Fathers Day Weekend

We spend our Father's Day a day early, on Saturday.  Just because we are usually busy on Sunday's and we wanted Aaron to be able to just "relax" on Sunday.

We left about 8am, grabbed coffee and chocolate milk and drove a quick 2 minutes to the Bowl and Pitcher at Riverside State Park. 

Aaron and the boys have had "boy days" here before--hiking and exploring, but in all the years that I've lived here, I've never seen this part of our city.  It was pretty cool.  Lots of trails to hike, nooks to explore, and a breathtaking view, any which way you look.

Colton gathered hiking sticks for everyone and we set off on an unknown adventure.  We took trails that were marked and trails that deer and other wildlife had created for us.  We found an oooooold abandoned car that was rusted out and the kids explored inside of it.  We also saw a man-made shelter that someone had built, made of sticks and branches to keep the elements out.

Of course, Mr. Landscaper himself saw the basalt cliff and the shapes of the basalt on the side of the mountain are what they take out and carve into water features and decorative rocks in people yard---the hexagon shape.

After our hike, the boys had a t-ball game, followed by a church softball game that Aaron had, and immediately after the softball game, we drove to Avista Stadium for a baseball game.   The boys' school reserved a section so we sat with NWC students and parents and enjoyed $1 hot dogs, drinks, and ice cream sandwiches.

Good day.  Good day.

Dad and his boys, at the river

Thanks, Colton, for the hiking sticks!

What a cute kiddo.

The man-made shelter

The old abandoned car....we determined it was a VW Bug.

Hey!  Usually its the kids with the cheeseball grin!

Exploring and analyzing the shelter.

Here is the basalt rock.  See the shapes of the rock?  They take the rock out in sections and they come out as a column and they bore holes through the middle to make fountains.

Love me some ice cream!

YAY!  Gramma bought us souvenier bats!

It was almost as big as him!!  For only $1!

Mason, Parkers friend was sitting next to him :)

Beautiful night for a baseball game.  See that white shirt guy?  That's Aaron's dad!  They came too!!

[Memorial Weekend with cousins]

I always enjoy Memorial weekend...always a time that we spend together as a family and kind of the "kick off" to summer activities.


Unfortunately Aaron had to work over this holiday weekend, he had to meet a deadline for a landscape project and had to work all weekend to finish in time in order not to be fined $100/day thereafter...


Fortunately, we were surprised by our "Montana family" as they came to visit for the weekend. The kids had a blast!!

Here is a weekend in review "in pictures":





Colton and Aubrey enjoy a Mac 'n Cheese picnic lunch





The boys and I spent some time at the park Sunday night...playing on toys and "exploring" the historic fireplance there....

They loved to play out in the woods and be "fighter guys"

I found a can of hairspray paint and made them "OFFICIAL FOREST WARRIORS" 
Don't they look intimidating!?

MMM!!  Gramma made everyone root beer floats for a treat!!!


Uncle Josh made a TEEPEE!!  How cool!!  The kids had a pizza dinner in the teepee and pretended they were indian fighters!

Happy 32nd birthday Mom!!

May 16, 2012. Krista, I, mom turned the big 3-2. Honestly, I still feel like I'm 22..and really thankful for that! Funny, the pants I am wearing today, I was actually wearing when I was 22 (I have proof of a photo at my sister in laws bridal shower) :)
We aren't big birthday celebrators...we went to Costco to do some shopping, and out to dinner to our favorite Mexican restaurant and finished of the evening with our favorite treat---blizzards from dairy queen!
My birthday present was my yearly trip down to Utah to see my sister (will be going in August) and Aaron and the boys got me a new propane patio heater. I'm seriously loving it---it lets off so much heat and it's great at night for atmosphere! I used it when I had a party the other night outside and was so thankful I had it!
So---to end---32 is great. Age is merely a number---and I love love love my family and am happy that they get to celebrate with me each year---THAT in itself is truly a gift.