Camp Boyd

With all the fun we have here, and all the different activities, Tim started calling our stay 'Camp Boyd.'

Mummi Kay is nervous as to what will happen...

One of the ingredients is Mentos.

Kristi got into the action.

I was tempting fate...

William LOVED doing all the research!

And Brad was a co-conspiritor. 

What was better, regular or diet? 

I would say diet was easier to clean off.... 

Here are the dynamic duo.  The 'Eugene Mythbusters' if you will...

Cola Challenge

Again, when William has an idea, the Boyd's just GO WITH IT!  William wanted to do a taste test on colas.  Next thing I know, Brad and he are at Fred Meyer's buying a cart full of sodas!

We had papers to write down which ones we thought were which.

The cups inside were Mummi Kay's and Kristi's to share, the outside ones for me and William to do the tasting from.

Each cola was coded only by a number.

I got many right, but was totally surprised I could not tell the difference between full calorie and diet.  I liked Coke the best.  I did pick out the Dr. Pepper's, but I was amazed I didn't nail Coke Zero.

We all sipped and sipped, and Wm emptied the cups... into his gullet!

Mummi Kay won the challenge.  What fun!  We get to have the most fun at the Boyd's.

Rock Tour

Mummi Kay's friend, Paula, owns Delta Construction Company.  They could never get out of the vehicle they got the tour in, due to safety reasons, but how cool is this?

William's picture (I have to figure out why they always look fuzzy?)

Brad went with William, and got clearer pictures.

This is the beginning of the rock crusher.

It gets filled up...

...and off it goes!

Their crusher is a very complex, nice one. 

Thus ends the windshield tour.  William loved looking at all the big equipment, and how it operates.  He asked few questions.  When quizzed, he explained how this worked.  So, he'd been paying attention!

Thanks to Kay and Paula for setting this up!  We are so blessed to know people who know PEOPLE with big rigs!

All the Way from Japan

Mummi Kay asked if William would give a concert.  It had been a month since he practiced, but he bucked up and got ready for the event.  He was very concerned about his appearance.  He wrote his introduction and orchestrated how he wanted it to go.

It was fun to see him perform.

He was such a little professional.

Mummi Kay's music room is quite impressive.

Mummi Kay and Kristi were wonderful to put this on for William.  It was fun meeting their friends, as well.

Boyd Blueberries and Green Frogs

One of the most enchanted things about being at the Boyd's is that no matter how juvenile or silly the ideas William has, they embrace it and embellish it!  We had bought some blueberries since William loves blueberries, only to find that Farmer Brad had picked some of his own for us.  William wanted to do a taste test.  Before I knew it, they were blindfolded and were running a blind sample.

The ones on the right won for sweetness.  Those were the store-bought ones.  Although I preferred the ones on the left.  Infinitely cheaper!  (It all depends on what your primary criterium is!)

Summer is always fun, since their water feature is the perfect spawning ground for small green frogs.

I just think they're so cute.  They take shelter in the hydrangeas.

I didn't check if Farmer Brad's blueberry bushes were also covered with these little guys.  I just don't want to know.  :)

STP (Scenic Tour with Puppy)

My friend lives on the STP (Seattle to Portland) bike ride route.  So, when we went to visit, and it was STP weekend, I went out in the morning and shouted encouragement.

Lots appreciated it.  I don't know if you can tell there's a guy there who has a crash test dummy shirt.  I also started telling folks with tandem bikes, that the stoker wasn't pedaling, or was riding the brakes!  :)

This is Daisy.  She is a Cairns Terrier.  William fell in love with the little baby.

Daisy is sleeping on Karen't lap as she drives.

Our car had a flat.  The line at Les Schwab was so long, that we had to wait an hour and a half.  While hanging out where a puppy could hang out, we found some signs in some bushes.  We took this joke picture, and put it on FB.  I heard back that some folks really thought it in poor taste.  (pun)  I was just being silly, and didn't really try to get money, we just took a picture.  I don't feel a need to apologize, as we pay our taxes and donate to the United Way, and most people can get assistance that need it for legal things, like rent, health care and food.

I do think it's great that they are at least interested in recycling.

We went up to see Mount Saint Helens.

The wildflowers were so pretty.

William in front of the crater.

Beauty shot.

Mt. Adams.

We looked for the bench that Papa Bill and Grandma Sue's names are on. 

We stopped a lot of places, and took a lot of hikes, but never found it.

The mountain was playing peek-a-boo the entire day.  It was a very nice day, though.  I loved hanging out with Karen and relaxing.

The day before, we'd gone to both the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers to gather rocks for William's future date with a geologist.

Putaansuu Reunion

I teased Nancy about this photo.  You can make your own remark.  Shaune and Cindy Putas hosted.  They have a lovely home with large deck, pool, and large yard for all forms of Putaansuu recreation (boule and water balloons).

William LOVED that the Finnish flag and the American flag were flying together.

The game is on!

No real dispute here.

The pitch.

This is the only picture I got with Sandy in it.

Sameli and William.

Taavi and Mariah.

William found a snake.  Sofie is monitoring...

Hee hee hee...

Jeannette, Muriel, William and Taavi.

The whole famn damily.

William had a blast and can't wait to go again.  We didn't get in a game of water balloon volleyball.  That's what next year is for!  :)