Cub Scout Day Camp

Cub Scout Day Camp is four days full of:

Wood shop...

BB Guns...

Cooking...

Obstacle Courses...

Archery...

Crafts...

Games...

FUN!!!

Farewell, Wilkes!

The elementary school my kids have attended since Nate was in 2nd grade (2002) is being rebuilt and the old buildings are being demolished.  I took Ben to watch one afternoon. I remember when my elementary school was torn down.  It was a lot more exciting.  Green Lake Elementary was an old wooden building and it seemed like they took it down in one day.  It's been a more gradual process with Wilkes, but I guess that's because it is several buildings instead of just one. The new Wilkes is in the background.  I'm a little worried it won't be done in time for school to start (Aug. 29), but I guess it has to be since the old buildings aren't exactly habitable anymore!

This was the north wall of the gym.

That's part of the new building in the background...doesn't really look done, does it?

Lake Ozette to Sand Point to South Ozette River

Kylie wants to do more backpacking and hiking, so she and Brad, and three friends, went on three day, 14 mile trip a few weeks ago.  They left from Lake Ozette, hiked to Sand Point the first night, then to the South Ozette River the second night.  

At the trail head...Lon, Erin, Kylie, and Aubrey

The first 3 miles is mostly boardwalk.

Sand Point, on the Washington Coast

They camped right near here the first night.

Sunset at Sandpoint

Scenery the second day.

The second day, they hiked along the beach about 5 miles.

Where the Ozette River meets the Pacific Ocean.

The second night, they camped on the South shore of the Ozette River.

Sunset at the Ozette River

The third day, they hiked back to Lake Ozette. They had a wonderful time, and plan to go on another backpacking trip in a few weeks to Seven Lakes Basin in the Olympics.

My Third Teenager!

Wow, three teenagers at one time.  Life is pretty crazy around the Van Aken house!  Friends are way more important than family these days, as was shown by Jillian's birthday celebrations...one party with her school friends, one with her church friends, and one with the family.  Friends get twice as much time with her.  I guess I should be used to it by now.

Making pizzas with her school friends.

Her first cake.

Her second cake (with the family)

Oh no!  Her wish won't come true! Well, her second one, anyway.  I think she's a pretty lucky girl, though, so she shouldn't worry too much. 

Some how I didn't get any pictures of her "church friend" party...but trust me, she did have one.  

It's actually pretty fun having three teenagers.  I'm really enjoying seeing Jillian grow in to a confident, funny, social, young woman!