Summer 2013 round-up

Summer 2013 was one for the books.  We stayed close to home as opposed to last years 4 long road trips and had more time to just enjoy, well, Summer....and Summers in Oregon are really hard to beat. 

These pics are a little out of order, but at the end of the summer I got to be Amber's date at the biggest country music festival this side of the Mississsippi in little beautiful Brownsville.  (Thanks to Tyler who couldn't handle another day of it :)

Lots of eating from the garden,

Wild blackberry picking along the side of the road,

Avery Park dinosaur bones opened back up,

and fun, beautiful runs with my favorite girls Rivers (who would yell "this is sooo awesome!" as she sped down the trails),

and Whitney.

If I ever couldn't find the boys at my Mom's house, they were usually sitting in the dirt in the grape vines plucking grapes and filling their bellies.  Actually, the car wouldn't even be stopped yet when we would arrive at my Mom's before the kids would be piling out and running to the grapes. 

My summer crafty thing project -  making a rug out of ripped up strips of old sheets.

We had a great day at the Oregon Zoo - the animals have it good there.  Usually zoos make me a little sad for the animals, but not there.

The Polar bears are amazing!

Stopped at our favorite park in Wilsonville on the way back.

Dre having a good hair day :)

Rivers working hard making her outfits for the fair.

Silly girls.  Reagan is actually an incredible insect/amphibian catcher.  She loved catching frogs and holding them (usually until they died :( ).  Can you spot her friend on her head?  Rivers and Whitney were always giggling about something.

Outdoor movie night at the Nuno's

CD trying to "help" Tyler fix the pool, but they ended up just frolicking in the water.

Drive-in movie in the Eurovan.  Loved it.

Reagan getting some air doing the long-jump at the summer all-comer track meets.  Funny how the judge in the yellow hat is looking so intently at the end of the runway to make sure that 3 year old didn't "scratch". 

Pool is fixed so the Dads and babies can cool off.

Hammock

Summer weddings

Rivers got to race at historic Hayward Field.  I got goose bumps when we walked in.

The view from my kitchen window

Kids exploring the ditches and fields while the adults practiced softball and tried not to hit them.

I always think it's funny to see the positions the kids fall asleep in. 

Rivers played school with the littles at least 3 times a week during the summer.  I couldn't believe how well they paid attention to her and did what she said.  Even the 3 year olds learned most of the states this summer.

Something that took up way too much of my time was planning my 20th year high school reunion.  I made a DVD of "then and now" which turned out really fun, but took a good chunk of my time.  I loved being around all the old crowd again - people that know the real me :)

Carlos and I making our escape.



Philomath Frolic Parade - getting ready to spray everyone with water. 

Picture in the paper the next day

Another cute/funny sleeping picture.  They still sleep best right next to each other. 

Picking "snowflakes", as named by the twins.  They were so excited to find a whole field of them.

Hanging out at the Shaved Ice park.

I often found Cassidy and Reagan trying to get some peace and quiet by themselves to read together.

                                            Cute little nephews Big Riggs and Warren T.

Playing TwinPeaks softball this year with the girls was a highlight.  These pics are after a particularly thrilling win against the number 2 team (D league) in overtime by one point with a triple play to cinch it.  We were cracking up because we about knocked each other over with our first chest bump...


...before perfecting our form.  We also all went off the Pioneer Park rope swing to complete our celebration.  Heavenly.

The teepee got slept in every single night with some naps as well.  Love that Rivers decorated the inside and made it like her own little room.

This picture makes my mouth salivate.  Radke's u-pick blueberries - bushes taller than Carlos dripping with these blue gems.

Pics from Bendixon's wedding in another hidden beauty nearby.

SILVER CREEK FALLS STATE PARK!! Finally took my family to one of the most amazing shows of nature in the world...only an hour away.  Unicorn style!

We started with a hike to Upper North Falls where we all (even Carlos who hates cold water) swam in the pools.  Cold but refreshing!

The next morning I got up early and ran the trail loop that goes by 10 waterfalls and I didn't see one person the whole 6 miles.  I was in awe.  After breakfast we all went back and hiked about 4 miles of it and there were a lot of people out on the trail by then.  The loop trail was made back in the 30's and 40's by the CCC.  Amazing what they could do back then without the advanced tools we have today.

