Summer Camp Opa & Oma

It is the first week of July, the weather is still gorgeous and we enjoyed the company of Jacqueline and Adam and their kids, who flew in from California for an extended 4^th of July vacation. Alexandra and Emmett joined the party for the first couple of days, and we had a houseful of happy kids and adults. 

Bonnie had arranged Pony Camp for the girls, and the next morning they went to the stables at the end of the road in their brand new cowboy boots. They had riding lessons, pony grooming, arts and crafts projects and pic-nics.

The afternoons were spent on the lake. Sara had provided us with a six person floating raft which was a gigantic hit, despite the absence of the six cup holders we had expected. The biggest attraction for the grandkids was not the leisurely float in the middle of the lake, but Life Guard Adam who would suddenly appear out of the depths of the lake, and throw everyone in the lake.

While the girls were at Pony Camp, Adam and I went to the neighborhood golf course and managed to complete 18 holes. The course was in nice shape and the Oregon weather is total perfect for this game. The results were more than satisfactory because I came home with the same ball with which I started and managed to (just) break 100. Adam did a lot better at 90 while getting used to the course and this was only a prelude to what happened the next day: He scored a life time best of 79!

Jacqueline meanwhile stayed in shape in the local gym, Emmett was entertained by Bonnie or built a gnome house with only a little help from Opa.

We celebrated the 4^th of July in Molalla Oregon where we visited the Molalla Buckaroo, the annual rodeo and fair. We did all the things one would expect to do on the fourth of July, including the rides at the fair (Bonnie and I skipped that part), ate gourmet festival food such as pulled pork, fries and funnel cakes, cheered the cowboys at the rodeo, and watched the fireworks that concluded the show. It was a lot of fun and it felt like the real American 4^th of July celebration. 

Adam and Jacqueline had invited their Portland friends Bruce and Vicky to visit us the next day. They also brought their two kids and we had a capacity crowd on the 6 person float.

The parents went home on Saturday while the grand-kids stayed on for a couple more days.  We had a fantastic time and were glad everyone was able to join us.