Camping Trip

They were standing on a sign that said "Keep Off"

I took the boys camping last week. Since Phillip so eloquently puts it, "God did not intend for me to camp", it was just the three of us. Oh and the cousins. We spent two nights at Barview Jetty just outside of Tillamook. It only sprinkled one night so it was an odd trip, usually we get rained out! The big boys slept in a tent by themselves and fell asleep reading comics and talking. I was fiercely strict and insisted that the children be allowed to run in and out of the tents and jump on the air mattress, without shoes of course. I am not a neanderthal.

We spent three hours at the Air Museum and finally left because Kate and I couldn't take another minute. Who knew! We went to the cheese factory; enjoying the show, the samples and eventually ice cream. There were campfires and s'mores. Hot dogs and lots and lots of candy and grape soda. No showers, peeing in the bushes (the boys!) and the train. There was a Weather Rock in town. Note the sign, "Weather Forcast:ie rock is.......wet it is raining...white it is snowing...moving it is windy."

It was nice to get out of the office, away from town and to do something just the boys and I. The only bummer was that the Coast Guard said to stay out of the water because there were sharks close to the beach. Seriously? I have to say I was miffed because it was the first time I had gotten to the beach all summer and playing in the surf is one of the highlights for me. Maybe next time;)

Multnomah Falls

We took a trip today and spent the morning at Multnomah Falls. We then toodled on over to Bonneville Damn and went to the Fish Hatchery.

The falls were beautiful! It was cold on the way to the bridge and was icy around one of the bends. We soldiered on though and had some of the best laughs going over the ice. There was Jack's favorite part when Phillip was carrying him and the stroller and started sliding backwards when Mama caught them both. Never hurts to wear a smile. RJ took a friend with him and it made the whole day much more enjoyable for all.

We saw a 10ft Sturgeon at the hatchery, he ways over 450lbs and is ugly as sin. We fed the trout and saw where they grow the eggs and had a great time watching them swim. How easy it is to entertain boys, all you need are sticks, fish and enough shade to keep them cool and enough sun to keep them warm.

Disney

We finally took a vacation! As usual we went to Disneyland and had an amazing time! RJ took us on his favorite ride, Buzz Blasters, 10 times! Jack was old enough to ride the Matterhorn and when he got off, he summed up the trip..."That was awesome!!"

It was a quiet week there so only one day where we had to wait in line (veterans day). We saw the fireworks, hit every parade, rode every ride we wanted and got to ride w/ the engineer at the front of the Monorail! Nothing can beat a fun time with the family. It was a great week!

Week with the cousins

Playing Avatar...Connor, Kate, Jack, Lexi, RJ
Izzy, Max and Jack resting...hard day for them.
RJ, Connor and Jack climbing a gravel pit, out of the center of the earth!
Snow at Timberline. Izzy, Jack, Eli, Max, Connor and RJ.
Izzy Max, Lexi, Jack, Eli, RJ and Connor at Timberline.


The boys and I spent a week at Mt. Hood with my sister, our cousins and all the kids. It was a blast! We spent the week swimming and letting the kids run around and yell really loud! We took them up to Timberline one day and they went to Skibowl another. Great times:) We were so busy having fun and the camera was never within reach so you are only privy to a fraction of the memorable moments.

Hogle Zoo

RJ w/ an elephant skull
Kiddo's enjoying a tiger statue
RJ as big as an orangutan!?!
Mama E and Natalie

Aunt Kim sent these great pics of the boys at the zoo (she is much better organized then I, she remembered her camera;) It was a great day admiring the albino alligator, checking out the elephants eating and the elephant statue that made noise when you sat on the trunk and watching the red panda. RJ spoke ceaselessly about it in his journal for school and when he got to talk in front of the class. My favorite was the huge turtle that we didn't notice at first because, as RJ was quick to point out, he looked like a rock as camouflage. Jack just ran everywhere and was under a spell w/ the monkeys and alligator. It was great to hangout with Kim and Shaun and Natalie...it was a perfect outside day, one of the few that was cool and overcast so the animals were out and active. It was great to see another zoo that was well done, a fierce competition for best zoo we have been to now, Hogle way before the San Diego, not even a competition actually. Definitely a must see if you make it to Salt Lake.

A marathon trip...

Travis, Mitchell, Jack, Kaitlin, RJ
RJ, Mitchell, Travis, Jack
Jack & RJ at aquarium
Jack w/ Natalie, I believe eating her fingers
RJ and Natalie
Ms. Natalie

Last photo of the trip...need I say more.

We just got back from a road trip, done of course, Erwin style.

Friday-May 9: gym, swimming lessons, lunch w/ Phillip, pick Lexi up from dr where Connor was being seen for injury, laundry, pack, laundry, load car, clean house, load car, volunteer at school carnival, Phillip loads dog and Jack, picks up dinner, RJ and I at school and the mad dash to La Grande begins...check in really late, struggle w/ a newbie at hotel check in...sleep as much as possible in as little time as possible.

