Moving Again

We're moving...and I'm nervous!!  Jimmy's job is relocating us and we are super grateful.  It is such a great opportunity.  Arizona is our new adventure and boy, will it be an adventure!  

I hear people who enjoy the outdoors, enjoy Arizona.  I hope that's true :)  Logan keeps having me watch these video clips on YouTube and the guy doing them loves to capture the Sonora desert (which is just an hour south of where we're living)...so all I have visions of is oversized centipede's, scorpions, rattlesnakes, tarantulas and bugs I can't remember the names of them.  Not to mention the heat...I like the heat, but I don't know about it getting REALLY hot.  See, currently I'm in Oregon with it getting probably in the 40's at night and I am still sleeping without bed covers and getting overheated...I'm in for it!  Not to mention, I spend time at my sister's 6 days a week about with Logan playing with his cousins.  This will be a shocker moving away from family. I'm sure I'll find things that I love, but the research I've had so far has the nerves going.

Apples

It was apple day!  What a fun day!!  Post IVF appointment (there's been a lot lately) we worked together to make applesauce.  My parents moved to this new house, little to there knowledge at the time they got an extra treasure.  This huge fully mature apple tree and we were reaping their free rewards.  Gosh...smelling those apples as they are cooking down.  It really does smell like apple cider.  We added some cranberries to some as one of the Test Kitchen's variation, it made the applesauce this pretty light rose color.  I tried the best online recipe I could find just to try out our options, but once again Test Kitchen is the best.  I added a splash of lemon juice...and voila!  Perfect!!

Between creating applesauce and canning...we went to 5 Guys.  It was so good!  On the way home we saw all these signs and practically smelled those apple cider donuts in the driveway.  They had this oversized apple bouncing house.  Logan obviously reaped all these rewards ;)

10K

Settling in to accomplishing this 10K was very methodical.  I had to make sure there was a 5K to cop out to, and make sure there was a marathon or half marathon happening as well.  You know, to make sure that we have plenty of time to finish even if we are going at a crawl.  If that's not enough criteria for our first 10K, it had to happen in the evening or very early morning because I have a fear of getting overheated.  All these things exist...Sunset on Springwater in downtown Portland.  There was a mini BBQ afterwards.  We did it...the 10K in all it's glory! ...with almost no training because heck we were amidst all the details of moving.

Remember how I said there was a 5K and half marathon as well.  Well, it is courtesy being a jogging stroller to start at the back of the pack.  They had us all mixed up.  They called out the 1st group, 2nd group, etc.  Suddenly it stopped and we were still in the back.  The guy announces okay, now it's all the 5K people.  We'll give it 10 minutes.  I was totally freaking out inside as I was still unsure we could get this done before getting disqualified.  We waited...and waited.  Then finally we left with everyone else, but had to go a different route for the 10K.  I thought there was no way we could reach the pack.  But, apparently people walk 10K's.  So...no, we were not last...definitely were not first either.  Jimmy stuck with my interval type running and we made it.  We definitely want to do one again next year.

Camping with Keeley's

The time came again to try out some beach side camping at Beverly Beach State Park mid-July.  It did not disappoint.  We got there Friday afternoon with beautiful weather prior to husbands arriving.  What a challenge!  We set up the entire campsite prior to them coming...it's amazing how much 3-4 year old's can help in pitching tents.  Way more than we normally would have them do and suddenly one realizes, they are SO capable.  It's time to put them to WORK!!  

The following morning we started to freak out it was misty rain that did not appear to have any chance of lift off.  

A warm blanket was forgotten on our walk to check out the beach.  Oversized hoodie...worked perfect.  This nephew of mine eventually stopped looking out the top and nuzzled inside and fell asleep.  

Suggestion to the world...take the Keeley's on your camping trips.  They research everything.  This led to us checking out the marine center which had free entry.  It was pretty much awesome.  Then to add to it there is this rocky lookout we went to (can't remember the name) and we could see whales.  I mean it, like blow hole whales constantly swimming up and down in the water.  It was surreal.  We weren't even planning on whale watching.  SO awesome.

Did I mention the weather cleared up?  We did not get any pictures.  It was simply the perfect day.

Mt Hood Camping

The anticipated trip of the year came and it was glorious!  But no really...we had a blast!!  

First adventure was fishing...let's lower the expectations as this was a fish farm.  There's no shame.  It was perfect for these kids to get a positive (we caught the fish) experience.  As much of my growing up was fishing and coming out empty handed...okay, so maybe it was mostly for the rest of us.  We wanted the goods.  It sure tasted good!  This time it took a little work.  Previously we could have thrown an empty hook...these fish must have gotten smarter.  They somehow knew what we were up to...

So proud, haha

The kids had to "pet" the fish.  My kiddo asks Nana frequently to "pet" her fish tank fish.  Finally allowed to pet some fish.  

Later that day...Lake Timothy.  It was 105 degree heat and we were certainly not the only ones that came up with this ingenious idea.  It was a perfect lake day.  If anyone wants to know what my guided imagery would be...it would be on my floating device on the lake.  That is heaven on earth.  Take me back now!!

The new face in the background looks like a photo bomb, but in fact it is Christina's new boy toy ;)  Let's face it, he loves us.

Riding salmon on the Wildwood trail...

4th of July, Gig Harbor, Gordon & Jessica's Wedding

4th of July.  Naomi demonstrates her excitement level for the traditional Costco fireworks on a ladder.  

We were lucky enough to have Jimmy's parents visiting for 4th of July just before Gordon's wedding.  It was such a treat!

Voodoo donuts!  The after effects below...

S'more night for Gordon and Jessica's wedding.  Love it!

My Uncle Kelly & Aunt Susan live near Gig Harbor, they let us take their kayaks for an adventure.  Now we wish we lived near the harbor.  Washington... it's official it's stinkin beautiful over there.

The wedding march...

We felt honored to be able to go to this wedding.  It was beautiful, so fun for us.  The highlight aside from the ceremony was the massive firework ending.  Never experienced until now close up fireworks that light up in the sky.  You feel it in your chest...amazing!

Beach Day

Logan and I got to spend the day with Nana, Christina and Spencer.  What a treat it was!  We started the day in Tillamook and went to the Blue Heron.  They have this Turkey Pesto Brie Sandwich that is SOOO good.  The only downside was how busy it was there.  Future note to self...order "to go" next time.  

I didn't get any photos, but they also have goats and chickens you can feed.  Logan loved that these goats were licking it out of his hands.  We couldn't get enough of it.  

Our adventure took us next to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  It was a Wednesday and was a zoo!  Still...there's something about watching a factory work their magic.  So much cheese cutting.  It was too bad Logan couldn't watch this during our wait for food!  He was glued...had to pry him from the window just watching those conveyor belts.  We had ourselves and ice cream cone...then headed to the beach.  We expected the beach to be super windy as it was windy in Tillamook.  Made our way to Cannon Beach.  It was PERFECT at the beach!  You heard me...Oregon and a perfect day!!

Buried this kiddo standing.  He mostly loved it.  Getting out was quit a struggle.  In fact Nana attempted to pull him out to no avail.  Apparently when you're buried straight in standing it requires digging out.