Summer Weekends are HOT!

So when the weather forecast calls for temperatures pushing the upper 90's and 100's, what is a Cruz to do but head for the water. And thats what we did.

It took a new battery but we got our Waverunner up and running for the first time this summer.

Gloria and Jose joined us down at Clackamette park to hang out by the river.
Luis on the boat.
The kids each went for a ride. According to Mason, he was going "so fast"!!! In reality, he was going about 25 mph.

The kids were also thrilled to just play around in the water.

The Cruzes.

Me and my favorite toy.

Onward to Sunday, which was just as warm if not warmer. My cousin Shelley's significant other was in town from Minnesota so the Johnson's hosted a bbq so we could all meet him. Bessie and Art came out for the occasion.

Of course my cousin's Shelley and Travis were there.

And Berren. I think the chips were his favorite part.

Shelley's b-friend Adam is on the left and Dan is on the right.

This is my cousin Amanda and her boyfriend Tyson.

My kids were all about the swimming pool. They were in it more or less for 3 straight hours, stopping only briefly for food. Mason, living the life of luxury...

Siena learned how to use water wings. She's like a pro.

Heidi in action!

Wet Mason.

The Slip and Slide was also a hit, especially with the big kids. Tyson and Adam had a distance contest. Judging by this though, it could have been a biggest splash contest.

Shelley and Amanda poolside...

Is it me, or is this a look that says "you've taken enough pictures".

The siblings - Mary Lou, Joanne, and my dad. Its not often you catch them all sitting in a nice row like this.
Dan...in a dress?

The new couple talks sweetly to each other on the left, the long-term couple, they just do their homework.

Uh oh. Shelley's cat is in trouble now...

Kids and a Slip and Slide.

Kinney Picnic 2009

Today was the first Kinney family picnic in at least a decade. We used to have the big family picnic every summer, usually at different parks around town. However, since Grandma Kinney passed away 9 years ago, we just haven't done the picnic. Mom decided though that this year was the year and organized & hosted the party at her place.

The sign looked a lot better earlier in the day (I actually took this as we were leaving).
The official commemorative cake.
As in years past, there has never been a shortage of food. This was just one table...

The hostess herself. I'm sure she will not be pleased that I included this photo so lets focus on her lovely new juice dispenser.

Mom and Siena with Mom's brother Leonard.

Mason plopped his favorite Cars chair in the shade. He insisted on bringing this chair an even decorated it with stickers this morning for the event.

More fun with color settings on the camera. I wish I had discovered this feature months ago!

This sepia picture had potential had the sun not been behind the lovely couple.

This is my cousin Denise and her husband Sabah. They made the trip from Michigan to attend this year's picnic.

The Betty's! On the left is my cousin Betty. She is the second oldest of the 20 grandkids (she missed being the oldest by 1 day). To her right is Betty Eggert. Betty is a sister to my aunts Lucie and Jean, both of whom married my mom's brothers.

Ron and Lucie. In keeping with the documentation of the Kinney family tree, Ron is mom's brother.

Yaya and her Nannies.

The Kinney sisters - Annette and Jan.

Dad just recently got his tractor fixed up and painted. It looks so darn good now that I don't think he can use it for work anymore.

Mason's willing to take it out for a spin though.

This is my cousin Betty again with her significant other of 3 years, Jay.

Mason again. He's just everywhere!

Walt, Leonard, and Nadeen. Nadeen is the oldest child of my great aunt Edna. Edna and my grandma Kinney were sisters. We hadn't seen Nadeen in years so it was neat that she and her daughters and granddaughters were able to come.

There's that Mason boy again. This time with his favorite dog Toby.

The hostess with the mostess!

Miss Stephanie. This is Mason's girlfriend for this week. Stephanie is my cousin Denise's daughter.

From left, husband (whose name I've already forgotten) of Ethel Marie (Grandma Kinney's cousin), Walt, Delaney (Larry's wife), and my cousin Larry.

I'm still trying to figure out what look Walt was going for here with his pants...

Me and my Bubbas...

Siena had a creative way of wearing her name tag. 25 points if you can find it...

Papa Ron. The official landscape artist of the picnic.

Uncle Ron and Sabah...taking it all in.

It was a great picnic. If anyone knows how to host a family function, its my mom. Every family needs the one member who keeps everyone together. In years past it was Grandma Kinney. Since Grandma passed away, I think my mom has done a fantastic job of stepping into that role and keeping the family together. She's a natural and we all really appreciate her efforts!

19 People - 1 House

Cast: Same as last week

Monday - While I went to work, everyone else went to the beach. Luis had photo duties and he forgot the camera. I saw some other people's pictures though and all of the Puerto Ricans looked cold.

Tuesday - I went to work again. The party crew went to see the new Ice Age movie. According to Mason and Siena, the movie gets two thumbs up.

Wednesday - Sunriver! As the title states, there were 19 people and 1 house. However, said house had 6 bedrooms and almost as many bathrooms so it was quite comfortable. The pool table and ping pong table were also quite popular.

Here's Vitito and Abuelo working on potatos for dinner (Yolly is in the middle). The potatoes replaced the rice for the chicken sidekick for that night's dinner.
The kids are ready for the hot tub, even if no one else is.
At last, the hot tub!

Dominoes again. Don't dismiss the seriousness of dominoes. Later in the week, there was a chair and dominoes table thrown. This is not a game to be taken lightly.

The kids are learning the game at a young age.

Thursday - Most of the visiting islanders opted to stay at the house but a few of us brave locals went off and about on a lava mission. First we visited the Lava River Cave a mile north of Sunriver.

