Happy Halloween!

This year for Halloween Eric decorated the house around a carnival theme.  Halloween was on Sunday so we got to celebrate both Saturday and Sunday!  We celebrated on Saturday for those who have their Sabbath on Sunday, and on Sunday for those who worship on Saturday or otherwise.  Unfortunately we didn’t get many pictures, because I was up at the regional cross country meet with Tanner and the Union High School Cross Country team, and Eric was too BUSY with his plans to stop and take pictures.   I am glad McKenna had the chance to go trick or treating at Gpa Tippett’s work on Friday or we wouldn’t even have this picture.  

McKenna and Sage as Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum

Eric had lots of help to pull off his carnival.  Luckily, Lani (Eric’s Mom) was around to help him and get McKenna in her costume to go trick or treating with her friends.  Eric also got Austin and a group of his friends to help out, with the promise of pizza and a party following the main rush of trick-or-treaters.  The house was decorated as a fun house.  There was eerie carnival music playing and flashing lights all over the place.  Each of our garage bays had a “trick” (carnival game) the kids had to play before they got their “treat.”  We also had a big popcorn machine set up that Lani manned to provide everyone with popcorn as they came by.  According to Eric this was a low-key year.  Because of the multiple days of celebrating, he needed the ability to shut things down and open them up the next day without a lot of work in between.  There was so much more he wanted to do.  He has already begun planning next year.  A little sneak peak:  Thriller.  I’ll let you imagine what he is going to do with that, but here is a hint: it does involve a dance group.  He is already taking volunteers.  If you are interested, contact him directly.

The First Day of School

I think this is the first year I didn't cry sending my kids back to school.  I am not sure why:  Maybe it was due to the wild and crazy summer schedule.  It never felt like I really had them home.  Or, maybe it was because for the first week of school I was in one school or another helping with the back to school festivities:  handing out choir, PE and cross country uniforms, scheduling and coordinating art discovery, meeting with the various parent groups at each school, etc.  Most likely it was the realization I had when I took these pictures (all of my little ones now filling the doorway rather than being dwarfed by it) that in the near future I would be sending them out the door to college and on missions - that thought made a single day at school seem not so bad.

Tanner - Junior

Austin - Freshman

Watch out Union - Here we come!

Carson - First Year @ Pacific Middle School

McKenna - 4th Grade
The first year without an older brother to take care of her at school.

Me and My friends on the first day of school:  Lunch @ Panera Bakery.
They didn't even give me a bad time about my sign!

Summer Has Come and Gone

Sadly, summer is over.  Though I question whether it was really ever here at all.  The weather was not very nice and our activities, though many, were geared more to individuals than the family.  It was BUSY, BUSY, BUSY.  Here is a short recap:

During the week of Dance festival, I didn’t want McKenna and Carson lacking for something to do, so they participated in Union High School’s Soccer Skills Clinic.  They had a good time participating with their buddies, and we are seeing the benefits on the soccer field this fall.

Immediately following Dance Festival, Eric was in the throes of planning and carrying out scout camp for all the 12 and 13 year old boys in our ward.  You would be hard pressed to find a better run scout camp with as many fun activities, a service project and interesting merit badges as Eric’s offered.  I guess that is why he keeps getting the job year after year.  This was Carson’s first year at Boy Scout camp, and Austin was invited to go along as a junior leader.  It was almost a family affair.

Scout Camp on Mount Hood

Carson building his shelter for the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge

Cozy and ready for a long night - Mason, Carson, Luke and Drake

Austin giving Carson some guidance on his shelter.

Carson on the Alpine Slides

Carson playing at Ski Bowl.
(Eric holds the record of a triple flip.) 

The week after Scout Camp, Tanner and Austin packed up to head off on their individual high adventure trips.  My boys claim to have conquered several feats of skill that required much courage, but I have yet to see any proof.  I hear there are some great pictures floating around out there somewhere, but have been unsuccessful in tracking them down.

Tanner says he: made his own fly rod and learned to fly fish.  He boasts he jumped off a 47 foot waterfall, caught a chipmunk, learned to wake board and wake surf, and enjoyed spending quality time with his friends.

Austin says he was the first of his group to summit Mount Constitution on his 50 mile bike trek in the Puget Sound area.  He even claims to have beat his brother’s climb time from two years ago (though Tanner thinks this is debatable).  Austin’s week, in addition to the bike trek, also included a Sea Kayaking adventure.  For two days he paddled around the different islands of the sound, saw a bunch of seals and about broke his kayak apart on the rocks. 

Upon the heels of these scouting activities McKenna participated in Cheer Camp.  I love seeing McKenna do “girl” things.  It is tough in a family full of boys.  She wants to do the things her brothers do so she can be included in their conversations and activities.  I am glad she will try some new things.  I am working on the brothers to show more acceptance and support for their sister.

Before the summer was over Eric had to fit in one more Boy Scout activity.  Eric and Carson went backpacking along Eagle Creek with other boys in the Deacon’s quorum.  It is a beautiful hike, but tough (especially when the backpack is as big as you are).

Scoutmaster and Son

Carson's the little one with the yellow rope hanging off his pack.

It does a mother good to see the hand rail when she looks at pictures from this hike.

We look forward every year to our time with the Jackson, Kartchner and McKague family.  Usually we go to Anderson Island, but this year we went to the Heywood Hideaway instead.  It was so relaxing, and we actually spent a lot of time just playing games and visiting – something that doesn’t happen too much when we are camping.  We were especially grateful we got to have Emily along with us this year.  We love having her be part of our family.  We missed the Kartchners this year!

Good Food

Manic Games

Great Friends

Nice Weather

Time As A Family

With all these activities, summer sped by.  We tried to make a little time for our usual summer past-times:  Horseshoe Lake, Cottonwood Beach (Clark Park), Family Film Festival, sleeping on the trampoline, a family badminton tournament and some hiking.

