Anna's Baptism

Here are some cute pictures from Anna's baptism:





Jefferson loves Cameron and wants to do everything with him. When J didn't want to be in the pictures Cam came over to talk to him. So sweet.



Here is the best shot of all the monkeys.



We were so glad we were able to make it to Anna's special day!

House of Terror- AKA- Wildlife Safari Park

On one of the days in Coos Bay, Kara mentioned that there was a Wildlife Safari Park close by that looked cool. We decided that the kids would have some fun seeing some animals and they would even get to pet a baby leopard and baby tiger. After paying $60 in admission fees along with food to feed some of the animals we went into the park.

The park is a petting zoo with animals that roam around with safari animals in cages to look at. The animals all were in cages that I am very sure that would be banned in Washington State! The animals were in cages and you could actually see them--GASP!

Upon walking into the gates a swarm of goats, deer, geese, ducks, rams, peacocks and other animals that I am not sure what they were gathered all around us because of the food that we were holding. All six kids started shrieking, screaming and crying. We were quite the sight. The animals were trying to eat the food out of our hands and the kids literally FREAKED out. The other people around us looked at us in horror as the children clung to us for dear life. Mitch and I were laughing so hard that we couldn't speak. Jefferson, Ashley and Natalie never got over the "scary" animals and pretty much cried the entire time we were at the place. I think we official scarred them for life. I on the other hand could not stop laughing, it was pretty funny to see Natalie scream bloody murder anytime a tiny baby goat looked in her direction.





Mitch and a goat--Nice.









Mitch and Cameron were the only two that would get near most of the animals, hence all the pictures are just of them.



I finally convinced the Cameron and Julia to pet the baby leopard and tiger. They were so cute!







At the end of the day Kara and I congratulated ourselves on scaring the children to death all in the name of fun. The next day I asked Natalie if she wanted to go back and see the animals at the zoo and she burst into tears. Who knew that a petting zoo was really a house of terror?

Coos Bay, Oregon

We spent the last week of July hanging out with our cousins in their new town, seeing the sights, and having so much fun. We came down to the Oregon Coast for Anna's baptism and my kids are jealous that they live so close to the ocean.





The kids loved the beach and exploring. Cameron even got to eat some crab that Uncle Matt and Grandpa caught. He loved it.











Above is a picture of Mitch's sickness: Coos Bay is the home town of the famous runner Steve Prefontaine.



The drive home was long and hot. We got stuck in some bad traffic and after five days of lots of fun and no naps we were tired! Thanks for letting us come Olanders!

Day at the lake

On Saturday the sun decided to shine on us so instead of doing the mile long list of things that we need to do around the house we headed out to Lake Tapps with Grandpa Stuard and his boat. The kids spent the afternoon playing in the water and riding on the boat. I sat in a lawn chair and got a terrible sunburn. That is exactly what I need to help with my level of comfort!









After playing in the water we went on a bike ride in Sumner and while we were out came across a snake which Cameron accidentally ran over and then we saw a dead mole. The kids were going crazy. On the way home Cameron said, "well that was a fun bike ride, we saw a dead mole and an injured snake." We laughed the whole way home about the dead mole and injured snake.



Here I am in all my swollen glory. To make the next three months go by even slower I FAILED my glucose test big time and am now considered a gestational diabetic. You can que the violins for me. Here is to hoping that our baby isn't going to be toddler size at birth!

Potholes

We left the rain of Western Washington behind for a few days and went camping to Potholes State Park near Moses Lake. It was our annual camping trip with Mitch's parents and the Clayson's. The weather was warm and there was a TON of dust, dirt and mosquitoes that ate us alive. Laura came along and helped out a lot as my mobility is becoming less and less. The kids loved the camping and sleeping in the tent. Camping while pregnant isn't the most comfortable thing to do but wasn't too bad. We spent two of the days we were there at the FUN water park in Moses Lake. The kids had a blast and it was nice to enjoy the sun while staying cool. The kids were relieved that I had a swimsuit that fit, which by the way you won't be seeing any pictures of!



