Labor Of Love

One of the children's highlights of the summer was visiting Grady's mother for a few days and doing some deep cleaning, building maintenance and yard work. The children were excited to earn some money.. but were more excited to take a trip with dad and to help their grandma get some things done around her place.

 

 

Seattle July 2012

 



The Space Needle, 604 feet high! There is a restaurant at the top that slowly rotates

so that you are able to see all of Seattle in an hour's rotation

 

Seattle's Waterfront

Washington State Ferry

 

Ryan, atop Grandma Bonnie's roof

Grady, power washing the top of Grandma's 4 plex

 

 

Ash snaps a photo of Mandy through the screen

My beautiful orchid that grandma Barb gave me before leaving for Belize.

Grandma Bonnie has been taking wonderful care of it!

She says it is her favorite out of her whole collection

 

The Merry Maids!

 

Our 'Baby Boy' Turns 14! :)

We couldn't believe it when the ultrasound tech told us 'It's a Boy!' No, I am not talking about a recent appointment! Hee Hee (relax mom!) I am remembering back 14 1/2 years ago when we heard the news that we would be having our first son..
Rye, you were such a sweet and thoughtful baby. You still are a thoughtful young man who is always thinking about the newest and greatest invention. I love the way that you take on your responsibilities as a man. You have grown up so much in this past year. You have taken your personal relationship with the Lord more and more seriously also. You are not going to be one who gives 'lip service' about being a Christian! You have an aversion to hypocrisy which we respect so much. We love the way that you care for your younger siblings.. how you searched and searched at any and all garage sales and at Goodwill until you found a little bike to fix up for Gracie. I will never forget how her face shined as she looked up at you and said 'Thank you so much brother'. You are such a capable helper in our home. It amazes me how much you already know how to do around the home.. working on the cars, fix bicycles, garden, design and build things. We are so excited to see how the Lord will use you, dear son! May this year find you growing in Wisdom and Truth and being a servant in the Kingdom of God!

The girls made Rye this darling little Scotty Dog cake for the birthday chap!

We visited the park for his party.. the kids enjoyed feeding the ducks

 

 

Then off to the playground!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Papa and Nana made the drive to join the party~ of course they had a fun gift for Rye

 

Happy 14th Birthday Ryan! We love you so much!

Meanwhile.. back at camp

While Daddy was in Belize, the kids and I decided that we all wanted to 'Get out of Dodge' for a few days! We love to camp and had not been able to do so for over a year.. true, this was the first time that we were going to attempt it without dad.. but he had already gave us his blessing to go since his sons have become such great (BIG!) helpers! So we headed up to Walupt Lake in the National Forest, out near Packwood. It was such a beautiful 5 days! The weather was perfect.. in the 80's during the day and in the 50's or 60's at night. We met many special folks.. and even had a few conversations about the Lord with a few of the campers. It was such a reminder that we need to be available and with an answer at all times, even when we are in the middle of no where! :) We came home feeling very refreshed.. and looked forward to Daddy's homecoming from Belize, just a few hours after our return. Once he got home of course, the older girls, dad and mom stayed up until 4 am talking about the Belize trip and catching up! 6 am came pretty early the next day!

This campground is worth the bumpy 15 mile trip down the bumpy gravel forest service roads~

 

Walupt Lake

The boys were dismayed to hear that in this paticular lake they could not use bait or barbed hooks

Even so, they had fun catching a few smaller fish with flies, bubbles (?) and other various thingy-ma-jiggies that mom doesn't know the name of!  :)

 

 

Best friends

Watch out Gracie!

Grace and Laura washing the dishes

Good Morning!

Going for a ride in the bike cart

Poor little Laura's eyes started swelling shut on that first day we arrived. We think she may be sensitive to wood smoke. In addition, just like in Belize, every mosquito in the area found her!

The poor baby was covered in bites. Thankfully, a more prepared camper in the next site over had some children's Clariton which she gladly shared. She and another camper also gave us some very strong bug spray which also helped.

I found Gracie cutting up this watermelon.. with a MACHETE! Hee Hee

(notice the blade is pointing UP!)

 

The creek that flows into the lake was so beautiful. The boys had fun catching huge craw dads there.

 

 

Yummy! Steel cut oats taste even better when cooked over a fire!

 

 

On our trip home, we stopped at Mayfield Lake and Rye caught this big one right away!

Ryan, Amanda, Laura, Gracie, Ashley and Grant

~Our Blessings~