The newest Mr. & Mrs.

So much has happened!! Bryce and Chelsey were married August 10th. It was simply beautiful. We are helping them move this weekend and it is sad for us.

My parent’s rented a house up in Kelowna, where the wedding was held, and we all stayed there together. Brent and his wife, Jess (of one year) got a room, Lesha and Peter and their kids got a room, my parents had a room and Jeff and I and the kids had a room. It was perfect! It’s been a while since my whole family was all together under one roof and it was so happy. We spent the day before the wedding just playing. There was lots of wrestling, lots of laughing and goofing off. I love how much fun we have just being together.

The beach was close by the house so Friday was spent at the beach. Jeff and I decided this is going to be our new vacation spot. It was so hot and sunny and the beach was so clean and refreshing. Even Gage got in on the water action. I am kindof turning into a beach snob. The water can’t be too warm or too murky but I don’t like it so cold that the kids won’t get in. This beach was perfection!!

I love this shot of Bryce and Gage the night before the big day. Sorry ladies, one is taken and one is too young ;)

Friday night there was a rehearsal and after that my parent’s hosted a big delicious dinner at the house we were staying at. My dad did his yummy ribs and we had salmon and potato salad and ceasar salad and baked beans… and ice cream cake, Bryce and Chelsey’s favorite. Gage stuck his finger in it when everyone was saying, “cheese” for the camera.

 

The next morning was the wedding day. The men left early to go to the park and set up and us gals got ourselves and the kiddos all dolled up. The wedding wasn’t until 11 so we had lots of time to primp.

Braxton and Carson were asked to be junior groomsmen and they took their job very seriously. Emmett was the sweet little ring bear, who did a perfect job and Adelle and Kate were the flower girls. The kids all looked super cute. Gage was a total trooper and slept here and there and everywhere.

 

 

The wedding ceremony was very sweet and simple. It was very elegant and everything went really well. Chelsey was so beautiful and they both looked so happy. It was so fun to be a part of. It’s funny because even though these two had dated for so long it seems so much cooler now that they are married. There is definitely something special about fully committing yourself to someone and I love it. They seem totally different now and it’s really cute.

After the ceremony the guests were commenting on the kids and how perfectly they did their jobs. I was so proud of them all!! Aren’t those pictures of them just priceless!! Adelle was a stone face. Not sure why. Braxton was very proper and professional and Emmett stole the show, unknowingly.

We thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend. We stayed through Sunday so we could see the new couple open their gifts and then came home Sunday evening. And if I don’t say so myself, I am a huge fan of Canada. Just sayin.

Oh, and did you notice the paparazzi shot of me and Gage? Ha! I saw that picture that my sister took and it made me honestly laugh out loud. I was spotted!!

this one time

See the bald eagle sitting on the rock

See the bald eagle sitting on the branch

Back in July Jeff and I had the most wonderful, relaxing afternoon.... dare I say...ever! At least since we have had four kids ;) 

We drove out to my parent's house on the beach and dropped our kids there. Then we boarded the 2 person kayak with a water bottle, some Kettle brand potato chips (you know those are my weakness), and our book we are still reading.

Together we paddled our way out and around Pt. Whitehorn until we found a nice little beach to lay and rest. It was a really beautiful day and the water was super shallow around the point and clear. We saw lots of starfish and two bald eagles that were squaking all each other.

We didn't have a cell phone or a watch which made it that much more relaxing. I think I may have even fallen asleep while I was sunbathing on the beach.

Jeff read out oud and we crunched our potato chips.

When I said we should head back, we headed back. Maybe it's a woman thing, or a mom thing, but I am always the one who has to be the party crasher. We may still be there if I didn't remind Jeff that our reality was back at shore. ;)

It felt like a mini vacation though, really.

4th of July week

 

One of the fun things we did this summer was go down to Vancouver, Wa to visit my sister and her family and then onto Oregon to visit our good friends.

We had three things we wanted to do and we ended up planning it so that we could do them all in one week.

First, my sister had been begging (ha) to have my kids come down and visit her and her kids. Like, just my kids, not me ;) But then, what would I do, I don’t know, so we worked it out so that we all visited for 3 days and then Jeff and I left to go down to Oregon for 2 days and Lesha and Peter kept our kids, minus Gage.

So this worked out awesome. We all drove down on the 4th of July which was Thursday. We took our time driving, as usual. Picnicked along the way. We hung out with them, swimming and going to the neighboring parks. That night the dads did fireworks with the kids and we all watched and awed.

The next day we went to a fun beach and it was really warm and beautiful. Then on another day we went to a pretty waterfall and some of us hiked to the top of the falls (Jeff, Braxton, Carson) while the rest of us waded in the stream below.

My sister and I went into Portland one night shopping, got ourselves lost, then came home with ice cream for our husbands.

We got to go to church with her family and meet lots of her new friends.

So second, on Sunday Jeff, Gage, and I left to drive 2 more hours down to Oregon to stay with our friends, Jeff and Shelby. They are getting married in October, Yay!, and Adelle and I are in the wedding so I wanted to be able to help her with wedding things. We had a great visit with them, eating Jeff’s famous bar-b-q’d meat and playing with their dog, Gunner.

On Monday they both had to work so Jeff and Gage and I had a date day. We had so much fun pretending Gage was our only child. We went to Salem and visited a used book store where we each found a book. We visited the farmer’s market and bought some homemade pita chips that were amazing. We walked around an old museum which had a beautiful landscape and lots of flowers. Then we went to a local favorite spot and had a wonderful breakfast/lunch. We went and walked along the river, did some window shopping in downtown Corvallis, went to Afton farm and walked all around and explored the farm… Had just a glorious day. Then when Shelby got off of work we all went and watched Jeff’s softball game (where he hit a homerun!) and hung out in the shade. That night we went to Thai food and then back to their place to visit.

Finally, third, on Tuesday Jeff got to go back to Afton Farm and help them process their chickens. Like chickens  said goodbye to their lives and he got to be right in the dirty of it all. Pretty awesome! This is something that we eventually want to do and Jeff has been learning all about it so it was really great for him to be able to get some hands on experience with it. I would have loved to help but Gage and I instead spent the morning on a long walk, and addressing wedding invites. I am not experienced enough to take my little babe with me to the slaughter. But, we did show up in time to get some pictures and to be graciously given some fresh (that seems like such an understatement in this context) whole chickens. We picked up Jeff and then hit the road back to Vancouver to grab our other children and make the drive home.

We had a really great week. Lots of fun things and lots of memories made.