The 14th Annual Gillette-Feffer-Prentice Get-together

 For years we've all been getting together, but with our families scattered across the country, its definitely been more challenging. Last year, we actually weren't able to make it happen, and instead all the guys met up for a weekend in Seattle, connected with a work trip for Adam. (No pictures to prove it happened...but it did!) 

This year, we talked about Spring Break, but it didn't end up working out because the Feffers decided that they were going to move back to CA!

We were resigned to the fact that we probably would get together this year either...but a few weeks ago Ashlie texted with an idea. 

For their move back, they shipped all their stuff and were taking a giant road trip across the northern part of the US and wondered if we wanted to meet up with them in Oregon. And of course we did!

So this year, it was really the 14th Annual Get-together minus the Prentices. 

After lots of looking around and not finding a place to stay, a house popped on VRBO that was perfect. It was supposed to be 7.5 hours from us and about 10 hours for them to get to SLO afterwards. 

We drove down Thursday afternoon/evening and arrived around 11:30pm. (It took a very long time to get through Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia...)

Friday we had plans to go to the Lava Lands Visitor Center, check out the Lava Tube Cave and hike the Lava Butte. So after making breakfast, we all piled back into the van for a fun day of hiking and exploring!

Playing MarioKart while waiting for breakfast...the perfect way to break the ice with friends you havent seen in years!

Making breakfast

Malachi was helping make pancakes...and hanging with the boys in the kitchen!

It was a beautiful day, although very hot and dry. The temp was in the upper 80s so we started with just a short mile hike along the base of Lava Butte.

Eden, Lydia, and Malachi

So beautiful! 

This area is mostly basalt...which made for pretty neat looking landscape!

Haleigh, Josephine, Annaliese, Eleia

Once we were all hot and sweaty and ready to cool down, we headed over to the Lava Tube Cave, which stays a cool 42* all year round. After climbing down approximately 55 steps into the cave, the lava tube is about a mile long. This was definitely the highlight of the trip for the girls! (They all thought I was a bit ridiculous for making them wear pants and bring sweatshirts, but they all told me they were glad they had them because it was definitely chilly in the cave!)

Malachi, Eden, and Lydia

Ducking so they don't hit their heads!

This was an area called "Sand Gardens." As water drips through the ceiling, it carries volcanic sand and sediment and forms these crazy shapes on the floor of the lava tube!

This is the entrance to the cave

We made it...and we're aren't even all the way up the stairs and the sweatshirts are starting to come off...such a big difference in the temperature!

Our first walk had been around the base of a butte. Then we descended into this cave underground. So to round out our day, we headed back to the visitor center to catch the shuttle bus up to the top of the Lava Butte. Apparently, about 7000 years ago, there was a massive volcano and it, along with many of these 'buttes' all erupted at the same time. We walked around the caldera of this one, which is about 150ft deep.

Resting in the shade

Eleia, Eden, Jo, Annaliese, Malachi, Haleigh, and Lydia

And that wrapped up our day of exploring the lava lands! We were all hot, sweaty, and happy. Our VRBO was about an hour away, so we hopped back in the car and headed home for dinner. After dinner, we played a version of Catch Phrase, and stayed up late talking! 

By Saturday morning, it was already time to pack up and head home. The Feffers wanted to get to CA on Saturday, which is why it was such a quick trip...but it was totally worth it! Despite not seeing each other often, the friendship between our families continues to grow and is so easy. We are so grateful for them and that we were able to make this trip happen!

Camping and Soccer...the makings of a good weekend!

 As soon as school ended in June, Annaliese started practicing twice a week with the high school soccer team. Practices weren't mandatory, but for those who want to play high school sports, these summer practices are a good idea! Plus, it's fun to get together with friends to do something you enjoy!

Last weekend, the girls competed in a summer tournament, the Summer Bulldog Classic. Apparently they went last year for the first time and won the whole thing, so they wanted to go back and defend their title! The tournament was in Montesano, WA, which is about 3 1/2 hours away (without traffic.) The team headed out last week Thursday, with games starting on Friday at noon. 

They all stayed at a hotel and had a lot of fun along the way. They made quite a few cute videos, went out for a fancy dinner and sang lots of songs!

Annaliese is #7. We weren't sure how much the freshmen would get to play, but the coach did a really great job giving them all playing time. It was really fun to watch...these girls have gotten a lot better since their last 8th grade game just a few weeks ago! The level of speed, aggressiveness, and physical contact is much different!

They won both games on Friday and both games on Saturday, putting them into the championship game on Sunday. Both teams were undefeated and they were playing the host team. They came away with an easy 4-0 victory!

Annaliese is the white jersey on the bottom left (by the 10 yd line)

The two teams!

The LC parents and girls!

This The freshmen girls!

They made lots of fun little videos along the way!

Meanwhile, I decided it would be more fun to camp then stay at a hotel, so I found a cute little campground called Friends Landing. Kyle had to work all day Friday, but I wanted to get there on time for their first game, so Haleigh, Lydia and I left early Friday morning and made it just in time for the game. Grandpa and Grandma surprised us by meeting us there! We set up our camp, played at the playground, made smores and went for a walk around the campground. 

Kyle joined us Saturday morning, and we did more of the same. We did fit in a trip to the hotel, where Haleigh and Lydia were hoping to swim. Unfortunately the pool was closed for cleaning, so we watch a bit of the World Cup in the hotel lobby before heading back to our campground in between games. 

Haleigh and Lydia by the Chehalis River

It was a little chilly in the evening!

Flying a kite!

Haleigh and I went for a run around this little lake

The kite is way up there!

We ate dinner in the tent because it was so windy outside!

Sunday, after the championship game, we all headed home. Kyle headed off to Spokane for work meetings for the week. Annaliese took the bus home and Haleigh, Lydia, and I hopped in the van. We ran into a ridiculous amount of traffic and our directions led us astray and into downtown Seattle. (The map and signs on the road indicated that I-5 was closed...turns out that wasn't the case...) Haleigh thought all the people and cars was exciting...we have different ideas of exciting! 

Needless to say, we found ourselves on I-90 East and were able to get onto the 405 N which finally had us heading back in the right direction! 

Happy 4th of July

 Given that this is the 250th birthday for the U.S., I really wanted to do something fun for the fourth of July. By fun, I mean go watch some fireworks! 

The fun actually started on Friday. Annaliese was invited to go with her friend Semarie and a few other girls to the Wild Waves water park in Federal Way. We dropped her off at 8:30am and they all piled into Semarie's motorhome. They spent the whole day having fun and they didn't get home until 9:30pm!

Piled into the motor home and on their way!

Ella, Annaliese, Emma, Esme, Megan, and Semarie

Meanwhile, the rest of us decided that we also needed to go swimming. We met up with Kim and Malachi and went to Grandview Heights for a few hours of swimming. The traffic at the border was ridiculous and we were very grateful for our Nexus passes! We stopped at Edaleen's for ice cream on the way back and considered it a good day!

On Saturday, Kyle met up with some guys for a mountain bike ride at Galbraith. Kim and I went for a run along the river (only to discover that park of the trail has been blocked off...such a bummer because it was a great place to run!)

Mom and Dad, Kim and Thane, and Malachi came over for dinner. Then we headed back to Kim and Thane's for dessert before heading out to Blaine to see the fireworks. It stays light so late that they didn't get started until 10:30!

The show was scheduled to start at 10:00. We got there around 9:45 and it was still this light out!

I was very impressed with the whole show and was so glad we went! I think the girls all enjoyed it, although Lydia was very tired by the end!