A Fourth of July Manual

How to have the PERFECT 4th of July Holiday:

First, you have to know someone, such as the Conlins, who own a cabin on Lake Roesiger, one of my favorite places on the planet.

You will want to start the day off with a nice attempt at fishing. Ben had planned out two buckets, one for the fish he wanted to watch and release and one for fish we could cook up to eat. I had to let him know that sometimes, even with your best efforts, the fish just ain't biting. But that part of the fun of fishing is the trying. Sadly, that held true this weekend. But he still had a great time giving it a go! It's a good thing to remember.

It's best to start early in the day, before the boats are out, when the lake is like a sea of glass.

After it warms up a bit, it's time to play in the water! You can float on it in the Big Bertha inner tube (Adam, Luke, Ben)... ...Or swim out to or catch a ride on one of the the kayaks to the water trampoline.

You can be really brave and just go for the plunge! This can be done alone or with a buddy (Papa and Zach).
If you're really, really brave you can jump off of the top of the boat house for some flight time. And in doing so you can show that you can make a man out of a boy, but you don't necessarily ever get the boy out of the man (Adam, my dad, Stan, and Adam's bro, Ryan)!

Or you can just take a nice swim with a friend (Josh and Adam; yes, I did get in the water, but no one got a photograph of that, since I was the main photographer!). It's also nice to just hang out and watch all the fun with some of your favorite people (my mom, Candace, me, my sis, Leah, and my cuz, Bek). You don't even need to get wet to enjoy the water (sis, cuz and my friend, Jen, whose family came to enjoy the lake too).If you need to dry off a bit, you can explore the Ryan Conlin nursery (Ryan, dad, A).

Or get in on some lawn games (Ryan, A). When it's time to get ready for dinner everyone chips in (this is one of my favorite pictures from the entire trip, Luke shucking corn with my Tutu a.k.a. Grandma).

Because cooking together is much more fun than cooking alone (Dan, Adam's dad, with Derek, one of the Conlin's closest friends). Barbecue over the grill is only one option. There's also the open flame. Once the bonfire gets going, it will need someone to tend it...or a couple someones (Ben and Hannah, Jen's daughter).

Adult supervision for the weeny roast is always good (Jen with Hannah and the boys).

But the true purpose of the bonfire becomes clear after dinner when the s'mores fixin's are broken out. When the eating is over, you can finally just relax by the lake (Nicolle and her very close friend Kris, Derek's wife). Or the still, quiet, boat-free water can tempt you back for an evening swim. The boats have to be off the lake by 5:30pm...peace...ahhhhh...and no waves (Josh).It's actually the best time of day for a swim or float (Hannah, Josh and Ben).
And a perfect time for a trip out in the kayaks (Zach and A). But it's also nice to just snuggle with someone you love...small...
or big (Alea and Zach).
Because magic time is coming (Happy Birthday America)! Time for your pyromania to be tested in one way... Or another...

Or another!

Then you settle back to just watch and wonder, with patriotic tunes playing from the house as twilight falls and the big fireworks start up on your dock and all around the lake. As you look around the lake, it can feel like there is a competition going for who has the best fireworks display. We never win, we never really even try too hard, but we sure love watching the others go for it!

Make New Friends, But Keep The Old; One Is Silver, and the Other's Gold

One of the greatest things about going home is getting to visit with old friends, some friends I have known since my childhood continuing all the way up to friends I have met as an adult as our family was growing. I have been rich in the friends I have had throughout my life, old and new. As hard as moving is, we've done it a lot, and it always gives me the opportunity to meet new people. Either there are a lot of amazing people out there, or I just know them all! Thank you all for the friendship you have shown me and my family through the years, you have made all the difference!

These fine lookin' ladies, Rebecca, Kedra, Sarah, Aunna, Chalonn and Emily, are some of my friends from our old ward in Everett. I was able to meet up with them one day at their play group. The boys really reconnected with some of the kids, and it was so wonderful to catch up! I love how we can just fall into our old friendships as if no time has past.

This is me with Beth and Jen, two of my soul-sisters. We had the amazing fortune of moving into the house next to Jen, across the street from Beth after Adam finished his MBA and we moved to Everett. With my humongo family, and their two smaller ones, each of my boys has a kid that is close in age. We've spent countless hours just hanging out at each others houses, talking, laughing and sometimes even crying. And because we stayed with Jen and her husband Dave for the week before the 4th so Adam could be close to work, it felt just the same as it always had been!

These are Jen, Beth and my kids; Luke, Zach, Ben, Hannah, Josh, Zachary, Madison and Carson, who are all really great friends. Missing is the littlest, Max, who was born last December 25th. Josh and Zachary are such boys together; rowdy, kooky boys. Ben and Hannah slid back into their roles as best buds effortlessly. Madison continues to be Zach's true love. They were so cute playing together in that little-kid, innocent but flirty kind of way. Both Beth and I noticed a bit of a difference in how they played, so instead of the usual sleepover they've had in the past, they just got a late movie party. When Zach asked why not I explained this way: "How do you feel when you play with Hannah?" "Good, she's my friend." "Yes, and how do you feel when you play with Madison?" "Ohhhh, I get it. That's different." "And that's why not."

