A beach craving

I was having a serious beach craving. I love the beach, and our favorite times of year that we take our little trips to the beach. But a couple weeks ago it was feeling like we hadn't been to the beach in way too long, and I had a serious craving. We just couldn't find a weekend where we were completely free all weekend, so we chose to take a day trip on a Saturday. We realized once we were on the road early that morning, we've never done a "day trip" to the beach with the boys before. Normally when we go to the beach we stay for the weekend somewhere. They were so confused! So many questions came flooding in from them, why oh why would we ever just drive to the beach for the day? How absurd! ha ha

It turned out to be an amazing day. We left after breakfast, took our time doing whatever we wanted when we got there, had dinner and headed home. And we lucked out with amazing weather. Not too cold, not too warm, not too windy, just a hint of sprinkles occasionally...and none of it kept us from playing on the beach for good couple hours. I don't think we've had a play on the beach time like that in Oregon in a very long time...it was a lucky day, and the boys played until they looked like sand monsters.

Eli needed water for his sand creation, here he is venturing out to get some from the ocean on his own...very cautiously. (see that guy way out there swimming? crazy!)


There's nothing better in the world than watching these two creative minds work their magic in the sand while I lay on a blanket with their amazing Daddy. I have a pretty darn good life.

Zach "Um, did you notice that for some reason Bumblebee parked behind our car?"

Walking through town with their biggest buddy.

There was some sort of pumpkin event going on when we were there. It was early September, but there were tons of pumpkins like this all over. I think maybe some weighing event? Fun to look at regardless of why they were there.

You have to ride the carousel when in Seaside, its tradition. Jake said on the way down "I think they are too big for it now don't you?" ARE YOU CRAZY? No they are not too big...jeez.

I had a hard time getting pictures of them as it went around, Eli was all too happy to cheese it up for me but I couldn't get Zach to look in time.

So I had to settle for a good picture when the thing stopped. Of course Eli stayed in character for me to make it look real.

It was a very good short beach trip, definitely suppressed my beach craving for the time being.

Kindergarten

Zach was more than ready to begin Kindergarten. The boy was made for learning and making new friends. He amazes us every day with his brains, we call him our little professor. If it were up to Zach, he would have started school years ago. His first day of school he chose sausage and pancakes (smothered in regular syrup), topped with a first day of school wish candle. We make a wish on the first day of school every year with the boys, to wish for good things through the year. Apparently Zach didn't grasp the concept completely because after school he decided to tell us his wish because he wanted to change it. His original wish had been for a specific toy....so we had to explain that you wish things like that blowing out your birthday candle, not first day of school candle wishes... which are reserved for wishing for new friends, good grades, etc. Silly kid.

Getting in the car to go to school. "Mommy, take my picture." Such a nice refreshing comment. I'm used to Eli running away from me when I pull out the camera or making silly faces at me when I push the button to take the picture. :) At least someone in this family understands my camera/picture addictions. Thanks Zach!

Waiting in the gym before school starts, for morning announcements.

Sitting at his desk, happy to get started on his 1st day of learning.

Getting off the school bus after his first day of Kindergarten. Such a proud & happy little guy!

These pictures were not from the first day of school, they were from supply drop off a few days before...but I'm including them here anyways, they are cute too!

Zach standing in front of his new classroom. His teacher this year was Eli's teacher last year, she moved from teaching 1st grade to Kindergarten. Such a great surprise, we love her!

Zach posing in front of the school. Such a goofball!

I cant believe my baby is in Kindergarten, where has the time gone?

2nd grade

Eli was an old pro at this first day of school thing, so it made it very easy on Mommy. He chose sausage and pancakes (smothered in Gabrio raspberry syrup) for his breakfast, and made his traditional 1st day of school wish as he blew out the star candle. Belly full, new clothes and backpack on, we headed to second grade.


Eli is loving 2nd grade, EVERYTHING about it. He continues to amaze me with how easily he makes friends with both the girls and the boys. I havent found one student in his grade yet that he doesnt consider his friend. I absolutley love that quality in him. He's funny and carring all in one little 7 year old body, and in return he's surrounded by lots of great friends every day. He's doing great academically and LOVES his homework this year. He loves his teacher, and I cant say enough good things about her. We've been so lucky with the staff at the boys school, each and every one of them are amazing and the boys have been blessed with amazing teachers every year. We still cant get him to eat his lunch very well..the one that I so nicely pack every morning with a heart shaped sandwich and special note for him...he says he doesnt want to eat too long and waste recess time. Priorities right?
I still cant believe how big Eli has gotten. Second grade already? I draw the line at 5th grade, so he better just slow it down and stay little forever. :)

End of summer camping with friends

Campfires, friends, dirt, tents, hotdogs over the fire, etc...what more could a boy ask for to end the summer with before starting the school year?

