Mortimer Family Vacation- Seaside, OR (August)

We took our first "just us" family vacation to Seaside, OR this year. Vacationing with 3 kids under 4yrs is a bit challenging but we enjoyed ourselves anyway. At least the accomodations were nice so when we were waiting for napping kids it was comfortable. Mike grew up in Tillamook so we took the kids there one day to see all the sights. Here they are at the Octopus tree. It wasn't as cool as I remembered it. I had only seen it once before. I was in high school and went to meet Mike's family for the first time in Tillamook. Of course Mike took me to all the touristy spots. Things are so much more impressive when you are young and in love!

We met a nice couple from New York or Boston (I can't remember) that took our picture.

Driving by Tillamook HS we couldn't resist taking a picture of the lawn mowers that some kids had driven to school and parked in the parking lot. Classic Tillamook!

We went to the cheese factory and didn't meet any nice couples to take our pictures so Mike set the camera up on a fence post across the street and set the timer. We have an hilarious set of pictures showing various states of us chasing the boys to try to get them into a picture. It is classic!

And when it was all said and done we were so small in the pics that you couldn't even see us. Oh well, it made a great memory.

Daddy time on the beach.

Looking for seashells...who would think you'd find a crab buried in the sand on the shoreline? Huh, go figure.

The boys went crazy at the arcades. They didn't know the difference between games when money was put in and games when no money was put in so we had a lot of cheap entertainment. We would just stop by the arcade and let them go at it for an hour or so while we watched.

They loved the Carousel!

I think this might have been the first time I put Josh in a swing. He loved it!

A hermit crab crawling on Jake's hands at the Aquarium...if you can call what they have at Seaside and aquarium. Definately not worth the money!

Say cheese!

The first day we were at the beach we ran from the waves. Jake thought it was fun but check out Ben's face. He played along but I think he was a bit freaked out.

Dad tried to show off and make a big sand castle but it was a flop so he ended up shaping a cowboy boot out of the sand. A cowboy boot? Yup. Should've taken a picture of that!

Mortimer written in the sand.

On the way home we stopped in Portland at Malibu Speedway. Jake barely passed the height requirements to ride in the "nascars".

But after one lap around he was a bit sick. He stuck it out for one more but I went a little too fast the second time around and I felt so sorry for him. He got whipped around and his helmet fell over his face. He was so excited to ride those cars and in the end he walked away sick as a dog and crying. He tried to tough it out but it was a bit much. Ok, parental reminder that some fun things just need to wait.

Parsons' Family Vacation- Cascade, ID (July)

On our way to Cascade we stopped over in Tri-Cities and hung out at the "River House" while Mike worked (he is developing a master-planned community on the river, gorgeous place to live!). It is HOT in Richland so we broke out the pool.

Josh singing away.

I dared to let Jake hold (tightly) Josh while I snapped a few quick photos. Phew, it all worked out. Just the other day, I was running the bath water for the boys and giving them haircuts. While I cut Jake's hair Ben and Josh were playing in the running water. Next thing I know I hear a funny sound and turn around to see Josh had fallen into the tub, pjs and all. Yikes! If I hadn't of been there he would have drown. I quickly pulled him out of the water and he was soaked and covered in bubbles...sreaming. We had a close call so we try to be pretty careful around water. Josh loves it...but maybe a bit too much.

Mike played softball with his brother and afterwards took the boys onto the big field to catch some pop flies and field a few grounders. Fun, fun.

The moon is always huge and beautiful at the "river house". Jake and Ben love looking at it. We don't get to see the moon too much in Issaquah. The clouds are too often and the trees around our house too tall.

Finally, here we are in Cascade. These photos are out of order but why not start with a little ice cream?!

Big bite.

Cousin Maddy

Cousin Norah. She looks like a teenager here but she is only 5.

Gone fishing...

Learning the ropes...how to hook up a worm.

Nothing better then the great outdoor latrine.

We hiked to a little lake and back up. It wasn't a big hike but my boys did great on the way there and not so great on the way back.

Isn't Jake precious.

Norah and Josh.

Grandpa Bob and Josh.

The whole Parsons clan.

Aunt Brooke reading the kids a story before naptime.

The best part of vacation...ATV's. The boys call them monster trucks.

Snuggle Time...does it get better than this?

Benton County Fair

Jake has been asking if he is old enough to ride the bus so he was super excited to find out that we had to take the bus to the fair. No seatbelts/carseats...complete freedom. The boys loved it!

Mike had to see the pigs. He raised a 1st place pig in St Maries, ID when he was in elementary school so he is a sucker for them. His mom took him to the grocery store to show him his prize pig butchered and now for sell the week after!

Roller coasters...

Airplanes...

Carousels...

and cotton candy! The complete fair experience. What more could you ask for?

4th of July 2008

This post marks the one year anniversary of my blog! The first posting I made was 4th of July 2007. The postings are getting few and far between but eventually I get you all caught up!

We went to the Snoqualamie Community 4th of July party this year. Here we are on the train looking like cage animals.

What could be better then cotton candy?! Here is a fine display of how one should eat cotton candy.

Jake wanted to ride the ponies and was so excited right up until the point of mounting up. But dad made him stick with it. Jake screamed all the way around the (shortened) loop. Afterwards he talked about how next time he wasn't going to cry and how brave he was to stay on the horse even though it was scary. Mike is so good at pushing Jake to do things he is nervous about. I would have just yanked him off the horse and save myself the heartache of listening to him cry!

Fortunately I had Ben. Ben couldn't figure out what Jake was crying about. He just cowboyed up and rode like a champ!

June- Trip to Boise

Ben, Norah, Jake and Jonah. These are the Parsons cousins in Boise. We had a great time visiting and playing with them on our trip in June.

Josh meets Ma Jennie (great-grandma) for the first time.

Jake learned how to jump on the tramp on this trip. He was out there for hours and LOVED it. He is growing up soooo fast! I remember not too long ago he was scared of the trampoline. Ben wouldn't get on it. :)

Grandpa Bob relaxing with Josh.

Josh with his cousin Micah. Hard to tell from this picture but Micah makes Josh look like a serious lightweight. These baby cousins are about as opposite they come! Josh is small, Micah is a serious chunk. Josh is smiley, Micah is super serious. And the list goes on...

Playing a little baseball at the cousin's house. Ben in a "wife beater", nonetheless. I love this pic!

Mortimer Family Update

Hard at work.

Say cheese!

Josh's first ride in the double stroller. We don't get out walking like we used to!

Potty training. Jake is, Ben isn't. They still like to try together.

Sleeping after a successful day at Goodwill with dad. They found a good deal on some ATV packs to sell on ebay. There were so many the car was loaded up and Jake even had to hold one in his lap.