v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n

independence or bust

Richard and Owen did another overnight canoe trip with their cub scout friends Phil and Isaac.  This time, they launched from Corvallis, and headed north to Independence.  They got to see the ferry from the river, and had a great night camping.

summer fun

Boys enjoyed the HP summer picnic- mostly the cotton candy.
Ben came home from a haircut with a faux-hawk...

double digits!!

Owen turned 10!!
A list of a few of his favorites:
favorite color: purple
favorite subject: science
favorite computer game: x-plane flight simulator
favorite game: Clue
favorite sport: skiing
favorite food: Subway sandwiches
favorite book: How the States Got Their Shapes
favorite show: documentaries
favorite activity: hiking
He celebrated with a slumber party with a few of his friends- a little quieter than his 9th birthday sleep over, but still a great time.  He asked for a party sub from Subway as dinner for him and his friends.  Maybe when they are 16 they will be able to consume 6' of sub, but needless to say, there were a lot of leftovers!!
On his birthday, we had dinner with the Muhly's and Owen opened up some new clothes, lots of model train things including a new engine, a yoke and peddle for his flight simulator, and a mini-model of our house for his train set made by Aunt Susie.

puppet master

Inspired by the Williamsburg trip, Owen learned more about Thomas Jefferson, and made a TJ puppet, complete with Declaration of Independence.
In an attempt to get Ben to finally sleep in his own room, we did some rearranging.  The big bed/drawer/desk unit made its way downstairs to the basement play room, where it is now a Lego Station.  An Ikea trip netted Ben a new bed and drawers, and occasionally he even sleeps in there now.
We all continue to enjoy the tortoises- Torts and Turtle Explorer.  It got warm enough to let them wander in the yard.  Mostly they look for places to hide and get dragged back out.  Good times.

cousins in vermont

We headed north to Vermont for some Grandma Sally and cousin time.   Owen and Kobe continue to click and had a ball together.  Ben and Liza enjoyed reconnecting and Garrett has grown up enough to join in on the fun.  We made a trip out to Albany, NY, to see the capital building, and made a trip up to New Hampshire to see Uncle Steve and Aunt Molly's house and play in their pool.  Plus we enjoyed the annual 4th of July party and donut-fest at Uncle Roger and Aunt Ivonne's.

palling around with pocahontas

We flew out from PDX to Virginia for some time with my dad, and brought the kids to Jamestown.  It has changed a bunch from when I used to visit in grade school, since they found out that the fort was actually not underwater as we were taught in the 80's.  We enjoyed walking the site and learning about the current archeological findings.  Thunderstorms cut short the visit to the glass makers.  Owen and Richard went back out to Williamsburg the next day where they enjoyed learning about the colonials but also ate lots of ice cream.
Ben's major discovery of the trip was ham sandwiches, which he asked to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.   We enjoyed swimming in the river and the marina pool, boat rides with some fishing, and canoe rides, and just hanging out with my dad and watching the amazing Rappahannock sunset.