Laverings' Cabin - in the summer this time!

On Sunday - Tuesday, July 20-22, we went up to the Laverings' cabin by Lake Wenatchee, which is up past Stevens Pass. We had gone a couple times last winter, so it was going to be fun to enjoy the summer activities with them. On Monday, we spent the day at Lake Wenatchee. The moms read while the kids played in the water and played games. Below, Sean and Aaron on the raft:

Above - the dads attempted to take the kids out to a little island on the raft. Now, Lake Wenatchee's a very windy lake, and after a bit, they started getting sucked down the river off to the right. They never did make it to the island, but did manage to bring ALL the kids back alive! Oh, I should have mentioned, all the kids went except Brianna. She was attempting to read a book that she had to read for her AP English class this coming year. It was so riveting that she fell fast asleep: That night, I really paid the price for missing some spots on both my arms with the sunscreen. Just the fronts of my arms, but it was plenty to feel like I was on fire. (I know, I know, I'm not very smart - it REALLY was an accident!) I was applying aloe the whole night, but finally discovered that the best relief came from cold wash cloths. See below:On Tuesday, we went on a little hike out to another little mountain lake called, Hidden Lake. Hey, look - more big trees!

The view at this lake was beautiful - and not just the view of Mackenzie!:
Aaron, Sarah and Carly balancing:

Natalie and Amy resting in the shade - Amy wasn't interested in any further sun after the day before!
Group picture before we head back:
When we got back to the cabin, the dads and most of the kids went out to geo-cache in the area. That was a first for us. Aaron and Carly thought that was pretty cool! Then we hung around a bit, made dinner and the men and kids went out and did some archery and BB gun shooting. Aaron was in heaven! I think he wants a BB gun for Christmas now - GREAT!

Yo-Yo Man below:
The kids also passed the time away with "selling" rocks to anyone who would buy - usually to each other. They had collected the rocks outside, hammered them open and then priced them according to their "prettiness" or "coolness."

While the parents played games til late in to the evening - or at least until my Tylenol PM kicked in! Our favorite games this visit were "Puerto Rico" and Kentucky Discard.

That's it for the moment. I'm taking Brianna, Kenzie and cousin TJ down to Tacoma in the morning for EFY, I'll be home with Carly and Aaron for the week. Then Paul, Carly and Aaron will be heading up to Lake Entiat Friday evening. I will join them at the lake on Saturday morning after I pick up the teens. Oh - but we WILL be making a quick stop at a bookstore to pick up "Breaking Dawn." I've given Brianna 3 days to get it read, before I take it from her. The long wait is soon over! Later...

Cub Scout Day Camp and a Visit from the Other Leavens'

And another 3 weeks just flew by. It's summer - please forgive.... This oughta catch me up. Aaron attended his first Cub Scout Day Camp during the 2nd week of July. He had the time of his life. When I picked him up the second day, he immediately said, "That was AWESOME!" He got to fish, do archery, shoot BB guns, make a birdhouse and many, many more cool dude things. Here he is on the last day doing a skit with his den:

Aaron and Kyran (a buddy from our ward):

The other Leavens' (Steve, Susan and girls) came to visit on July11th for the weekend. Rachel had a soccer tournament in Redmond on Saturday that we all went to:

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging around, BBQing, playing games (in and out), washing cars, playing on the trampoline...

Playing Bocce ball

4th of July and Paul's 40th Birthday Bash

Our country is 232 and Paul is 40 today! Time to CELEBRATE!! We had a crowd as usual - its just not the 4th without a house full. We're just glad the sun made an appearance so we could spread out outside! Those in attendance were the Bradys, Gilletts, Stokers, Meltons, Laverings, Allens, and Beemans. Our BBQing was exceptional this year - mostly due to the shiny new grill on our back porch: Matt and Mary - Love Matt's t-shirt ("The more of my behavior you accept, the less you will have to forgive.") Allen and Leslie - our next door neighbors for 11 years and counting! - Don't ever move!Victoria and Howard - too cool in their shades

Clayton, Mel and Baby Iris (Admit it, you wanna chew on her too! Baby Iris that is!)

Gina, Kelly and Lexi

Above - Bernadette, Carly, Samantha and Hadley

Right - The biggest "animal game" we've ever seen!

Our shirts from Matt and Mary from http://www.despair.com/

Paul got these much needed items in his "Old-Man-Survival-Kit" from the Bradys (items included, hat to cover baldness, Fiber cereal, Centrum Silver and an extra bag of Vitamin M (dark M&Ms - his favorite)

Many rounds of ping pong were played - the girls were helpful at keeping score. This round was between Paul and Matt (left) and Allen and Mike (right)

He managed to blow them all out in one breathe - he's in pretty good shape for an old man!

The crowd gathering around the birthday boy for cake and ice cream

Above two pics are some of the fireworks that were bought by Matt at Boom City. The one right above is actually our "grand finale." They had to carefully assemble it as it was a chain reaction of some sort - well worth the time though!Apparently it takes 5 grown men to put it together!

Below are pictures from the show itself - Most laid out on the hill

Tyler and Kelly's Wedding Day

So, we dropped my sister off, as I mentioned previously (that was a sad goodbye indeed - the two weeks flew by!). Then Paul and I caught a session at the Portland Temple before we attended Tyler and Kelly's sealing at 4:00. Here are some shots, outside the Temple: Doris, Kara, Amy and Tami

David, James and Sarah Hanna Tyler and Kelly Hesselgesser

Doris and Roland Leavens

Steve, Paul, Kara and Tami

Todd, Tami, Tyler, Kelly, Tara and TJ Hesselgesser

Tyler, Tara and TJ

After the Temple, the adults went on a dinner cruise around Portland. It was a beautiful evening, delicious food and great company. After the cruise, and on the way back to pick up Kenzie at the hotel, I realized I had left my purse on the boat. It was after 10 pm and by this time, the boat was gone and it was too late to get ahold of anyone. We were planning on driving home too. So, we headed home (very stressed I might add). The next morning, we called the boat company, they had found my purse. Paul's parents went to pick it up and put it in the mail immediately. I got it on Monday - WHEW! Catastrophe avoided!!