Go Ducks

Enchanted Forrest

1st Days of 1st grade

I can not believe that summer is over.  I am not going to lie, my house is kind of grateful. I have fallen just a wee bit behind in my house keeping.

This little cutie is so excited!  She can't wait to meet her teacher and play with all her classmates.

Owen is still trying to figure out what all the fuss is about.

After Addie told me that I needed to get up early because she was not going to be late for school, I proved to her that I can actually get up and get her to school on time (with 1 min. to spare).

She decided that her shirt was to fancy for school, and I said "Um No" then she decided that she needed to add some accessaries (her leg warmers).  She is such a cute kids.

While Addie is off learning how to take over the world, we go visit Dad at work.  We have to take advantage of it before he moves his office to Portland.

I know one sister who was not too thrilled with the idea of Addie going to school.  She wanted it to be her 1st Day of school too. 

Avery was so excited to see Addie when she finally got off the bus. 9:30-4 pm is a really long day.

Out for a Drive

Owen has decided that it is time to learn how to drive.

Luckily his sisters have volunteered for the job. (Good thing Dad is getting a pass, I am not sure the kids ears are ready for his commentary)

We Love Lazy summer mornings.  

Avery also loves her long bubble baths, She has decided to use the bathtub as her own private swimming pool. She will stay in well past the life of the warm water.

Our quick jaunts to the gas station for a sugar rush, will be greatly missed.

We have had to settle for gas station slushies since we never found a good shave ice stand.

All in all these kids have got a cush little life.

Fun Times with the Dunlops

Craig is always good for a laugh.  We are so happy to have quests visiting us in our new home.

It would be a crime to be so close to the coast and not even show off its beauty, even if it is overcast and cool.  Who would have thought that the temperatures would have varied 30 degrees. 

 Girls day to ride in the Jeep turned out to be less than optimal.  First we get stuck in traffic when it is 100 degrees and the kids are sweating to death, then the temperatures start to drop and the girls start turning blue.  58 degrees is a bit chilly to be in shorts and a tank top cruising around with the top off.

 Good thing flying some kites and playing at the beach warmed us all up.

 Just don't try to put Owen in the sand.  Not a big fan.

 Addie on the other hand.  One happy lizard, oh I mean kid.

 Someone should really tell Tom that you don't really get a tan when you live in Oregon.

 They might not always get along but they are sisters.

 Kelly was not prepared for our less than sunny day at the beach. 

 Tom thought the girls needed to know how to build a proper sand castle.

 And how to properly destroy a sand castle.

 Once the tide went out, jumping in, over, thru the pools proved to be entertaining.

 Owen was only mildly impressed.  Maybe he was still recovering from the traumatic jeep ride, or most likely still mad at Dad for trying to put his foot in the sand.

 Avery is starting to become an adventurous little girl.  It has to be her idea, but when it is she is all for a little adventure.

 Tag your it! 

 Warm and dry, just in time to get in the warm and toasty car and put the Boys in the Jeep for the ride home.

 Fun times with the Dunlops. Hopefully we didn't scare them and they come back for another holiday.

Happy Happy Birthdays

I can not believe that it is Birthday season again already.  The girls are turning 7, & 4 I can not believe it.  

 This year we went for a simple theme.  Mom was a little to tired to go all out.  The cake might look simple but it was good.  Strawberry cake, lemon frosting with freshly picked blackberries was absolutely delicious.

 The girls are finally out growing their fear of fire. (thank goodness)  This year Addie was excited to blow out the candles instead of hiding from them.

 Addie was perfectly happy.  She got to wear HER favorite dress and play with Berkleigh and eat cake and open presents.  Win Win her her.

 Avery on the other hand was struggling with the idea of sharing her Birthday. With a little extra attention and a few presents she was back to her happy little self.

 Finally presents.  I had to threaten the girls that if they asked 1 more time if they could open their presents that, they wouldn't get to open them until Avery'd birthday.  It was hard, but they did it.

 Yay for presents and rain boots!  

Great Day for all.  WE LOVE those 2 sweet girls.  What a blessing they are to our family.

Longest Day Ever

Our last day in Arkansas. Like all the others we started off with a nice long swim. If the sun is shining why not.

 Ogurt please.  Swimming and bossing can really work up an appetite. Believe me this kid has earned her am snack.

 Of course Owen starts to like his floaty on the very last day that we are there.  Really kid, really.

 But how could anyone be mad at that sweet little face.  He loved playing on the side of the pool with all different pool toys and trying to drink the pool water.  Sadly I was a little too good with sunscreen, he never lost his farmers tan, it only got worse.

 Owen was so happy to be off the plane and free to move, Addie could barely keep up let alone keep him contained.

 Finally after a morning full of swimming, a drive to Tulsa, a 2.5 hr flight and a 2 hr layover the girls crash.  The red hump is Avery's head. Owen on the other hand had a 2nd wind after puking all over himself.  Yay, are we there yet?

 The cute little monster fell asleep in the car before we even made it out of the airport.  When he woke up the next am he was so excited to be home.  He thought that we needed to unpack asap and put the bags away.

While Owen was settling in, the girls were to busy playing with all their toys to even notice. After all the Zelfs needed a proper introduction.