Raspberry Jam 2017...

2017 was a great year for berry picking.  We managed to get enough raspberries to eat and make into jam.  

My jam berry helper is the best!

We managed to make 6 pints and 7.5 half pints. Yum Yum!

4th of July...

We enjoyed a relaxing and hot 4th of July at the McFee's.

Blossom had the right idea.

 Happy 4th!

Neighborhood Picnic...

The Annual Bertranda Estates Neighborhood Picnic in the Park.

  The picnic includes the annual softball game and water balloon toss.

Such a special day!

Church Camp 2017...

We love our church camp weekend.  Bryce Creek is the perfect spot for 30 plus families to camp for 3 nights. 

 Breakfast is served every morning, rain, shine or chilly morning air. 

 The playground is great!

Blossom had plenty of company at the playground when she brought out her dinosaurs, hot-wheels cars and shovel and bucket. 

 Cleaning up the kids is easy with the giant slip-n-slid with dish soap.

While the little kids slip-n-slide, the big kids head over to Silver Lake in the Church vans.

Josh, with his Boy Scout leadership experience is often asked to lead this event.  Our own boys and their Boy Scout knowledge of water safety are usually asked to watch out for the others.

Church Camp ends with Sunday service outside under the large pavilion.  Lunch is served afterwards and then it's time to clean up.

The drive home is only about 40 minutes.  Blossom falls asleep within minutes.  She loved camp this year.  She ran bare foot around camp for nearly 3 days straight.  She lived at the playground and soaked up just the right amount of sun.  Watching her enjoy life makes me smile!

Winthrop KOA...

We have some great neighbors.  One family in particular has become our camping buddies.  It doesn't really matter where we go, the agenda is to chill, relax and take in a few sights.  It's prefect and we love it. 

The first few days in June we camped at the Winthrop KOA.  Early June is my favorite time to camp.  Everything is green, the nights are cool, days can be warm and there's no burn ban.  And school is not out so the campgrounds are not packed.

 I chuckle every time I bring toys for Blossom on our camping trips because the boys usually end up playing with them.  The Morphin toys ended up becomeing "spirit animals."  They all made their own spirit animals. 

My favorite dinner camping is pie iron pizza.  Buttered bread with pizza ingredients melted into a toasted yummy pocket.

 My neighbor is the hostess with the mostest.  She always has a dessert planned and always has enough for all the Johnsons.  I don't know how she does it. 

 Our first outing was to Twisp, WA and their artisan market. 

 We found interesting things in Hank's Grocery Store.

 The next day we visited Winthrop, WA.  This was my family's first time visiting this area.  Winthrop is a great little town with impressive stores carrying unique items.

 We spent some time walking up and down the boardwalk and checking out the shops.  There is also a river running right behind one side of the town.  You know I can't resist pausing to admire a river.

After an hour or so we all met back up for ice cream.

 Back at the campground the kids played "grounders" at the playground.  It's amazing how much energy and time can be spent playing this very simple game. 

 One of the nights we used our dutch oven and made chicken pot pie.  It was amazing and not a single bite left over.

 Before we left Winthrop KOA a couple of the boys enjoyed the big wheel bikes.

I'll save the pictures and story of traveling to and from Winthrop for the next post.