Summer Fun 2010!

Just thought I would post some random pics from this summer. Here we are at the Grand Coulee Dam laser light show. They put this show on every night of the summer. It's fun and educational. The kids learn the history behind the dam which is the largest in the U.S. (even bigger than Hoover). We all wore glow sticks and everyone kept asking us where we got them. Hmm, Noah there is a summer job for you... selling glow sticks at the dam. But really, it's a nice evening out!

Bryan and Maddie on Father's Day. Bryan said, "Let her pick out whatever she wants to give me for Father's day." Well, guess what he got? Super Mario Galaxy 2. They have definately bonded playing this game. She has been with us for the summer and has become best friends with the neighbor boy Dillon. They pretend play pokemon, Zelda, etc and it's cute to hear all the stuff they make up. We are going to miss her!

Here we are on the Columbia River. If you ever get a chance to boat on it you will see beautiful basalt columns, wildlife, and clear cool water. We even found a hidden cove that I found out later is not so hidden but it was fun to walk along and feel the soft white sand and great views from.

Here's Bryan fly fishing on the Yakima River. We spent the day at Ensign Ranch (a church camp site) with some friends and guess who snuck away to fish. But I found him and Maddie and I found some rocks for her collection.

Noah has been fishing for trout. Here he is cleaning one of the small ones. We cooked them on our fire pit outside and he portioned everyone a piece like it was gold. He was so proud and loves to do anything outside.

Spring Break Vacation for Bryan and Kari

"BIG CEDAR TREE"

I think it actually was a group of trees grown together.

The Kalaloch Lodge

Here's Bryan!!!

When we went to Forks, WA it was interesting all the Twilight stuff we saw everywhere. Twilight Lounge, Twilight Laundry, Twilight apparel in every store.

These are the Sea Stacks or
some people call them Giant's Graveyard.

We spent 3 days just hiking and walking along the beaches. Our lodge was cozy and quiet. It was a great vacation that we needed. Next time the kids get to come!!

These are just a few pictures of fun things we've done this summer. We went to Wyoming and saw some amazing waterfalls! Most of our pictures haven't been developed yet. These one's are from Bryan's phone. Not too bad. Here is Rheannon and Maddie at the falls by Moses Lake. We had a great time with them coming to live with us this summer. We sure miss them. Rheannon did great at her job at the Car and Dog wash. Maddie fit in with the the two little girls. Always running around and me not knowing where they went. Now we have Kaden back and are ready for a new year of school. I am going to miss having the kids home. I'm wierd like that.

EASTER EGG

HUNT!!
JULI AND KADEN PLAYING RABBIT BALL WHAT A LOVELY GIRL :)

INVESTIGATING ALL THE STASH

SUCH A HAPPY GIRL

ALL MINNNNNNNEEEEE!!

POSING BY THE APRICOT TREE.

BLOSSOMS MEAN SPRING, RIGHT?

COUNTING... GOTTA MAKE SURE

THEY HAVE THE EXACT AMOUNT

EGGS.

COLORING EGGS IS SOOOO FUN

We had a great Sunday!

GUESS WHO TURNS 3 DAY?

LOOK WHO GOT BRACES!
I didn't have any pictures of Johanna at Christmas so here are a few. She still loves soccer and plays the piano. Some of her favorite things from Christmas were her ipod radio player, gift cards, a electronic globe that you can upload info from the internet on and of course books and more books.

A few Christmas photos. I wish I took more. The kids woke up and had to find their stockings. Bryan and I told them they had to wait until 7:00am to wake us up. They actually did good. Grandma Chandler made all the kids flannel jammies and rice bags. Juli and Corina both got cash registers so they can shop. Hmmmm... where do they get that from?

Emily loves games and listening to stories at night so she got a new cd player. How many has she gone through now? Who knows.

We got new Christmas lights this year. The nativity is also in the front yard. So pretty at night time.



Corina and Juli both got dolls and lots of doll clothes. Juli wants to visit the American girl store in Chicago for her birthday. How did she hear about that? I think she watched in on Jon and Kate pluse 8. She seriously plays with her dolls all the time. She was almost asleep the other night and jumped up and said, " Oh, I forgot to cover up Nellie!" They have beds and the works. It's so cute. How come Jo and Em never liked them?

Casey with his new Nemo jammies and Nemo fishy. He loves his new garbage truck too. He stores all his stuff in it. He needs his garbage truck to sleep with. At night I can hear the thump of it on the floor when it drops.

MISSION RIDGE

Bryan took Kaden, Emily, Noah and Corina and put them in ski lessons last Saturday. They had a great time and Bryan also got his fill in for skiing. Noah had no fear and wants to go again. Bryan says I'm next. It's been 20 years though. Will I remember?

Emily

Corina

Doing great!!!!

My cute little snow bunny Corina.

Noah and Kaden are in Hockey.

At first Noah could barely skate. Now he is doing great and even skating backward great. They practice about 3 times a week.
He is called a Squirt and Kaden is a Bantam.

In motion.

HALLOWEEN 2008

Johanna and Juli were my little witches. Juli was so cute with her fake eye lashes. We went to the ward Halloween party and people kept saying, " I can't believe she keeps those things on!" If you can't guess Kaden was a hockey player, Emily a ghost, Noah a skeleton man, Casey wore a shirt that glowed in the dark and had a flashing light, plus it had spiderman on it. Bryan wore his Tae kwon do outfit.

Kaden carved a pumpkin of a haunted house. The kids had fun carving pumpkings outside and the weather was so nice. We were really lucky this year that it wasn't totally freezing like usual.

Bryan's very impressive wolf scene.

For breakfast Noah and I made all the kids stay in bed while we made our Halloween breakfast. We ate by candle light to scary music. Yummy pumpkin muffins, oranges with body parts in them, scrambled eggs, and they even have Halloween cereal that comes out every year. Packed full of sugar! We played Halloween bingo and had prizes.

The tablecloth even glowed in the dark.

ON ANOTHER NOTE.............

Bryan and I are challenging the 5 older kids to read the BOM this next month. Kaden has already gotten off to a great start. We have been challenged so many times by the Prophet, out Stake President, and Bishop so we are going to make that our goal for November to get through the first 2 books. Take into consideration the time of the younger ones. Grandma Chandler has given Jo and Emily stickers that we never finished putting on so that is a nice extra for motivation. I haven't decided if we are going to do it in the mornings or night. I am trying to help the kids see how blessed they are and to be more grateful which should be easy this time of year. Bryan and I both wish we had family that lived nearby because we have a great family! There is an open invitation for any family to come see us any time!