Abi @ Clear Creek

I got to go with Abi to Clear Creek. I was so lucky because there were lots of moms from her class and I my name got drawn out to go. YEAH! It was really fun. They take 5th graders up for an over night field trip basically. It is up in the mountains by Scofield. They have cabins and a main eating hall. It was a fun adventure to share. David went with David last year, so now it was the girls turn. Taking a hand at tie dying.

Finished product.

This is the Wall.
They had to work together as a team and get everyone up and over the wall.
Right up Abi's alley. She loves climbing.

This is how they got down a latter in the back. No jumping off the front of it.

The cafeteria.
Abi is not too fond of corn dogs. Luckily she didn't starve. For breakfast they had cold cereal and lunch the next day they had cinnamon rolls and she had plenty of those.

This is where we bunked for the night.

Here is the whole class. Ask me about Luis sometime. He is a funny boy.
Too long of a story to type today, but funny!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think Abi has a good teacher this year. She is Miss Smith she is the tallest on the top. Abi is front and center with the hat and a navy hoodie on. I am on the right end with a brown hoodie on.

We had a hike that was fun. We learned of the hermit that is said to live there. In 1900 there was a mine disaster in Scofield and they couldn't account for one man so they figure he became a hermit due to injury to his body.

Lots of pretty wild flowers to be seen on the trail. Abi loves any wild flowers. We had a great time. Thanks for wanting me to come Abi! It was fun to be a 5th grader again. It was a great memory to share just me and you!

Spencer's First day of Kindergarten & My Birthday

My baby is going to kindergarten.
I can't believe the day really came. It was kinda an emotional day for mom. He is so excited though. Such a cute kid!

Gettin' on the bus.
He is so excited to finally be able to ride the bus with Abi and William.

On the way home I went to the school and rode home with all the new kindergartners. I just help make sure the kids got off the right stop ect. It was fun and I got to snap a few shots.
Cute kids Tommy, Spence, and Alex.

After all the kids got off the bus mom pulled out the real deal. I always make cookies for the kids on their first day of school. Since I knew we would be riding the bus I brought them with me and let him eat them on the bus. He was so excited his favorite cookie!

When we got the off the bus back at the school the bus driver asked if Spencer liked Star Wars. We said yes and he gave him his Happy Meal toy. I guess you are never too old to get a happy meal from McDonald's. Thanks bus driver!

Celebrating my birthday. Thanks for all the calls and cards and gifts. It was a great day even if I was home all alone for part of the day. It is a little adjustment not having any kids home all morning. Becky took me to see the musical "Oklahoma". The local Arts council put it on. It was a good change of pace. We hadn't been to a play for a long time.
Thanks Becky you're a great sister!!!!!!

Lots of Grapes!

We had lots of grapes on the vine this year . It is exciting to finally have things produce. The grapes were so sweet and juicy. So I guess we didn't have tons, but more than any year before. David decided to make grape juice. Abi thought it looked like fun so she is joining in the fun. We ended up with a gallon of grape juice. Good Job Dad!

David's first court of Honor

David is a Tenderfoot Scout!
Dad should really be getting the pin. We will give him all the credit though. Good thing David is in scouts now. He can keep our boys on track! Thanks dad for your help and hard work.

Good Job David! Keep up the good work!

First day of School

We got back from our trip Sunday night at 10:30 pm and the kids started school Monday morning bright and early. Good thing they were excited so it wasn't too hard to wake them up. David's first day on 6th grade.

Abi's first day of 5th grade.

William's first day of 1st grade.
Do your best guys!

Last 2 days in Oregon Trip End

This is the last two days on the road. We had a great time and have to thank Boyd and Kristin for the week stay in their time share! They gave us a week stay in their time share for Christmas 2006. We had to book the trip this far in advance to get the reservation as these locations are popular. It was worth the wait. Thanks again for the amazing gift! We really had a good time and got to see lots of great county and best of all we made lasting memories. Thanks!!!!We drove up to Astoria and drove across the Astoria-Megler Bridge.

It was totally amazing! It is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America. It was worth the 20 mile drive up the coast to see and drive across it. It stretches 4.1 miles across the Columbia River.
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Here is a picture I found on the internet of a little different view.

A large ship in the Columbia River. I was totally amazed by this river.
It is truly an incredible site! It is beautiful!

Once we got a little closer to Portland we saw a sign you pick we pick blueberries. David got all sort of excitement! We decided to stop and pick some. It was fun. we have tried to grow blueberries, but they don't grow where we live. David love blueberries, so this was a real treat!

Becky picking berries too.

He looks like he belongs in the blueberry patch.

Caught you William putting a few in your mouth.

Spence thought he needed to shine his before he ate it.
See now it is shiny.

The whole fam pickin' berries.

We stopped by the Portland temple to take a peek. Very pretty.

We stopped at the Bonneville fish hatchery east of Portland. It was very fun for the kids! They have lots of fish. They have food in gumball machines and you can buy it and feed it to the fish. The kids loved that!

This fish is Herman the Sturgeon. He is a 10' long prehistoric fish.
The sturgeon are found in the Columbia River.
Finally one of the best parts of the trip a visit with my grandma Pratt.

Oh and we can't for get about Pancake (the dog).
It was nice to visit with grandma. We haven't been to see her at her home for nearly 10 years. That is awful. Luckily she comes down so we can at least see her. Hope we get to see you again soon. Thanks for the cookies and yummy filtered water! She offered the dog to the kids, and they were sad when we didn't load the dog up with us when we left.

Cannon Beach

We had to take this one for Cami.

Just in case you want to go somewhere else close to the ocean again. This is hay stack rock. It is very calming watching the waves crash on the rocks.

Playing in the sand one of the favorites for sure!!!!

The finished product. With dad's help of coarse.
David had as much fun as the kids, maybe more. :)

Fun times on the beach! Funny thing we were packing up getting ready to go, we were standing several feet away from the sand castle, a family came walking by and they lined their kids up about like this and took pictures. It was kinda funny. The kids were flattered that someone else would want to take pictures of their work. So if you see this same sand castle on your friend blog know who really made it. Just kidding we will share our work of art with anyone. Cuz Spence what are we? "A sharing family mom!" The tide pools at Haystack Rock. They were so neat. Such bright colors. These tide pools are much more protected, so we didn't get to touch just take pictures. Another amazing photo!