Sunriver

It felt good to be back at Sunriver during Pacific Crest.  We missed last year due to the girls being in Dance Festival.  It was just our family this year which made for some really good bonding before taking Kennedy out to Utah for college.  I can't believe I didn't get a picture of it, but besides the Pacific race events, the highlight of the trip this year was playing Rook.  Scott very patiently taught Cassidy and Karsyn how to play so he and the three girls could have some marathon matches.  I loved it because it freed me up to read and go on bike rides with the boys.  I would much rather do that than play cards.   Sorry Clara Faye.  

Once again, the races Scott really wanted to do were on Sunday so he ran the half marathon.  He was a little concerned because the farthest he had run yet this year was 6 miles.  His confidence did get a needed boost when he realized that this year he qualified to run as a Clydesdale.  That is a nice way of saying he qualified for the old, fat guy category.  Well, he did pretty well for an old, fat guy!  He finished with his second quickest time ever and didn't even feel worn out after the race.

Layton and Will were the only kids that were young enough to do the kids Splash, Pedal and Dash triathlon.  Due to construction around the village, the course was much shorter this year.  After doing the obstacle course and kiddie pools, they only had to bike a 1/2 mile and run a 1/4 mile.  Will told us afterwards that he had to walk a little during his run.  We asked him how many times he had to walk and he told us he walked 3 times.  Three times in a 1/4 mile run.  Maybe they need a kids Clydesdale category.  Even with his casual stroll, Will beat Layton by 20 seconds.  We didn't think Layton was ever going to make it out of the obstacle course.  He went in, we waited and waited, and he never came back out!  He said he had troubles with his helmet getting caught on everything.

As a reward, only the boys got to enjoy some shaved ice.

Meanwhile, the girls hit up the free samples and Muscle Milk and showed us what they were made of.

 Of course we spent some time at the pool everyday we were there, except Sunday.  The weather was perfect for just sitting out and reading.  The braver, younger kids also got in the water quite a bit.

Caroline Fung, Scott's physician's assistant, and her family were also up there at the same time.  This is their son rubbing the boy's backs.  I am sure Will is somehow behind this.  I think this is the first time I have ever gotten Kennedy's photo reading a summer book and smiling.  Every other year she has had a school reading assignment.  On something she had no desire to read of course.  Not this year.  She is finally freeeeeeeee!  It was Cassidy's turn this year.  She got stuck reading her drivers manual.  I really need her driving before school starts again!

The girls always give Scott a hard time about never taking them golfing.  They accuse him of only asking the boys to go with him.  Not this time.  This time, no boys were allowed!

Sunday we went to church in Bend and then went and toured Lava Land and hiked around the Lava Butte.  It was pretty impressive to see how far the lava rocks spread.

 We drove up to the top of the Lava Butte, which was formed almost 6000 years ago, then walked around the ridge.  It was such a beautiful, clear day and you could see the entire volcanic range that surrounds Bend.

 I am so glad we were able to get back to tradition this year by coming to Sunriver.  It just doesn't seem like summer vacation is official until we have watched a kid's triathlon, gotten sunburned, and hit a few bike trails. And how cool is this?  We also saw our first Ice Halo.  This is produced by ice crystals in the cirrus clouds in the upper atmosphere.  We actually saw a double halo and two days in a row.  I think it was a sign that we were in our "Heavenly" place together!