SUMMER!!!!

Okay, Okay, The thing I have learned is... I either have time to post and nothing to write about, or have no time to post and tons to write. As you can tell, since I haven't posted anything, life has been a whirlwind around here. Blake graduated from high school. Samantha and I went to girls camp, came home to a party to watch Blake open his mission call. RUSSIA!!! Bought Blake ALL of his mission supplies, (Thanks, Remmingtons!!!!), left on sabbatical for 3 straight weeks... Glacier, Yellowstone, Park City for family reunion, Moab, Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Zions, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Sequoia, and Yosemite) More on that later. Then we were home for one week where we bought 1/2 of a boat, went waterskiing with friends, and prepared for our whitewater rafting trip with friends. We went on a week long trip down the Lower Salmon River starting in Idaho and ending in Oregon. More on that later... Then back for less than 24 hours to drop off rafting boat for waterski boat, and off to Boise. We went to a big water park there, with my sister Melinda and her kids. Then Tuesday we zipped over to Twin Falls where much of our family had gathered to attend the temple with Blake. It was his first time, and that is the most special time. Then we boogied over to the Sawtooth Mountians and stayed in a cabin that was the place that I had gone to girls camp growing up. We had the Wightfest there, playing games, waterskiing on Alturus Lake, fishing, dirt biking, and just haning out by the fire. More on that later too...We left Sat again so we could make it home for church. Once again, when Jeff could get away we left for Whidbey Island (near Seattle), but this time just Jeff and I, (THANKS LAFAWN!!) We went bike riding and got lost, (thank goodness for google maps), fished, read, went to the movies, watched boats float by, and over all just lazed around. When we got back, Samantha had a birthday party, with tons of giggling girls. Then Jeff again took off after church, but this time with Blake. They had been looking forward to a backpacking bow hunt. No luck this time. He still had one week left and spent it fishing and bow hunting on the Deschutes River. Cross country started for Samantha. She earned her 200 mile teeshirt, running almost everyday, even with the sabbatical. Blake had his birthday, his last speaking assignment in church, and is now down to a week and 3 days before he reports to the MTC. School has started and everyone is back to a routine, but Blake and I. Blake put in his last day at American Tires on Friday. This week we will pack up all of his stuff, get him his flu shot, and Typhoid pills, and take Mitch and him to lunch. Last week I took their pictures. What a fun time to spend with two great boys. Today was Blake's last day at church and we had a great time playing Settlers of Catan together this afternoon. I am so glad that this summer went so well. I am so grateful to those that drove many miles, or flew, to be with us while we celebrated so many wonderful moments. What an AWESOME summer!!!

(This was suppose to have more pics, but I am having trouble posting more than one. I'll keep trying...)