Uncle Ryan's Birthday

 Flying kites at the beach,  Aiden's was a P-51, Natalie's was a butterfly, but she was scared of the sound it made so it was short lived.

 Beach time... we can never get enough

 My girl, she's getting so big!

 rolling down the dunes

 Walking with Nonnie.

 Gathering sticks for the fire at Uncle Ryan's house

 Puddles!!

 and if you walk through the puddle enough times.. it turns to MUD!

 Beaver Creek Mud... those pants will never be the same but boy did she have fun!

 Aiden asked me to take this picture of all the sticks he gathered for the fire.

 Not my baby any more!

 Night time stick gathering, why sit by the fire when you can gather sticks by lantern light

 This lantern is one of their favorite toys at Uncle Ryan's

 the chocolate peanut butter cheesecake I made for Ryan.  It was delicious!

 Walking at the State park down the road from Ryan's house.  It was an old farm that was donated to the state. What an amazing place. I don't want any more people to find it!

 Natalie gathering rocks

 We hiked up up up... and Aiden hiked the whole way!!

 beautiful meadows, steep hills to run down.. what more could you want?

 back lit but still cute!

 up up up they go!

 mossy tree

 another shot requested by Aiden

 snack time... I love how well the kids play together (or pester each other)

 This boy of mine, I can't believe he will be 5 this year!

 two Sam's and a Miley (I know this is spelled wrong but I couldn't find the right Hawaiian spelling)

See the elk heard?  at the alder line?  

So yeah, lots of pics I know but a picture tells a thousand words so I don't have to write anything! Happy Saturday!!

where does the time go?

I really am trying, Okay? We went to Ryan's house a few weeks ago, and here are some pictures of our visit.

Weekend at Uncle Ryan's, for a late birthday celebration

We went to Ryan's house to celebrate his birthday and on our way stopped at Cape Perpetua... I think we have been trying to get up here since Mom's  birthday in October.

The kids seemed to like it but we had planned to eat lunch at the rock house...

Aiden just wanted to go to Uncle Ryan's... so we made a quick loop, Natalie nursed and we headed on up the coast

Aiden wasn't even going to get out of the car until we got his bike out

My little man is growing up so fast

Of course there were presents to help open

and boxes to play in

and what kind of birthday celebration would it be without cake (I made a goofy cake with my friend Maren's white sauce buttercream frosting. It was GOOD)

Not nearly enough candles but oh-well.

We also set a goal to get Ryan's hallway painted.  This is no regular hallway, it must be some 40 feet long, often refered to as the green mile because it just keeps going and going. So on Sunday we got started painting.  Ryan didn't want to get paint in his eyes so he put on these very stylish glasses...

everyone wanted to wear them they were just so cool

See he's pointing at himself because he's such a trend setter

Mom was also looking mighty sharp in her fishing hat, how glorious to be behind the camera so there are no pictrues of me painting in my PJ's

The kids playing in the front yard

Natalie smelling (eating?) the flowers

I love a babies look of concentration

Playing together

Standing!

Look how happy she is with herself

Such a big girl, she'll be walking in no time!

On monday before we left (and put a second coat on the hallway) we walked Ryan's property to see where his acre lay.  It was a great weekend and it's nice to know there is only 2 more rooms and countless closets to paint.  um.. yeah... painting... I'll have to remind him of all the hours we have spent painting when the white walls of the new house start to get to me.