Oregon Trip - Part 1

We went on a trip to Oregon at the end of July.  We looked forward to it all summer. The kids were excited to see their grandparents and cousins.  All of the brothers were going as well, so it was a like a mini family reunion (minus Crys!).  It's always a little crazy with everyone together, but it was so great to see everyone.  We did lots of fun things while we were there including dress shopping, the zoo, the coast, swimming, slip and slide etc.  Here are some pictures!

In the car ready to go.  They are always so excited to head out on a vacation.  It's a different story when we are heading home.  Their faces are NOT as excited.  ha ha.

We always stop at the same rest stop with this welcome to Oregon sign.  We ate lunch, stretched our legs, used the bathroom and then drove the rest of the way to grandma and Grandpa's house.  The kids are really amazing travelers. The only needed to stop 2 times to use the bathroom during our 8 hour drive.  

When we got to La Grande, grandpa was practicing his walking in his exoskeleton.  We went over and walked the rest of the way home with him.  It's pretty fun seeing him be able to walk again.  

Grandma took us girls to the dress shop and got us new dresses, and grandpa took Zac to a hobby shop and he got this card game.  Thanks!

Then we headed over to the hotel to get checked in.  I guess it was completely full.  It's never been completely full when we've stayed there.  I guess people were getting out and about after being stuck at home for the last year and a half.  

Grandma let us use some blow up toys at the hotel pool.  We looked a bit like a circus walking down the hallway.  :) 

We floated,

And Zac practiced his belly flops.  It only took 3 tries for me to get a good picture of it.  :) 

We played a lot of giant Jenga in the backyard.  We broke the record of how high it got!  

It was hard to reach the top when it got really high!

Then we went mini golfing.  Riley had a wasp land on her hand while we were playing.  Fortunately, it didn't sting her, but it really scared her.  It was at the first hole and it took a lot of convincing to get her to keep playing with us, but she did, and she had fun.

Cutie.  Finley didn't last long either, but she hung out with grandma and grandpa.

We went to church with grandma and Uncle Andrew.  The girls all wore their new dresses.

After church it was craft time.  Painting rocks.  

Sadie helped with dinner.  

And Finley played with grandpa's therapy putty.  

Then we headed over to Portland to meet up with my brother and his family at the park.  Actually, we were going to stop at Multnomah Falls, but the exit was closed and it would have added 35 minutes to the trip to turn around and go back.  And we had been telling the kids who had to go to the bathroom that we were almost at the next stop.  Then they had to hold it for like 40 more minutes.  But they did it!  Phew!

We played at the park and ate pizza (thanks Evan and Shanna!) 

Finley was snuggling with Zac in the back of the car.  It had to be documented!

We finally made it to Ben and Lindsy's house in the early afternoon.  It looks like the kids are floating in this picture, but they are sitting on a slackline.  :)

Finley and I got comfy in the hammock.  We love their house and backyard.  So many fun things to do!  They made us pizza to eat for dinner and it was so yummy.  

 

July Visitors

 This has been such a fun summer with lots of visitors.  My parents came in June, Evan and Shanna came in July, and Scott and Christie came in July as well.  It's so fun to have guests.  We love it!  

Going to church with grandma and grandpa.

Uncle Isaac sent some Ceretta's candy for the kids.  He knows how to make friends.  :)

Went to the library with grandma.  Finley will sit there for a long time if you keep reading.  

This was the welcome party when my parent's pulled up.  It was weird seeing them in a silver car! (They drove my brother's car over from Connecticut)

We hiked to Donut Falls with grandma.  She's an expert hiker.  It's fun to go hiking with her.  Finley made it the whole way without much (if any) whining.  She was walking with my mom most of the way.

Posing by the cool tree.

I'm sure she chatted grandma's ear off the whole way.

Cool big log teeter totter.  Only one kid (not mine) got hurt.  Ha ha.

Here we are waiting for the grand re-opening of the library in Sadie's room.  We all checked out a book. 

Ezra had an unfortunate injury to his head so we took it easy while he was around.  We played lots of penny hockey.  He was beating us all by the time they left. 

They were here over the fourth of July.  Well, the 3rd of July.  So they came to the parade with us.  The kids got lots of candy and we saw a cool flyover.  

All the kids!  THey had a great time playing together while they were here.  They will be back in a week or so for a wedding so it will be fun to see them again!

Scott and Christie and their kids came for a visit as well.  We got snow cones at Gardner village.  Note to self: only get 2 next time and share them.  They were huge!

And we always need to get a picture by the flag wall.  This was our group.  So much fun!

The kids really loved having a baby around the house.  Cade was so fun to watch.  

He loved our little disco light ball.

Rob's 40th Birthday

 That's right.  Rob's 40th birthday was this year.  On his actual birthday, we didn't do much.  Just the traditional presents, cake and ice cream.  My parents were in town that week so on the weekend I planned a surprise trip to Top Golf.  I invited some of his old college buddies and he had no idea they were coming.  It was a good surprise.  Zac ended up coming with us too because one of the spouses had to stay home last minute with a sick child.  We played golf for a few hours and had lots of fun.  We decided we were getting old because we all thought the music was way too loud and we had to shout the whole night to hear each other.  Happy 40th birthday Rob!

Blowing out candles.

He was too excited to blow out his candles to look at the camera.  

Rob has been needing new t shirts.  So I got him like 8 new shirts and he found a new one at each clue in his treasure hunt.  He put them all on as he went.  He was sweating by the end.  ha ha

This was actually Father's day.  The day before his birthday.

He's been practicing his eyebrow raise.

He took the day off on his birthday to work on the storage shed we've been building in the backyard.  He was in his happy place.  :)\

Rob and his college buddies at Top Golf.  Such a fun night!

Rob took the time to teach Zac how to swing the club.  Zac loved it!

It was fun having Zac there with us.  I want to bring some of the other kids back again.

Check out his smile!  

Happy birthday to the best dad, husband, friend, and person.   We love you Rob!