Summer days can be long and sometimes you have to get creative with what to do. So today I took the kids to have lunch with my mom at TG Hospital and then we enjoyed the water fountain and rose garden across from the hospital. I couldn't resist showing them Stadium High School which was so close by. It is by far the most amazing looking high school I know. It was open so we explored all three levels inside and the kids all want to go there now. Here is a little trivia. Stadium High was originally built in 1893 to be a French Chateau style upper class hotel. Because of funds and fire it was abandoned and then bought by the city to be a school. It was renovated and opened to students in the Fall of 1906. It truly is a beautiful structure. A little creepy as Ethan said but fun to explore.

Okay, Joel and I thought it would be fun to take the kids to chinook passs to go on a hike. We got there and the trail was covered in snow but after driving for a hour we just had to try. It was slippery and scary and hilarious all at the same time. Emma found zero humor in the entire situation and insisted we buy her new shoes after taking her through such an awful experience. The rest of the kids seemed to find the adventure and teamwork in the whole thing but only for a while. Joel and I on the other had were trying hard not to laugh as we clung to little roots for dear life and kept slipping and scaring our children. Probably won't do it again anytime soon but it was a great adventure!

Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd! Safeco had a family night game a couple of Monday's ago so Sharsti and Josh had the great idea that we should all go. Our family had a great time and Isaac and Ethan kept saying it was the best family night ever! The Mariners lost but we had a great time watching them play anyways.

Joel and I took the kids to Banks lake over by the Grand Coulee Dam. My family knows it as Steamboat Rock. It has been raining nonstop here in Washington and we just really needed some sun. So we borrowed Grandpa Great's fishing boat and took off for eastern WA. We were not disappointed. The skies were blue and it was 80 degrees while we were there. We saw the lazer show at the dam the first night and then got up early and fished and swam for most of the day. Needless to say the kids loved time with their Dad.

The Daffodill Parade

This is the last year we will get to see the Daffodill Parade so Neeley and I found ourselves a spot on the sunny side of the street and had such a good time with our kids. I especially liked it when someone passed out free 2010 Census hats and our children wore them proudly even if they were way to big. Have you filled out your Census form?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Ethan showing his Irish spirit this morning! Hope everyone has a lucky day!

Liz and Shaun came in to town for the weekend on their way to their new home in Hawaii. We had so much fun just hanging out, celebrating Mom's 60th birthday and enjoying watching our children play together. Thanks Liz and Shaun, Izzy and Ian for coming to see us in Washington! Love you so much!

Isaac has been a part of a local wrestling league lately and he really loves it. He works really hard during practices and gives it his all. These are pictures of his first matches. He had a good time and was a great competitor. I was so proud of him. Isaac is a bit of a ham for the camera. Hence his side pose. He makes me laugh daily!

I posted some of these pictures on Facebook but for those who are strictly bloggers this is one of the two days we spent up in the mountains when Joel was in town. We had so much fun. Everyone stayed warm enough and it was beautfiul perfect snow to play in.