The Birthday/Anniversary Runaway

Paul and I ran away for a night for my birthday and our anniversary combined. Grandma Sampson came up and watched the kids while we went for our adventure (thanks Grandma!).

We started out on my birthday going to breakfast with the kids. It was fun, but IHOP was super duper slow. We had lots of fun creating towers with the coffee creamers while waiting :) Then Paul and I dropped the kids off and we went golfing. I haven't been in years and it took until about th 7th hole for me to get my swing back, but eventually I did okay. Paul was awesome! And, luckily, the crazy old couple we were paired with didn't get angry at our "creative rules". Jenn, you were thought of often while there :)

After that we checked in to a great hotel and had a nice dinner. The next day we slept in, kind of. Paul slept in and I was able to lay in bed and read. It was really nice. We saw Harry Potter in the IMAX - the first half hour was 3-D. It was really cool. We looked cool doing it too :)

The end of the trip was the SeaHawks game. It was SO much fun! We would definitely do it all again.

Adventures from the last two months...

Wow - life goes by so fast. When I looked at the pictures we've taken and realized what we have done - we had a great summer.

Here are some adventures from the past couple months.


Camping at the Ocean with the Sorensen's:

This trip was definitely an adventure. The site was REALLY small and it was gray and rainy the entire time, but we still had fun.

We found some lost heads at the beach...(they ain't got no body and no body ain't got them...he he he that's for you Audrey :) )

Jaron got sick so we had to go home early. He threw up several times and I don't think anyone was spared from getting hit. Sorry Mauvia!

It was a fun trip anyway :)



Adventure number two:
SeaFair!!!

We went and toured the "mavy boats" (kenzie) and then watched the Blue Angels from my office at the Columbia Center.



The boats were kind of crazy. We were only able to tour one because we got there at lunch time, and the only one available was a Canadian mine sweeper type boat. Crazy canadians only had one gun on board, and it was from the Korean War :) The boat goes really slow and the guy said that they mostly patrol fishing boats, but the boat is slower than most fishing boats so it is difficult. The kicker is, they can't board other ships without a Mounty on board, so if they do find someone doing something illegal, they probably won't catch them and if they do they can't do anything. Pretty funny. The kids enjoyed seeing the ship anyway :)


The best part about the picture of Kenzie is she is "just attending to have noculars".
Jaron just helped Nancy work :)

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.