Chalk Painting

We go through chalk like crazy in this house. Mostly because Ry likes to mix it with water and use it as body paint...







Thankfully it comes off much easier than paint...

Summer Fun

We are enjoying our last few weeks of summer the only way we can in Georgia...



In the water!

We(or I should say I) have been so hot after coming back from our (cool & breezy)West Coast trip, that I just haven't enjoyed being outdoors unless it involves water.



Andy, Janelle and Seth came down for a few days, so we went to the lake while they were here.







We had fun and enjoyed the coolness it has to offer in this hot and humid Georgia heat.

Clam Digging

Even though I grew up on the coast, clam digging was something I did not do as a child. My dad went and when my brothers were older they went, but I don't ever remember going or eating them. I just remember playing with them in the buckets of water and squeezing the water out of their necks. So while we were visiting this summer, we decided that we would all like to go clam digging as a family. Grandma and Grandpa thought it sounded like fun and were our tour guides, giving us pointers and help along the way.

Our clean shoes before we started...



And this was why I didn't go as a child/teenager. Mud+girl=too messy.









It took everyone a little bit to catch on, but when they did they buckets starting filling up fast.





Kudos to Kaitlyn for getting dirty...



Ryan opted to dig with his hands. He said it was faster that way.





The cleaning...



The muddy shoes...



Casey went out a few more times with Ryan as his helper.





We had many nights of fried/grilled clams and clam chowder. It was delicious!

Columbia River Gorge

It had been 9 years since Casey and I had traveled back to Oregon, and I forgot what a beautiful state it is. We really enjoyed our view as we drove through the valley and down to the coast. Oregon has so many areas of natural beauty that it's hard to take it all in. On our way through we were able to stop and see Casey's youngest brother, Jason and his family. They took us on a Sunday drive up the Gorge and the view was amazing.







Jason, Corinne and family...



It was so fun to be able to spend some time with them. This was Ryan's 1st trip out to Oregon to meet family and lots of cousins. He was in Heaven!





Thank you Oregon Ritz's for a fun visit and delicious dinners(Corinne is an awesome cook). We enjoyed our stay and wish we lived closer for more fun adventures!


(We risked our lives to take this picture-almost got a ticket for jaywalking!)

Hiking the Y

I did not grow up in Utah or spend any significant time there, so when I hear others talk about hiking the Y it causes me to think...

*I would like to hike the Y
*I would like to take pictures hiking the Y
*I would like to be able to say I hiked the Y
*I would like to hike the Y with my family

And since we were going to be spending a significant time in Utah this summer, I thought after losing 50 lbs. and running 3-5 miles 4-5 times each week I would definitely be ready and able to hike(walk) 2 miles.

So, We hiked the Y...



Up



and up



we went



until I thought I could go no more...



But the view kept me going



It was beautiful.



It really felt like we were going up a 90 degree angle that would never end.

Ryan opted out of this activity in order to spend time with his friend that had moved to Utah a few months earlier...



Smart move for Ryan, as he would not have enjoyed this family outing much.

We finally made it to the top, very sweaty and tired.



It was a gorgeous view of the Utah valley...



The walk back down had it's own challenges, but now I can say...

*I hiked the Y with my family
*I will never do it again
*A difference in elevation levels between GA & UT matter when hiking the Y
*I was sore for several days after(barely walkable)
*I admire those who do it more than once(Go Lindsey!)

Who's idea was this anyway??

Wide Open Spaces

Across the mid-west...

Ryan: "What are all these random houses doing out here?"

Mom & Dad: "They're called F-A-R-M-S, Ryan."

Family

I'm working on posting our pictures from vacation(hopefully this weekend), but here's a family(minus a few, very missed members) photo my sister-in-law took while we were all there.



I love my family!