Here's the gang again, minus the littlest three, at the beach. It will be interesting to see how things change over the years! Hopefully that flame of friendship will out-burn the awkwardness of growing up.This group of beautiful ladies, Tamara, Ashley, Staci, Nyree, Pam and Kristina, along with those in the photo below, are friends I made when Zach was a newborn. We all attended a discussion forum for new parents at Evergreen Hospital where our first babies were all born. We covered a different topic every week, and one week was playgroups. We all seemed to live close to one another and so it began. We got together weekly for nearly three years until the kids started regular preschool and it was too hard to coordinate. And then continued with mom's nights monthly for about five years. We still get together from time to time and catch up on each others lives. One of the things I have loved about this group of gals is that our friendship held fast, despite our ranging ages, interests, parenting styles, personalities. Our children bonded us, and I love each of these women so much!We got together for a moms' night, but also for a park day with the kids. Not everyone could make it to both. Different from the first picture: next to me in pink is Lindzie, and Tricia is in yellow. That makes nine of our original ten. Becky couldn't make it to either, sadly, and she was sure missed!This is our group of kids that could make it to the park. Nyree's two boys, Pam's two girls and Becky's two boys are missing. Everyone has two except Ashley and I, who have four each. The kids settled into old friendships, and made quick bonds with some kids that they hadn't really ever connected with. What a great group of kids! Really, these moms have done such a wonderful job! For my own benefit I am going to list all the names, feel free to move on! Top row: Annika, Karly, Ellie, Nina, Rollin, Annalise, Ben, Luke, Kyra; Bottom row: Clare, Drew, Dillon, Sela, Isabella, Zach, Josh, Brooke and baby Evan.
Zach got to visit with an old friend too. Carson is Zach's best buddy from preschool. Even though they went to different elementary schools, they didn't forget one another and had play dates throughout Kindergarten and 1st Grade until we moved. Just before we moved, Zach had his first non-family sleepover at Carson's. That was big time for him! The past two summers when we've been in town they've been able to repeat their fun overnights and keep the friendship alive!

This outing was especially poignant to me. My mom and I met up with my old friend Kelly and her daughter Kali at the park. We hadn't seen each other since high school. We had been like peas and carrots through later elementary school and middle school even though Kelly was a year ahead of me in school and went to a different middle school. We met on the LONG bus ride we used to take to our school. For me it was 45 minutes, Kelly's stop was about 15 minutes before mine. It was an enrichment school that was across the city from my house. The ride gave us a long time to bond! We spent as much time as possible together, which was abundant, with our other Musketeer, Sarah. The summer I was going into 7th grade, Kelly lived with us. She came over one day for a sleep over, and just never went back home. Her home life was a little unpredictable, so it was a great escape for her. We drifted apart as we grew older but recently reconnected on Facebook. Sitting and talking with her was like being 12 again, we've both changed so much, but also stayed so much the same. She is an incredible mom, and has done a wonderful job raising Kali, who is now about the same age as we were the summer we were roomies.

Here I am with two of my closest high school friends, Amy and Liz. We also met up that morning with my friend Carrie, who has been my friend since I was three, but I forgot I had my camera until we were all heading to our cars, and Carrie had to leave earlier for work. Carrie, Amy and Liz helped me get through a lot of that high school nonsense that every teen girl deals with. And when we get together we pick back up right where we left off.

I thank God for old friends and new, all of whom help me to be better than I would have been if our lives had not intersected!

A Big Ol' Family Reunion

After leaving Yellowstone we travelled to Mink Creek, Idaho where we would be gathering with family, most of whom I've never met or only met once before. Adam's Grandmother, Lizzie Rasmussen Conlin, was one of 15 kids, 13 of whom lived to adulthood, born and raised in Grace, Idaho, just outside of Preston (of Napoleon Dynamite fame!). Even though only a fraction of the family that descended from Great-Grandma and -Grandpa Rasmussen are able to come to the reunion held once a year, with that many children, it's still a big group! And I think having five is a scary prospect!

It's fun to be a part of a family that is so vast. Not that I know many of the people at all, or that we will get together often, but knowing they are there and I am a part of it just makes you feel more solid about your place in the world, you know? My side of the family is much smaller, although I know pretty much everyone quite well too. I guess there are pros and cons to both. Either way, for Adam and I it's always a good time when family gets together.

Seeing Mink Creek conjures up those dreams of moving out to a small farm somewhere, living off the land, working hard and playing hard, letting your kids run free and be happy without the pressure of fast-paced suburban life. Ahhhhh.... I know it's not really like that, but the landscape certainly takes you there.

