Finally! We have a summer!!

We have been waiting and waiting for good weather to take our boat out! Finally the other week we were able to go! It was so much fun. We were able to take it out and nothing went wrong this maden voyage. Here are Rachel and Brian being pulled behind the boat. Rachel is showing her balancing skills, and Brian is hanging on for dear life. When he got off, he yelled at Scott, "I TOLD YOU TO GO SLOW!!" In Scott's defence, he was going very slow.

Here is the Captian of the boat!

Andrew was very happy the whole day! They love going on the boat.

Ericksen Family Reunion

At the Ericksen Family Reunion, in Post Falls, Idaho, we were able to go to a community pool and play for a while. It was really fun. For about an hour we had to get out because someone (no one from my family thank goodness)threw up in the pool. Yuk!! Eric had a fabulous time...

Rachel and Scott showing off their amazing strength...

We had a "Minute to Win It" game with the kids, and one of the challenges was balancing two golf balls on top of each other. So Ben, my nephew, who is really competitive, and awesome balanced three golf balls after the game. Well, it was pretty amazing. So Rachel decided, well if Ben can do it, I should be able to do it too. So this is Rachel's accomplishment.

We were all amazed and thrilled at her newly acquired golf ball balancing skills. You know what they say about people who can balance three golf balls...

Mathew and Andrew playing "Minute to Win It". What did they win? Respect.

My dad picking up noodles with a noodle. He almost won, but he was beat by his wife, my amazing mother!

This was our reunion "Amazing Race". This is the Blue team. They had to find a chimney that was shaped like the state of Idaho. Looks like they found it. Andrew is posing with Mathew and David.

Scott was the leader of the blue team. This is Scott reading the next clue.

Scott, Mathew, Andrew and David posing next to a Moose statue. They had to find all the Moose statues in the City of Coeur D Alene.

This is the Red Team. They were in last place here, but they ended up winning the whole race. Kent was unstoppable!

Here is the Blue Team again. In this task they had to take a paddle boat and paddle out to a tree that was sticking out from land, and paddle back. It took the teams about 20 to 30 min to do this. The men said it was pretty challenging.

This is the Green team. They had the most man power. My brother John was the leader of this team. He had Ben, who was 16, on his team. They gave everyone a run for their money. The white team was the other team and we didn't get any pictures from that team. That team was lead by my brother-in-law Dan. Rachel and Brian were on Dan's team.

We took family pictures at a beautiful garden in Spokane Washington. Scott took a picture of Brian just chilling out.

Rachel and her cousin Sarah and James were taking some pictures together on the side as well.

It was a great reunion. Everybody was there. I think every one's high-lights were playing Forbidden Island, and Pirates Cove, and the Amazing Race and swimming at the fun pool in town.

My least favorite part was on the 4th when the Roman Candle fireworks we bought blew up in my kids and husbands hands. (Not a good night) Well, in the end everyone was okay, and the trip was wonderful. I love my family.

Camping at Ocean Shores

We had such a great time camping at Ocean Shores! Our good friends invited us to come along and camp with them at one of their favorite camping spots. We got the best camp grounds and had such a fun time. We were the family with the oldest children, so I think things were easier for us in general, but then again...camping with me is not the easiest task. I am more of an indoor girl than a roughing it kinda girl. I put on my smile and just went for it. My husband and friends made it fabulous! Great weather didn't hurt either. (Although I am still getting a little teased from my friends about my need to do my nightly skin ritual, and my morning make-up)

I think this is how wet Eric got at the beach. This is a bit funny because when he was younger, we couldn't keep him out of water, even if it had ice in it. He was our little fish, and now he just won't have anything to do with it. He says it is all the times he got plastered with sand. That IS a miserable feeling...

Rachel had fun flying kites with her friend Lauren. This picture makes me laugh. Rachel is so small for her age, and Lauren is so tall for her age. No one would guess they are like 4 years apart.

Rachel also had fun making a sand castle. I don't think we got a finished picture of her castle, but it was fabulous. She wanted me to explain that she has a swimsuit on under that shirt. She was concerned that people would wonder why she is walking around with no pants on.

