Vacation time

We snuck away for a few days to Port Townsend and Sequim in NW Washington state for a quick vacation last week. We bummed a room from our friends the Flanders, and had a great time. We went to Fort Worden and explored the "spooky tunnels", we flew a kite on the beach, went swimming, and ate lots. We grown ups tried to stay up late too, but with playing so hard during the day, we pretty much crashed into bed at night.

We visited a place called Olympic Game Farm, where you buy bread ($2 a loaf!! What?) to feed to the animals, and drive through as the animals come up to your car and try to get food. I caught Ammon and Shayla eating the bread a few times, which was ok. It seemed very fresh. :) Josh drove once through and I took a turn. Of course we tried to play tricks on each other by locking the windows in the "down" position when an animal was approaching. Especially a huge slimy buffalo. The kids fed most of the animals, but drew the line at buffalo. Josh got a buffalo tongue wrapped around his wrist practically, and I got a buffalo head in my lap at one point. Shayla loved the prairie dogs and llamas, but as the animals got bigger, she retreated farther and farther back in the car. Ammon was very brave and hand fed quite a few animals.
The vacation was so much fun, we had a blast. The only drawback I would say was the little diner we ate ate before we came home. That place was a ripoff, and you know how I hate getting a bad deal...but the ambiance of the train was nice, I guess. The kids loved it, and isn't that what's important?

Right before our vacation, we got Grandpa J to take our family photos at Point Defiance park. The day was a great one, the weather was nice, and Grandma brought some chicken for us to picnic on. Ammon kept asking "is it chicken time?" after every photo was taken. He's not a fan of photography. Which is unlike his sister. Shayla was loving every minute of it, and we have the photos to prove it. I'm sorry, but I think we have the cutest kids in the world!

My Manly Hunter

To quote Josh, "this is the start of a GREAT vacation." Could he be talking about a relaxing Saturday? Beautiful weather? A fun family activity? No, no, and no. He speaks of his recent conquest in our backyard of a little mole, who has been causing havoc all over our lawn. You should see the lengths that Josh goes through to kill these moles. He has special gloves he wears when he sets his traps. He boils his traps (in my good pots!) to take off the human scent. He carefully places his traps in the holes, and then vigilantly checks them each morning for kills. (This is after he tried all the other things like crushed glass, chewing gum, human hair, and another one we heard that involves urine, but we won't go into that) For a few weeks now we've had no success, but this morning the glory was all Josh's. For those of you worried about this "poor creature," I have no apologies. You should've seen what this little devil did to our lawn, and my flower beds! But to be kind, we did give this evil rodent a proper burial. Back into his own hole, dug with his own hands, as an example to the others of what will happen when you come into our territory!!

Fourth of July

I LOVE to celebrate holidays, and the 4th of July is one of my favorites. So in preparation for it, here is a quote, and you tell me who said it or where it's from..what a fun game!!

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

Our Birthday Boy!

It was Ammon's birthday today, and boy did we party! Josh went and got donuts for breakfast, per Ammon's request, and then a trip to the park for lunch. It was a day full of playing and presents and hugs and lots and lots of treats. We had a fancy dinner of Taco Bell, and went to the park to share cake and ice cream with a few friends. (I'll have to share my wooden skewer in my hand story for another time, from making the digger cake, but let's just say I'm glad I'm up to date on my tetanus booster)We ended the day with a trip through the car wash, which was Ammon's idea. He said he had fun, and so did we. I can't believe he's already 4 years old! What a big boy...It's so strange, he's getting older, yet I am staying as young as ever..right? :) What a blessing he is to our family, we are so grateful to have him in our eternal family. We love that kid!

Father Son Campout

Last Friday Josh and Ammon went to the stake father-son campout, and had a ton of fun, especially because it didn't rain on them. :) Ammon was waiting for Dad to get home from work on Friday, so I told him to go pack his backpack, and gave a big list of things to pack, thinking this would distract him and he'd forget for a little while and I wouldn't have to keep saying "Dad will be home in a little while." Wouldn't you know it, that Ammon went back there and packed everything I told him to, and then came out with his backpack on his back and his pillow in his arms, waiting for Dad. Finally Dad got home, and they both had to find their camping hats and pack the car. Ammon was SO excited and wanted to do everything JUST like Dad. They left and camped, while Shayla and Liam and I walked (Shay rode her bike) to the ice cream shop and had a root beer float, and then came home and did girlie things while Liam slept.

Dad and Ammon got back Saturday morning, and Ammon told me all about sleeping in the tent and going to the bathroom in the "jungle." They had a great time...it's a great time to be a parent when they think you are just the coolest person ever, isn't it? I told Josh we better cherish these days....but of course, we will ALWAYS be cool to our kids! What am I thinking! *wink wink*

Letterboxing

We went letterboxing over Memorial Day weekend, and I'm not sure who had more fun, the grown ups or the kids! We went with our friends the Scott and Kayrena, and Scott ended up being lead "clue reader", as we wandered through the forest and trails, even picking up some horse poopie on the way. (that would be the kids) We found every letterbox we attempted to, and even had time to play on the park toys afterwards.


For those of you who don't know what letterboxing is, you find clues on the internet (http://www.atlasquest.com/) for letterboxes in your area. Then grab a notebook, an ink pad, and your family rubber stamp and head out to find your buried treasure. When you find the hidden letterbox, it contains a record book, a stamp, and sometimes an ink pad. So you exchange stamp images in your notebooks, and rehide the letterbox. It's fun for the whole family, it gets you out of the house, and teaches kids how to follow directions and clues to find something fun. We always try to choose letterboxes in parks or places we haven't been before, to visit someplace new.