Happy Birthday, Daddy!

For 41 days every year, Mike and I are the same age. That day has finally arrived. I am no longer the "older woman" for the next 41 days.

Mike insisted that I not buy him anything for his birthday, so the kids and I made something we could give him that did not cost a dime!

Late Summer Dinner at Grandmom and Pops

After a wonderful day at the fish hatchery, we went over to Grandmom and Pop's for a scrumptious dinner. We had delicious pasta and meatballs and yummy, yummy cookies and cake for dessert made with love by Aunt Eileen. It was an amazing late summer day, a slight breeze and sunshine. The sailboats were out on the river, so we took some time out on the lawn to play whiffleball and just roll round in the grass.

It's days like this that I hope the kids remember when they are older...being able to kick back and spend some quality time with their cousins and Grandmom and Pop at their house by the river.

The pictures are Colette and Josie heavy, but they just happened to be the ones who stayed near me and so they were the ones who got photographed the most.

A Day at the Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center

It was a lovely day in the Portland/Vancouver area today. We spent a wonderful afternoon at the Columbia Springs Environmntal Education Center with the family. It contains a wonderful trail, a trout hatchery, and outdoor classrooms, not to mention just a nice serene place to be on a Sunday afternoon.

We had a wonderful time and I think the kids even learned a little!

We got there before Grandmom & Pop, Aunt Eileen & Declan, Uncle Charles, Aunt Tiffany, Olivia & Audrey, so we took some pictures while we were waiting.

Here comes Jo!

Jo greeting Pop to give him 5 kisses!

Here we are heading for the trail head.

Making our way down the trail.

Not more than 1 minute into the trail, the kids found this HUGE slug. Yuck!

How pretty is this? The natural light coming through the trees was so heavenly.

Sassy girl


Olivia

Audrey

Declan

Cousins feeding the fish at the hatchery


Here are shots of the outdoor classroom. It was very interesting! A few of the samples came from Missoula, Montana!!! I went to high school just south of Missoula in Stevensville where my parents still reside and Vanessa was born in Missoula :)

Woodpecker holes

Tracks!

Rocks from Mt. St. Helens

Jack really enjoyed the outdoor classroom.

These rocks are from Missoula from a flood.

It was a great day! Thanks Grandmom & Pop for inviting us!