FCC Heritage Camp

 The girls had a lot of fun at the FCC NW Heritage Camp. We haven't gone in many years, but were able to go for one day this year. It was well worth the money and time.

I am too tired to write about it, but here are many pictures....

Jetty Island

We are having so much fun this summer that I have neglected to post much. I made a movie from our adventures yesterday, so I'll stick it here. I love summer! I love Jetty Island! So much fun!!

SUMMER!!!!!!

Summer! My favorite season! No school! Time to play with my children!! Nothing in life is better than this.

We began our summer with a camping trip to Cascade Park. Cascade Park is a fun campground owned by our church. Between the river, playground, and slip and slide, we have so much fun...we don't even need to take advantage of the ropes course, little hiking trail, archery, and other fun recreational activities available. 

Erin Joy invited a friend and the two of them pitched their own tent.

Erin Joy is a serious monkey.

What a fun way to begin summer! YIPPEE!!!

New Hair Cut

 Rachel cut her hair and is donating her ponytail to "Wigs for Kids." I think she looks really cute with her hair cut.

 Erin Joy watched from the window.

 Love the finished cut! I love how her hair bounces with a little bit of curl/body when it is shorter.

I love this beautiful, smart, kind, and all-around-good-kid daughter of mine!

My Birthday and End of School Year

 My nice neighbors made me a delicious strawberry cake for my birthday.

School is out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To celebrate my birthday and to celebrate the end of the school year, we went geocaching on a very familiar trail that we love. Rachel didn't want to go so I let her stay home. I sure missed her, but figured she is old enough to start making her own decisions. I drag my kids on so many hikes....it's okay for her to stay home once in awhile.

I love skunk cabbage. I think the yellow flowers it produces are beautiful and they don't stink to me. I also love the big leaves. Check out how big the leaves are compared to Erin Joy....

The dogwood flowers were blooming everywhere. I love these little flowers.

 Erin hikes with her Ipad to take pictures. She keeps the earphones in to keep her ears warm. Seriously. Silly girl. She really isn't listening to music or anything....just keeping her ears warm.

 The tiger lilies were in a perfect spot for taking pictures of the flowers with the ice caves.

 The caves usually look like this in late August. We hardly had any snow or precipitation of any kind this winter. Spring and summer have been dry too. The river hardly has any water. People are concerned about wells going dry and drought conditions. A drought in wet Western Washington seems strange, but certainly possible this year.

 I did some serious bush-whacking to get to this rock to finally find a geocache.

 This little Hello Kitty is the prize I chose because my youngest daughter loves Hello Kitty.

 Columbines were blooming too. In fact, many wild flowers were blooming now. That means the flowers on Mt. Rainier will be blooming early too.

 The Stilly River is practically empty.

 I love my hiking buddy!

 And another geocache....just off the trail so it was much easier to find.

Rachel's Band

Rachel and her 7/8 grade band did an amazing job at their concert last night. I LOVED the music and really had to refrain from singing along with the Les Miserables overture.  This is their young-just-graduated-from-college band director's first year. He is amazing. Not only does he do a great job teaching the kids, he played his trumpet with the jazz band and it was incredible. I hope he stays for many years.

Rachel's Orchestra

 Rachel and her tiny orchestra did a fabulous job with their concert. Mr. Roy, their wonderful leader, keeps trying to retire and really is retiring this year. He will be missed. He has put forth great effort to bring quality music education to our children.