Last week of Summer Vacation

Sadly, it's the last week of Summer Vacation. We never get to do everything that I have planned, but we did get to enjoy several days with family and friends!

We spent this past weekend in Garibaldi. Four of my aunts were in town, and an uncle or two. It's always nice to relax and spend time with my mom, do a little antique shopping and visit the Oregon Coast. We were lucky enough to have a beautiful, sunny weekend!

As we were all together, we also celebrated Makena's 14th Birthday. Yes...14! She received some thoughtful gifts and ate strawberry shortcake.

I took around 400 pictures, so I'm still editing those. Today we are going to visit the Flaherty's, Nikki & TeaLee and Dawn & Logan at River Bend Campground. Tomorrow I'm taking Sydney's Senior Pictures and then on Thursday I have a CASA visit and work to catch up on. Friday, it's back up to the lake. I haven't been up there in two weeks and already miss it!

Here is a picture of two new buttons on my camera bag. The cute little piggy button is from my sister (thanks again - love him!) and the 'patience' one I found for myself while shopping in Rockaway.

More pictures soon...

6 girls + 3 days in Vegas = a whole lotta fun

I was up at 4am on Saturday, ready for Vegas! Dawn, Dylona, Tracie, Sandy, Wilma and I were headed there for 3 days to celebrate Tracie's graduation.

There was a slight delay in getting to the airport. Which, if you know Tracie at all, will not surprise you. She was talking, took the wrong exit and then couldn't figure out how to get back on to I-84. Thankfully, we made it to the airport in time.

The door to the airplane was closed, but the plane was still there, so we'd made it!

After checking in, we headed straight to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs though and we needed to do a bit of walking before heading to the pool.

And yes, this picture is blurry. When you ask someone to take a picture of you, why do they usually turn out crappy? Is it really that difficult? Apparently it is...

Started off the day with a $16 drink! It was worth every penny.

Then we headed down to the pool. Where, of course, we had more drinks while enjoying the 106 temps. The 32oz MGM mugs, filled with alcoholic frosties were perfect!

Sandy, Dylona, Tracie, Wilma & Dawn enjoying the water.

We decided to go out that night to a club, The Ghostbar. We got all dressed up and were on our way.

Yes, another crappy picture taken by someone else. At least we're all in the picture and it's straight.

Because this guy apparently couldn't figure out how to take a straight picture while getting all of us and the background into the shot.

We didn't get to stay at the table for too long. If we would have bought a bottle of alcohol from their menu, we could have stayed all night. I just don't think we were up to splitting a $400 bottle of anything!

But Tracie, Sandy and Dawn ended up staying there while Dylona, Wilma and I went off to get some food.

And back to the pool again on Sunday. A few more MGM mug refills and another great afternoon! With lots of beautiful people to look at in the pool.

Back to the hotel to get ready for Sunday night. We decided we were going to walk the strip for a bit and then find a piano bar.

Here we are going in to New York, New York. The guy that took this picture was rather drunk, but he still managed to take a clear, straight picture. I guess that's the secret.

With a stop in the mall at Sin City. This is still my favorite place in Vegas.

Then at the piano bar.

After the bar, we went a few different directions. I think I ended up back at the room around 7am. Not such a good idea.

A few hours of napping at the pool and another 32oz MGM mug full and I was feeling a bit better.

This picture was actually taken when we were leaving. We must have been too excited to stop for a photo when we had arrived.

Our flight was only delayed about 30 minutes on the way home. Wheww...I was home and in bed by 1am.

Thanks again for the wonderful weekend ladies - I had so much fun!! And, the best part is, I remember it all.

Warped Tour 2010

A few months back, Makena asked if I'd take her to another concert. Warped Tour. I really should have listened to her description of the "concert" before saying Yes. We bought Hailee a ticket for her birthday. This was Hailee's first concert - lucky girl. Makena's friend Madison also went with them.


Warped Tour was held at the Washington County Fairgrounds. They needed the space, because there were 50 different bands playing on several different stages.

That is a lot of bands.

Which take a long time to play.

