brave it, with Bryce's offer of a nice dry house 45 min away tucked into our heads, and scrambled to get our tent up.  By the time we were done (a new record by the way) it had stopped raining and there wasn't another drop.  Woo hoo!  Every morning we spent time exploring the camp ground and thankfully Lori was always game to take a baby, in this case Rylee, swimming and having fun together, while the guys searched for Sockeye. 

After fishing in the morning, the guys came back and we all hit the beach for some swim time



Sawyer loved being in the water

Rylee loved playing in the sand

I don't know for sure, but I think Sawyer  Rylee

Camp life was tough...but we made do.  Brady and Sawyer seemed to have a special bond and he was always happy to help with bottles, mostly because Sawyer always finished first!  Linds and Cass were never far from eachother, either reading stories/playing in the tent, coloring or exploring. 

Best friends

 Fishing success....Brady caught his first salmon and as a right of passage of course had to clean it himself, with a rapt audience.  Chad and Matt also got one in the boat and boy were they tasty!

Brady and I took a hike to the top of the ridge for a great view of the lake

More beach time and joined on Monday by Uncle Bryce and Jessica

Cassidy is feeling quite expert in putting up tents so of course was right there to help Uncle Bryce and try out the finished product

We stopped on the way home in Winthrop for ice-cream and then one last stop at the top of the pass for a beautiful view and one last teary goodbye

Sorry about so many pictures, I went through them a few times and believe it or not I did exclude a lot!  We just had such great times and can't wait to do it again!