Lost Teeth and Pink Dresses

Avery's first top lost tooth. I'm kind of amazed at the size of the hole it leaves.... But she looks so cute. Hard to believe she turns 6 years old this coming week. (More to follow on the horse back riding Birthday party :)



So of course, Grace wanted her picture taken too. They just happen to be wearing semi-matching dresses. Too cute.

Then one more wanted to jump into the picture.

And vintage Jake....always shooting a weapon.

Grace has really been into watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse lately. What is it about that mouse??

What I did this Weekend

On the way back from an early morning Saturday run, I ran past a garage sale just opening. I spotted this table from half a block away....took a turn and asked the lady to hold it for a little while. It was only 5$!!!!! I love it.

I've been reading this great, inspiring blog, called Just beachy. It's on the right column of this page. This woman is amazing. She builds, designs, and envisions beautiful coastal inspired things (with a eye for a good deal to boot). It inspired me to 'redo' my nightstand area. I'm just sad I took no "before" pictures because it really looks 10x better! There used to be a teeny nightstand and a huge book shelf, with books that I had already read. Well I enlisted Jake and we carried all the books and shelf down to the extra bedroom.

It really opens up the space and makes it look so much more simple and a little coastal too.



A cute little drawer. I found an old book called the "Yellow Wallpaper". A short story I read in a Women's Studies course in college. I stuck the book in the drawer and am going to re-read it soon. Hill and Kir, Look it up. I would be curious of your thoughts on the book.

Note all the Coastal Living Mags stacked. That is probably only a quarter of the ones I own. It is one of my absolute faves.

With the huge book shelf gone, I could actually see out the right window. I pulled the curtain open at dusk and could see a beautiful pink sunset sky.

PS - My room always looks like this! jk

Strickly for Posterity

I actually took these pictures myself. And Hill you would be proud (I didn't even open my mouth for the shot).

I often feel there are no pictures of the two of us together. Usually, only ones of Brian and the kids. I like to call many of our photo albums "Brian the single father". Because that's what it looks like. I take all the shots, and therefore am not an many pictures.....

So these are for no other reason than to prove we were sometimes in the same place at the same time.

PS - We met 14 years ago in this month of Aug and I still love this man!

Magnus Tree Farm

This is what we did to celebrate Cassy's (our dogs) birthday! She turned 9 on Aug 4th, also Coast Guard Day, as Brian likes to remind everyone. And as I write, I am realizing that I did not even get a good picture of our dog on this post;) Kind of funny.....


The kids at the end of the little hike.


Picking Blackberries

The full beard.... he is still so darn handsome.

Getting a ride. She must be more than half his body weight!! It really is amazing.

This was my attempt of taking a good portrait of the three of them....

Cute girl with the flowers / dandelions she picked for her Mom.

Happy B-day Cassy! You've been a good dog. I'm sure you will be around for another 9!

Fun Places, Fun Friends

Off to our new favorite beach Neskowin for just a day trip! Totally over cast but still warm! In fact all the kids got burned, because bad mothers waited too long to put sunscreen on!! Felt so bad...

But they were no worse for the wear. Lots of treasures found, lots of laughter, and lots of energy burned.



The climbing tree




A surprising picture of 'The Mother', that was only because Emily was there to take it.



Budding Gymnasts Avery and Friend Grace

Grace wanted to do everything the big girls did. She is Avery's mini-me times ten.

Where's Jake??

Treasures found by Jack and Jake

Dead fish and even a few live ones were caught.

Oregon to Washington

Yes, that's right, We have walked from Oregon to Washington and back to Oregon again!!

Here are some pictures from my Mom's Sixtieth Birthday. I know very few who look as good as she does!!

Me, Mom and Hill before the walk. Hill always makes my Mom peach pie for her B-day, so she brought along some delecious peach tarts for our after walk fuel up!

The I-205 bridge sign.

The walk was pretty loud, but still fun. It took just under two hours. I say a pretty awesome way to ring in 60!

More Cousins

While Kir was visiting and it was 95 degrees in Portland, we decided to head to the coast for some reprieve..... We were expecting at least a little sun and and cooler temperatures. Well we got a lot cooler. Like 60 degrees and a slight drizzle. I looked over to Kir and said, "I'm sorry." To which she could only reply, "This is the Oregon Coast." True, True. Fortunately we had packed enough sweatshirts for everyone!!

But it is amazing that children can have the time of their lives at a beach with fog and wind, or sun and waves!!

They played for hours in the sand and little creek that flowed into the Ocean.

Sisters....just missing one!



What ??? No scowl?

Got to love Big K!

Some of Chase's findings.

Avery and Mini-me. They went everywhere together.

Priceless: A quiet ride home.

Noticeably absent: Grace. She attended Johanna's so we could all fit in one car :(