Spencer Butte Columns - Take 2

Yes, Cole watched Derian and Jo during this camp and on the day they climbed the columns he wanted to do it too.

So the following week he went to camp and just had a blast!

Climbing Day!

His goal was to also make it to the top!

And he did with all smiles!
Climb two was much easier and also To The Top.

He came off the columns all smiles and feeling very accomplished.

VERY PROUD of you COLE!

Spencer Butte Columns!

Ever since Jo first tried the indoor rock climbing she has wanted to climb a real mountain.  Summer camp provided not only Jo this opportunity but Cousin Derian also as she joined camp for the week. These rock columns are located in downtown Eugene.

On day four of indoor rock climbing the girls got to climb the columns at Spencer Butte.

Derian getting secured for her first climb.

And off she goes!

This was so fun to watch!

About the middle is where it got tricky.

WOW, this is so GREAT!!

Derian came down all smiles.

I think she had a very good week at camp.

The group on hand to watch them climb.

We were the only spectators other than the other climbers and their teachers.

Jo getting ready for her first climb.

Her dream becomes reality!

That tricky middle part had her stuck for quite a few minutes.

She kept at it and pushed on as the top of the rock was her goal.

SHE MADE IT!

In her words:

"I got stuck in the middle but then I told myself, 'you can do it Jo, you can do it Jo,' and I DID!"

This was so much fun to watch!  I really get how parents get so much joy and life through their children.  This was a blast!

Happy 4th

Stayed at home, lit fireworks with the neighbors and just hung out.

Jo and Cole made posters that hung on the front of the house.

 Our Loot!

Sights of our evening.

We then climbed on our roof to see if we could see any LARGE celebrations.

Too many trees darn the luck.

The kids thought it was fun to be on the roof at night however.
HAPPY 4 of JULY! (as it is written by the kids)

GeoHiking

GREAT day to go for a hike and find some Geocaches with the Young Belmont Family.

Sunny day, snacks, water bottles, tradables, gps, camera: Check!

Now all of us came out of this day with a different sort of experience and as time goes on I'm sure we will all say "What a _____ (fill in the blank) day that was." and then laugh together.

First find of the day.  WAIT, STOP!  Is that poison oak?  YUP!  The big bush where the cache was hidden is our first plant and cache of the day.

Some finds were in dense areas.

Todd picked a bouquet of wild flowers for Corri.

Lizards!

Todd and Corri

The top of the mountain was just beautiful.

Jill & Tina

Just a perfect day for a hike.

Jo doesn't enjoy the caching all the time but she loves to be outside like this.

The flowers were wonderful too.

And another cache at the top of this hill.

I don't know how many we found this day but the geocachers logged a few tough ones!

The hike back down to the car was just as picturesque.

I just really loved all the views, weather and company this day.

Only one person in my family carried their water for this 4 hour romp in the wood, you're welcome family. (their water stayed in the car as I don't know why) Rationing was important and tough on the kids.  Brought enough snacks though note to self, bring more "moist" type foods due to granola makes you thirsty and with only one water bottle those snacks didn't help. The route back down the mountain didn't take us to our car so next time we should take a gps to show us where we parked and how to get back.  Oh, wait!  We did have the @#%& gps!  We might want to use the feature on the gps to mark where we started so we don't come out on the road a couple miles from our cars (ok, 1/2 mile).

It's been a few weeks now since this hike.  What a FUN day it was!  Looking back now that is.

Friend / Family Fun

Jo came out of her room one day with blue color in her hair, on her face and all over her hands.

Mom: Jo, whatcha doin?

Jo: I wanted to color my hair.

Mom: What did you use?

Jo: Marking pen.

Mom: It's summer, lets go to the store and you can pick a hair color.

Jo: YEAH!  I WANT AQUA BLUE!

Mom: That will look very pretty in your hair.

And just like that we have aqua blue hair...I mean red hair because when we got to the store she quickly fell in love with all the colors and grabbed red and stated, "This color".

Eugene Challengers = Family Fun

We learned that the Challengers play just down the road from us and with $5 tickets, kids free and not many spectators we can have a very good time.

Noah & Cole didn't sit a whole lot as every foul ball they grabbed and turned in they got a free sucker at the food booth!

Karly & Jo had an awesome spot at the top of the bleachers because they love baseball.... er, I mean Littlest Pet Shops.

This and eating all the food types they could buy with their own money.  Smoothies, chips w/cheese and suckers for your general idea.

Bike Rides

One of our many family bike rides where we stopped to watch the turtles sun bathing on a log.  (Noah was still hanging with us too)

It was a hot day so we stopped by the park to let the kids play and cool off!

They had a blast and were all dry before we rode back home.

Finished off this day with dinner in the back yard.

Yes, we did s'mores for desert too!

Love summer.

PARENT REMINDER: When a child asked if they can paint please ask them "What are you going to paint?"

Love the color combinations Jo and the use of sticks and leaves for your paint brushes is very cool.

Got a good chuckle on this one.