Hilton Rocks!

Ok, it's a whole new world for me blogging from my iPad, so I'm doing some experimenting on the fly. Please be a bit patient with me.

Yesterday I flew to St. Louis to attend Eagle Forum's annual leadership conference Eagle Council. It's always a big day of travel, but I'm always so excited to be here.

For some reason the hotel gave me an upgrade to club level status, so I have a suite open to me from 6:30 AM till 11:00 pm. Sweet! I can get breakfast, beverages, appetizers and treats whenever needed. I'm so happy! No need to buy meals that aren't included with my conference fee.

This afternoon I was able to do some work from here...and had the place all to myself! I am calling it my office! Very pleasant indeed. Thank-you Hilton!

Making Up With Google

Google had some problems with me...and for well over a year I have been denied access to my several blogs.  Well, I think I've made up with Google now and hope to start blogging again Yea! I love to blog!

Lee is Loaded

Lee is loaded and ready for paint. This is getting exciting. 

Countless loving hours have been spent disassembling and catologing her every part.

And now she's ready for the next critical step in her transformation.

Not sure how long this process will take, but if it takes as long as it has taken for the big guy to choose her paint color it may take a while. Oh that's right, he really hasn't exactly selected a color yet. **sigh** Stay tuned!

Let There Be...Grass??

We planted...we've watered (too much??) but when will there ever be grass?

Bert's Photo Shoot

So the sixteen year old is a little out of sorts missing "danger" so she spent some time with the other man in her life - Bert. They had a great little photo session together.

He gets so happy when you have time to play with him. He kinda responds like a puppy and gets right in to it with you. So fun!

This would be am "I'm happy" buck. Poor guy has been doing a lot of hangin' out lately and is desperately in need of some attention...in the form of regular exercise.

The girl picniked these last two photos btw...

Raspberry Jam - Check!

Houston, We Have Sun!

The sun has come...for two days in a row now...so let the real picking begin!

On Island

Ross has some work on Vancouver Island this week so they took the opportunity to have a mini family vaca over there. Looks like they are having a wonderful time!

In The Sugar Pit

Britt and Shana went to the Sugarland Concert at the Comcast Arena with Corey & Jon. Not only were they at the concert, they were in the Sugar Pit just a few rows from the stage. Sweet!  (get it - haha)

Ode To My Creative Child

I gave the sixteen year old a photo assignment - get a picture of you and Kevy at work. I wanted it for the blog since for the first time...drum roll...she is driving herself to work. Yesssssssss! So this is what I got - this random, artsy shot...with the pristine baby berries neatly displayed in the side mirror! Kaely...oh how I heart you!

Our Boys

Our boys came for a visit while mom and date had a date nite. First thing on the agenda each time is a "squishy hug" from Grandpa!

I made blue potatoes for dinner and the boys thot they were amazing! Thot it was so sweet to watch Elijah prepare for prayer. I will always treasure this picture!

 Before bed there was just enough time for fresh strawberries and ice cream, and left over poffertjes with Grandpa.

Blame It On The Rain

The rain really messed with us today. It cancelled Taryn's work day - again, made for an interesting Razz Festival in Lynden for Poffertjes, and threatened these rib eyes! Gary had the smoker ready to sear our steaks when a downpour hit. Before he knew it the smoker temp had dropped from  over 600 degrees to 350. Not good. This through his cooking time off...but they turned out great despite!

The evening ended with a spectacular thunder storm. We opened the patio doors and just enjoyed the show!

Sadie Comes Home!

Cait bot a new horse and today she borrowed our trailer to pick her up from Orcas Island.

Meet beautiful Sadie, a Rocky Mountain Horse.

Firebird Engine Update

Gary got to go and hear his engine run for the first time today. He was positively giddy! It runs great...and should be ready in a few weeks.

Reporting For Duty

Berry wardrobe, smartly accessorized with her "blue steel" bandanna from JH Ranch. You go girl!

Harvest Begins...

The sixteen year old finally had her first day of harvest work. She was helped with wires on Monday and a few hours on Tuesday, but actual berry harvest on a picker started today. The weather...well it's borderline tragic, and the forecast looks like...continued tragic. We are praying for a lot better than tragic! Her first day crew included all friends from last year - Carmen, Trent ∧ Brett. And so the fun begins.

Grown -Up Toys

Ross now has his office for Big Steel Box in Canada. Today he posted this pic and described his office "like Tonka trucks and Lego Blocks for grown-ups". Indeed!

Work...FAIL

The sixteen year old was suppose to start work on a raspberry picker today. Guess not.

The Big Guy's Birthday

After an amazing day yesterday at Pearrygin, today was about celebrating Gary's birthday.

So thankful everyone could be together for a family dinner.

The plan was for burgers on the patio...but whatev's (as the sixteen year old would say) Gary decided to smoke streaks instead...and they were amazing!

Elijah having a little watermelon with a smile.

I got to sit by Isaiah and he said "oh that will be so nice!"

Cards, gifts and cake followed.

The boys love this part!

And Isaiah did this wonderful coloring for grandpa.

Happy birthday hon - we all love you so much!

Ride to the River

Riding to the river is the new favorite of the sixteen year old. Love this pic of Bert with his ears forward as if he's enjoying the sounds of the river.

The ride includes short visits with friends along the road.

And this is the best little trail ever that takes you right down to the rivers edge. Great summer fun - for girl and horse!

Our Epic Pearrygin Adventure

Left home at 6:00 AM for an adventure today. Taking the sixteen year old and her two best friends over the mountains to ski/tube at Pearrygin for the day - yes, I said day!

This is what the back seat of the pick up looked like with Danger, the sixteen year old and Frodo, Steph and Luna, her pillow pet who is off-camera at this moment.

I cannot tell you how fun and crazy these two are together.

We enjoyed several stops along the way, and the big guy even found some signs to read *sigh*

There were rocks to climb - crazy children...

and amazing lakes to gaze at.

This is Diablo lake and dam. We even saw the tour boat making it's way across the lake...and once again the big guy and I commented that we really should take that tour sometime again. Btw we've said that every time we've gone thru here since we've been married. We really should sometime.

The big guy got this quite sweet shot of his truck and boat.

Sometimes creation just shouts Jesus, doesn't it!

After a quick stop in Winthrop for some nourishment we made it to the lake around 11:00. I took these two shots with the long range lens of my camera from shore. Honestly I just hoped this was our boat...haha, and it was!

Ty was a great sport and in no time was up on a kneeboard.

Steph and Ty ready to tube.

I so love Steph's free spirit - she's another "all in" girl like the sixteen year old!

Kaely and Ty tubing.

Just a short break for more nourishment. Loved the Willow tree memory here so just had to capture that.

By 6:00 boats must be off the water so we pulled out, cleaned up...

...and headed in to Three Finger Jack's for dinner. The kids entertained themselves - and the others seated near us - by several games of ERS as we waited for our food.

My oh so pretty girl!

It was starting to get dark as we headed out of town and back over the mountain. But adventure was far from over when this luring mountain of snow taunted the children! Ok, I may have dared them a bit too!

The crazy children climbed the snow covered side of the mountain - the girls in their flip-flops! Kinda hard to see but Ty is up on the rocks.

Even the big guy had to show off his new wonder-hiking shoes and meet them up at the rock.

Our epic day ended with this glimpse of God's majesty, and then a lot of sleeping children and pillow pets in the backseat. When we got to Burlington the fireworks at Skagit Speedway began so we got to watch them while we drove back to L-town.