Because we thought we might be going to Switzerland in August, we decided to schedule our first rafting trip early. It was great! It was not as cold as we thought it might be, and we had beautiful weather! Several families weren't able to make this trip, but we had plenty of help. Last minute, we recruited Aimee Barber and her three sons to help with the paddling. Some of the Koford family was also there for the runs on Friday.
Our three oldest grandsons were in hog heaven - they got to go on every run! We needed them, and it is very nice that they are old enough (and strong enough) to be great paddlers!
Ready for the 1st run of the year. This was Lisa's only run, but the first of FIVE for Tyler, Justin and Nathan!
Had to snap a pic of Justin in his cute bonnet!
The second run. 
"Here we are!" Rachel and Bo were ready to head to Elbow for a kid run. We try to take a run on the upper river just for the younger kids every year. There isn't much white water up there, but it's a good 15-20 minute run for them. Last year, Bo and Rachel screamed the whole way, but this year? No tears!
Some of the kids that were crammed into the Yukon for the trip up to the put-in.
The kid run crew. Thanks to Tyler, Justin, Baylee, Amberly, Austin and Nathan for going along to paddle. It's not a very exciting ride for them, but we couldn't do it without them!
Little Rachel at the end of the ride.
Baylee, Grace, Amberly and Ashtyn - taking care of business.
Making s'mores
Playing games Justin brought back from scout camp
Jeff visits with ClaireKChris and Debbie Koford adopted a daughter from Russia. Her name is Claire. On her cup, she wrote C L A I R E K. So, of course, Jeff and Mike started calling her Clairek. She protested, and tried to explain, but they didn't listen - they never do!
Crew of Saturday's first run.
Little Bo uses all his strength to push Dean in the Tonka truck.Back at camp, the big Tonka Truck is star attraction! It was mostly the bigger kids, pushing each other and the smaller kids around the camp ground. But once in a while, one of the little ones gave the big ones a ride. There were tons of roots in the ground, which made for a bumpy ride - but that made it all the more fun!
Cousin Camp Collage
Tyler and Justin wanted to see who was taller. I'm thinking they are about the same height, but with Tyler's curls... Alli and Audrey snuggle in a camp chair by the fire pit. Three silly cousin faces, Allison, Marianne and Audrey. Cousin buddies, Dunc and Bo.
Nate shows off the bruises he got from Mike's game of BINGO!
The crew of Saturday's 2nd run.
Dad really enjoyed the program. When the band got a little loud, he just turned down his hearing aids!
When Heartbound sang, they invited all the youth in the audience who were participating in Arise to come up and sing the theme song with them. One of the members of Heartbound wrote this song. London and Alexis were among about 60 kids who went up front and sang along with Heartbound. I think Justin sang too - but didn't come up to the front of the stage.
I had picked out the colors for the Swedish Weave blanket I was going to make, but changed my mind after we visited our cousin Carol Ann and she gave us a copy of the Rosevear Tartan. I'm planning to make the fringe on the ends a little wider - but I love the color combo! (I also trimmed the yarn on the sides. Haha!)
Congratulations, London!
Lisa, Jackson, Kendrick, Kate and Reagan came in - all with great times.
Hooray for Jack! It was the first time he'd run since his surgeries - and he made it!
Jack grabbed Dad's walker and headed out on the field to play. That got a laugh from everyone! By the time the four games came to an end - Jack wasn't the only one who could have used a walker!
Here's a pic of some of the fans. Angie and Sharon were on the bleachers and Becky was taking photos. We had quite a fan base again this year!
During the final game, the field next door was empty - so the grandkids got up their own team...
Had to snap a pic of Justin in his cute bonnet!
The second run. 
"Here we are!" 
Some of the kids that were crammed into the Yukon for the trip up to the put-in.
The kid run crew. 
Little Rachel at the end of the ride.
Baylee, Grace, Amberly and Ashtyn - taking care of business.
Making s'mores
Playing games Justin brought back from scout camp
Jeff visits with ClaireK
Crew of Saturday's first run.
Little Bo uses all his strength to push Dean in the Tonka truck.
Cousin Camp Collage
Nate shows off the bruises he got from Mike's game of BINGO!
The crew of Saturday's 2nd run.
Some of the great-grandkids gathered around Dad as he checked out his Fathers' Day gift. They were anxious for him to open it and started to help - thank goodness for Scotch Tape.
Once he had started to open it, and realized what it was, he started to choke up.
I think Dad LOVED his gift! He shows it off to everyone who comes to visit.
What a blessing it was for Lisa - and for us!
So happy that Dad was able to be there!
Two of Lisa's close friends - Leah and Amanda - stayed after the session for a pic with her.
Marianne graduated from Kindergarten, and invited us to the program. Here she is in her pretty yellow skirt - probably the best singer in the whole show!
We invited any of the family who wanted to go, to the Young Ambassadors' Concert at the Conference Center. We had a few takers. Amy actually went with us, but wasn't in the pics. The kids and Amy sat right close to the front, and some of the little kids were all but dancing in the aisles. They caught the eye of many of the cast, who came down and talked to them afterward.
I loved the gift they passed out on Mothers' Day last year at church. We stuck these little plants in the ground and they have grown and grown. They're planted in front, by our Arrington est. 1966 "monument." Very beautiful, I think!
Having just returned from Scotland, I had to get a photo of the bagpiper we saw as we pulled into the City Cemetery to visit the graves of the Arringtons, Grandma and Grandpa Grose, and our little Sara.
The grass had grown over Sara's marker a bit, so Grandpa Jack cleaned it all off, then put some blossoms on it.
We decided to have a Memorial Day cookout for those who were still in town. Grandpa Jack cooked hamburgers and hot dogs and then we let the kids roast marshmallows to make S'mores.
Jack always hangs our huge flag out front on major holidays. He asked two of the "almost Eagle Scouts" to fold it up at the end of the day.
Carson picked the decorations for his 8-year birthday cake. He told his mom exactly what he wanted. I think it turned out great! His dad provided the photos for the action figures. Nice job! Yummy cake, too!
Grandpa Grose and Spencer watch and wait for Carson to make his birthday wish.
