88 degrees Farenheit.

HOT.

It never gets that hot here. 

I think the hottest it got here last year was 80...in August.

I'm not complaining.  I love it.

But it was definitely a shock!

Phew I finally got them loaded.  So family camp was a lot of fun.  It started on the fourth, when we moved into my moms.  After everything was settled we headed down to Port Angeles to see the fireworks.  We always get there about 8:30 and enjoy the view while it gets dark.  This enables us to get a nice spot to sit, and a chance to chow down on way too much junk food. 

Somehow Jeremiah's coat got left in Clallam Bay, and it was COLD down there.  The only time we were cold all weekend.  So he cuddled in with my mom and I, and enjoyed the fireworks from the nice cocoon.  He actually ended up falling asleep before the big fireworks, but got to see a lot of the little ones before that.

We had stopped and picked up a few of our own, which the kids enjoyed lighting.  Each of them did sparklers, and Samuel had some of his money that he blew up on fireworks.

My dad and my brother Isaiah supervised him, and yelled at him as needed.  He learned some about fire safety, and totally had a blast.  Eventually the night came to an end and we puttered on home.  I had to carry the three youngest to the tent as they all fell asleep.  *giggles* 

The next day my sister & bil rolled in about eleven.  We spent all day visiting, quad riding, and just enjoying each other.  We even kicked the two of them out to go on a date, as they hadn't had one in a LONG time.

The four blondes as they came to be called had way way too much fun.  Rainee and Katie played together hard, and Sarah and Kaylin.  Sometimes they were couples, sometimes quartets.  The dynamics were always changing, but they all had way too much fun, and thoroughly enjoyed each other.

Every once and awhile someone would finally get tired, and then find a grandma, grandpa, mommy, or aunt to snuggle with. 

It was amazing how lazy we all got to be. 

I admit my favorite was quadding.  I did a lot of it.  My parents have great trails connected to their property.  One of which was my favorite.  It goes down the power line until you reach a canyon.  The view of the canyon is my beloved Olympics. 

I basically can't see them from Clallam Bay, so I snuck back there over and over just to enjoy them.  Aren't they beautiful

I lost track of how many rides I gave to kids, but was amazed at how well Jeremiah held on.  He held on better then Kaylin. 

The older kids all wore helmets when they were on, but the helmet for Jeremiah was WAY too big, so we just went nice and slow when he was on. 

On Saturday my brother & sil and their girls joined us.  I basically never saw his girls, or my oldest.  LOL  I have no pictures of Zeria with the girls as they just vanished.  We also never saw the quads after they got there.  They had time to make up!

For Zeria's double diget birthday (which we were celebrating early--its not actually for a couple weeks)  Grandpa taught her how to ride the quad.  The first couple visits she will only be allowed in the lawn.  She was very serious, and very cautious about it.  Grandpa was quite proud of how well she listened. 

As it was Grandpa and Zeria's birthday she received her gifts.  And modelled them.  We were all giggling rather hard as she posed. 

Her main birthday pressy from us was a dirt board.  I have a picture of Rob on it, but not one of her.  I'll have to do that later.  *shrugs* 

The weekend was a lot of fun, and quite relaxing.  But man was I tired when I got home.  LOL  Slept most of Sunday away. 

Family camp is going well.  We have had incredibly NICE weather.  Sunny and warm so far.

I barely see the kids there always off with there cousins.  They are going to have an extremely hard time settling back down when they come home.

Two more cousins roll in today.  These are my brothers kids, and will make Zeria happy.  There''s a possibility Zeria will stay here when we roll home tomorrow, as she hasn't got as much cousin time.

Mommy is rather looking forward to her own bed, and the bathroom in her own room, rather then having to stroll from the tent all the way to the house. 

Grandma is probably looking forward to a bit quieter house.  Actually so far my parents seem to be totally enjoying themselves.  

My oldest adopted sister will not be putting in an apperance as she's at a model shoot in California.  But all of the rest of us are here, and are thoroughly enjoying ourselves.

I have pictures, lots of them.  But I will sort them out at home on my own computer.

I walked in this evening scanned the living room, and noticed the blue screen of death on my computer.  Four hours later it appears to be back and working quite nicely.

Teach me to not update immediately.

SUNDAY which was only three days ago my antivirus wanted to reboot, and I said it could wait.  So for two days its not been updated and I get a virus.

d'oh.

At least the baby is purring now.

Of course Rob will be home in 5 minutes, so no time to actually surf.  But pets the nice baby.  its working!

I can surrrrf

the adventure continues.

So, I was on the phone this morning with my mom.  We have a family camp out planned for this weekend.   And I was discussing what I needed to bring, etc.  As we got talking plans metamorphised, and we're going to start camping out there starting tomorrow afternoon.  Rob won't be with us, as he has to work nights, but he'll come in Friday morning.  This way the kids and I can go see fireworks, which we would have been unable to otherwise.

The kids don't know.  Mommy likes being evil that way.

So now I have to scurry like a mad woman around the house cleaning up our camping gear, and repacking it.  bwahahaha. 

This afternoon we head in for baton practice, during which I will do a quick "extra" grocery shop. 

It's gonna be fun, if I survive getting ready for it. 

We came home long enough to clean the house and   do our homeschool evaluation which was rescheduled for today, and then we're headed back to the beach.  We're running wild, and having lots of fun, and getting quite dirty.  I love camping five minutes from home.  Its the best of both worlds.

Rob's actually working tonight, but he'll join us when he gets off, and watch the stars with me for awhile.  Jeremiah *gasp* actually slept through the whole night.  Its the first time I haven't had a baby milking on me while camping since Kaylin was born.  It was an amazing novelty.  Does this mean my babies are growing up?

We had the necessary hot dog roast last night.

And for the first time EVER we didn't have to cook someone's hot dogs.  Jer even cooked his.  Don't ya love our sticks?  They were a Christmas pressy several years ago from the 'ils.  They been very well used. 

After eating our healthy dinner of hot dogs, we all went for a nice long walk on the beach.  We walked all the way to the mouth of our river the Clallam.  The access to this beach is actually private, although we've had permission to use it all along.  But regardless we'd never walked much of the stretch--even though its only five minutes from home.  We have now, and it was a lovely walk. 

We found the required driftwood to play on, and lots of pretty rocks, and several rather bizarre pieces of driftwood that ended up coming home with us. 

There's the mouth of our river.    Now, I just need to get to the headwaters some day.  LOL

There's my rather beautiful family.  Samuel's scowling cause his mother just gone done telling him the evil word no.  Mom's are like that ya know.  It was all in the intrest of saving his neck, but he didn't see it that way. 

After our nice long hike it was almost bedtime, but first we had to roast marshmallows

After marshmallows the kids crawled into their sleeping bags, while Rob and I sat in lawn chairs around the fire reading, and watching the sun.

King Salmon fishing has opened in Clallam Bay, so the harbor is very full.  And we don't look like a ghost town for awhile.  But our campsite was empty.  Which was just fine with us.  Its a dry camp--which doesn't appeal to a lot of people.  But it's also 6 steps from our tents to the beach--which DOES appeal to us. 

The hills in that picture are part of Vancouver Island.  We live all of twenty miles from Canada, but sure as heck can't get there from here. 

We're going camping.  We might not be back until Tuesday if the weather holds.