Summer 2016 Family Vacation! (day two)

Day 2 of our BEST ever summer 2016 fam vacay was packed full of adventure!

Auntie Ruth, cousins, Grandpa and Grandma  and even Uncle Dean 

meet us at Fort Clatsop to start the day!

*most of my pictures from this day are blurry due to 

the fact that the kids hardly stopped moving*

Colter, Rolli and Viv trying out the explorer bunk beds.

After sitting through a short story of Lewis and Clark we watched a flint gun demo.

And then the kids even got to (kinda) hold the gun to feel how heavy it was.

Vivian and Madison participated in a demonstration on how elk skin clothes where made.

These boys checked out all of the exhibits at a furious speed.  

They are so full of energy and excitement!

Our next stop was a quick picnic lunch at Fort Stevens before the kids where off and running again!

Look out!  Crazy Driver!

With a load full of wild kids!

Vivian posed for a picture to share with her gymnastics school :)

All the cousins really liked exploring at Fort Stevens!  

It was lots of fun to watch them running around, playing and yelling...

just like we had done at their ages :)

Our last stop for the day was the Peter Irerdale Shipwreck beach.

She is always running wild!

And I love her for it (even though she causes me a lot of worry already).

Vivian and Madison love playing with each other.

I think what they really like is the break from their brothers ;)

Oh' the joys of sand!

The kids dug huge "shelter" holes, rolled down the hill, 

threw sand in the air, put sand in their pockets, ect....

Sand was EVERYWHERE!

Vivian just couldn't stop herself from thoroughly enjoying the feel of SAND!

Everyone know the Oregon Coast is perfect for kite flying :)

Vivian.

Rolli.

Colter and Daddy.

Mr. Man and his idle :)

Then it was off to our campsite to cook hobo meals over the fire!

First Graders!

I have to take a small break from posting vacation pictures to share this...

Rolli and Viv's first day of First Grade!!

Ready for school with their new clothes

(Vivian is all pink and Rolli is all FAST)

shiny shoes and bright smiles!

Vivian is showing us that she is excited to wear her new

 BFF necklace and look for her friend at recess :)

Rolli just wants to get to school so he can see his buddies again!

And Colter is right their getting in on all the action that he can get in on!

Colter, Rollin and Vivian.

This is the last picture they let me snap before we rushed to school just to be early :)

Summer 2016 Family Vacation! (day one)

The 5 of us just got back from our best eVery summer 2016 fam vacay!
Brace yourself for an overload of vacation pictures.


The first day we spent traveling from Aunt Ruth's house down to 
Fort Stevens and made a little stop at
Cape Disappointment.
It was the perfect spot for exploring and stretching restless legs!

Marshall told the kids that the first one to spy a "slug" wins.

They where all pretty excited when Rolli found this snail, 

even though it wasn't a slug.

And how cool is it that it wasn't shy?!

Rolli and his curious snail.

Our first look at the ocean!

And the lighthouse that we where hiking too.

Of course we took a break from hiking as soon as the kids saw the 

army batteries open for exploring!

Yes, Vivian is hiking and exploring in a lovely red dress.

I barely got them to freeze for a second before they where off and running again!

Adventuring with 3 kids truly makes me slow down 

(even though everything is at a run)

and really see what we're looking at.

The most spoiledest of all.

These two are the perfect pair and yet completely opposite.

"a cute little deer."

The Lighthouse, ocean breeze and our wild birdies.

After a mile hike up they are still too full of energy to site and pose for just one nice picture.

And that's why we love them :)

Marshall talked them in to walking (as opposed to running again) 

back down by having another creature search.

First find was this bright caterpillar.

Followed by a grasshopper who accidentally lost his leg but fortunately still survived.

And that was it for Cape Disappointment.

With noses plugged 

(just in case the bridge failed and we fell into the water, nobody wants water up their nose) 

we headed over the Columbia to Astoria and then on to Fort Stevens.

After getting camp all set up the kids went looking for firewood.

Then it's wasn't long before Colter started yelling and dancing and making all sorts of noise.

Turns out he was trying to tell us he was the "winner".

Just look at the big banana slug he found!

I guess all of us but Colter had forgotten about Daddy's contest from earlier in the day.

We ended our first day with shrimp, lobster and corn cooked over the fire!

Seriously, the best meal ever!

...still 2 more days of pictures to follow!

June Jubilee

Vivian has really improved her gymnastics skills this year.

She has worked hard and struggled through low motivation days.

I think her favorite part about gymnastics is that the neighbor girls are

 also always practicing around the yard and house.

And all three girls nearly live in their leotards.

Vivan just spent her own money on a new red and silver leo 

and has been wearing it every day since!

*excuse the poor quality pictures and video.

I took them using my phone while holding a sleeping baby.

Apple Valley Gymnastics put on a June Jubilee to show case all 

that the students have learned over the last year.  

It was an Olympic themed performance and all the students received a trophy.

Viv is too cute leading her class out and holding the torch.

Viv carries the torch

Two short videos ...

Viv's run, jump, hand stand, flat back

June Jubilee floor routine

Viv is so proud, excited about her trophy and happy to have her brothers share the spotlight!

Bike n Juice

Last Saturday was the perfect day for the kids first Bike-n-Juice.

The twins where still pumped about their kindergarten graduation 

and Marshall was still home.

Plus the weather was just right.  Not too hot, not too cold.

All-in-all a great day for the start of summer vacation!

Colter all ready to race...

until the crowds showed up, then he decided he did Not want to race.

He chose to ride solo on the free style obstacle course instead.

Colter loved the free style course!

That's our baby boy!

Free face painting!

Rolli loved his face painted snake!

Caleb (Rolli's inspiration for the race) and Rolli anxiously waiting for the race to start.

Look who's in FIRST place!

I spent all morning giving Rolli little talks about how he would most likely 

loose his first every bike race.  

I'm pretty sure that I just motivated him to win.

First Place Rolli and his proud Sissy.

Rolli enjoyed his victory all the way home!

With one win under his belt Rolli is already asking when the next race is :)

Kindergarten Graduation!

One year down!

12 more to go...

Rolli and Viv on their very last day of Kindergarten!

Kindergarten graduation marks the beginning of a lifetime of learning!

Rolli was sure proud to receive his diploma from Mrs. Hannah :)

Our smart young man,

with "karate" on his cap :)

Our excited socialite with diploma in hand :)

We are very proud of Mr. Know-it-All!

Hopefully his enthusiasm for learning and knowing everything will continue.

Our young party planner learning what she needs to know to plan a party :)

and forgetting the rest.

Vivian, one of Mrs. Connor's "Tender Hearts".

She had the sweetest class of kinders this year.

Rolli and his Buddies!

Viv and one of her classroom playmates.

And yes, that is Rolli giving bunny ears to his sister.

Oh' my heart is bursting :)

Now we are off to enjoying the summer!!