Sunriver, HERE WE COME!

We have been counting down the months to our Sunriver vacation week for MONTHS! As the time drew nearer, we realized that we had lots of friends and family that we wanted to see (namely in Seattle and Longview) but we knew that making TWO trips might be insane with our wee travelers, so...we took off a few days early to make a few stops along the way!

We first got to see our dear friends, the Schneringers! We just drove over the pass and stopped to see them at the park for lunch. Caleb and Ali are way bigger than last we saw them--just in October!--and Grace and Josh had a great time swinging and sliding with them. Troy and Lauren are expecting Zoe, baby #3, in August, and they both looked great. So fun to catch up with them.

Next we jetted over to Kirkland to see the Websters, who had moved back from the Midwest last fall. Liam stole the show with his kid-sized guitar-serenading ("Baa-Baa Black Sheep" never sounded so good!) and he was such a good sharing kid--sharing toys with Grace and his crib to Josh, who was desperately in need of a nap. Kristin and Jer showed us their lovely apartment and we got to catch up on Jer's new job and Kristin's somewhat-new job! :)

That night we stayed with Brock! He's been in his new house for two years and we're JUST NOW getting over to see it. We had a great time bringing toys into his tidy abode and putting food on the floor during dinner. :) We watched a Mariner game on the tube, visited, and took him out to breakfast at our favorite little diner on Alki Beach. So fun to catch up on his life!

Then Sooz and Marc showed us a good time--pirates on Alki, park loitering with hungry kids, relaxing in their toy-filled living room, and lunch from a great FOOD CART that we'll never forget. (What was the name of it?) :) Grace and Josh got to steal naps at their house, but it was hard for them to give up any minutes of playing with Baby Jacob! That boy is the cutest thing ever! I got lots of Auntie kisses in, FINALLY! :)

Leaving the Nelson family's house, I finally remembered to take pictures! I'd told Jeff to remind me to take pictures of everyone we visited and HE FORGOT, just for the record. :)

Then we were off to Longview, WA to spend a couple of days with Aunt Annie and Uncle Drew...

Our stay with Drew and Annie was filled with fun moments: Gracie running laps in their front yard, Joshy peeing on their rug after baths, a trip to the park with Swede and the kids, a great coffee shop with play area, and a visit to Slick and Twinkle's house (toys and a kitty cat!). We all caravaned down to Sunriver together--the two Lochhead clans and the Swanson fam. Our one big stop (before the meltdown in Madras) was at Mt. Hood. We wanted to see Timberline Lodge--Jeff kept chanting, "Red Rum...Red Rum" in an eerie voice. Apparently "The Shining" was filmed there, and from his impersonations, I don't plan on seeing it. :) :)

Next stop...Sunriver! (Actually, there was that meltdown I mentioned earlier that took place in Madras--forcing us to eat at a KFC--quite memorable...and that stop alongside the road to change a screaming, stinky 15-month old...but after that, SUNRIVER!)

She's A Grand Old Flag

The day after Sasquatch was the 4th--and we started it at the Johnson Parade. Josh LOVED to wave his flags this year--all we had to do is start singing, "She's a grand old flag..." and he'd go wild with flag waving.

Cousins Abby and Megs posed with Gracie as we walked to the parade.

Gracie with G'ma and Papa
Our crew--the Sasquatch crew, the Morrows, Lochheads, Senior and Junior Mosers...and friends of the Morrows let us squeeze in with them at their prime spot.

What a great gift! We ran into my good friend Anna McGarrah and her family at the parade. Her family recently moved back to Moscow to plant a church.

The fly-by started the parade

The bagpipes are my personal favorite. Must be the Lochhead in me...

Gracie with Uncle Ben
Josh's turn with G'ma and Papa

One of the Druffel floats--Toy Story!

John and Alma were Woody and Jessie

Walking back to the car with Aunt Kelly and the loot of candy

Stopping on the way back for visiting with Mosers

Next we stopped at G'ma Trudy and Papa LeRoy's for a visit. Brooke found this baby bird and took great pictures of it, after chasing it for most of our visit.

