Summer Fishin'

Jayden is hooked on fishing.  Last year, we had an every other day policy for him because they get up between 4am and 5am to get on the river.  But this year I told him as long as his attitude during the rest of the day was good and he could go to bed early, even before Willow, he could go on whatever days he wanted to.  He only skipped one day, and it happened to be a day they didn't catch any fish!  Ha!  Jayden was instructed to not take showers and not change his underwear because he was obviously lucky.  I overruled that because, um, fisherman stink.  Bad.

Jayden's first Stealhead! He caught one before this, but had to throw it back, so this was his first keeper.

And the next day, there were a couple more!  I always like with Royal's best friend, Mikal, is fishing with them because he takes pictures in the boat and sends them to me.  :)

And a few more!

Jayden with most of his fishing buddies.  (we're missing Mikal and Papa)

He also managed to catch his first Sturgeon! 

It was a good trip for Jayden.  I wonder how long everybody in the boat is going to give Jayden their poles....  :)  I'm not complaining because we are bringing all that fish home with us!  (let's hope it makes it.. or we will be eating a TON of fish on the way to Kansas.

Long Beach

We had to make one more trip to the beach before heading back home.  I LOVE the ocean and sometimes I just can't believe I live in a place that is pretty much the farthest you can get away from an ocean.  Royal's parents have a cabin on Long Beach, so we headed down there for a couple days.

We had my nephew Myles with us too!

Willow and Myles flying MY childhood kite my mom gave me on this trip.

Royal can't help himself and usually ends up digging up a clam while at the beach.  He considers it training for Jayden for any clam tides this winter that he's hoping we will be here for.

Jayden doesn't need my help with the stunt kite anymore.   :)

Tubing with Aunt Lisa

Royal's sister, Lisa, was camping up on Swift Reservoir, so we headed up there for a day to hang out with her, and the kids got to do a little tubing!  Jayden loved it!  Willow wasn't so sure, but eventually got brave and went by herself.  There is nothing like being on clean, clear, and really cold water with Mt. St. Helens in the background.  I just love Washington to pieces.

Jayden recovering on the ride back to shore after a major dumping off the tube.  :)

Willow's Hair Cut

Willow has made her first major decision about her hair.  I have always known this day was coming, because with her grandma being a hair stylist, the opportunity to change your hair is just too easy, and Willow's had strong opinions about her clothes since she was 1, I knew her opinions on her hair would be coming soon.  So, I have been prepping myself for Willow, telling myself it's just hair, it will grow back, and as long as she doesn't completely shave it off, I will try really hard to not say anything to change her mind.   I did try to change her mind though, I really did.  I'm not sure why, she hates having her hair brushed and since school has been out, she's barely let me touch it.  I try to pick my battles and getting a brush through hair that is exactly like mine....well, it's just not really worth it during the summer....

So, the first day we are at grandma's house, she does it.

"Grandma, I really want my hair 'this' short"

Really, Willow?  Really?  Let's talk about this.  And then she puts me under a hair dryer so I can't hear her talking with Gramma.

This is Jayden's favorite part about getting his hair cut.

And then it was Willow's turn....

I was panicking....

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh...

I may have cried a little and hung onto that little pony tail of hair for a good 5 minutes....

Willow was all smiles.  I'm sure because she was loving her haircut and not the fact that her mother was whimpering over in another chair...

I have to admit, I had to lie to her for a bit and tell her how much I loved her hair, and I warned Royal what she did before he flew in, so he could practice telling her how much he loved it.  But now that the shock of it is over, I think it's gonna be ok.  I did try and convince her to have grandma cut it into a wedge, but that was a no-go.  The bob was what she was going for.  I'm obviously going to have to work on my own self-control of keeping my opinions of her hair and what she should do to it to myself.  :)

This is actually her inspiration.  I had to draw the line when she asked grandma to color her hair exactly like the picture...

But now when she "lets" me dry her hair she says, "Brush it over my eye, just like the picture"

T.W.G. :: vol 28 :: Lake Cushman

Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman.  Hoodsport, WA

For the last part of our stay with my Shelton crew, we packed up my truck, trailer, Kaylee's ginormous car, Papa's truck and trailer and spent our last 6 days together camping out in the woods.  By together I mean that at one point our whole family (minus Royal) was there - Papa - in his trailer, Nana - did part time in a tent and in my trailer, Kaylee & Rand and their kiddos - in the biggest tent I've ever seen,  Jojee & Jon - in their tent, and Jordan - in a tent too!

It was so fun and the weather only managed to sprinkle on us once and pour down rain once, of course the pouring rain was the morning we were trying to pack up and leave, but it was still so awesome.  I thought it was a great way to end our time together.

This campground is fantastic.  The sites are all set back in trees, it's completely shaded, and is a short walk down a trail to the beach.

 I Heart Trees!

Lake Cushman, day 2

Lake Cushman, day 3.  Hello clouds and goodbye mountain!

We did lots and lots of fishing!

Went on some walks through the woods!

Sweet cousins...

 Easton found a stick and named it "Flying Horsey"

 Uncle Jordan came for a couple nights too.  He took naps in Jon and Jojee's tent.  :)

Cold and wet day movies in the trailer.

  Kayaking and evening swims!

And a big milestone for Willow!  She let me take her training wheels off and a few times around the loop and she had it!

I already miss my family and the loud cousins and the constant battle of food that Kaylee and I wage everyday against 6 bottomless pits.  But I love being able to spend this time with them and for the cousins to get to be together nonstop.  Kaylee and I are already wondering what stories will surface from these cousin times together, when their older and finally ready to fess up to what they were doing behind our backs.  :)