Rain, Paint, Rain, Paint, Rain...

We got more painting done today between the rain showers. And as soon as we packed up for the day, the rain stopped. :o( Go figure.

we got the whole back side done

Zack and Andy did around the garage doors (good job guys!)

Not Exactly Painting Weather

Chris took off this week to paint the house. It has needed it since we moved in, but we finally decided it was time. We just had to replace the old color. I really couldn't tell you what the old color is because it's really not even a color. The best way to describe it would be it is the color of that crayon you always wanted to use in kindergarten when you were drawing a picture of yourself and you wanted that "skin color". Think of that color only more boring and drab.

The forecast for the week of our big painting project... RAIN. And for once, they were right. Yesterday, Chris pressure washed the house in the rain while my mom and I canned, cooked and froze all day. (see our Green Livin blog) We were thankful for the cooler weather though. Today, the rain held out long enough for us to paint one side of the house. We didn't get any trim done, but the main color is done. And we like it so far!

Our house was built in 1972 (a terrific year!) and so I wanted to keep the new color in line with the style of the house. Among the contestants were olive drab, goldenrod, or rust orange. But we also decided to go with Metro Paint (see the Leingangs' Recommend) and therefore we were more limited in our color selection. So the winner was....

stirring the paint

the first swipe of paint

it's dark brown (sorry, espresso)

The trim will be khaki and the garage doors and front door will be white to match the windows. To see the progress, check back soon. More pictures will be coming weather permitting.

River Trip- Day 1 Heading Out

When things begin to go bad as soonas you hit the water, you begin to wonder if you should finally just give up on river camping altogether. Do we really need to "one up" the last two years?

After all, if the boat doesn't start at the dock because of a dead battery, no big deal. If the boat doesn't start once you're on the island, it a BIG deal. Chris was confident. I was a bit more skeptical. He was right. I was wrong. Ten minutes was all it needed.

The sky was a brillant blue dotted with small puffy cloulds. the beach was huge and flat (a nice bonus for setting up camp). But the best part was the water. On the back side of Walker Island, the water was as smooth as glass. And that never happens on the Columbia River.

So when the opportunity presented itself, I took it. I went skiing for the first time in about ten years. Thankfully, skiing is like riding a bike, you don't forget.

We spent the whole afternoon (after camp was set up) swimming, playing in the sand, tubing, jumping off the bow of the boat, and skiing. All this was even more fun because the youth group came for the afternoon/evening for their August youth outing! Next year they need to spend the whole day.

setting up camp

the facilities

our camp on Walker Island

playing in the water

Will the sea monster

Edwin tries skiing (this idea didn't work for him)

burying JD in the sand

chicken fights

JD isn't sure what he thinks of chicken fights

Aaron tubing

building a fire

So despite the mosquitos in the evening, the severe lack of seasoned firewood, and the fact that we completely lost track of time and didn't eat until 8:35 (the dark should have been a hint that it was getting late), it was a perfect day on the river!

River Trip- Day 2 Life In The Shipping Lanes

As with most of these trips, perfect days turn into nights. Water levels change, coyotes howl and the winds pick up. Last night was no exception. Waves crashed on the beach all night. The wind blew constantly. And the water, that was so low when we arrived came up much higher thanks to the tides.

So, when you get a crummy night's sleep, what do you do? You get up at 6:15 am. What do boys do when there's no tv or video games? Build a fire and dig a hole!

it got even BIGGER before we left!

Waking up to cloudy skies was somewhat discouraging. But forecasts were for sunny skies and a high of 83. So when the wind picked up, we were encouraged that it was simply to help blow off the cloud cover and the the sun would be out before we knew it. Well, it was only sort of encouraging. The wind never died down and the sun didn't make an appearance until late in the afternoon. But that didn't discourage the boys. Despite a daytime high of only 73, they spent the majority of the day swimming and working on digging to China. (They thought it would be fun to see the Olympics in person.)

the mosquitos were pretty bad

The boys and I went to pick up Chris after work at the boat landing, braving both the wind and the whitecaps. The glass-like surface of the day before now seemed like the stuff of legends.

