Camping

We took another trip to the lake to go boating and camping. This trip was especially fun because we had family join us. Dan and Mandy, my parents and Mandy's parents went. It was beautiful weather until Saturday night when the thunder and lightning and rain came. We scrambled to make sure our tents would be ok and that we wouldn't get drenched during the night. Our sleeping bags stayed dry!!! It was a trip to remember.

Mandy wake boarding! Family portrait

Brianna and Mandy relaxing in the boat

Dan and Bricen - I think Brice is ready to have his life jacket off!

Tubing! The kids love it

September

First Day of School

Bricen started Pre-School at Albany Christian. He is going 2x/week and has been looking forward to it all summer. Last year when we took Brianna to school, he would sit down and pretend that he was going to stay. When Brianna started pre-school with Mrs. Vicki, I was pregnant with Bricen. I can't believe he is now old enough to start!

Brianna started Kindergarden at Fir Grove Primary. She is so excited and ready to go to school every day. Each student got to ring the old school bell at the beginning of the day. Tradition will be that they will ring it again when they graduate 5th grade and move on to Middle School.

Camping

We took the boat out and camped for a few nights at Dorena Lake. It was so much fun!

Bricen loved the smores and sitting by the campfire.They love making silly faces!

Both Brice and Brianna are better drivers than I am. They had a fun time
driving the boat with daddy.

We went on nature hikes and threw lots of rocks in the water.

Lots of fun!

The beautiful lake, it is so nice to be able to get away from the

hussle and bussle of life and relax and have fun as a family.

August

Aug 1st my brother got married to a wonderful woman. We couldn't ask for a better addition to our family. It was a whole family event with all of us being in the wedding. Brice the ring bearer, Brianna the flower girl, Brian a groomsman and my self a bridesmaid. We were happy to stand up there and support them in their marriage. They will have a happy and successful life together and we are so lucky to have shared it with them.

Bricen and Brianna with Great Grandma's

The happy couple - Dan and Mandy

Our family all dressed up!

July

July was filled with fun! We started the month by going on a trip up to Washington to visit family. We met Brian's cousins in Port Angeles and had a great time watching the baseball tournament as well as going an a long beautiful hike and visiting the wildlife game park. We then took a ferry ride to Everett and spent a few more days with them just hanging out and having fun.

Brice, Brianna and Ben on the Ferry

The Game park was amazing. We got to feed the animals bread from our car window. I'm not sure who flinched and squealed more, the kids or Brian. The Bison were the big hit for our car!

Love the tongue picture!

At the Spit!

Yahats

The beach is one of our favorite places to go. We had a great time on this trip. We stayed cozy in the house, watched movies and went on many excursions. Sandcastles, flying kites and spending lots of time just walking on the beach. Brianna and I even found a few whole sand dollars!

We enjoyed going to the Sea Lion Caves and Haceta Head Light House. The Sunset picture under Sarah's Stories was from this trip.

Ballet Recital

Brianna and her friend Molly

Brianna is in her 2nd year of Ballet and performed in her 2nd recital. Last year she was so nervous I wasn't sure if she would get on the stage. This year I was confident she would do wonderful. She was a flower and did a magnificant job. I can't wait for many more recitals!

Shop!

When we decided to buy this house, we knew that there would be room for a shop some day. Brian has always wanted a shop and after it having been in the works for a year, it is finally done. Here is the finished product...

We had black top poured over the entire front of the shop and side yard. Lots of parking now and plenty of room for bike riding and basketball!

June

June was full of many adventures:

1. Memorial Day (End of May) was spent putting flower boquets on our ancestors and recently passed family members graves. Although it seems a little strange to take small children to a grave yard, I think it is really important to remember those who came before us and who helped make us who we are today. It has become a tradition that we do with my mom and grandma.

Posing on the Byrd grave marker.

Many of my mom's side of the family is burried here

including my grandpa.

2. Last days of school. One of the last days of school, Brian brought his police bike and Brianna shared her daddy for her sharing time. The kids all got a turn to sit on the bike & Brian handed out stickers. It was great!

3. Many trips to the park and one weekend bike ride on a nature path in Corvallis. It took us through the wetlands and was lots of fun for all 4 of us!

May

In mid May Brian got the wonderful opportunity to go to Washington DC for the Law Enforcement Memorial. Brian got to see many things that he has always wanted to see and got to spend time honoring and paying tribute to his brother's and sister's who have lost their lives.

Mother's Day started and ended just perfect! I got to sleep in and the kids and Brian made me breakfast that I got to eat in bed! It was very yummy and only a few egg shells in the scrambled eggs. Brice and Brianna thought it was pretty silly that Mommy got to eat while still in bed. I loved it!We then went to a butterfly farm near our house. It was so beautiful and had a large variety of the most amazing butterflies. We got to walk around with them and they landed on you. Both Brice and Brianna got to hold a few. At the end of the day, we got to take chrysalis' home with us. They hatched into Painted Lady butterflies and we released the one that hatched. All summer we saw Painted Lady butterflies!