Victoria turns 10!!

So we are in to the double digits for my big girl. I can't believe she has grown up so much. We thought she was old enough for some more responsibility so we bought her a new digital camera. Let's see how it goes! Happy Birthday Victoria Rose!!!

Memorial Day Camping

Another thing we have tried to do the last couple of summers is more camping. We have found some great camping companions in the McNutt family. So our first chance to camp this summer we took it.It was Memorial day, it was, cold, and the forecast wasn't terribly promising. We did it anyway.

Alyssa was helping Maddy make flower crowns. The flower is a little big but the girl under it makes it all that much cuter!

Blayne always brings his hammock to go camping. It's one of his favorite things to do while camping, napping in the hammock.

One of the nights we had a horrible thunder and lightning storm accompanied by a ton of rain. So we camped out in the McNutt's camper until the down pour eased off. One of the risks you take while camping in Oregon.

We had the chance to take the paddle boats out. Maddy went against her will then was unhappy the entire time, so it didn't last long. Then Gavin and Daddy went back out for a turn without the girls.

What's a camping trip without some fishing or unsuccessful fishing in our case. But dooesn't my fisherman and his fishing girls look cute! Fish or no fish.

One camping trip down this summer and hopefully several more to go!!!

Hike to Ramona Falls

It's not the first time my family has hiked Ramona Falls but the last time was a lot of work. Maddy was only 2 and Mom was not in the best health. With the hike being 8 1/2 miles round trip my family did a great job. We hiked to the falls, had lunch and played for a bit, then we hiked back down. It was a great memory maker. Maybe we will make it an annual tradition.

We enjoy taking photos in this tree, we call it the Dr. Suess tree. It's looks like it would be in a Dr. Suess book. So I made sure to take pictures again this time, part of the tradition!

Sorry about the last photo being blurry, I have young photographers :) This was one of many memories we plan on making this summer, we had such a great time it's going to be hard to measure up to.

Mother's Day

After a great morning of pampering from Blayne and my kids that included cards, flowers, and a french toast breakfast we had my parents over for dinner. Blayne BBQ'd us some salmon, we set the table really nice and I enjoyed a great Mother's Day dinner with My Mom. I love her! I love how much my husband and my kids lover her. While Blayne was BBQ'ing Gavin and My Dad tossed the football back and forth. My Mom and I watered the garden with help from Victoria and Maddalyn. Then we sat down to a beautiful table for a yummy dinner! It was Beautiful!

Happy Mother' Day to all the wonderful mother's I know!

Impromtu visit from NY!

My favorite New Yorkers came into town unexpectedly. Amber and her family were here for 12 days and it was FABULOUS!! I really missed them. I picked them up from the airport late Friday Evening and had a wonderful greeting from Holland, Delaney, and Jonas. I got hugged so hard they almost knocked me over. I loved it!!! We did a lot while they were here even though they were here to visit John's sick father. We still managed to go to the thrift store a few times, made a trip to the fabric store, took some photos with Mt. Hood, did a Mother's Day project for my Mom, had a large BBQ with all my extended family, and we finished off thier visit with a trip to the beach the day before they left. The only thing that would have been better is if they didn't have to go back. But we enjoyed thier vist anyway. We went to Johnsrud viewpoint in Sandy before we headed out to Oregon City for our family BBQ.

Our beach trip started in Lincoln City. The kids gathered shells while the Dad's were crabbing. After some unsuccessful attempts we drove down to Newport where the boys tossed the crab nets off the end of the dock. They brought home 3 that they boiled up and had for a late dinner. FUN, FUN, FUN!!

All in all it was a great visit even though we ended up with a few sunburns!!