Family Reunion

Maren:

Not long after we returned from Disneyland school was officially over for the year.  And not long after that, our summer fun began in full force.  We started it off with a big trip down to Lake Almanor for our annual family camp out with Pica, Auntie C's, and all of the cousins.  To make it even better, we also got to go to Aunt Evie and Uncle Bills cabin for the family reunion.  Unfortunately, Aunt Evie passed away a few short weeks ago so there was a bit of sadness in the air, but it was really nice to go and see Uncle Bill!  The weekend down at Almanor was pretty spectacular.  We started off on one side of the lake for a day/night with Pica.  Auntie C's, Aunt Deb, and all of the kids were there waiting for us when we got there.  Even Grammie got to come this year.  We had a blast playing for the day and I got to sleep in the tent with Auntie C and June for the night.   The next morning we packed up all of our bedding and some clothes and headed to the opposite side of the lake for the Plemons Family Reunion at Uncle Bills cabin.  There were a lot of really great people there and lots of kiddos to play with.  I especially enjoyed hanging out with my cousin Prairie Dawn and I also enjoyed a lot of snuggle time with Uncle Bill and Auntie Sue.  After one night on the lawn sleeping under the stars like mommy used to do when she was a kiddo we packed back up and headed back to camp with Pica.  We had a great last day on the lake playing with the jet skis mommy rented!

The next morning mommy, daddy, and Maddox packed up and headed home.  They took Jimi with them and I stayed down with Auntie C's.  I almost changed my mind in the end because I was afraid that I would miss my mommy too much but in the end I was happy that I went.  I got a lot of one on one time with Auntie C and Hayden which was really great.  We even got to go to Lake Tahoe for a few days and have a great adventure on a ropes course.  I was so super brave and my Auntie C was really impressed!  

Maddox:

Summer started off really great for us with a fun road trip to do some camping.  I was really excited to go see my Pica and to get to spend some time with him and the other big boys.  Aunt Deb was there the whole time and so was Fletcher.  We became really good friends that weekend and our mommys were pretty happy to watch us.  For the most part we got along, with just an occasional squabble.  One time I was overheard telling Fletch... "don't bite me this time, okay?" (Last time we were together he took a big bite of my leg when I wouldn't give him a toy he wanted!).  We had a lot of fun playing in the dirt together and driving our trucks.

When we headed over to the other side of the lake to the Plemons Family reunion I had lots of fun too.  My sweet Great Aunt Sue made me a book with all kinds of tractor pictures in it.  It even had a picture of my Great Grandpa Bill in it driving his tractor with all kinds of kids piled all over it!  I was so excited!

The final day at the lake was pretty exciting when mommy rented jet skis for us all to ride.  I really wanted to drive them by myself but I had just as much fun riding in the front with mommy behind me.  On the way to take them back to the marina, I rode in the very front while Hayden was driving.  Mommy was sitting all the way in the back and noticed that I was slumping over a bit.  To her surprise, I fell fast asleep on the speeding Jet Ski!  Thankfully I didn't fall in the water!

When we went home the next day we got to bring Jimi with us.  At first I wasn't too happy about it but it didn't take me long to realize that it was pretty fun to have another boy along.  Jimi played superheroes and Legos with me and he played a lot of make believe boy stuff I can never seem to get my sister to play!

 

 

 

Hurry summer!

Maren:

Now that we are back from Disneyland, we are winding down the days until school is out and summer is here. I’m not sure if I want summer break to come part of the time and then other times I can’t wait! 

Mrs. Whitehead, my teacher, has lots of fun activities planned for us for the last few weeks of school. Mommy and daddy took a raft trip down the Wild and Scenic Rogue so unfortunately mommy wasn’t able to come volunteer the last few days. But, my Nonna stepped in and helped a lot. She came to our final big birthday bash where we celebrated all of the summer birthdays.  There were so many goodies from the other kids so mommy bought stuff to fill take home goody bags.  She also came to Field Day on Monday where we had tons of fun playing in the water and just goofing around.  I think the best part of it was that Maddox got to come too!  

Maddox:

After coming back from Disneyland I had a few more soccer games to play in. Since I didn’t go to the practices I’m not sure I totally understood the game. I did have a lot of fun running around the field though!  And, after my last game... I got a shiny trophy!! I was so excited!! 

I also got to go to a few lessons with sissy and showed some interest in riding horses too.  I jumped on Phoenix after sissy was done riding and did a few laps around the arena.  I looked so little on him!
Daddy was scheduled to work on Fathers Day but ended up being able to stay home with us.  Don't tell, but I think he called in sick so he could spend the day with us!  We rafted with the Oppelts in the morning and then came home for a barbecue in the evening.  We gave him a badminton set and had hobo dinners over the fire.  Mommy made him a yummy blackberry-peach pie with our hand prints in the crust for dessert, too.  Unfortunately, while he was holding it up for the picture the pie slid out onto the ground because it was still warm!  That didn't stop daddy and I though!  We still ate some of it right off the ground!