Crater Lake Ride

Just did a ride with Doug Kowallis this weekend.  We left around 5PM Friday and were trying to make it to Summer Lake Hot Springs in Oregon but it just got too late so we spent the night in a public park adjacent to the Sheriffs office in Christmas Valley.  Not a lot of sleep as the sprinklers came on at 1am.  The wind was howling so I moved just before that into the second loft of a play structure and spent the night up there.  Pretty nice...   Summer Lake Hot Springs are wonderful after a long ride.  We got up about 5am Saturday morning, made it to the Hot Springs soaked for a while and then continued on to Crater Lake.  I had never been there before so it was pretty awesome to see it.  Pretty hazy day, but still spectacular.  One of the guys that was with us hit a deer on Hwy 97 at 11am.  We were all very fortunate not to have been hurt and it only bent his engine guard on a brand new 2015 sportster.  He got a big goose egg on his shin but that was about it.  This happened while all three of us were in the passing lane going around a big dodge truck pulling a trailer.  Needless to say the deer didn't do too well...  Long trip...FUN!!  except for the deer...   Can't wait to go again...  Got back at 10PM Saturday...

Zumba! Zumba!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/174865489238663/

This is what I do every Tuesday and Thursday morning, and I am loving it!  (If you glimpse a gal in blue pants and a white t-shirt, way in the back of the shot, that's me!)

I can't say enough good things about this group and ladies who lead it.  It's every age, every shape, every size, and everyone dancing and having fun. I have NEVER enjoyed exercising before. Now I'm the one dragging my kids and friends here, rather than looking for excuses to not go.   Anyone wanting to get into shape, find a fun zumba group! 

Happy Father's Day

Id' like to wish MY father a very Happy Father's Day!  I love you so much dad.  I hope you have a great day and I can't wait to go out for some sushi!  (That's right, haha!)

Miss Idaho Pageant 2015

This has been a long journey - and a great one with my sweet Ava.  First, the back story:

April - 

The Miss Idaho Pageant (in June) has a program call "Little Sisters".  Normally I would never have anything to do with pageants, but this sounded like it could be fun and educational for Ava.  25 little girls between the ages of 8-10 are paired up with a Miss Idaho Contestant.  Then for the next 2 months, these "littles" can look up to their "big sisters" as role models and mentors.  PLUS - there are a few other incentives for the girls.  There will be 2 savings bonds (scholarships) awarded to 2 girls.  One for academic achievement and one for community service.  Then they can also sell raffle tickets to raise money for another scholarship to be awarded to one of the Miss Idaho Big Sisters.  Whew... I think we have our work cut out for us - and some fun ahead of us too!

Meet-n-Greet.  Ava and her Big Sister - Laura Hampikian

When Ava and I started this journey, I had 2 goals in mind:

1. To teach Ava about service and helping others.  I wanted her to gain real experience in the community and reach a little further than a love note for her brother or cookies for the neighbor. 

2. To win the Community Service Savings Bond (scholarship worth $275) and obtain some seed money for Ava's future.

Our first of many projects was to make soft toys for an orphanage in Sierra Leone, Africa.  Together we made 22!  This project got the ball rolling for several other projects...

Bears and dinosaurs  - Julie Helms, coordinator

Recess time spent helping in the school library

Eating at Pizza Pie Cafe to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network

Donating her own baby clothes to the Women & Children's Alliance (victims of abuse)

Paint the Town

Fill the Boot - and we met Gov. Otter!

After 2 busy months full of service projects and dance practice - the night finally came!  Jessica came over and did Ava's hair.  Then she got all dressed up for the Miss Idaho Prelims.  The night was so much fun with the different events.  My favorite was when Ava walked the stage with Miss Laura in her formal gown.  She was so poised and beautiful!  At the very end of the night, it was finally time for the Little Sister awards.  First was the award for the most tickets sold and Ava received honorable mention for being in the top 3.  Then it was the award for academics.  Last but not least was the award for community service and Ava won!  She won 1st place and a $275 savings bond!

