Runnig an errand for Jeff

Our boat has been in the shop since July and it has just one more thing that needed to be done. This required that I go to Newport to get a part and then drive that part to Garibaldi to the repair shop.
So, the girls and I made a day, or should I say two days, of it.

The marina in Newport.

After picking up the part for the boat, we went to the the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

This is Ainsley petting a tiger shark.

Emery was mesmerized by the big crabs.

Touching some anemones

and a star fish.

In the shark tank.

Just a picture of the bridge

After we dropped off the part, we went to Papa's farm to see our cousins.
It's been 2 years since the last time we saw the boys and, my goodness, have they grown.
This is Jacob. He's the oldest at 15. I have a picture of him and Ainsley walking hand in hand like this the last time we were all together.

Had to get another picture of my stripy kitten.

The boys
Josiah, Kaleb, Joshua and Jacob.
I had Josiah stand downhill from his brothers. He is just 11 and his is 6' 1" with a size 15 shoe.

I took the long way home from the coast and stopped at my Mom and Dad's to have lunch with Grammy and to see the carnage. The mangled bits that were the bully tree.

I know it felt a little too much like dancing on a grave, but I was trying to show how big it truly was.

I'm thinking about taking this one and turning it into a coffee table.

All the new additions

Jeff's brother Brad has got a new Baby. Her name is Jenna and she is a doll.

Look at that face.

This is Jenna with her brother AJ and sister Kandle.

Ther are also some new kittens down at the barn.
This little stripy one is my favorite.

The kids loved the black ones. But look at the stripy one rubbing up on Ainsley's leg.

If we didn't already have Yui, I would be taking that one home.

A day on the Beach.

We went to the coast for the weekend and were so happy when Jenn and Ash came to spend the afternoon with us. It turned what would have otherwise been us siting around the house all day into a day at the beach.

They were in hog heaven with that ice cream

Thanks for coming to play with us Jenn and Ash. You should do it more often

The great tree. Our Bully

My childhood was spent playing in the shadow of a Giant. A great monster of a tree (We called it the bully) that is in the background of almost every picture ever taken in my parents’ backyard.
You could see it from blocks away and it inspired the most wonderful adventures in our very own Neverland. Truly the place where dreams are made and children never grow up. We were and are blest to have such a wonderful place to call our home and where we are able to watch our kids enjoy the same happy adventures together.
But such is life and everything has its end. The tree’s great branches have failed... now for the last time. It is truly the end of an era. Our Giant will be gone and he will be missed by all.

Ainsley and My Dad's Birthday Party.

Ainsley started her Birthday at the Fruit Stand having some lunch with her Papa Jack and Grandma Lance.

Anytime we go to the fruit stand, we need at least 50 cents for some horsey rides.

Ainsley and her GG Lance.

Grandma checking out the produce.

The birthday girl and her orange soda.

After We picked Jackson up from school and Jeff was done with his root canal, we drove out to Hillsboro for more Birthday festivities.
This is my Dad in his garden with the kids.

The kids got ahold of this big box and had the best time with it.

I am so going to miss BBQ season when it's gone.

My sister Jenn and Ashlynn

Poor little Ashlynn got stung by a bee.

This is Ainsley's butterfly cake. I made a German chocolate cake for my Dad.

Emery and her Papa. I think she was talking to him about the fish tank.

My sister Amy and her youngest. I'm not sure what that was all about.