Summer Fun!

It has been a great summer thus far.

We began the summer by celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary. It was a perfect night on Alki Beach in Seattle. A great way to spend an evening together.

We ate seafood at Saltys and then walked along the shore, and enjoyed the sunset and city lights.

We also began the summer by putting our swingset on Craigslist. In just a few hours we had over 40 offers. We ended up selling it to a foster care family.

The kids enjoyed a few final ours on it before we said good bye.

Then we replaced it with a trampoline. Wohooo!

The boys spent a week going to Cub Day camp. Our den does a 4 day camp 7 hours each day. I went one of the 4 days. It was fun to spend the day with Landon and Mason, they love cub scouts! Here they are panning for gold at one of the many fun stations.


During Cub Day Camp Lydia participate in a Gymnastics Camp with a few friends. She had a great time, and I was able to get a few things done for girls camp.

It was also time for Jacob's first hair cut. He's hair seemed to have grown over night, and we were getting worried that he was starting to look like a little girl. So I splurged and took him to a "Kids Cut" salon. I never did this with my other children, but he's my baby. He was a little nervous getting his hair cut, but overall did fine.

It was a baby make over:

BEFORE

AFTER

Landon and Mason got their hair cut right before at HairMasters.

Don't they all look great?

We have also spent a lot of time at the lake this summer. The kids love jumping off the dock as much as they do swimming in the pool. However, Jacob started the summer not so sure about any of it.

The Findlays came to town for a week. The cousins can not get enough of each other. They spent the majority of the time in swimming suits together either playing at the lake, or pool. This year we also spent a day at Wild Waves.

The big kids love to always have a lemonade stand. Since my parents live on a golf course, they do well. This year I think they made around $25, in a few hours. They think they should do it everyday.
Lydia and Jack gave up life jackets together and became really good swimmers.

They spent hours swimming together.

Lydia loved being thrown by either her dad, Uncle Chris or Grandpa.

After being the spectator to all the swimming Jacob, got into the action.

He now loves the water!


Last week was girls camp. I am the Stake Girls Camp Director. This was my second year being the director and things went very well. It's great to go and see all the work you have put in over the past year, come together. My parents and a few friends helped me out with my kids while I was gone. It's amazing how much work and sacrifice goes into a week like this, but it is so good for those Young Women (and the leaders have a little fun as well).

My least favorite thing about being the director is coming up with a Stake Skit. We have a new stake YW president that is creative and she threw together a skit. We practiced right before and wouldn't you know, it was a hit. I went completely out of character (it's okay when you are a camp) and pretty much acted like a child (I had a little inspiration from a few of my own children) and played the role of Miss Whimper and Wine.

Let just say I think I shocked a few...
The day after camp was our nieghborhood social. It's a kid heaven! All you can eat cotton candy, and popcorn. A few boucing rides and a dunk tank.

We were suprised when Mason and Landon appeared in the dunking tank.

However we were SHOCKED when Lydia got up. And guess who throw her in?

LANDON!

One major milestone this summer was Jacob started to walk! He was a late walker, and we were starting to wonder about his stubborness, but on his 15 month birthday, he realized it wasn't so bad. Now our sweet boy is EVERYWHERE!

Where do we begin?

It's no secret that it's been awhile since we have posted anything. These last few months have been crazy for our family. We have been up to many things these last several weeks. There have been several activities especially with school coming to an end. Zeke has been traveling back and forth to Utah working for Quest while I have been at home keeping up with the kids and trying to keep a clean home to show at a moments notice (with a 1 year old). With all this going on something had to give and unfortunatly blogging was what had to be cut out for awhile. But now we return and hopefully we'll be able keep this site updated occasionally.

For those that haven't heard, last week our family decided to shut down the "moving business" (quoted by our kids). We have been faced with many decisions during this whole process. I could try and explain all that has happened but honestly, I don't even know if I could possibly make any sense. In the end Zeke decided to take an offer to go back to his former job in Bellvue, where he works on a committee researching the Microsoft/ Real Networks Anti-trust lawsuit.