After supper, a large container ship passed by on the way to the port. The river became a churning mass of waves. Passing ships displace a large amount of water, pulling it away from the shore than sending it rushing back higher than before after it passes. This time was different. The water washed back in huge powerful breakers from three different directions, coming together in tall white towers crashing onto the pilings and sending tall towers of water into the air and washing high on the beach! It was amazing to watch! In fact it was so amazing that we failed to get any pictures. :o(

By evening, the wind had died down a bit and we had chocolate chip brownie s'mores by the campfire while whittling crude wooden utensils and watching the stars slowly disappear.

cloudy days make for beautiful sunsets

River Trip- Day 3 A Visit From Grandpa and Grandma

Wednesday was a glorious day! The clouds burned off with only a light breeze by 9am. While a breeze can make swimming a little chilly, it is very nice for keeping off mosquitos.

After breakfast and a bit of unsuccessful fishing, we hopped in the boat to see what the rest of the island looks like. There wasn't much to see, except more pilings and some high voltage power lines, until we reached the east end of the island. A large abandoned military ship was docked on the shore. We decided to check it out, but were cut off by a fishing boat at every turn.
Appearances can be deceiving. The ship was not abandoned, but crawling with workers. And we were not cut off by obnoxious fishermen, but by a security patrol keeping a "safety perimeter" and "no wake zone" around the ship. Since all questions were defered to some governmental office, all thoughts or ideas as to what is being done with the mysterious ship is purely speculation.

the "abandoned" ship

the "fishermen"

Port of Longview

At 11:30, we said good-bye to Chris and Peter and headed back to camp to wait for Grandpa and Grandma to arrive. While jumping off the bow of our boat was fun, everyone was anxious to try some real jumping off the top of Grandpa's boat.

The conditions were perfect for jumping. The weather was hot, the water cool and calm, perfect. Everyone clambored onboard for the chance to be the first to jump. But the water looks REALLY far away when you're standing on the roof. For a long time, we all just sat and considered all the pros and cons of actually jumping from such a height.

thinking...

still thinking...

Zack jumps

Will jumps

After much pondering and deliberation, donning our life jackets (somehow it seemed less intimidating when wearing a personal flotation device), and a little more deliberation, one by one we took the plunge from the roof. Seeing William jump off three times despite his fear of heights and watching even my 60 year old father take the plunge, I reasoned I had to be a "cool mom" and jump. Actually, I did it twice!

We spent the rest of the day relaxing, playing games, eating junk food (provided by grandparents), getting sunburned and swatting mosquitos. All in all, it was a very fun day!

River Trip - Day 4 Staying Cool

He did it!

What Andy the homeschooled PK would not do, Andy the highly skilled, highly trained Navy SEAL on a top secret mission to blow up an enemy boat did. He jumped from the roof just in time to escape from the explosion.

With a high of 96, it was the perfect day to be on the water or in the shade. Zack, Andy, Will and I got some reading done in our book, jumped off the roof without life jackets, and did LOTS of swimming with Grandpa and Chris when he came after work. Grandma spent the day in the air conditioned cabin of the boat. It's hard to believe that just a couple of days before I kept my sweatshirt on all day.

River Trip - Day 5 Heading Home

It was another windy, noisy night. Although we didn't get much sleep, Chris and I felt surprisingly rested in the morning. Forecasts called for sunny skies and a high of about 96 again. But with the wind howling and a huge, thick, low cloud rolling in from the ocean, it was hard to believe.

the cloud on the horizon

It was hard to believe, because it never happened. The sun did eventually peek out but the wind never did die down. Camping on sand in the wind is never fun. And after four days, the lack of personal hygiene and bug bites gets to even the most boyish of boys. Everyone was ready to go home.

eating pancakes on the boat to stay out of the wind (and sand)

playing Take Two while we wait to see if the wind would stop

While it is so nice to be clean, have a real toilet, not have sand everywhere, and not to be eaten alive every time the wind dies down; we do LOVE camping and can't wait to go back to Walker Island again soon!

the boat is FULL of stuff

leaving the island

back at the docks