Fun Times with the Hanna Family

Kara and kids (minus Nathan) came to visit, from Blackfoot, for 2 weeks. During the first week, we had numerous appointments to get to, but the rest of the time, we mostly hung out and played. Days consisted of long walks down the street (a feeble attempt to wear David out), numerous games (Spades was a favorite), Guitar Hero, late movie nights - EVERY night, eating LOTS of food and chasing David around (his new nickname - Tazmanian Devil!) The cousins sure love getting together - and even after 2 weeks of non-stop fun, they/we were sad to see it end. Here is a small sampling of the fun had. The first two pics, Sarah drew on the driveway:

A favorite yard game was Bocce Ball - here's a game played by Jon, Chris, Brianna and Kenzie on afternoon:

Playing through the trees:

Figuring out who won - it's a close call:

Closest one to the yellow ball wins:

My view from the back porch - Aaron wishing someone would play with him a bit:

The warm days found the kids out in the yard in the sprinkler. This view is from the back deck looking down at the kids swinging with the volcano sprinkler spraying them. Aaron, David and Carly: Sarah and Carly this time:

Making Fruit Pizza and Taffy Apple Pizza one night:

Apparently it takes ALL hands on deck. Chris, Kenzie, Brianna, Aaron, Jon and Carly:

Finished Product. They did manage to leave a couple samples to try after I got home from Enrichment Meeting that night:

On July 2nd, we took a field trip to Deception Pass. It's a tall bridge connecting Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands. Amazing views! View from the top. Lots of boats...

...out crabbing today:

This is the some of us walking across the VERY HIGH bridge:

Chris, David and Jon going "Wweeee!"

The big truck RIGHT there makes me a bit anxious...

From the back - Chris, Jon, Brianna, Kenzie, Carly, Aaron, Sarah and David:

PERSPECTIVE:

Looking back at what we just walked across - it's a LONG way down!

Pouty faces: Carly, Aaron, Sarah, Brianna, Jon, David and Chris

The Hanna family: Kara, Jon, Chris, Sarah and David (missing James, who's in Bahrain with the Navy and Nathan, who's at BYU) Wish they were here with us.

Us - Paul, Amy, Brianna, Kenzie, Carly and Aaron

Very pretty picture of my girls - Carly, Kenzie and Brianna (wished she'd lost the sunglasses though!)

Then we went down to the beach to have lunch and play a bit. This is the Puget Sound they're playing in:

It was a pretty contained place for David to play:

Carly being a big help with David:

The "Hangin and Just Watchin'" Crew - Amy, Kara, Brianna and Jon (laying down):

Carly still helping:

Out to sea - View from the back:

On the way home from Deception Pass, we stopped at a reservation to pick up fireworks for the 4th. Usually this is Matt Melton's job, but they weren't joining us this year - so we braved it ourselves. Quite the experience, I'll say. As we were leaving, Paul asked me, "So, do you feel DIRTY too?" We think we got good deals - we certainly got great fireworks as you'll see in the next post...

Yeah, Carly and Farewell to the Old Machias Elementary

Carly had her 6th grade promotion on June 16th. She had a pretty good year with Mr. Menia and is excited to move on to Centennial Middle School next school year. She's a bit nervous about the change, but excited about ALL the new friend possibilities! This is a pic of Carly greeted by her principal, Mrs. Schilaty:

Receiving her certificate from Mr. Menia:
A happy girl, with her friend, Tessa McIntyre:

Yeah, Carly!

This was an especially special year, because it was the last 6th grade class to "graduate" from the "Old" Machias Elementary. After school ends, it will be demolished and a new one built over the next year and a half. I attended an the end of school assembly, and it was a bit emotional for me. At one part, they had a couple 6th graders kids go and ring the bell for the last time, 10 times. We were instructed to think of all our happy Machias memories while they rang it. It hit me - all my kids had gone here - so many great teachers, and so many great memories! We were told that they brick from the old building would be ground down and used in the foundation for the new building (the 6th graders got to write all over the brick the last day - they thought it was cool to think about being a part of the new building too!). The bell would also be the bell they use in the new school - it was actually the bell from the original Machias Elementary from over 30 years ago - great, history, tradition and memories! Here is a sign that hangs above the stage in the gym:

Under the covered area out back:

Out front with all my kids. Those pictures running along the top of the building, were done by Brianna and her grade a number of years ago:

A new building is a great thing - this one has seen better days and is being held together by a band-aid - but it had character and the education and love my kids got here is priceless!

My Daddy Comes to Visit

My dad and co. stayed on for a number of days after graduation. My other three kids were in school, so we didn't have any BIG plans - mostly just hanging out - which is what we do BEST! Here are a few pics of our beautiful driveway art - compliments of Brianna and Morgan:

On Saturday, June 13th, we did venture out - ALL the way to downtown Seattle. It had been a number of years since we did this with my dad, and almost as long since our kids had done the "touristy" things down there. First, we went to Pike Place Market. Carly and Aaron with a pig:

Morgan loving the pig a bit TOO much:

Carly, Aaron, Paul, Kenzie, Brianna and Morgan, taking the stairs, while Dad, Pat, Max and I wait for the elevator up.

It was a crazy, hot, summer, Saturday at the Market. These kinds of crowds stress me out! Shoulda done this on a weekday - note to others who come to Seattle for a visit!!

After that crowded, stinky, experience, we headed over to Seattle Center to head up the Space Needle. The 605 ft. Space Needle was built for the Seattle World's Fair in 1962. Here are Morgan, Max, Carly, Brianna, Aaron and Kenzie at the base:

Pat, Morgan and Max stayed at the bottom, while the rest of us went up. It was a pretty decent day for a good view - a bit too hazy to see the mountains, but the city was quite visible! Dad, Kenzie, Brianna and Amy:

Aaron - and Kenzie off to the right:

The body of water at the bottom of this pic, is Lake Union - lots of boats and seaplanes out this day. Mid-distance right beyond I-5, is the U of W, where Paul graduated. In the distance is Lake Washington:

Our Family: Brianna, Kenzie, Amy, Paul, Carly and Aaron:

The kids with Grandpa:

Downtown Seattle:

Looking down at the E.M.P (Experience Music Project) at the base of the Space Needle:

Also, at the Seattle Center, are fair type rides. Here are Aaron and Carly enjoying one of them:

As I said, we mostly just hung around and played games - Rummy was a favorite:

And Blokus:

And Bananagrams - I see a few misspelled words, Morgan!

Sure do love when my family visits - with being so far from them all, it doesn't happen nearly enough! Always makes me sad when they leave...