Kayak Point

The 7 of us + the sun + the ocean + blazing campfires and a vast pile of S'mores = a super duper, looong awaited welcome back to summer. If everyone, even for a day or two, could just sleep under the stars, live on roasted marshmallows and hot dogs, and forget about showers and toothbrushes for awhile, the world would be a much happier place, don't you think?





Every campground should come with a park that even big kids can't resist :)

Synchronized swing dismount? Piece of cake! :)









Rocks call to boys no matter how old boys grow... and I love it.

Oh, frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

Happy first day of summer from our little neck of the woods to yours :)

The Missouri, one last time

Tonight's pictures mark our final stroll down the lane of memories from last year's Montana trip. I'm so thankful for memories that allow us to keep experiences close, and for pictures that help us remember when our minds are feeble and we can't quite recall just what a Missouri River sunset is like. And for a family that jumps at the chance to live out of a canoe for a week. And for a wedding photographer brother who cheerfully ensconces his professional camera equipment in waterproof cases and documents these adventures that I thrive on in amazing, vivid technicolor.

“One must be out-of-doors enough to get experience of wholesome reality, as a ballast to thought and sentiment. Health requires this relaxation, this aimless life.” Henry David Thoreau

Down & Dirty, live action style

Jan Michael, our sis, Caleb and Craig shot out of the blocks like rockets and were the first to encounter the (first!) fire hose. There's nothing like running 3 miles in a full suit when you're soaked to the skin!

I wasn't able to keep up with the blistering pace set by the Fantastic Four, so I fell behind. Let's remember, though, that I was the most elderly member of Team Jan Michael, and I claim that as my excuse. Now please pardon me while I take my nightly dose of Geritol.

A synchronized roll from my husband and my sis? I would expect nothing less.

While the rest of us hoofed it out on the course, the end was was sight for the speed demons...

The great reveal of the Superman shirt! ... but it's tricky even for a super hero to hold his ground when his shoes have been sucked off by the mud :)

Just like the chocolate river in 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!'

Hearing the cheers of my extraordinary family was worth every single second of the hour and a half it took to hose off and clean up :)

Isaac, Natalie and Jen finish in fine form! Have I mentioned the vast quantities of awesomeness our friends possess?

And for the grande finale, Jan Michael, our sis, Craig and I took a victory lap through the mud together. It takes some dedicated athletes to leap back in for a second go-around!

At the end, after we'd all crossed the finish line, the twelve of us gathered together and nearly succombed to hypothermia while rinsing off in fire hoses that were spraying water from what was obviously a Norwegian fjord. But what's a few blue faces and numb fingers when you're high on life, accomplishment and good, old fashioned fun?!

Oh, what a charmed, charmed life we lead. Happy 35th birthdays FOR SURE.

Down & Dirty 35th Birthday Extravaganza

Could there possibly be a better way to celebrate turning 35 than gathering the troops and running 3 miles through the mud and muck?! Absolutely not.

Do Derek, Sara, Shannon, Craig, Caleb, Jen, Mike, Kristin, Isaac, Natalie, Jason, Sherry, both of our Moms & one of our Dads know how much it meant to have them trudging through the mud with us, cheering like crazy as we jogged by, and capturing the whole thing on camera and video? We hope so; it makes our hearts happy and full to know we're so loved.

Could anything posted here ever do May 21, 2011 justice? Probably not, but at the very least you'll get a small glimpse, and you'll also know where to find us next year when the end of May rolls around and we're whooping it up for number 36 :)

Clark Kent in the flesh!




Turning 35 and winning 3rd place in the costume contest all in one shot = not a bad day's work!






And that's a wrap!