Dear to the Heart of the Shepherds!

Seaside

2014-09-07T15:09:00.002-07:00

Our first time up at Seaside!

See the little shrimp? They are just floating in the surf and the kids loved catching them!

This pic reminds me of those ads where you see a hot woman coming out of a pool or something, and the water is sparkling...

The sand castle that Dani and I made

Then we made a sand dog! Dani named her Daisy

The older two made shrimp tanks, kinda like a fish tank, but these held the baby shrimp

Our little sand monster!

She drew a Jellyfish in the sand

So many Sand Dollars!

That must have been a very good crab meal

Blackberries!

Pelicans flying out above the open ocean!

More of our pet chicks

2014-08-16T14:11:00.001-07:00

Lucy

Daisy

Luna

Rose

Silly chicks want to roost now :)

Chicks!!!

2014-07-23T15:24:00.001-07:00

I have always wanted to have my own chickens, so we finally were able to get some. Here they are growing up!

The kids each got to name one (I think Dani helped twice)

Left to Right: Daisy, Luna, Lucy, & Rose at a week old

Marian holding Luna and Daisy

Dani with her Rose

Reed with his Lucy

They slept in the garage for the first month or so, the kids loved it!

Here they are as fluffy butts again

Cute little stinkers huh :)

Roxy loves to help herd them, and they are not scared of her, which I am very happy about, they are scared of the dogs I train, so they happily hop into their coop when I hold class.

At first I built an outdoor pen for them during the daytime...

When they started getting bigger they needed a chicken tractor

They love to eat the dandelions, which the kids love feeding them, and Jeff loves seeing disappear!

Keeping Dani away from the chicks has been more of a job than sending her out to help with them! She LOVES her pet chickens! So glad they all ended up being chickens and not roosters!

That awkward teenage phase where they started getting in their feathers

Their first night in their coop! They all love sitting in that berry box, even as they got so big that you wouldn't think they could all fit in there together.

So here they are with their adult plumage, left to right, bottom to top: Lucy, Luna, Rose, & Daisy

If you can't tell Dani has a favorite, and Rose happens to sit quite nicely till Dani is ready to put her down. Half the time she simply falls asleep in Dani's arms!

Looking more like adult chickens now!

They are so pretty if you ask me!

One day I didn't realize they had run out of water and it was hot, so as soon as I opened their coop up they ran to the dog dish to get a drink.

I think they are trying to tell me that I forgot the roosting posts I meant to put in....guess I have some more work to do on it.

Busy Spring

2014-06-04T16:03:00.002-07:00

Easter egg hunt!

Then fun on the tramp!

Marian doing flips!

Dani thinks she can fly!

The Shepherds came to visit!

The beach in May :)

Roxy found a new "friend" or as she saw it, a competitor for her ball and attention

I just can not get over how beautiful it is out here!!!!!!

Family time! Don't Rock the Boat!

We got chicks!

I started work, so Dani got a babysitter, and she has a bunny at her house, how fun is that!

As the chicks grow it's time to build them a house :)

Introducing Daisy, Rose, Stellaluna, and Lucy

The kids love them!

Marian holding Lucy and Stellaluna

Dani with her Rosey

Reed holding his Lucy

They are getting plenty of kid time, they should be pretty tame as they get older :)

Here are their baby pics :)

Disneyland Part 2

2014-04-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

Disneyland Trip, Part 1

2014-04-07T19:54:00.003-07:00

So Grandma and Grandpa set up a surprise trip out to Disneyland! They had no clue where they were flying too, and were even more confused when it wasn't Utah that they landed in. They don't know what L.A. means :)

The flight was pretty good and the kids did great

Marian takes after her mommy :)

Jeff told the kids that he was getting a taxi to come pick us up...

The taxi driver ended up being Grandpa!!! Reed was so excited and happy he started crying!

The kids were all super excited to see Uncle Gabe and Grandma again too!

