Dancer Makayla

What a sweetie! We enrolled our dancing queen into a Song, Dance and Tumbling class for the fall. We started last week and she is having an awesome time. I took the camera today to get some shots of our dancin' girl. They have learned so much in just two weeks!

One of Oregon's Many Secrets

Michael came home from work the other day and wanted to go exploring. I had heard about some hot springs on the McKenzie River so we thought we would go check them out. We looked up directions on the internet packed up the kids (and the dog) and headed out. The drive to Belknap Hot Springs was beautiful. The pass follows the river and there are lots of parks and campgrounds to check out all along the way. We stopped for a quick break along the river and let Zoey (the dog) and Makayla get out and play for a while.

Once we got to the springs, we wondered why we hadn't ever heard of them before just recently. What a beautiful place. There is actually a campground, cabins and a lodge on the river and the spring (mineral) water is pipped into two pools. If you take a bridge across the river you can explore several wonderful gardens and ponds, it is just beautiful!

Makayla and I took a swim while Michael and Kaden just hung out. The pool was nice and WARM! Neither one of us wanted to get out but we wanted to go check out the gardens before it got dark.

Michael kept telling me to stop taking so many pictures and start walking. . . he wanted to make sure we didn't miss any of the gardens. I couldn't help it though, it was so pretty that I wanted to be able to show everybody what we saw. :o)

Makayla thought these guys were so funny. There was actually music playing as if it was coming from these statues.

Our Visitors

Josh and Jodi came to visit us! They were headed to California for a wedding and came to spend a couple days with us. We took them to McDowell Creek Falls and went hiking the first day that they were here. Josh and Jodi got Makayla her own Camelbak which she is still carrying around. She is very pround of her new pink "water backpack".

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The second day they were here we went to Mary's Peak and did some hiking. What a beautiful view from the top!! We can't wait to go back on a clear day to see all the mountians and a better view of the coast.

3 Months Old Already!!

No Way, it can't be! Kaden is already 3 months old. With a smile so bright he can almost make you forget just how fussy he can be. We were given a bit more of a challenge with Kaden then we ever had with Makayla as a baby. Some say it's just cause he is a boy. . . . . I won't go into that. >smile<>

Oregon Coast Aquarium

We went to the beach for a couple days for Michael and my 5 year anniversary.
The weather was gorgeous!! vsunny and about 70.
While we were at breakfast we were approached by a lady who wanted to give us two free adult tickets to the aquarium, we had been thinking of going but weren't sure we wanted to spend the money on it. We were thrilled to only pay for Makayla and we had such a great time. It has been so long since either of us had been.




Check out these crabs. I think they are the largest in the world.

Kaden was much too relaxed to enjoy much of the aquarium.

Milo McIver Park

Although we recently purchased a small travel trailer, we did some tent camping with my parents and grandparents (Grandma Jo and Grandpa Bob) this Labor Day weekend. We went to Milo McIver State Campground. I had camped there before while growing up, but not for many years. Michael had never been, so we had a really good time exploring all there is to do.

They have a very large and nice disc golf course at McIver so we took an afternoon and went to play. Grandma Jo had never played before and gave it her best shot. She said she had fun but next time we would have to wheel her around the course. >smile<

Osborn Aquatic Park

Swimming!!

Makayla and her friend Katy

Last Thursday we decided to take advantage of what nice weather we have left and go to the water park in Corvallis. I invited my sister, Sarah, and her kids to come down and also my mom, Grandma Jo and the daycare kids. We went during Parent Toddler time which works out really nice. You get to play without all the big kids running you over. Everyone had a really good time and the weather was perfect. They have a big windy slide that we took the kids down and they just couldn't get enough. Of course, we (the adults) had to take turns going down by ourselves too. :o)

Grandma Jo makes Kaden smile. He loves to be talked to. And he Loves not to have any clothes on.

Sarah and Ben

Fishy Makayla