Peace, Love and Tank Wars...

The Kilt-de-sac of FIRE!! (Yes - it is spelled incorrectly on purpose)


Nine years ago, Rachel May and I went to a party at Aaron Smith's because she thought he was dreamy. There I met one Paul Sampson - who wouldn't even talk to me :) Nine years later, Rachel and Aaron are married with four kids, and Paul and I have our three. Every year we get together (Paul and I invite ourselves) with the Smith family and enjoy the 4th together.

Rachel May Smith Aaron & Blake Smith (& someone I don't know)

They draw a big chalk circle for fireworks. Many people spend lots of money at Muckleshoot reservation on fireworks.




The opening ceremonies are smoke bombs of every color.



Then - comes the tank wars! My favorite part. This year we bought several large tanks, several small tanks, and one awesome attack fighter jet with multiple rockets. It pretty rocked the battle and took out a ton of tanks. Jack was loving it!


When the time comes we gather our belongings and walk to Lake Meridian in Kent and watch the fireworks show over the lake. It is beautiful - this year was the best I have ever seen.



This is Kenzie before and after the fireworks. She didn't really enjoy the loud noises and her and I spent a lot of time in the house hiding :)

(yes that's her face down in the grass)

Thanks to Smiths for letting us be part of this awesome 4th of July tradition.

End of School, Youth Conference and the Babysitters....

It is the end of school - as of June 22nd, Jack is no longer in Kindergarten. He loved Miss Barbie's class and we are going to miss her. We are so proud of Jack!

Paul and I got the opportunity to go to Youth Conference with the youth of our church ages 14 - 18. Both of us were cabin leaders, but we slept in a tent :) If you look behind our tent, you will see we are back near the Sound - at Deception Pass. It was an environmental learning center called Cornet Bay. It was a great experience, which I probably won't voluntarily repeat in the near future :)

The reason I was able to go to Youth Conference with Paul was my parents. They flew up to watch the kids so I could go. We were able to spend Saturday together and we went to the fountain in downtown Seattle with the Sorensens. Kenzie said we went "phwimming phwimming at the mountain" and asks to go back every day - even though she was afraid of the water. My Mom was helping Kenzie go and run away from the water. Right as her back turned a large stream from the fountain came and got her wet from head to toe - all down her back! It was hilarious, but I was laughing too hard to take any pictures! Kenzie wouldn't talk to her for hours after that.

My sister Natalie was able to have a week off of work over the summer, so she came up to visit this week as well. It has been SO awesome to have her here. Jaron was helping her get ready for church. It was too cute not to document.

Camping with the Sorensen's

Over Memorial weekend we went camping at Deception Pass. It was beautiful and the weather was perfect!! We had Cranberry lake within a short walk from our site heading one direction, and the beach a short walk heading the other direction. Plush - FLUSHING TOILETS!! I wasn't expecting them and had brought our own paper. I told Paul that is the only way we are camping in the future - a place with running water :)

We quickly set up camp - the kids LOVE staying in the tent.

Cooking was a bit of a challenge. We had planned on using a power converter to power a grill - it didn't work. Luckily, Sorensens had thought to bring a COSTCO sized box of tin foil - I think we went through the entire thing!

Saturday afternoon we spent some time at the beach. For some reason, Jaron thought that you picked up rocks and sat them on the back of your neck. Later, we figured out because when we hide things from him we usually put them behind our back - we were guessing that was why he did this. It was so funny to watch!

The opposite of this picture is on Sorensen's blog (it's not very flattering of me!!)

Jack is 6

Man - Jack is 6. Do they ever stop growing? He is so big - and it getting to be such a good reader. I can't believe how grown up he is. We opened his presents first thing because he had to go to school - can't miss school!

For his party he wanted to have a piniata. It was a lot of fun!

Other shots of the kids enjoying dinner :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!!