Helping Hands Weekend at Lake Retreat

This weekend we went to Lake Retreat Camp in Ravensdale, WA. This is the camp where we go to Family Camp every summer. Every Memorial Day weekend they have a Helping Hands weekend to do projects around the camp to get it ready for the camping season. We go every year. My parents have gone with us for the past few years as well. We arrive Friday night and get settled in our room and then off to meet up with friends. Quite a few friends from Family Camp come to this weekend as well.
Saturday morning we work until lunch and then after lunch...back to work until dinner. Sunday is a free day with the waterfront open for activities. Monday morning we work until lunch and then we are free to go home!
James was assigned to do some pipe laying and he had Justin and Tommy (our neighbor) help him.

Grandpa Clyde was working on the nature trail and came across some large pieces of wood that had to be removed. Here he is supervising as Tommy, Tyler, Justin and Thad move the wood to the bon fire.



They don't get too far before they think it might be fun to "dirt surf". After a few tries to get going down the hill they finally figure out what we had been telling them all along...it is not going to work. They did eventually get the wood on the fire!









Tyler...looking good as he plants some pansies in front of a cabin.







Tyler watches as Thad digs a hole to plant the shrub they were assigned to plant. How much work do you think they really got done???

Grandma Carol takes a break from gardening. Notice the beautiful flowers and plants behind her...good job Grandma!

As you can see the weekend was not ALL work. James, Justin, Tommy and Thad were able to get an afternoon of airsofting in!

James and Justin with our friend Bryce (from Family Camp)...notice that Bryce is on his knees, while the other 2 are standing as tall as they possibly can.

Heat Wave

Yesterday and today we have had extremely hot, record breaking weather ( for this part of the country). Today Justin wanted to get another pool for Max, our yellow Lab. He wore out his old pool and we just hadn't gotten him another one. He likes to take his toys in the pool with him and shake them and hold them under water...I guess he thinks he is killing his "catch". He is Justin's "shadow", anytime I wonder where Max is, if I can find Justin- there he is!

Airsoft Mania

My 3 boys are really into airsoft guns. I was totally against the whole idea- I just didn't see the fun in shooting each other with plastic pellets. I only saw the potential for injuries, but...as you can see the "biggest child" in the picture won the debate! They are good about following the rules we set up in order for them to be able to play with them. So far we have not had any trips to the emergency room...although some of their friend's guns are powerful enough to have drawn blood!!! They all own multiple guns and always seem to need a bigger, more powerful one. Oh well...this too shall pass...I hope!

How could I forget the dessert???

I forgot to tell you about the wonderful desserts we had on Mother's Day...

Justin made this dessert with strawberries, cool whip, oreo cookies etc. It was a recipe I found in a magazine and it really turned out well. He also made a grasshopper pie ice cream dessert...they were both delicious!!!

Tyler made his famous peanut butter brownies. We first had them on Anderson Island from the little store out there. We set out to duplicate her recipe and did so successfully! Papa says they are even better than the A.I. ones!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day with my 2 boys! We went to church and out for dinner. Then we went to my mom and dad's house for dessert with my brothers and their families.


After that we went to James Aunt Ann's house for dinner and dessert with his side of the family!
It was a great day!

Happy Mother's Day! a.k.a. HACKED!

This Blog has been hijacked by the eldest PD child, and i just want to say thanks Mom for everything you do...

Here is a tribute to my favorite mom...

Her technique is sloppy...

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MAMA, Jooj, Me & Uncle Mark

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Me & my MAMA

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Justin & MAMA

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MAMA & her boyz

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MAMA & Amy Roloff

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Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there!

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I LOVE YOU MAMA!

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DO WORK SON!

- Tyler out...

Mother's Day Tea

Today I had the honor of attending a Mother's Day Tea with my niece Lila. It was held at her school and had a nice program with lots of songs and a play! It was so special to be invited and be to able to see Lila do such a good job singing and doing all the motions!
Thanks again Lila!

Spring Has Sprung!!!

It seems that spring has finally made it to Tacoma, WA. Our rhodies have bloomed and the flower pots are full of color! Today we had a few sunbreaks and I took the opportunity to get a photo of the boys...they grumbled about it but they did it for me!!! They really are good kids and I am proud to be their mom!

Happy Birthday Tyler (and James)...Part #3

On Saturday we had our extended family birthday party for Tyler and James! The party started out in the rain with Dwight at the BBQ and James assisting him!

The cake was decorated by Justin! He was quite a good helper getting ready for the party!



WHAT A HAUL!!! What else do teenage boys want besides $$$? He got enough to buy a video iPOD and still have some left over!




James got a HAWK Soccer windbreaker that he had been wanting!

Cole dances with Uncle James...

and Noah rocks the house with the Guitar Hero game!

Calle (better late than never) ate some leftover palt! Yummy! and I was able to talk to his mother Ida when she called him from Sweden.

Happy Birthday Tyler...Part #2

Yesterday was Tyler's 16th birthday! For his birthday dinner he wanted "palt". Palt is a Swedish food that my Grandma used to make for us. It is potatoes that are ground up in a blender until they are a smooth liquid. You then add baking powder and enough flour until you can't add any more. You make a dumpling out of this mixture and put fried salt pork in the center of each ball. Boil this for 1 hour and you have palt!!! It looks very unappetizing...but tastes delicious!