Friends Forever

 Leann came to visit. It was wonderful. We didn't do a whole lot of crazy stuff, but we just got to hang out together...in the same state...in the same house. I loved it!

We did take a trip out to Camp Yamhill to show the W kids the beauty and fun! I think they had a good time.

Lining up for the flying squirrel.

A dip in Inspiration Point

On Hazel's birthday there was a silly string war. Next time we'll get larger cans, and more of them. It will be epic.

After a fun week in Newberg we headed to the beach at Pacific City.

It's always fun to find interesting things to play with, dead, alive, or squishy.

Such a beautiful day to play in the ocean. The ocean was still freezing, but once you're numb who cares!

The girls wanted to see what it was like to wash up on the beach like seaweed.

Time to get sand in all the crevices.

2 of my favorite people! Aren't they cute.

This picture looks like Ryan is giving Leann some love, but what he was really doing was dragging her into the ocean. 

I am so thankful that even after years of not living in the same time zone she is still my dearest favoritest most wonderful best friend in the world. 

Violet's 13th Birthday

This year Violet turned 13.

The customary morning birthday picture. Whimsy is very interested in all the hanging streamers and flowers.

It was a school day, so I took Violet and 2 of her friends (Ali and Sonia) and Hazel to Subway. Grandma and Grandpa met us there. They of course tried to talk me into letting them just 1 more class...and I of course said no.

We went to Olive Garden for dinner. Our good friends the Brenners, Grandma and Grandpa, Oma and Opa, and Great Grandma joined us.

For her birthday party we went to Camp Yamhill the next day. Her and her friends played on the the low ropes course and we had pizza and cake in the big lodge. 

So many teenagers...

13 candles lights up a cake pretty well.

13 has been...interesting and fabulous. I've got one of the wonderful ones.

A Morning at Camp

This past Saturday we got to go out to Camp Yamhill and have breakfast with our wonderful church family. And then we of course had to go for a walk....

where we found Sally Salamander....

 

and had have a miniature ropes course session....

 

Posed for a picture on the bridge that Grandpa built...Whether Camp ever names it after Grandpa or not, we will always call it "Grandpa's Bridge"

 

And then of course we had to practice our Karate Kid moves in this field of stumps...

 

We had a wonderful time just doing Camp things, with these wonderful group kids.  

Let The Memories Begin

We took Violet out to Camp Yamhill yesterday. I spent the time half immersed in my own wonderful camp memories and half in disbelief that I was dropping off my child to be a camper to hopefully create some of her own wonderful memories. Full of water hikes, campfires, singing, and new friends. SO MUCH FUN!

She is  in cabin 3, so from here on out in the years to come she will probably always ask to be in cabin 3, as it is now the BEST cabin ever, and will be the only acceptable option. She is in the same cabin as her friend Allison, which is fabulous. They are peas in a pod.

We got her all set up in her bunk..does she look older in this picture?!? I feel like she looks too old in this picture. I feel like when I go pick her up on Friday, she is going to be 3 inches taller and so independent that she will not need me anymore. I mean...she is in charge of her own showering schedule and choosing what she puts on her plate at meals this week....why would she need me anymore....

Look....she doesn't even need to walk with me anymore. She's got Allison and her new found independence and an open field to play, I'M TOAST!

Ok....maybe not.  She does love me, and will still need me. Because I did this clinging and crying to my mom, and I still need her (even at 36), I guess I'm safe.

This moment was a tough one for both of us. After several tight hug tearful minutes she was able to walk away with the help of friends. I was able to walk away with the knowledge that she is going to have one of the most fun weeks of her life, and that the memories she is creating right now will be memories that she will look back and smile on when she is dropping her beautiful independent amazing daughter off at camp someday.