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.

When we aren't Swimming

One the rare occasion that we aren't in a pool, we are hanging out with family.

Hunting pigs.

 All over town are these cute painted pigs.  Our rainy day activity was to find as many as we could before we melted.

 It was close, but we survived.  The girls didn't even shrink, I think they might of even grown an inch.

 Where else can you find a merpig? Nowhere.

 Sadly this one ruined Addie, she slipped and fell on her bum.  She refused to get out of the car for a pig after that.

 After a good pig hunt, crowding around the iPad to watch videos about Zelfs.

 Addie is working on her career of standing on the corner and begging for money.  She actually wrote a song about how people needed to give her money.  I guess we have a few more lessons to teach her. Like we don't aspire to be homeless musician, or that she inherited her parents musical abilities. yikes!

Gentry Safari

One of our most favorite places to visit when we come to town.  Addie and Avery are opposites in most things and Addie being the animal lover and Avery being well not an a lover of animals, but an admirer of afar. Making the drive thru Safari perfect for our family.

 Even Owen liked it.

 Creepy emus. 

 Herds of Zebras, which made me wonder why it is so hard for the zoo to keep just 1 or 2.

 Who knew that Camels do not recognize personal space. Too close. and get out of our way, please.

 With a little, ok a lot of help.  Avery pet the horse. Maybe she is coming around.

 Avery & Inonna hanging out with the kangaroos.  They were too anti-social to even acknowledge our presence, stinking kangaroos.

 The goats on the other hand, they knew that they need to run.  So we chased them down until they gave up.  One goat surrendered and let them pet him/her? I didn't look.

All in All it was a fun afternoon and the kids were completely worn out, mission accomplished.

Adventures in Arkansas

It is a ruff life we live.  To recover from our long flights we thought it best to lounge by the pool.

We aren't reckless people we of course like to protect our skin with lots of sunscreen and protect our eyes.  We don't support premature aging.

 Sleep, eat, swim, eat, repeat.  Our standard schedule.  I know it is a busy schedule and not many could keep up, what can I say we are endurance athletes.

 Fish out of water, Own is it.

 Good thing we had Inonna and MoMo to say yes!