HHBarkerFamily

It's been a busy summer so far! First we dropped Max off at EFY down in Tacoma. They stayed in dorms at the University of Puget Sound. He was there for a week, overnight... At first he seemed a bit shy buy once he found his room, he couldn't wait for me to leave. Here he is eating a hurried lunch before meeting his new roommates, then breaking in his bed. I knew he'd have a great week there - just couldn't believe I'd willingly leave him behind as I headed home with another mom who's son was also staying. Chris Kapetanov and Joey Birnbaum also went down. They are a year older so they kept a good eye on him. Max met lots of new friends and gained a bit of a testimony. He liked the classes but I think mostly he liked meeting a bunch of new people who were a lot like him. So glad he could do something like this! He's now on facebook... being 14 sure is different for these kids than it was back when I was a kid :)

He came home for two days... and I almost wished he hadn't (oops, but yes, I had to write that out loud). I think they had too many late nights and lots of early mornings! GROUCHY!!! Man. Saturday and Sunday were rough but off he went on Monday on a Stake High Adventure. This time Howie went along as a leader. Just getting them off was a feat in itself as Howie was on call until Monday 7am that morning. Plus gathering all their gear - guys, they pack so last minute :) Anyway, Howie is just downloading pics from that as well as stories so I'll fill you in on that later.

While the boys were gone, the girls decided the boys couldn't have all the fun. So the girls went camping too! Gretchen, Sofie and I with Debbie and Kaylee went camping up in Birch Bay. It is in Blaine which is the northern-most city below Canada. It was a beautiful weekend and we had a blast!

Debbie and I are going to girls camp next week so we decided we must try out her new 8-man tent. With her humongous but comfy queen size blow-up mattress there is no way 4 women are sleeping in there with all our stuff for the girls during the week and clothes, etc! But Shazam! You should have seen us set up that tent! Us moms rocked! Girls power!

Gretchen and Kaylee enjoying a cool snack outside the C-Shop at Birch Bay. Cutest little shop, biggest gouging prices... beautiful night. These girls have been friends since they met in nursery.

Gretchen, Kaylee and Sofie - Hawaiian snow cone for Gretchen, she says to die for.

KK got ice cream. Sof got a blue snocone. Lovely!

BFFs!

BFFs with their shadow and her "adorable pose"

Crazy faces!

Debbie (one of my BFFs!) holding her KK

a close up of the two cuties - a bit fuzzy but oh so cute!!

Our peaceful sunset. After a warm day, over a week of sunshine, we expected a weekend of more of the same. Who wouldn't, right? Wrong! About 1:30 we had thunder and lightning and rain and hail. At least we know the tent is up to the elements that WA can throw at us! I'd forgotten how loud rain can sound when hitting the top of a tent. Especially in the middle of the night. Especially when you 12 year old wants to make a run to the potty. Peaceful?!?!?

Sandy the Skunk - caused such a stink that we had to turn around and

take a pic of the road kill. Pee Ew!

Friday night back on the beach. Who cares about rain. That is just the norm here in the great northwest! We were still at the beach enjoying a beautiful sunset at 9:08. I hate it once the days start getting shorter. Boo hoo. But I love that I can enjoy such beauty with my kids and friends. Truly amazing.

Gretchen, Kaylee and Baylee (she's been with her since she was 3!)

Sofie throwing rocks. Do most lefties throw with their right hands?

me and my girls

A favorite moment came just minutes before heading to the beach. We were eating breakfast at Dee's Diner (another great thing about going camping while the boys were camping is that we had no camping cooking gear... bummer. So we had to eat out for each meal! So sad.) and Sofie says, "Mom, I know something weird about you!" What?" I asked. "You are getting wrinkles!" Great. How does that happen when I am only 29?