End of August...End of Summer

We planned for a low key August this year to just hang out at home and have fun locally before school starts.  And it was perfect for us!  I still felt very busy with different events we participated in, but also felt that we didn't miss anything (start of soccer, end of summer parties, back to school activities).  We had the best summer possible and are looking forward to the school year starting!

 

 

August was very hot so there were lots of popsicles eaten and sprinkler/pool/slip and slide fun!

And lazy mornings spent watching cartoons.

The kids became quite creative and inventive this summer with ideas for new products (mainly focused around candy or ice cream distribution) and Erika made a new dollhouse out of cardboard.

Levi channeled his inner Hawkeye with a new bow and arrow set

I had the kids do some school workbooks to keep up their education skills during the summer.  Laurel completed two of her workbooks and received an ice cream treat for her accomplishment!

Erika worked hard on her workbooks too and completed one (the other two were math practice sheets that we will use as supplements during the school year) for a movie prize.  She did great with her summer work!

We attended summer movies....where Laurel wore ear muffs to muffle the loud noises.

A new Walmart opened locally so we went to the grand opening and got our faces painted!

 

The kids begged Matt all summer to have a camp out in the backyard.  We finally got around to it the last weekend of summer!  And it rained on them...we must have waited too long.

 

Matt took Erika to a George Fox University women's soccer game one night.  She has a love for George Fox now that her daddy works for them.  It will be fun to root for a local team! 

Soccer 2014

We have two adorable soccer players this season! 

This is Laurel's first time playing soccer and so far she is enjoying it.  Her team is the Red Roses.  Getting five-year-olds to do much is difficult, but her team is learning the basics of soccer.  Laurel is naturally athletic so she is picking up on the idea of scoring and taking the ball away from people pretty easily.  It will be fun to watch her first "bunch ball" game!

Erika is on the same team that she was last year, which is awesome because the coach is very talented and a great teacher!  I am fortunate enough to help coach this year and have had a blast in the few practices that I have helped with.  As second graders, we can teach them more than just the basics....like how to shield a player and block them from stealing the ball.  The girls are great and it will be fun to watch them play!

 

Unfortunately, most of the girls games are at the same time on Saturday....and at two different soccer fields in Newberg.  I hope to make it to at least some of Laurel's games...I will just have to get someone else to fill in for me as the second coach for Erika's games.  The next few months will be busy with soccer practices Monday through Thursday and games on Saturdays, but the girls like playing and I love watching them!

Pie Eating Contest

Ever since Erika was in a pie eating contest at a Fourth of July carnival, she has been begging to be involved in another one.  So we figured, why not get the rest of our family involved!  While Jacob and Lisa and their family were here, we held a kid and adult version of a pie eating contest.  The kids were definitely more excited about it, but the adults did their best to muster up some enthusiasm for shoving their face in pie!  I made two different pudding pies...chocolate and vanilla....for the contest.  Everyone got to choose their favorite flavor and the contest began!

 

The four oldest cousins ready to participate!

 

 

To view the entire pie eating contest, including Laurel's hilarious declaration at the end, click the link!

 

http://youtu.be/3R-QDLsV9-8

 

 

And after.  I was surprised that they weren't messier!

The civilized girls using forks to enjoy their delicious pie

 

And then it was the bid kids turn.  Although it looks as if Matt is going to participate, as soon as we all had our heads down smashing pie into our mouths, he gently lifted his pie and ate it with his hands!

After declaring Jacob the winner (by a long shot!  He wolfed down his pie!), Erika yells, "Uncle Jacob, want me to lick off your beard?"   Gross...but hilarious!

Our after shot

Cutest little baby!  I think she wasn't quite thrilled to be a part of such a strange family contest!

Erika tried so hard to have Ellie sit in her lap.  But Ellie is on the move and I barely got this shot of the two of them before she was off exploring something else!

California Cousins Visit

My brother, Jacob, and his wife and daughters were able to visit our family for a few days this past week.  We all love having family around!  The kids had so much fun with Uncle Jacob and Aunt Lisa and Molly and Ellie!  The first order of business was a trip to Pump It Up to get a bunch of energy used up! 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we got to hang out at Grandma's house for a while.  Molly and Levi (only one day apart in age) were best of friends!

 

We were lucky to host some family time and the kids wasted no time in dressing up.

 

Then we headed to Newberg's newest attraction....a splash pad!

 

The splash pad is right next to a park so we split our time between the water and playing at the playground.

 

*Although the pictures don't show it....Ellie was part of the trip.  But at 15 months, she was either sleeping or just a step slower than the bigger kids and didn't make it to many of the "big kid" pictures.

Seaside

Last week, the kids and I spent the week in Seaside with my mom and sister.  It was one of the best vacations we have had!  We got into town on Sunday and immediately went to the shops on the promenade.

 

 

The kids got outfitted in Seaside clothing, thanks to Aunt Sarah.

 

We rented a house that was perfectly sized for us.  It had a great backyard for the kids to play in, including blowing bubbles.

 

And hot tubbing!

 

Monday morning, we went to the beach.  The weather was so foggy/misty...we couldn't even see the ocean until we were about 6 feet away from it!  But it wasn't too cold, and was better than the 90+ degree weather we left in Newberg.

 

Sarah brought this great tent-shelter.  It kept the wind from blowing sand in our faces.  And it popped up super quick.

 

We played in the sand every morning we were there for a couple hours.  The kids absolutely love the beach!

 

In the afternoons, we would scoot to a local neighborhood park for the kids to get more energy out.

 

Tuesday morning the sun came out while we were on the beach!

 

That afternoon, we headed into town to have some fun!

 

And Wednesday, we deemed "eat anything we want" day.  Pronto Pups, pizza, slushies, ice cream, taffy....basically anything junk-food-like we put into our mouths!

 

Wednesday night, we went to the beach one last time as we left early Thursday morning.  I am so thankful that we have these annual beach vacations!