Back to Butte Meadows. . .

We went back to California to see my family once more for the summer. I drove with the kids straight to Colusa, and we had one of our best trips! It was so smooth, and we just stopped at Jess and Sara's in Ashland, so made great timing! We delivered pigs to Erin and Luke and Eric and Chris.  They were super nice to support the kids and buy their pigs!! And because the trip was so smooth, we ended up heading to Butte Meadows that night.  It was so great to take a break from some of the stressors at home, like navigating who we can hang out with with COVID, working on the house, and just day to day with everything canceled! 

Games with Grandma! 

The kids spend a LOT of time in the water during the week because it was so hot! They had so much fun tubing! 

There were a lot of birthdays celebrated throughout the week, as well! First Luke, then Eric, then Annie! Erin made a fun treasure hunt for Luke's birthday!

Luke's birthday party!

Eric's birthday party!

The cats were back, and still a hit with the kids!

Annie's party/pizza night!

 

Kate's 9th Birthday

We had a fun day celebrating Kate!  We had waffles for breakfast and then we went to St. Helen's for Grace's orthodontist appointment, during which she and I got to go to Dollar Tree and she picked out something fun! Then we had a pool party with her cousins after lunch.  And last was pizza with her grandparents.  It was a fun day!!  And fun that she shares the birthday with her Grandma Cindy! 

 

What we've been up to. . .

I love taking pictures because it's a literal snapshot into some of the things we have been doing! If you asked me what we've been up to since we returned from CA, I would initially think we haven't done much of anything, but the pictures help remind me that yes, we have been mostly hanging out at our house and in Scappoose these last few weeks, with most activities canceled, but there have been some great moments during that time! 

Farm animals. . . These last few months we have gotten pigs and chickens, and both have been so fun!  We got the pigs at the beginning of the quarantine, so it was amazing timing to have a distraction! And the chicks came a couple months after.  It's been a great way to have the kids ease into the responsibility of caring for an animal, as neither are high maintenance for the most part! 

I love our chickens!! I wasn't expecting to be so excited to have them, but they are great!

Popsicles! 

We brought toys outside one day, which was a great way to switch things up! 

Family walk/football game:). 

Once a year, or maybe twice, the kids get to use all the cushions on the couches to make a mega fort! I banned more frequent use of all cushions because they are super heavy and the kids are very motivated to get them out, but no so motivated to put them back:). I do love when they make forts, though! 

Axel and Leo, little buddies:).

Will uses the trampoline daily these days, while the other kids just have fun on it every once in a while.  This was a day that the girls were having fun with water!  

Magnet blocks have a been a huge hit, and huge point of contention at times:), this summer! 

I love our morning reading time! They don't usually read side by side:), but it made me happy, so I had to take a pic! 

My birthday started with Pat getting me Starbucks coffee and a treat.  Then I got to hang out with the kids for a while before I went into town to shop for the first time since the pandemic, to use my ULTA gift card from Karen, and TJ Maxx credit from my mom.  And that afternoon, we went to Bill and Maureen's for cupcakes and ice cream!