Our Trip-Parts 2 and 3

Part 2 being the trip to MY grandparents house (it's the set of pictures at the bottum) and 3 being Randy's Dad and step-Mom-Anna's house. Part 3 first, because I'm not rearranging all of these pictures. Yes, it will be full of pictures like the last one, and yes, I'm still living in the past. Sigh...

Part 3

I've decided that I love Washington. SHhhh, don't tell Randy I said that. I'm Oregonian through and through, and usually NEVER admit that WA has anything good going for it-except our families. I usually do this to tease Randy, and because I REALLY love Oregon. Anyways, we basically drove all over the state of WA, and it has such diverse scenery, and all of it beautiful. I love the outdoors and all that the NW has to offer. While visiting Randy's Dad and Anna, we took a few day trips. One of them was to visit Leavenworth-a Bavarian village. It was so quaint and picturesque! After spending all day walking around and seeing the shops and eating some good Brats, we went up the canyon a ways and soaked our feet in the glacier-fed river. It felt sooo nice and refreshing! Emma loved it, and proceeded to soak me and her while trying desperately to put her whole body in.

Grandpa and Emma. I couldn't handle her on my own, and needed a little backup.

Randy and Anna.

This is Leavenworth. I should have gotten some better pictures of the town itself. NO I'm NOT pregnant. That is Emma in the wrap. As soon as I put her in there she goes to sleep, so I used it a lot. I get lots of stares with that on. My sister's friend even came up to her at church and asked, "Whats wrong with your sister?" I think it's funny. Oh, and in Leavenworth one guy in a store commented, "I was about to tell you to get to the hospital soon-since I saw your baby's legs sticking out like that". In other words, he thought I was walking around in labor? Some people.

Our 4th of July celebration consisted of water sliding at Randy's uncles water slide he built. Isn't this amazing? It was so much fun for the whole family to enjoy. Anyways, Randy's uncle is a farmer and was cleaning out this pit, and thought, "Hmm, this would make a good pond. I think I'll just do that." Then, he looked over at his pile of rocks he made and thought, "hmm, that would be a great water slide for the grand kids" and so, he made this thing. He even had the dirt hill landscaped better than our yard-complete with a sprinkler system, sod, bushes, and a water slide (with water flowing down it). It was AWESOME! Us adults had more fun than the kids... If you look close, that picture (above) is of Randy, Me, and his brother Mark, and wife Kendal, and Anna. There's a technique to it-first you goop your tube with some polymer, and then you push off, and lean back so you can float over half way across the pond. We got going pretty fast too.

Kenadi loved Kendal, and only wanted her to swim with her. Well, part of that is because Randy accidentally dunked her. Ok, so after all of the swimming, we watched a beautiful fireworks show-sponsored by Randy's uncle, and put on by a bunch of kids under the age of 6. Us adults were on one side of the pond, and all the kids on the other-with matches and fireworks. I heard that this 4th was low-key compared to normal-I guess someone always looses an eye and a finger. Just kidding, but I wouldn't be surprised. It was funny listening to the show- you'd hear fireworks going off and at the same time kids yelling, "oh shoot! Uh oh!" and parents yelling (across the water)" are you okay?" It makes me laugh every time-only because nobody got hurt.This is us (minus me) watching fireworks with Randy's cousins Amy and Paul, and his brother Mark and his wife Kendal.

Anna and Kendal and I got to go on a couple of horse rides. I also went with my sister Kayla and mom at home, but never got pictures of that. Anyways, I miss riding, and that was so fun. One of our rides took us back and forth across a 3-4 foot deep section of creek.

Kenadi has decided that she really does want to be a cowgirl now. She always wanted to ride, and that made me happy that she's getting over her fears.

One day we went to Grand Coulee dam and saw their laser light show. That was beautiful! On the way there we stopped to look at this place called Dry Falls.

Part 2

Okay, before we met up with Randy, we went over to my grandparents farm in Northern (very Northern) Idaho. Grandpa was in the middle of farming and Grandma broke her foot a while ago, so he's been doing it all himself. So, while we were there, my mom and sisters and I took turns changing pipe. I felt so buff. I loved it.

We always eat lefse (maybe I'll post this recipe on a FFTF, if my mom will let me) since we're Norweigan. This picture is our lefse party, and YUMMM, it is so good! Even better with family.

We were so fortunate to have a bunch of crazy cousins and their kids come over for the day while we were there. This is my Grandma and my cousins little girl.

Kenadi and her second cousin.

Here's a primitive car Kenadi found in one of the barns. It didn't work, so I had to push her around in it.

Me and one of my cousins. (I won't mention names in case they would prefer me not to). We all took turns riding on this tricycle-built-for-2 that my grandpa made.

