Camping at Nehalem

We kicked off summer with a camping trip to one of our favorite campgrounds on the Oregon Coast, Nehalem Bay. We had wonderful weather and awesome time together as a family.....went on a few bike rides, climbed the sand dunes behind our camp to the beach, and played around the campsite. The kids were SO in their element and just loved being outside. The boys spent a lot of time climbing the little coastal trees at our campsite. And, of course we did some clam diggin' in Seaside. The boys got really into it this time and Will even helped to spot a few clam holes! (above: showing off the clams, below: looking for holes with mom)

Our future "clammer" Anna, checking out our limit.

Ahhh....blue sky above, warm sand below. It was a truly beautiful day at the beach. Craig and the boys built some sand castles while I relaxed and let Anna climb and roll up and down the sand dunes getting her FILL (literally!) of sand.

First grade, here he comes!

There is just no way I have a 1st grader! But......I do. So I need to get used to the idea. I went and helped out with Will's field day and kindergarten graduation today. The kids had lots of fun and we are excited about summer! But, I did get a little teary thinking about how fast this year flew by and him being at school full days next year. Above is a picture of Will and Mrs. Travis. Will shared that his favorite thing about kindergarten was (of course) P.E.

Signs of Summer

Aaahhhh, raspberries. I always know summer is on it's way when we start picking those ripe juicy berries. I have yet to make any jam, since my kids have been raiding the bushes daily, popping them into their mouths as fast as they can pick them. But, it's okay. Still makes me happy to know that summer is almost here!

What are your favorite signs of summer??

everyday excitement

This pic is actually from last week, one of those HOT days, the kids had run through the sprinklers and we were enjoying popsicles on the back deck. When all of the sudden this baby blue-jay hops onto our deck, goes right through the french doors into my bedroom! It then gets freaked out and flies into our bathroom, knocking over a few picture frames. So, I decide to take the kids around and come in the front of the house and try and shoo it back out the way it came in. By the time we get inside it had already flown to our front room and is sitting here on the windowsil, trying to fly out. Let me just say, I really love birds, I love pictures of birds, I love to watch them, I feed them deluxe bird feed and everything. But the bird in my house thing was freaking me out. I just couldn't get up the nerve to grab it and take it outside, so we sat and watched it poop and flap all over the windowsil. Wyatt and Anna were especially interested and I had to hold Anna back from going up to it, she was shouting "ba-ba" (her word for everything she doesn't have a word for) and pointing. Finally after about 10 minutes, we decided to walk out the front door hoping it would get a clue and follow us. It did, and it was glad to be free again. Jut a little daily excitement in our lives....and the birds.

Celebrating 9 Years

Craig and I were married 9 years on May 30. My parents had given us a nights stay at the O'dysius Holtel in Lincoln Cirty for Christmas, so we redeemed it and they watched the kids while we went away overnight!

We had a great time, shopping, eating out, taking a walk and browsing an antique store for over an hour! Something we both love to do, but is so impossible to do, with kids! We didn't buy anything, but it's fun to look and get ideas......

We walked on the beach Saturday morning, a short walk since it was a little chilly, and we saw deer tracks in the sand. Craig kept saying, "those are buck tracks" (and he would know!) and I was like, "no way, it must be some sort of dog or pony, deer don't walk on the beach". Well sure enough on way back to the hotel after walking down the street for a while we see the deer. It's a small buck and it starts walking right towards us, getting really close and finally just trots across the road, (luckily there was a break in cars and it didn't get hit!) I, of course snapped a few pictures of it.

Anyway, how appropriate that my deer hunting husband and I should see a deer at the beach! I am so blessed to be married to this wonderful guy and to be starting now our 10th year of marriage together. We had a great time!