Saturday-May 10: drive to Bruneau, met newest niece- Ainsley- beautiful I might add, paint, play, hang out w/ cousins and grandparents.

Sunday- May 11: (mothers day) paint, run, great dinner w/ the tribe- Sid, Judy, Grammy, Aunt Mary, Russells crew and Phillips crew, have a great time w/ the cousins, eat a wonderful dinner.

Monday- May 12: do a ton of stuff in too little time, Jack went w/ Grandpa to feed cows- mind you it was very exciting yet intimidating- grandpa had to bring him back before going to feed across the way- as soon as he left, Jack melted down into tears because he was left behind. Boys took Gramma out for lunch and shopping. Drove to UT, sadly missing Jess. Got into UT at about 11p due to road improvements. Enjoyed listening to the kids goof off in the tent Kim and Shaun set up for them while having a couple of full strength drinks in their "kitchenette" of a bar:)

Tuesday- May 13: Aquarium in the morning, broke Kim's car DVD player (very nice player in a very nice new car) on the way to lunch, Phillip visited w/ Ken.

Wednesday- May 14: Whole family went to visit Ken, had a great time, great lunch and really enjoyed catching up. Kids ran the rec room w/ their video games and TV time...met up w/ Kim and Shaun at the Hogle Zoo- saw an albino alligator- rather odd really, enjoyed rush hour SL style and had a great pizza dinner until Jack knocked over a glass of water then turned around to see what he did and knocked it onto the floor- it was a beautiful sound when it hit the hardwood floor! We rock!

Thursday- May 15: RJ and Jack are totally exhausted and really not user friendly so Phillip took Ken to the dr apt minus Mama E. Boys and I enjoyed a park visit w/ Kim and Natalie until RJ took a metal pole in the forehead, causing a large bump and hard bite to the lip, matching fat lips for the boys since Jack had a mishap w/ the wall earlier in the morning getting dressed. Gotta love having boys! Apt for Ken went great! They removed the staples and the incision looks amazing. He will be sitting up in about 3 weeks and will be done w/ the antibiotics about the 9th of June. He will be heading home around the beginning to middle of June. He is of course very bored but looking amazing for what he is going through.

Phillip and I watched Miss Natalie while the rents went for dinner...it was rather quiet really, she is an easy baby and doesn't even fuss, lucky parents;)

Friday- May 16: Visit Ken on way out of town, make it about one hour out, Phillip and I switch so I can drive and at about Bringham, going around 85mph RJ lost his lunch- half out the car window the rest on his dad...long drive to grandmas with the windows down. Couldn't meet w/ Jess again as we all smelled like, well we smelled.

Saturday- May 17: (my birthday) we ruin grandpa's TV by making it digital vs analog, finished laundry, picked up the dog- he had a great visit w/ Sid and Judy- he even went out into the fields w/ Sid and had a great time- mind you the smell back to Portland was better then from UT to Bruneau but it's debatable how much better. We wrapped up the drive in time to defrost Conney dogs and put them on the grill because if we eat out in the next 10 days it will be more then our little tummies can manage. On the last four miles Phillip and I were laughing so hard because we realized that we were that family. You know National Lampoon, that family. Hammie climbed into the seat w/ the kids and layed on RJ's lap, by then we had run out of snacks, water and our minds- before we hit Troutdale.

It was wonderful to see everyone- although we are seriously bummed that we missed Jess not once but twice- and we were so glad to have time w/ Ken. Amazing- simply amazing.

Catch up

Ken's surgery went well. He is wrapping up a week in the hospital before he transfers to the care facility. We leave on the 10th and will be in UT some time after Monday the 12th. It is getting pretty busy here getting geared up to go. Will pull the whole drive to Bruneau in one day this time. I think I have gotten enough stuff for the kids to do. We'll see what the power of seperate DVD players hold. Have a happy Mother's day to all you out there. Especially the ones that do it all.

Spring Break

So I finally am taking pictures. Must be spring!

We went to the beach for the weekend the last couple days of spring break. Honestly I ran out of things to do in Portland that I had coupons for...shhhh.

It was a wild weather weekend. We left Friday morning and hit a ton of snow on the pass. When Phillip drove over that afternoon it was clear as a bell. Hmmm, I had the kids, dog and snow and he had a quiet clear drive. Bitter but not sure who at, him for working and being blessed or me for not being patient and leaving w/out him.

Here are photos of how it really is to live in the pacific northwest. If it is cold, wet and raining, just wear boots. Hammie dog loves swimming in the ocean, especially when chasing other dogs. We also hit the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Yes that is Phillip at the top of an anchor. He was showing RJ that you could climb the chain. I tried not to freak out and just take a picture but I admit, I have a weak constitution...when it comes to my boys.

Enjoy the walk through the pics. I know there are a few.