Cousins Camp

One of the best couple days of the year--kids have fun with their grandparents and cousins, and we get a couple days to ourselves. This year Greg and I drove to Silver Falls on the first day and hiked around some waterfalls before coming home and eating dinner outside on the patio at the Riverview Restaurant. We had a relaxing second day at home, went to see a movie, and then went out with friends to a barbeque place in Vancouver. 

The kids did a lot of swimming, went on a very fun rafting trip, and enjoyed recreating old photos. Lots of good memories together.

Grant's 12th Birthday

Grant's 12th birthday looked a lot like a lot of his other birthdays--a pool party with family. And it was just as fun this year as it is every other year! He had more cousins there this year, though, because cousins camp was the next day, and Ashlynn, Lorelai, Brennan, and Bailey drove over that evening. 

He started the day with birthday breakfast with Grandpa and ended the day after the party with an episode of “Crikey! It’s the Irwins" on the couch. Pretty great birthday. Love this kid!

Half Blind

At Aubrey's well-child doctor appointment (she needed a sports physical), they did a vision screening, and she completely failed it! I was standing several feet behind her, and I could read most of the letters (without my glasses!). When the medical assistant left us in the room, I said, "Aubrey, I think you need to go to the eye doctor! You got all the letters wrong!" Her response was, "But, Mom, they made me cover up my good eye!"  She has a good eye...that was news to me. Sure enough, the eye doctor confirmed her right eye has a strong astigmatism, and she definitely needs glasses. She picked these out. She's not thrilled about them, though, and is anxious to get contacts as soon as possible. I think she's cute in her new glasses. 

 

Family Home

Aubrey and Joel spent a week down in Corvallis at the CIYmove conference with others from the youth group. It was a great experience for them both--very impactful. It was so good to have all our kids home again, though, when they got back late Friday night. It makes my heart so happy to be reunited. The kids have been so busy with activities, work, friends, and trips (all good things), so it makes time together that much more special. Time is flying by. 

Soapy trampoline

Kari has been cleaning out her room, in preparation for leaving for college, and she came across two bottles of dish soap. She had no idea why she had those in her room. I reminded her of when she soaped up the trampoline with her friend, Katelin, many years ago, and she decided she needed to do that again. She, Maggie, and Grant put on their goggles, turned on the sprinklers, and had fun session of soapy trampoline time. Too funny!

Water Polo Tournament

 Grant had a U14 water polo tournament in Newberg one weekend in July, and we drove back and forth multiple times over those couple days. They did well--won 3 and lost 1. You don't notice the age/size difference much when he's in the pool, but outside the pool, it is hilarious to see just how much taller and bigger the 8th grade boys are! 

The last photo is from the last practice of the season. Grant was the only kid who showed up and was the only kid in the whole pool, since swim team didn't practice that day. He ended up getting a "private lesson." :)

Babysitting

We babysat Henry and Kopeland one morning so Shauna could have some time with just Camila. It was just Grant and I for a while, and then we got reinforcements when Kari and Aubrey came home from work and tennis. These boys are so cute!

Painting Grant's room

Grant decided he wanted a new wall color in his room. That room has been orange since we moved in, back when Joel and Aubrey shared it. He also decided he was done with the bunk beds, so Greg took the top bunk off, and we painted the room. He wanted a bright blue, and that's what we got! Only two of the walls are painted blue, just like the orange was only walls. The other two walls are white. It looks great! He and I painted the edges, and then he and Kari covered the walls with the roller. 

 

Kari England Mission Trip

Kari was supposed to go on this mission trip the summer of 2020, but of course, that did not happen. Covid prevented the trip from happening in 2021, too, but this year, they were able to go! They went to The Oakes, a Christian youth camp in Sheffield, England, and they did work projects all week. They started out with a layover in Iceland and then spend the next 11 days in England. The work was hard manual labor, and they were all very tired and sore, but it was a good trip. Kari did not enjoy all the train travel and trying to carry their luggage around, but she loved being over there and enjoyed the trip overall.