52 Hikes

Wes has this cool book that has 52 hikes you can do in Oregon.  We found one that was seemed easy enough and hiked it at the end of July.

It was pretty cool.  It was only a mile or two.  And it was mostly in the forest and would weave back to a little creek/river every now and again.  I'm too lazy to go find the book and name the hike or even discover the name of the river.  :)

We had such a good time hiking I tried to convince Wes that we should try to hike the whole book in our lifetime. 

 I got a lukewarm agreement to "try".  

Guess how many we've done?

One.  

That's right, we're off to a good start.  ;)

Here we are at the beginning of the hike.  

 Kinsley's somewhere under that little strawberry hat. :) 

For only being two months old she did pretty good.

 Sadie on the other hand, got sick of being carried around pretty quick.

 Novalee at one point discovered that the seeds of some sort of plant were sticking to her clothes and exclaimed, "I don't like the wilderness!"  :)

 Oh yes, now I remember the name of the Hike.  4 Point County Trail.  Why you might wonder.  Well out of 36 counties, this spot is the ONLY spot in Oregon where four counties touch.  I know, you are bored impressed!

 Sadie enjoyed throwing rocks into the creek. 

 Novalee made a fishing pole and set it up by the water.  Then she enjoy screeching and yelling at anyone who bumped it.

 

 Skipping rocks...

 or boulders.  :)

 

 

 

 I thought I should at least try...she didn't like it...obviously.

 Pretty Sadie.

 Could the vegetation in Oregon be more green and pretty? 

 Kinsley's pretty too.  :)

At the end of the hike all three kids jumped in the water.  Well Sadie fell in after trying to copy the big kids only to discover it was too cold for her taste and in a quick attempt to turn back fell all the way in. Poor thing.  She wasn't too happy about that.  But the kids had fun and it was enjoyable to just sit by the water and watch them play.

New Dress for Sadie

With it being so warm, I thought I would make Sadie another pajama dress with some fabric I've had for far too long.  So I just made a pattern using a dress she is currently wearing.  But when I finished the pajama dress I thought it was too cute to wear as just pajamas.  So I just added yellow ribbon and turned it into a play dress.

 I realize this is a goofy picture of Sadie but I just couldn't wait to have her try on her dress AFTER her nap, so I woke her up.  :)

 Sometimes when I'm making something by just winging it and I can see it's actually starting to come together I get so excited. I know, I'm a nerd.

 Sadie on her way to church in her new butterfly dress!

Polly Pea Pocket

My mom got a new puppy this summer.  She is the cutest little thing.  She is a mini schnauzer.  I kind of swore off dogs after our last experience but it's hard to resist puppy lovins.  :)  

  

How can you not love something so adorable?

My mom brought her over to our house so the kids could meet her.

 Novalee and Polly together.  Both tiny little things with large personalities. 

   The kids kind of love her.

 Maybe a little too much.

  I'm pretty confident she wouldn't last a day in our house.  

Kinsley's Baby Blessing

On July 1st Kinsley received her baby blessing.  It was a pretty great experience.  Wesley's parents and two youngest siblings flew up from Arizona to be here for it.  Both sets of my parents came as well as my sister and her family and our neighbor.

We were was so happy to have so many people we care about there for such a special occasion.

  

In her blessing outfit ready for church.  

Our sweet little family.

Another baby Kinsley picture because she's just so dang cute! 

 Grandma Crockett got this super cute outfit for Sadie.  

                                                                             ADORABLE!

Dad with Kinsley!  I bet you can tell that he loves her. :) 

 Aunt Emily and Uncle Justin.  They look scared.  

 The Whole Crew

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Yes, I realize it is July BUT I finally got around to making a tree skirt for our future Christmas trees.

Previous years I just draped red fabric around the tree and listened to Wesley say, "'WE' should just buy a tree skirt."  To which I would faithfully reply, "But I want to make one."  Insert pouty face.

And so last winter I bought red fabric but the execution of how to make a tree skirt was pretty daunting.

But it turned out to be pretty easy to do and for just winging it I think it turned out great.  :)

My Downy Touch of Comfort Quilt

I just finished this week the quilt I made for the Downy Touch of Comfort program.  I first heard about it on the Make-it and Love-it blog found here.

It is a really neat program where Downy will send out all the materials except thread and batting to make a quilt that once made will go to children in hospitals.

If you are interested in learning more about the program click here.   The pattern is really basic too which is great for beginning sewers or for anyone with limited time.  I'm just saying all this because I think it is a really great program and am hoping others will give it a try.

Here is my finished quilt.  

Lesson Learned

The lesson I learned today is: Drive to the park.  Don't walk with 4 children under the age of 8.

Here's how I learned this vital piece of knowledge.

(A little context).
Wes' family is coming into town today and tomorrow for Kinsley's baby blessing.  And of course we have been very busy as a family with the four kiddos and it being summer break and so the house has gotten a little disgusting dirty.

Wes asked me last night if I wanted him to do anything before he went to bed to help clean before his family came.  But I felt a little bad asking him to help since he is up with me most nights helping sooth Kinsley or Sadie AND instead of cleaning myself last night I was working out.  :) (How can you ask someone to clean if you aren't going to be cleaning too?)  So I told him no.

So today was the day I cleaned.  Which meant the kids were pretty much on their own to entertain themselves AND keep things picked up that I already cleaned.

About 3:30 I finished everything.  The kids were BORED which was easy enough to tell because they were picking on each other rather than playing together.  So I said we should go to the park.

After a quick prayer in my mind that no one would get hurt, off we go.  Jared's on his scooter.  Novalee's on her bike.  I'm pushing Sadie in the stroller and Kinsley is wrapped in the Moby wrap on my chest.

We are at the park less then 10 minutes when Jared decides to show me a cool trick at the skate park, somehow causes himself to come to a dead stop, doubles in half and lands on his head and knees.  Then crumples into a ball in the middle of the skating area and starts crying.

Great.  So now what.  Not to be heartless but Jared is a little dramatic.  (I'm not sure where he gets that from. ;)...)  So I'm not super concerned that he is seriously, SERIOUSLY hurt but he's probably just hurt enough that it really hurts.  But when he claims he can't get up, as a parent you have to take that seriously because what if it really was something more.  So into the skate pit I go, leaving Sadie on the sidewalk in the stroller, I'm holding Kinsley's head because she doesn't want it wrapped up in the wrap and try to determine if Jared really is hurt and mentally trying to decide what to do if he is.

How do you carry a 7 year old, a 1 month old, a scooter AND push a stroller?

I'm pretty sure it won't work.

After a short inspection it looks like Jared is fine but banged up.  I tell him that if he gets himself up to a standing position I will piggy back him out of the pit which he agrees to.

So while hold Kinsley's head with one hand I hoist Jared onto my back and walk back up the ramp and set him down on the edge of the park.  ALL the while several teenage boys and a family are looking on. Great.   

He still claims he can't walk and asks me to carry him home on my back.

Really?

A little frustrated I did remind Jared that I wasn't superwoman and probably couldn't carry EVERYTHING home.  :)

It's amazing how quickly he recovered when he realized he wasn't going home without walking.

Up he gets and starts walking home.  I had to tell him to wait for us. :)

And so with one hand carrying the scooter that's partially in the stroller and pushing the stroller.  And with the other hand holding Kinsley's head we walked home.

Thankfully Novalee didn't get hurt too or else we would have been toast!

I hate being told I can't do things and I hate feeling limited but I'm pretty sure we can't go to the park anymore unless we drive.

Lame.

Jared's battle wounds.  Good thing he was wearing a helmet.