Wordless Wednesday

Oregon Vacation: Part 2

 Our Oregon trip part 2: 

Thursday, July 22

The girls and Tabi's kiddos. Natalie with Silas in her lap, Alivia, Aeri and McKayla. 

Thursday, July 22

Just Aeri and Silas in the tent. 

The moon on Thursday night was incredible! Pictures don't do it justice, but I still like them! 

Thursday, July 22

Thursday, July 22

Friday was our beach day. We didn't get to go last trip, so this one we had to go. We went to Ona Beach, just outside of Newport. It is one I have gone to since I was a kid. 

Friday, July 23

 

Friday, July 23

From left: Alivia, McKayla, Colleen (my sister)

Friday, July 23

Our doggies LOVED the beach. I was quite surprised that Lola went in the water! At one point, Maverick was in clear up to his chest but not further. 

Friday, July 23

Lola got all windblown and her fur took on a "beach waves" look. I wish I could have captured it on camera, but this is all I got. 

Saturday evening we headed over to Analise's house. As is tradition over there, we took family pictures. I had to share all of them because it feels like they show our personality. 

Saturday, July 24

Saturday, July 24

Saturday, July 24    

Saturday, July 24

From left: Roselyn, Callin, Alivia, Natalie, McKayla and Ava (my friend Kendra's oldest) 

Saturday, July 24

Roselyn and Callin were just cracking me up. Aside from the fact that I could NOT get a smile out of her. 

Saturday, July 24

Saturday, July 24

My girls and their 8 year old cousin! 

Saturday, July 24

Oregon Vacation: Part 1

Saturday, July 17

Natalie still loves taking the selfies with my phone - sometimes they include the dogs!

Saturday, July 17

My bff's youngest. Another pic. Shared the first one here.

Sunday, July 18

The first kitty on our vacation edition of "Tour of Cats." We came to see her newest addition, Munchkin, but she was feeling under the weather. This is Nutmeg who graced us with her presence. Usually she's hiding from company. 

This is a picture I "stole" (asked if I could use) of Munchkin. Feeling much better now. We briefly saw her during our visit. 

Wednesday, July 21

The usual view I had of Natalie and McKayla. Alivia spent all her time with Roselyn, my brother's 8 year old daughter. 

Thursday, July 22

McKayla seems to be the cat whisperer. She's always loving on them! This is Smokey, our friend Tabi's "barn cat" (just means he is an outdoor cat who is responsible for keeping the mouse population down around her property)

Thursday, July 22

Natalie not amused with mom taking pictures of her. I think this one just shows how freaking long her legs have gotten! 

Thursday, July 22

And Smokey just being a cat. He was so freaking friendly! 

Saturday, July 24

My father in law's cat Kit. Not so friendly (she's an only child with a single dad :P) but super playful

Saturday, July 24

She has two kinks in her tail which makes it look almost curly lol. 

Saturday, July 24

Stephen took us by this cool totem on our way home from his dad's place. I had to stop and snap a picture. 

Going to stop there for now. Will add more pictures (and stories) later this week (maybe next) 
 

Feeding the Ducks

Tuesday we had the chance to go on a picnic with Stephen's Nana, mom, sister, her boyfriend and his three nieces. The girls are all around the same age. Surprise to me, my brother, his girlfriend and sweet Roselyn showed up. They helped us all feed the ducks. 

Natalie, Stephen, Daysha, Mike, Rosie, Jess, Dez, Alivia, Dee and McKayla. Colleen and I were behind the camera 

We all really had a great time, until it started getting hot. Then the kids were D-O-N-E.

1000 gifts: Three gifts of persistence

• it is a gift to have not given up on our trip. It was almost not going to happen, because of Stephen's job, but he persisted in asking for the time and we had a wonderful trip. 
• it is a gift to be able to have a jamberry party while down here. There have been some really rough months with the business but my persistence seems to be paying off. 
• it is a gift to see my girls so persistent in learning. They might fight it sometimes, but they have a love for learning that I really appreciate. 

