summer begins!

setting up the tent at Champoeg State Park

self portrait from the tent

Ben learned about the joys of Bubble Baths

Owen lost the other front tooth!  Now he's a toothless shark.

Ben emptied his crib instead of napping...

Keen's for vacation: very small, small, and not very small

Kindergarten finished up amid field day, a class trip to the beach, and lots of parties.  Owen really enjoyed his Kindergarten year.  We were very lucky to have Mrs. Messer who was patient, calm and experienced.  She ran a wonderful room and brought out the best in Owen.  Owen made close friends with a few of the girls in his room, all of whom he will be excited to see this week when he starts first grade.

To celebrate then end of the school year, Owen and Richard went camping at Champoeg State Park.  They stayed for two nights.  They brought their bikes so they could look around the area and Owen did a great job riding the few miles to the old town of Champoeg and back to the camp site.  I believe there was some ice cream incentive involved.  They were both proud of the campfire they built.

We only had a week of summer vacation between school starting and our annual Eastern Pilgrimage.  Owen spent that week at Zion's summer program, where he and a handful of kids had lots of field trips and two energetic teachers coming up with creative crafts and themes.