Our 'stay'cation and BIG news....

My mom kept our kids after our Portland trip. We came home completely kid-free which we found is fun for about 2 days and then what??? lol.

Drinks and appetizers with a view of the ocean... it was splendid!

A walk at the boardwalk

A very relaxing week for us! But we missed our kids like crazy!! It made us realize that we need to take up some hobbies when the kids leave the house because right now they are our hobby! It also made us realize that we need to take time to reconnect more often. It had been 9 years since we last had a kid free weekend! Surprising enough I did not end up pregnant with all our alone time...

 that ended up taking place in November instead :)

Yep we're pregnant :)

party in Portland....

Came to Portland to celebrate these two amazing people....Seriously such an amazing weekend!

Made our way to downtown to Nike Town...

Lots of posing and pictures taking place....

Shortly after this posing picture was taken is when we were told by an employee it is illegal to take pictures in Nike Town! Who knew??? Kids first broke the law under my supervision!

Lunch in downtown

Grandma with kiddos

For the wedding the attire was to wear a hat, boa, wig. So this is what I was able to get the boys to do other than a baseball hat!

Scott embraced the wig idea to the fullest! And here was born the Jamaican accent that lasted the entire weekend!

Sometimes it's better to just not ask lol

As amazing as Portland and all the activities that we did were, I have to say that the family time we had was priceless. With my mom, brothers, new sister, and my cousins. We never really have uninterrupted time and I found this to be the best part. I hadn't had the time I'd wanted with Brooke, my new sister. And I so enjoyed just being able to hang out from breakfast to the late hours making memories with her! It was a great trip and such a wonderful reason to come together to celebrate!

Brayden turns 8....

The party....

Batting cages....Jensen, Chase, Brayden, Kobey, Ben

Pizza after and pirate names assigned

Pirate music and making their bandanas

My first official pirate cake. Ok, to others this might not seem like a big baking feat but trust me it's HUGE!

The finished bandanas

Our pirate flag...ready for our treasure hunt!

arrrr....the treasure map

I think we found something matey!

Oh Brayden how you brighten each of our days! Our family hit the gold mine with you:) You make us laugh with your quick sense of humor, your accents from far away lands, and quirky ways of doing things. You are loving, kind, and a friend to SO many. You will find the one spot on the couch that your bum will fit into and cuddle yourself into it! You just love to be touching someone...anyone! Just a cuddly, warm, and nurturing kid who we are blessed to call our son! You truly are such a gift to this family in SO many ways! We love you buddy, Happy 8th Birthday!

the kids take to the sky...

We had an amazing opportunity in August to go see the Blue Angels in Seattle, have a BBQ on the run way, and hang out in the cockpit of our friends plane! Ok, I have to be honest I complained about this trip the entire way there lol. I don't see the excitement of planes barely missing each other in the air! The kids however totally soaked it all in! And totally loved being pilots for the day, they do make awfully cute pilots I must say :) And it turned out to be a super fun day! 

 So darn cute, she can fly my plane any day ;)

Brayden's drinking a little Dr. Pepper before he takes flight! You can see Makenna's Dr. Pepper already took effect!

"Too cool" for pilot's school! :)

Ben was very serious about his responsibilities! Proper pilot lingo and all!

He messed with many dials and fingers crossed Jim got them back where they belong!

This is one of those pictures that I can see how much these two really do look alike at moments!

the not so warm beach....

We found this beach out in Oak Harbor after church. Super fun and beautiful but you'd never see me in this water! Seriously if you say beach it better be warm! This was like visiting the Artic but atleast the kids thought it was the best thing ever.

Makenna's face as she feels the water temperature!

As they all fully experience what it must've been like on the Titanic! ;) Ok maybe not quite that cold!

One of my favorite pictures of my boys

The view of this was far more breath taking than the ocean I must say. 

And as you can see I stayed safe and warm on land for this one! 

my cowgirl...

Oh how my girl loves horses! Some day... my love....some day!!