Patriotic Summer Treat

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Mmmm - homemade ice-cream with home grown berries . . . Yeah.

Girls' Camp Visit

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Just weeks after being released from my young women's calling, I was so excited to still have an excuse to go visit the girls at girls' camp! Gregory* had to go for bishopric/leaders night and the wives were invited to come too! Score! We had a stressful drive to camp Melacoma - the traffic getting to Washington was terrible. Once we got across the bridge, we had a lovely ride. It was so beautiful on that side of the Columbia gorge. I remembered driving that road with Lisa last year when she had just found out she'd be released.

Since we were running a little late, the girls were getting antsy wondering where we were. When we walked into the cafeteria, boy did we get a welcome! It made me feel so good. I almost got tackled by a few of the girls and a chorus of voices called out "Sister Preece!" That's the only time in my whole life I'll probaby ever get a taste of celebrity life. (o: It made my day.

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Nina looking cute and campy in her crafty shirt and bandanna.

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Hannah and Tylin not only survived their first girls' camp - it looks like they had way too much fun!

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Tylin looking good! And orange!

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A group photo of our ward at camp!

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Visiting with Heather and Crystal who used to be my girls, but moved to another ward last year.

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This is everyone listening to Gregory's* fireside talk...

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Kaitlyn is such an attentive listener!

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Cute! Getting ready for testimony meeting, which was such a great meeting. So many of our girls got up and it was wonderful to hear about their experiences.

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I think these are foxgloves, right? They were everywhere. I love being in the mountains. It was a HOT day - even for being up in the mountains, but the evening was beautiful.

Money to Burn

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The girls hardly spend their allowance money, so after a few months they have quite a bit saved up. One day while getting ready to head over to Costco, the girls decided they wanted to bring their allowance money.

It was fun to see what they chose. Sarah knew before we went - the Lego Harry Potter DS game. Angela chose a pretty dress. She is always oohing and ahhing when we walk by the dress rack at Costco and always feels sad when we keep on walking. It was fun to watch her circle around and around choosing just which one she wanted. I knew what Natalie was going to pick before she did. I saw it over by the books and I hoped that she might not see it and find something else. It was not something we needed . . . more art stuff. But it just looked so magical the way it was all packaged up with princesses on it, she couldn't resist. I had to resist putting my foot down. There was nothing wrong with getting it - I had to let her decide. It was her money. They were so excited and Natalie proclaimed me the best mother ever as we waited in line! The people around us in line and helping the girls check out were cute with them. (They all got to pay for their items themselves and get their own receipt.) I think that may have been the best part.

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Natalie and Angela headed upstairs to prepare her to model her new dress. Natalie even styled Angela's hair for the unveiling. (o:

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Water Park - Part III

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This is our favorite park of 2010 for sure! 53rd Park is the best! This time we invited Sarah's friend Mallory to join us for a picnic and afternoon in the sun. Well, in the partial shade of our beach tent.

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I think the girls spent 85% of the time in the sand - even though it was a hot day.

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Then they'd run and cool off/wash up every once in a while . . .

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Bonneville Dam Family Field Trip

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I remember visiting this dam many many years ago when my family came through Oregon for a road trip. (I think it was this dam.) And I remember how cool it was. When we went this time, I was a little disappointed. I figured out why and I blame terrorists. Leave it to them to ruin all the fun. When I went (about 16 years ago) - we got to go in the actual dam and see the HUGE turbines, ride on the longest escalators you've ever seen and saw all kinds of GIGANTIC things that I can't even name. I remember being in awe as we wandered around the dam - I don't think we even had a tour guide. Now the public is not allowed at all inside. Boring. Dumb terrorists.

So, we wandered around outside and looked at the salmon ladders on the sides of the dam. They were interesting.

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Then we went to a nearby salmon and sturgeon hatchery.

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Look at this huge "grandpa" sturgeon! (I think that's a sturgeon, if I remember right!) We couldn't believe how big they were. Some were longer than Natalie and maybe even Sarah.

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Pretty Sarah and some pretty grass.

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Fishy face!

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Natalie "fishing" with a stick.

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The grounds at the hatchery were so beautiful. There were even spots that I thought would be pretty enough to have a wedding there. The grounds were amazing.

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Natalie thought this looked like a big caterpillar and decided to "ride" it.

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The sign of a good field trip!

4th of July Show

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Bobby* loves to put on a show with his Costco firework packs! This year we invited the Andersons to join us. It was so fun getting to know them a little better and having some fun company for the show!

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Angela's set up for the show. (o:

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Dominic helping hand the fireworks to Bobby*. The kids loved reading and saying the funny names of the fireworks.