Jubilee Lake

Bryan has been back to work for two weeks already and I return on Wednesday. As such, our summer vacation is sand slipping through our fingers. We took a last spontaneous trip on Sunday to a new locale for us - Jubilee Lake.

It was beautiful, 20 degrees cooler than home, and a perfect afternoon getaway.

Mitch gets it - lakes are stress free recreation. No undercurrents, tides, sneaker waves, or sharks to fear. Just slimy mud and floating to one's heart's content.

The ducks were persistent and it paid off eventually. We loved this spot and will be back. Just probably not this summer . . .

Mitchell is 5!

Mitchell asked for a "friend" party this year and we obliged. He also asked for a baseball birthday (his idea, honest!) and Bryan had the good idea to hold the party at the baseball field. There should be some perks to spending all his time there from February to July!

So, we set up.

My favorite part was the party favors - baseball themed story books!

Bryan set up the slip-n-slide which was perfect in the 95+ heat.

Fortunately we had shade and a breeze for the non-swimmers.

The Warner boys are a riot to watch. No fear in these two!

Kiera held the record for longest slide - right into the grass!

Carter was also dynamo.

We had friends from Lorry's as well as others and it was a nice mix of ages and genders. Not surprisingly, the only fighting was between MBJ and SJ.

A pinata met its desired fate.

The kids collected their candy, played with new toys, hit some balls and had a good time. Whew, it's so hard to believe Mitch is 5! He's getting so tall and grown up. We have chosen to do a second year of preschool and wait until next year for kindergarten (Bryan calls it his redshirt year). I'm really pleased with the choice, but look at him and know he'd make it either way. Mitchell is getting to be our bonafide boy - no baby left in this kid!

Dave's Party

We celebrated Dave's birthday as well. Bryan and Dad built a fire pit and we enjoyed an evening sitting around the fire as a family, complete with diet Pepsi, wheat thins and canned "cheese".

Slightly strange to intentionally light a fire in the face of the wildfire season, but we were careful.

The little girls got the shoes on and convinced Grandpa to feed Misty.

There was cake, of course, and more presents for the resident 66-year-old.

Like father, like son...

Perhaps the best gift for Dave was the spontaneous baseball game Sunday afternoon.

All the grandkids got in on the action.

And he was pitcher extraordinaire!

We weren't out of the city limits before Mitch conked out. Yes, the grasshopper was transported to Hermiston. And yes, it survived and was released. And yes, Shannon still gets out of bed proclaiming, "I miss Grassy."

She did not sleep, but read and made faces. Quite a spit-fire, this one.

Anniversary Party

We had a BBQ dinner to celebrate Mom and Dad's 40th wedding anniversary.

They were pleased with the low-key nature of the event, in spite of our best efforts to worry them about a big wing-ding!

Classic Russ eating face.

We brought out cards and gifts and then threw them a curve...

Finally, after a year and a half in the works, we got to give them their own Doug Miller painting!

It was well received.

We love you, Dad and Mom. Thanks for 40 years. How about another 20 or more?

Family Party Weekend Begins

We gathered in Ephrata for a series of parties this weekend, the first being Mitchell's 5th birthday celebration.

 It was hot and hammock and sprinkler time seemed important.

 Uncle Russ arrived and the kids loved playing with the dogs, and Russ, of course!

 Coerced into reading!

 Lunch with the munchkins

 Thick as thieves

 Presents with a 5 year old are intense. Lots of enthusiasm!

 We had quite a crowd of revelers!

 Mitch requested a baseball cake

And a post party nap preceded some water play at SplashZone, before the next party started!