The Lava River Cave is lava tube. At 5,211 feet (1,588 meter) in length, the northwest section of the cave is the longest continuous lava tube in Oregon. While the cave’s discovery in 1889 was officially credited to a pioneer hunter, the presence of obsidian flakes near the cave has led archaeologists to conclude that Native Americans knew about the cave long before settlers arrived in central Oregon. The eruption which formed this Lava River Cave occurred about 80,000 years ago. The same volcanic flow that formed the cave underlies much of the Bend area and almost reaches Redmond, Oregon. However, the specific vent that created the cave has been buried by several younger flows.

Here's Gloria, Siena, me, Mason, Andre, and Sara at the tunnel entrance. Gloria didn't bring a sweatshirt and since the cave is at a constant 42 degrees, she opted to wait outside.

A portion of the cave runs under Highway 97, which is a little trippy when you're underground. Here's the sign marking the spot under the road. It was pitch black down there, save for the lanterns we rented at the entrance.

This is the uphill climb to get out of the tunnel. Daunting though it looks on its own, try doing it while carrying an extra 35 pounds of Siena!

After the Lava River Caves, we went to the Volcanic Monument. Junior is checking out a chunk of obsidian. We liked the "please touch" sign on the display.

Mason checks out the volcano map.

Junior and Sara outside the lava flow area.

The kids had a good time on the lava trail. There are all kinds of cool formations and caves to check out.

Siena and Gloria outside the visitor center.

At the top of Lava Butte, a 500 foot volcanic cinder above the lava monument, we made some chickmunk friends. Check out the video blow. These guys were not shy at all, even of the kids. They came right up to say hi.

Mason and Andre at the top of the butte. The view was incredible.

This is the core of the volcano, with the cascades in the background. Did I mention the view was incredible?!?

This is Siena's new friend: Foxy Fox. Foxy was acquired down the hill at the visitors center.

Mason and the mountains. He loved checking out the lava and butte.

After a day of lava, we were all hungary. However, we weren't really up for another meal of chicken, rice, and beans. Instead we hit Red Robin in Bend. Ain't that a great onion ring tower?!?

Junior was all amped to go fishing, especially after visiting the big fly fishing store in Bend.

Unfortunately for him, this was as close as he got.

There was also an incident involving Iris and some burnt popcorn. Guessing Jose is not going to be eating it.

Friday - After a busy site-seeing day around Bend yesterday, it was time to hang around and check out Sunriver. We took Mason and Andre for a bike ride in the morning. Mason went down his first hill and forgot where his breaks were. Luckily it was a short hill and his daddy was at the bottom to slow down his momentum. The wailing "aaaahhhhhhh" was pretty funny though.

The pool was great! Just the right size for Mason and daddy.

And for Siena and Daddy. (aren't they cute)

Kendra and Andre had a great time at the pool with us.

Siena was certainly in her element. Give her a bunch of water and she's a happy girl.

Junior was in his element too. He took a nap. Luis woke him up the proper way...with a bag full of swimming pool water.

Later Friday evening, Joel and Tristyn drove up to Sunriver. If you've lost count, that's 21 people.

Saturday - Time to drive home. Funny, I don't recall seeing Joel and Tristyn in the morning. Guess he decided to drive home at 11:30 pm after Tristyn wouldn't go to sleep. Alrighty...guess if I'm going to go to bed before midnight, I'm going to miss some drama.

We decided to take the scenic route through Sisters and via Detroit. Unbeknownst to us, Sisters was having their annual Quilt Festival. Even more unbeknownst to us, a LOT of people attend the Quilt Festival causing quite a backup of traffic outside town. However, one person's traffic is another's photo op. And it was beautiful!

I even had time, while in the car, to play with different color settings on my camera. I'm liking the sepia.

We finally made it out of Sisters but didn't find anywhere to eat lunch until Detroit...turns out the restaurant had a pimped out motorcycle out front. Mason, Yolimar, Kendra, and Siena are checking it out.

Sunday - Because we haven't been in the car enough, why not immediately head up to Seattle for the day!

Joel joined us on this expedition. Guess he made it home from Sunriver.

Pike Public Market. Oh yeah. The Market opened August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers' markets in the United States. The Market is built on the edge of a steep hill, and consists of several lower levels located below the main level. Each features a variety of unique shops. Antique dealers, comic book sellers, small family-owned restaurants, while the area contains one of the few remaining head shops left in Seattle. Pike Place Market is home to nearly 500 low income residents who live in 8 different buildings throughout the Market.

Outside the market, Kendra enjoys a hotdog while the kids and brothers check out Elliott Bay.

Mason and Andre held Yomary's hand all through Pike Place Market.

I had to pee. And I'm a "woman". Sometimes it sucks.

Mason found the toy car store. It was one of the highlights of his day.

After the market, we herded the group up the road to catch the monorail.

Pablito hooked himself up with a Marley shirt...oh yeah. You've gotta go home with something Marley from Seattle...

The monorail was one of the highlights of the day for all of the kids.

The group outside the Space Needle. The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair. The Space Needle is 605 feet (184 m) high at its highest point and 138 feet (42 m) wide at its widest point and weighs 9,550 tons. When it was completed it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River.

Miss Siena was impressed by the Space Needle.

So were my boys.

The music experience museum thing is pretty darn cool too.

Siena loved it. Its like a giant discotech inside. Clips of her dancing prowess are below.

I know, its yet ANOTHER long blog. But if you think it was long for you to read, imagine how exhausted I am from living it!

Siena aka "Dancing Queen"

And Chip, Dale, and uh Dale