There were so many things our family looked forwarded to in Utah, yet at the same time we were sad about leaving Washington. We could be talked into either place and at times felt like it was impossible to make a choice. Maybe in the end it was the losy housing market that determined our decision.

This has been a very emotional and stressful time in our family but overall we have felt the lord bless our lives and teach us a few lessons along the way. We don't quite know what the future holds for our family but for now our family is looking forward to having quiet relaxing summer.

So here are some highlights from the last 5 weeks.

(They all really deserve there own post)

School Play:

JUNGLE BOOK

May 17th 2008

Staring: Landon Evans as an Elephant

Also starring: Mason Evans as an Elephant

The school play this year was really cute. Each song was coriographed and the costumes were so cute.

Science Fair
May 30th 2008

Having two science experiments at the same time was some what crazy, but we managed to get them done and the boys had great time they can't wait until next year.

Landon's experiment tested the power of yeast. He made three types of bread with variable amounts of yeast.

Mason choose the power of air in a bounce and he recorded how high a ball would bounce with varible amounts of air.

Memorial Weekend Camping Trip

May 2008

Carnation, WA

How can you not love to camp with scenery like this?

For several years our family has gone camping over Memorial Weekend. The Tolt river in Carnation, WA is one of our favorate places to camp. Over the years many other family friends have joined us making it a annual tradition for all.

Mason enjoyed telling ghost stories around the campfire.

On Saturday we spent the day at Remlinger. It's a country fair park that is perfect for families and young children. Landon and Mason are slowly growing out of it, however they have such fond memories of going for many years they still loved it.

The weather was perfect and the lines were short, so the kids rode this roller coaster close to 20 times. I love seeing my kids have so much fun.

We took a few rides on the trian as well.
Pure Joy!



Jacob was a great camper.


These are just some of the kids that camped with us.

Fun times!!

Uncle Josh McKinney

Josh and his family were here last week. It was great to see them. Jacob took right to Josh. In fact he pushed me away right before I took this picture. Josh has the touch!!

Sound to Narrows 12K

June 14th 2008

My good friend Holly talked me into running a 12K with her. I have to admit I was not very excited about running a 12K. All I had ever heard about this race is how hilly it is. I tried to talk her into the 5K portion of the race, but to no avail we signed up for the 12K. In the end, it was great, and I was glad Holly pushed me to do it. The race runs through Point Definance Park along the sound. It was beautiful! I hope to do it again next year. Later, that afternoon we met a man in Safeway, who said this was his 36th year running the race, WOW!

He had to be at least 70.

Jacob participated in the diaper dash, crawling race. He's kind of lazy when it comes to walking.

Go Jacob!!!
Landon, Mason and Lydia ran the Junior Shuffle 2K. This was Lydia's first race, and we were so proud of her, she ran the whole time smiling. Each of them recieved a medal when they finished, and also a loaf of bread.

My favorite Mother's day present ever!!

Ever since I became a Mom, I have loved Mother's day. However, one Mother's day is unforgettable. Five years ago on Mother's day, Lydia was born. She has been the best Mother's day present ever! This year, it was her birthday on Mother's day. I was happy to share my day with my sweet little girl, who has been such a joy to our family. It was fun to have her join me for breakfast in bed on Sunday morning, she thought that was pretty neat also.

Happy 5th birthday Lydia!

This year Lydia wanted a Ballerina Party.

She had been waiting all year for her birthday.

Her party was the Friday before her birthday, at 4pm. It was a long day waiting for all her friends to arrive.

Then they came and the dancing fun began!

One of the games was a Freeze Dance

Ballerina Favors

Ballerina Slipper Cake

On Sunday she blew out candles again on 1/2 the cake. She had a heck of a time blowing them out, which made us all laugh. She told me later that her wish was just have a happy birthday.
I'm pretty sure her wish came true.