Multnomah Falls

We always hike Multnomah Falls when we are out in Washington/Oregon.

This is such a pretty and fairly easy hike . . . unless you are Austin . . . or maybe Gwen.

They made it though:)

Doesn't it look like they are in the Fire Swamp from the Princess Bride movie here?

I didn't get pictures of the ice cream this time, but we LOVE to go to the Eastwind Drive 

in Cascade Locks and get the flavor burst ice cream cones!  

Tradition! Tradition!

Cannon Beach

After visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory, we headed to Cannon Beach, OR.

The last time we went to the Oregon Coast, it was around 100 degrees and sunny!
Really uncharacteristic of the coast . . . but my kids didn't believe me.
They were pretty sure that they would be swimming in the water
and wearing swimming suits this time too!

Gwen became the bird lady. 

Until next time!

Tillamook Cheese Factory

For Spring Break this year we drove out to Washington to visit my parents 

and do fun Pacific Northwest things!  

Here we are visiting the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  This was a first time for us. 

And I would totally recommend visiting if you are already out that way . . . heading toward the ocean!

The kids (and adults) liked seeing the cheese get packaged . . . and it was amazing to see and read about how much cheese they make every day.

There are plenty of cheese samples to taste!

The ice cream of course is amazing . . . a must if you are there! 

 I particularly enjoyed my chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

Grandpa handed out change for the kids to squish pennies with a Tillamook symbol on them.  

This was a huge hit!

I had heard of "squishing" pennies before, but I didn't know it was putting a symbol on the penny to create a keepsake.  I thought people were just paying 50 cents to squish a penny . . . anyway. . . 

I usually have the kids pick out a postcard when we visit new places . . . I used to have a postcard collection . . . and still have it!  I like looking through it sometimes and seeing all the places 

I have visited or the ones that family and friends have sent me from their travels.  

But these squished pennies where fun too and a fun alternative to that!  

A new tradition may have been started . . .

If you are ever in the area . . . it's a fun place to check out!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the BYU fan club!

I Made Something!

About 4 years ago, I made one of my daughters a Halloween costume.

She loved it . . . and felt so loved because I had made it for her.

But I was pretty sure after that experience that I would NOT make costumes again.

This year, Austin wanted to be Cosmo (BYU cougar mascot).

I was lucky enough to find a Cosmo costume at a great price!

A couple of my girls were having a hard time deciding what to be . . . and working around Austin's costume became an idea . . . they could be BYU cheerleaders!

I was really excited about this idea, but not sure how I would pull it off since I don't make Halloween costumes anymore:)

I gave it another shot (what love for your children will make you do)!!

And this time it went SO much better that last time!

I guess the more you sew, the easier it gets.  

NOT that these skirts never had any stitches torn out or things redone on them by any means.

Anyways . . .  I am going to toot my horn and announce that I made skirts and we decorated the shirts ourselves (well, I decorated them after discussing the matter of design with the girls).  And I love how excited my girls were about them . . . it made it so worth it!

More Halloween pictures to come!

Halle Turns 9

Halle turned 9 this month.

She was so excited!

I was not. (sniff, sniff)

Halle got the skateboard she wanted!  

Isn't that funny that a daughter of mine loves to skateboard?

I think it is awesome.

We invited a few friends over for a birthday party.

I made an ice cream cake.

We decorated cookies, ate doughnuts off string hung to the trees

and played a few other games with music blaring in our backyard.

It really was so fun and I love it when the weather cooperates with outdoor parties in October!

Happy Birthday Halle!

I Got Braces . . . Again

For some reason, half of my teeth want to keep moving up.

Among other problems.

I have had braces twice already. 

Well, maybe I should count it as 1 1/2 times . . . the second time the braces were only on for about two months in between college semesters . . . to fix what you can see above.

The first time they were on for 3 1/2 years.

15 years later . . . and a broken retainer have led to my teeth STILL remembering where they once were and moving back home!

So . . . almost 3 weeks ago I had braces put on again.

I am looking at 9 to 18 months . . . it kind of depends on what/when teeth will move.

I am feeling optimistic!
But probably will not be confident enough to post pictures with my decorated teeth for awhile:)