Looking for GOLD!

 I had the day off on Thursday so we headed up to the Prospector's Claim to pan for gold.  The Roemer girls posed quickly for a photo.  The water shoes were great - no slipping and falling into the water. 

 Bruce setting up his equipment.

 Everyone watching for the first chunk of gold!

 Sophie did some water tricks before she got into the hard work of panning.

 Let's find some gold or at least some cool rocks for Poppi's rock tumbler.

Look Poppi! 

 Lunchtime -

 Naptime -

 Gia loved hanging out with Poppi and playing in the stream.

 Ceci gets a shovel full for Poppi to run through his sluice box.

 Tracy found a couple of garnets.  Only 399 more and you could make a necklace!

 On Friday Tracy and I did some shopping around town.  We found this rocking horse at St. Vinnie's. 

 This wooden truck was also at Vinnie's.  Great toys for Grami's house!

 Bruce and Wes took Sophie and Ceci to look at a boat in Selah.  After a good inspection the boat was towed home.  The plan is to use it at Birch Bay for crab season in August. 

 Roemer family in the hot tub.  Marc, Tracie, Olivia, Emma and Marcus arrived late Friday night. 

 Breakfast with the cousins.  Too much sun!

 Marcus played in the creek most of the time.  He is so much like Marc when he was a little boy.  Always working and exploring. 

 Gia was in the creek too - here she is catching rubber ducks. 

 Marcus taking a shower.

 Marcus checking out Ceci's pretty glass beads. 

 Emma showing me her perfect star bead. 

This was a pile of blankets in the hallway  - when I stooped to pick them up I noticed three pairs of feet!

 Olivia, Sophie and Gia.  The cousins play so well together.

Tub buddies!  The cousins had such a nice time all weekend. It was fun to watch.  They are all looking forward to the next time they can all be together.  Kimmie, Colby and Elle had to stay home this weekend - new baby is due pretty darn quick and a trip over the pass wasn't in the cards for Kimmie.  Soon they'll be back on the road and over to Eburg! 

Marc, Tracie and kids left early for Colbert and Tracy, Wes and girls left for Winthrop.  Of course, the house is now too quiet.  I miss them already!

One last photo of Sophie - Gia found my screw on earrings with the Biliken's on them and Sophie wanted to see how it would look to have pierced ears.  (Ceci had her ears pierced early this summer) With the retainer on her teeth and the hang down earrings I had a preview of a teenage Sophie.  Oh my, what a sweetie.  All of the grand kids are growing up so fast.  I love all their individual personalities!  With the addition of new Baby Sheets we will be the proud Grandparents of Eight! 

Done and done!

After much debating we settled on a cabin decor for our cabana.  The horns are from the elk Bruce bagged last year.  One photo is of Bruce's Dad taken in Alaska - the other photo is my Dad, Grandpa Wagner, Uncle Ralph, Pat and I taken in North Dakota and the last one is Bruce and Marc hunting. 

This is the area we could never figure out what to do - using the landscape style in the Great Falls Staybridge Suite gardens.  The iron wheels were from an antique store in Big Timber.  The water pump was from a previous trip through Montana.  It looks pretty nice and should be very easy to maintain. 

And finally the hot tub filled with Grandkids!  Our spring project really adds a lot to our place - it feels like the backyard is finally complete.  The End.

What the heck?

Looking out the laundry room window -

These guys are amazing -

 They can put that giant truck anywhere! Not a scratch or a dent.

The new sidewalk is complete!  We took out the window wall in the pergola so now there is a straight shot from the cabana to the back patio.   To be continued.......

Looking like something

Part 2

The building was framed. 

Inside work was started.

Great looking ceiling.  To be continued......

Our spring project - Part 1

During this past long winter I talked and talked to Bruce about getting a hot tub..... finally he agreed.  I ran into our contractor Tyler and asked if he would build us a cabana to put the hot tub on and he agreed.  We decided to put the building on the west side of the house hoping to block some of the wind on the patio.   

 Within a week the foundation was dug out -

And the cement was poured.  To be continued.........

Finally!

Remember the challenge from January?  Ride, bike or walk 365 miles in 2011.  Well, tonight I finally finished my 365 mile challenge!  I rode my recumbent bike starting at a mile a night and ending with six miles at a time.  I made really good progress until May, the last six miles took me a month to finish - I would blame it on the great weather. Except the weather hasn't been that great.  Thanks for challenging me.  I'll keep you posted on when Bruce finishes his miles. 

Party in Pacific, WA

We drove over to Maple Valley this weekend to attend the 1st birthday celebration of our good friends Bill and Gloria's grandson Jeffrey.  Our families have shared so much through the years. Bill and Gloria had three kids just about the same age as our three kids.  Jeffrey is the son of Megan and Jason.  We are so glad to watch everyone grow up and become such great parents!  When we arrived Elle showed us her brand new haircut - she is the spitting image of her Momma!  The party had a circus theme right down to the peanuts and carnival games (without the creepy carnie workers)

 Choose a duck and check the number - I used to love that game when I was a kid.  Always a prize!

Here is the birthday boy Jeff!  He had such a good time with all his friends.  Jeff looks a lot like his dad when he was little. 

 The birthday cake! 

 Gia checked out the decorations - very cool!

 Ceci - looking so pretty.  Notice the pink flower earrings?  Ceci is growing up. 

 Carnival games - Gia decided she didn't want to get her shirt wet.  Sophie and Allison bonded over ducks.  Allyson is Carrie and Edgar's daughter.  The kids fit right together like they've know each other all their lives. 

 Toss the bean bag. Even the little ones could play!

Ring around the bottle.  Sophie had it down!

This picture reminds me of Bruce and Bill when our kids were little.  That would of been Tracy on Bruce's lap and Jeremy on Bill's.  Braeden is Jeremy and Jenn's newest. 

While we were at the party Sophie and Ceci asked if they could shoot some photo's with my camera. They caught some unique photo's of the decorations - the Master of Ceremony and a group of balloons.   The balloon photo is gorgeous - not sure which girl took it but I love it! 

We had a great weekend spending time with old friends and family.  This is our last weekend on the road for a while.  We do need to get some home projects done.  I should have photo's in the next week or so of our spring and summer project in the backyard.  It's looking pretty darn good!