Our 4th of July and Maryhill Museum

We went to Cascade Locks park for the fireworks show. We had an awesome time. We got there about 5pm and didn't get home until after Midnight (we were a tired bunch at church!). We had a picnic dinner got KFC (finally got to try the "grilled chicken") for the main course, I made some sidedishes and dessert, packed in some pops, water and chips.

We had several hours to kill before the firework show. The kids got DRENCHED running through the sprinklers, we took walks and watched other people's firecrackers,

played catch, talked, laughed, bickered, nursed, potty trips, snacked, played dinosaurs,

and just had such a great time together.

When the fireworks came, Paul and I braced ourselves for scared children (mainly the girls). We used to take the boys to the fireworks shows in Eugene when we lived in Springfield and the boys were always terrified (they were much younger). We were so suprised at what troopers the girls are!! (I guess that makes the boys sissies when they were that age!ha!ha!) Ann LOVED the fireworks, sat in her own chair and took it all in. Hannah got nervous at first and sat on Daddy's lap. She got really into it though when Daddy told her to name the purple ones. From then on she was a screaming color narrorator for our side of the park. It was so funny! Mary nursed, for comfort I think. I kept her exposed ear plugged with my finger. The boys are really into it now... no crying from them anymore!

It was an amazing show, with the fireworks smack dab over our heads.

We went to Maryhill Museum on Friday. It was even better than I expected. We loved looking at the art. I especially liked the miniature fashion displays on the the dolls. Ann and Hannah really liked them too. We hunted for Peacocks afterwards. There were supposed to be 36 on the grounds, but we only found 5. Elijah and I practiced our Peacock calls. They sound like screaming women. Easy to imitate. Paul and Ann did the road runner call ("meep, meep") (I don't know what they were thinking) Our family is big enough to circle around them so they can't get away and we got some good, up-close looks.

They know now to watch out for the Chouinards....

Daddy and his little girls.

The boys and the girls had plans for today. We're still on furlough (but, unfortunately, that hasn't stopped us from doing some "emergency" Corps work). Anyways....
The boys were to go to the WAAM Museum in Hood River, the girls to the Tea Parlour.
We only had one vehicle between us, so Paul decided to take the truck. The boys were SO EXCITED! They love riding in that thing. For some reason though, Paul wouldn't let me drive it ;). (I'm the girl that runs over curbs in my mini-van.)


They loaded up to head to Hood River and do the museum.


Paul, David, and Elijah are in the cab leaving.
(For some reason they didn't show up in the picture.)



Us girls went to the Tea Parlour.
I am so blessed to have 3 daughters!!
We had a good time. Everyone was "age approppriate" good.
I held Mary most of the time because she seemed to know she was missing out on something when I put her in her car seat.


Ann's favorite thing to do is to add sugar cubes and milk to her tea and stir, stir, stir. She was quite the little lady and even re-applied her "lipstick" (chapstick) after eating.
I swear she did not get that from me! Ann also felt like hot stuff when I let her use the Powder Room all by herself. (Like I was really going to haul everyone in there!)



Hannah had to get up a few times to spin around in her dress. Thankfully, the Parlour wasn't crowded. She liked stirring her tea too and eating spoonfuls of jam that were meant for the scones. And while I was holding Mary, I caught Hannah putting whipped cream on Mary's hands. At least she was sharing...

Mary was content in her car seat for about 5 minutes.

After that she was in my arms the whole time. She stayed happy that way.

I was hoping she'd sleep, but thats the way it goes.

Her favorite part was when Hannah put whip cream on her hands.

We tried on about every hat Bev (the owner/operator) had. Even Mary.

We went to Freddy's afterwards to pick up a few groceries. It was CROWDED!! All of the migrants are in town.

Buster also had some professional teeth cleaning done today.

The vet had to put him under for it so he had to skip breakfast.

I made fish (Tilapia), Brown Rice and Peas for dinner. Icecream cake for dessert.

It's been nice eating outside. We hardly ever eat dinner inside anymore.

Baker City/Twin Falls Trip

Paul went to do some Thrift Store consulting in Baker City and Twin Falls. I went along, taking some furlough days, and then we took some furlough days together so we could stay and camp in Twin Falls. We had a great time, but boy were we on the move! We stayed in 4 different places in 6 days. The kids are great travelers and enjoyed the adventure! Here are some highlights from our trip:

Hannah was terified of this man.

She's not in the picture because she's hanging onto my leg for dear life.

In Baker City, Paul was in meetings so I took the kids to the Baker City Interpretive Center. We spent close to 4 hours there. Paul dropped us off and we went over every inch of that museum. I loved it! It was especially nice to go after David just finished a unit studying the Pioneers.

We all learned so much.

(I am an expert at asking stranges to take our picture!)

My pioneer children. ;)



I'm feeling pretty confident with this horse... it's dead!

Hannah and Ann chatted with this Beaver while I had to sit down and nurse Mary.

The boys looked at exhibits in my sight.

Mary liked the museum too!

There was a great play room at the end. Ann dressed up but I told her that Pioneers never smiled in their pictures so neither could she.

I broke my own rule and smiled because Ann was crackin' me up while she took my picture. I don't look as cute in a bonnet as her.

Elijah and David loaded and uloaded this wagon forever. They had so much fun decided which "cargo" they would bring along on their trip.

Hannah finds her own way to play.

The outside display was incredible!! The view was breathtaking. It was surreal to look around and know that 150 years ago, thing looked the same as the Pioneers headed west.

