{our} beach

Lately we've been home long enough to do laundry and pack up again. But last night we decided to take the dogs (yes dogS- we got a puppy) to the river. It was spectacular:Here's Ryan with {his} dog- Lightning (as in Lightning McQueen):

JD and {our} Sadie dog (she LOVES the water):

brothers:

This was weird- the twighlight setting:

and the best for last:

It was such a beautiful evening. My heart has been heavy lately and this was exactly what I needed. Who knew that this little gem of a beach is just up the road from us? It's definitely going to become one of our {regular} hang outs!

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And now it's time to start packing again...

The Rocket's Red Glare

Something tells me that you can take fire away from a man but you can't take a man away from fire.

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JD will be working on the 4th of July this year so we decided to celebrate a little early (with Landing Days in Uma). We thought that this might be the {safest} place to light off some of our {reservation} loot. I think the pictures probably speak for themselves. ;)

I couldn't believe it when I turned up and saw this. Of all the sillouette pictures that I took that night, this one is my absolute favorite:

I love how Mikey's head is turned up and his knees are turned out. And how you can see Gage's binki (we're still working on that by the way...). I love Sarah's cascading hair and the sharp lines of Ashley's shoulder. Serendipitous. ;)

We ended our day with the big fireworks show down at the marina in Umatilla. It was pretty spectacular but I don't have any pictures that turned out. Picture this though- two brothers, leaning in on one another, while the rocket's red glare lights up the sky between their two heads. It was so stinkin' cute. Most of the spectators were "oooo-in and ahhhh-in" over the fireworks but the true show was right there in front of me.

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I hope you find a real 'show' in the midst of your 4th of July celebration!

80's

"No matter what, no matter where, it's always home if love is there"
I'm going to go all 80's on ya'll and dedicate a song to this man. Sorry you all have to witness this but...I want it in stone somewhere. And just for the record, Crystal, I would like this song played at my funeral. :) (I know it's morbid but I think of these things...)

FRIENDS {and the tree}

So I suppose this is vacation part II. Our next lil adventure was to the Olympic Rain Forest. We traveled around Lake Quinalt and ended up at the World's Largest Spruce Tree (my poor family...they are going to get so sick of traveling with a science teacher!):

Have you ever seen that movie where the tree comes alive and the roots start swallowing people up? I can't remember the name of it (and I'm waaaay too lazy to Google it) but that's what this tree reminds me of. Kinda freaky.

My boys just takin' in the view. I told JD that (if I live that long) I could totally retire here. He asked me what he would do for a living....and I said he could chop wood for the fire ;)

More picnicking ;)

Somebody...I'm not going to say who...but I'll give you a hint...it's no one in this picture...

had the great idea to hike up to this waterfall. It was only a mile or so......

uphill...in flip flops...what can I say? It's my favorite way to travel :)

This is a Salmon Berry (in case you're hungry). Rudd, you were totally right. JD doesn't know a raspberry when he sees one :) Hahahaha

Here's the great and wonderful waterfall that we hiked for DAYS to see.

ALL the boys...(boy, Maegan and I are definitely out numbered!)

If you have never been to the Olympic Rain Forest, you should! There are super sweet cabins to rent...and a LOT to see. There were a ton of attractions on the map that we will have to save for our next trip. We were too excited to get back to Rudd and Maegan's for our steak dinner. Hahhaha.

FRIENDS {and the beach}

We hopped in JD's truck on Monday and decided we'd go on a road trip. Once we got the kids loaded up, Jack noticed a{nother} flat tire. Needless to say, he all but dropped down on the road and started flopping around in a fit of rage. He.Was.Mad. So, after a lil delay (and some new tires that were 'buy three, get one FREE'), we were on the road...to Rudd and Maegan's. They live in Northern Washington (and just so you know, we have two maps of Oregon in our truck).

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Our first excursion was the beach (after the fireworks on the Indian Reservation, of course). This is Maegan and Reid. Rudd and JD are standing in front of us (in case you were wondering). I never thought I'd turn into my parents but alas...we are picnicking. This is what you call 'pack a cooler and eat for FREE' :)

The Three Amigos:

Okay, ya'll. This is a MONSTER of an agate. How lucky of a find is that???

What's more is that at this particular moment, it was a low spring tide (an exceptionally low tide during a full or new moon phase when the moon and sun's gravity pull at Earth's fluids together). The result? Sanddollar VILLE!

Don't even think for one second that we didn't spend a considerable amount of time de-sanding Ryan! Hahahaa

Part of getting {old} is saying goodbye (or rather 'see ya later') to good friends. We lead different lives in different places and yet when we get together, it's as if we just pick up where we left off. We laugh. We live. And we love. This family is one we love very much - and wish we could spend {more} time with!