Dino-ROARS!!

Grandma Bobbie had a free day, so we made it to the dinosaur exhibit at the zoo. We loved it. I wish the boys had gone slower and learned a bit, but they wanted to see everything...maybe next time they'll be more into reading the information.

This was Gracie's first trip to the zoo. She was great through the dinos (even with the roaring and such) but decided to sleep through the rest of the zoo.

A lot of things were under construction, which makes the zoo not as stroller friendly as usual. Plus...you know... the bathrooms smell. Why is that?

Gracie's first trip to the beach!

I had a booksigning at the Lincoln City Book Fair...which gave us a great excuse to take the kids to the beach! Grace just took a peak (it was a lovely day, just windy). Bayley and Hayden got soaked. I think that's how you can tell a native Oregonian, they'll get in the water on the Oregon coast!

Air Show

It's air show weekend! Since the airport is practically in our backyard, we don't have to do much to enjoy the airshow but step outside.

To make it even better, they open the doors the morning before the airshow so the kids can get some hands on exploring.

The neigborhood kiddos came too, plus the boys each found a few friends from school. Bayley liked taking pictures of the planes, Hayden liked the ones they could climb in, and they both love whenever there is a 'wheel-of-fortune' game where they can win prizes.

BIRDS!!

After our experience with the Chickadee earlier this summer, I was hoping we could skip more bird adventures...not so! In one day some birds took up nesting on the eaves of a neighbors front porch and already they have babies!

If we can keep Hayden from throwing crackers at them, they just might make it!

If anyone know what kind of bird has an orange breast and black feathers, clue us in :) Oh, and Bayley took the photos!

Wetland Adventurer

Last week Bayley had a day camp at Jackson Bottom Wetlands. He LOVED it!! The kids got to hike around and learn about the animals and habitat. They found 5 snakes and Bay appointed himself 'zookeeper', in charge of feeding them bugs. OK...

They had a day trip to the Audoban Society where he got to see a turkey vulture cough up a pellet. Apparently this is way cool. Almost as cool as bringing home an owl pellet to disect and finding a rodent skull inside. Yeah...

Next year he wants to go both weeks they offer the camp...Mom needs to sell more books, I tell ya!

Pool Party!!

Hayden's friend Erin had her 5th birthday party at the community pools. What a hit. Everybody came with their family and splashed around the kid pool (think bathwater warm, shallow, and with a giant fountain). Some of the kiddos even braved the waterslide in the 'big' pool with their folks.

Bayley and Hayden had to stick with the kid pool - Jeff just ahd his toes operated on and I had the baby. They didn't seem to mind, thank goodness.

It was such a cute girly party. Erin is enthralled with Tinkerbell right now - doubly cute since the kid LOOKS like Tinkerbell - so it had a garden party theme. The kids had make your own fairy crafts and flower cupcakes...tons of work I'm sure, but it looked fantastic!

Sonic

Auntie Kim decided it was high time we learn the bliss that comes from the Sonic. Hayden is impressed with the citrus launcher, he only wishes he could shoot it at people. Yeah. I agree there is a bit of heaven in the chocolate cream pie shake.

We stretched the kiddos out and saw that Grace and Nick are the same length, there's just more to her :)

Grace & Nick...with special extra proud big brothers.

The Tom Question Show

Last Wednesday The Tom Question Show came to our library as part of the summer reading program. What's The Tom Question Show? A stilt-walking juggler, that's what. The boys liked it, Grace slept through it.

Camp Grandma

Last week the boys stayed with Grandma Bobbie. I thought it was just a chance for Jeff and I to catch up on our sleep, but no! It was a full on camp!

The first day they went horseback riding. A neighbor has a horse that likes kids so much, Bayley and Hayden both rode her without a saddle. They were quite impressed.

They went hiking, but I think were more interested in trying to find all three of the snakes on Grandma's property...and using the Slip n' Slide...and turning Grandma's waterfall on and off...and using their squirt guns...

One day they made it to Hagg Lake and get this...went kayaking! Oops Kayak was there and they showed the boys all about kayaks. Some day there may be pictures on their website...but we haven't seen them yet.

And then there was the swimming pool the boys have asked to be taken back to. A community pool in Carlton opens up for the afternoon, and Grandma let them show off what they learned in swimming lessons.

So...horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, swimming...sounds like summer camp to me. Only with better food. She made them waffles and bacon for breakfast every morning!!

Playdate

You know, I think they either slept or ate through most of their 'playdate'.