Mitch had a fun time and was LOVING our new trailer!





Cameron was quite the dare devil and the first time off the diving board did a flip! Scared his mom to death.



Natalie and mom spent most of our time in the shallow end with the pirate ship and the fun little kid slides.



Julia got up the nerve to go down the big water slide but was so scared of going fast that she "snowplowed" the whole way down going to slow I thought she actually stopped mid-slide.



We are already talking about the next time we can go back!!

Mr. Cub Scout

Seriously so cute!

Cub Camp

Cameron's 1st year at Cub Camp!



Cameron is so excited to be in cub scouts! Ever since he got his cub book he has spent hours looking over it. He did all his requirements for his Bobcat in about 3 days. Every day he asks me when I can help him pass off more requirements towards his Wolf. I love his enthusiasm.

Since he just turned eight, I was told about cub camp a little late and we had already scheduled/paid to go camping the same week as camp. He was only able to go 2 of the 4 days but loved it. I felt really bad that he had to miss the last two days. Each family with a scout is required to volunteer two days at camp so I had the "privilege"of going both days that he was there. It was actually fun to be there with him and see all the fun things that they got to do but was very difficult being pregnant and being on my feet from 8 am to 4 pm for two days straight. I was beyond tired when I got home. The girls got to spend two days with Grandma Swany and loved it!





Getting to shoot BB guns and archery were the highlight! Cam was really disappointed that the day he missed they were going to learn how to catch, kill, clean, and cook a trout. I told him maybe one of his grandpas could do that with him sometime. I don't think you will find me doing that requirement with him!



The theme of the camp was Cubs at Sea. His troop was Den K, the U.S.S. Missouri. Their cheer--Den K, SAIL AWAY! What cute boys.

Leavenworth

A couple of months ago Mitch and I decided that it was HIGH time to get way and leave the kids for a night for a little R and R. We hired Laura for two days and took off to Leavenworth. We hadn't been back since our honeymoon. It was fun to spend some time with my sweetheart and enjoy his company without kids. We stayed in the cutest place, right across the street from all the action.



The mountains are very pretty there. It reminded us of the Sound of Music.



Of course the weekend was not all relaxation. We had about thousand stores that we needed to go to without children. We are starting to get ready to re-arrange all the rooms in the house and get rid of the office for when the baby comes. What a headache! We also spent a lot of the weekend getting a trailer and a hitch installed on our van so that when we go camping we have enough room for us and all our stuff. Dad was kind enough to help Mitch build the sides of the trailer . It turned out great and reminds me of my childhood!!

4th of July weekend

We had our cousins in town for the 4th of July. This is the 2nd year in a row that we have gotten to be with them on the 4th! With Julia's birthday, Cameron's baptism that weekend was one big party.





On Sunday the 3rd we went to see a traveling Vietnam Wall that was at one of the local cemeteries in Bellevue. It was very cool. Cameron learned about the Vietnam wall in school this last year and has talked to me about how he would love to see it someday. This definitely isn't the real thing but hopefully will due until someday he can see the real thing! It was a nice reminder of what is important to help celebrate our country's birthday.





The night before the 4th of July the cousins came over and had a sleep over. There was not much sleeping that went on. They went to bed very late and got up at 6:00 am. That morning we went to our ward's annual 4th of July breakfast and bike rodeo. Who doesn't like pancakes, face painting, cotton candy, and otter pops all before 10 am?

We decorated our bikes the night before for the big bike rodeo, which is about 100+ kids riding all around the church parking lot at crazy speeds. It is nothing short of a miracle that no one is injured badly.









That night we had a BBQ and went to the firework show and Lake Wilderness. It was a nice evening. Mitch didn't loved sitting in the 50 minute traffic jam to get out of the park after the show was over though!