long summer days

My sister Jolyn and her family have been here for the past few weeks waiting for their house in California to be available.  I've LOVED having them here and have played enough in the past week to last a lifetime…at least Steve might say so.

Jolyn left this morning and needless to say, I wanted to cry and have been ridiculously bored today.  Not that I haven't had enough to do, its just that I want to be entertained.  Man am I going to miss Jolyn and her family.  They are really fun.

So besides making delicious treats and hanging out with the Smith family, here are a few moments from this past summer week.

Colby lost a tooth at swim team while eating an after swim donut.

The tooth fairy took THREE days to deliver the green stuff.  She was busy to say the least and obviously does not like teeth knocked out by junk food.

We went to a lot of parade homes this weekend.  This counter top was one of my favorites.

It's not granite, so right up my budget, and has a subway tile back splash.

I'm dreaming hardcore around here.  I've told myself to stop dreaming until my house sells.

We'll see how well I do with that one.

Grady played in a parade bathtub.  He was all smiles until he turned the water on.  We are really good parents.  

Saylor has embraced her inner Cinderella with a Dixon twist.  Cinderella is armed and dangerous.  Watch out stepsisters!!

After two plus weeks, Grady finally warmed up to my sister the day before she left.

Saylor found a fantastic reading spot.

Pillows and mounds of clean laundry are comfy I guess.

Meet Gingersnap.

She is Saylors constant summer companion and confidant.

This bike even bucks and whinnies just like a real pony.  My favorite is when Saylor calls out "Come on Gingersnap!".  It's ridiculously adorable.

Saylor adores her Gingersnap almost as much as I adore Saylor.

Carters new companion came in the mail today.

He paid for this beauty with his own money and has bugged me constantly for days about when the UPS man would deliver his treasure.

His high score is 704 jumps without stopping.

His blood sugar was in the 70's afterward.  Not surprised there.

Andrew is currently on his way home (I hope) from his Kane lake hiking trip with the scouts.  This is his third year going.  He always comes home stinky, dirty and happy.  

I'll be glad when he is home safe,  but cannot deny how quiet the house has been...

Sumer Thunderstorm

About every two or three years we get a really really good thunderstorm.

Yesterday we got a whopper.

In a matter of minutes our street was completely full of water.  I was looking for animals lining up two by two the water rose so fast.  I must admit, it made me really nervous to see the water start creeping up our driveway.  Basement window wells and water do not mix.

My flowers by my water chain took a beating too.

I hope the poor things recover.

Luckily the rain stopped after about 10- 15 minutes and the kids went out to play.

It would be shameful to waste such good deep puddles.

 The water was deep and cold. 

The boys were ecstatic.  Saylor had fallen asleep on the couch and missed the whole thing.  So sad.

The poor UPS delivery man had to drive right through it to make a delivery.

The kids enjoyed the wake that ensued.

Colby even took pity on the poor UPS guy and delivered a few packages on our neighbors doorstep so the delivery man wouldn't have to wade ankle deep.

Andrew showing me how deep the water was.

The boys then to the bikes out.  

Other than the wet nasty laundry, I love when my kids get to be kids and play crazy like in our own front yard.  Baring any true house flooding, I love summer storms.

Just as fast as the water came, it drained and was gone.

We have a chance of storms again this afternoon.  I'll cross my fingers that its a fun one!

More Sunriver Pictures

We stopped in Boise on our way to Oregon for a Krispy Kreme break.

We are fans.

We're also fans of Cascadia Vehicle Tents in Bend, Oregon.  This is the company who gave us a free tent a few years back.  It would have been ungrateful of us not to stop in at their headquarters and give a personal thank you.  It was perfect that they had a Land Cruiser in their showroom…almost too perfect.  The kids picked out their next tent(s).

Watching family videos Thursday morning.

We are a big group!

My brother Jared hauled all our bikes up in his enclosed trailer. Thank you Jared!  

The bikes were a big hit!

We realized we needed new helmets.

Jared also brought shirts for the entire family.  

Bergen Affe is what they have on them.  It's German for Mountain Ape.

We looked pretty classy!

 

Teenage boys crying over a dog grave at one of our rental houses.

Teenage boys are silly.

Saylor with her best buddy.

Yep…she's licking Whitney's nose.  It stands for true love I guess. 

Crater Lake gift shop has beautiful gifts.  Cough Cough.

We decided we need to invest in pogo sticks.

Dan is a great father and uncle.

He has sweet parenting skills.  (wink wink)

Grandmas give the best hugs and snuggles.

Only a baby can pull off a speedo type swim suit.

The two Say's

Saylor and Sadie.

Carter and Wyatt.

We realized we were old parents.

Having to keep track of a teenager and a baby is nuts…but really fun.

Holly and Andrew.

AJ, Colby and Wes.

These three were the three amigos all day at the pool!

Evolution of a Hot Tub

If you soak in it…they will come.

1 man all relaxed and serene looking.

 1 man- 4 kids.

1 man- 6 kids.

 1 man- 8 kids.

1 man- 11 kids.

Please note the body language and facial expressions of the man.

I could die of laughter right now.

Why I am behind on everything and couldn't be happier about it!

The Walker family headed west to Sunriver Oregon this last week.  This was our last year reunion postponed because of Dad's surgery and cancer treatment.  We were all thrilled to finally have our reunion here and EVERYONE present and healthy to attend.  

Miracles are abound in our family.

Because I am still catching up with life at the moment (I have a large girls camp activity tonight I am trying to prepare for along with recovering from the best weekend ever) I'm posting just a handful of pictures from Sunriver.

I will catch up with more as soon as I can!

All 19 Walker grandkids present and accounted for.

(Number 20 should be here in three weeks or so!)

Crater Lake.

(just try and get all five of my kids smiling and looking at the camera!)

Playground fun!

Girls swimming!

Girl cousin silliness!

Riveting game of Signs

6 out of 7 looking is good right?

We are goofballs.

Ahh…I can be in the car for two more hours if I have one of these and a sister to text sarcastic comment sto the whole way.

Glow stick madness.

Oregon playground toys are much better than Idaho ones.

Kick ball is best when you don't keep score and even the babies run the bases.

Mom driving, teenager in front seat taking pictures, Dad trying desperately to keep 15 month olds happy.  8 hour drives can be brutal.