12-12-12 Best Day Ever!

Hannah has been so excited for
it to be 12-12-12!!

That would be the day she got
her braces off.

Hannah was so excited with
her new straight teeth.
It was almost two years
of braces - but so worth it!

EWWWWW!

I went to jump down from
the porch tonight and
after I did Jakson yelled.
"Oh My Gosh - look at this!"

Luckily I didn't go through the
tall grass on the other side because
this had made a huge web
between the two tall grasses.

Of course - he thought it was
the coolest thing ever - and
watched it forever.

First Day of School

As you can see
Jakson is
ecstatic to go back
to school.

I'm having a little tear - 
because he is a Senior.
sniff sniff

This one is also jumping
for joy to start school again.
Now she can actually
sleep in an extra 45 minutes
because of the early start
she had all summer with
gymnastics!

Her impression of
Jakson. I'd say it
was a dead ringer!!

Happy 9th Grade!

Lucy was so mad when
every one left for school.
She loved having friends with
her during the day.
Happy Doodle Day Lucy!

Mayor's Cup

Jakson played in the
Mayor's Cup this past
weekend. Their first
game was Friday and they
won 3-0
They played again on
Saturday and won because
of a forfeit from the
other team playing
and illegal player.

Their next game was on
Monday.  Molli came
and modeled her new
Utah collar.
Jakson's team won 5-1
which then put them
in the Final game.
They won 1-0 in overtime!
It was a great soccer
weekend.

While they were waiting
to get their medals,
you could see how fast
your kick was.
This was Jakson's
first kick.  I think
he got a 60 MPH.

Jakson getting his
1st Place medal from
his dad - awwwww!

Here is the team with
their 1st Place
Mayor's Cup medals.

Their team won the
Striker's Cup a few
weeks ago (I know
2 tournament wins
in a row - this has
never happened!) and
they finally got their
medals for that win.
Nice Job Forza!

Maple Bar Mania

Sunday was the annual
"Maple Bar Mania!"
We have an added bonus
of fresh squeezed lemonade
with berries.
It was delicious!

This was what was left after
about 50 bazillion
maple bars.
Landon ate 49 bazillion himself.
I'm sure he could have
blown up and floated away.

There was some sort of
arm wrestling between
Jakson and Mckinsey -
with Hannah being the ref.
Hannah as you can see
got hurt during the match.

So we had to bring in "Good
Golly Miss Molli" to take her
place.  Molli did a fine
job and disqualified
them both!

Beach Road Trip

We decided that we would do
a road trip to the beach
this year - because it
might be the last time
we can go to the beach,
if the house gets sold.

Our first stop was to see
Grandma Nanny. She was looking
mighty fine.  A little concerned
that we might not leave in
time for her to go to
dinner, but we got in some
good gossip.

Our second stop of the day
was with the Citizens of
Boise.  We enjoyed some
great chicken skewers,
potato salad and grilled kale.
Hannah loved the kale!
We stayed the night and
then got up to be on our
next leg of our trip.
Uncle J was trying to be
nice as we left and waved,
we might have gotten
the finger after we turned
the corner.

We stopped in Pendleton to
get some lunch.  I'm pretty sure
I took a picture of the little saloon
we ate at, but it's not on the
camera?? Weird.
Then we went to the Woolen Mills
before leaving town.

This is what happens when
you ask 5 times in an hour,
how much longer until we get
to Portland.  Sooner or later
you wear yourself out.

The first day at the beach we
went to a little town close by
that was having a Farmers
Market.  The first thing we
stumble upon is this cute
cupcake shop that use to be
an old bank. It was soooo
cute.  It was called Marie
Antoinette's.

We got a lemon curd cupcake
and a fig cupcake.  They were
pretty good.  Dense like the
Sweet Tooth Fairy's.

One day we took the four kids
and went to Fort Clatsop for
some good history.

This was the outside of the Fort.
It wasn't very big.  I think there
were 6 rooms that bunked
8 men in each.

Fire pit in the middle of the room.

There were a couple of men
showing how to do wood work.

This was one of the boats
that they used that sits
on the land now.  Not sure
how they got it in the water.
That thing looks really heavy.

This is one morning when Hannah
and I went walking on the beach.
It's usually really foggy, but there
was blue sky and a little sun
showing through.

Seagulls

Sand castle.

This is the rock that we named
starfish rock.

When the tide goes out, you can
go right up to it and see all the
starfish, fish, sea creatures.

They are pretty cool - but freaky.

Walking buddy.

One day we went to
Tillamook.  The kids
love to go watch them
make cheese, eat
cheese sandwiches, and
buy squeaky cheese.

I love the cute little
signs and brochures
they had back in the day.

Everything is better with
cheese on it.  Kevin
got some habanero
cheese this time - it
is sooo hot, but sooo
good.

I made these three get in the
TIllamook van. I really think
I need an orange one like this
to drive girls to gymnastics!

Jakson looks thrilled.  I think
they were all safer with Hannah
driving.

After Tillamook, we went to
the Cape Meares Lighthouse.

It's a cute little lighthouse
with a great view.

The girls are getting tired of
walking.

Top of the lighthouse.

Hannah took pictures of the
daisies.

I think Emma is really starting
to wonder why she came with
us.

Little lighthouse.

Not sure what is happening here.

Hike back to the car.

This was my artsy picture the
night before we left.
Raven on the post.

After we left the beach we
headed sort of back home.

We stopped at Crater Lake.
Honestly - the water was really
this color. It was a volcano that
blew and then formed a lake.

Why do I always get duck lips
from Hannah?

Snow still along the ridge of the
lake.

And that was the

end of our

road trip!!

Except for the bazillion
hour drive back home!!