A good visit from some good friends!

Our favorite friends from Nebraska moved to Washington shortly after we did.  They made the drive down from Everett to come visit!  It was so fun to see them, and hear their voices again- it felt like part of home was back here with us!!!

The kids had a blast playing and we visited all night long.

Lance and Montey had lots of fun being buddies again.  And just like old time- they wouldn't stop for a picture together.  They are always moving.

The weather was beautiful so we went and played at the Ridgefield park!

Makayla, Allie, Liahona, Lance and Tamara on the swing.

Dylan was busy playing soccer with Tanya and Eric!!

Cute cute kiddos!

We took a picture of the group- and they wanted to make sure Caleb- our good ol buddy boy- was in the picture.  I can just picture him and Dylan giggling on the couch together.

We took them out to show them the tree house- and Dylan showed Montey around the forest!

This gal Tanya is such an amazing lady and I'm lucky to have her as a friend!

Thanks for coming to play Mathisons- 'Our Nebraska Cousins".

The Treehouse

Quinn loves doing projects, and he is pretty talented too.  But with us renting, there aren't many projects for him to do around our place. Luckily, his dad live a few miles away and has 5 acres just waiting for a project guy to go keep busy!

Grandma and Grandpa Draper have said for years they wanted a tree house in their forest, and now that Quin lives close, he's happy to help them get one going.

Not just any ol tree house- this thing is going to be super fancy.

Here is the beginning of the tree house- Stu and Ty Ty helped get it started this summer:

Now they have stairs and the railing around the first floor:

 They are starting to build the house that goes on the tree house and will build the next level.

It's going to be super fun! And pretty solid- I think I call it 'Fort Draper'.

Allies Dance Class

Allie goes to dance once a week at Dancers Unlimited.  Miss Michelle has turned her detached garage into a dance studio and teaches dance from her home.  Allie has lots of friends in her class and her cousin Whitney too!  She is doing ballet now and really likes it.

This Friday Grandma and Grandpa J were in town and were able to come watch class!  Lance had fun playing while Allie was in Class!

6th grade field trip

The 6th graders at Union Ridge get to take a fun field trip.  They walk from the school, a few blocks to the river and get in these big canoes and canoe on Lake River, watch for wildlife, eat on the sand and paddle back.

Makayla was persistent in inviting me, so I found someone to take my little ones and got to join her and her class.  It was a fun time!

I got to sit in the middle, so the kids could paddle me!  If they got tired, I would get a turn.  I think the only reason Makayla gave me a turn was because the boy in front of her kept getting her wet!

We saw lots of Blue Herons

And a bald eagle

From where we ate lunch we could watch these big ships go down the Columbia river!

This is the same spot we took Grandpa Drapers boat to ski this summer.

Makayla and some of her friends.

The day started out sunny, then the clouds came in.  But no rain!