Family Mountain Biking

The trail-a-bike is pretty awesome.  All 4 of us rode Shane's Loop.  

Loretta Josephine Glass turns 94

"Gammy" turned 94 on July 25th.  Mom hosted a birthday party in Eugene.  

Attendees:  Byron, Carissa, Hayden, and Kylee Hills.  Ted, Lisa, and Eloise Mischkot.  J.P. Mischkot and Sarah Myrick.  Chris, Lynette, and Lindsey Mattson.  Vicki Glass.  Peggy and Imants Roga.

I see Gammy a couple times a year.  She looks stronger and healthier each time I see her.  She tells stories of her and Pompom's childhoods in South Dakota along the Missouri River.  She talks about what it was like to manage several small businesses run out of their home while raising four children.  She's out lived all her siblings, husband, and two children.  Her demeanor is kind, patient, positive, and grounded in reality.  She's pretty incredible.

Lindsey spent the weekend with cousins Kylee and Hayden.  Lindsey really enjoys Kylee's company.  Its fun to see their relationship evolve.

We ate dinner at Roaring Rapids Pizza.  This pizza restaurant was frequented by us as children and the merry-go-round is still in operation.

Ted is very comfortable in his new role as a Father.

"Lindsey, what do you have planted in your garden this year?"  "Well, zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, things like that"

Great Gammy with Eloise May Mischkot (19 weeks)

Great Gammy with Kylee (8), Hayden (6), and Lindsey (4)

Sahalie Falls on the mighty McKenzie River

Redfish Lake

I hope we have a new tradition of an annual camping trip with Elsi and Abbie.  We took the girls to Ponderosa Park last year as a celebration for the year of Abbie's 40th birthday.  This year we chose Redfish Lake.  The boys joined us later in the weekend.  The girls stood on top of rocks and sang the songs "we are the poison girls with love in our hearts" and "this is my fight song".  We played on the beach, rode horses, and hiked up Fishhook drainage.  Lindsey told me that she wishes she could live up at Redfish Lake because its so beautiful.  Its a special place for our family.

Chris and I have several wedding photos with this log on the beach.  It was fun to watch the girls get so much enjoyment on it.

concert time...Elsi the lead, Lindsey on back up

VIT

VIT = Vixens in Training

Jana, Abbie, and I visited McCall together for some beach and girl time.  There was more laughter than tears.  These little ladies are awesome together and their Mom's are pretty exceptional too.  Thanks ladies :)!

Swimming lessons pay off!

everyone needs goggles for sand castle building, thanks for the trend-set Olive!

Madagascar...you gotta move it move it!

cake

fairy house hunting

Lower Salmon Rafting

We spent July 9 - 13 on the Lower Salmon River.  Just 4 of us.  Lindsey loves rowing the boat, Sparky is typically her co-pilot.  The trip was relatively uneventful and fun.  Sparky got up close and personal with a skunk but the smell waned before the take-out.  The last day provided a significant electrical storm and a rainbow at the take-out.  Best family time ever!

Lucky Peak with Snowden

Snowden's wonderful Father and Aunt have re-homed the family ski boat from Lake Tahoe to Lucky Peak Reservoir for the summer months.  Lindsey and I spend an evening in the boat with James and Meredith.  The photos below are particularly hilarious because they show the drastic differences in the two girl's personalities.  Lindsey was constantly giving James the "thumbs up" to go faster, while Snowden was giving the "thumbs down" to go slower.  

James, Snowden and Lindsey