Summer Fun!

Summer is here and we are packing in the fun! 

Here's a recap

Walk down memory lane. 

Chi Omega at OSU turned 100 years old and it made for a perfect excuse for a big gathering of all the sisters. It was SO much fun!

 The obligatory sorority pose.

 Sisters on the steps of the MU

 and with Benny!

The porch swing

  Two sets of REAL sisters and all Chi O sisters too!

 My old room and corner

 The sleeping porch. Where I learned to never be able to sleep with the windows closed ever again.

 The whole Eta Alpha group!

Everyday moments

Cora's first swing ride and she loves it:)

Jack crawling in and around anything in his path to follow the bug!

Cora enjoying some pool time

Pretty sure Jack is attempting to taste test EVERY berry we freshly picked. 

"I'll try dis one ,and dis one, and dis one..."

Helping daddy assemble the new pressure washer

A family walk

Daddy's in charge 

 A ride across the river and back on the ferry

Jack is more concerned with his snack than my ability to see. 

Happy First 4th of July Cora!!

He's always a fan of fire

Turns out Cora LOVES floating around in the water. She just bobs around the pool and chats to herself. 

Jack is starting to become more of a water guy.

Me and my ducklings

Hooray! Happy 4th!

Random nice camera day

We were outside just playing and enjoying nice weather and I snapped a few pics while we played. 

 Jack really enjoys taking pictures still :)

I'm trying to keep up my streak of getting pictures of the kids each summer in the colorful chairs by the fence. It's always interesting to see what we'll get.

I have definitely learned to appreciate any pictures I get, funny faces and all. 

It's who they are.

 

Also, we've been working HARD on rolling over. 

FINALLY Cora is rolling over on her own and moving from sitting to tummy and back. 

Just in time for her first birthday, in another update coming soon:)

Our Munchkins

Just a photo upload.

Trying to get back into the habit of having the "nice" camera out more. 

Cora- 10 1/2 months

Jack- 3 yr 4m

Still trying to get THE pic of them together. 

Getting closer, but haven't struck gold yet.

Us crazy kids

Thanks Grammy for helping to get smiles and haul kids around!

Busy Life and Best Birthday

We've been BUSY!!!

 

We got to take a family trip to the zoo...

 The baboons checking each other out

 Looking for the alligator

 Mama and Cora LOVED having Daddy come to the zoo with us

 Jack is swimming with the penguins

Jack's been doing some yard work for Grammy and Papa...

We've been painting...

 We had a family painting party ranging in ages from 9-99!

So much fun

 And the results are in! Each one is so unique. It was fun to see all the different results.

Cora has been put in an at home "tummy time and standing" boot camp.

She's not crawling or scooting, so Mama is making her workout now.

We're starting to see some improvement, but still no movement.

 

THEN, it was my birthday!

All I wanted was to spend the day with my family. 

I got that. 

AND

I got a BEAUTIFUL DAY!

A yummy breakfast.

A stunning family stroll in SE Portland.

The best pictures you can get (when you are just taking them yourself and you have a 3yr old and 9mon old and husband that hates pictures but they are all taking them just because it's your birthday and they know you like them.)

Chinese food, 

and a super duper fancy cake inspired by watching the British Baking Show.

oh 

AND I got super duper cute cafe lights on my patio!

I think Jack enjoys them too ;)

He keeps saying, "Now Santa can come!"

I guess they look like Christmas lights to him? Grammy had to connect the dots on that line of reasoning for me. 

 Here's the Princess Torta Steve made for me this year. It was delish! Homemade marzipan, custard, jam and sponge cake all layered up.

Papa is sneaking Cora some ice cream

Jack is enjoying his cake on this 78 degree day.

The Rhododendron Gardens in SE Portland

 It's so beautiful here!!!!!

 Quacking at the Mama and goslings

Chasing the ducks now.

*sigh* "Jack, leave the animals alone" said 1,000 times over...

"Jack, come take a picture with Mama" 

This is the best we could do :)

But we DID get this one..

...and this one

"Lets take a quick picture"

Results below.

 Cora's turn!

This is the behind the scenes of what is really happening out of frame.

"Mama, what's dis?"

Garbage, Jack.  It's garbage bud.

 I got a passer by to take our photo. 

I said don't worry about what everyone is doing, we'll be here all day.

So, everyone... I present

Our Family Portrait

😂

We snapped a few other photos. None of them stellar, but we wanted to keep some semblance of peace. So I didn't push it and just got what we got!

Thank you family for loving me SO WELL. 

My heart is full.

And now that we've done all we've done and seen all we've seen and been everywhere doing every thing lately, this is pretty much how we all feel.

Give me a nap.