summer time sun

This summer the weather has been weird! It's either been really cold (like 60) or really warm (like 90).  Because I cut back on clients earlier this year I was able to spend more time enjoying the weather.  Instead of a "big" trip this year David and I decided we would mostly go camping.  This would also give us time to bond with Lucy.  We have already went 3 or 4 times this summer and have 2 more trips planned.  Our most recent one we stayed by the Columbia river and went on several water fall hikes.  It was beautiful.

We also stopped by Ape caves, for the first time, on our way home!  We tried to take a picture inside but with no light inside we couldn't get much of one.

  It was over 90 degrees and we had Lucy in parking lot, in the motorhome,  we didn't want her to get too hot, so we just did the "easy" side.  We did look at the "hard" side and thought it would be cool to try it another time. 
  In all my spare time from work I also managed to go to SeaHawks training camp one day

and went to a few concerts including 2 local free in the park ones that were really good and Don Henley (from the Eagle's) and Gwen Stephani.

I wasn't really excited to see her by my friends were going and David was working so I went with them and it turned out to be pretty good.  I like her music more now then I did before.  I still have Dolly Parton coming up in September! I cant wait!  I've also enjoyed getting to know Lucy more.  She is really growing on us.  She really is a good, sweet, cute dog but is still scared of people and other dogs.  

first time swimming

at the beauty supple with me

I had this blanket by the door to take to the good will but she claimed it as her own!

 I enjoyed this summer so much I'm already planning on working even less next summer.

princess in training

Doranda's girls are always wanting to spend the night at Aunties house. (aka mine)  So we try to make arrangements once or twice a year to fit it in.  The older they get the harder it is to schedule with school, soccer, and other activities.  Every time they come over they ask to go to the princess castle.  I asked my client (who owns it) if they ever have events that my nieces could come to.  They have a cool Christmas program but the girls were in California then.  However I found out they have a princess camps in the summer.  They are 2 hours a day for a week and different weeks have different Disney princess themes.  Before committing to taking them, I asked their mom if I took them 1/2 the week if she would the other 1/2.  She said although a lot of driving she would be willing to.  So I signed them up and took an extra day off work to take them.  I had them from Sunday night to Wednesday morning.  The girls had know idea they were going.  I really think they are enjoying it.

After class we went to the movies and saw Finding Dory.

We also went to a magician in the park and played on the toys and at the splash park.

  I also took them to get a cupcake.

  They wanted to eat McDonald's.  That's the only time we ate out.  I tried to get them to go to sushi and almost talked them into it (or so I thought) but ended up with Kraft mac and cheese....They wouldn't even go for pizza.  Oh well.  We ate a lot of food from the garden they picked too.

  Lucy wasn't real sure about them staying at our house but didn't do to bad either.  The days went by quickly.  It was fun.  I wonder what we will do next time....

Camping with Lucy

  Time to catch up on blogging again....About a month ago David and I decided to take a road trip in the motor home again but wasn't sure how Lucy would do so we took a quick one night trip to Leavenworth.

It was fun.  Lucy had a great time exploring things and chasing birds.  We even saw a flying turkey!  We are glad things went well because we had a much longer trip planned to head to Idaho. 
   We got to see lots of friends and family.  (Sorry we forgot to tell Amery) Some of my favorite things about our trip included having the best French toast ever! It was crusted in pecans and then covered in caramel. Yum! I just can't remember the name of the place Yasmin took us to near Boise.  Then we went to play Frisbee golf and found out Lucy was crazy about it!  She loves playing fetch of any kind.  We had know idea so it was really fun watching her play.

 

my favorite picture this trip!

Another highlight was getting to see Joshua's new home and catching up with them.  David and I got spend time relaxing in the hot springs even if it was in thunder and lightning storms.  I loved catching up with my old friend Cory,

but I really loved getting to spend the day with Caleb, Nathanael, Joshua and all the kids even if it was raining again! 

kids selfie

indoor dodge ball

  Idaho was lots of fun! We are heading off for more camping soon.  Hopefully there wont be quite as much rain on the next trip.

trying out our selfie stick

random stop on the way home in