The Browns Wild bunch: June 2008

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Backyard fun

Yesterday we decided to get a pool for the kids for the summer. There were predicting a heat wave for the coming week so it was going to be HOT. So we set up the pool yesterday. We started filling it around 6pm by 10pm it still was not full. It took 2 more hours this morning to completely fill it up. Cody and Kaitlyn have been having a blast. They have been in it most of the day. It is currently 100 degrees. Don't look at all the weeds. We have yet to put the yard back together after having to tear it up to fix the septic system 2 summers ago. Someday I will get it back together.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Target practice

We decided to take a trip to the mountains to do a little target practicing. We usually do this many times throughout the summer. I feel it is very important the my kids have gun safety. I want them to understand that guns are not toys. I want them to be able to walk up to a gun and be able to safely check if it is loaded. We have been doing this since the kids were small. Hopefully some of it will stick. They seem to have a good time. We will be taking a camping trip to this spot in about 2 weeks.

Quick lesson on how to shoot the bolt action 22

Setting up targets

Kaitlyn finding targets

Cody finding targets to shoot at

Stephanie shooting the mini 14

Cody shooting the mini 14

The mini 14 was a little big for Kaitlyn So Gery needed to help
her shoot it

Stephanie shooting the 22 rifle

Cody shooting the 22 rifle

Kaitlyn shooting the 22 rifle

Wildflowers

Here are some pictures of wildflowers that I took on our recent trip to the mountains. I love taking nature pictures. I really wanted to dig up some of these while we were there. I may have to on our next trip.

Flowers

Here are some of the flowers in my front flower bed. I planted these last summer. I am

going to need to move some of them as they have gotten taller then I had expect and they

are to big for this flower bed. I harvested seed last year for the cupid's dart and the musk mallow alba. If you are interested in some of the seeds let me know I would be happy to send you some. They both get about 30 to 36 inches tall.

Musk mallow alba

close up of the musk mallow alba. I was not sure if I was going to keep this one

last year it was very straggly looking. But I decided to give it one more year

I am very glad I did. I will have to move it as it has gotten much taller then I had expected

and it is to big for the flower bed it is in.

Spider wart

Cupid's dart

Blue sea holly

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Stephanie's 8th graduation

Today was Stephanie's 8th grade graduation. It is hard to believe that she is heading into high school. She is a little nervous but excited at the same time. It will be hard to move on to high school she has had some really great teachers these past few years in Jr. High. I think the teacher she will miss most is her band teacher Mr. Winston. He is also her piano teacher. He has been such a big influence for her. He has encouraged her to learn new things.

Congratulations Steph

Stephanie in her graduation dress

The band performed at the graduation

Best friend Abbey and friend Jason

8th grade gradustion

Stephanie opening her gift

Stephanie's 8th grade graduation gift

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Tide pooling

About 2 weeks ago Gery and I chaparoned for Stephanie's 8th beach fieldtrip. They went to a really cool tide pool area at Cannon Beach. We thought the kids would like to spend the day tide pooling. So we got up early and was down at the beach just in time for low tide. It was a typical Oregon beach day. Cold and windy. The kids had so much fun. We found starfish, anenomes, crabs, mussels, barnacles (?) Here are a few pics. I had a hard time picking ones. I took 224 pics

walking the beach