Pacific Northwest Trip- Part 2

My parents were happy to help us celebrate while we were visiting. A couple of my brothers visited while we were there, too, and also joined in. Some of the holidays were celebrated observed because of schedules.

July 18 was National Sour Candy Day. We ate sour patch kids and made sour faces.

 

July 19 was National Hot Dog Day.

 

It was also Stick Out Your Tongue Day. 

We went to Shore Acres, did a little birding while there, then went down to the beach so we could introduce a couple of the kids to putting their feet in that cold Oregon ocean. Jet enjoyed it.

Lucky didn't want to take his shoes off to wade in the water so he "tried" to run away from the waves but just got his shoes and socks wet. Sigh.

We got to see some brown pelicans which was fun. We're used to seeing white pelicans in Utah. We've only seen one brown pelican in Utah before.

July 20 was Moon Day. We ate "phases of the moon" cookies and creativity took over. We had half moons, full moons, gibbous moons, moons with the Cheshire Cat smile. We had the man in the moon and the moon on the man. 

Nichole opened up a cookie and started eating it. I pointed out it was a full moon. And as she ate it she replied, "Yep. And now it's waning."

"It's the moon!"

 

We of course couldn't visit my parents' house without visiting the nature area that is down the road. I got the kids up and made them go out with me. We got our target bird- green heron- as well as plenty of other birds in the area. There were actually 3 or 4 green herons in that area.

My parents' ward had their Pioneer Day picnic while we were there so I got to see some childhood friends and give a hug to the woman who was the Young Women's President when I was a youth. My kids had fun running around and playing (or sitting reading depending on the child) and Jet had fun running around with his uncles.

It was a great trip to Oregon.

Pacific Northwest Trip- part 1

July 16 was Ginger Rogers' Birthday. I wore my bow earrings to celebrate at church where I gave a talk and cried a lot because I was running on little sleep trying to get ready for a trip and getting up early every day to support Jeremy and get him to work early. Jet kept me up late the night before which fact I was able to use in my talk. It's life, real life. And it's okay to come to church with how things are in real life. It's right to be there.

After church, we finished packing and the kids and I drove to Idaho to visit our friends. They were so sweet to feed us and let us stay overnight, even though we got there much later than we wanted to. Part of that was we had an issue with our van on the way so it set us back a while. Traveling on the hottest day of the year. Sigh.

I love our friends. The next day, July 17, was Global Hug Your Kids Day so I tried to get pictures of me hugging my kids before we headed out and at most stops. Some of the pictures didn't turn out so well but I got enough pictures it's fine if I don't put every single one on here.

It was also Yellow Pigs Day so I specifically requested Nichole wear her Cook's Racing Pigs hat she won way back on Yellow Pigs Day in 2014.

Since it was also Ocean Day in Japan, we joked that we were headed toward the Pacific Ocean, as we were headed to Oregon.

My parents met us partway there and my dad took most of the boys while my mom rode with Nichole, Jet, and me. That last leg of the trip went so fast because my mom and I were chatting so much. I also made sure to get pictures of my parents hugging their kid- me. My mom tried to get pictures of her hugging her grandkids as well. Lucky escaped too many times, though, so we had to be sneaky and several days later, we got a picture of her hugging him.

It's been 5 years. It was high time I went back home for a visit. It was also Jet's first time in Oregon.

Mommy, Look

 I look like Daddy.

We're Thankful for... Jet

"When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way From your first bassinet to your last dying day."

We adore Jet. He is such a ham. He finds everything hilarious from stealing and wearing others' bathrobes or blankets to snuggling with loved ones.

He's still my baking buddy and makes just as many messes as he used to (sometimes more).

For Jet's birthday this year, he managed to blow out all the candles on his cake himself.

For his birthday, we picked foods we thought he'd like again. Apparently he wasn't interested in eating everything on his plate but was interested in the ice cream we got him. Neapolitan ice cream since he likes multiple flavors. He prefers ice cream to cake.

We did introduce him to a new trick for his birthday- blowing bubbles in milk.

 

He had no problem opening presents and cards, however.

Lucky, in his thoughtful way, wrapped up a toy in a blanket for Jet to "open." So sweet.

You're an absolute blessing in our lives, Jet. 

We love you and are so thankful for you. Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh, I Did

Oh, I did put up a post in October. I thought I had gone the whole month without getting a post up.

Oh, there's so much to catch up on. Sigh. The longer I go, the harder it is to catch up.

Oh well. Here's a picture of mountains and the sky. Not our view down in Utah County. This is taken right outside the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City.

The KAT's Meow

Kristin: Will miracles happen for me? The short answer is, "Yes."

Jr. Jr.: The long answer is, "Affirmative."

 

 

 

Mom: Aagh, I just kicked a dinosaur. That is not an uncommon phrase to hear in this home.

 

 

 

Dad (laughed): Link has allergies.

Others: Why?

Because it went from Breath of the Wild to Tears of the Kingdom. 

Jr. (while looking at the driver's manual): You know what I find funny? The first thing on "Appendix A" is "Organ donation."