Happy Campers

Yesterday we wrapped up another successful Peschel/Peppmeier camping trip. This year was so much fun! We stayed at the Apgar campground in Glacier Park. The weather was great, even warm during the days. Our last night it got a bit cold and we were freezing when we woke up in the morning.This picture was taken on our last day right before Doug took the tent down. I didn't realize I looked so tired!

There were lots of camping activities (aside from eating a drinking). Here's a picture of the boys working on the Junior Forest Ranger packets we picked up at the visitors office. Will was very adamant about completing his packet and getting the badge. Jack and Matthew worked on theirs but I think preferred riding their scooter and strider more. The boys also used our tent as a bounce house (jumping on the air mattresses and bouncing off the tent walls) and that kept them busy for hours.

The Peschels brought their boat with them and we were able to go out on Lake MacDonald. The weather was perfect but the water was cold. Annemarie did pretty well. She was most content holding a can of Coors Light.

Our view from the boat. Pretty spectacular, right?

Evening activities included taking the boys for a ride around the loop.

Will with his Junior Forest Ranger badge. Way to go Will!

Vacation Wrap-Up & Highlights

We're back home. We got back around dinner time on Saturday. What a great trip...lots of driving, but also lots of visiting with family and friends. Friday before we left we got together with the Knights and Hovdes for a family barbecue. It was so great to have everyone together. The kids are getting so big! Unfortunately I forgot my camera, but thankfully Dianne was able to snap some good pics.
To view them click here: http://goodknights.blogspot.com/2009/08/7-kids-6-adults-crazy-chaotic-fun.html

Other vacation highlights included seeing my Dad and Papa, a girls night out with Dina and Dianne, a quick trip to Prineville and staying at Doug's parents' beautiful cabin. Doug and I also had dinner with my high school friends Renee, Evan, Ryan and we met Ryan's fiancee Christina (we're looking forward to their wedding in September!). It was a busy two weeks! Things are getting back to normal for us here in Montana, the weather has improved and it's feeling like summer again. My mom is coming for a week long visit next week and we're really looking forward to seeing her. Only 14 more days until the boys start school. Where did the summer go?

Trip to Cannon Beach

Family picture in front of Haystack Rock.

Today we took a quick day trip to Cannon Beach. The weather was good, about 65 degrees and sunny. We got into town early so it wasn't too crowded. We went to the beach first and let the kids play for about an hour. Then we headed into town for a bite to eat. We walked along the main street and did some window shopping. What a great trip!

Annemarie enjoying the beach and playing in the sand
Doug and the kids digging a hole
Doug and Annemarie taking a beach stroll

I love this piece of sculpture, it used to be in Lake Oswego so I was thrilled to see it had found a new home. It's called "what came first the chicken or the egg?"

Concert in the Park

Tonight we met up with McAuliffes for a concert in the park. We ate dinner, drank wine and listened to music. The boys played, danced and eventually got rowdy. It rained on us but we felt like true Oregonians. We had so much fun!

The rowdy bunch...Will, Ryan, Matthew and JackAunt Marcie and Annemarie

Ryan dancing the night away

Matthew and Jack showing off their dancing moves

Trip to Enchanted Forest

Matthew, Caleb, Jack, Will and Annemarie at Enchanted Forest.

As Will kept saying "Enchanted Forest is so enchanting!" and for the kids it really was. We had lots of fun today. Chris, Sara, Doug, myself and the kids all spent the day enjoying "the Forest" and for us "older kids" we talked about what we remembered from when we went there as kids and what was new.

The Gingerbread House from Hansel and Gretel
Jack and Will in front of the "Jack "N" Jill sign Aunt Sara and the boys in Western Town

Doug and the boys after the Log Ride, they were soaked!

Time for a treat, the popsicles were almost as big as the boys!

Caleb, Will and Jack on the Frog Hopper

The boys enjoying the Bumper Boats

Annemarie was such a good sport. She watched all the excitement from the comfort of her stroller. Once we were back in the car she fell asleep within a minute or two.

Jack in the car on the way home, showing off the souvenir Aunt Sara bought for him. Thanks Aunt Sara!

Children's Museum

Today was all about the Children's Museum. The kids had so much fun exploring and enjoying the exhibits. It's really a great place with activities for their age. Though I don't have a picture posted they probably enjoyed the hospital exhibit the most since there was a small ambulance they could pretend to drive. Here are pictures from our visit.

Will trying to brush the crocodile's teeth and Jack trying to start a toothbrush sword fight.
Jack and Will enjoying Water World. Lots of fun and lots of water. Will managed to get a couple of adults wet - so I decided it was time to move on.

Will in the Story Tree.
Will playing the xylophone
Annemarie relaxing while the boys ran around crazy...

Will and my friend's son Brayden building with oversized Lincoln Logs.

Jack going for a horseback ride.

