Family Time @ Wildlife Safari

Klorissa, AJ, and Cason [and their dog Buddy] moved to Winston last month! We love the idea of them being closer and we've already been able to hang out! Of course we had to check out their new digs, although I got no pictures of that.

Cousin Cason is all boy and has his own four-wheeler. The girls had a ball pretending to drive that around.

They now live just a few minutes away from Wildlife Safari so we had to take advantage of going with them. Such a fun place to see animals up close & personal! The girls loved being out of their car seats. Sydney is really into animals these days so she loved identifying so many.

Sydney's favorite animal was the hippo. We sat and looked at it for quite a while - it was just eating. Seoul's favorites were giraffe, zebra, flaminglo (her pronunciation), and the hippo (because Sydney liked it). She was very positive that she liked GIRL animals, not boy animals. So weird! I loved the bears - they always slow traffic with their antics.

Of course we had to ride on the train!

Then we found our own little flock of sheep. Some are cuter than others - haha!

  

  

Sydney and Cason trying stand on one leg like a flamingo. Seoul was doing it but stopped once she knew we were taking the picture.

Dairy Queen for dinner is always a fave. Pictures of 3 kids all looking at the camera with smiles. Impossible.

It was such a fun day! Glad we could get to see family, and plan another get-together!

[September 2012]

visiting Kelley at work

The girls love going to visit daddy at work. They get a piece of candy and stickers from reception, and we eat lunch at Chipotle [which Seoul pronounces Shipochle].

This is the enthusiasm that greets him when he comes upstairs:

We are so grateful for Kelley's job and that he enjoys what he does. Legacy is a good company. It's great that we are close enough to be able to visit every few weeks! I love that the girls are so excited to see their daddy, and be able to see where he works.

Love ya Kelley!

{August 2012}

a little too young...

One day Seoul was taking an extra long time in the bathroom and she came back wearing a bit of eyeliner. Later the girls had disappeared and I found them in the bathroom yet again. At least Seoul knows where it's supposed to go, right? I don't know that I ever experimented with my mom's make-up when I was young, and I still don't even wear much now. They are much girlier than I ever remember being, though. Not sure that bodes well for the future...

{August 2012}

First time bowling.

I'm not much of a bowler. My memories are going with my dad a few times and realizing he is pretty competitive about it. Kelley took a bowling class in college. We don't generally think of it when planning an outing. So we got to go for play group and it was fun although the girls lost interest pretty quickly. Oh well - to each their own, right?

BEFORE

MID-GAME

{August 2012}

A day with friends

We got to watch Grace & Isaac for a day, and we had a lot of fun! We love those guys! A picnic lunch, bike riding (a bit nerve-wracking having 3 kids ride down the road at different paces!), and a silly face contest (encouraged by Kelley, I think!). They played inside, outside, with each other, around each other. Gee - how do people have 4 kids?! Haha!

We love play dates, and we're grateful for such great friends!

{pictures from August 2012}

can't complain....

... that the days go slow! Pretty sure they go by at lightning speed most of the time. We don't do a lot of big trips or vacations but we have sure do have fun! One day we will revolve around a "school year"  I suppose, but for now we just get to enjoy relaxing and spending time with each other. The summer was quite nice weather-wise, and much of it was spent outside.

Lots of time spent with Grandma... at her house, the park, and story times. So great to build a strong relationship with her since we live close!

It's exciting to see Grandpa when he visits every once in a while. The girls love him... lately they pretend to call him on their cell phones every day.

Can't beat a picnic with friends! Sydney is infatuated with Isaac - it's hilarious!

Red cheeks from the hot day, and don't mind the messy house... but darn! Isn't she cute?!

Sydney loves rocking horses. She calls horses  'pity' (?) or something of the sort - a mix of pretty and pony maybe?

Seoul insists that Sydney share everything... so she ends up on the smaller rocking horse many times. Goof!

Cutest girls that LOVE matchy matchy outfits. Oh man, they are getting so big so quick it hurts my heart sometimes!

