First Day of School 2010

My crazy crew on the first day of school on August 31, 2010. Kate and Tanner are both returning for another round at Snoqualmie Middle School, with Kate in her third and final year (8th grade) before moving up to Mt. Si High next year. Tanner is comfortably settling in as a 7th grader and anticipating his reign on top next year.

I LOVE the untied shoelace!

I also LOVE that these two have each other's back, being only a grade apart. They share many of the same friends and are good buds.

Kate has officially shed any remnant of little girl, rendering her a teenage beauty. Which has her dad and I a little nervous!

Ah, Kal. Snubbin' for the camera, as usual.

And hambone Tucker. Gotta love my Tuck.

Tucker is big man on (elementary school) campus now that he's a fifth grader at Cascade View Elementary. He is our first child to start and finish all in the same school! Kalli is now a 3rd grader (HOW??) and absolutely loves her teacher, friends and math.

I'm so proud of my kids. I miss them while they are away during the days (mostly) but love that they're growing into the fine young peeps they are becoming...complete with untied shoelaces, no coats on cold days, shorts in December, forgotten lunches, etc., etc...

Sundwall Sunriver Reunion

In mid-August we had our every-other-year Sundwall family reunion in Sunriver, Oregon. We absolutely love that place, and my kids build on the memories we've established from their earliest years every time we return there.

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking...


Kate's bazillioneth self-portrait :)

Kate and Kal on the hike around a crater

The family at the top of a Lava Butte

Kalli blowin' in the wind

Tanner in the heart of a fortress made exclusively of lava. Every boys' dream when it comes to warfare and annihilation.

Tucker playing King of the (Lava) Castle

Tuck's apparently considering a jump.

Climbing to the top...

Kate and her bubble gum at the climbing wall in Sunriver's rec center.

Tucker's attempt

...and Kalli's....

...and last but not least, Tanner!

A day at Twin Lakes. Kate and Tanner are combing the shores for minnows. With my beach bag.

Grandpa Dale kickin' it in his favorite raft.

Uncle Ben's best Melvin Face

Sean and Talmage's special "key" time

Water wars

More war

A hawk pickin' off a fish from the lake

Kalli enjoying herself. As usual.

Tanner on the wave machine at Mavericks

And Kate

And Sean

And Tuck

Tanner poolside

Ben being a bouy for the little ladies

Kalli barely above water

Kate and Edie

Kalli Jane's baptism

Kalli was baptized in the North Bend Washington LDS church house. Three of my four children were baptized there, incidentally.

She was baptized on July 17, 2010. Both sets of grandparents and the families of Aunt Sommer, Uncle Judah, and Aunt Anna were all in attendance, as were many, many friends. Kalli is a light and joy to so many people.

We did her baptism announcement shots in Grand Junction at Grandma Gloria's. Kalli's sweet smile can warm any heart...

My favorite picture of her baptism. She's such a special spirit.

Mom, Dad and Kalli Jane.

The handsome brothers and cousins.

The day before her baptism we had spent time picking raspberries together. I love this picture of Grandpa Con with his Western Washington grandkids.

Grandma Glo's house

The day after school let out for summer, the kids and I skipped town and headed directly to Grandma Glo's in Grand Junction, Colorado.

This pic is better suited for Kalli's birthday post, but I forgot to include it. Question: How many 8-year-old girls want a Topsy Turvey tomato planter for their birthday? But look at Kalli's toothless grin: obviously this was a roof-raiser!!

Kate at dinosaur hill in Grand Junction... Look at those eyes.

Me and my crew.

Grandma and my crew.

Lizard sans crew.

Sometimes when I think I'm having a bad day, I visualize this poor guy's demise, and suddenly I feel much better.

Not ending well for this cowboy, either.

How can this possibly be fun? For horse or for rider???

This is the equivalent of a rodeo ambulance. The guy gets stepped on by a bull and this is how they extract him from the rodeo ring.

Tuck and Brodie.

Kalli with same dog.

Grandma's house has an indoor pool. The kids spent at least six hours a day in there!

Kalli in said pool

And Kate. All thumbs up.

Tuck, mitt, baseball hat and tree.

Still in the tree, he ripped off a branch and fantasized his way through batting warmups...

I love this kid's smile.

The property on which my parents live has a pond, equipped with a paddle boat. Good times.

My crew plus cousin Rachel.

Notice the thinning crowd...even boating on ponds loses its appeal in sweltering heat. :)