Overnight McCall trip

The girls and I drove to McCall with my sister in law Laurel last Monday. We visited with my other sister in law Penny and her four kids at their cabin. We stayed overnight and had loads of fun. Monday, the weather was not cooperating (hail and rain in July) so we went ice skating. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so no pictures :( It was McKenna's first time and Aunt Laurel was a great teacher. By the end of the day McKenna could skate to and from the wall to a bucket a few yards away. The bucket was for pushing so the kids didn't fall. She did really great and loved it. Ryleigh even got a chance to go out on the ice with Aunt Laurel. I think Laurel's arm was about to fall off at the end of the third time. Ryleigh kept leaning back and yelling for joy. She loved it too. Aunt Penny was nice enough to make cupcakes for a belated birthday party for McKenna.

Tuesday the weather was much better for boating and tubing. Laurel even tried wake boarding. She even got up for a few seconds. McKenna went tubing with her cousin Matthew. They kept wanting to go faster and faster. Luckily they were not thrown out of the tube. I don't know what Mckenna would have done if she landed in the water. I, unfortunately, could not go in the boat or ice skating. BooHoo! :( Ryleigh kept me company both times and played on the beach. She loves getting her hands in the sand. She is going to be my messy kid. Yesterday, I caught her playing in Thumper's water bowl and adding dirt to it. Poor dog! Ryleigh was soaked and muddy. She yelled when I finally pulled her away to clean out the dog's bowl.

We went home after lunch on Tuesday and went black light mini golfing with some friends for a surprise birthday party. Thanks Penny for a fun trip. Wish we could have stayed longer!

Laurel and cousin AllyKenna and Matthew and Audrey chillin in the boatRyleigh playing on the beachKenna looking cute in her life jacketMore beachLaurel on the wake board

Hail and rain in July!

More pictures

Ryleigh and her aunts and cousins.

Kangaroo Zoo

Yummy ketchup!

I was mopping the kitchen floor and had to block Ryleigh from walking on the wet floor because she kept slipping on it. She did not like being kept out.

New phone number

Dan and I recently changed our cell phone service to AT&T. Also, we no longer have a land line so our cell phones are it. I have emailed some of you our new numbers. If you didn't get it or would like it, email me at rachelwpatton@gmail.com

July 4th weekend

Tristan and Ryleigh tried out a merry-go-round outside Tin Tin restaurant (yummy lobster!). Kaitlin, McKenna, and Ryleigh at the park.

Ryleigh loves swings!

McKenna's birthday party celebrated July 3rd.

Mama, the girls, and I relaxing in the backyard during the party.

If you watch Tristan, his head is stuck in a funny position.:)

More pictures to come...

Dan in Real Life - The just about, almost done, still needs cleaning, and landscaping McCall Cabin.

Well, after all the rave reviews of the previously posted McCall Cabin Photos, I have posted some more information of the long awaited McCall Cabin, with multiple angles included at no extra charge. The interior photos will have to come at a later date, because the interior is still being completed, and cleaned, and furnished. Basically the inside was not quite ready yet.

So, after all the long nights of design and coordination with the contractor and the client the McCall project is coming to a close, which will be just in time for the Summer Waterskiing season. It has been really cool to see something go from some scratches on paper to a real life building. I guess that this is why I want to be an Architect. To create something in my mind and then see it larger than life right in front of you. It is also fun to finally explain and show the owners your final vision, and they see it for real, especially the great view from the balcony. Someday, I hope to be able to afford my own little getaway house, or cabin. I already have some great ideas floating around up there in my head as to what I will do, maybe a fireman’s pole from the loft to the game room? Who knows the possibilities are endless.

Well what is important is that the client is happy. I am sure that the family will really enjoy this new cabin, and will be able to create many long lasting memories for a long time to come.

Over the hill and through the woods...

Saturday we drove to McCall to see Dan's handiwork. He designed a cabin for his sister's in-laws. They went from a 800-900 square foot cabin to a 25oo square foot house. Their property is right on the lake so they have a fantastic view from each room. This is the lake side view. Pretty great, huh? We took our friends the Meldrums and enjoyed the tour of the new cabin. It was a little chilly and the water was pretty high so the kids didn't get to play on the beach, but they had a great time on the dock. Dallyn almost fell in the water! It was a close call. He saved himself just in time. After dinner (we went to a Mexican restaurant in town) we roasted marshmallows and had s'mores. Yum! It was a fun day trip. Hopefully we will get to visit again when it is hotter to enjoy the beach and sand and water. Baby #3 may not allow that.

Hotel Patton

We have unofficially become the pitt stop from SLC to the Oregon Coast. Dan's brother and his wife stopped by two weekends ago and then last weekend on their way to and from the Oregon Coast. Then Dan's little sister and her 5 friends stopped by last weekend on their way to the coast. They are on their senior trip. Saturday night we all played "Bang." Miraculously, 9 girls in one house made it to 9am church with 5 minutes to spare. So all of you who can't make it to church on time... stop making excuses! Dan, luckily, had a meeting at 6:30am Sunday morning so he missed the chaos. This weekend coming up, Laurel and her friends will come back and Dan's mom and grandma will come to visit on their way to the coast. Well, at least the beach house is getting lots of use. So we have had lots of visitors. I realize that I need to buy more bath towels to accomodate our visitors.

Sacrament meeting has been nice because the girls are now preoccupied with our visitors so I have been able to relax a little the past two Sundays. Last Sunday Ryleigh decided to throw a tantrum so I had to take her out for the first time. She cried for 20 minutes in the foyer and I couldn't figure out why. She finally calmed down just as the meeting was over. I pass her off to Dan and what does she do? Falls asleep on the floor of Sunday school. Ryleigh will be going to nursery next month. She should transition well. Then the baby will come and we will have our hands full again. But talk about good timing.

Sorry no pictures this time. You are just going to have to imagine 6 -18 year olds in sleeping bags on our living room floor.