Summers' Summer 2009

So, since we've joined Facebook, we've been neglecting our blog. But we thought we'd catch up on a few things we've done this summer. . .

Trip to Idaho/Montana
We took the kids out of school a day early to drive to Idaho and Montana so Steven and his friend, Zac, could attend Cedar Badge, a leadership camp for Boy Scouts, up in the Tetons. While the boys were at camp, we spent time hanging out in Drummond with Tammy's parents. When the camp was over, we all drove down to pick them up and spent some time with Steve's family.

The boys got to experience a taste of rural life by "goin' shootin" (as we say it in Montana) in Grandpa's back yard. We also got to enjoy Grandpa's bbq dinners. . . and Grandma's Abelskivers! Sophie got spoiled playing princesses with Grandma Lacey. Some of the Lacey's neighbors have several farm animals, so the kids had a fun time petting the animals and riding horses.The kids got a kick out of going to Drummond High School where Tammy showed them where she went to school. This hallway is the ENTIRE high school. (Well the hallway that leads to the 8 classrooms, anyway. . .)
We also visited Garnet, an old ghost town near Drummond. The kids had fun exploring the old buildings that still contain some antiques.At the Packer's Sophie had fun playing with all the babies. Steve's sisters both have infants, so Sophie was a "big kid!" She also loved playing with the kitties.

Rachel had a fun time hanging out with her cousin, Mackayla.

Ben and Rachel were supposed to go camping with Steve's sister, Jeni, but when they got all set up at the camp, it started pouring, so they bundled up the wet tents and brought them home. Luckily, Jeni and Nolan have a large living room, so they were able to "go camping" anyway!!!

Tennis Lessons

The night we got back from our trip, we ran into a friend who told us her son was participating in a tennis camp starting the next day. Because tennis is Steve's passion, we couldn't resist signing Steven, Ben, and Rachel up for tennis camp, too. (It doesn't hurt that Ben's two best friends were in the camp with him!!!) They played Tuesday-Friday throughout July and it ended with a tournament with all the surrounding tennis camp teams. They did a great job!!!

Scout Camps
Steven didn't get enough camping at Cedar Badge, so the week after we got back, he headed off to Scout Camp at Camp Pigott. He earned 5 merit badges, so it was a successful camp. Because there weren't many other adults who were able to go with the boys, Steve got to spend the week camping, too. He had a great time with the boys! We really have a good group of deacons right now!

Now that Ben's 11, he got to go on his first overnight camp out, too. Again, Steve got to spend some quality "bonding" time as he camped out with them. The bummer of the trip was when they found out there was a burn ban and couldn't have a campfire to cook their foil dinners and roast marshmallows, etc. Luckily, Bishop Hatch was able to save the day by bringing up a propane stove to cook the dinners!

Day Trips
We've taken a few day trips this summer. As we were experiencing the record-breaking Seattle heat wave, we thought we'd escape the heat by going up to the Ice Caves near Granite Falls. It was so fun playing in the snow in the hot weather. Even Leia, our dog, had a fun time.

We also had fun attending the 4th of July festivities in Auburn. The kids climbed walls, rode horses and played with animals.

Another highlight was going to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. The kids had fun seeing and playing with the animals.

Summer Projects
One of our summer "projects" has been to potty train Sophie. She's starting to get the hang of it. She even went all by herself at the YMCA the other day. We're looking forward to the day when our garage doesn't stink and when we no longer have to carry diapers with us!

Ben's summer projects have been organizing his Pokemon card collection, learning to play trombone (Last year in school, he played trumpet, but he wants to take after his dad and brother and play trombone.) He's also learning how to sew. (Don't you love his swimming attire--he multi-tasks!) He's almost finished making his PJ's.

Music Camp
Last week, Steven participated in a week-long music/band camp in Auburn. He loves playing trombone, so he was thrilled to be able to play all week. On Friday night he played in a concert. (The pictures didn't turn out, though.)

Family Reunion
Last week we drove 51/2 hours to Osoyoos, BC, Canada to attend Steve's mom's family reunion. With the exception of one cousin, all of Steve's grandparents' family attended. Although it was a little chilly (especially after all of our hot Seattle weather) we had a fun time. The kids played in the water and spent time catching up with cousins. The adults sat around and ate! (Actually, we had fun playing in the water, too. ) We rented a boat for a couple of hours so the kids could ride on an innertube and wakeboard. The hotel we stayed at had free rentals of kayaks and canoes, so we took advantage of those, too!
The kids don't go back to school for 3 1/2 more weeks, so we still have lots of time to have more fun!!! Give us a call if you want to come play!

Rachel's Milestones

This was a fun and exciting day in Rachel's life! Today she was baptized and confirmed by her dad. We had a wonderful day. Before and after the baptism, Rachel wore a dress that Grandma Packer had made for her. She was so beautiful! She looked like a princess.