She also got great shots of baby birds in Papa's birdhouse.

The creek

We had a great visit with G'ma Trudy and Papa LeRoy--pop, summer sausage, Cougar Gold, Ritz, and zucchini bread...yummm.

We continued the 4th with NAPS, swimming with the Morrow's at George and Connie's pool, and then FIREWORKS in Clarkston. A great day to celebrate our country!

In Search of Sasquatch--2011

I always say that June is the prettiest time on the Palouse--a thousand shades of green!--but this year, early July has been pretty spectacular. My mom's lupine has gone gangbusters--and mixed with the peonies and daisies (flower or weed, Papa LeRoy?) it really was a sight to behold.

Such was the setting for our 4th of July/Sasquatch weekend at the farm this year. The kids were busy on Friday evening and Saturday doing all of the fun farm activities--seeing the cats (Joshy's personal favorite--he grunts and signs "kitty cat" now at every glance toward the shop), playing in the playhouse, swinging under the tree (there was a robin's nest right at the top of the swing this year!) and of course, getting out THE POOL.

Who is the biggest kid, here?

Grace is busy making "food" with her dishes and scooping out the grass that has gotten in, Josh just loves to SPLASH!

...with his mouth wide open!

Bigfoot shirts and Cowboy Cake--the official Sasquatch "pre-function"

Here we are with our shirts! This was the 35th year since "the sighting," so we have pictures of Bill in his football uniform, carrying a shotgun. This is how he and Brad left for pre-dawn football practice that fateful week in 1976...

Ben was the gracious host this year--barbecued great burgers and dogs while we visited and ate. We had a full house of Mosers this year: Gary & Cindy, Erin and "Baby" Conner, Mom & Dad and the Morrows, Lochheads, and Ben & Kelly (who were celebrating their FIRST anniversary on this day!), Tom & Christi, Megan and Jeff (he's official--he got the tshirt this year!), Bill, Brad & Pam.

And finally it was time for the orchard campfire! Ben also put in this fire pit he welded together and we thought it looked quite official. This was the first year that Grace got to stay up and participate in the campfire--Josh was sleeping in the quiet, dark confines of Kelly and Ben's closet. :)

Bill and Brad telling their stories...

The ambiance...

Grover's Memory stone...

...and our girl's FIRST SMORES!!! We were surprised that the messy factor kept her from downing this whole thing. Her dad was grateful, though, as he heroically finished it for her. :)

Brooke was the Smores Director--she should've earned a trophy, come to think of it!

Miss Megan, gearing up for her cheering performance.

You have a spot, there. Other side. Up a little. You can't save it for later!

Abby, girl getting her 'mallow on.

Dobroth family picture...minus Zach...plus Little Megan...you might be seeing this one on their Christmas card, folks! :)

Megan was really hoping to be the recipient of a Sasquatch Trophy this year. She planned on using her cheerleading skills, recently honed at the local Cheer Camp, where she won the title of "Jump Queen." Still, she participated in an audition, held earlier in the evening, at which Uncle Bill was present (he has connections with the trophy committee). The audition won her a performance spotlight at the campfire. Here she is, preparing to pep up the party with her Sasquatch enthusiasm. The audience was enthralled...

...and went crazy with applause after seeing her vast assortments of pikes and toe-touches! This performance pretty much guaranteed her a spot at the trophy podium.

Gracie loves "BIC" Megan!

Eyeballing the glamourous collection of Sasquatch trophies. Kids covet them, parents fear them.

Trophy winner--KELLY! "Gracious Sasquatch Hostess"

Megan--"Sasquatch Spirit" (aka Bigfoot Jump Queen)

Abby--"MORE Sasquatch Spirit"

Gracie--"Littlest, Cutest Sasquatch at the Campfire"

Ben--"The Other Amazing Host for this year's 2011 In Search of Sasquatch"

It was a great year! Please comment, family, if I left out any highlights... :) It's too hard to remember all of them!