Kid's Camp - Ditto Style

Years ago Alex put on a kid's camp during Spring Break.  I'll never forget it because he drilled a small hole in my brand new countertops when doing a craft project with the kids.  Ever since it has been a wonderful tradition for the oldest kids to put on a few kid's camps each year.

Alysee and Tyler did an excellent job this year!!!  They caped the session at 18 kids and boy did our house seem full!  It had originally been something that just Alysee was going to do by herself and then when she realized how popular the camp was she decided it was best to hire a few helpers.

Alysee and Tyler broke the kids up into two groups by age.  Both kids are so good at interacting with the kids!

Cooper was hired last minute by Aunti Emi to be Truman's personal entertainer.  Cooper AND Truman had a ball all morning.  Truman loved all the attention and Coop enjoyed having a responsibility and a money making opportunity.

Lots and lots of craft projects

Mentos and diet coke rockets

The best janitor around (check out the name tag) - Nate followed around each group cleaning up after each station and then again once the camp was done.  He really is a hard worker!

Biggest pot of mac 'n cheese I have ever made!  I was pretty busy in the kitchen too -- making lunch for 21 kids, bread dough for the kids to made personalized rolls, and then cleaning up after the crew.

The kids LOVED creating bread yummness!

Happy Campers

Now that's a lot of kids to feed!

I'm grateful for those in the community that trust my kids to look after and entertain their kids.  It has been a great way for my kids to make money and to learn about putting on an event.

Speedo Get-a-way to Seattle

We did something a little different this year for Spring Break.  In order to utilize Birch's Monday off from work we decided to head up to Seattle Sunday afternoon between conference sessions.  We ended up listening to the second session of conference in the car because we were too early to check-in to our hotel; it made for a captive audience!

We stayed at the Red Lion Inn in Federal Way.  I was really excited about the good deal for the hotel ($73/room) which included admission into their swimming pool with two slides.  Let's just say we give the hotel a "C" - it was a quirky hotel.  The kids had fun in the pool but were disappointed with the strict pool/slide rules.  We watched the new version of Parent Trap and had chicken soft tacos for dinner.  The morning we all slept in until 9 am and then had breakfast.

Our highlight would certainly be the trip to the beach -- it was cold and windy but still beautiful!

Hot tubbing

Alysee

Nate and his muscles

Kind of a treat to lay around!

Crabs EVERYWHERE at the beach!

My Loverman

Tyler has really done a lot of growing up this year.  He is really pleasant to be around and I enjoy my time with him.  Some weeks it feels like he lives in our house but we never see each other so I am really treasuring the time together!

Chloe LOVES LOVES the beach!

This was one of our first trips without Alex.  His absence was noticed!!!  Pictures don't seem quiet complete, we even had an extra spot in the bed for him, when we went out to eat there was a place setting at the table that was left empty -- miss that kid!

Monday morning!!!  Off to Bullwinkles Family Fun Center

Chloe and Tyler on The Sling Shot!  This actually looked really fun!  

Chloe was so graceful with her flips

Me...soaking in some sunshine watching the kids jump and flip away.

Chloe was the first one to be brave enough to request going on the Screaming Swing.  I could barely stand to watch them as it made me nauseous.  Chloe and Birch LOVED it!

Blurry picture but I love their facial expressions.

This picture is a big deal...Nate really really wanted to drive a go-cart but there is always a height restriction.  It just kills him every time that he is too short but keeps getting older.  Why can't it be an age limit not a height??!!!  Anyway, with a little polite pleading from dad, Nate was permitted to drive the go-cart himself.  He LOVED it!

Alysee said it was super scary driving -- I think because of her dad scarying her a bit.

Chloe enjoyed being a passenger in the go-cart but also had the chance to go to driving school and drive this cute little car.  She kind of mocked it because it went so slow but I think that is just because all of her siblings were watching.  In reality I think she loved every minute!

Nate and Tyler decided they had to join in on the super scary Screaming Swing.  

Love Nate's face

How can you not laugh when you see this picture?

The rest of the day we enjoyed at IKEA -- it was crazy busy but we had a delicious lunch and all the kids are hoping they grow up to be rich so they can furnish and stock their home with IKEA stuff.  We finished off with dinner in North Bend at a family style Chinese/Thai restaurant.  It was a great trip and we all enjoyed a little get-a-way!!

General Conference Traditions

Twice a year our family relishes in General Conference weekend.  Birch loves going with the boys to priesthood session Saturday night and then going out for dinner afterwards.  Now that the girls get to come to the General Women's Conference the previous week we have taken on that tradition as well.

In the past I have done lots of activities and treats for Sunday's sessions.  The last two years I have done less of that stuff and gone to having some kind of craft activity that we individually do.  This year's craft is one of my favorites!  We each did watercolored temples using water color pencils, paint brushes, watercolor paper with a sketch of a temple.  They each turned out amazing!

And of course we still dine on delicious food!!  Monkey bread Sunday morning is a must!!!

Off to Ami and Poppi's

Nate and Coop had the rare treat of spending a couple of days with Ami and Poppi with no other siblings.  I have such wonderful memories of doing this with both sets of grandparents!  Birch was heading to Portland for a continuing education course so the boys rode along and then my parents picked them up in Portland and took them to their house for almost two days.

They packed it in!!!  A little fishing on the way to their home but it was way windy and the fish weren't biting.  Yummy meals, some time with cousins, and several special excursions.

Coop

Nate

This was certainly one of the highlights for the boys - OSU baseball!!

Coop Rock Climbing

Nate

Collecting eggs from the neighbors chicken coop

Nate feeding the chickens

So glad the boys were able to have this time with Ami and Poppi!