Year 8: What are you Ephrata?

This is the 8th year for our annual Ephrata trip with the Lybberts, Roisums, Garlocks, Blackners and sometimes more. The kids love this quick weekend at Oasis Campground where we tent camp on a field of grass...enjoy campfires each night and

water park play during the day.

On our way...the wild horse monument in Eastern Washington

Our little campsite, we found shade this year!

Our family skit was Harry Potter 1-7 song in 99 seconds.

Preston loved being Harry Potter for a day.

All of the Ephrata kids...we are missing those that have grown up, gone on missions!!!

Below...Moses Lake Water Park!

Preston was sooo excited....it was his first year that he was tall

enough to do all the water slides and diving boards.

Dare devil Preston going off the high dive..attempting a front flip!

Ephrata 2008...Hard to believe how much the little ones have grown...

Road Trip: Oregon coast

In August we had a fun family trip down the BEAUTIFUL Oregon Coast.

We packed a lot in during this trip.....here goes....

ASTORIA COLUMN....flying airplanes....beautiful views....We have loved this green suburban for almost 9 years and through 145,000 miles.

CANNON BEACH....shopping at the cute downtown...walking the beach...roasting marshmellows...giant frisbee...Haystack Rock...Mermaid sand castle

TILLAMOOK CHEESE FACTORY....yummy cheese samples....factory tour...yummy ice cream...cheese and crackers for lunch

FLORENCE SAND DUNES.....wild and crazy ride....waiting for 2 hours....amazing and beautiful sand dunes

SALISHAN RESORT....wonderful pool and hottub....putt putt golfing...lovely hotel and spa

AMAZING OREGON COAST...bike ride to Depoe Bay...lighthouses...whale watching...beautiful vistas...Newport Oregon Coast Aquarium....Lincoln city outlet mall shopping..

HORSEBACK RIDING....Katie's worst nightmare (but she survived!)....beautiful beach and sand dune ride...fun tour guides...

PORTLAND...time to head home....Voodoo donuts....Keep Portland Wierd... OMSI...Narnia exhibit... Portland Temple...wedding for Anna and Seth

THE END.

Lake Sammamish Triathlon!

Hey Guys!.. its katie, the guest blogger for now (actually im doing this blog without permission.. i wanted to get it done before my mom put up any too many embarrassing pictures haha!). Early this morning (4 am!!) my dad, my cousin Cera Edgley, and I drove to the Lake Sammamish State Park for the race. Cera is experienced in triathlons and other races, so she helped show me the ropes. It was a 400 meter lake swim, 14 mile bike ride along the lake, and a 3.2 mile trail run. It was such a great experience, beautiful scenery, and lots of sweating. Probably one of the best "beginner" triathlons in the Puget Sound area. Here are some pictures my dad took of us during the race..

setting up at the bike rack!

cera finishing her swim, wooo!

just finishing my swim ahead of my entire heat!!

cera making the last turn on the hard bike course..

just getting started on my bike... (yes, it is a mountain bike. next time i'm using a road bike)

we finished together! haha-- just kidding. cera finished a good half hour before me and then she came and met me during the run so we could come in together for my finish.

final words: first, thank you CERA for getting me into the triathlon, it was great! second, i am a triathlete!! one check off the bucket list. im ready for some more duathlons and aquathons, but first i need more training; i mean, 75 yr olds were passing me, that should be enough motivation. so bring it on!! :)

Dress Success

Katie saw a dress on a music video that she really liked and it made her want to try sewing one of her own. So, for one of her goals in Young Women's this is what we made together. It is actually cuter in person and she gets tons of compliments whenever she wears it. One stranger stopped her in the halls at church, asked her where she got the dress and when she told her she made it, she asked if she would make one for her daughter. Katie declined--one sewing project a year is enough for her! I'm just glad she is actually happy to wear it.

Road trips

We have had 2 road trips during the past couple weeks (more pictures/details to come!) For the most part, the kids have been great travelers. We did have a funny moment the other day that is pretty typical---

Preston teasing and fighting with Hannah in the back of the car.
Mom (trying to distract him) says: Here Preston you can play on my phone. But first, what do you say to Hannah?

Preston: Please.. Umm... Thank you.

Mom: no --what's the other one?
Preston: You're welcome
Mom: try again
Preston: I love you?
Mom (exasperated): How about 'I'm sorry?!!!'
Preston: oh yeah I forgot about that one

Things we do to keep ourselves busy in the summertime.....

Hannah just finished performing in "Broadway Review" which was an amazing multi-stake production. She performed in about 7 different numbers--songs from Les Miserables, Footloose, Wells Fargo Wagon, Tradition, Lion King and Aladdin. She made some new friends and learned a lot about performing. After 2 weekends of performances and 4 months of rehearsal she was exhausted.

Preston had his very first swim lessons this past week. Our friends, Molly and Sarah Berger were his teachers. The first day he didn't have a clue about how to do the crawl stroke or side breath. By day 5 he actually swam 2 laps crawl stroke, side breathing. Way to go Preston!

We celebrated Mike's Birthday by going to the Seattle Center, seeing Harry Potter 7:2 at the IMAX, playing in the fountain and eating lunch at Dick's.