Very Few highlights from our trip to Oregon in June

We visited my sister Cammy and her family in Oregon this last summer. Sooooo fun. Soooo beautiful there. It was our first time visiting their home in Coos Bay, OR and I couldn't believe how gorgeous everything is there.
Here's Face Rock. That big rock behind us is a profile of a face, looking up toward the sky to the right. See it?

A lighthouse, the furthest western part of the continental US. Beautiful! That picture looks like a post card! (The lighthouse, not me and Daniel. ha ha)

Although, this picture of us is beautiful too.

A small part of the redwood forrest. Okay, so it's not a great big redwood tree picture, but it sure it a "cute kids" one. :)
That's Emmy, Jaycee, Owen and Sheldon.

Cherries

We got more than 20 cherries this year! Yay!
That's about what we got last year, only I think the birds ate half of those.
Or maybe the birds ate more and we just didn't see them.

Though we still didn't get many, this bowl was Delicious!
Hoping for more next year.
I should probably discourage the birds somehow.
Especially from making their nest in the tree itself, like they did this year.
How do I do that?

Lewis and Clark

Or a more recent picture...

Here they are, the great explorers Lewis and Clark.
Exploring the Rocky Mountains. Notice guns and sword in their backs.

"We are on the Rocky Mountains and we are stuck here and we are hungry. We melt the snow for our drink. We are tired. (from bottom to top on right side) Lewis and Clark travel through the Rocky Mountains."

as written: we are on the roke mountons and we are stuk hear and we are hungrea we melt the sno for our jreenc we are tirde Lewes and clark chravl threw the roke mountens.

Garrett wrote this with no help.

They've also been known to play "presidents." Abraham Lincoln is one of the favorites.
I guess he's learning something at school.

Ally

This is Ally. She's my cute, funky little sister.



She is a bright and sunny and happy person.
She was the one I pulled out of the hat of names to give to for Christmas this year.

So I made her a quilt.



A bright, sunny, happy one.



I love these colors.
It was so easy, but so cute I might make one for myself.
Love ya, Allzy Walzy.

What's so funny/sad?

A year ago, the family reunion...sibling lunch. All nine of us. It was fun. A little too fun.

What's so funny?


The left behind parents, spouses and kids...they don't really get this "sibling lunch" thing we do. And maybe it IS kinda rude not to invite anyone else. Okay, to blatantly exclude everyone else. That's more like it. But when we go, and when I look at our pictures and think back on the hour we all sat around the table, not really talking about anything special or even reminiscing all that much, I'm so glad we did it.

Please ignore all the fillings in my teeth, that I just now pointed out to you and you otherwise may not have noticed.

I'm laughing just looking at the pictures.

And a year later...

Family reunion...sibling lunch.

What's so sad?

This one here, is our third "sibling outing." The first time, we were pretty sure it would never happen again, though we all vowed it would.

Oh, my goodness!

What could have happened?

Maybe we're all thinking how much we'll miss our Ethan as he embarks on his 2 year mission to Croatia. He leaves December 16th!! Our little baby brother...
Well...
Stay tuned for...What's so scary?
or What on earth is that smell?
Haven't decided yet, but it won't be for a couple years since Ethan will be gone and all nine of us won't be together again 'til he's back. We WILL miss you, Ethan...but we're all a bit jealous as well. :)

I love my sibs.

Halloween in December

Okay, we aren't really having Halloween in December. But I'm finally posting about it in December.

Here's the wonderful picture of our crew.

Justin- his idea (sort of.) But I actually found the lamp shade, much to Justin's surprise and delight.

Ian, the duct tape man. My little brother Ethan made a whole suit of duct tape once. This is the perfect costume for Ian who is always stealing and using the duct tape.

Thanks to many dress up birthday parties Emily was invited to the last couple of months, we found this Zombie costume really worked for her. Don't you agree?

Of course! Duh!

Army guy. He stuck with this idea from the first and was thrilled with it til the end. :) Phew! Love when they are easy to please.

Happy Halloween!
ahem...

Mom, my neck hurts

The prefered tv watching spot.

My neck hurts just watching him.