McCormick Park, Hell's Canyon 6/30/2011 - 7/13/2011

After the  Imlay Family Reunion, we headed to Emmett for three weeks and started planning for our big trip to Alaska the middle of July.  Terry built a stinger for the back of the pickup so we could carry the platform behind the camper.  He got the boat ready for McCormick for when we were going to Hell's Canyon the first of July.  I kept busy gathering stuff for Lorrie's annual garage sale, and I put together a quilt for the Church's humanitarian project.  It was just long enough to catch our breath before getting on the road again.  We try not to be a pest to my sister, Lorrie, and just park behind the house and plug in.  We use the master bathroom in the house, but try not to disrupt her life too much!  So, on June 30 we headed out to meet up with Shay and his family at McCormick Park at Hell's Canyon.

After Shay's family got there and we all got set up, first thing on the agenda was fishing.

Marissa was the first to catch a fish. 



Sean was the send one and there were different opinions about which one was the biggest!



Later on, Shay and Terry had to compare their catches!

Tyson had to work a little longer and harder, but also caught fish.

The next day, we all loaded up in our pickup and camper (with a couple of kids riding in the camper) and headed to La Grande to Ryan's home, where we also met up with Jill and her family.  Riley got baptized the next day.  We had a great time the night before up on the "Hibbard Mountain" where we had a hotdog and hamburger cook-out with them and some of Lori's family.  Then Lori had a great meal ready for everyone the next day after the baptism.  Congratulations, Ryley!  We are proud of you.
We and Shay left, with Ryan and family planning to come to McCormick the next week, and Jill and Dan went on to Cascade for the 4th of July and McCormick after that.  (What a job keeping up with all of these kids!)

On Sunday we got ready and went into Halfway to Church.  They have a little branch there and we have gone there so many times that we know quite a few of the members.  It is always fun to see them again, especially when we can take some of our kids and grandkids with us.

On Sunday afternoon we went on a ride in the boat.

Bill lost something in the water, so he decided to try to find it.  I don't think he ever succeeded, but it looks like he is getting some support from Shay's dog, Dax.  Bill dog-sat Das while we went to Ryan's and they became pretty good buddies.

Most times we get to see some of the local wildlife in the area.  This time was no exception.  This mountain sheep was walking on the road across from the river and I zoomed in on it with my camera.  It has a collar on that shows it is being tracked for data.

Bill got his tube out and gave Shay's kids rides.  They were the only kids here at the time so they had a monopoly on the tube, which they enjoyed.  Sean is getting ready to go.

Marissa and Emily are having a great time!

Tyson is modeling his Dad's special hat!

Shay's family had to leave and Jill, Ryan, and Sarah and their kids all showed up.  I went around with my camera to see what all of the grandkids/cousins were doing.  Chaz, JT, and Lindee were up on our bed watching a movie on our little CD player.

Boe, Wesley, and Luke were in Jill's trailer playing games.

Jenna,Kamber, and Ryley were up in the bed in Ryan's borrowed trailer from his in-laws, just giggling and being girls.


The Mom's and Dads, Sarah, Red Ryan, Bald Ryan, and Jill were enjoying the peace and quiet for a little pinochle.

           The girls had fun playing in the water and posing for Grandma's camera.



Wesley, Boe, and JT thought it was fun swimming under Grandpa's pontoon boat.

Before Uncle Bill would take the kids tubing, he made them do "chores."  He gave them buckets to go clean up the shore line.  The ones who picked up the most trash got to go first.  Great idea!

Jill and Chaz went together.

 

                                                           Lindee and Jenna were next.

Bill tried to dunk Wesley and Boe, but they hung on tight and stayed on the tube.  Thanks, Uncle Bill, for all of the fun!

One of the favorite games when we go camping with everyone is "golf-shoes."  Anyway, that is what all of us Howards call it.  My niece's boys, Garrett and Trestin are playing with cousins JT, Chaz, and Luke.

Lindee has her own way of playing golf-shoes!

The girls never got tired of playing with Barbie dolls, most of which were supplied by friends, Elaine and Larry's granddaughter, Cloe.  Here is Kamber, Ryley, Cloe, Jenna, and Alexia (Danielle's daughter) posing with the Barbie dolls.

Danielle always brings the coolest crafts for the kids.  All of the girls got to make as many bows as they wanted to.  Danielle and Sarah are helping Lindee, Jenna, Kamber, and Ryley.

Jenna, Ryley, and Kamber each had enough bows to cover their whole heads!

                                                Lindee is proud of her bow.

Danielle's husband, Than, brought a great craft for the boys.  They made fishing lures!  He told them that whoever caught the first fish with their new lure would get to make another one!

I am not sure who won, but they each make great lures.  Showing them off are Luke, Boe, Wesley, and JT.

The girls caught Uncle Bill asleep and covered the bill of his hat with bows.  He didn't even wake up while they were decorating him!  I think they wore him out tubing!

Several evenings we spent over at Uncle Bill's fire pit and roasted marshmallows and made s'mores.

My sister, Lorrie, and Kamber getting ready to make a s'more.

One of the last nights, Terry took Jill and I out in the boat.  We each caught a really nice trout.  As you can see, mine was a little bit bigger!  We cooked them on the barbecue the next day.  Yummy! 

Mike and Janet (my brother) and their son, Todd, and family came the last weekend.  Some of us hadn't met Todd's wife, Jackie, or seen his little boy, Jonre, so it was really fun getting to know them!  It was Jackie's and Jonre's first time camping.  Todd and Jackie slept in a tent while Jonre slept in the camper with Grandma and Grandpa.  I am not sure who got the most sleep, but they all looked a little tired the next morning!

Great times at McCormick again!