Summer 2015

Griffin playing "helicopter" with one of my socks in the pool. Enjoyed a lot of alone time with Griffin this summer in the pool. 

Regretfully we haven't taken the boat out much it seems since we got our pool and heater. We love our boat and we've taken out a few times this summer. When we do, one our favorite activities is whipping the boys around on the tube. Griffin has come a long way. Finally, this year, he was brave enough to ride full speed and even liked being thrown off!

Summer seems to go by so fast these days...

Momma & Griffin's Trip 2015

Every few years I like to take the boys to wherever they chose overnight. Just mom and said child. This time around was Griffin's turn because, well, I'd failed to do this with him yet. Maysen has been a few times and he's chosen to go to the beach - one year he chose to go to Portland. Griffin's choice was "....Chuck E Cheese." That meant we were going to Salem because since shutting down our local one, it's been a source of sadness for poor Griffin. So ... Salem it was!

We decided to go while Maysen was still at camp for a few more days. We left Thursday around lunch time. We stopped first and got milkshakes at Burgerville in Albany. Then onward to Salem. Griffin likes Chuck E Cheese for the video games, not so much the cardboard pizza (I know, right?!). So, when we arrived our first stop was the nickel arcade "Wunderland".

A young man from Idaho showed Griffin how to "cheat the game" by scoring three 9000 in a row. Griffin made out like a bandit with tickets. We stayed until we'd played every game at least twice. Onward to the hotel. My car said 107 degrees and we were hot just driving tot he hotel.

We chose to stay down by the river downtown Salem at "The Grande"

Of course we had to have the jacuzzi room.

Us being silly in the hot tub...

Cannonball!!!

We watched Paul Bart: Mall Cop and Book of Life. This young man relaxed in the jacuzzi for most of the first movie with the jets full blast!

.... a man in a black suit brought us dinner. You just put this outside your door and they come and take it away. Where do I get this service at home??

After all the jacuzzi time, it was popcorn time. What better popcorn bowl than the coffee pot thing? It's called, improvising.

We made an impromptu trip to the Capitol when we left our hotel. We were so close, why not?

Finally .... the reason for our trip ....

Another ticket bandit. The boy is so lucky!!

Griffin is such a social kid. Before I knew it he had made friends with "Andrew". They pal'd around for a few hours. Much cooler than playing with mom ... (and I was fine with that!)

I certainly made some good memories on this trip with Griffin. He is such a great kid and I am so lucky to have him as mine.

Camp Harlow 2015 and Grandma Sherrill's

When there's an opportunity ... you must take it. Maysen went to overnight camp this week for the first time at Camp Harlow. He's been waiting to go but wanted to go with people he knew. This year Roman was going, so this was the year! Since Maysen was going to be gone all week, I asked Sherrill to take Griffin home with her for a few days. Thankfully it worked out wonderfully and Griffin spent a few days with his cousin Blayz at Grandma and Papa's. 

Big Man at camp .... taking it all in. 

Mase and Roman. I'm so glad these two have remained friends for so long. Their friendship started back in pre-school. Even though they haven't gone to school together since kindergarten, they have remained friends.

You'll notice the fan in the corner. I was joking that Maysen would be right at home bunking above Roman. That's when the counselor said something I didn't want to hear because I knew it was going to be "HOT" this week. He says, "Well, our cabin generally gets the hottest so we have to have a lot of fans."

Generally Maysen had a blast. He came home with his voice gone from "cheering so loud" during cabin competitions. I got to hear about his daily routine, and he said "Even the God stuff wasn't so bad". Ohhh Maysen. He's been interested in religion lately and we'd had a talk about baptism a few weeks ago, so this was a great time for him to attend church camp. He came home hot, happy, exhausted, and appreciative of our central air conditioning. All attributes of a successful week at camp.

Grandma took these two Minions to see the movie ... Minions! Griffin was so excited to go to this movie - he was counting down "the sleeps" until he could go to grandmas and see this movie!

Great (windy) day at the beach and park. Making great cousin memories, that's for sure.

I brought them home and within a few short minutes, this was the sight I saw. They don't skip a beat.

It was a great week of camp, grandmas, fun, relaxation for us. Best part? Since we didn't have kiddos, I don't think I cooked once! We had cereal for dinner and popcorn for lunch. Felt good to be kid-free for a week but oh-so-good to have my family back together complete!