13AUG16 - Sultan, WA (kids & grandkids visit - jour trois)

Saturday, 13AUG, the kids (Rebecca, Raymond & Joe) took off on another outdoor adventure - going to Leavenworth, WA, for sightseeing & ziplining.  Once again leaving Oma & Opa to babysit the grandkids (Jaxson & Mason).  As we have described previously in this BLOG, Leavenworth is a small down east of the Seattle metro area on highway US 2; some time ago the town decided to model the exterior of the building based on architecture found in Bavaria, Germany.  Now it is a very popular place for tourists visiting Washington, especially during Octoberfest!  Since Raymond had never seen Leavenworth, Rebecca wanted to include it on their visit this year.

Once again no reservations were made, & they had to scramble for a time slot.  As it was they could only get tickets for the five zipline adventure, not the nine zipline package they wanted.

Rather than take the grandkids “somewhere” to keep them entertained, Oma & Opa decided to babysit them at the house; where Jaxson & Mason pretty much kept themselves entertained all day.  First they decided to rearrange all the big rocks & driftwood in Corrie’s rock garden while Corrie was running errands.  Every rock picked was analyzed for several minutes before deciding exactly which concrete paver (also in the rock garden) it would be placed on.  Once assigned its new place, it could not be moved & had to remain there for their entire visit.

In addition, some pavers were assigned multiple rocks.  Turns out these groups of rocks were families w/mothers, fathers & children.  The boys also had complete story lines for each family, which they would discuss between themselves at great lengthJ  When Corrie returned from her errands, she attempted to rearrange her rock garden.  She was quickly informed this was not allowed.

Next on the agenda was super soaker battles & running thru the sprinkler.  While drying off Jaxson noted some rope & bungie cords Dan had laying on the deck.  This lead to almost an hour of mountain climbing.  One grandkid would loosely tie the rope around himself & hook a bungie to the rope.  Then he would climb around the outside of the deck (2 ft off the ground), while his brother would give him rope (or take up slack) as needed.

During all this Dan’s cousin Steve & wife Bonnie Kiesel stopped by for a quick visit.  We tried to convince them to stay for dinner, since we already had other relatives joining us for BBQ & to visit w/the kids & grandkids.  Unfortunately they declined the invitation.  Later that evening we were joined by Dan’s niece Marisa, husband Dave Greenwood, & sons Jaxson & Ely for a BBQ & campfire.  (We last saw Dave, Marisa & kids Mother’s Day, 08MAY.)