Ahhhh - Leavenworth

On July 21st we got a call from our friend Al asking if we wanted to use a his parents condo in Leavenworth for a couple days. This was the greatest thing ever! We were still a little sad about not being able to do our week of camping. We got to get away for the one day in Chehalis, but it really made us want to go away again. So we jumped on the offer. Wa packed all the kids up in the bus, bikes and all and headed east.

This was the most amazing, God given gift! The condo was awesome - the boys had their own bedroom, the master suite, the girls had their own room, with 2 twin beds, Berg slept in a closet in his little bed, and Peter and I slept in this cool murphy bed in the living room (which Peter wants to try and build now). We got to watch TV, go on walks to the river, play at the playground, ride bikes, and of course swim! The best thing was that they had left us tons of food - we were so excited! I thought we should try and not spend any money while were there as a fun dare. We could've done it too, but Peter quickly decided that he needed creamer for his coffee. Plus, we did the Applets and Cotlets tour and had to buy some, bought BBQ for lunch in Cashmere, cookies at the Gingerbread House, and cherries at the farmers market, but that was all.

At the pool: Bergie, sleeping on a chair with me while all the kids swim with Dada.

July 22 was backward day, the kids were really excited to eat ice cream for breakfast!

We tried to take a tour of an apple cider pressing place, but it was way too mature for our audience, so we played on their stage instead and then went to...

Applets and Cotlets! I love how they made Berg wear a hair net - he has no hair!

Eating cherries,

and playing in the grass at the farmer's market.

We took a break on our bike ride through the town to stop at the Gingerbread House, eat some cookies and have Eben read us the Gingerbread Boy story.

We went to the pool a lot. Here's my crew in the hot tub.

Kivi jumping off the side.

A cute close up of Eben.

Eben and Kivi really got brave in the pool. This is the first time they've jumped in the pool and then swam to Dada. Eben made it across the whole pool. We had so much fun in Leavenworth! Now we know why so many people go there, it's quaint and family friendly. This trip was particularly amazing because it was a surprise and practically free! Two of my favorite things. Thank you so much Halls! We feel so blessed!

One Day In Chehalis

Since we had a trailer, which we had borrowed from Peter's friend at work and used for my family's stay, we decided to use it for a night at Chehalis before we returned it. So on July 18th Peter hooked it up to the bus and off we drove. It was a crazy drive, since part of the road was shut down and we had to attempt 2 U-turns - very scary with a ride that big! But he is a pro at driving and maneuvering and did awesome. We love Chehalis, because it's so kid-friendly and there are tons of great sites, not to mention the pool and craft room.

The first thing the kids wanted to do was explore, so we let them "hike" around our loop all by themselves! That night we ate dinner, had s'mores and went to bed.

Here's my little group posing in front of the large rig the next day.

The kids rode their bikes, got their faces painted...

watched a movie in the trailer, (It had bunk beds! 2 kids slept on the top, 2 on the bottom, and 1 baby under the kitchen table - perfect!) took a walk, played at the playground...

Dada and Berg took a nap while the rest of us went swimming.

Then it was time to return the trailer. One big adventurous day makes for one sleepy bus ride home.

VBS and Chicken Update

VBS was the week of July 12th at Lake City and our family traveled to Ancient Egypt every day together to learn the story of Joseph, sing new songs and have lots of fun spending coins at the Egyptian marketplace buying and making crafts.

Kivi at the Embalmer's making a sarcophagus - I didn't say they were normal crafts. We had to tell the workers in the market place about our one true God and invite them to the celebration at the end of each day.

Eben weaving a basket.

Jasper building a sugar cube pyramid. The market place also included a hieroglyphics shop, jewelers, beauty shop, toy store, brick making, linen shop and a chicken store.

Opal and Berg hung out in the nursery while we journeyed.

We also got 4 more chickens during this week - White Jersey Giants. We had to replace Doody and Suzy who turned out to be roosters. Roosters are not allowed in Lakewood, plus they get mean. So we sold them at Yard Bird for $5 each and bought 4 pullets for $4 each. Sadly, the chicken Eben is holding, Cutie, and Moony, Japser's replacement chicken (Peep was eaten by the eagle we think.) have already died - from shock. So the chickens we now have are Puff (Mama's), Patty (Dada's), Tiny (Eben's), Speckles (Kivi's), Moony II (Jasper's [the one Kivi is holding]) and Nugget (Berg's).

Family Visit and Berg's Dedication

My family visited from July 3- 13th so we were able to do some wonderful things while they were here like 4th of July, Kivi's birthday, a trip to Remlinger Farms thanks to our friend Wendy, raspberry picking, and they took the kids to Seattle for a day. Their stay also allowed Peter and I to leave the house at 4am to welcome home our friend Jeremy who was serving our country for a year, and for both of us to celebrate Peter's birthday at a bed and breakfast in Tacoma, The Villa. We were also so excited to have them all here for Baby Berg's dedication!

Buggy and my mamacita helped me one day with bee inspection! They were so cute. They got all suited up and got right in there. Buggy smoked them while I inspected. Mamacita hung around and got bees in her hair - but no stings.

Raspberry picking day - Mamacita taught me how to make jam. It takes an insane amount of sugar! I never knew.

We also had "Basket of Presents Day" a new little tradition that my mom has started when she finds something the kids would like. She brings it up here, wraps it and puts it in a basket. Then all the kids get to unwrap them and get excited about all the little gifts they opened. This time Nonnie brought them a very cool science lab kit, which we've used lots already, complete with a real microscope, test tubes, dyes, and prepared slides.

Here they all are up in Seattle at the fountain.

On Sunday July 11th, we were able to have Berg dedicated. We chose Ephesians 3:14-19 for him. "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

With all of these wonderful, God-fearing grandparents in his life, we know Berg is definitely "rooted and established in love" and he will be prayed over because as Ephesians 3:21 says, "to Him be glory in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."