August Highlights

In the busyness of summer ending and school starting, I didn't get to post many of the highlights of our August activities here in Washington. Here are a few activities we squeezed in before September.

Seabrook for a SUNNY weekend

Russell Hot Tubing

Ready to go on our coast trip

Trevor Surprised me with tickets to see Josh Groban with Marrisa
From our seats in the Rose Garden

The new downtown Vancouver Library on the children's floor

Inside one of their Tepee's

In Olympia for Russell's fourth Birthday

Latin Farms with Aunt Jena

Klineline Pond only 5 minutes from my home (I don't know why it took me eight years to discover this great spot)

A splash party in our backyard

Popsicle and Slip-n-slide

Clark County Fair

All Girl Dress UP

First Day of School

TJ started Kindergarten this week. Trevor took the morning off so we could send him off together. We were both pretty emotional. I held it together until TJ jumped up on the bus and turned around to wave. My baby is in Kindergarten.

Russell, Amelia, Uncle Tyler and I went to lunch downtown Vancouver and then played in the water at Estashore Park. The three hours passed quickly. It felt strange not having TJ with me.

When TJ got off the bus and I asked him how his first day went he said, "exhausting." Then he said, "and I have to do it tomorrow." I just laughed. He looked pretty tired. Trevor had lots of questions for him when he came home. He had a great day from what we could tell. It's been an emotional week for all of us.

TJ ate his French Toast on the "You are Special Today" plate

My new favorite brother picture

Waiting at the bus stop (we had plenty of time for pictures since we got there 20 minutes early).

I love that he is grabbing onto my leg

Family Picture at the Bus Stop

This is when the tears started...

...this is where they continued.

We followed the bus to school and made sure he went to the right class

Uncle Tyler and I took Russell and Amelia out for Thai food and then to the park to play

Russell waiting for TJ's bus to come backGetting home from school

Eating after school snack and talking about the day

Our Last day in Cardston

We went to Grandma Cahoons sacrament meeting Sunday. After church our family stayed in the building and had beef on a bun for lunch. Everyone visited and played together. We had a Cahoon family sing a long and then went out to visit Grandpa Cahoon's grave and Aunt Colleen's grave. There is a special spirit out there among the rolling hills and tall grass.

Grandma Kathy, her sisters, and Grandma Cahoon

We sang "Kindly Words" and "We're Thanking You."

I just love this picture of the boys in their Church clothes

This picture is of Russell at the Cabin where lots of the Cahoons stayed during the reunion

Four Generations

Parade and 27 Swim Hole

Saturday we spent the morning watching the Cardston parade. Grandma Cahoon's posterity keeps growing and growing. We were so large this year we took up both sides of the street. After lunch everyone headed out to 27, the old swimming hole my mother grew up going to. It was quite the adventure in my van. I drove out as far as I could and then hitched a ride on one of the 4 wheel drive vehicles. Getting down to the swimming hole is an adventure all in itself. It's probably been 15 years since I've been to 27. Memories of catching minnows with my cousins and roasting hot dogs with Grandpa Cahoon came back to me.

Cowgirl Jena riding in the parade. She even won second place for Senior Cowgirl. She looks fantastic on Grandpa's horse.

My van in the middle of the Cardston parries:)

The boys roasting marshmallows with Grandma and Carson

TJ's smoores

Amelia is throwing rocks. She spent most of the afternoon doing it.

Baby Oliver

Amelia got her hands on a giant marshmellow

The Cahoons made a makeshift tent for shade

Grandma Kathy and Grandma Cahoon