Little Firefighters

The activities continue...Yesterday we spent some time at the local library enjoying storytime and doing a craft project. The boys are Corey went swimming in the afternoon and I went grocery shopping at Trader Joes (how I miss Trader Joes!). Later the kids stayed with Mom and Corey and I went out to dinner and made a trip to Ikea. I'm happy to say I only purchased items on my list so I feel the trip was a success. This morning we took a walk and Corey took the kids to the park so I could go have a pedicure. Nothing beats the no-appointment-twenty-dollar pedicure! I thoroughly enjoyed my 45 minutes of quiet time. On the way to the park Corey and the kids walked by the fire station and one of the firefighters came out and gave the kids hats and stickers. They were thrilled! This afternoon we're going to see a puppet show at the library and then the kids and I are meeting Mom at the Spagetti Factory for dinner. Yum!

Vacation Activities

Great start to our vacation...This morning the boys picked apples in the backyard and made applesauce with Tutu while Corey, Annemarie and I did some quick window shopping and coffee drinking. Later I took the boys to Ibach Park in Tualatin. Then Will and Corey went to visit Papa this afternoon and we had a very nice visit with my aunt this evening. After dinner we went for a walk and the boys played in the fountain downtown. What a full day!

Prepping apples for applesauce.
Jack demonstrating his apple cutting skills.
MJ, Annemarie and Mom visiting. Playing in the fountain at Millennium Plaza in LO.

Enjoying a lovely evening in Lake Oswego.

Pictures From the Road

Annemarie testing out her new shades.

The kids and I drove to Oregon on Saturday. It was a great trip and one we're very used to. It took 12 hours (11 hours of driving) and the kids were very good. I had activites planned for them and they watched a few movies. Overall it was a pretty quick trip. We're staying with my mom and Corey in LO this week, Doug gets into town on Friday, we head over to Prineville for the weekend and then will be staying in Sherwood at Doug's parents house. It's good to be on vacation!

Jack sleeping for 45 minutes of the trip
Cozy Annemarie taking a snooze.

Walking!

I took this video yesterday. Annemarie is definitely making progress. We knew she'd start walking eventually!

Crafts Courtesy of Sarah Spindle

Sarah Spindle was in Whitefish this past week. It's always so much fun when she's here. This time she even has an "Egyptian Mummy Craft" for the boys. As you can see toilet paper was used and the boys had a great time.

By request the mummies morphed into Batman mummies with masks, capes and even belts. The boys then played superheroes with their projects for a good twenty minutes straight. Good job Sarah Spindle!!

Jack with his Batman Mummy

Will with his completed project.

Tyler Larkin's Baptism

What a great day for a baptism! Our friends the Larkins had their son Tyler baptized in their backyard on Sunday. It was such a perfect event and we had so much fun. Those Larkins really know how to throw a party! We left the boys at home with a sitter but took Annemarie with us. As always she was a big hit. I think her favorite part of the party was sitting with Fafa (Stefanie's mom) and being fed ice cream. Annemarie really liked the ice cream and gave Fafa lots of kisses in return.

Stef, Kelly and Sarah posing for the camera.
Annemarie in her pretty party dress from Aunt Sara and Uncle Jason. She received many compliments.

The Saga of the Purple Cast

So we've been to Urgent Care one more time and the doctor twice since the last time I wrote about Annemarie's broken arm. It is near impossible to keep her cast on. I was somewhat prepared for this going through a broken arm with Jack when he was two. Originally Annemarie had a splint put on. Then two days later we went back in to have a cast put on. She pulled the cast off the next day. So we went in again and had another cast put on. This time we were on to our third doctor and he was adamant that the cast he put on would stay put. She pulled it off later that night. So when we went in the next time I explained to the doctor how with Jack his cast was cut on both sides (kind of like a clam shell) so when he pulled it off I could put it back on. The cast was then wrapped with an ace bandage and lots of tape. Unfortunately when the doctor put the cut cast on Annemarie it pinched part of her skin and I didn't know because she didn't seem to be in any pain. So now she has this terrible welt/cut on the inside of her arm (if it's not one thing it's something else!) Anyhow...she needs to keep her cast on until next Wednesday and as you may imagine I'm counting down the days. As of right now Annemarie pulls her cast off and I put it on usually four times a day.

Here's a recent video of our little escape artist.

Visit from Opah

This week my dad was here for a quick visit. This was his first trip to Whitefish. From what I can tell I think he's a big fan. Recently his company has added Montana as part of his sales territory so we're looking forward to seeing more of him. The kids really enjoyed seeing him and had lots to show him and tell him. We look forward to seeing you in August Opah!

Another Broken Bone

Annemarie is now part of the broken bone club. She fell yesterday afternoon and has a small fracture in her left arm. I didn't see her fall but from what I can gather I think she did a belly flop on the wood floor and landed on her arm. After a quick trip to urgent care she's doing much better. A hard cast will be put on tomorrow (right now she has a splint and ace bandage on). As you can tell from the pictures she's broken up (pun intended) over the whole ordeal. I told Doug we're going to need to pad the house and everyone has to wear helmets on a full-time basis. Good news is recovery time is short, about three weeks.