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.

Longview – Track and More

Made a trip to the Smith side of the BS Family for a weekend of play, work, more play, including swimming and birthday cake!Lanna’s birthday theme was “In the Kitchen!” What fun it was for the kids, decorating aprons, cakes and then a hunt in the yard for kitchen items. Who knew spatulas grew on trees?

The weather was not hot enough to swim the whole weekend but when the sun finally came out and the pool was ready, in they went! Almost a whole day in the pool. What a good life.

Maggie & JoNanny and Gpa bought this neat blow up Habitat Maze for the pool.

Lanna & JoColorful and fun!

While visiting, the twins each lost a tooth, the same day. Jo lost hers while eating blueberry buckle cake in the morning. Her words: “I took a bite and then I bit some thing hard, I pulled out my tooth, it had a blueberry on it. I ate that again”Cole bumped his teeth in the pool and it hurt so he got out of the pool and pulled the tooth to eliminate this issue from happening again.

TRACK
Our second track meet was again fun. A little better planning on our part, Oma brought a chair, we packed a dinner and lots to drink.

Long Jump, Softball Throw for all of them. Jo also did the 60m and then the twins did the 200m as well. Jo has a nice stride to her run, not fast but smooth and consistent. Cole ran hard and fast taking third place at the finish line.


Our Athletes
Derian placed 7th in her long jump, her form and understanding was so much better this week. Impressive! She threw 53’ in the softball throw which earned her a 3rd place ribbon!Cole threw around 53’ and Jo around 30’.
Smiles all around and very tired little people when we got home!
(working on Oma to participate in the adult All Comers Meet on Thursdays so we can see her throw)

THE LAKE!
We made our first splash at the lake again! Full day of water skiing with only one boat from 11am – 4pm on the lake…and that boat would be the boat we were using!

More photos of the knee boarding and water skiing at a later time. We used another camera for those shots.

Just know…We played ALL DAY in the water while you were at work! ;O)

First Track Meet

The kids participated in their first All Comers Track and Field Meet all learned what it means to actually compete in this sport. We might have found Jo’s activity. Yippy!

They could choose three events in which to participate. This being our first meet we stuck to the same three events but will change it up for the next one.

Long JumpDistance not measured for Cole and Jo.Cousin Derian participated too with a jump of 6’4”.

Softball ThrowCole: 50’
Jo: 30’
Derian: 54’

200 Meter Dash

Our Athletes and their Ribbons.Derian earned a 4th place ribbon for her softball throw!
You Go Girl!

Orange Ribbons are Participation Ribbons, six & under all get these no matter where they place in events. Seven and older earn placement ribbons we think up to fifth place and then the rest earn participation ribbons as well. All kids come home with a ribbon for each event they participated in.

Weekend South

We were planning our first camping trip but decided to book rooms at the Belmont B&B instead. The accommodations were adequate enough, hot showers, good food and just a good time all around. (Thanks Mom and Dad)

The kids have been asking to make ice cream and I knew Gma Marie and Gpa Norman could help with this new inquiry. Jo and Gma blended things together while Cole and Gpa prepared the ice cream maker.Vanilla was the flavor until the chocolate syrup was added.
Home made sure is the bestest ever!

Gma made some diapers for Jo’s baby and that led to the kids getting to try out the sewing machine. First was just trying out fun stitches on scrap fabric, stars, flowers, suns and leafs to name a few. After this, new pillowcases must be made.



The other activities we managed to squeeze in this weekend:
Connie’s softball game and singing her Happy Birthday.

Half of a Hawaiian concert, Gma was ready to head out after the third song or so and the rest of us could take it or leave it. So at the break we left it.

Burgers at the Elks lodge and then watching the Graffiti Cruz. Oma and the kids were treated to flames out the exhaust pipes. This brought smiles to their faces.

Quite a few garage sales from which we all came home with at least one thing we really needed and never thought was invented before! (Gma was the only one with the will to keep her pocket book closed)

The first Lord of the Rings movie, Cole just has to see the rest now because the ring has not been destroyed yet!

I guess that’s about it. We are now catching up on laundry, watering, cleaning, general work and our lives for a few days. Then off we will go again, north to the Smith clan….