Eli and Zach watching Madok play on his Dads phone.

All the kids we camped with playing by the water. They have all become such great little friends. Madok, Eli, Zach, Hannah, Hayden & Evan (and Bodie who is not pictured here, he's still too little to play on his own)

They spent a good part of one afternoon building a house behind the tents out of sticks and moss. It was really creative, it even had kitchen cabinets!

We are so thankful for such great friends in our lives, and that their children have become wonderful friends to our children as well. Here's to many more family campouts with friends!

photo's by Mommy

I called to schedule the boys yearly pictures at our favorite photography place, and found out they closed their doors forever. We've taken the boys in for their pictures there since Eli was 6 days old, so it was a sad moment when I found out the news that they were no longer a business. They were great priced, were wonderful with the boys, and the pictures always turned out great. So instead of looking for a new place to meet those standards, I decided to give it a go on my own with the outdoors and my camera. For the most part I think it turned out really well! I havent printed them yet, but if they turn out like the way they look here on the computer Im pretty happy with the turn out. The boys did great for the first while, but then they began to melt down and got bored..... and turned to the dirt on the ground and silly faces. Here are some of my favorites that I'll have printed off and hung on our walls very shortly.

occasionally I'd have them do an action shot to keep their interest in the photo session. :)

Never a dull moment in this family.

In the last few years since the boys have started school, Ive done most of my grocery shopping on my own in the mornings when they are both at school or with just Zach in the afternoons while Eli's still in class. On this particular day we stopped on our way through Beaverton to grab a few grocery items that I get at New Seasons. Well, on this trip I learned that 1.) there is never a dull moment in our family and 2.) Our children are growing before our eyes.

When we pulled into the parking lot they begged me to get the little kid car grocery cart. I had not pushed one of these in a while because the last time I can remember grocery shopping with both boys they were much smaller and I had to break up a pretty nasty brother brawl over who's turn it was to use the steering wheel....so we tend to stay clear of the car carts. But they swore they would be good and share, so we gave it a go. Getting in the car was a hilarious moment in itself. We learned that they are not little boys anymore. Poor Eli had to contort his body in a pretty uncomfortable manner just to get in the car. But man was he determined. Then as we drove through the store shopping, I think every person in there walked out giggling thanks to my crazy children. They took driving very seriously. "Excuse us, crazy driver coming through!" "We're on a road trip to the candy isle!"

They did hold true to their promise though, and there was no fights. It was a bit of work to get them back out of the car when it was time to go unfortunatley. The same contortionist positions Eli used to get in it, didn't quite work as well getting him back out.

I have to giggle when I look at these pictures and think about that experience. Just a year ago the boys were fighting non stop, we thought we were going to lose our minds. Now days they are such buddies, its amazing to watch. Sure they have their moments still where they need their space, but its fun to see them growing up and becoming good friends. I look foward to seeing their friendship blossom even more as they get older.

Omsi and CM2, end of summer fun

With the summer coming to an end it was definatley time to get in as many playdates and activities as we could. Omsi and the childrens museum never let us down. Anything that gets the boys minds creating, is a recipe for a great day!

OMSI

Zach on the static machine. His cute little blond hair stood on its end and he giggled the entire time.

Eli on the other hand has much shorter hair than Zach usually (his hair is more coarse and sticks up all over the place by morning, so I keep it shorter so we use less hair products), so his didnt stand up too much on the static machine. He did say it crackled funny though.

Rockets, what boy doesnt like those?

CM2

Zach showing off his recycled art project he made at CM2. It was a campground, and it was very impressive!

Eli hiding behind his recycled art project. He made a house for a hamster, and tried to convince us for weeks that he needed to get a pet hamster to live in it. Luckily that phase passed, and we didnt end up with a pet hamster. Whew!

Recycled art was a big hit for the boys on this trip to CM2. We had to stop at the store a few days later and purchase little sized hot glue guns so the boys could make more creations out of our recycle box stuff at home. Its amazing how long they will sit and create amazing things out of our garbage. :)
And of course, we're always so creative in the face painting station there too.

It was a such a cool suprise to see that they had updated a few areas since the last time we had visited the museum. The pediatricians office has been remodeled into a really neat Vet Clinic area. The kids had a blast fixing up their doggies...

and taking them for walks to go pee-pee in the dog park...

and ....???....oh Eli, you silly silly boy you.

Here's to happy end of summer fun times!