Trek!

Hello, out there!  I know that there aren't many readers of this blog left but, oh well.  In early July, we had the opportunity to go on a Mormon Pioneer reenactment known as Trek.  We headed out to the hills of Eastern WA for a 3 night, 4 day excursion.  We were "Ma's and Pa's" to a group of 10 youth ages 14-18.  It was seriously THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.  I would go back in a second and I miss it dearly.  It was physically challenging for a lot of youth but our group of "kids" were strong and tough and seemed to be unaffected by the 21 mile hike while pulling a hand cart.  We slept in the open air, something I had never done before and was really nervous about.  The first night was incredibly windy!  We got our campsite set up at about 1 am and were supposed to be up at 6 the next morning.  Mike and I would guess we had gotten about 1.5 hours of sleep when our friends, the Shaws came to wake us up the next morning.  They laughed so hard when they saw our exhausted, dirty faces.  It was a great memory.  

Here we are the night before trying on our clothes.  I sewed my bonnet, apron, and skirt.  I also helped the YW in our ward sew their bonnets.  I probably made over 20...I'm a little obsessed with making them!  They are so fun.  I'm thinking of a possible Etsy shop next summer.

Here are a mixture of pics from the journey!  

Our friends Rebecca and Mark were the photographers and we took a few of our own.  

Our "Wagonmaster" and dear friend, Susan.  The Shaws used to live across the street from us and we both moved away from Snoqualmie on the same day!  It was so so special to be on this trip with them.

Larry and Susan Shaw.

Our first "family" pic.  We had met about an hour before and this was right before we started the most difficult part of the journey.  We walked from about 1 pm until 1 am.  There was not a full moon and flashlights were not allowed!  A lot of kids were not able to push the handcarts or walk with their families on the first day stretch due to sickness or injury which was really sad but our kids persevered!  Not a single one complained.  It was so so special!

Our girls Kylie and Ashley during the "women's pull."

Shay and Vic during the women's pull.

Me and the girls.

The last family pic.  I love this picture so much.  Its the lock screen on my phone and I've framed it and ya...I hope that every time I look at it, I'll remember the special time on Trek.

A friend told me that she would have a Diet Coke waiting for me at the "finish line."  It was the most refreshing, delicious Diet Coke of my entire life.  Thanks Becca!

Mike's mom sent us this pic while we were gone and it was the first thing we saw when we got back to our phones.  It made us so happy!  It was the first time I had ever left Caroline and the first time I had ever left Rose since having Caroline.

I also made a Shutterfly book with tons more pictures if you want to check it out here.  If you ever get the chance to go and are able, do it!  You will not regret it.

My Trek Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly offers exclusive layouts and designs so you can make your book just the way you want.

An Oregon Trip

The night of the 4th, we had to get out away from the fireworks due to a sensitive little girl so we drove down to Portland.  Casi's sister was getting married so it was the perfect weekend to go!  We stayed at our friends house (Casa Downs ;)) and it was entirely perfect, except for the part that they weren't there.  

 Mike and Dan.  The reunion.

The girls and I got to join the wedding party for pedicures!  Thanks Crafts!

Pre wedding dinner.  Mike almost won the pie eating contest!

The day of the wedding we went to Cannon Beach!  It was beautiful.  And the water was cold.

Caroline, always a few steps behind Rose.

The girls were a spectacle for passerby's being that they were playing it water.

Obsessed with Caroline.

Rosey found a jellyfish on the beach and picked it up and said "Mommy what's this?"

We spotted a chipmunk in the sand running towards the water.

Caroline wanted to be friends.

 That night we went to the reception in Canby.  Beautiful girl.

Care and her boyfriend.

After the bride and groom left (and the electric fence was turned off) we got to feed the baby cows.

Congrats to Tommy and Kelsey!

Barnes love.

Peace out Oregon.

4th of July

My little minis on the Sunday before the 4th.  (Do you wear your patriotic clothes to church the week before or the week after the 4th?  I was so torn!)

 It was ridiculously hot (Seattle hot) in the beginning of July.  There was a brand new movie theater opening up so they were playing older releases for $2 so Megan and I decided to take the girls.  I'd say it was one of the best ideas ever...free air conditioning!  The girls were in heaven.

 Popcorn lover.

 Happy 4th!

 Rose is absolutely terrified of anything that has to do with fireworks.  The fireworks in our neighborhood started going off a few days before the 4th and Rose was scared out of her mind.  The day of we were at a community fair type thing and had to leave early because someone shot off a firework and Rose lost it.  We came home and the little boys in our neighborhood were lighting some more off (really, what's the appeal of fireworks in broad daylight?) and Rose was so sad ha!  We pretty much watched tv all day long, with the volume up.  Our next door neighbor offered these headphones up to Rose and they were pretty life saving.  We ended up driving to Portland that night and Rose wore them the entire way there, and slept with them on until we went in later to take them off.  What a crazy girl!