Dillon's 14th birthday!

Dillon turns 14!  He is such a kind, athletic, smart, and bashful boy.  The day before his birthday school was cancelled so he got to have his friends, Leelan and CJ, come over earlier.  They spent the night, played games, shot airsoft guns, among other things.   He is always a pretty calm kid so it was neat to see him acting pretty excited about it. 

After they headed home (on his birthday) Grandma and Papa H came down.  He opened his gifts, we had beans and weenies for dinner, played some games and ate brownies and ice cream.  This is for sure my kid, he wants beans and weenies for dinner (traditionally my birthday meal) and pumpkin pie for dessert (my birthday dessert).  Though he was disappointed when costco didn't have their pumpkin pie so he begrudgingly decided on the brownies.  

Kayda had to read Grandma's card to him because he can't read cursive well.  

Buddy hung out with us on the table while we played games. 

We had trick candles, he had to keep blowing it out, he put an end to that by licking his fingers and pinching the wick....spoil sport.  

It's good to have friends...

Soccer season means one huge thing.  Friends.  Soccer starts and suddenly teammates are hanging out almost every weekend.  Sometime the adults too.  Here are some soccer buddy adventures the boys had. 

Kayda is very much a homebody.  She is quite content to be at home and check text and call her friends.  Occasionally she'll go out and she has a good time when she does.  This was an activity with her school volleyball team.  She also went and did a "rage room" with her friend Ivy, you basically go in and smash a bunch of things. 

She went to a cookie making party with some volleyball friends also. 

I have been trying very intentionally to spend time with OUR friends.  

Escape room adventure. 

Heidi's birthday.  I got her a giant cupcake....then couldn't resist smashing it in her face.  

We tried sparkler candles.  They were very disappointing. 

Come December schedules got busy and things tapered off. 

Lake Chelan

Time for our annual trip with the "summer friends".  Though we saw them a couple of times outside our summer trip over the last year.  We were headed back to Chelan this year.  It seems like we end up there about every other year.  This was our 10th trip together.  All because my parents didn't seem like they wanted to go to Lake Chelan and I invited people I barely knew along.... It worked out in the end. 

Unfortunately, we didn't pay attention to the dates and we ended up with a shorter than normal trip.  We made the best of it.

Kayda gets the option to bring a friend since they have the two boys.  This year we were able to arrange flying Ari up from Las Vegas so she could go with us.  They wouldn't give us passes to go get her from the gate, even though she's a minor.  So we had to wait at baggage claim.  Kayda hid and when we saw Ari snuck up on her with a hug.  She had two nights with us until we headed out.

The kids find interesting ways to entertain themselves.  We would let them go to the lake without us, with the expectation that they couldn't swim out to the dock until we were there.  We were a couple minutes behind them usually.  When I came down one time they had found a giant floating log.  They had a great time with it. 

The kids loved going to the volleyball court to play.  They really played volleyball, rode bikes, played Pokemon Go, played corn hole, and swam.  

Of course we HAD to do a day at the waterpark.  The kids are getting a little old for it though and wanted to stop in the late afternoon. 

If you get there fast enough they have free surfing lessons.  It's half an hour with 12 people taking turns riding...or trying to ride.  We got there early enough for Daddy, Kayda, Carson and I to try.  We couldn't convince Dillon to try. 

Daddy made it up but was shaky.  By his third turn he was doing fairly well. 

Kayda and Carson weren't able to stabilize once they were away from the wall.  I love this picture of Kayda, she looks fierce...but she's actually falling. 

Carson made a couple seconds but couldn't hold it. 

I actually surprised myself and was able to get out to the middle first try.  I let myself fall because I wasn't sure how to turn and was conscious of other people wanting turns.  Ended up being frustrating.  I only got two turns and some other person got 4 because I got messed up in line having to change boards since it was bent. I was excited to try turning that last time.  It was a bummer. 

Carson decided it would be fun to ride his bike into the lake.  We didn't care since it's a hand me down from Dillon and already pretty beat up. 

This year the dock was damaged.  It has taken on water so it sinks low with very few people on it.  They were actually able to rock it back and forth with big groups so that it tilted way up out of the water...until someone slipped and took out 3/4 of the people on the dock.  Excuse the random people on the dock with them. 

Jenn brought glow sticks again.  The kids had a great time going around the campground and even had other kids meeting up with them. 

We all played catch phrase and had a good time of it.  There were plenty of things they didn't know since the game is from the 2000's.  

We played the game spoons...with forks.  They loved it.  Until the adult left.  You really need a decent chunk of people to make it fun. 

The guys didn't take a "my two dads" picture this year.  It felt "forced" since we were all excited about it.  Instead we get this... they must be having relationship problems. 

Ari had to head home the day after we got back.  First thing in the morning. She missed her orientation to come and actually starts school on the 9th!

Think we're planning something bigger next year since it's our "ten year anniversary"!