In the Gorge

Last Saturday was a fun day.  My family had to cancel on going to the Hermiston swimming pool and we didn't want to just stay home.  I really wanted to get the kids out of the house.  So we called up Ruth and Dana and asked if they wanted to meet us in the gorge - kind of halfway between our two homes to do some things together.

This is stonehenge and it was the first memorial for soldiers who died during World War One.  Along the walls were plaques with the names of the men from the area who had died serving their country.  I am surprised that I have never visited it before with growing up not very far from it, so it was touching to see.

We got all the kids to sit together on the rock in the middle.  They are even all looking forward and that is amazing by itself.

After visiting Stonehenge, Dana told us about a hike you could take that was part of the original Oregon trail.  You could see the two ruts from the thousands of wagon wheels.

Because we were lucky enough to have Dana with us, he was able to locate some bugs and show the kids.  

When we got to the top of the trail, Magnus and Whitney became quite friendly.  They were hugging each other and walking around holding hands.  It was really cute.

We were in the front of the pack on the way down from the hike and my arms needed a break from holding this cute baby the whole time.  So Megan and I found some shade and relaxed for a couple of minutes while we waited for everyone to catch up.  Megan immediately found a stick to chew on.

After the hike, we all decided to eat our picnic lunch together on the grounds for The Maryhill Museum of Art.  The kids were more interested in playing in this metal canoe sculpture than eating.  But oh well.  It was so fun being able to spend time with the Jensens.  We will have to make it a longer trip next time.

The Jensens had to leave after lunch, but us Keelers went into the Maryhill Museum of Art (thanks to a free pass from the library).  It was a neat museum.  Will and the kids enjoyed seeing the different chess sets from around the world.

This exhibit was about the Eskimos.  Whitney wanted to know why they would wear seal skin sweaters.  I liked the snow whip up on top.  I guess you get a lot of snow on you and the Eskimos would whip it off before entering a house.

And if you can believe it, this was a rattle.  Could you imagine handing this scary looking thing to your baby?

There was a theater exhibit with dolls dressed up all fancy.  Don't my kids look ready for a ball?

Queen Marie donated her authentic royal accouterments to the museum.  Will is pretending to sit on the royal throne.

Megan exploring the big chess set that was on the ground.

Then we went to the grounds and walked through all the sculptures.  I thought this flower was really pretty.  We had planned on seeing some waterfalls afterwards, but everyone was too tired.  So we decided to call it a day, but what a fun day it was.

A Great Father

Because Will is such a great father, we decided to turn Father's Day into Father's week.  I decided to surprise Will with something different each time he came home from work.  It was so much fun and I think he liked wondering what he was going to get each day.

Rachel helping make Will's favorite cookies for Monday - snickerdoodles.  They turned out yummy and not too much flour spilled on the table and floor.

Whitney and Rachel eagerly waited for Will to come home from work so they could give him his present.  It wasn't fancy, just some white socks because his old ones have lots of holes.

I enjoyed making the candy bar poster for Will.  I wish WalMart had more options of big candy bars, but I made do with what we had.  I think this was the girls favorite present because Will was nice enough to share candy with them.  My favorite present was probably the surprise date for Friday night.  I got a young woman to babysit and we went out to dinner and miniature golfing and ice cream.  It was just heavenly being able to get out with just the two of us.

Rachel helping make the traditional coffee cake breakfast for Sunday morning.

I saved the sentimental presents for Sunday.  The girls helped color a book for all of Will's "jobs".  Things like 'trash taker outer' and 'yard fixer'.  But the end said our favorite roles were husband and daddy.  

Each girl decorated a paper tie to give to Will.  Whitney wanted to know why he couldn't wear them to church.  We decided they were just for fun ties.

And there was a surprise present for Will.  Megan started saying "da da" and was all cute while saying it.  

So it was a great Father's Day week.  I am so grateful for having a good husband and for being raised by a great dad.

Girls Night

So this weekend was our ward's father/son campout.  Will loves camping and decided to go.  There were several other fathers there without sons and several sons without fathers, so I guess it all worked out.  Anyway, I remember how my mom use to make that a really fun night for us girls.  We would do fun girly things.  So I decided to make it a fun night for us girls also.

The fun started right after Will left by going to the ice cream store in town.  The girls both got vanilla and I got to eat the drips that were falling too fast.  And I got to eat a little bit of Whitney's cone, so it was good.  The girls love getting ice cream there.

And Megan got to eat mom's purse and tear up a napkin and eat pieces of that.  So she was pretty happy.

Then we came home and made pizza dough for dinner.

We invited over our alphabet day friends who also have three girls and whose dad decided to go camping.  They helped make the pizza.  Note to self in future - don't let four little children roll out the dough because it was very unevenly rolled and kind of cooked funny.  Oh well.  Pizza is pizza.

While the pizza was cooking, we painted nails.  I painted the girls and then they painted mine.

It is hard to tell from the picture, but my nails are three different colors and some are more painted than others.  But Whitney and Rachel did a good job for it being their first time painting nails.

And the two babies mostly just checked each other out.  They had some stare downs. I think Megan won because she could move a lot faster. 

Not from girls night, but Whitney has been wanting to play Lamanite lately.  She puts all these "weapons" into her "pockets" and walks around fighting those Nephites.  The other day she pretended to be an angel who came to teach the Lamanites.  We are in Helaman in our scripture study.  Anyway, I am just glad that she is listening.

   So we had a great girls night.  There was some extra grumpiness the next day after being up extra late watching a movie, but it was worth it.

Fun at the Beach

Will had Memorial Day off yesterday and we wanted to do something fun all together.  My family came from Pasco also.  We decided to go check out McNary Beach, which is only like ten minutes from our house.  I don't know why we didn't ever go down there last Summer.  Here are some pictures from our fun day.

Before getting into the water.

Megan did not like getting her feet wet.  I don't blame her because it was a windy day and the water was freezing.  

Whitney really loved the water and wasn't happy that I wouldn't let her get into her swimming suit and get all the way into the water.  I only let the kids go in a few feet.  Here Whitney is playing with a big log.

There was a little dragon toy on the beach that Megan got on.

It took a couple of minutes before Megan decided that the sand was okay to sit on.  I don't think she liked the grittiness on her toes.  But she got over that and wanted to eat it.

Whitney played in some mud.

These are some siblings of mine who were brave enough to get really into the water.  Did I say brave?  I meant crazy.  Thankfully, the day warmed up a couple of hours later, so they were able to dry off.

Sitting and watching the beautiful river while waiting for the barbecue.  Thanks to my mom for bringing most of the food and to my dad for grilling it up.  It ended up as a really nice day.

Obviously, not at the beach.  But here is my cute cowgirl.

A Happy Mother's Day

I want to say thank you to all the great mothers in the world.  My own mother has been a great example for me.  I am also really glad that I get to be a mother and have three healthy girls.  These are my reasons for being so happy this Mother's Day.

First, is my wonderful husband who is a really great dad and helps with the kids.  Right now, he is coloring with Whitney and Rachel.  I don't know what I would do without him.

Then comes this vibrant happy girl.  She reminds me that life is for living and laughing.

Next is my sweet two-year-old.  Rachel has become independent lately.  Yet she also likes to trail Whitney wherever she goes.

And last is my beautiful baby.  Megan is such a sweet heart and can always make me smile.

I received some beautiful homemade cards from my two oldest.

And Will brought home lots of tulips for me.  They are making the kitchen smell really good.

And Whitney took a picture of me.  I love being a wife and mother.