Highlight #3 - Oregon Coast

Mike and I really wanted to take our kids on a real family vacation this year where we would all have fun, and after much thought, we decided to drive to Newport, Oregon. We had so much fun! Peter was so excited to get to the ocean on our way there. On our way, after an 8 hour car ride, we stopped at a camping spot by the Columbia River and set-up our tent for the night. Peter was so excited to play in the water and tiny beach for about 20 minutes. The next day he thought we were going home and that he had already played in the ocean. The world is so big to a 4-year-old! When we finally arrived in Newport, we camped several days and played and played at the beach, went to the aquarium there, visited lighthouses, discovered tide pools, watched boats, seals, and sea lions, and flew our kite. The last couple nights we stayed in a hotel and swam in the pool, ate lots of ice, and explored the hotel. It is so fun to be on vacation with kids and see the world through their eyes. Here are some pictures.


This is at Cobble Beach...while Dad and Peter explored in the tide pools, Elsie communed with the cobbles.

This was the lighthouse we didn't go up. It was pretty disappointing. I had geared Peter up all month talking about lighthouses and watching Pete's Dragon....only to find out there was a height restriction. Sigh. It was pretty to look at, at least.

We heard the Oregon coast is the only place where all colors of starfish - red, orange, and purple - co-habitate. I thought this picture was kind of neat, seeing them all together.


Mike is an explorer - he's not afraid of anything and is handy at just about everything. He even talked me into picking up a starfish.

Kite flying at its finest.



Peter loved using the Kelp as a "laso".

Here is Elsie, enjoying the sand as only she can. She was always such a mess.

In the Newport Aquarium, they have this area where you are encircled in the aquarium and can see the fish all around. Elsie showed Peter how fun it was to look at the glass on the floor. I just needed some orange cones to set around them for those passing by.


Ummmm....Lollipops!

Peter LOVED to chase the waves. We spent a lot of time running along the beach. It was a lot of fun!

Highlight #2 - Nicholia Ranch

Every other year my side of the family has begun doing a family reunion. This summer was our second biannual event and we held it at the same place - Nicholia Ranch. Why have a reunion in the same place 2 times, because it is so dang fun for everyone! There are fishing ponds, horses, a plethora of 4-wheelers, hiking, games...the perfect adventure for anyone under 90. The cousins love to explore together. This year the favorite place for the 9, 6, 4, and 3 year old boy cousins was the junk yard. Can you imagine? Old cars, rusted metal, glass chard's, dangerous flamable material - pretty much anything you shouldn't burn. Yes, this was very exciting for the boys, and nerve racking for the rest of us! But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. Before we got to the ranch, we all made the time to stop and visit my Grandma Rydalch. She was 91 years old and this was the last time my kids or I were able to see her as she just passed away last month. What a wonderful person and a great experience this was. I really hope Peter will remember her always.
While at the ranch, Grandpa put together a treasure hunt for the grandkids. This was no ordinary hunt, however. The cousins found themselves digging for treasure, fighting bad guys with their swords, drinking magic potion for more energy, and following maps and compasses as their guide. It was a definite highlight for us all during the vacation! Here are some pics....





We also went on a little hand-cart trek - it was only a couple miles, but carrying one inside me as well as 1 on my hip, it was more than enough to give me a great appreciation for those dear pioneers who walked across the plains for religious freedom.

My dad was ingenious when he thought of bringing these along....the pieces to build our own marshmallow shooters! They were a ton of fun, and Elsie and Eden enjoyed the spoils of the battle. Lanita, in the background, just got a marshmallow shot down her throat - hence the lovely expression.

There was so much more we did. We flew kites, made movies (Thanks to my award-winning brother-in-law, Micah, for being the director and shooter), and played a rousing bean-bag game we couldn't get enough of. We rode horses, which Elsie LOVED. She would giggle and laugh all the harder the faster the horse would go. She is definitely a thrill seeker! Peter earned the fisherman's award. Every time I turned around he was trying to talk an adult into going fishing with him. He would cast all by himself over and over until he'd catch a fish. He wasn't afraid of their slimy, gross scales and flipping bodies as he pulled them out of the water. It was great. We had a lot of fun. A big thanks to my Uncle Carl for letting us use his place. It gave us all such great memories for a lifetime.

Highlight #1 over the past 20 weeks

I am a very over-anxious pregnant person - I am either cleaning and working like mad or I'm lying down in sheer exhaustion, and there is not much activity (such as blogging) in between. However, there was so much that happened over the past 20 weeks that I can't let them go by without a few words and pictures.
So, Highlight #1 would be Peter's 4th Birthday! He had his first birthday party and we had so much fun! Peter was quite specific on what he wanted to do for his party: a water balloon fight, treasure hunt, and a Winnie the Pooh birthday cake. We all had so much fun!

