Hiking

We discovered a really great hiking area this summer! Tryon Creek State Park is only 30 minutes away from our house.  We took the kids hiking in August and it was Levi's first hiking experience and Laurel's first hike without the assistance of a stroller or backpack.  The kids did great!  A lot of sticks and leaves were picked up and examined, but they loved looking at everything, finding animal holes near tree trunks, and asking Daddy what different plants and trees were called.  The park had great trails, not paved but definitely well worn, although Levi did trip over a tree root within the first 10 minutes and wanted to be carried a lot after that.  We did just under a one mile loop, which was plenty of time for the kids to be out, and then had lunch at a covered picnic area they had at the park.  We will be going back for more hikes soon!

Back to catching up-Cannon Beach

After three or four days of high 90 to 100 degree temperatures at Sarah's house, we decided to head to Cannon Beach for the day to cool off!  And cool off we did....it was super windy and pretty cold the day we went, but such a welcome change from the heat.  The kids adore the ocean and playing in the sand so they don't care what the weather is like!

Aunt Sarah doesn't like to be cold.  Or the eat sandy sandwiches and bananas.

This kid would walk into the ocean if I let him!

So I had to hold him back.

Me and my babies in my most favorite place on earth!

First Day of Kindergarten!

My baby is a kindergartner!  She was so excited to start school!  All summer she has been looking forward to this day, even asking if she could walk to school all by herself!  We picked out this pretty dress together and she wanted to put it on right as soon as she got up this morning.  She had met her teacher and a few classmates on Tuesday so she was somewhat familiar with the school.  After a few pictures, we were off!

Erika with her new dress and backpack.  She wore her backpack around the house all morning until it was time to go!

Laurel and Levi also wanted their pictures taken.

We are only 3 blocks from the school so we get to walk every day!

Laurel "walking" Erika to school.

Erika standing in front of her school, Antonia Crater Elementary.

All the kids wait in the gym before going to their classroom.  I was holding myself together quite well and was not even the least bit teary-eyed until I got into the gym.  There were so many kids there!  I think my hesitancy was that I don't want Erika to get hurt or lost amongst all those kids.  Whatever it was, I tried so hard to hold myself together as I am the world's ugliest crier.  I bet the 5th graders love the first day of kindergarten when they get to see all these adults blubbering!  Erika got a bit nervous at this time as well.  You can tell that her smile is a bit more forced then it was at home.  She doesn't like surprises or not knowing what she is supposed to do so she got kind of nervous that she didn't know where to sit or anything.  But, I got to stay with her in the gym and then walk behind her to class so that helped.  And, tomorrow, she will be so much better because she will know what to expect!

When the kids get to school, they take attendance by find their nameplate and answering a question of the day.  Her preschool models their curriculum after Newberg kindergarten curriculum so she was somewhat familiar with this.

Then she found her name at her table with the same kids that she had a small group meeting with earlier in the week.  Smart teacher!

There were books on their table to look at while all the kids found their seat.

Erika wanted a hug from her little brother and sister.  I really lost it then!  But, fortunately it was time for the parents to leave anyway.  Erika is such a great girl and I know she will do extraordinarily well in kindergarten!  I am excited for her and her school journey!

Home Away From Home

On July 29, we loaded up the kids and Wyatt and left to stay with family members before we could get into our new home.

And we brought Mr. T.

We stayed with my sister for what was supposed to be two weeks that turned into practically all of August.  We were so grateful that she opened up her home to our family of five plus the dog.  The kids adore their Aunt Sarah so they had a blast!

We did a lot of swimming in the pool in front of Aunt Sarah's since it was super hot the entire time we were there!

Or, we went to splash parks to stay cool.  A new one opened in Sherwood this summer and we love it!  Plus, it is close to home!

We also stayed with Matt's parents for two long weekends.  They were also so very gracious to keep us as well.  The kids got to play with some adorable puppies that Aunt Steph had.

And go blueberry picking with Grandma!

And again, play in the pool.

Thank you all for taking us into your home....especially these three crazies!

Old Fashioned Festival

Our last weekend in our old house was spent celebrating Newberg's Old Fashioned Festival.  We started out on Thursday night with the kids participating in the Children's Parade.

The girls rode their scooters and threw candy to the spectators that they carried in their baskets.  Levi was happy playing with his participation ribbon while riding around in the wagon.

And Levi enjoyed an after parade Coke!

The poor girls were so hot after riding with their helmets on in the hot hot sun.  But they got a Nutty Bar for their efforts.

On Friday, Jacob and Ashley came for the weekend to help us move and to play with the kids.  Levi took no time getting into Jacob's shoes.

We also went to the carnival where the kids all got to ride some of the rides.

And finally, on Saturday, we went to the main festival area where the girls got to try some daring feats in the Boy/Girl Scout area.

Catch Up! - July

The big news in the Hammar family is that we moved into a new house this past week!  A blog dedicated to that life change is in the works.  However, since I haven't blogged in a month and a half, I am going back through my pictures and see what we missed this summer!

Matt's company had its annual company/family picnic at Bullwinkle's amusement park.  The kids had a really great time in the indoor climbing structure and all the arcade games.  Laurel was old enough this year to ride the Frog Hopper...a little jumping ride....and ride the bumper boats with Mommy!

Then, we packed.  And packed.  And packed some more.  We spent the majority of the last two weeks of July packing up our house in order to be out of it by July 31.  We were out July 29, thankyouverymuch!

But, in between packing we had time for crafts at the library to begin their summer reading program.

And lots of walks to the park.

And eating Popsicles on hot summer evenings!