Cle Elum

On August 24th-25th, Jeff’s sister Steph organized a White family get-together in Ronald, WA between Cle Elum and Suncadia. Even their youngest brother Sam flew in to be there with us. It was a pleasant low-key two day family hangout. We visited Cle Elum Lake and braved the brisk breeze to enjoy the scenery. The kids enjoyed the various board games and arcade type games provided by the rental house. The adults enjoyed several intense games of around the world ping pong in the garage. Steph blew out all 39 candles on her birthday cake while we were there, and didn’t even set off any smoke detectors. Grampa Dan made his famous waffles. We consumed a record number of the fresh-picked peaches we brought from the trees in our driveway. We discovered Salmon-la-Sac, a gorgeous camping and hiking area just outside of Ronald, WA, and hope to go back to explore it more fully next year. There isn’t really a story line for this quick trip; just a family hanging out together.

Cle Elum Lake was rocky and WINDY.

Rose and Layne

Amber and Sam went on a run together back to the car. I had secret plans and clever schemes up my sleeve to snag a White Family photo while we were all together, but as usual, it did not happen. The last White Family picture with all three original White kids (Steph, Jeff, and Sam) plus their parents, spouses, and kids was Christmas of 2012. My inner historian weeps at the thought, but some folks just won’t stand for group pictures.

Hiking up the rocky sand back towards the car.

Grama Leslie and Rosie.

MOUNTAINS!! and Jay.

Jay, with his stick-gun.

6/7 of the cousins.

Lighting the birthday candles. I love that what Steph wanted for her birthday was her family all together.

Steph and her mini-me daughter, Grayce.

It was breezy and chilly both days we were there, so the kids flocked to the hot tub. They always wanted to stay in longer than was safe for their little bodies in that hot water. It was a task getting their unwilling little bodies out of the tub.

I slipped away on Saturday morning for a trail run by the Cle Elum River. And yes, I kept this blurry picture because it shows a line of muscle in my quad, haha.

I ran past the dam on the Cle Elum River. It was large and in charge.

I also ran along the lake for a little while, but the shore was so rocky and rutted that it was painful to run on so I turned back. Plus, the misty smoky haze crept back in over night so the view wasn’t quite as blue and spectacular as it had been the afternoon before.

Pretty pebbles on the lake shore.

Amber and Grayce playing Candy Land.

This was the only picture I got of all seven cousins: playing Monopoly and Candy Land.

Movies became necessary for the exhausted emotional small children, and Jay and Rose never complained.

I didn’t know Monopoly could be THIS fun.

The rental house’s garage had a foosball table, a basketball game, and a ping pong table. I adore foosball and this was the first time I played in nearly a decade. Jeff mastered the two handed shooting technique in basketball, and around the world ping pong was the all-around favorite.

Grayce and Amber: these blonde “frenemy” cousins have a whole lot of sass between the two of them.