Sometimes Mommy's need to take some time away 2010

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Dear Max,
It's that time of year again, our annual girls trip. After our adventures last year in California, we decided to stay a little bit closer to home this year and make a trip up to Aunt Teri's cabin in Pine Valley. To be honest, it really doesn't matter where we go, it's all about the company. We enjoyed spending time together, talking, laughing and remembering silly stories from our college years (I'm sure they will tell you all the crazy things your mommy did one day...oh my! I'm afraid). I'm sure we kept the wildlife awake all night with our laughter.

Our night consisted of some wonderful highlights:
* Julie only has expired food in her pantry, and refuses to buy fresh food and WILL eat her expired food. YUK!

PROOF

* Us city girls decided to go on a nature walk, after eating 1/2 our weight in junk food. Yup, that's right we went on a nature walk, and wore the most appropriate shoes!

PROOF


Oh - and here is PROOF of nature

* Even though we are great friends, we are great competitors. We found ourselves in some intense games of banagrams and fivecrowns. Both new games to me, but would highly recommend them

So much fun!

Yeah, that's right... Your mommy Won!

I love these girls so much! I'm so glad that they are in my life, it's great to get together and enjoy the memories or our past and create new memories for our future!

PROOF

And More PROOF...oh, if you only knew what happened...I'm sure some day the stories will be told. Hopefully not at one of our funerals, let's hope we are remembered for something more than what happened during this "memory"

Love you girls!

Meanwhile... you were hanging out with your Grandma's, Papa, Aunt Kathy and Daddy. Getting all the love and attention you needed while your mommy was gone.

Helping Grandma get around

Dining out



With a happy face like that...it doesn't look like you missed a beat. Thanks for letting mommy get away for a little bit. I missed you like crazy! I love you Max!!

Weekend of Food, Family, Friends and Fun

Friday, August 20th and Saturday, August 21st
Dear Max,
After returning from our trip to Oregon it has been non stop. We headed back to work and school for a couple of days, and our dear friends Cara and Brandon came into town. We got a babysitter for you Friday night and enjoyed dinner down town with them. It was so great to get caught up, it has been awhile since we had seen each other.

I thought Saturday was going to be a quiet day, laundry, cleaning and getting back into the swing of things, but we got a surprise visit from Auntie Julie! She came into town with a couple of her girlfriends to enjoy the weekend. We all went out to dinner at our favorite bar-b-q place on Saturday night. We are so lucky to have such great friends and to be able to share our time with them.

Family Vacation Day 7 - The End

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Our last day on vacation. Today we woke up, packed our bags and headed back inland to Portland to fly home. It has been such a fun vacation and so wonderful to spend time together with our family. You have loved having your "brother cousin, Daniel" here day and night. Daniel loves it cause he has a little shadow with you around.

And "baby Natalie" as you refer to her as, loves all the attention you two boys give her. I do think it is funny that you still call Natalie, Baby Natalie, and really she is only 5 months younger than you. It will be good to get back to our home, but we will miss being with our family. Before we hit the airplane ride home, we stopped for lunch at this floating restaurant we saw on our jet boat tour. It was a great day outside, and we ate our on the dock overlooking the river. The perfect finish to a great vacation.

The view from our table

Leaving the restaurant

You and Daniel playing around

Till the next family vacation!

Family Vacation Day 6 Continued

After our morning at Hay Stack Rock we drove to Seaside. Which is a small little town with a cute boardwalk with lots of fun little shops. Our first stop was this amazing pizzaria -I still think about the pizza! You fell asleep on the drive up so enjoyed lunch napping in your stroller. You would have loved it had you tasted the food!

You at lunch

Grammie and Papa enjoying lunch

Daddy... who knows?!

The remains of our tasty adventure

After lunch we took off for the boardwalk. Lot's of silly stores and fun little finds.

They were doing construction on the beach... kind of strange to see a back hoe moving dirt on the beach. Daniel and Papa found it fascinating.

The boys enjoying the view...

Then we found this carnival area, I'm personally not a big fan of carnivals, not sure if you will like them or not, but your daddy does! I really don't care for things that go around and around, frankly it makes me kind of sick. But oddly your Uncle Geary and I both married people that quite enjoy this form a torture, so our family took a quick stop at the tilt a whirl so Aunt Jali and Daddy could go for a spin, literally!

Waiting in line with all the other kids

Yes, they are too old for this!

Then Natalie broke for it, she stole the stroller with you in it and the two of you headed to the...yes, Tavern. Kids these days!


Speaking of things going around and around, yup we found a carousal too! Aunt Jali was a big trooper to go on another round and round you go ride. But you and Natalie were all in.

Mommy and you

Aunt Jali, Natalie and you

Enjoying Seaside


After Seaside we went down to Cannon Beach National Park. It was absolutely amazing. The view was remarkable... just look, the clouds below us, the sun setting, reflecting against the ocean. It was breathtaking.

And you two are equally as breathtaking!

Family Vacation Day 6

Monday, August 16, 2010
Dear Max,
This morning we went to Hay Stack Rock in Cannon Beach.

The gang on the walk down to the rock.


This was a surprising experience for me.

I was expecting to see this. A Huge rock in the ocean.

But instead we saw this...

Huge star fish, green sea urchins


And tiny crustations.

I had no idea that this "rock" was an actual living rock, with billions of sea life friends calling this place home. It was so fun to explore!

A birds eye view for Max

Natalie becoming one with the sea life

Uncle Geary, Daniel and Natalie exploring the rock

After exploring the rock, Grammie was smart and brought some kites and beach toys to play with. It was perfect kite flying weather.

Papa helping the kids get the kites up


Oh no! It crashed, you are a big helper with flying kites


Hold on tight... Yeah that didn't always work out, I remember one round Daddy was chasing your kite down the beach. We got smart with the "double hold" after that.


Daniel getting his kite up in the air


Look at that! They are super high

Once you lost interest with kite flying you began your excavation of Hay Stack Rock Beach.

Digging holes

And more holes

And even more holes.

It entertained you for a long time!

Our last activity at the beach, put your feet in. It's such cold water, we didn't want to get wet to early and then be miserable. So we spent a few moments in the water to say we were brave enough to dip our feet in this freezing stuff!

You and Daddy

Our family with Hay Stack Rock (remember, it's not just a "rock")