My gorgeous Ava and her best friends!

Finals night - Ava and the other 'littles' performed a dance on stage.

Unfortunately, Miss Laura did not win.  She placed 3rd runner up which is still wonderful, but Ava took it pretty hard.  She was devastated!  I never imagined that Ava would get so attached to Miss Laura and the idea of winning the whole thing, but she did and her sweet little heart was crushed!

This whole experience has been so busy but also so rewarding.  We put in a lot of hard work for the community service savings bond and won it!  Ava worked hard on her dance routine.  Laura worked incredibly hard for the whole competition...  and we all had a ton of fun doing it!  This experience was about work and service, but also about having fun along the way.  I think it brought Ava and I closer together and I know Ava will never forget her big sister, Laura.  I am so grateful that we got her for this experience!  She was a wonderful role model for my Ava.  I think we achieved all of our goals and I could not be happier with the final outcome!

Q:  Will we do this again next year?  I guess we will have to wait and see!

Sunshine Sue

Playing Mom and Dad

 I love how these two play together!

Step1:  Build a pillow fort. (Stuffed animal pets and babies inside) 

Step2: Gather your tools for home repairs 

Step 3:  Hammering!  Note the matching helmets and hammers--haha!

Color Me Rad Spokane 2015

Lisa found a Groupon for Color Me Rad 5K so she got a bunch of ladies together from our ward and we did the race! It was so much FUN!

 All squeeky clean! Ready to get RAD!

 Getting pumped up for the race.  We had to wait for a while for our start time so we had loud music and a little bit of color before we started running.

 Ready to start!

 Actually running! I was not in shape for this at all and it was really more about fun than anything but I actually managed to jog for most of it.

 At the end we had the ultimate color bomb and got super dirty.

The After.  It was so much fun and I think we'll do it again next year!

Backyard Campout

Kevin, Lisa and the kids came over for a backyard campout over the weekend.  We had s'mores, set up tents and had fun together around the campfire.

The next morning Kevin kept it real by making breakfast on a camp stove despite having a kitchen available 20ft away. Since the moms were gone doing the Color Me Rad 5K and the dads were in charge...no pictures were taken. :)  We had lots of fun and we're looking forward to more camping trips!

Ballet Class with Cousins.

I'm not sure who has been more excited about this little ballet class-- the moms or these cute little cousins!  Bookie asks me pretty much every day when her next class will be!

I love this photo because it shows some sweet personality--ie

Bella:  I am so excited to show you my lovely arabesques! 

Harper:  Awww yeah! Check out my cute booty in this tutu!  

Brooklynn:  *high-pitched giggles*  I'm so excited--squirrel!

The many faces of Jacob!

MacKay-grams!

We love the Shark Reef!  The twins are still young enough to go for free, so it was a daddy date with Brook and Ethan. 

Every month, Jason takes one of the kids out for dinner.  This was Brooklynn's turn-- check out this little healthy eater! 

This was the first tomato of the season....  It had a soft spot so the boys threw it- splatting it with delight!  Then the sham battle began!  Jacob started throwing peppers and Braden was on the green tomato team. Fortunately for our garden, Bray has good aim and the game was over shortly when Jake got nailed in the back with a hard tomato.  Busted.  Needless to say they spent the following day filling the garbage can with weeds. 

Bagging grapes.  I think we bagged between 150- 200 bunches of grapes!  And, there still tons left for the birds. 

I love this sticky spaghetti face. 

We love to play tea party. 

She's a purse girl! 

"Bye-bye!"

We raided Moms bag and found the tampons. They make great pop guns. 

Cousin hand-me-downs are the best!  

Jacobs first piano recit! 

I love this little dress. She got it for her 1st birthday from Grandma and I've been saving until I was sure she wouldn't crawl in it. Soooo adorable.