One hiking spot that was on our Summer TO DO List was Oneanta Falls.  This hike takes a little forethought and preparation as most of the hike is climbing over log jams and trekking through water.  We couldn’t let summer end without getting this hike in or we would have all felt robbed.  

Keri and McKenna at the top of the log jam blocking the entrance to the gorge.

McKenna and Mom climbing the log and rock wall.

Tanner, Austin and Keri about midway through the hike log jam behind, waterfall ahead.

Who says chivalry is dead?

Oneanta Gorge Waterall and Pool

BRRRR!  Who is swimming under the waterfall?

I won’t list all the things we wanted to do, but couldn’t fit in although my kids did say that it didn’t feel like summer because we didn’t go to Malad to see G&G Bowen.  I guess we can’t let that happen again. 

Tanner & The Fumes

Gas Fumes:  Last Friday Tanner took his driving test and received his driver's license.  He is a good driver and very conscientious, but Friday afternoon when I watched him pull out of the driveway for his first solo drive, I found myself sobbing.  It was like sending him off to kindergarten all over again.  I can't believe how quickly he has grown up.

We purchased a third vehicle that Tanner can use to get to work and his different activities.  Him driving will help alleviate some of the taxi cab burden I have had the last several years with four busy kids.  We got a screaming deal on a nice ride.  Tanner is pretty lucky he is not driving a bright, safety-orange FORD pickup truck like I had to.  I am sure his dates will appreciate it too.

Perfumes:  A week later Tanner planned a  "How-to Host A Mystery" dinner party with some of his friends.  It was like pulling teeth to get him to have the party.  The problem was he had to invite girls.  He is so shy.  I think after all is said and done, Tanner will tell you he was glad I forced the issue and made him have the party.  I believe all his friends enjoyed it too. 

The Girls:  Alyssa, Jessica, Maureen and Kati

The Boys: AJ, Alec, Sam and Tanner

A few of the boys got together to plan it all out.  I got a kick out of the first menu:  hamburgers, potato salad, tater tots and potato chips.  I convinced the young men that, though that might be a great scout camp meal, the girls would probably appreciate some fresh fruits and vegetables. 

"BBQ WITH A VAMPIRE"

Eric enjoyed getting out his Halloween decorations in July (I think the neighbors were a little afraid he was starting in on Halloween early this year.) and decorating the entryway like a vampire's castle.  McKenna had a great time being the doorman and seeing all the costumes first hand.  Carson had fun setting the BBQ table complete with ANTS. 

I think the guests came a little worried about how this was going to turn out, but soon they relaxed and really enjoyed themselves.  There was a lot of laughing, sleuthing and accusing going on.  It was a fun evening for all involved.

Sanity Savers

I have the best husband in the world!  Not only does he give me all his support when I am trying to accomplish the next-to-impossible, he plans little get aways for the sake of sanity during all the madness.  This last year we have taken off on a few "sanity savers." 

One of these trips was to Downtown Portland.

In May Eric kidnapped me for a night in the big city. We went to downtown Portland, caught happy hour at Henry's and checked into the Riverplace Hotel located right on the waterfront. From there it was a beautiful walk to the Cirque du Soleil show, Kooza.  The performers and costumes were absolutely breathtaking, and I love walking through the city at night with all the lights and people.  With all the bridges lit and the city lights reflected on the river, it is quite a sight.

The next morning we woke to sun (yippee!) and took an energetic 3 mile walk along the waterfront and across a few bridges.  Of course we had to stop at Whole Foods Market to get a scone and milk for breakfast.  We then got cleaned up and walked to Portland's Saturday's market for some Portland Culture and Arts.  I have always loved the excitement of Saturday's Market with its street performers, artists and international foods.  Portland is such a pretty city with so much to see and do.  I love living here.

The second weekend in July we took another weekend and went to the coast for a few nights in Lincoln City. When we go to the coast, we are always on the hunt for the best clam chowder - pretty hard to do since we have worked hard at perfecting our own recipe, but the bowl we had at Dory Cove was pretty good:

After dinner it was too late for a walk on the beach so we thought we would join the city at the theater for their opening night of Eclipse, the third movie in the Twilight saga.  We were quite surprised at the turn-out:

Everyone must have gone into Portland for the big opening a week earlier.  We enjoyed an almost empty theater.  I guess all Eric's stress at dinner about getting a ticket was for naught - the ticket booth wasn't even open, we had to purchase our tickets at the candy counter.

The next morning we got up and walked to the Sea Dog Cafe for a HUGE breakfast and great local company, then we walked around the corner and decided to try our hand at glass blowing.  I was able to make a glass float to bring home as a memento of our trip:

With the fog rolling in along the coast when we were done at the glass studio, we decided to go hiking up around a lake rather than on the coastline.  After finally finding a trail head that was not closed due to footbridge repairs, we had a beautiful hike.

Then Eric went surfing to cool off...

If we had been in Hawaii, I would have joined him but it wasn't quite warm enough for me this time.  It takes a tropical beach to get me in the ocean.  How glad I am I married my best friend and that we still know how to have fun together after all these years!

July 4th Celebration

We toned it down a bit this year for the Fourth - no Guitar Hero in the front yard, about half the guests and no firework show set to music.  But...we did have a good BBQ, excellent company and gratitude for a country full of opportunity and freedom.

McKenna, Brooklyn and Elizabeth playing badmitton?

Mason and the Sork Boys just being boys.

Good conversation...

Good Food!

Thanks Zundels and Jacksons for sticking around and helping us celebrate this year, and a special thanks to the Justin Jackson family for letting us crash their firework show,  music included.