Back home to finish summer break

Once we got home from our month long vacation, I just wanted to be alone. So the kids went to camp, ha! Unfortunately, Ian really hated his camp and quit going after 1 1/2 days. But Audrey and Declan enjoyed their camps, and Audrey got a bonus week of camp going to Girls Camp for the first time. She loved it. We were pretty lazy, and that was great since once school starts--lazy days are over.

Our "pets" that made themselves quite comfortable in our absence. 

Just eating lunch. He's a cutie.

I made these cross stitch ornaments by obsessively stitching anytime the kids were on screens and then again after they went to bed.

We visited the Aquarium and saw that the otter on Cannery Row had been updated.

We played at the school one day and saw that new wings had been painted for posing. Go Falcons!

This beautiful heron walked slowly around the field at the school while we were there. We saw him land and take off. Gorgeous.

The kids had playdates, doctor appointments, Ian got to go to Gilroy Gardens with a friend, Spencer went to SPAIN on a business trip, and we said our final goodbye to the Bernards before they headed to Abu Dhabi. Full and fun summer!

July in WA

We finished our WA trip the first few days of July, staying so we could celebrate the Fourth with our family. We had a few final adventures:

Grandpa helped these two make a profitable lemonade stand--they were sooo happy!

My parents took us on a jetboat excursion down the Willamette River in Portland. It was FREEZING, but we had a good time, and any time with my parents and Ben is worthwhile.

Getting ready for fireworks--we had a fun Fourth of July at the Briens, and thrilled that Mr. B's brother, Sam, and his family came down for the day. 

Mr. B's adventures

Some days on our trip I had to work, either grading essays or editing books, so Mr. B took the kids on adventures. Of course he had them while I was on my little getaway too. And right at the end of the trip I got really sick. Some photos of his time with them:

I think this might be NW trek--no one remembers. 

Blackberry bushes at Grammy and Grandpa's

Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview

Seaquest Park and Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center

Lots of bbqs and smores and outdoor fun in this backyard.

Fun at Lake Sacajawea Park Fourth of July festivities

Aunt Amanda always spoils these kiddos! 

Bonnie's girls weekend in Puyallup

I definitely did not get enough time with my family in Puyallup, so I left Mr. B with the kids in Longview to have a girls weekend with my sisters and mom. We ate, we shopped, we felt nostalgia at the Farmer's Market (at least I did), we played games, we laughed. I sewed with my mom. These are my people.

Trip to the Oregon coast

Our next destination was an overnight stay in Astoria with Mr. B's parents, enjoying tide pools at Cannon beach, lunch at Dooger's and playing in the arcade in Seaside, and climbing the Astoria column. We finished the trip with a long detour to Tillamook to tour the factory and eat the cheese. This was a fabulous getaway. Oregon is so beautiful. I want to be here all the time.

Day out in Portland

I love Portland. Reason one: Powell's bookstore. What a magical place! I mean, books are cheaper on Amazon, but the ability to wander through a massive treasure trove of books and find pretty much any book you're looking for is gratifying. Reason two: OMSI. Way better than Pacific Science Center, and it's my favorite science museum ever. We had a great time there with the kids. Reason three: Food. We ate at Screen Door and Pie Spot. Yum. Wish we could have had more time and appetite to eat even more! Reason four: LDS temple in Lake Oswego--it's where we got married and it's gorgeous! We didn't make it there this trip, but here are photos from the other adventures. 

Ian at Screen Door

We also had to stop at a place called Pie Spot before we headed back to Longview. Delish!