Thier stories are fascinating.

We played hide-n-seek to kill time while we waited for Paul to pick us up.

The next morning, Paul had more meetings in Baker City, so the kids and I walked all around the Safeway, Rite Aid and Bi-Mart Area. People were staring (as always). I kept teasing different kids... "They're staring at YOU!" We were laughing so hard. Went went into Rite-Aid and Safeway and bought junk food (candy and goldfish crackers) for the drive. I figured it's cheaper than buying treats at the gas stations! They loved getting so much candy! I picked out Black Licorice and Pnt. Butter cups for me. We still have candy left... the novelty wore off.

Okay.... so in Twin Falls the kids and I had more time to kill while Paul was in meetings. Paul dropped us off at Target. I had a plan to do a "triangle". First go to Target (the kids save up thier allowance to spend on vacations), then to KFC for lunch, then to a HUGE Petsmart to look at the animals. We didn't make it far... I'm in Target, had already been there over an hour, and here comes Tania G. from our first appointment in Bullhead City, Arizona! We have stayed in touch off and on, she even came up and visited when we were in Springfield. I was shocked and wrapped my arms around her, so glad to see her! She had heard that Paul would be in town and tracked us down! She has two little girls now and is no longer one of our youth... she's a grown woman. We caught up as best we could while I'm trying to handle my kids. We ended up just going to KFC for lunch after checking out at Target. The kids played outside on a strip of lawn until Paul picked us up. What a SMALL world to run into Tania!!

All our days are ordained...what a divine "coincidence".

This is the cabin we "camped" in at the KOA in Twin Fall.

We got one night free because the AC was broke. It was hot, but worth the $ we saved!

The boys do such a great job reading to their little sisters. They love to do it, even on vacation.

Daddy and Mary.

Daddy bought Ann a new bike at Wal-Mart in Twin Falls. He didn't want her riding a boy bike. She was so excited and rode that thing all over the place

trying to keep up with her brothers on thiers.

Daddy is the fix-it guy.

Hannah on a bike we've had since David was 2. Paul strapped his belt to it so he could pull her since she can't pedal the thing.

I LOOOOOVE Banana Bikes. In fact that's one reason we camp at KOA's... so mommy can rent a Banana Bike. The boys and I go all over the place on them.

It will be nice when Ann can keep up!

The Chouinards SWIM!

That is one of our favorite things to do.

Paul and Hannah.

Ann

Elijah

David

Mary didn't swim yet. She can't sit up to keep her head out of the water. I'm hoping she can by the time we go to the KOA in Astoria for Labor Day.

David, Hannah and Mommy. We had so much fun with our Alligator and Whale. When Paul and I both got on there, I laughed so hard I almost drowned... literally.

Shoshonne Falls in Twin Falls.

Seattle Trip

I thought I'd better post about our Seattle trip before I post about our Twin Falls trip.

I have tried several times to post our pics from Seattle but am having trouble. They were on a CD from a disposable camera... they're in my computer but it won't post (how annoying!).

Anyways, Seattle turned out to be a great trip! We took a furlough day and went up a day early, before the United Meeting to do some stuff in Seattle.

First we went to the Space Needle. It was really fun taking an elevator to the top and then hanging out up there for more than an hour taking in all the views. There were some interactive stations that the kids got into. Last June we did the Sears tower in Chicago. The kids weren't quite as impressed with the view after doing the Sears Tower, but they could still appreciate it,especially because of the architecture of the Stratosphere.

Then we rode the monorail to downtown and walked to Pikes market. Pikes market was a real happening place! We bought cherries, ate them. Bought rasberries, ate them, Bought organic dried apples, ate them. Bought honey sticks, ate them. Bought tomatoes, ate them. All while looking around at the different vendors. We stopped at the golden pig and watched the fishstand guys throw fish and yell. We went down to the water and ate a real nice early dinner outside right along the water. Ann puked all over, I was glad we were outside! Poor girl hadn't been feeling top notch, but we just thought she was tired from all the walking.

The next day we headed for our hotel downtown. We were on the 18th floor, smack dab downtown. We checked in and went swimming in the pool on the 28th floor with an amazing view. Then we trekked around downtown some more and found a neat resturaunt to eat at. The kids got to make thier own pizza and then the cooks baked it.

On Wednesday was the meetings. Officers Councils in the morning and afternoon and the United meeting at night. I went with Paul and took Mary, but waited in the Lobby during the meetings. Turned out I couldn't hear anything anyway, but Paul and the other Officers were really blessed. The other kids stayed in the hotel room and were babysat by some Comrades of ours 3 daughters. Two of them were teenagers, the other much younger who was along for the ride. Those girls were such great girls and the kids had fun with them. They got to order room service and everything for lunch. For the evening meeting, I stayed behind with Hannah and Mary (we made our own fun) and Paul took David, Elijah and Ann to the United Meeting. The boys wore their Jr. Soldier uniforms and I put Ann in a NavyBlue and White dress, (co-ordination of course!). They got back late (the meeting Hall was several blocks away, walking) but they had such a great time with thousands of other Salvationists. The boys even commented how much they like the sermon and what a great speaker Commissioner Gaither is (our National Commander). They also really liked the band music and songsters and seeing so many other Salvationists.

We came back the next day and hit the ground running to be ready to leave again 5 days later to Baker City and Twin Falls (business for Paul, furlough for me and then furlough together). I will post about that tomorrow with pictures because I finally have my beloved digital camera back!