Here is the front view:And the back is just as beautiful (the picture just doesn't do it justice!):Here are Grandma and Grandpa Packer with the kids before the baptism. Sophie's been keeping Grandma and Grandpa busy! She keeps insisting that they play hide and seek with her and jump on the "tram-a-boing" with her.
Rachel wore a vintage baptism dress that my mom had made for me when I was baptized over 30 years ago.
Here I am on my baptism day in the same dress:
Here's Rachel with her proud papa!
The baptismal service was beautiful. There were two other girls baptized, too. Rachel was so excited to be baptized. She wasn't even a little bit nervous to go into the water like I was when I was baptized! She said the water was warm, but the air outside of the font was freezing! She was very grateful for the warm, cozy special "baptism towel" Grandma Lacey had sent to her. Rachel said she felt really good inside the whole day.

After the baptism, we had a little party at our house with all of the people who had attended the baptism. We had all of Rachel's favorite foods--no-bake cookies, brownies, a fruit platter, cream puffs, pound cake with strawberries, as well as Mom and Dad's favorite--"cowboy caviar" salsa and chips.
Here is Rachel (she changed her dress so she could eat!) with a few of her friends:
Rachel, we love you and are so proud of you!

Rachel's Ears Pierced

Last week, we fulfilled a birthday promise for Rachel as I took her to the mall to get her ears pierced. She has been waiting patiently as we told her that she had to wait until she was 8. She was so brave! (It only took me 37 years to get up the nerve to get mine pierced!)

Here's the before picture:Here is the actual piercing. (Notice she doesn't even flinch!)


And after!

From Easter Bunnies to Birthday Parties

April's been a busy month! Last weekend we celebrated Easter. It was especially fun this year because Sophie was so excited. She's been practicing all month for the annual egg hunt by hiding plastic eggs around the house and finding them. I have a feeling I'll be finding them for months!

Sophie and Rachel with the Easter Bunny:
Rachel finding eggs in the woods.
Ben anxiously awaiting his turn!
Later that day, we went to watch Steven play in a water polo match. (He's #19--it's hard to take pictures of water polo!) He played in a week-long water polo clinic during spring break. He had a lot of fun and came home exhausted every day!!!
When we came home from water polo, we colored Easter eggs. Sophie had so much fun plopping the eggs in the water.
Rachel made fancy designs with hers. The kids' favorite part was eating them!

The highlight of this last week was having Aunt Shannon and her friend, Kristen, come visit us during Shannon's spring break. We had fun going to Pike's Place Market and eating fish at Ivar's and feeding the seagulls.
Sophie had fun playing on the "tramp-a-boing" with Shannon. Shannon and Kristen also spent lots of time playing hide and seek with Sophie. She's sad to see them go.
Friday was Rachel's 8th birthday, so we made cupcakes. Sophie had fun licking the beater.
Rachel requested waffles for her special breakfast in bed. Later that day, Steve and I brought her favorite lunch, Subway sandwich, to her at school.
Rachel had requested new bedding for her birthday, claiming that she's "too old for Disney princesses." While she was at school, Shannon and I gave her room a mini makeover. We had to remove the decals from her wall. Shannon and Kristen made a wall hanging with her name on it. Here's the before picture:
And after:
She was thrilled!

That night we had a sleepover birthday party for Rachel. She was bummed that I limited the number of girls she invited this year since it was a "sleepover." (So if your child wasn't invited, I'm really sorry!!!) We made Shrinky Dinks jewelry and stained glass butterflies. The girls had fun playing games and just being really loud! Here is Rachel with her sleepover girls birthday cupcakes she requested from a cupcake book Grandma Lacey had given her for Christmas.

I don't want to post pictures of other people's children at the party, but here's Sophie joining in on the fun of watching the movie, Bolt, with the other girls. Surprisingly, the girls actually went to sleep for their sleepover! Much different from the boys parties in the past!!!
I left the party in the hands of Shannon for a little bit while I sneaked out to Ben's Cub Scout Pack Meeting where he was awarded his Webelos Advancement. Next month he should earn his Arrow of Light. We're so proud of all the hard work and are so thankful for Tara Hatch, Lily Casey, and Wanda Orton, his past Cub Scout Webelos leaders for helping him every week!!!Saturday, we took Shannon on one of our favorite hikes--Boise Creek Falls. On our hike, there were people riding horses. They let Sophie pet one of them.
Shannon took our picture. Notice how TALL Steven's getting! (Oh, wait--he's standing on his toes. . . but he is getting tall!)
We even took Leia along for some fun. She was in little dog heaven.
The kids had fun skipping rocks in a little lake up there.
I had to take a picture of Steven. He got contact lenses two weeks ago and is very excited to be able to enjoy the outdoors without the hassle of glasses. He's in track right now, so he's especially enjoying running without glasses!
Thanks for the fun visit, Aunt Shannon and Happy Spring to everyone!