Friends Forever

 Leann came to visit. It was wonderful. We didn't do a whole lot of crazy stuff, but we just got to hang out together...in the same state...in the same house. I loved it!

We did take a trip out to Camp Yamhill to show the W kids the beauty and fun! I think they had a good time.

Lining up for the flying squirrel.

A dip in Inspiration Point

On Hazel's birthday there was a silly string war. Next time we'll get larger cans, and more of them. It will be epic.

After a fun week in Newberg we headed to the beach at Pacific City.

It's always fun to find interesting things to play with, dead, alive, or squishy.

Such a beautiful day to play in the ocean. The ocean was still freezing, but once you're numb who cares!

The girls wanted to see what it was like to wash up on the beach like seaweed.

Time to get sand in all the crevices.

2 of my favorite people! Aren't they cute.

This picture looks like Ryan is giving Leann some love, but what he was really doing was dragging her into the ocean. 

I am so thankful that even after years of not living in the same time zone she is still my dearest favoritest most wonderful best friend in the world. 

Hazel's 12th birthday

I'm not AS off schedule with Hazel's birthday. She just turned 12.

Hazel's birthday is of course always during summer break, so we got to have all the celebration on her actual day!

Her morning pic.

Here she is with the lovely birthday sign Leann made. =)

Leann and her kids were here for the festivities. I am soooo glad we got to hang out with them for her birthday. They got her a whole lot of candy, which she LOVED!

Post silly string pic.

Abby's, of course, for birthday lunch.

Troy had told the girls they would get a pocket knife for their 12th birthday. She has been looking forward to this for a long time. Now she can whittle for days.

We had her friend party a the new public pool. Here is Hazel, Desi, Sophia, and Naomi.

She asked for a Nutella Ice Cream sandwich cake.  I think she liked it, but she likes ANYTHING with Nutella.

We had family over for a BBQ and then headed up to the theater to see Jurassic World.  I love celebrating my girls and I love seeing them grow up into people.

Violet's 13th Birthday

This year Violet turned 13.

The customary morning birthday picture. Whimsy is very interested in all the hanging streamers and flowers.

It was a school day, so I took Violet and 2 of her friends (Ali and Sonia) and Hazel to Subway. Grandma and Grandpa met us there. They of course tried to talk me into letting them just 1 more class...and I of course said no.

We went to Olive Garden for dinner. Our good friends the Brenners, Grandma and Grandpa, Oma and Opa, and Great Grandma joined us.

For her birthday party we went to Camp Yamhill the next day. Her and her friends played on the the low ropes course and we had pizza and cake in the big lodge. 

So many teenagers...

13 candles lights up a cake pretty well.

13 has been...interesting and fabulous. I've got one of the wonderful ones.