Behind North Falls - Felt like we were in Last of the Mohicans

Pristine!

Every time we went in the caves behind waterfalls the kids would hide and want a picture so I have quite a few like this. 

Cooling off at Double Falls.

Lunch/snacktime on rocks in the river.

These little kiddos were troopers.

South Falls - the last waterfall on the loop. 

We made it!

 

Mmmm....tin foil dinners cooked to perfection.

Before and after summer hair buzzes.  CD looks so much like Sinead O'Connor in that pic with his new buzz. 

I tried to get him to keep the tail to rock at the Benton County Fair, but he wouldn't have it.

Go Twinpeaks!

For the 4th of July we ran in the traditional morning 5K race along the waterfront...

...and rode in the back of the monster truck in the parade.  My kids think this is more fun than just about anything.

I stole some pics from Whitney...me at Sunday dinner.

Carlos and his girl.

CD's harvest from "picking paradise"

And finally, Benton County Fair time

 

Rivers did such a good job with her sheep.

And bawled for days after selling Basher-Thrasher.

 

Good thing we had these guys to make us laugh.

Cassidy kept making faces while the lady was supposed to be drawing her caricature. 

Then we ended the fair by all three of us squishing in the Octopus ride and screaming our lungs out...except when it started spinning out of control and we all got quiet. 

Good times!

Apple picking.........................and an example of one of CD's fabulous bouquets.  I don't help him at all.  He goes out and scavenges the yard for flowers, greenery, different shapes of flowers etc.  and comes up with display worthy arrangements :)

I don't know where my other pictures of this day are, but we had so much fun rafting/floating the Willamette River with Tyler, Am, and Riggs.  I was in a raft by myself with the twins, Carlos was sprawled in a mini raft and CD and Rivers had fun paddling all around in their inflatable kayak together....usually following Tyler.  We ended at Mr. Mitchell's garden of all gardens that Tyler was babysitting.  Dreyton would pluck peppers from the bush and crunch them right down...at least three whole ones before we left.  He won't eat the ones I buy, but there's something about standing in the garden, picking and eating that makes everything taste delicious.  CD picked a beet as big as his head. 

Sleeping on the trampoline.  The only night the entire summer that it rained we decided to sleep out.  It was warm and felt kinda good so we ended up staying out and sleeping in the rain for about 4 hours before heading back indoors.


The triplets are non-stop play...................and Sunday dinners outside at Oma's house.  Yum!

More teepee cuddling..............................and Whitney in her happy place.  I think she  makes up chores to do to drive the tractor around.

The girls had fun playing softball, but the boys team was actually really good....like they never lost and won the championship game.  This was during the championship game - kids got to run wild and free while the Moms cheered on the hubbies.

The boys and their cheering squad kids with the trophy.

Champs!  Jason came straight from work and forgot a T-shirt :)

Another fun last part of summer were the sports camps put on by the high school for a week.  CD and Dre did soccer camp together, Rivers did volleyball camp, Rivers and Reagan did dance camp, and after a whole day of begging, Carlos gave in and let CD also..... 

.....do dance camp.  Gangnum style!  He is seriously a dance machine and the coach told us after how good he is :)  We ended up letting Dre do it to.  

I also can't forget a picture of Mary's River....our favorite local swimming hole.  The look on his face says it all :)

The day before our big moving day, we got asked to help with and speak at "Breaking Barriers" at the high school.  It was an amazing afternoon with team building games, obstacle courses, and music out on the fields, followed by this inspirational breaking the boards experience where every athlete at PHS ended by breaking a board with their hands.  Tyler was asked to be one of the team leaders too, so here is a pic of him holding the board.  The atmosphere was electric.  Then there was a dinner and I spoke on Sports Nutrition followed by Carlos who was the keynote speaker on "raising the bar" and breaking barriers.  I was so impressed with the whole night.  Wish I would have had that is high school.

Me trying to put on a happy face on my last Sunday in our Fern Rd. house...... and Carlos driving our life back to Utah while the kids and I spent one more week in Oregon before the San Juan trip.  It really was a heavenly summer.  I love the ages of our kids right now and just need to find a way to stop time for a little while.   For better pictures and a synopsis that made me weep 'cause I missed that life, check out my sister's blog at http://www.deckerrdseeds.com/blog/.