Nicolas

Nicolas officially began football practice (kicker) at Dordt on August 10.   I mistakenly thought sending the first or last child off to college would be more difficult than the "in-between" ones.  I figured with the first you are mourning not just the absence of the child from the day to day family life, but you are also grieving the end of the era when all your "chicks" are tucked in bed under the same roof at night.  And with the last child you are sad because your nest is now empty.  In reality, however, I found it was just as difficult with number two as it was with the first.  Since each child brings their own personality to the family dynamics, each absence leaves a hole.  So, we miss Nicolas horribly but are grateful he is in a solid Christian community where he is able to continue to use and develop his gifts and study towards something he has dreamed of for years (veterinary medicine).

Because of the uncertainty of an Air Force Academy appointment (basic training would have begun in June), Nicolas did not pursue a summer job until most people had already hired their summer employees.  This did allow him to say "yes" to all the various jobs people hired him for this summer.  I think he painted, pulled and sprayed weeds, planted trees, trimmed bushes, put together outdoor furniture, dug out dead bushes, mowed, and lots and lots of other odd jobs.  He rounded up cows for a hoof trimmer one day.  Another day because of the media attention his senior project received (he put together a historic walking app for the city of Meridian) he co-taught 5-6th graders at a BSU technology camp.  Between all these jobs, his cross-country trip to Virginia with his friend's family, backpacking in the mountains with friends, RYS convention, and family trips to British Columbia and the Oregon coast most of his days were filled.  

Here are a few pictures of his cross-country trip and his backpacking trip with friends. 

Hershey chocolate factory

National Mall, Washington D.C.

Williamsburg

 Backpacking trip in McCall, ID

The lake was still mostly frozen the end of June

Oregon Coast

With Caleb arriving home from Guatemala on the 31st of July and Nicolas needing to leave for Iowa/Dordt on Aug. 5th, we only had four days this summer (other than the few weeks in May) when we were all together.  We spent those days at the Oregon coast (about 8 hrs away).  Here are our pictures of that precious time!

Columbia River Gorge

Multnomah Falls

Seth asked if he could wade the little creek by the Falls.  While Russ was warning him not to get wet because dry clothes were not accessible, someone was losing his balance and getting very very wet.  This was probably Nicolas' highlight of the entire trip.

Our little cabin for three nights.

We celebrated Caleb and Lydia's birthdays while at the Coast.  I finally finished Caleb's Dordt afghan!

Path to the beach right outside our front door.

Dune at Cape Kwanda State Park

After the hike (roll?) down the dune, we explored the tide pools in the rocky area of the Cape.  Thankfully, the tide was on the lower end and we didn't have come back and try again!

Cape Lookout State Park hike.  After at least a half mile of hiking we came across a plaque memorial for those who lost their lives in a B-17 bomber crash in 1943.  Apparently, a documentary was made called "Fallen Fortress at Cape Lookout" and can be watched here.

The view towards "our" beach from Cape Lookout.  

View from the tip of  Cape Lookout.  At the right time of year this is one of the best places to spot migrating whales.

Beach photos

Looking at Cape Kwanda area (dune and rocky area we explored)

Looking the other direction where we hiked to the tip of Cape Lookout.

Early misty morning beach walks.

We tried our hand at sand sculptures:  an elephant head (not a dragonfly) and a submarine.  Clearly, we needed Uncle Cory.

Early morning crab rescue.  After watching the seagulls flip over and eat the crabs that had been left on the beach during low tide, Seth thought he needed to save them before the sea gulls ate them alive.

Sunset.  We made sure we were on the beach by 8:00 each evening to catch the sunset.