Cian & Jovon

Cian and Colin started tap lessons with Jovon Miller at PacWest in Snohomish back in April. Here is Cian doing a routine with Jovon at yesterday's practice.

Outdoor School 2012b

From May 17-19 we went to Outdoor School and I had a blast. One of my favorite things we did was going to the Ape Caves--it was amazing. Inside the mile-long cave, it was mostly downhill except for the rock falls. There was a glittering slime/goop on the walls that would shine if you shone your flashlight on it. I also enjoyed the trip on Mt St Helens. We got to go to a museum. I learned lots of stuff I didn't know, like how the sound waves went up and above the mountain so people right around it didn't hear it explode. We also we went to an Observatory where it had very beautiful views. Inside, there was a full scale model of blown-up Mt St Helens, a “make your own earthquake” exhibit, and a theater. Here are pictures of the ape caves and Mt St Helens!  -Colin :)

Outdoor School 2012c

The Brenchley family joined the Academy Northwest/Family Academy Outdoor School's trip to Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens on May 17th - 19th. Here is what the kids want to say about the trip:

"Hi, this is Rilla (8). This is me next to Mt. Saint Helens. This is what it looks like after the big boom. The stuff in the middle, that's the lava dome rising. When it is too huge it boom's out black mud & ash."

At the tree mold tunnel at the Trail of Two Forests on the South side of Mt. St. Helens..."It was fun except it was dark...but we did it." Cian (7)

New Boys Join the Family

Our other first for the day was that we had two handsome steers delivered to the Wards' property, which will be mowing for them and making future beef for us. Here they are, numbers 51 and 75:

Tap Dancing Lessons

Hi, this is Cian(7). Me and my brother, Colin went to a private for tap today. We have never tapped before. It was a little bit hard – but I did it. Jovon was my teacher and I got new tap shoes!

Grandma's House

While Mom, Rilla and Cian flew to Colorado to stay with some friends and Dad, Caleb and Colin went to a hunter safety class, I got to stay with my Grandma Bev for the weekend. After my art class on Friday, Grandma picked me up to go to her house, eat lunch at Wendys and then go on a walk. When we arrived back at her house, we played some heated games of 20,000, which I won both of, and had super potatoes for dinner. We watched movies until midnight and slept in till around 9:00 on Saturday morning. We had toast and cereal the next morning and then went on a walk with my cousin Luca at around 10:00. We had lunch at Red Robin and got candy in Bulk Foods at Top Foods. At around 2:30 we went to the theater and saw "The Lorax" while we ate our candy. After we got home, Grandma and I played a few more games of 20,000 that Grandma won. We stayed up until midnight again watching movies, and got up Sunday morning at around 8:00 to get ready to go to Grandma's church. I went to her church up untill the third grade so I recognized the place. Luca came along with us and she and I went to the youth service there. We had lunch with Grandma's sister, my great-aunt Carol, and, after dropping Carol back at her house, headed home. All three of us went to the mall to shop for the day, and left at around 7:00. My weekend ended with Grandma dropping me off back at my house with the boys. It was really fun to get to hang out with Grandma for the weekend, and I am excited to get to see Mom, Rilla and Cian when they arrive home on Monday. -Emma