Camping at Bruneau Dunes

Mat took the boys, without mom, to Bruneau dunes to camp for a night last weekend while I played in a golf tournament. Bruneau dunes is a pretty oasis in the middle of the desert with some very tall impressive sand dunes. They also have one of the largest telescopes open to the public in the United States. It you're willing to stay up late, they open it up to the public. The amount of detail you can see through it is amazing. . They all had a fun time, even though it poured all night. We're looking forward to many more camping trips this summer.

Potty Trained

Caulder and Kessler are officially potty trained. Here is what 5 months of stickers on a chart looks like. As you can see the lower right hand corner is the easiest place for the boys to reach.

Easter

Waiting to see the Trailblazer game

The White Eagle

They boys and I at Multnomah Falls

Grandma and Caulder at the Seaside Aquarium

Seaside

Kessler

Drawing in the sand

The sand castle

Grandma, Gandpa, and the boys at Seaside

The column at Astoria

All pooped out

We decided last minute to head out to Portland for 5 days over Easter weekend, and to catch a basketball play-off game. We managed to have a fun Easter and to see one of the best games of the play-offs so far. Although Portland won that one, they lost the series shortly after. Mat and I stayed in Portland for the game at one of the McMinneman's - The White Eagle. The weather was unusually warm, and we had a fun time away. We spent Easter at my parents house who hosted a big family dinner. Somehow Easter turned into Christmas, and the boys got lots of fun gifts. We really appreciated the thoughtfulness, and were lucky to have additional books and toys to entertain the boys with on the drive back to Boise. We also made ot out to the coast, and stayed at Seaside for a night with Grandpa and Grandma. It has been almost a year since we last visited the coast. The weather cooperated part of the time, and we had time to make one big sand castle.

I also have to mention that after three years of hard work, Mat finished his research, took both a written and oral exam, and completed his maters degree. We are so excited and proud of him!