Joys of JUNE

Sweet Jaken turned 6 with a baseball themed birthday party.  The party guests all wrote a birthday wish on a helium balloon and then took them outside to launch.  Yes. 

We spent two nights in Cannon Beach, our favorite beach town of all the ones we have been to. We happened to be there during Sand Castle Days.  Fabulous creativity.  We went to Camdyn's soccer game in Seaside, which is played over two days on the beach, sans shoes! 

Three little grands joined me for a walk around Portland.  We ate at Pioneer Square, walked along the waterfront, walked to the fountain near the highrise we used to live in, and crossed the Hawthorn Bridge.

Stacey's kids skipped school one day for a high adventure.  We ate at Gustov's, a tradition, then went bowling and to play the arcades at Big Al's.  We all had fake names while we bowled.  They were the names our mother's were going to name us...Julie, Scotland, Mayme, Dallas, Chubs and Bob.  Well, Chubs and Bob were not actually names considered by the mothers!!

Leaving Portland, we journeyed to Seattle for Rachel's high school graduation.  Rachel Ann had to go to a new school for the last semester of her senior year.  She made the most of a difficult situation and we are so proud of her for the lovely young lady she is.  We ate at Olive Garden after the ceremony.

We enjoyed a hike near Mt. Rainer with the Caspersons during our visit with them.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch before tackling our beautiful hike.

Point Defiance Park was also on the agenda.  We enjoyed walking around the zoo, then vegging on the sandy beach.

Rachel drove back with us for a five day vacation as her graduation present.  She was so happy to hook up with her brother, drive by her old house and haunts, ride in Betty to Liberty for lunch, swim at Bear Lake with the Searles and Mom, and drive to BYU-Idaho to look over future apartments.

Thirty minutes after Rachel flew out, Griffin came in for a five day visit.  What is with this 5 day business!!  This is all these busy teens could squeeze in! 

The girls insisted I go with them to a sushi restaurant for my Mother's Day present.  Okay thanks.....but I won't be going again!

Jaken just looked so patriotic on the day I was decorating the patio for July.

My mom had these two culprits spend the night with her after school was out.  Oh my.  They both ended up in her bed AND had her up before 7....but there is talk of "next time"!  I know the kinder had a ball.  They sure love Grandma Mary.

Driving out to Clarkston to decorate graves never gets dull for these children.  We put flowers on all the relatives graves and tell stories about their lives.  It makes Jaken want to cry every time!!

Miss Lydia turned three also in June.  Her day was celebrated with a 'piggy party' because she has such a love of this barnyard animal!  Lindsey maintained her usual flair!

It's a piggy party....let's eat like pigs!

Happily, our neighbor raises 4-H animals!!