9/25/2012

Oregon Part 2- Paulina's Plunge

While in Oregon, we took a day trip to Paulina's Plunge. 
 

  We parked and hiked all around at the top of the waterfall. 



 
 


 
 
 

 
 
 

Beginning the walk up to the waterfall.

 

Oregon is truly magnificent with all of its natural beauty. 
 

Even with all the glorious beauty surrounding them on our picture perfect family vacation,
these two could still find something to fight about.    

 

Stevie was the first to bravely walk up to the waterfall. It was a little tricky with all the rocks. 


Love this picture!
 
Climbing to the top to be at the bottom of the waterfall. 

 


 


Marky getting a helping hand to get through the bottom of the waterfall. 

 
Marky resting at the top.  Happy to be high and dry. 
 
Read more »

9/20/2012

Starfire Tour

Matt embarked on the Starfire Rocky Mountain Tour this past summer.  Not sure how Dirk and Carol are able to pull off an incredible musical and be with 60 kids for two weeks, but they do so magnificently. 
 
Grateful that we have such an amazing son who takes risks to experience new things and surrounds himself with amazing people.
 
 At the Columbine Memorial. 
 
Matt with his buddies:  Ian and Peter

Matt did an amazing job singing in the musical.  Can't imagine singing in front of an audience, but he did a fantastic job. 



We surprised Matt in Reno during Starfire's last performance

Matt and Sam Pompeii.  Sam really invested time and love to Matt.  He spent a lot of time teaching how to be a leader.  Thank you Sam!!!



All the kids on tour!  What a remarkable experience to be able to go on tour and spend two weeks with such amazing people. 











Matt and Peter are the MC's for the talent show.  They had many costume changes during their performance. 
IMG_1029

Such good friends.
 
 
Matt and Ian friends since 3rd grade.  They saw each other the first Sunday that Matt attended and became good friends immediately. 



 
 
 
 
Love the beautiful smiles.  All the joy that Matt has as his experience comes to an end and all the joy in Stevie's face as he anticipates such an amazing experience. 
 
Carol:  A true angel on the planet.  Thank you for teaching, loving and inspiring all of these children!
 
Look at Stevie's face.  Pure joy.

 
 Sweet Savannah took a liking to Chelsea.  Thank you Savannah for being such a sweet friend to Chelsea!!!

 
So grateful that Matt had an awesome experience touring many states. 
 Trip of a lifetime.   Feeling so grateful to be members of LAUMC.  Thank you for providing such an fantastic experience for our children. 

 
 
Read more »

9/18/2012

Alcatraz

On a beautiful Saturday, we headed over to Alcatraz. 


It had been awhile since we had gone.  Now that the kids are older, they can all take in so much more. 

Steven and Chelsea had read the books in this series which made the trip a little more fun.  Matt had actually gone to an author signing of the books when he was in 4th grade. 



The model of Alcatraz was amazing to look and learn about the construction of the prison before we got on our boat. 


A friend joined us for the entire boat ride over. 


Since Matt is very scared of birds, he stayed inside the boat the entire ride.  His traumatic experience with a bird happened while we were living in San Francisco when he was 4.  He hasn't gotten over it 18 years later-   Poor Guy. 

The rest of us were able to enjoy some beautiful scenery. 


 
Love Stevie helping Marky up the path. 


Marky was the cutest with his headphones.  He was so good at following the tour around Alcatraz.  Marky really needs to adapt since he is the youngest of 4.  He did such a good job. 

Matt is a little more comfortable in a jail cell than outside with the birds. 

After spending some time looking around a jail cell, they decide quite emphatically that they do not want to go to jail.  


We enjoyed the views looking back at the city. 

Read more »