August...time to go camping!

Every year I take my kids camping with our friends, for our ward campout. This time, since Summer couldn't do tent camping, I took the 3 older kids and Summer stayed home with Daddy.

We got to Ensign Ranch around 4 PM and stayed most of the next day....we managed to squeeze a lot in that short time :) We had BBQ dinner, roasted marshmallows on our "fire", had a group gathering with the ward, I took a 2 AM polar bear dip in the river (brrrrrrr), we ate breakfast all together, packed up, played on the water slide, floated down the river, rode canoes....and, went out to dinner on our way home! Phew! Lots of fun!

The burn ban induced fire!

Tom stole my chair!

Andrew

Ben and Cathy....camping buddies every year :)

Making s'mores

Morgan was so excited about "sleeping" in a tent...she wouldn't sleep!

Cathy was our photographer at 2 AM....it was COLD, but somehow warm....can you say hypothermia?

Morgan and Sadie are best buds!

Antonio and Tom got stuck sleeping in the van :)

Andrew and Owen

Cavin

Floating down the river...we all held on together....I tied Morgan and Andrew to me...it was lots of fun....Morgan was nervous, but still did it several times :)

Pic taken through the official water proofing device for my camera...a ziploc bag!

Antonio and Tom

Andrew

Tom and Andrew

Andrew and the frog we found at the end of our run....he stuck around while we went up a few times....the kids loved finding him each time

Morgan and the frog

Me and the kids

Antonio and Andrew

Ben is a big kid :)

Cathy...the camera woman

We have too much fun sometimes

Wheeeeee!

Tom and Antonio

Me, Andrew, and Morgan

And what better way to end the day? ICE CREAM!

July was HOT!!!

July was HOT....that sums it up! Anyone who lives here knows our weather is mild at best, but not this summer! For about two weeks, we reached record breaking highs...a couple days over 100 degrees! The humidity and lack of air conditioning made us all a little cranky. But, we managed to find ways to cool off....

Summer and I stayed up late many nights with all the windows open until the house cooled down a little, then shut everygthing and went to bed. She would play on the floor and fall asleep in her diaper on a blanket...so cute!

My sis, my friend, Angie, and I took the kids on one of the 100 days to the local water park. It was so much fun....we almost forgot it was so hot, until we left. OUch! We all got burned...it was worth it! We went swiming in my parents' neighborhood pool, went to the beach, spent a couple of days at my sis in law's house (with A/C), and ate lots of popcicles. Though the sun was really nice, we were all glad when it started raining again...how sad is that? ha ha

Baby chub :)

This poor drippy frog used to be a candle...until the sun came out...I still can't get the melted 3 wick candle off my garden window :(

Henry Moses aquatic center...

Morgan really loves the water!

Morgan, Owen, and Andrew

Andrew, Tom, and a peek of Morgan :)

Morgan

Sadie and Morgan

Sadie, Tom, and Morgan

Andrew and Owen

July 24, 2009...Brooke day

This beautiful frame was given to us...made by friends who gathered the flowers from Brooke's funeral. The plaque reads "Brooke Ashley Cameron~We will miss your shining spirit".

July 24, 2009 marked the one year anniversary of Brookes' passing. We decided to celebrate her, remember her, and focus on her on this day, rather than her birthday...since we want to make the focus be a celebration for every year we have Summer. The day was a lot harder than I thought it would be. We all spent the morning getting ready to go to visit Brooke's grave. We reflected on thoughts and feelings...it was really emotional. Before we left, we sat and watched the picture videos my hubby made of her...we all bawled our way through it.

We decided to visit the grave, then take the kids on an outing...so we headed for Tacoma. Tom and I got out and visited Brooke, left her some flowers from Grandma and Grandpa Norris, and added a special photo of Brooke to the basket of flowers left by Grandma Cameron. Grandma (Tom's mom) lives right around the corner from Mt. View Funeral home, so she has taken up the task of taking care of Brooke's plot....she keeps seasonal flowers there and visits often. We still haven't ordered the grave stone...haven't really been ready to, but hope to have it for next year.

After visiting, and wiping our eyes, we headed for Point Defiance Zoo. The kids love the zoo....it was a nice way to be together that day. We ended by eating dinner at a Mexican restaurant. We are thankful for all our kids....

The flowers from grandparents

The weather was record breaking hot for a couple of weeks....though the grass was dry, Mtn. View is still a beautiful and peaceful place

Summer loved the fish...

4 great kids...Andrew, Summer, Tom, Morgan :)

OUCH!

Morgan and a Walrus

Harbor seal

This guy was huge!

My kids love the puffins...

....they could stand and watch them for hours :) We've even seen them dive of the top of the cliff into the water :)

Morgan is a "hermit dab"

This is such a cute natural picture!

Tom being eaten by the local sea life

Andrew too...check out his front snaggle tooth! It took weeks for it to finally give up and come out!

Chillin' with dad

Morgan

More hermit crabs

Otter slide

Summer

Andrew was having fun until...it kept on spinning without him!

Petting and feeding the "doats"

Cool! We saw this deer on the way out...in the parking lot :)