Hunting 2009

So far, hunting for our family has really just been camping with a gun. So fear not, no deer carcas pictures. We spent 5 days in the great outdoors and I was so thankful for the beautiful weather up until the last day. It made for a perfect trip.

Snuggling by the campfire and eating

breakfast was our daily morning ritual.

Also, Wyatt really loved making silly faces. Will, not so much.
Posing on the big rock. Weapons? Check!

Campfire entertainment.

Quad rides...love Anna's expression. She loved it!

Cinnamon rolls in the '69 trailer on the last rainy morning. Yes, you read right, our trailer is 40 years old. Vintage baby.

Campfire kisses

The boys getting ready for a hunt

Cousins on a Quad

Memories made.

Our Favorite Spot

We can't go to Grants Pass in August without a river day at our favorite "secret" spot. I think the first time we went (and I have pictures to prove it) was when Wyatt was about 4 months old, which would be 6 years ago! We have kept up the tradition every year. Being on the river is so beautiful and it always amazes me how peaceful and calm the world feels here.

.

My cutie! I love the reflections in his sunglasses.

Getting geared up for some rock jumpin'

Will in the water after a jump to Papa. I love this photo.

Wyatt was brave enough to jump this year! He and Will jumped together.

Wyatt, our photographer, snapped this one of the 2 of us.

Me and my boys, I sat in this spot for awhile and marveled and God's beautiful creation.

After we'd had enough sun and water for one day we headed home, and stopped off for pizza. It was a yummy way to end a perfect day.

By the way, our chickens are getting quite good at doing what they do best. While we were away they layed 7 eggs!

Makin' the coffee

Most mornings I wake up to these two....

Makin' the coffee.
Anna is often our earliest bird. During the school year Craig let her help him make the coffee one morning. Now, it has become a routine, in her mind. Every night before bed she reminds daddy about their coffee makin' ritual. It's a special, sweet little tradition between the two of them, that just warms my heart.

Not to mention my coffee cup.

The 4th

Here are a few late picture of our fun-filled 4th of July!

We enjoyed a BBQ with the "Button" clan, and home made ice cream.

The only way to get a picture like this.....

... Is to promise them one like this!

Wyatt's newest crazy face

Serving up the ice cream

Anna and cousin Hunter enjoying a tasty treat!

Fun Summer Activity #4: Beach Camping

Along with clam digging, bike rides, and eating scones around the campfire, not much beats the beauty of the coast. My parents camped next to us and we had a blast. It was over way too soon!

Here's the gang in Cannon Beach right after a tasty lunch at Mo's!

We stopped to play at Hug Point and my mom and I couldn't get over how much this lady looked like her dog. Not a great picture, as I was trying to be discreet. But it still makes me laugh.
Wyatt loves those waves, and being silly.


And mom has a tradition of making scones on the fire in lieu of s'mores. All you need is a store bought scone mix, these handy sandwich/scone makers, butter, and her incredible raspberry jam, and you get....



This! Can you say yummy?

What did the girl mushroom say to the boy mushroom?

You're a FUN GUY!

Check out all the fungi we found over Memorial Day weekend.

Morrel mushrooms

Us by the lake

A family of 7....my biggest find.

Cute flowers growing out of a old log. And a cute girl, too.

Hunting and gathering is so much fun.

Wyatt chillin' by the lake.

Brothers and Friends

The three on the infamous dirt mound.

Can you spot the two monkey's in the tree? This is what happens when mom takes a nap.

A basket full!

A very fungi weekend, indeed!

Traditions

Welcome to Company Girl Coffee!

This week Rachel Anne had me thinking about HOLIDAY TRADITIONS.

I have to admit, I think I have been kind of lacking in that area. I hear of all these neat ideas for a tradition and I think, "I want to start doing that" but then I never actually make it happen. But I did think of one thing that we have done every year for at least the past 4 years.

Make a gingerbread house.

I'm not talking real gingerbread, just the easy graham cracker stuck on a milk carton kind of gingerbread house. Above is Christmas 2004, Will was 3 1/2 (sniff, sniff) and Wyatt (not pictured....did we let him partake in the decorating that year? Maybe he went to bed early....) was 1 1/2.

I always look forward to this fun activity. We get a ton of different candy, put on some Christmas music and go to town. I love watching my kids creativity and their different personalities emerge as they decorate. Let me tell you, watching your child decorate a gingerbread house will tell you a lot about their personality!

We talk and take our time. Last year they boys got so creative. They did the whole gingerbread house and then added a yard complete with a hill of snow, a sled, a lamp post and trees. All while Anna was busy shoving candy into her mouth! A lot of times this tradition will fall around my birthday (Dec. 17) and so that makes it extra special.

It's funny because this tradition just kinda happened! It first started when we were given a gingerbread house "kit" and we just took it from there. I think we are sticking with this one. I'd love to see my boys as teenagers decorating a gingerbread house!

So what about you? What's your favorite holiday tradition? Please share!