Blueberries, the Fair, and Montana

Our annual tradition is to pick blueberries at Charlotte's Blueberry park in Tacoma.  The berries are small, but plentiful and free.

I have 2 good helpers and after about an hour, we've picked a bag and we're ready to go!

 

It's also become a tradition to attend the SW Washington Fair in Chehalis, WA.  My girls love the carousel. . .

  . . . interactive exhibits. . .

 and cotton candy (which I never buy, but I surprised them this year!).

On the 19th, we hit the road again . . . this time to Montana to visit Ken's Dad.  We always pack lots of entertainment for the car, but I loved it when I turned around and saw this . . .

 and this!  I love that my girls love to read!

Our first day in Montana was cold and rainy, but that didn't stop us from enjoying the world's fastest (or so they say) carousel in Missoula.  I even rode it this time - yee-haa!

And right next door is this awesome playground area . . . and thankfully, the rain stopped long enough for us to enjoy it for awhile.

On Tuesday, we went to a RV park/ campground with Ernie.  The park had cool hiking trails . . .

where we sighted Sasquatch . . . 

 . . . and lots of tree faces.

Ken ended up in "Jail" for making faces at the trees ;)

 We swam in the pool . . . 

and hung out on the porch swing, played games, and relaxed.

I had a lot of work to do while we were in Montana, so while I worked, Ken and Sophie explored Ernie's property and neighboring area from Ernie's side-by-side. . . .

  . . . and Amelia went for a ride in Grandpa's "roadster".

On Thursday, we drove to the Idaho/ Montana border and did the Route of the Hiawatha bike trail -15 miles down an old railroad line, complete with tunnels and trestles.

We had the girls in the Burley trailer because we weren't sure they could bike 15 miles on gravel . . . or be okay in the tunnels on their own bikes (frankly, I wasn't sure I could do it).

The girls didn't mind the height of looking over the edge of the trestles, but it freaked me out seeing them get so close.

Even though Amelia said she would have preferred to have been on her own bike (probably because she saw kids younger than her on their own bikes), it worked out having them in the bike trailer because Sophie wasn't feeling good that day with a fever off and on, with headaches.

It was a fun adventure . . . but next time I need better shocks and fatter tires.  Gravel road is not comfortable to ride on, even when you are going downhill :)

Thornley Family Reunion - St. George

The Thornley Family Reunion - only held every 2 years - and this year it was in St. George.  My girls were super excited for this vacation because we decided to fly there, to save time and money.  This was a first flight for both girls and they could barely contain themselves . . . and apparently, Ken was excited too ;)

St. George in August, is not a great place to be if you'd like to spend much time outside.  On our first day, we went to the historic part of St. George and decided to walk from the St. George Tabernacle to the St. George temple, 6 blocks away.  It was 110F.  This is what my girls did when we made it to the air-conditioned visitor center at the temple 😂

 It is a beautiful temple . . . maybe someday we'll come visit again when it's cooler.

The next 2 mornings, we got a jump on the heat and went hiking before it got too hot.  Out the door by 7:30am when it was only 80F and back home by 10:30a, by the time it had reached 100F.

 The red rocks are beautiful and it was so much fun to be hiking with family.

 The girls were enthusiastic . . . 

 and enjoying it . . .

 . . . until it started to get hot again . . .

and then they "melted" again.

The next morning, Ken and I left the girls at the house with Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Buddy, while we went hiking. . . and everyone was happier ;)

Besides hiking, we played Minute to Win It games (Amelia won this one).

 Went swimming at night when it was "only" 95F outside.

 Played ping-pong . . . put together puzzles . . .

 played games . . . 

 and did crafts.

 The best part of a family reunion is just hanging out with cousins . . .

 and siblings (one not pictured) . . . 

 and of course, being with Dad/ Grandpa.

Family reunions are always too short . . . especially since we only get together every 2 years, but I love my family and am so grateful for any time that we get to spend together.

Already August

July - oh you crazy month!  On the 4th of July, we lit sparklers and a few fireworks that Ken bought on his way home from work.

This video probably only cracks me up . . . I was so surprised by the firework and was afraid I was going to get hit, but just kept recording, rather than moving away ;)

On July 8th, we hosted our 3rd annual neighbor BBQ . . . and Amelia made the sign :)

The work of re-shingling our roof started on the 10th and they finished on the 11th.  It's hard to see from the pictures, but I love that our roof is no longer mossy!

While they were up on our roof, we arranged for them to install 2 solar-tubes.  One in the hallway,

and one in the bathroom.  I love all the additional light we have upstairs.  Now to get rid of the green linoleum. . .

As mentioned in last month's blog, we go to the concerts in the park and one week, Amelia got to go on stage.  The man asked her if she knew a song that she could sing and she did, but then she got nervous and forgot the words, so he told her to just make something up . . . so she did!  

I don't celebrate it annually, but this year we remembered to get free Slurpees at 7-Eleven on 7/11.

Bowling has been a fun weekly activity - win or lose!  I especially love Amelia's "bowling face" and Sophie's "bowling posture".😂  And it was fun one week to have our friends with us to shake things up.

And then it was time for Trek.  This is the picture of our "family" as we started out on Day 1.  What a great group of kids!  (We didn't have our cameras with us, so all photos are courtesy of the Trek photographers.)

We Treked 8 miles the first day, 10 miles the 2nd day, got a rest on the 3rd day, and finished up with 8 miles the last day.  These kids were strong.  There were lots of hills to go up . . .

which of course meant hills to go back down (that was just as hard as going up).  Notice how everyone but the ones who are steering are behind the handcart . . . the rest of the family is being the "brake".

And at the end, they not only finished strong, they ran to the end!  It was a great experience being with these kids.

Next it was time for Cub Scout Day Camp.  We didn't get enough volunteers in our ward, and so even though I didn't have a Cub Scout at the camp, I came to volunteer, and brought my girls to play along.

One last "concert" in the park - this time a reptile and other creatures show.  The girls sure weren't squeemish petting everything at the end . . . I stood back and just watched ;)

Can you believe it?  I'm all caught up and ready for the adventures that will come in August.  Stay tuned!