I'm always nervous about the summer time when it approaches. Although most people presume that teachers just take the entire summer off, it is anything but true. My anxiety lies in my being shaken from my routine to manage a complex schedule which includes trips to and from school, for Ryan... to and from reading camp at BSU, for Will...and gymnastic for Abby, two times per week. In the meantime, I try to do a little bit of training at the gym and Lisa takes on two sections of teaching Graduate courses for NNU. Summer is fun, but busy.
That makes it nice to get out to Clarkston, WA; where the weather is HOT, the water is frigid, and the family is abundant.
I love few things more than the access I have to my grandparents when they move into adjoining trailer sites. How many people can say that their grandparents live next door to one another...even if it is for only one week. My kids love seeing the cousins. I loved visiting with old friends and my aunties Gail Michelle, and Sandi.
I must give honorable mention to Uncle Tony and his amazing waterski.
Speaking of watersports, Ryan tried wakeboarding and he rode a pair of skis.
I am so proud of his effort and perseverance. We had a great time and like the years before...our long-weekend stay of 4 days...was too short.
...all the old romantic legends, all my dreams, come back to me.” Wrote Henry Wadworth Longfellow. Above, is a picture from the back window of the beach house.
They explored the tide pools, played in the sand, and spent hours up in the sandy cliffs. 
We celebrated our nephew, Dylan's, 5th birthday by taking a trip to the aquarium in Newport -- the kids seems to really appreciate it and enjoyed seeing the cool critters...
like these crazy spider crabs -- YUCK! Tiffany was commissioned with booking our accomodations. She did a great job; landing us a place right on the cliffs with our own backyard, private beach access, and a hot tub looking out on the ocean. (It's the BIG one on the right.)
Over the weekend we were there, the parking lot of the local casino was filled with participants for a BBQ competition. We had fun walking the little BBQ tent city, filling our bellies, listening to live music, and even watching world famous competitive eating champion, Joey Chesnut consume more than 10 lbs. of ribs in 12 minutes. Next the city hosted a safety fair with exhibits for the kids to learn about emergency services, home fire safety, and poison control and stuff.
They also got to play on the emergency response vehicles like the fire engine and jetskis. Our time at the beach house was grand. But, you know what they say... all good things come to an end.
That makes it nice to get out to Clarkston, WA; where the weather is HOT, the water is frigid, and the family is abundant. 
I love few things more than the access I have to my grandparents when they move into adjoining trailer sites. How many people can say that their grandparents live next door to one another...even if it is for only one week. My kids love seeing the cousins. I loved visiting with old friends and my aunties Gail Michelle, and Sandi. 
I must give honorable mention to Uncle Tony and his amazing waterski. 
Speaking of watersports, Ryan tried wakeboarding and he rode a pair of skis. 
I am so proud of his effort and perseverance. We had a great time and like the years before...our long-weekend stay of 4 days...was too short.
