Stake Pioneer Trek

Katie and Andrew had a chance to pull handcarts as part of Stake Youth Conference this year. Hardly back and recovered from camp and high adventure - they put on their best pioneer costumes and headed down to hot and dry Tri-Cities area with 200 other kids.


I actually had a great experience looking up pioneer stories from our family history for them to share on the trek. We shared a few during family home evening too. It makes church history a little more real when you learn that your great great great...... ancestors were actually part of it all.

They came home dirty, tired, a little more tan and actually happy.

After 2 days of pioneer trail grub, they requested some modern food

Pass the Captain Crunch please!
Welcome home guys!

Catching up!

I finally got caught up on the blog - I post chronologically because I print this as our family fun journal at the end of the year...so if you want to read about Alaska, Katie's shoes , the fun of having girls, family vacation and other June and July fun with Dallas fun then you have to scroll back.

Melissa's "Only Child" Moment

We had big plans this week to celebrate that everyone was gone to camp but Melissa. But we had to adjust to make a quick trip to Whidbey Island. Mike and I wanted to check out some property that we were considering buying on the Island. Our retirement dream....

So that meant that Melissa had to spent her only child days traveling with Mom and Dad and...

Eating her favorite - Subway!

Sleeping alone in a queen sized bed....

Staying in a hotel and eating out and enjoying one on one with Mom and Dad...

Being the first kid to see the property...

Having a lighthouse named after her - we called this "Lissy's Lighthouse." It is a cool, old lighthouse on the property.

This is a beautiful piece of water view property - it is water front but along a cliff so there is really no access from the property to the ocean. But it is so pretty and the realtor cued an eagle to fly overhead while we were checking it out just to make sure we were sufficiently charmed by the beauty of the place...

Riding the ferry is always fun!

And shopping at the Coach outlet store was fun too....Love the green! Thank you honey!

Girls' Camp and High Adventure

All my kids are leaving. (This is Melissa's big chance to be an only child!)
Andrew going to High Adventure in Montana with the scouts. Katie and Megan getting ready for girls camp. Katie is a 3rd year already! And this is Megan's first year!

Have fun guys!

While you are gone, Melissa and I are going to have fun!

The first day we did a nail salon. Fancy nails with acrylic designs. We got the idea from an add from Justice. They turned out so cute and lasted a while.

Family Vacation to McCall

Time for a road trip! We took our vacation to McCall, Idaho this year - a short 5 hour drive from home. We really didn't know what to expect and didn't plan very much. So we were pleasantly surprised at how beautiful McCall is and how much there is to do there. We had so much fun!

Tammy and Toby joined us from Boise - (their drive was only 2 hours.) We all stayed at the Worldmark Resort there. We really love our timeshare.

The first day we drove to nearby Brundage ski resort and rode the chair lift to the top for a picnic and a hike. The wildflowers were beautiful - mountain heather.

Always trying for a good family picture for the Christmas Card!

We always love it when the Thorntons can come along. They could only come for 2 days but it was great. Love you Dallas!

Megan loved the heather.

The next day we went to the beach on Payette Lake. Sun, sand and water, we were happy all day!

Megan buried Melissa in the sand and turned her into a mermaid. Dallas was intrigued.

We love the beach!

Then Megan buried Dallas in the sand. He sat still a long time. He liked it.

We rented some jet skis for a few hours and the boys took us all for a ride. Fun but scary! Those things can jump and go fast!

McCall has a huge indoor ice skating rink. We went there the next day. The girls had planned ahead for this one and we brought long pants and jackets and gloves. I was freezing watching them skate for a few hours.

Andrew had another kind of skating in mind. McCall has an amazing skate park. He was thrilled to spend the day there among the concrete bowls and ramps. They looked like empty swimming pools to me.

One of the fun things about McCall was their crossing flags. They have these at the crosswalks and the girls loved carry them and escorting us across the streets. You just pick them up on one side and leave them on the other. Neat idea.

Ponderosa State Park is right there so we took a drive that afternoon. A few more natural beaches among the pine trees, some great mountain biking trails and animals. We saw a deer.

Mom - take my picture while I jump. Typical Melissa!

Practicing for senior photos. I can't believe I have to take them this year.

Where did the time go?

The next day was golfing for Mike, skate park for Andrew and the beach for the girls.

Everyone was happy!

Notice that to make Katie happy requires only a book, some candy and a cell phone.

Making sand pies...

Megan had a volcano, water slide going...lots of work, kept her busy all day.

We saw this jeep for Toby and Tammy. Perfect mix of the two of them.

Pooh Bear and life is good.

The next day we rented a boat for the whole day. Payette Lake is absolutely gorgeous. There are lots of inlets and bays and we found some pretty stunning real estate.

We got a tube with the boat and learned that Megan and Katie are our fearless ones.

Melissa had to be talked into it but she soon was having fun too.

We ate lunch on the beach on the north end of the lake and played in the water for a while.

Tried to take a family shot with the timer, but the log just wasn't high enough.

Dad was the driver all day. He actually slowed down when Mom had a fit. He taught the girls how to drive the boat and Katie actually drove while Dad got on the tube with Megan. Fun.

Love it that Megan is signaling okay and Melissa looks scared. Quite the duo.

This home was amazing. I want a $10 million home with a water fall and castle doors and a beautiful view of the lake. This will be my mansion in heaven.

Katie the dare devil got comfortable enough to try tricks on the tube.

Andrew liked to ride by himself and jump.

Katie got up on the wake board. She had learned earlier this summer when we went boating with our neighbors. She is amazing!

And she was a terrific driver of the boat.

Melissa and Megan both took a turn driving as well.

We never saw any bears but.... we took our garbage out during the day!

Swimming at the resort.

Andrew and I played a game of pool and I had my shot of a lifetime!

I am so glad that I have a witness to say that I put in 2 balls in opposite corners with one shot.
Mom - the pool shark! Who knew?But Andrew still smoked me.

Short-lived moment of glory....

Dad smoked Andrew.

Is that Katie texting again?

Sitting around watching Disney channel and movies at night.

One of our favorite activities was making necklaces for our souvenirs. We had a great time at the bead shop making these. My girls are so creative!

We had a great time!

We loved McCall and can't wait to go back!