Oregon Coast HERE WE COME!

For our family vacation this year we took a trip to the Oregon Coast! July 27th - 30th 2008. We had a lot of fun and wore out the kids! (They are now very sick of the car.) We drove across the northern border of Oregon and Sheryl got to look across the Columbia River to her home state! We stopped at an outlook point to have a look at the beautiful Columbia. Our first experience of entering the Northwest was the WIND! Trevor thought it was hilarious! He had a pretty good hair style in the wind!(pictured above). Our next destination was the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, OR. Who knew Newport as so BEAUTIFUL!? It was amazing. Trevor got to speak face to face from one crabby little man to another (pictured)Hee! Hee! They also had an underwater walk through tunnel. The fish, and sharks swim all around you while you walk through their world! We also saw Sea Lions, Otters, Gelly fish, and Sea Horse. There was a touch tank, and Kara touched star fish and sea anemane.(Way to go Kara!) The Auarium also had a play area for kids with animal statues to climb on. This is where Kara had her "Turtle Time" (pictured). By the end the kids were exhausted(the way us parents usually like them), and were completely a wreck - which they are demonstrating in the picture we took with the Oregon Coast Aquarium sign as we were walking out. (Experience has taught us to always get this picture on the way IN . . .when they are still happy.)

Fun Times in IDAHO! July 3rd - 9th 2008

We had lots of fun at with the family in Idaho! We celebrated the 4th picking cherries! We sure had alot of fun with all of you! We hope to come again next year for the cherry pickin' season! The kids loved it too! Fireworks were fun that night with Terri and Dusty! Thank you! Jeff drove home with our dog Sadie on Sunday and the kids and Sheryl flew home Thursday, July 9th. While there Kara and Trevor enjoyed fun times with their cousins! We went to the beach, some fun parks, and Chuck-E-Cheeses. Thank you all for spending so much fun times with us! We miss you already!

The pictures above are of Trevor (18mo.) at a park in Idaho; Trevor (pink bucket) with cousin Sam at the beach, Kara(age 3yrs) picking Cherries on July 4th; Wrapped in towels after swimming - Kara(bottom right) and Trevor (top right) at beach in Idaho with cousins Taylor(bottom left) and Dani (top left).

Happy Birthday JEFF!

Jeff turned 28yrs old on July 8, 2008. On the day of his birthday he came home to an empty house! Sheryl and the kids were still in Idaho enjoying time with the relatives! Not being a big party man anyway, he was just as happy celebrating it the following Saturday (after our return) at the lake with family. The Stouts came too! Jeff got a little fishing time, but spent more time "fishing for birds" with Grandma Stout and Kara! It was lots of fun! Happy Birthday Jeff!

Slip-N-Slide!

This was Kara's first experience with a Slip-N-Slide so she was a little hesitant! Daddy steps in to show her the way! Way to go Daddy! Summer fun!

This was in Idaho at Grandma and Papa's hosue with Kara and her cousin Dani. May 31, 2008.

Cousins Slip-N-Slide FUN!

Here's a video for Stacey and Mark. I thought you might enjoy seeing your girls on their own Slip-N-Slide! They were all a little nervous about running and sliding on their bellies on their own. Thank goodness for buff Uncle Jeff!

Taylor and Dani having fun while their cousin Kara takes a break. Saturday May 31, 2008.

Our little "Prince-esses"

I will probably get in trouble (with Jeff) for posting this . . .but I couldn't resist! Kara was playing with her princess dress-up clothes (from Grandma and Papa Jepson) and Trevor wanted to play too. He got VERY UPSET that she was putting on pretty dress up clothes and he wasn't. He got so mad that he started tugging at her yellow skirt and trying to put his leg into it-- While she was wearing it! To alleviate the outrage and tug of war that was occurring I quickly grabbed another skirt (the Cinderella blue one) and let him put it on. Of course he had to have the matching top to go with it to. After that . . .he was as happy as could be!! He wore it for HOURS, (while Jeff was at work of course . . .Jeff would have never allowed it!) I took advantage of the opportunity and started snapping pictures, and a few videos. So . . .all you viewers out there . . .DON'T TELL JEFF!! (He never checks the blog anyway, so despite the fact that he heard about the incident, he has no idea I actually posted the pictures!) So . . .SSSHHHH! Or I'll be BUSTED!

Cousins

Kara with her cousins, Dani and Taylor having SO MUCH FUN!

I found this video and I thought it was so cute! It was taken during our last visit to Idaho, I think around Christmas time. Kara sure does love her cousins and wishes she could be with them all the time. We hope they are having fun in Florida. We want to hear all the stories when they return! We love and miss all of you!

Summer Is HERE!

Today got hot enough outside for our first swim! The kids were so excited and even the dog was enjoying the party! We miss all of you and wish we could enjoy this Utah summer sun with you! Trevor looked stylin' in his new swim trunks! April 14, 2008.

Jumping Fun - Where's Daddy?

The kids love Jumping on both sides their new "Jump-o-lene" , especially when they can shove "things" underneath it and play King/Queen of the Hill! April 13, 2008

Trevor on our New Swing Set

Depsite this incident, the slide is still Trevor's favorite feature of our new swing set! He can't get enough!