Daddy is selling real estate and driving school bus part-time.
Mommy is working at a local office and finished summer semester with awesome grades.
Marshall went to the temple for the first time this last week on High adventure
Zachery finished summer school with daddy as his bus driver.
Madison had her 1st horse ride with friends at a ranch.
Millie finished kindergarten before summer and loved every minute of it.
Eleanor is starting kindergarten in just a few weeks!
We went to a Jack Family reunion 2 weeks ago where we saw almost the entire Shawcroft side of the family in Colorado. The drive was long but well worth it. On the way we were able to stop by Great-Grandma Parkinson and Grumpus for a long overdue visit. While there we made a deal that I will blog if he sends us a joke...He owes us one for this post. Love you Grumps!
This last week was full to the brim and overflowing at times. Mommy had final papers to finish up for her English class and work while at the same time Dad and Marshall left on a 2200 mile road-trip to California for the week. Some very kind friends offered to take the other four kids to a church property for several days and they had a blast! We are recovering from all the adventures and our heads are still spinning a bit.
Marshall and the other Deacons and Teachers were planning to go on a hike around Mt. St Helen's until 2 leaders sustained pre-trip injuries and emergency modifications to their plans were needed. The Priests had been planning their temple/camping road trip to California for months using our bus specifically modified into a RV (Redneck Vehicle). It was decided to combine groups and 7 boys ended up coming along. There was too many events to recount here but here are the highlights.
Monday Day 1: start at 6am and drive to Crater Lake, card games and too many snacks. (weather smoky due to forest fires)
Day 2: Long drive to Sacramento, quick stop at a skate park in Eugene OR, rushed preparation to attend a Temple session in Sacramento after showers at camp. Chick-Fillet dinner after Temple.
Day 3: Sacramento to San Fransisco, Ride bikes across Golden gate Bridge. Miracle buss parking spot. Pier 39, Ghirardelli square, Boudin Sourdough and drive to camp at Camp Lihona Redwoods and saw a 2400 y.o. Sequoia dubbed Captain Moroni.
Day 4: Breakfast and Service work at camp Lihiona and then the curvy drive to Meadford OR (unfortunately temple closed) Camp at Wal-Mart for the night and meet "The People of Wal-Mart" including Greek- and 50 y.o. bus conversion driver from NY that was a crane operator at ground zero the day of 9-11. The Parking-lot-Pirates - 2 bored teanagers that navigated their electric shopping cart around out bus fortress and assailed us with swasbuckling movie theme songs. Edgar Allen Pig - a grown 180# pig that lived with his owners in the back of a PT Cruiser.
Day 5: Drive to Portland Temple for a evening session and Panda Express afterwards. Camp literally in the glow of the temple with security's permission.
Day 6: 6am endowment session for adult leaders and then drive to Seattle for one last Temple baptismal session and meet up with ward members for lunch and to turn over 205 completed family names of the remainder of the work.
As a group we also were able to read the entire Book of Mormon on the trip.
The trip was a huge success on every level but not because of much the leaders did. The itinerary was very much coordinated by a better planner than us.
