2014 Picture a Day

Well, it only took me an extra nine months or so, but I finally made a picture a day video for 2014.  Things have been very busy with five kids and moving/being in limbo.  Soooo, here it is.  While making the video some of my video clips got automatically put in among the photos - sorted by date. I kind of liked the little clips in there, so I put in a few more.  So watch for those very short video clips.  Also watch for John learning to walk, our quickly growing garden, our summer vacation to the east coast, Anna learning to ride her bike, the arrival of baby Emma in November and Matthew as Santa Claus.  What an exciting year it was!

Mount St. Helens

We drove up to see Mt. St. Helens one day while in the northwest.  We went to the Johnston Ridge Observatory.  It was a little overcast but we were still able to see the mountains and crater pretty well.  Here are a few pictures of our adventures.

 Checking out the mountain

 We did a little ranger program for the kids

 Matthew shows off his ranger badge

 It wasn't really that cold.

 

Can you spot the oldests in this picture?  Kallie and Matthew are the obvious ones.  And then there's Lulu hiding there in the back.  :)

 Brothers gotta hug!

We had a fun time and learned a lot.  We watched some movies, checked out the visitor center for a while, did the kids ranger program and took a shortish hike.  Awesome!!

Oaks Park

We went with all the cousins to Oaks Park while in Oregon.  It's a small amusement park in the Portland area, right on the river.  I've never been there before and we had a lot of fun.  I wished Scott was there with us.  Here are Karlee, Anna and John while we buy our tickets.  Right off the bat we get on the tilt-a-whirl.   I did not feel right after that, but ended up going on it a bunch more times.  I get really sick on those spinning rides.  I was that kid who would often throw up on the bus on field trips - big time motion sickness.  But I did not throw up today, even though I went on the tilt-a-whirl what felt like a bajillion more times (and a few other rides).  Also there were corn dogs, icees and cotton candy.  Still no vomiting.  Success!

 Matthew was excited 'cause he was tall enough to go on a lot of the bigger rides

 Jaron and Matthew went around together on a lot of the rides

 Emma wearing Kyle's hat - a genius idea to keep her out of the sun.  :)

 I think this was John going down the big slide with Kallie

 Carousel

 Anna was too short to ride some of the rides.  She was bummed about it.

 Here we are on a bunch of different rides

 Icees with our corndog/hotdog dinner.  Perfect amusement park dinner.

 And we're back in action - more rides

Grant often has to pose for me when I take his picture

 How do I keep ending up on the tilt-a-whirl again and again

The kids show off their carnival prizes.   I love Grant's poses.

Anna, Grant and John played a carnival game.  They each had two throws to get a ball in a certain glass fishbowl.  Grant and John each got one in (out of the two tries) and the lady running the game threw a prize in for Anna too.  Grant and Anna chose stars and John picked a stuffed donut.

 We waited for pink (watermelon flavored) cotton candy

The had plenty of yellow banana flavor

Mmm, cotton candy.  Soooo, we had a great time!  I definitely want to go back any summers we are in Oregon.  Hopefully with Scott.  He can help me stagger around and try not to throw up.  :)  We had lots of fun!

Wilsonville Splash Pad

More fun in Oregon.  Here are a bunch of pictures at a local splash pad.

Grant and John had tons of fun there.

 Grant's Lewis and Clark pose

 There was a lot of running back and forth in the little river

 More Grant poses

 Kallie holding Emma

 Emma got a little sad, but she eventually got to go in the water

 Emma loved splashing

 Emma and Lulu

Emma loved playing with the big kids in the water

A fun time was had by all.  It's been so fun having cousin time.