Camp Shore

We don't need to pack up all our gear and drive for hours to go camping.
We can do it right here.

We invited a few locals to join us.

 Kids love Camp Shore. They get to meet new friends...
Shoot their bows...

Ride the 4 wheeler...

Sleep in tents...

and roast hot dogs!

By morning Owen and Jack were best buddies!

We love having friends and family over.
 Camp style is my favorite, no dishes to do or sheets to wash!
We eat outside, play outside, sleep outside and yes...
sometimes we go potty outside! (sorry no pictures) ha ha.
This is Arron's tough 'I just got back from North Dakota' look.
(not to be confused with Blue Steel)

Lylian loves Jon's dog, Lily.
Every time Jon called "Lily" Lylian would drop everything and go running into Jon's arms.
It was so cute and we really got a laugh out of it.

There's not many pictures of me with mom and dad. I had to share this one.

Owen loves holding Claudia. She's my favorite too, she's one tough chick.

My best friend Raquel. Love her.

For breakfast we had Farm Fresh scrambled eggs, of course.

The kids played non-stop, ate heartily and slept soundly,
and that goes for the big kids too.

Camp Shore may not be as fun as Disneyland, but I bet it's a close second.

Y'all Come Back Soon!

 

Painting 101

We are so ready to be finished with the Villa

 that we actually considered paying someone to paint all the trim.

We were not excited to do this job at all...

until the first bid came back!

What! They want how much!?

Laiken and I decided we could do it.

We've painted a lot and feel confident we can do the job.

She filled nail holes and sanded, while I caulked.

Several days later we were ready for the first coat.

We brought in re-inforcements to help.

My good friend Karen and her daughter Alyssa came to help.

Mom was there to help.

We all look like seasoned professionals right?

So, we pressed on all day, applying the first coat.

The next day inspection did not go very well.

Even though I bought new Purdy brushes and expensive paint,

It was too hot when the paint dried,

 you could see all our brush strokes!

I was so dissapointed.

We couldn't continue with the second coat.

Everything had to be sanded down.

I was tired and deflated.

So Arron... the man I love...

 the man I talked out of hireing a painter, stepped in.

With gusto, Arron and Skye sanded all the trim.

They bought an air sprayer, taped everything off,

and painted all the trim and doors.

The Villa was an utter mess for a week.

Several times Arron asked me to "just stay home today"

Needless to say the trim and doors look amazing now!

I feel so bad I didn't just let Arron hire someone so he could

have focused on all the other work that needs to be done.

All I could think about was the money I could save

and the furniture I could buy instead.

I usually know a bargain when I see it, but this time it took

two weeks of work and frustration to see that hireing that painter

would have been a steal.

Laiken The Graduate

Sorry for the absence.

We've been pretty busy.

Two major events have taken place.

 I have a new nephew, Richard, and Laiken graduated.

(neither were a surprise)

I"ll be gentle, and slowly get you up to speed.

 First, Laiken The Graduate.

 

Laiken is an A student.

She was on both the Ski and Golf Teams this year.

She only needed a few classes her Senior year so,

she waltzed into school at the crack of 9 each day.

(She enjoyed it so much she scheduled her college classes accordingly)

Laiken's graduation was a real family event.

She was so excited to have her Uncle Erick and his family there.

Her Grandma Patsy was there.

Our usual gang of Shores and Nelsons.

Our tradition is to make a lot of noise and eat loads of candy

during the ceremony. Here is Skye getting his trumpet ready!

We got some stares...a few nasty ones even.

 Laiken is so glad to be out of High School.

She is looking forward to being a college girl and

living in her own apartment. Her future is bright!

But..for now let's PARTY! (at the Villa of course)

Friends and family drove from near and far bringing gifts.

A new family heirloom was given.

Uncle Quint made his famous Root Beer.

Skye gave the kids rides down to see the goats.

We had lots of food and many hands to help!

Laiken  a.k.a. Voltron

I hope Laiken had a memorable Graduation and Party.

She really is an amazing girl!

We love her so much and are very proud of who she has become.

Arron and I sent her to Calistoga CA. for her

"solo learning vacation"

A culinary school.

When she got back she made us a wonderful meal.

Best money we ever spent!

Love you girl.

"Dinner and a Screw"

You know you have great friends when

you can call them up and say,

"We have a lot of screwing to do.

Wear something you can get dirty and bring a drill"

And they actually show up! with smiles.

This looks like a sick game of Twister,

but we are actually getting a lot of work done.

I don't know how many drills we had
or how many screws were placed,
but I know it would have taken Arron and I
several days to finish it on our own.
I am so grateful for all our friends and family
who have helped uson this epic remodel/rebuild journey.
Now lets eat!

Every chance we get we will be working on turning this...

..into this...

...using all of this.

We still have a way to go yet but I'm loving this part.

 Each day we work at the Villa we can see improvement.

My new appliances and cabinets have arrived,

and are just waiting for installation.

I can't wait to see my new kitchen!

Roughing' It With My Chicas

I love to go camping with the family, but I really love our annual "all girls camp-out".  We like to go to Garden Valley and see the outdoor plays at Starlight MountainTheatre. This year we were able to spend three full days there. We watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and The Wizard of Oz! Of course we also do all those camping things one does when one goes camping.
We really rough it...not.

We camped right next to this field of daisies.
It was almost as beautiful as the weather.

We walked into town and did a little window shopping. I think Laiken found something she liked.

Little towns have little stores with little aisles.

Found a cute boutique with a sweet nursery in back.
I will be planting geraniums this week!

We had to cool off with an ice cream before heading back to camp.

 We thought it would be fun to try painting this old barn. Laiken and I have been planning to get our oils out and paint en plein air. Maybe next year we will come prepared to paint. Lucky for us there's always beautiful landscapes to paint at the Villa.

Laiken made us dinner the last night.

 (she actually enjoyed this, the look is "I'm not awake yet" because we stayed up all night watching movies)

 MMM... six hours later...pork roast with potatoes and carrots.

Spinach salad with dried cranberries, candied walnuts and feta.
It was totally worth Laiken getting up at the crack of noon for.

We love camping with hook-ups!

It makes it easier to watch movies all night too!

 On the last day we ventured out to Kirkham Hot Springs.  It was already hot, so we spent most of our time in the nice cold river.

 The water was too high for us to swim across like we usually do.

A little time to kill before OZ.

Early, with our blankets, waiting for the Green Show.

 Next year I think I'll say "no" to the Emerald City popcorn and "yes" to bug spray!