Alan's special 50th Birthday present

I am not sure what it is about Alan, but he's definitely got pyromaniac tendencies. He loves to burn things in the fireplace, in the firepit outside, and to barbeque. His 50th present that we all contributed money to is a big, serious barbeque. Patti and Bryce put it together and were a great team. Patti could read the instructions while Bryce studied the drawings.

Family at Point-No-Point Lighthouse

While up in Kingston to celebrate Alan's 50th birthday, we went out one evening to the Point-No-Point Lighthouse. It was early evening and the sun was shining in our eyes, but we got photos anyway. It's a rare photo when we get Mom and us 3 girls together at the same time.

Alan in Pendleton

The Coaches

Lauren (who is a gold swimmer and bronze coach), Ashley (who taught Bryce and Sarah in bronze) and Tom (who is gold coach now, but taught all the three oldest in Silver).

Sarah helps the coaches?

Sarah pointing west. Coach Lauren looking north. Coach Ashley documenting results. Who knows WHAT is going on??

Pouslbo Piranhas

Ok, this is only 8 of the 24 swimmers....getting the boys to pose was like herding cats. It never happened. The girls, however, formed this pose in less than 10 seconds. Amazing.

Starting in the back from left to right: Katherine, Alessi, Alice, Miranda.
Front row left to right: Sarah, Kailey, Emily, Ellie

Patti in Louis Lamour heaven

Miranda and I went for a walk Friday evening and I met this great cowboy. He kindly stopped to pose. He was in the middle of herding cattle and had a small dog to help.

The kids above Yakima Valley

Yakima Valley

After much upheaval and disappointments, we didn't make the Moses Lake swim meet. However, we DID make the Pendleton meet. I don't know yet, but I suspect it will replace the Moses Lake meet for several reasons. First, it wasn't that much farther. We got in easily. It was a bigger pool. There is more to do in Pendleton, than in Moses Lake. Finally, when the coaches brought out the ribbons, it took three of them with huge fistfuls to hold them all. The kids were screaming hysterically with excitement. Apparently, historically we do not get many ribbons at Moses Lake...perhaps it's the way they set it up. At Pendleton, you were divided into two groups based on your previous times. So, you were competing with kids with similar talent. Made it a little easier for the kids to shine. It was really a great time for all.

July 6th....getting ready to leave

I was getting ready to leave and head back to Oregon but had to get a photo of all 4 of the kids together. We arranged them by height for a few pictures and then by age. Someday I want to make a scrapbook of images of the kids all together over the years.

4th of July in Kingston

Patti made a great 4th of July cake.



On the way to see the fireworks. It's always a hassle having to park blocks away but the view from the marina is great. Miranda had her cell phone with her and met some of her friends.







Brent had a front row seat at the fireworks.

A man and his Barbeque

Alan's 50th Birthday present this year was money for a barbeque....a BIG barbeque grill. Here he is grilling hamburgers and hotdogs. Photos by Bryce.