Summer Fun 2013

I know, I know. I have been so awful at keeping our blog up-to-date. I just can’t seem to squeeze it in. I can’t believe how fabulous this year has been for our family. Levi got on full-time as a police officer, we are due in less than 3 weeks with baby number 2 and Claire, is just constantly cracking us up and keeping us on our toes.

When we first found out we were pregnant we told Claire that there is a baby in my tummy. She looked at us, wide-eyed and exclaimed, “did you eat it?” we giggled and told her no. She then had a little more serious face when she asked me, “did you swallow it?” Undoubtedly I have asked her these questions on the rare occasion she was given gum. She then decided to name the baby “Baby Unicorn”. After we found out we’re having a boy, she changed his name to “Baby John Smith” (she loves Pocahontas) and more recently she’s been calling him “Baby Flick Snow” (really unsure of the origins of that one!). She asked the day of the ultrasound, “is the baby nakey or does he have clothes on?” We told her that he is nakey and she asked, “why?”. We told her because it’s nice and warm in my tummy and that he doesn’t need clothes until he comes out. That same day she asked, “is he going to play with all my toys and break them?” I told her that’s what little brothers are best at. She is just so smart and has been so funny, we are so excited about her being a big sister. It will be so fun (and so exhausting). Me at 37 weeks, Claire showing off “her belly” too. :)

We took 2 or 3 trips to the zoo this summer. We always have a blast there. It seems like each time we go different animals seem to steal the spotlight.

We found a great little swimming hole. It’s out at Silver Falls State Park, which is about 45 SE of Salem. The water is pretty darn icy but I bet if we would have gone late August (as opposed to late June) on a super hot day it would have been perfect. We still had fun, icy feet and all.

Fourth of July was a blast as usual. Levi was unable to accompany us as he had to work graveyard shifts the 3rd and the 4th. We went to the Hillsboro Parade with the Borts Clan, followed by a delicious barbeque, and then later that night fireworks out at Mount Angel.

After 7 years of living in Salem (seriously, how has it been that long already!?) we finally made the trek slightly south of town and visited Enchanted Forest, or as Claire likes to call it “Janet Forest”. I haven’t been since I was like 5 and Levi has never been. Claire was so excited, she was beaming the whole time. So for those of you that haven’t been it’s a super old-school theme park. You start out by walking through this wooded area of every nursery rhyme imaginable. Although it could use a bit of a face lift, there are all sorts of tunnels, passage ways, slides, and nooks to explore. The perfect place for a busy and curious little 3-year-old.

 

Our brave little girl even rode some rides. We started out with kiddie rides. She was a little hesitant on the first couple but it didn’t take long before she was begging to go again and again.

 

 

 

 

After watching for a couple minutes Claire and Levi decided to go on the log ride and then the mountain bobsled ride (picture slightly ghetto versions of splash mountain and the matterhorn).

 

 

 

 

So basically this little adventure made us super excited to go take Claire to Disneyland. We’re pretty sure our little princess would love every minute of the happiest place on earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also had the opportunity to go camping this summer with Levi’s family. It was a lot of fun. We went out to Barview campground which is just outside of Garibaldi. We didn’t realize till we go there that both of us had camped out there quite a bit when we were kids, what a small world.

I spent so many hours out on this pier crabbing with my family. It brought back so many memories. It was sad to see how shabby the pier has gotten over the years. We went down to the rocks and hunted for baby crabs (just like I did with my brothers many years ago). Claire mostly just like throwing rocks in the water, she couldn’t quite skip them like daddy could.

 

 

 

 

And no trip to Barview is complete without climbing the giant sand hill (even if you’re 7 months pregnant). I was a little slower than everyone else but I made it and the view from up there is amazing!

 

 

 

 

Well I think that’s all I got in me for tonight. I still have a little more updating to do but hopefully I can get to it later this week.