Haiwatha Day 2

Tent camping agrees with our kids, everyone slept great and everyone was excited to head out to the trail.  We took our time eating breakfast and let the kids play while the adults got all the gear ready to go for the ride.  The bonus of this campsite is that it isn't in a campground, so we didn't have to break down camp until we returned from our ride, which was an added bonus because the kids got to play around after the bike ride, and we were able to dry everything out. 
 

Josie, Michael, Lincoln, Isabelle, Luke and Conor-a rare moment when they were all sitting still

One of the first pretty views and I like the sign on the edge

Dead in the middle of the Taft tunnel.  If you turn off your lights in here you can't even see your hand if you wave it in front of your face. 

I have one leg in Montana and one leg in Idaho here

Looking down the tunnel

Just outside the Taft tunnel. 

Daddy's riding buddies

Mom and Conor were riding buddies-leading the pack

The Ward's and the Kellogg's

One of my favorite views

Annual photo location

Lincoln sound asleep holding on.   He had a smile on his face the entire time the trailer was moving.  You could hear him laughing and giggling through most of the ride

Our picnic spot

The kids feeding trail mix to the chipmunks while waiting for the shuttle.  Josie would tell you this was her favorite part of the weekend.

All three sound asleep on the way home.  I took this moment as a sign that the weekend was a success.  All tired out and dreaming of the memories and fun

Haiwatha 2012

We decided to combine 2 of our favorite summertime activities into one. Camping and riding the Haiwatha. The following are all pictures we took the night before our ride. We had a great camp spot, right below the start of the trail. We couldn't ask for a better location. In the morning we rode up to the trail right from our campsite, which was really convenient. The only damper on the trip was that it poured rain for about an hour. Surprisingly, it wasn't all that bad. It rained right between dinner and s'mores. We waited it out under the trees and umbrellas and the kids played in the rain and then the fun went on. After the storm, no rain the rest of the trip and we were able to dry out all our stuff so no packing wet gear, which made everyone smile.

View of our spectacular campsite

Lincoln sitting in the dirt playing with...CARS.  Put a cookie in his other hand and you would be hard pressed to find a happier kid anywhere.

Waiting out the rain

Isabelle and Josie with S'more mouth

Lincoln chillin in his camp chair.  He really thought these chairs were pretty nice, I caught him relaxing quite a few times

Ask Conor what his favorite thing about camping is and he will always say:  "The fire."

Lincoln after the rain storm.  I was trying to warm up his hands but he was mad. 

Drying out by our roaring campfire

The Start of Summer fun

We try to keep the 1st week of summer vacation open for laziness and friend filled days.  The weather was ultra yucky this week, so we found other ways to entertain around the house.  Cushion surfing is always a favorite.  We started out the week hitting the summer movie since it was raining.  Another day we went to this great show at the library, Eric Herman is a fairly well known children's musician who lives in the tri-cities.  He puts on an interactive show that we all really enjoyed, even Lincoln really got into it.  Conor won a DVD because he was such a good dancer.  Yea for the library!  We had friends come over and play one day and a park day that was brrrr cold.  Then the sun finally came out so we went to the water!  Kacey lives by Long Lake and invites us out every so often to enjoy the beach and water and the sun and some friend time, and of course a picnic.  Welcome Summer!  

Cushion Surfing

Josie posing for me while eating lunch

Josie and Lincoln playing in the sand

Conor was here, but he never sat still long enough to get a picture.  He spent most of his time with the bigger boys creating water tunnels from the sand to the water and water fights. 

Father's Day

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful Daddy in our home! In primary they each wrote a few fun things about their Dad and they both wrote that they love it when their Daddy plays with them. Josie even wrote that she loves it when her Daddy hugs her tight. After Daddy finally got home from meetings, we had him open his present, which was a belgian waffle maker then we put it to work and ate yummy strawberries and whipped cream and waffles for dinner. It was a pretty day so we headed up to Bear Lake to walk around and enjoy the evening together.

Finally the last day!

Where does the time go? I know I say that every year, but this year seemed especially quick. Conor is on to 4th grade! He received a beautiful report card, and we are so proud of the successes and progress he has made this year. Mrs. Cong commented on how far he had come on his reading since the 1st day and I couldn't agree more. He is a completely different reader then he was when he entered 3rd grade. We are hopeful the spelling and writing piece will catch up now. We are sad to leave Mrs. Cong and 3rd grade behind, but on to the next adventure.

Conor on his last day of 3rd grade

The celebratory leap of no school for 3 whole months!

Josie dance camp

We have had our first "dance" experience at our house. I have been dragging my feet when it comes to getting Josie into dance classes. I am anything but a dancer, so I am really hoping she will take the athletic route, but to be fair I am going to give it a shot. We found this 4 day dance camp that introduces pre-schoolers to ballet, tap and musical theater. What a great experience-not even one tear about the shoes!  That is truly a miracle. Josie really enjoyed it and here are the pictures of the fun.

Josie striking a pose on her way out the door to her 1st dance lesson

Ballet

Musical theater

Amy, Bree, Josie, Lyndsey & Ella

Bree, Josie and Lyndsey enjoying ice-cream after their last day!  Way to go girls.  These cuties are Josie's 2 best friends from preschool.  She adores both of them.

Last day at the farm

Lincoln was not a fan of the chickens

Gathering eggs had to be a highlight for the older 2 kids

The spoils...they did not like the chickens pecking their toes

Lincoln loved these little chicks in the cage.

A mini tractor ride put a smile on all their faces.  Thanks Farmer John.  You can see the pond in the back that holds some giant frogs-too quick for Conor

I included this picture because so much of Josie's time was spent doing this.  She is running between the barn and the horses to get them hay so she could feed it to them.  She was getting really brave by the end of our stay

More horse time

Josie helping Lincoln get grass to feed to the horse.  Lincoln would throw it about 10 feet away from the horse so they couldn't reach it.  Trying to be like the big kids....just not brave enough yet.  Fine by me, stay little my sweetie boy. 

Our great hosts!  Melanie was so great to feed us many delicious meals and take such good care of us.  Best of luck with the new baby coming soon. 

What a fun weekend.  It is always great to get away from our mundane life in Spokane, We hope to come back soon and we will make the blizzards next time.  Love you guys!