After a 3 month absence...

Hi All!
I know it's been awhile since our last entry - so here is a quick update on what's been happening with us. Since May, and getting my grandmother back home to Long Beach (she broke her leg in March and recovered with us for 8 weeks) we have been running like crazy people! The kids had "end of the year" stuff like Caitlin's cello concerts (you'll see a pic with Caitlin in a wig since she attended the Spring Fling Wig Out Concert) and Luke's Tae Kwon Do (he is now a green belt!) Mike had a AAPA conference to attend in Texas and we joined him to visit family and freinds from our time down there. It was a great trip - warm, sunny and very relaxing! We've also been camping with Mike's parents to Camp Sherman and the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. And to Crater lake with my parents. Mostly this summer has been about spending time with Mike as he will be gone the entire month of August for his Army Annual Training in Idaho. We've been fishing and boating at Twin Lakes, doing lots of swimming up at Eagle Crest and Juniper, visting the High Desert Museum (and seeing the old saw mill in action!) and just enjoying being together!
Here are some of pics from our adventures:


The lake was a bit smokey the first day, but the second day gave us breathtaking views! The first day was drove around the rim and stopped at most of the viewpoints for pictures - it's fun to see the lake from all the different sides. The second day we took the boat around the lake and were amazed at how different the lake looks from that perspective - either way it's just beautiful! Yes, that sapphire color of the water is really how it looks!




Mike and Caitlin in front of a gorgous waterfall!!

Mike and Luke on the boat we took around the lake.

The caldera walls still have lots of snow!

Luke and Caitlin pose at the Crater Lake Lodge's deck

in front of Wizard Island,

named because of the shape

and how it looks like a wizard's hat!

Mike's parents and the kids at Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery while camping at Camp Sherman in June. Feeding the fish is great. It's so much fun to throw in a handfull of food and watch the fish jump around to get it all. If you plan to go, take lots of quarters with you so you can feed the fish also!!



Relaxing at the camp site - Camp Sherman
I love early morning camp fires, drinking hot tea and reading a book before the world wakes up! Everything is quiet except the crakle and pop of the fire and the mighty Metolios River!

Fishing at Twin Lakes
Papa (my dad) taught the kids how to fish.
Luke loved it and would have sat there all day!
Caitlin is of another opinion - she has things to do and places to go!
Maybe when we actually catch something it will be more interesting?!?!

Luke happily displays his 2 gold medals he received

at the TKD tournament!
But breaking boards is the ultimate cool thing to do!
Luke broke 10 boards to raise $155 for the
St. Jude's Children's Hospital!

Caitlin at the Spring Fling Wig Out Concert,
where most are wearing wigs.
Caitlin is in the middle with the blond wig!

Here she is playing the music to the Pink Panther -

and wearing sunglasses!

2 months ago I would have been positive that

Luke would break a bone first.

Well, I would have been very wrong!

On the last Monday of the school year,

Caitlin got hit with a softball which

broke her pinkie finger!Here she is with the x-rays before she got her cast.

This smile finally came, after a few tears

and understanding that life

wasn't about to end just because she broke a finger.
And below she is getting her first cast put on

(she ended up with 2)

Here we are in San Antonio, Texas - our old stomping grounds

and where Catilin was born.

Mike and the kids poise in front of the famous Riverwalk.

You can't go to SA without a stop at the Alamo!

It was a great vacation! Mike had to be at the

conference most of the day,

but we had so much fun in the evenings

visting family and friends!

The kids and I had fun exploring the city

during the day

and just relaxing at the pool!