It was time at last, the kids had been waiting for this trip for weeks. It had been postponed a few times due to sickness and at last it was here! We started off on a beautiful sunny morning up the Columbia Gorge, an awesome place to start a trip, especially on sunny days!
We made it 2 hours without a stop, which is decent with kids, and stopped at this lovely park in Arlington.
There comes the train!
There were quite a few of these Mallard ducks to chase around. They would come quite close begging for hand outs, only to be disappointed.
Sliding his shoes back on ready to run somewhere.
Marcus man has finally decided he likes getting his picture taken.
Jul's on her way to keeping up with those brothers.
A stow-n-go airplane!
And 4 hours later we made it!!!
The kids all headed straight to the sand box and played there for quite a while.
In their lovely back yard, with a very fun play house!
We finally got to meet sweet Jax for the first time, and he's already standin' up!!
A quick tummy time picture,
(he does not prefer tummy time).
This is better.
We had brought them some tree frog babies, otherwise know as pollywogs and they needed more water in their tank so this required a trip to the lake, much to the kids delight.
In spite of the brisk wind, the kids had a blast throwing rocks off the end of the dock, and, I promise no one fell in Gramma!!
It's all down hill going and all uphill back, but not this steep. Phi, being a boy, dropped his sandal over this edge and had to climb down and get it. He learned about tumble weed seeds and how prickly they are.
Once we got back they broke out the bikes, and there were all sorts of traffic jams and races going on in the front yard.
Mark, get set, GO!
Once the sun set it was dinner time,
and inside toys time, until bed time.
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Saturday morning, our boys were up by 7:00 as I forgot to close the blinds in their bedroom. :) Besides there were places to go and people to see! They were back on some wheels as soon as they could after breakfast.
Our three boys had been looking forward to rollerblading, it was rumored and found to be true that cousins had two pairs of blades that were the right size for Aaron and Marcus. Up to this point at home our kids had been rolling around as best the could in Mr. Tech and my blades. We had managed to find Phi a pair at Goodwill just before we left. So they all took turns trying them out and finding how hard it is to stay up.
Tho' they stuck with it for a good part of the day, and did pretty well over all.
Taeo and his bike. :)
We headed to the park and got some more practice on the basketball court, the way we learned as kids... pushing strollers! :)
(I love Kate's hair flying in this one)
They are listening to instructions for monster tag on the play structure with the Dads.
The beautiful day .
Back at the house there was story time and nap time.
Ethan loved all the places to climb and explore.
And he found his happy cousin Jax to be very fascinating.
He's so much fun!
During nap time Deb and I ran to the store (for groceries, not a shopping spree) with only Jax, while the guys stayed with the kiddos.
After dinner it was story time with Aunt Deb,
And then hot chocolate time!!!
And just before bedtime we did glow sticks!
By Sunday morning all the kids had a cough or a runny nose, so just the guys went out. The kids and us ladies stayed home and Aunt Deb did a little Sunday school class since there were plenty of kids. :)
And that's the extent of my pictures since the camera batteries ran out here. All in all it was awesome to be able to see them again and meet Jax, it had been too long. Thanks guys for letting us come!
