My overachiever

This is my boy, Brayden.  I have always thought that he was a good mix between Kent and I.  However, with this whole scouting thing, I can just picture Kent as a boy.  Brayden is such a determined, eager, honest, friendly boy, especially when it comes to scouting.

The honey and camp card sales took place in the Spring.  Brayden was the top seller for our pack of 56 boys, for both camp cards and honey.  He won a $50 Walmart gift card from the boy scout council for his honey sales.  It is now JULY and I was notified just last week that Brayden won an iPad for his camp card sales!  We wanted to surprise him, which meant that I  had to keep the secret for a whole week, until it was presented to him.  I am pretty sure he asked me at least 3 times if the winners were announced.  (We were supposed to find out in June).

I think he was in shock and disbelief, it was pretty sweet.  It goes to show that if you sell $1400  worth of products, you may be lucky enough to win the good stuff!  Way to go Brayden, we couldn't be more proud of you!

Bring on the screen time battles.  :)

River rats!

 With the 100 degree days that we have been having, we decided to hit the river one Friday night.  It's kind of crazy how warm the water temperature is now.

 Brayden steering his passengers around in the boat that Kent had as a kid.  The thing is so old, but in such good condition.  I don't know how it hasn't dry rotted after all these years.  But that's my husband for you, keeping everything neat and orderly.  I love it!

 

These pictures were taken right before Ellie came over to me, where I was standing on the beach and said, "I have to go potty."

Me being the lazy mom (and apparently dirty mom) that I am, said, "Do you want to walk ALL the way to the bathroom, or just go in the water?"

E:  "How do I go in the water?"  With a look of amazement on her face. 

Are you kidding me?  So somewhat sarcastically I said, "You go in the water and  you tinkle through  your swimsuit.  Make sure you leave your bottoms on!"

She scurries off and I proceed to put my camera away, and check my blood sugar, when I look up, not even two minutes later, to see Ellie standing on the shore, toes barely in the water, legs spread hip width apart with a steady yellow stream gushing out.

Oh my, oh  my, oh my god!  "ELLIE!"  (Thinking, I can't believe she is doing this, I can't believe I wasn't more clear, I can't believe there are two women standing five feet away from her pointing and chuckling.  I don't think I want to draw more attention to her.  I really hope she doesn't come back here to talk to me.  I really hope she goes directly out to swim....

Photo session

 When my  Mom was here last weekend, I wanted to do a quick photo shoot with her and the kids.  I am still trying to make an effort to learn how to use my camera.  I have not been brave enough to take it out of automatic mode into manual mode consistently.  (I am hoping I am smart enough to figure it out soon).  I love shooting my kids and they are typically good sports, as long as I am quick.  Like wrap up the whole shoot within 10 minutes quick.

 

Ellie, striking a pose.  She is so funny, she just does this stuff on her own, I never have to pose her.

                                                 My beautiful freckle faced Claire Bear.

                                                               Brayden playing around.

 The girls proceeded to follow him, but I busted out laughing when I noticed Ellie had the whole root in her mouth.

                                                                      Grandma Wagener

                                          I wish I could remember what was said here.....

 

 

Lake Coeur d' Alene

We had a mini family reunion at Lake Coeur d' Alene.  It was a perfect day for a swim in the lake and sand castle building.

 

Adorable nephews, Hunter & Noah

 

The girls: Ellie, Ally & Dani

 

Keegan & Brayden

 
Beautiful Lake Couer d' Alene

 

Uncle Pete, Kent & Kelly

 

Grandma & Grandpa

                                                         Slip-n-slide fun at home!

Summer fun

 Summer fun with cousins, Hunter and Noah.

 Bowling night out, (Ellie was at my parent's house for the week).

 This is what happened on our last walk/jog.  Dani said to me, "Mom, my handle bars are really wiggling." 
Me:  Thinking it wasn't too big of a deal, while we were at the top of the wee hill.  "If it's too hard, just get off and walk."
Dani:  "Ok." She got off and as she got off, the handle bars came with her.  So glad she was smart enough to make a good choice.  I ended up carrying this bike the rest of the way home.  (Those little, cheap bikes are HEAVY)!

 My handsome boy.  I am loving these apps where you can modify your pics.  A lot of evening  hours have been wasted playing with this stuff.

 Date night with one of my favorite girls.  Ellie was at my parent's and the boys were camping.  I am pretty sure this was the first time that we had a whole evening by ourselves.  We had so much fun!

This was a date night to celebrate our 11th anniversary.  We did a challenge/ropes course.  It was a blast!  Zip lining, a giant 40 foot swing, walking across beams and climbing poles and jumping to a trapeze all 40 feet up!

Liberty Lake Hike



 

We went on a hike a few weeks ago with the Lang family.  Kent is leading a hike tomorrow with the Cub Scout Pack, and being the good Eagle Scout that he is, he thought he should be prepared and know the trail.  We were his guinea pigs, to see how far was a reasonable distance for all the boys.  I have to say, I am pretty sure my little, six year old  girls will out hike any of those scouts. I was so proud of them.  We ended up hiking 7 miles with an elevation change of 1000 feet. (I know, I didn't realize Spokane had hills that tall).  ;)   It took 4, somewhat grueling hours with 5 kids, but boy were they proud when they finished!

                                                Gavin, Kaiden, Brayden,  Dani and Ellie

                                                            Chris, Jackie, Kaiden, Gavin

                                                                My  boys

                                                                    My babies

 When we finally got to the water fall, the kids asked, "Is this really it?"  The last hike we went on was up to Multnomah Falls.  They were slightly disappointed.  :)

 

4th of July fun

 

I just figured out how to upload my phone pics., so these next few posts will be out of order.  I finally got a smart phone (I am in love)!

 

 

We went grocery shopping on the 4th of July and kind of felt sorry for ourselves because we weren't out on a boat on a lake somewhere.  Last minute we went to Liberty Lake park to watch the fire works with the Langs.  I have never wanted to deal with the crowds (I grew up in Vancouver where they have "The biggest fireworks show West of the Mississippi", where it was a nightmare to get home. Plus I am old now), so we have never ventured out.

 

We had a great night though, we found a spot that wasn't too crowded, watched the 10 minute show and we were home 10  minutes later.  Success!