We went boating in one of the ponds. Kayla usually headed this one up, and included a little fishing while they were out there.

And last, but not least, Emma and my Grandpa. He was so good with her, and I loved watching him with her. He would always say, "thank heaven for little girls". It was so sweet.

Alright, I will finish up my trip posts this week. Just one more left, I think. Thanks for hanging in there!

Our trip... part 1

We had so much fun in Washington, it was hard to come back. We were busy, busy, busy, and I took pictures like crazy. There is so much to share, and so I'm doing this in a 3 or 4 part series. This one is my time with the girls and me and my family (before Randy came). Unfortunately the first week after we got there, everybody was sick, except for Emma and I, and I had to cancel some of my plans, and push the rest into 2 weeks.

My parents enjoyed being grandma and grandpa. Emma and Kenadi loved all of the attention.

We watched Kayla do some qualifiers for gaming at the fair. She did really well, and Kenadi wanted to start riding after watching her compete. Kayla and her horse Diamond definitely looked the best out there. Doesn't she have a pretty horse?

We celebrated birthday's. Reid's was June 26th, and he turned 8! (Reid is my youngest brother) Mom made a Star Wars cake. It looked so neat! I should have gotten a better picture of it.

I went with Kayla and Jenna's YW group on a hiking trip. I loved it. It was so beautiful, and nice to get into the mountains and woods of Washington. At this point (the above picture), we had to hold onto the trees to get up or down the hill. It was so steep! I loved it.

This is Jenna and I at the top of the hike. Beautiful, isn't it?

The hike had these neat Madrona trees. The picture doesn't do it justice. Kayla was the best nature woman and didn't have a problem with climbing one for the picture.

Kayla, Me, and Jenna. (2 of my sisters)

We went to a parade that Kayla and my mom rode in.

My dad sat with me and the girls. Kenadi got so much candy because she looked like a poor, helpless little girl compared to all the big ones around her, so people in the parade would come over and give her candy directly. She loved it.

We saw lots of friends and family. Aunt Vickie Lee, and Uncle Mike had us over for a nice evening.

Emma and Kayla.

Kenadi loved the trampoline, and Kayla would go on there with her. I thought this was a cool shot.

My cousin Ashley and Travis and their boy Russ. came over to see us. We had a lot of fun with them.

Kenadi and Russ rode on this Rocking motorcycle that my grandma made, and Russ was so cute with his little lips going. He was making the sounds.

I got to witness nature at its best. I loved seeing Honey nurse her kittens.

We had a bonfire with my siblings and Travis and Ashley. Here Kayla's totally enjoying a s'more.

Emma learned how to crawl the second day that we were there. She now would prefer to be on the floor eating things, instead of being held.

We went to a petting zoo and cider mill. It was a cute little place, and rained that day. The weather the first 3 weeks I was gone was cold! The high was 70, and it was in the 50's at night. I had to go buy Kenadi and Emma some pants and sweaters at the local thrift store. It was a nice break from the Oklahoma heat.

This is at the petting zoo. See the baby hiding under it's food trough? It's mom is standing by.

This peacock was huge! We saw it do a show for one of the peahens.

Kenadi actually got over her fear of animals while we were gone. My parents have cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, and chickens. So, she really had no choice. This picture is at the petting zoo.

Kenadi and grandma.

My mom and dad celebrated their birthday's on the same night, and for some reason I didn't get pictures that night. Then, mom got another celebration on her real birthday 2 days later. Happy birthdays Mom and Dad! (sorry Dad)

Kenadi petting the chickens with Kayla in my family's chicken coop.

"What's this rock?" We went to a gaming practice for Kayla and her horse, and while there Kenadi and Reid played in the sand. Kenadi was picking up rocks and throwing them until she found a funny looking one and asked Reid, "what's this rock?" I heard Reid say, "Um, Kenadi? That's horse poop." The funny thing was when I looked over and saw Kenadi smell it, and then throw it.

Kenadi and Reid liked to play in the sand pile at my parents house too.

Of course she followed him all over and wanted to do everything he did, whether he liked it or not.

Kenadi liked the kittens too.

Emma loved Reid too. He was so good with her. Kayla and Jenna were such a big help too, when Randy wasn't there. I was very impressed, and thankful that they all were interested in and loved my children. It'd been a while since they'd seen Kenadi, and this was the first time they'd met Emma.

We like self portraits. This is Me, Emma, Jenna, Aunt Vickie, and Reid.

Another self portrait. Kayla, Me, and Jenna. They are my youngest sisters... Kayla is 16, and Jenna 14. I loved hanging out with them. They are such good girls, and so fun.
Thanks for making it through this post. I know, I'm kinda long winded.