Family Camping

We decided to go camping over Memorial Day weekend.  Grandpa Don was nice enough to let us use his motor home which, with little kids, makes things a lot easier.  We got a late start (surprise surprise) but drove on until we found a nice secluded spot.  As soon as the motor home stopped Damon just wanted to make smores, Olivia just wanted to eat marshmallows, and Joel could've cared less because he fell asleep before we even found a spot to camp.

 

Josh started a fire and we enjoyed a few smores.  After Olivia had her fair share of marshmallows I snuggled her up next to Joel and she went off to sleepy land.  Damon hung out with us for a little while, but then decided to turn in for the evening.  He retreated to the top bunk of the motor home, opened up the window by his head, chewed on some beef jerky, chimed in on the conversation, and slowly fell asleep . 

 

Josh was the first one out of bed Saturday morning and decided to go fishing while accompanied by Tank and Rocco.  He came back just as we all woke up.  We had breakfast and then headed outside in the morning sunshine so we could enjoy the outdoor view of the snow capped scenery.  

It was so nice be outside and away from everything.  The weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cold. 

Josh got the fire going once again and enlisted the help of Damon.  (That kid needs a task to accomplish to keep him out of trouble).  So Damon found large rocks and carried them over to put around the fire.  He heaved over some pretty big rocks.....I was impressed.  

We just hung out and enjoyed the outdoor air and scenery for a while and then Josh showed me how to split wood.  Josh was amused to say least.  Molly chopping wood in flip flops......very safe!  Oh well, at least I learned a new skill!

Eventually we packed up and headed towards the reservoir to meet up with Grandma and Grandpa.  The guys took the canoe out and that was amusing to watch.  I'm sure Damon was barking orders the whole time.

The dogs got a chance to play in the water.....I really think it's Tank's most favorite thing to do.  Rocco just enjoys swimming after the sticks and if the water wasn't involved, that would be better for him.  Those silly dogs though.  Everytime they got out of the water, they would come stand right next to me and shake....everytime!

At one point Olivia figured that the water was perfectly safe so she just marched on in.  She tripped and went face first but luckily Josh was speedy on the recovery and pulled a bewildered, soaking wet little girl out of the water.  That girl has no fear!

We came home Saturday night.  It was a short trip, but still nice.  We will have to do a lot more camping this summer.  Especially when the lakes get warmer!  

  

Our 1st Flight

It's official..........Josh is a pilot.  

On April 16th he went in for his final check ride.  We expected it to be a couple hours for the exam and test flight.  When 4 hours had passed I started to wonder.  I was sure he was going to pass, I just didn't think it would take so long.  I finally got the call that he passed and then the explanation that the instructor had to take a few breaks and attend to other business inbetween the exam and the flight test, thus dragging the test.  So that was a sigh of relief that it wasn't Josh that needed the extra time.  Passing was a stress off of  Josh's shoulders (he had been stressing for a couple weeks and the test kept getting pushed back due to weather and the instructors availability.

Damon was pretty proud of dad and kept announcing that his dad, "has a official pilots license!"

 

On Saturday April 18th, I got to take my first flight with Josh.  The kids were happy to stay with Grandma & Grandpa for a couple hours while we flew to Tillamook.  

It wasn't a "just for fun" flight either.  Josh was hired to fly a guy and his Prom date over for their day of fun prior to Prom.  (I was pretty impressed.  I got proposed to in a helicopter and I thought that was big deal.  This high schooler was just taking his Prom date on a flight to the coast to ride quads and play before the Prom).  Some Prom date huh!  Anyway......the weather was perfect and the flight was quick and smooth.  I look forward to taking many more flights with my husband.....the pilot.