Why...?

Oh, I think Eric is the way he is at beaches because he used to do this.

This is Andrew. He was acting like he was in Hawaii. Now the weather there was great for this beach, but it was still a bit chilly, and very windy. That didn't stop my kids.

This is Brian sporting his 5 o'clock shadow.

This is what I did most of the time on the beach. There was a big log, as you can see, and it blocked most of the wind. It was pretty warm there. I got up occasionally and took pictures and socialized. But I would say the majority of the time I was here.

See...my kids are crazy. It was a warm day, but the water was a bit on the freezing side. Scott had to take them in the water and wash them off. (See above pictures)

Um...I think Brian forgot to wash his face off.

One of the best camping trips we have had! Thanks to all who were involved in making this so fun! I think my favorite memory will be watching my boys ride around the camp sights on princess, pink tricycles! (Exception of Eric)

Scott's big Birthday Present

Scott and I went to the U2 concert in Seattle for his big birthday present. U2 is Scott's favorite music band. I think they are my favorite too. We went to the concert in Vancoover, BC in Canada two years ago, and this concert was a bit different, and still amazing!

This was the view from our seats. Last time we went we were on the other side. I can't believe how much energy those guys have!!!

My new Cub Scout!

There is something so sweet about seeing your new 8 year old in his new little Cub Scout uniform. He was so excited to start the Cub Scout program.

He is handing me his assignment, and homework for his next week's meeting. My boys are growing up way too fast!

Andrew's Baptism May 21, 2011 in Oregon

Andrew was baptised in Oregon on the same day as his cousin Kaylee Nelson. This is Andrew with his Mom and Dad, and his Grandma, and Grandpa Nelson.

Here is my wonderful Andrew, with the blaket he got from his cousin's mom. She was talking about the Holy Ghost, and explaining how it can make you feel warm like a comforter, or a blanket. He still sleeps with that fuzzy blanket. He loved his baptism and enjoyed all the family that were there.

Kaylee and Andrew with their Dads, Tyler Nelson and Scott Nelson.

Andrew was very excited!!

My parents were able to come down from Post Falls, Idaho. Andrew didn't know how to contain his excitement of having both sets of Grandparents in one room! It was so fun to have my parents visit. We all had a great time.

Andrew Turns 8

Andrew had a busy day on his birthday! After school, Andrew had a baseball game, then we came home and had present time, and cake, then we rushed off to Oregon for his baptism.

The Big Cruise

This is the day we got on our boat! Scott's Birthday! It was April 24th, 2011, and it was Easter Sunday. We took off from Acapulco, Mexico. We took the red-eye in and were in need of some serious sleep.

This is me shopping and haggling with the natives of Hatulco, Mexico. The people were very nice. A little pushy at first, and it gave me quite a culture shock. Scott of course did fine.

This is Scott and I getting ready to go zip-lining. We were in Costa Rica. It was very fun.

Scott is ready to go...We got to go on 12 zip-lines.

Scott got a picture of me before I headed down one of them.

We are in the main city of Costa Rica, San Jose. We only got to spend 30 minutes there, but it was interesting.

I think this is Colon, Panama. We were asked to stay just in that area. It was supposedly dangerous to venture any further.

While on our balcony, we saw this beautiful sight while through the Panama Canal. This is the Panama Temple. It was such a wonderful sight to see.

A tug boat in the Panama Canal.

This is what a lock looks like in the Panama Canal. We are going through the lock on the other side.

We saw a train while we where going through the canal...

The white part of this picture is our cruise boat. the cement is the lock, and there is a little space in between. That is how close we are in a lock to the sides of the lock. Crazy huh!!!

We even saw a croc in the Panama Canal!

This is what the locks look like coming up to them, or leaving them...

This is what the weather was like when we got to Jamaca. There was a tropical storm. It was raining so hard. It was crazy. Not my favorite day! The people were really pushy and scared me a bit. I will probibly try to avoid Jamaca in the future. (That sounds kinda funny...)

This is us leaving Jamaca. It looks really pretty from a distance!

That was our last stop. The cruise was so much fun!