Fun dates

Hey! I'm preparing a lesson for my Beehive class on dating. Thought I'd talk about how much fun group dating can be. If you have any creative dates to share let me know!

Kaytlin quotes

Yesterday for lunch we were having grilled cheese sandwiches.

Kaytlin: "Mom, I don't like this. Can I have a boy cheese sandwich instead?"

Today at lunch.

Kaytlin: "Mom!"

Me: "What Kaytlin?"

Kaytlin: (singing) "You are so beateeeeful! You are so beateeeeful to me!"

Tonight while I'm scrubbing potatoes.

Kaytlin: "Oooh potatoes. Mom, can I help you scrub them?"

Me: "Sure, go ahead and bring over a stool please."

Kaytlin: "Okay. Oh wait - I have to put on lip gloss first."

Me: "What? What do you need lip gloss for?"

Kaytlin: "To look beautiful. I want to be beatiful like you mom."

I think everyone should have a kid like Kaytlin. :)

Betton Island beach day

We spent a Saturday afternoon on a little family adventure. We rented a skiff (small motor boat) from our friends' resort, Clover Pass, and traveled around the area. Addie slept the entire time on the boat, which is nice because she hates life jackets and screams bloody murder in them.

First we went to Betton Island and had a little picnic on the beach.

We explored and found a few crab.

Then back in the boat we went. Suddenly the girls were afraid of every little bump and begged to go home. We went to Silver King lodge instead (haha!). We walked the boardwalk trail into the forest and saw a few deer. Lexi and Kaytlin loved that!

I got a turn to drive on the way back and sighted a waterfall and went around another island. When we got back to Clover Pass John's family pulled in too. They had been fishing and Lana caught this 55 pound halibut.

These halibut and salmon were from a chartered boat. The big one of the ground weighed 126 pounds!

Sprinklers

A trip "down south"

So we recently returned from a 3 week trip to the lower 48. John came down for the first 4 days (longest time off he's ever had in a summer) and then the girls and I stayed longer. We had a blast and I'll post more pictures later. John and I were able to go to the temple in WA together and spend time outside at parks, go kayaking, etc with my parents. Then I traveled with my parents to Montana and got to see the rest of my family there. After a week we were back in WA with April and James (2 of my siblings). Here's some random stuff to show what a treat it was to come back to normal living for a while:

We got to ride in the car for longer than 20 minutes without running out of road.

I'd point out to the girls, "Look girls - a tumbleweed! How cool is that!?"

"Oh my gosh! Look! Cows! See them girls?!"

"No, that's not an eagle." (They're everywhere up here)

"Nope, there's no sharks or octopus in the lake."

"No jellyfish, no starfish, just fish."

We got to eat at the Olive Garden. :)

The girls would practically freak out and say, "MOM! MOM! Look! The neighbors have sprinklers too! Wow!"

I spent $70 and saved over $200 at a clothing store.

I got Lexi a brand new pair of tennis shoes for less than a dollar. (There are so many good deals down there!)

The girls experienced their first thunderstorm.

Went boating - not fishing.

Where'd the tube go?

The Cabin

This is the cabin where 6 generations of my family has come to vacation. It's on a lake in Montana and we were lucky to come this year. The water was so high this year that there wasn't a beach at all. My dad brought some kayaks and we had a great time with those, a big floating station, and rocks (isn't that what kids like best about beaches?)

This picture was taken at my grandma's house (on another lake) in MT.

Cousins!

Don't worry - Lexi's tied to the other kayak.