Family Visiting

The Ruiz family came to visit for a few days. We did some chillin’ around the house and let the kids play hard in the yard. We also packed in a few busy days of things we enjoy doing and were able to share with them.

Back to the lake!
Connie was great to take the boat out for all of us to play with. She skied and played too but it was mostly for our enjoyment. Another awesome day of being the only boat on the lake and the sun was shining bright!Cole was sick this day so could not make the trip along with Oma but the girls did not hesitate to get into the water.

It was Maggie and Lanna’s first time in a ski boat and we not only pulled them on the tube but they looked like experts on the knee board. Lanna actually knee boarded twice and on the second trip she was going across the wake like she had done it many times.Carol and Dan…Oh, what can I say here…Mom had some new blood out on the water wanting a tube ride! (devilish grin here and laugh) Ok, I even had that look while they told me they wanted a tube ride. And yes, I even laughed out loud as I wipped them to the right, left and over the largest waves I could make. Carol got a little beat up but they both laughed and had a good time.

Wild Life
Oma and Cole met us the next morning to head to Wild Life Safari. We made the trip early enough that most of the animals were out and about which was nice. Even seeing the bears playing in the water. (they are usually sleeping when we drive through)

The kids got up close and personal to a few animals and they all thought this was fun. The way the kids went from one side of the van to the other was funny. If we were a boat we probably would have took on some water.

East Coast Visit – Crater Lake
Trish, Andrew, Mandy and Paul came for a visit. We managed a few days together which was awesome! We had a one-day trip with Crater Lake and it could not have been a better day for it! It started out over cast and cool…ok…it was damn cold actually! But then the sun came out and it was very beautiful and comfortable!
We made the hike to the bottom of the lake to touch the water, float some rocks (pumice) and just “be”. A feeling like no other really.

Just to update some of you. Andrew will be 18 in a few weeks and a senior in high school. Mandy is 16 and a junior. Both are turning out beautiful and are wonderful young people. Like they could be anything but.

I will end this post with my panoramic photo of the lake!

Just busy

We have stayed busy busy for the past couple weeks, mostly with a house project that I started and needed to finish. BUT, we also managed to play here and there to keep us all a little happy.

First Ski Trip

Cole and Derian had a ball on the water. Jo ended up having a fever during the day so she didn’t knee board but did play in the water a bit and take a boat ride or two.






I also got my turn on the lake.

Jo LOVES being on the boat or in the water. And heck, it doesn’t hurt much that Michael was taking this photo.

Laughing, we get to do a lot of laughing while at the lake.

The kids wanted to throw the javelin in the yard so we brought in a
national champion for some one on one lessons. Nothing but the best for the kids don’tcha know!

Each time our collegiate stops buy to teach,
the kids get a little bit better.

FAIR
We met up with Gpa Norman, Gma Marie, Derian and Hannah for the fair. The kids were spoiled by the grandparents, nothing but smiles all day and then a little pouting when a “no” was actually heard, though that just didn’t happen much. No ashtrays or shot glasses were brought home on this trip, only blow up hammers and a few stuffed animals and four tired kids. Ok, four tired adults too!

Derian, Jo and Hannah all jumped on the swings for the first time ever! Jo was so excited to actually be tall enough for a “big” ride she could hardly contain herself. All three came off bouncing and talking over one another.

HOME PROJECT…again…
I had a vision of the kid’s room and so we gutted their room and started in. The kids picked the colors and Mom picked the design. With the help of the kids and our friend Sheila we managed to make this vision become reality.

Jo picked Hannah Montana colors and wanted them to sparkle.
They do!Cole wanted Mariner colors. Living and loving baseball.