Family Reunion

We left last Thursday to head down to the Ochoco Ranger Station for an annual family reunion (Brad's family). We decided to break up our trip and stayed at a hotel in The Dalles on Thursday night.

It made our drive on Friday much shorter but it still seemed like it took forever to get there.  

Once we were there the kids were happy and I hardly saw them again. 

They got these orange (Oregon State) sunglasses from Uncle Dave. 

One of our favorite things is to hike up to the helicopter pad.  The kids decided they wanted to make  a drone pad.  There were a few drones at the reunion so the kids loved watching them.  

The kids loved playing and exploring on top of the hill. 

A tad bit excited.

The Kindergarteners start a day after the rest of the school. This helps with the chaos and uncertainty of a little kindergarten mind.  School started on a Tuesday but since Ollie is PM kindergarten and won't have school on Wednesdays (early release), he actually didn't start until Thursday afternoon.  He was very patient for his turn. 

The morning he must have said 3 or 4 times he didn't want to go to school.  I quickly learned that this was all a ploy and mostly influenced by his big brothers. 

I have never seen a kid more excited as he was getting ready, walking to the bus, waiting, and taking pictures.   

Waiting for his teacher. 

It took awhile for her to show up so Ollie said "Mom take more pictures!" 

1st & 3rd

Brody & Colt started school last Tuesday. They both seem to like their teachers and classmates. 

I'm glad it was drizzly, gray day because it made going to school a little easier for all of us. 

 

Grasshoppers

I signed Darby up for gymnastics and she had her first class earlier this week. I was fortunate enough to leave the other kids with my neighbor so I could focus on Darby, since it was new for both of us. She was reluctant at first. But once they started doing the obstacle course and actually doing more active stuff she was really into it. It's so fun to watch her cute little body do so many things with confidence. It will be fun to watch her learn more of these skills. 

We got this gymnastics leotard as a hand me down.   It looks so darn cute on her, but it is getting a little too small.  We already have another hand me down for our next class. 

 

Hanging Pictures

We have been in our house for almost 9 years and still have a long list of projects to get done. Combine that with a lack of any sort of decorating sense on my end and you have unpainted walls, pictures that need to be hung and who knows what else.  I try to have some "style" but its just not my thing so I'm working on letting it go and being happy with what it is. 

So I'm happy with this.   

A little arrangement of pictures we have above our bed.   

They make me happy.  

Happy to see my kids on the beach, at our happy place. 

Happy to see my family making silly faces.

Happy for just me and Brad. 

Sock Sorting

Our mismatched/missing socks are a problem in our house.  But in an effort to relieve some stress I created a sock bin and we basically throw our socks in there if we can't quickly find a match.  After a little bit of time we have a sock sorting/matching party.  

This time I had one while Bo was awake.  

Not only was it unproductive but it created a bigger problem.  

Oh well, I LOVE these kids! 

SEA v POR

Brad and I made arrangements to go to the Sounders game, meaning we found a babysitter. At the last minute we were given two extra tickets. We called a few friends but no one could go with that short of a notice so we decided to take Brody & Colt. 

Thankfully the Sounders pulled off a 2 - 1 victory even though they didn't play great soccer.  Here's hoping they can get their act together and make the playoffs.