Our sweet goofy girl.

"Bluebelly" picking as a family. Somehow the girls just ended up laying on the ground waiting for us. They didn't even eat very many! They prefer them frozen for snacks.

Seoul has this horse she named "I Know Who I Am" and lately she wants to take him everywhere she goes. Sometimes I just have to be mean and say no... it's very awkward to carry around.

Our crazy climbing girl - new favorite place is reading books or magazines on the coffee table. If we don't catch her she stands on the table and dances. Hopefully that doesn't turn into a long-term love!

So intently drinking rarely offered chocolate milk in their new summer cups. Both girls have always liked straws in cups better than sippy cups.

Daddy-daughter love. Need I say more?

DQ Dilly Bars... who does love summer treats on those hot days?!

Aunt Kendy moved back to Coos Bay so she and Sherril stopped by for lunch one day on their way out of town. The girls love seeing them!

Still going strong on daddy-daughter days! Seoul really looks forward to one-on-one time with daddy. Don't worry, Sydney has switched off with her once in a while so she gets her own special time also.

Warm summer days definitely call for evening walks. 

This bike rack is a favorite with the girls when we go visit Kelley at work for lunch. It's outside the restaurant Chipotle. We bring our own little cars to play with also.

{pictures from August 2012}

Camping 2012

We love camping with our friend's, the Springer's, every year! This year we went back to Silver Falls State Park and it was so fun!

Unfortunately Sydney got sick as we were preparing to go. So Seoul and I ventured out on our own while Kelley stayed home with Sydney. Was I excited to go without half our family? Not so much, but Seoul's excitement was contagious. The drive was beautiful... but as it went into the forest I was a bit concerned about the lack of cell phone reception to check on Sydney. I trusted Kelley and let it go.

I got the tent set up easily, and Seoul helped unload our stuff. She was excited she brought her scooter. The Springer Family arrived and set up their camp. Then we prepped dinner - hot dogs / bratwurst, chips, fruit - the usual easy first night camping dinner. So glad Randy is along for the campfire, although there is always a bit of drama with that. Can't beat s'mores! Seoul wouldn't eat any, though. She was tired and just asked to get into the tent. She got ready for bed early, and actually stayed in the tent by herself while I visited.

Seoul slept well - she just wanted to cuddle close and hold my hand all night. Early morning I woke up to rain - boo! Totally unexpected but at least it stayed dry throughout the day. We headed to Stayton so I could get cell reception and check on my baby. Kelley said she didn't sleep well - he thought she missed Seoul. They've never been apart at night before. If she was feeling OK he was going to come down to the park for dinner. We went hiking at the South Falls and enjoyed being behind the waterfall. I planned a nature walk with candies for the things kids found from the pictures I printed. They had fun getting candy!

Dinner was yummy - hobo dinners - but I botched the pineapple upside down cake, and I was SO excited for it! I cooked it way too long so it completely burned. Kelley & Sydney came up for a while. The kids played near the water throwing rocks. We attempted pictures - Brittany has more on her camera so maybe one day I'll get those posted.

Our last day - it was so fun to be out there in nature with good friends. We had breakfast then headed to the North Falls for a bit more camping. The Springer's did the short hike then their kiddos were tired. Seoul wanted to keep going so we went further down the loop. I didn't know the big North Falls let you walk the rim behind the waterfall. We had to go up and down about 75 steps and Seoul was a champ! People even commented on what a good little walker she is!

At home we all took naps. Sydney was feeling better, which was good.

Our awesome friends!

We always get a family photo by this big tree! Can't wait to have the whole family next year!

Notables:

• I should never be in charge of breakfast! It took forever to do the eggs in a bag for breakfast burritos for some reason. Every year it's a trial. Plus our gas was leaking in the camp stove so we couldn't use it.
• Seoul's favorite thing was taking her dalmation puppy - he went on the slide and hiking with us.

{August 2012}