4 things

4 things I wanted to do this summer:


Teach the kids to Double Dutch.
Go to Fort Vancouver
Hike Munson Falls
Go Berry Picking.


Check (well single rope-check), Check, Check, and Check!!!

My favorite Boys:

Fort Vancouver with Nell's kids:

Munson Falls is actually only a 1/2 mile hike at most.... I could have done it in flip flops.

Token picture of the parents:

Berry Picking

15 pounds of Raspberries!

Mary Poppins

I feel as if I have so much to catch up on and blog about from our Summer. So many pictures to go through.

This was one of the highlights for Avery and me. We attended the Mary Poppins Musical with our friends. I'm not a huge musical fan, but this was absolutely amazing. The scenery and props, with smoke, lighting that made it look like stars were coming out into the audience, and people 'flying' in the air. It was all so breath-taking. Avery was in heaven.

Avery and friend Grace.

After the play we went across the street to the fountain. It was so warm still at 10 o'clock at night, we couldn't resist.

Before the play, we took the girls to Cara Amicos. You can't tell by the picture, but it has a great view of downtown Portland.

Me and Emily. She is one of the best! Fun, positive, smart, and likes good music (my kind of good music) to boot. I love to hang out with her, whether it's riding in her Tahoe listening to our music loud, going to lunch or anthro together or playing dance party wii. She's one of those people that I am grateful to count as my friend. Enough corny things said!

Be Prepared

Could you name the 12 principles of Boy Scouts? I couldn't either, but I do have to admit, Scout Camp is FUN.

Archery, BB-guns, bottle rockets, obstacle courses (that are timed) and tons of other things that are in the wilderness. This camp was a ten! and I had very low expectations, after all, it is the key to happiness. I volunteered on the first day never looked at my watch once.

If you had one of these at home, it would be hours of entertainment!!! The ladies I was with were seriously trying to figure out how to build one.

Jake won the obstacle course for his group with a 1min 7sec time. The kid is so competitive.

I'd say this was a hit. At 70$ for five days, I'd say it was darn near the best money I ever spent!

38

Guess who turned 38??? Old I tell you.

For his Birthday, B's parents watched the kids overnight and we headed to the Coast. Truly our favorite place to be.
We started out the trip with a new hike for both of us. Cascade Trail just South of Neskowin. Us almost at the Summit. I think it was almost 1300 feet in elevation.

I wanted to run the whole thing....but Bri declined. Just kidding. There were seriously some steep spots that had us stopping to catch our breath.

Lincoln City is to the South.

The Salmon River and Cascade Range.

After the hike we rolled into Oceanside to be greeted with this sunset! I feel so often like this place was created for us.

Waking up in the morning at 10.... Yes, I said 10 am. Reading my "People" magazine taking in this view.

Happy Birthday B!!!

Every Once in a While

I think I am doing a good job at this whole "motherhood" job.

I found this piece of paper in Avery's room on her desk. It made me so happy. I hope she still feels this when she is 16, 20, and even 40.....

Some things I've been working on:

Painting a table.

Before:

I LOVE spray paint!!

After:

Finding used chandeliers for 15$ at the Habitat for Humanity store.

Loving these huge pictures in the Ballard Design Catalog and thinking I'll just start small:

My mini picture that I painted:

4

All things Grace:

Grace walks (and runs) on her tiptoes a lot

Grace loves preschool and loves to write and learn. She can write her name.

Grace calls oatmeal "oppameal"

Grace just learned to ride a bike with training wheels. And is already trained in the art of two wheel scooter riding.

Grace is very kind to babies.

She loves to play with squinkies, barbies, and little petshops

Grace loves to watch Dora

Grace loves music and is very opinionated in the car when we listen to my music.

Grace can be pretty stubborn

You can usually find grace right under my feet.

Grace loves to climb into bed with Avery in the middle of the night.

Grace knows that my favorite part of the day is when we "snuggle up" and lay down for a nap.