The gates opened at 11am and the line was down and around the block. The parking was crazy and in a dusty, dirt field to the side of the Fairgrounds. But, we made it...

The girls tried to get rid of me right away of course. I set a few ground rules before heading off on my own. No tattoos. No boys. No piercings. No smoking. No boys. No alcohol. No drugs. No boys.

There were thousands of kids there from 12 to 20+. I did see a few parents, like me, wandering around or looking for their kids. When I found a band I liked, I would listen for a bit. Then I'd head off to the beer garden. Not for beer (I know...it's crazy) but because the kids couldn't get in there and there were trees for shade.

It was 95+ degrees out! Of course it would be hot that day.

Makena would text me when there was a band I knew that was playing. I would text her to put on sunscreen (which was in the back pack I packed for them because I'm still the Coolest Mom Ever) and to keep drinking water.

They had a lot of fun, but Makena and Madison were ready to go home about 5pm. The concert was supposed to go until 9pm, so that was fine with me! I think Hailee would have stayed all night.

PS - to get ready for the concert, we had to leave the lake early Sunday morning to drive home from the lake.

PPS - The Coolest Mom Ever even thought to put a sharpie in the back pack so that the girls could get signatures from the bands.

PPPS - I'm glad the girls had a good time, but hopefully someone else wants to take them next year. : )

Tea for Two...or Three...or More

Here are a few random shots from the Walden Island Tea.

Walden Island Tea + Beef & Brew

We arrived at the lake early Friday afternoon. Our plan was to help out where needed for the Walden Island Tea and the Beef and Brew. Two fundraisers on the island - 100% of the proceeds going to a local kids closet for new school clothes and to a community house for families getting back on their feet. Our wonderful neighbor, KC, organizes everything and her family purchases anything that isn't donated.

I came just in time to help prepare some of the food. I found out that liquor is the "secret" to a good pudding. KC added Bacardi to the pudding this time.

Liquor is also the "secret" to happy cooks. Corlan, KC and Janet found a secret stash of Jack Daniels.

Then we prepared the flowers for the tables, pulled all the linens, cleaned tea pots, and got the serving items ready.

While Jamie and Steven (KC's husband) relaxed for a bit. Jamie had fillet a bunch of salmon so that it could be smoked for the bbq.

The Skoglands (our other wonderful neighbors) had everyone over for dinner and drinks. Neil always makes blenders full of margaritas that he has named "Skogaritas". They are the hit of the island.

Back to work early the next morning. There are lots of last minute things to do.

Then we have to set the tables and get dressed before everyone arrives.

Caty Skogland was a Tea Girl for many years. Now she helps plan, cook and serve.

KC loves to help the Tea Girls.

This is the first year that men have attended the Tea. Some of the doctors that KC works with wanted to come with their wives.

This year we had an opera singer at the Tea. Laurie was the perfect addition. She was also extremely nice and had the cutest daughter! Laurie's daughter Ella is behind her in this picture in the peach colored dress. (She had been in a ballerina dress most of the morning.)

And because Laurie sat next to me for tea, Ella came by the table quite often.

I just couldn't get enough of her.

After all the yummy food and tea I could handle, I took more pictures. Everything was wonderful.

I helped clean up before heading down to the Beef & Brew. Luckily, I found the "brew" right away.

And the table of auction items. Some of which we actually won this year!

Laurie even sang a few more songs for the people at the bbq. She dedicated one to Gene - he's KC's dad and has been on the island since the 60's.

Another great fundraiser! We were a little disappointed when we counted up the money and fell short from last year. But then Gene broke out the champagne and we were all happy again. In the end, we had raised around $5,600 and know that more will still come in. We talk about ways to improve and things to change and are already looking forward to next year.

The Kid's Closet that KC donates to gives each child new socks and underwear and a new pair of jeans. They also get to pick out two new outfits.

The Community House that KC donates to houses families for a couple of months while they earn enough money to save for a deposit on their own homes to rent. KC also cooks for these families during the month.

Castle Rock has a population of less than 3,000 people and we're lucky enough to be a part of that now.