August

Leah told me tonight, "I want to look at pictures of remembories".  I love that this is what she calls memories, and it reminded me that I have been so neglectful in updating this online journal of their childhood.

So here goes...

Austin's birthday, we decided to head to the beach, since Brian was there for work.  The kids and I spent the day exploring new beaches, then met up with Dad for a birthday dinner.  We visited Yaquinta Head, and found the coolest beach, Cobble Beach, named for the stones that cover the beach and sound like cobblestones when you walk on them.

the kids had fun playing pioneer games in the lighthouse education center

Jake also spent 3 evenings at a football camp at South Albany High school, his future alma mater

He also started his football season.  

Homemade Art

We've got a ton of hallway walls upstairs, and very little hanging on them.  Today we decided to do a Pinterest hack, and make some of our own art.  This was a super simple, super fun activity.  

Canvases from Hobby Lobby, blue painters tape and regular craft paint.  The kids loved it and are excited to hang their own masterpieces on the walls.

New Annual Family Beach Trip - Neskowin Beach

Peas in a pod

 One of many full body burials

 My son, the big breasted mermaid

 No one really wanted to know what was keeping her hot tub "hot"

 Grandpa and Hannah trying to figure out a selfie on a flip phone

Waterloo Park

For several years now Brian and I have been looking for a good place to go to the river.  No one with any concern for their own health actually swims in the Willamette, so we were on the search for a good clean river with easy access for the kids and a nice park to spend the day in.  

Thanks to an Albany community page on Facebook, we found just the place - Waterloo County Park, just outside of Lebanon.  Just our luck, we managed to go on a day when the forecast of 90+ degrees didn't quite live up to its prediction, and it was overcast and not warm enough (for me anyway) to spend too much time in the water.  Regardless, everyone had a great time, and we plan to go back with warmer weather.

Beach Day

To finish up our Independence Day weekend, we headed for the coast.  We don't get there nearly as often as we want.  After having a super yummy lunch at a new-to-us restaurant in Newport, we spent the afternoon at Agate Beach.  Once again we lucked out with amazing weather and warm water.  The kids were in it all day!

 Brian teaching Jake how to body surf.  He quickly became obsessed with it.

 Cue the Baywatch music...

 I kept going back and forth between being worried to death that he was going to get sucked under, and feeling teary that my first born has gotten so big.  

When we got there, this was our view of the lighthouse.  By late afternoon a fog quickly rolled in and...

this was the view we said goodbye to.