Puttering Around at Home

I found a few little projects to do once we were home for a while!

I found a picture of these little insulators--on Pinterest!--and had showed Mom.  She found a few for me and even had Dad cut rebar for me.  I finally got them out in the yard! So cute!

It was time to change the kitchen chalkboard.  It still had an Easter theme to it, so finally, in mid-July, I got the summer sign up.

And Uncle Brad had made these Bigfoot Puzzles--rocks in baggies--that he gave out at Megan and Jeff's wedding.  I had to find just the right spots for them!

July Vacation: Phase Three--In Search of Sasquatch 2013 with the Mosers

Our last leg of our journey led us to Uncle Brad and Aunt Pam's lovely house outside of Arlington.  It was long overdue--time for SASQUATCH!

Pam and Brad showed us such a great time--such wonderful hosts!--and we all just basked in one another's company.  We skipped Sasquatch last summer, so it had been a long time since we'd been able to get together.  We were missing a few crazy Mosers, and can only imagine how crazy the next one will be!

We made a memory getting there--we forgot how steep the road is going up to their house!  Brad had to get the tow rope to get us up! :)

Jeff making his famous pancakes...

Garrett and Gavin relaxing...

Their deck is absolutely amazing!!!!  I really could live there.

Uncle Tom, Cousin Megan, Jeffrey

Pam fed us all weekend!  :)

Uncle Brad, Aunt Christi, Uncle Tom, Megs

Carmen and Zach got a weekend together!  They've been married and living in different states while Carmen finishes her Vet degree.  It was so good to see them!

Papa Greg can sleep ANYWHERE!!!  It really  is a gift...  :)

Homemade ice cream, apple pie, rhubarb/strawberry cobbler, chocolate coffee dessert...this lady spoiled us!

Gavin spent most of the weekend shying away from Aunt Joan's camera.  Is he Gary's grandson or what?!?  :)

Shoepeg dip.  Aunt Cindy's signature dish--whether she realizes it or not!  :)

Aunt/G'ma Joan brought the slip-and-slide and the boys LOVED it!  I have never seen so much knee-sliding in my life!

Little Millie was the sweetheart of the weekend.

And of course we watched the Mariners!

And on Sunday we rode the train from Everett to Downtown Seattle to watch the Mariners in person!  Grady and Grace were inseperable all weekend!

It was a fun win--even though it was hot!  We're thinking we may wait a couple of years to take the children again--we're waiting for attention spans to grow!  :)

And this is how we all felt after the weekend!  :)  What a great time together.

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!