Hobble Creek 1/2 Marathon

Every year my family tries to get involved in a half marathon. This year my husband got involved in not only the half with us, but also a few bike races around the valley. Dad participated again and this year mom and Aunt Katie were there too!

A shot of all of the racers!
Dad and Brett finishing before mom and I. I have to say I was both really proud and surprised of my husband. He did the half like a champ and did not walk even one mile to get ready - a true model of fitness!
His cheering team at the finish line!
Mom and I coming in...tired, but we made it!
Uncle Eric bought all of us (Katie, mom and I flowers). Mom and I left our flowers at Katie's. She was the real winner/racer with a finishing time of around 1 hour and 50some minutes! Wow, that's amazing!

Oregon Coast Summer Vacation

Fasten your seat belt - the shear number of pictures that I had to choose from for this post was obscene, and to be honest - the reason I have not posted anything about it yet. This afternoon I had some free time to sort through all of them and figure out what memories would be shared.

Here is a shot of our beach house, It was really great this year because we tried out a new location and house, with stairs right down to the beach front. It was so easy for the kids, as they were able to just walk down to the beach. In years past, we had to go to the end of the street and around the corner.
Here's dad and Uncle Eric walking down to the beach with the little kids and their gear, which was plentiful, thanks to grandma!
Colton was already down at the water skim boarding - a great activity for the cold water. He loves his time skim boarding with grandpa!
Alex and grandma getting ready to dig in the sand (if you haven't already noticed all of the sweat shirts and hats - the Oregon Coast was cold while we were there!).
Dad and Alex flying kites. There were several great days for flying kites, which were supplied in the kids surprise buckets by grandma!
Dad helped get lots of kites up in the air...and even chased a few down the beach!
Colton loves flying kites, even at home, but out here on the beach there were no power poles or trees in the way, so he could just chill and watch the wind take the kite all over as seen below.
Dad and McKaleigh flying together.
Grandma found a treasure chest at a party store and filled it with all kinds of treasure for the kids. Then she and grandpa went a walk early one morning, and buried clues for a treasure hunt. All of the kids had a great time searching for each clue in the sand! Thanks Grandma!
Dad and Alex getting ready to find his clue. Each of the kids got a clue to read and discover.
Alex finding his clue.
At the end, grandpa had buried the chest pretty deep in the sand and the kids all had to dig it up!
There it is! they found the Treasure!
Argh! It was stolen by the Pirate, Uncle David!
A shot of all the loot that was to be found inside the chest.
Every night each family had to prepare a dinner and do some sort of family activity. Uncle Eric and Aunt Katie always have reunion tees made (a great tradition)- the Cushing family sporting theirs!
Then we took a walk down to the tide pools as the tide went out. There are all kinds of treasures to be found there! Aunt Sarah and Uncle David were great participators and helpers with all the little guys!

Aunt Sarah showing the boys some little crabs.
Alex found a starfish.
The starfish on the rocks are so big and so pretty!
McKaleigh found lots of hermit crabs inside their little shells!
Grandpa was always good for a piggy back ride around the tide pools!
Sometimes we would go down to the beach after dinner and have a bonfire with smores. Dad does like a good smore!
One afternoon we decided to drive to Newport for a day at the Aquarium and sightseeing. There was a real working fishing area, and a beautiful bridge in the background. It was a great day.
Then we went to eat lunch right on the seaport. there was quite a commotion right outside our restaurant - we went outside to see what it was...
The kids had a ball watching these sea lions bark and fight, and swim around. The were literally right there - and everyone enjoyed watching them so much we momentarily debated even needing to go to the aquarium.
But we did end up there, and we had so much fun. Uncle Brian even joined us!
Alex does love a piggy back when ever he can get one!
Posing by the turtles!
Inside the trees!
and hopping across the lily pads!
Elliot and Mals joined us the day we went to Newport, the kids like having their cousins around!
My most favorite boys!
Dad and Alex walking down one of the paths at the Oregon Aquarium. They look so cute!
Grandpa with the kids - all bundled up!
Alex finding more sea stars - he loved finding them clinging to the rocks.
On our last day Uncle David took us crabbing - although we did not catch any crabbies - the kids had fun waiting around to see what would come in on the net.
The kids have such a great time every year seeing all of their cousins, and each year everyone gets so much bigger and the chaos a little more crazy, but I know this is a much anticipated Summer vacation! Thanks for making it happen Grandma and Grandpa - we appreciate all your efforts and loved the Treasure hunt this year! It was a great addition.

2 Days of Camping

This year we decided to try a camping trip with Alex - I wanted to make it 2 days, because it's just not worth it to get all the tents and gear out for just one day and a night - and then come home and clean it all up. I have to say this trip was a SUCCESS!

Here are dad and Alex just after setting up camp, and he was pretty dirty already. There really was no keeping him clean (Alex).Alex found out really quickly that there were lots of squirrels, mice, chipmunks and fat potguts around our site, here is he watching out for them to come out of their holes but...
He quickly became the enforcer - not allowing them within the immediate vicinity. He would also yell "squirrel" (like in the movie UP - while chasing them down with his stick).
A shot of our dirty little guy

Colton found an old piece of cord and crafted a bow and arrow - everyone enjoyed playing with it, but there were a few injuries that came about due to this homemade weapon!
The campground was a really great place to take an evening walk, throw rocks in the nearby river, and just have some nice, quiet family time.
McKaleigh found this little lake that was hidden right behind out campsite!
On the first night we hiked down by the river and the kids decided to throw rocks and walk around in the COLD water - we sat on the rocks watching them, and McKaleigh got this shot (how precious)!

A bit later dad decided he was going to cross the little river, and was watching his feet so he did not fall in, but did not watch his head - and ended up gashing it on an overhanging rock. It bled for most of the first night -every once in awhile the kids would say something like..."dad, there is blood dripping down your head." Everyone was concerned, except dad, who managed to...
Still skip down the path with the kids!
Days before our trip Alex became very excited about the opportunity to make smores. He would tell everyone that we would be having them on our trip. I was very excited to use our new smore roasters that we got from Aunt Sheri and Uncle Dan for Xmas last year. They are great because they curve in - to minimize injuries!
After all that talk, Alex would only eat a marshmallow and cookie - separately. He decided smores were not all they were cracked up to be, but daddy sure enjoyed his!
We planned to break up the second day by going hiking up to Donut Falls on Saturday. It was an easy, beautiful hike and all of the kids were able to make it to the falls, but up the falls was another matter - maybe when they are older! You can see the falls going up the canyon in the background.
It was hard enough getting across the river!
But we made it far enough for a great family picture.
Hiking back down the hill. And then much to daddy's dismay, we stopped at 7-11 on our way back to camp to get Slurpees for everyone! The benefit of "city camping" as daddy calls it!
Dad always brings his paintball gun when we go camping and the kids really enjoy shooting empty bottles, cups, and this time...McKaleigh!
Everyone got a turn shootingThen McKaleigh wanted to know what it would feel like to be shot with a paint ball. So dad said he would show her. She held up her target...her butt, but dad was a little bit off...
And got the back of her leg instead! A small war wound - but she was a trooper and shed only a few tears!

Its the little family outings that we all remember, and this was a great one. We spent a few dollars and created memories, and laughter that everyone will remember. We are so lucky to have a family that is so close and can enjoy any amount of time spent together!