Okay, so I forgot one can't make red out of food coloring, so my boy got a pink birthday cake, but he didn't seem to mind. That's what counts! The next picture we are filling up more water balloons. Trying to do this with a pack of excited 4-year-old's was a hilarious experience.

I loved this picture with all the skinny arms flailing around. This picture puts me in motion.

This is when we showed Peter his new big-boy bed he got for his birthday from Mom and Dad. What an exciting day!

Peter was born the same day our town does its 4th of July celebration, which means he gets fireworks on his birthday every year! We get together with my husband's family and eat dinner and cupcakes while we wait for it to get dark. Elsie sure liked the frosting!

Peter is modeling his new p.j.'s Grandma just gave him for his birthday.

New Arrival!

So...20 weeks of gestation later, taaadaa, we have a new baby boy! He was born October 28th at 7:00 pm weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz., and 19 inches long. We named him (not a moment too soon!) Kimball Marcus. Here is a pic right after delivery.lKimball has been the perfect newborn! I couldn't have picked a better delivery...I checked into the hospital at 6:15, not knowing if I was in labor for sure, and he was born at 7:00 - 45 minutes later, AND the doctor was even there this time. It was great! Since then, he has proven to sleep well, eat well, and tolerate his siblings without any complaints. He is the cutest little one I have held in about 21 months! We came home from the hospital the next day and met some excited older siblings, which we naturally documented with more pictures!

We are having a fun time getting to know this new spirit in our home. Peter and Elsie have really taken to him. Elsie wakes up and the first thing out of her mouth often is, "Kimball?" We all love and adore him!

My Mom came and stayed for a little over a week and helped me with the kids and household. It was great to have her here! Only, after looking through my pictures, I realized we totally missed taking a picture of her while she was here! Sorry Mom, I really slipped up and was enjoying the help a little too much! Elsie especially really bonded with her Grandma while she was here. It didn't bother her in the least that I was busy taking care of Kimball because she knew she had Grandma's undivided attention whenever she wanted. After a couple days stay, my Mom nicknamed my kids The Dictator (Peter), Queen Bee (Elsie), and The Boss (Kimball). Yes, it is a power struggle at my house.

Now my Mom is gone, the weekend is closing, Monday will soon be here, and I must fly solo. Wish me luck!

It's a.... Boy!

Yep, we're adding another boy to our household! We had our ultrasound and, of course, had to know what we were going to have. I have never been one for surprises. I find it much more enjoyable and much less stressful to anticipate what will happen, and am a deer in the headlights any other way. I must admit, this whole boy, girl, boy pattern we are setting up has me a bit confused, coming from a family of all girls and all. We are all pretty excited. However, when I told Peter he was going to have another brother he replied, "I already knew that, Mom." So, whether we knew it or not, we are all happy and busy anticipating!

A Movie Date!

The last movie Mike and I went to with just each other may have been....the First Star Wars. I remember because I was super pregnant, and we stayed up way too late and I only got 4 hours of sleep before I went into labor and had Peter. That would have been almost 4 years ago! It is quite pathetic, but the movie that finally got us out of this dry spell was the long awaited Star Trek. Mike and I got a babysitter and everything and went out on the town. It was great just being with Mike, but to add to the excitement, the movie was completely entertaining and fun. I loved seeing how all the characters developed, and best of all, seeing the real Leonard Nemoy. It was so well done and I could watch it over and over. It was a huge hit with Mike and me. When we came home, the babysitter had put this happy, loving magic spell on our children. They were laughing and so excited, and Elsie kept giving Peter hugs over and over again. It was too cute. I tried to capture it, and this was the best I could do.

A Fun Weekend!

A week and a bit ago was a fun packed weekend for this girl! Friday evening I had my sister, Becky, and her family come up from Provo and spend the night. I had a great time being with my sister and playing with Eden, who is a week older than Elsie. I love watching the little munchkins run around everywhere! Eden's a champ runner these days for sure! As much fun as I had, Peter was in heaven spending time with his Uncle Micah. He kept saying, "Uncle Micah, I love you....I missed you." This is the ultimate compliment from Peter because he is constantly telling his 'far-away' grandma and grandpa, "Don't worry, I won't miss you." Once he even told me, "Mom, if you died, I wouldn't miss you." Thanks bud. Glad to know you would be okay. So, apparently, he connected with his Uncle Micah.
On Saturday we had big plans to go to the zoo and see elephants and giraffes! We had read and sang songs about them all week long. However, those plans quickly got scratched, because we would have to leave Uncle Micah, and he was much more fun! So, we spent the morning bonding and playing and then by late morning we left to head down south for a small high school friend reunion. I had so much fun seeing good 'ole friends from home! Stephanie, Amanda, Jordan, and Severin with all their spouses. I was the only one with kids (for the time being) and was soooo appreciative that everyone was willing to put up with their energy and exuberance. Mike was really good to help as well, and I had a great time catching-up and chatting with good 'ole friends. It was a great day!