WW: 15 Lines

It is Thursday so that means it is time to link up again with Mama Kat for writer's workshop. The prompt I chose this week is: write a blog post in exactly 15 lines. Being that we are on vacation, I thought this one might be a little easier then going free-style.

The days have been hot and the nights not much cooler.
We have been cramming all we can in to the nine days we are here.
Silver creek falls was the first stop we made, visiting with the Schallig clan.
Then we spend some time at my childhood church and headed to the Hart farm.
A picnic with Nan, Eve and the girls. Feeding the ducks and wearing the girls out.
LONG hours in the swimming pool. Wrinkled hands, feed, and dead tired girls.
Yesterday we chilled out here at Dad's house, just enjoying each other and the break between visits.
Tomorrow I'm going to market with dad, selling produce while the girls hang with Sissy.
Friday we are planning a trip to the beach praying it isn't too packed to have fun.
Saturday is the 4th of July. A day to celebrate family and freedom.
We head home on Sunday, but a couple stops we will make
first to the Oregon zoo then to camp.
Praying the days we have left in Oregon
are filled with everything we love about this state.
Vacations are fun, but rarely relaxing.



This post inspired by:

1000 Gifts: 3 gifts read

• it is a gift to have a few books I have read in common with my sister. We can talk books and be nerdy together. 
• it is a gift to have read such a variety of books available to me. LOVE reading and praying I can instill a love of reading in my girls too. 
• it is a gift to have read stories of our forefathers. To be able to get a glimpse of how they lived and what they gave to allow us to have the lives we have now. 

I'm HOME!

And off again. Vacation is never restful in our house.

Today is the Schallig family reunion. I can't wait to see everyone again. Plus we will be at beautiful Silver Creek Falls state park. How can we not have fun?! Here are a few pictures from the last time we hiked there.

Our other plans for this week include visiting as many family and friends as we can, a trip to the beach, swimming in dad's pool, fireworks, the Oregon zoo and a family bbq with all my grandpa Schallig's kids and their kids and their kids kids. It's a pretty fun time.


1000 gifts: three gifts framed by a frame

• It was a gift to be able to give both my father and my  husband special father's day gifts framed beautifully. 
• It is a gift to have framed pictures of my family and friends in my home. Reminds me they love me. 
• It is a gift to have a beautiful view out the frame of my window. 

Oregon Bound!

Toes are done

Fingers are done 

Car is loaded

And we are Oregon bound! You can look forward to seeing pictures of our trip soon including some from the beautiful Oregon Coast!

Hiking and My Siblings

Today we went on a hike as a family! We went to McDowell Creek Falls, and if you aren't from the area, here is a link. We had so much fun as a family hiking and just being together. Hubby and I both agreed that we are doing this again. I am searching out other trails in the area, and hope to find a map for this one so we might stay on an easier trail next time! And some pictures to enjoy! :-)

The upper falls:

Stairs going up, up, up!

and then you can BARELY see the bridge where the first picture was taken from :-)


The most fun 300 calories I have ever burned! =)

Day four today of the 30 day challenge is your siblings. I have two. One of each!

My sister, Colleen, is the next oldest (I am the oldest) and we are only 18 months apart. That made for a not so close bond as we grew up, but we are really close now! She is 25 and a nursing student. She got accepted this year into the very competitive program. I am so excited to see her as she progresses!! She loves my girls as much as I do, and loves spending time with them. Her and McKayla seem to enjoy their time together the most. All three of my girls call her Aunt Sissy.

My brother is Mike, and he is 22. He is getting ready to go to school this winter. He hopes to become an EMT, so I guess health services for all of us! He was my mom and dad's "problem" child. Where both my sister and I were never in trouble, he was. He ended up dropping out of school and getting his GED through the Youth Build program. We were all so impressed that he did that! High school isn't for everyone. I love him so much, and have been amazed at how good he has been with the girls!

Wordless Wednesday

A family shot (excuse the squinty eyes, sunshine!)

Portland Children's museum