Finishing our summer!

Our summer started June 21st and ended September 6th. In that time we had my mom and brother visit, the boys did a little camping, I worked, Dan worked, the boys had trek and church camps, and we had a family reunion in Boise! Here's a last collection of pictures to sum up our summer! 

Cade took part in Trek and Camp Helaman, a boys camp for 16-18yo. Alex was also old enough to participate in Trek, and then he had a separate boys camp, Camp Nephi, for 12-15 yo boys. (no pictures from Camp Nephi at this point, but Alex had a great time)

I love this picture of Cade. This is how he is around his peers- full of energy, confidence and fun!

If you're not aware, our church youth kids will generally participate in an activity called Trek once during their high school years. This a chance to cast aside modern conveniences and re-enact what the Latter-Day Saint pioneers experienced. They are split into families and they work together for 4 daysnto travel with a handcart, set up camp, and cook (very basic cooking). No phones, no modern gadgets. They even do a harder travel day pulling the cart up a steep hill and crossing water with the cart. While it may not sound like any fun from just reading that, not a single one of these kids came away regretting their experiences. Memories, connections, teamwork, and spiritual experiences to share. 

Alex and his 'family'

Cade's 'family'

The whole group! That is a lot of kiddos!

Dan and I went on a date! It actually had been quite awhile since the two of us got away. Mostly because we have teenagers over at our house all the time. We had a gift card for Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and there's only one in Seattle so we made a reservation to get dinner. Then because our friend from college is the concierge for the Seattle Opera, we took advantage of a good deal to see the show. The pit was played by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and it was nice to witness some quality live performing.

When we lived in Colorado it was nice to live near the Utah McBrides. Here in WA we are just as close to the Idaho McBrides! And there's a lot of them. We took over Pinetop LDS camp and played games, cooked, ate, went to Kirkham hot springs and even had a "Sing that Tune" Competition. 

Cade is surprisingly really good with kids!

Here's our family prepping our assigned meal of pancakes, sausage, and eggs!

Getting Cade in the kitchen is a feat!

Hot Springs!

Dan worked hard to put together a tournament where two people hear a song and whoever can join in and sing first wins! The whole family participated and it was a blast. Sarah McBride won the grand prize of a Costco tub of Skittles!

For me each week in summer was different than the one before it. One week we'd have both boys gone, then we had visitors, then cade gone, then work shenanigans, then alex was gone, and dan would have crazy busy work periods and then suddenly be home for a day off. None of us could never quite get in a groove. Now that school has started again I'm looking forward to a little more routine, and hoping to soak up this vitamin D before it's gone again!

We filled up our last two weeks of Summer with two things: Marching Band, and getting a cat!

Why did we get a cat? I'm not sure how to answer it other than I felt like our family dynamic just needed a shift. Maybe I was feeling in a rut. Maybe I felt like it would be what the boys needed. There were a bunch of reasons to say no, but we are responsible pet owners. Before we even knew what kitty would be ours, we installed a kitty door in the laundry room, got a littler box, bed, cat crate, etc. The house was ready and we brought home our forever kitty that was born in March and had been fostered at someone's home until it was ready for adoption. Meet Apollo!

Dan pretending to not be in love with this kitty. He calls it Beamer, and it cuddles with him as much as anyone else! 

Apollo is just what we wanted in a kitty. Cute, fluffy, cuddly, playful, and cute!

I think Cade may be Apollo's favorite human.

or maybe Alex!

This year both boys are in high school and both get to be in Marching Band together. Dan and I helped volunteer during band camp and Cade and his girlfriend Mackenzie are drum majors together! Yelm Tornadoes, Blow 'em away!

And as always Alex continues to bake away and earn money for video games and earning his Cottage license so he can sell at farmer's markets. Look at those cookies!

First day of school pictures. Cade is a junior and Alex a freshman! I love that they're at the same school and that Cade can drive them where they need to be!

Here we go 2022-2023 School Year! Happy Fall Y'all!