The rolling hills and mountains where Grace and Mink Creek farms nestle securely into the valleys. Isn't it lovely?

The Mink Creek where Uncle Garland's (one of Lizzie's brothers) Diamond R Ranch is located, the site for our reunions.

Seeing as how we were in Mink Creek, there weren't a lot of lodging options, so we stayed in a quirky little hot springs "resort" hotel where just Dan's family (all of us kids, our families, and a couple of his sisters) rented out the entire place. We pulled in late to our hotel, having missed the Friday reunion activities. But the fun wasn't over. The "resort" hot springs fed pool, hot tub and water slide called to us. Once the kids were tucked in tight, the adults went out for a little late-night partying (Is that chuckling I hear? Look, I am the non-drinking, late-night-is-11:30pm, LDS mother of almost five children; this is wild and crazy for me!).

Although it was hard to give up, with the bun in the oven I volunteered to be water slide photographer instead of slider. Until I got cold, when I retired to my quiet peacefulness in the 95 degree pool. Here's one of the shots I got of Adam exiting the slide. It doesn't look like I missed out on too much fun, right? {sigh} It sounded more like torture to me with all the screaming going on...(I'm just trying to make myself feel better here; pathetic I know). Here are the rest of the sliders, who all had the bruises and aches to go along with all their fun the next morning. Don't pay attention to those huge smiles. They hated every minute of it, or so I was told ;). Only Angie's family was missing, as they had taken more time in Yellowstone than us. They pulled into the hotel about 15 minutes before the pool closed, so Steven snuck in about a five minute swim.

And here we are in my pool of solace. They took pity on me from time to time and came to visit me between slides. All right, pity party over. It was actually really nice floating in the warm water in silence, gazing at the star-filled country sky after a very action-packed, noise-filled, sleepless, growing-belly travel week. I am sure you get that if you've spent any amount of time with small children on vacation. So don't feel too badly for me, I was in mommy heaven.

After the boys woke up on Saturday we drove the quick trip up the road to the reunion. Some of the families camp there, with trailers or tents or both. One year I'd really like to do that. This wasn't the year for it though. I'd like to think I am a tough pregnant gal, but I draw the line at camping. Like I said before, it was just fun being there. I had gone once before with Dan and Nicolle when I was almost exactly the same pregnant with Josh, the summer Adam worked in South Korea. And I remember the feeling. A big feeling. I am a part of this grand ol' family! Very cool. And a family full of really wonderful people, I might add. It was so nice seeing Adam's aunts again and catching up on their families' lives. And chatting with a lot of people I didn't know well at all. There was a lot of good old-fashioned fun to be had at the Diamond R Ranch!

Adam and I weren't the only ones striking up conversations with family we didn't know well. Zach did a great job mingling with the extended family, young and old alike. He's really growing up! There was a bunch of old-school play equipment the kids had fun with.

And park-type party games like horseshoes and this string-ball-bar game (I am sure it has a name, I just don't know it).

And a creek to throw rocks in. You know how my boys love throwing rocks into the water! Is there a boy out there that doesn't?

There were also plenty worms to find and fishing adventures to discuss.

Zach got in on a wiffle ball game with some of the extended cousins.

All the kids LOVED the "fishing pond," not just mine! Luke caught this frog, which is now his best friend.

Of course someone brought out the four-wheeler, so there had to be rides on that.

Waiting their turn in line for another ride on a fence rail of all things! I love farms!

Zach really wanted a go on the dirt bike, but a united Mom and Dad compassionately said, "No...but you can sit on it!"

Kylie spent a lot of the day playing with Luke which made him so happy! Adam and I too!

Adam and his brother, Ryan, played a game of kick around with their cousin, Chad.

Dan and Nicolle did a lot of work to get the reunion ready, since it was our branch of the family's turn to be in charge. Dan's sisters also worked a ton. And we appreciated it all, it was great!

There weren't any pictures of everyone at the reunion. And apparently the email that contained all our group photos had a virus. So Adam's computer downloaded this one of his family before he realized it (and thus had a virus on his computer). This is Adam's Family. All of us, minus Aaron who is on his mission. There is another photo of all of Lizzie's branch that I will post if I can get my hands on a virus-free copy!
That afternoon, as we were herding the kids to the car to drive to Boise, out came the oil-drum train. So of course the boys had to have a ride...or two...or three before we left.

We left Mink Creek in good spirits after a wonderful day spent with great folks in a beautiful place. We were able to visit our friends, the Richardsons, in Boise on the way through to Washington, as they graciously allowed us to invade their home for the night. I kick myself for not getting a picture of all the kids together. We've been friends since before there were any kids! Then headed on to Everett where we were staying with more generous friends, the Shevitzs, for the week so Adam could work from the Everett office and then spend the long 4th of July weekend with us.