Back at the hotel, it was the kids first time staying in one, they found out what they were there for!

A trip to Disneyland!!!

They were so excited!!!

Breakfast the next morning at the hotel

Pin trading lanyards! Grandma created mini pin trading monsters!

The hotel we stayed in!

Spring in the Tualitan River Basin

2014-03-24T23:00:00.003-07:00

High Running River

2014-03-11T16:53:00.003-07:00

So I took Dani to Preschool this morning and then took a quick drive down to the landing to get some pictures of the very swollen Willamette River. So I posted some before and after pics so you can get an idea of how much higher the water really is.

The water is normally below these bushes that you see sticking out of the water...

and well below this poor tree

It did make for a wonderful shot however...

So this is what the water looks like late spring, early summer

See, no water in the bushes

Can you see how much wider the water is now?

Then I popped over to the Frisbee Park to snap some morning bridge pics

This rock wall looked so much like something you would fine that an ancient Native American would have made, so I had to include it :)

Snowpocalypses of 2014!

2014-02-08T15:07:00.001-08:00

The first day it was just a couple of inches, which is quite a bit for around here in the first place....

A couple inches the next day turned into about 6 inches by the next night....

Snow blowing from off the trees

By the next morning (this is day 3 of constant snow...) we had about 8 inches

Roxy was having so much fun in the snow, she forgot all bounds and was racing all around the streets, up and down the block!

Do you wanna build a snowman!

Roxy and Olaf

Kick off the New Year with Waves!

2014-01-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

Spoiled Christmas Kids

2013-12-31T18:04:00.001-08:00

Christmas Eve Walk

2013-12-24T20:28:00.000-08:00

For Christmas eve, some friends of our asked if we would like to join them on a walk outing at the Bird Refuge. I had really been wanting to go there, so I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately Jeff had to work. It seemed that a fog bank had been trapped up there, as it was clear everywhere else, but it made for some great shots!

Swans taking flight

Lichen, reindeer food :o)

up close of lichen

The kids got to climb into a large human made nest, and Webb decided to wear Marian's hat

A walk in the woods

Beauty!

Dani takes a rest

At the far left hand side on the farthest back tree there is a Bald Eagle nest with an eagle on it

If you can't tell, I love the mossy trees!

Do you see how big that tree is!!!

The Tualiatin river

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Fall in love with Newberg

2013-12-17T23:25:00.001-08:00

Snow day!

2013-12-06T09:21:00.003-08:00

So we got snow up here. The kids were excited, the parents? Not so much. But I can let the kids enjoy a snow day once or twice a year, so long as it warms up fairly quickly.

Halloween!

2013-11-01T09:20:00.001-07:00

Reed's class Halloween party!

They had to pull bugs out of slimy spaghetti. I heard a lot of "Yuck!"

Time to go Trick or Treating!!!! Finally!!!! They have waited all year for this one! Looks like Doctor Who has two lovely witch companions!

I love this little spot in front of the house :o)

Spooky house to start the trick or treating off!

The stores along the downtown street area have employees sitting out front passing out candy! Most of them are dressed up! It was so much fun!

I loved this!

Check out the crow on the table!

We even ran into a couple of friends while we were out and about! Here is Leigh!

It was so much fun!

Critter Cabana is getting closer and closer to reopening!
And the kids got to ride the trolley!

Best of all the kids got to meet Iron Man! Reed wasn't quite sure what to think! But he was pretty excited! Black Widow was also there along with another Avenger, but we couldn't remember who he was.

Fall in the North West

2013-10-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

Fall in the North West!

2013-10-14T23:16:00.001-07:00

Our lovely fall colors

Newport Bridge

Beach in October!

More beautiful wine county

The Willamette in Portland

North Valley Peace Path

Newberg

Willamette River in Newberg

just for fun, a red barn

Grandma and Grandpa McNeff!

2013-10-14T22:45:00.001-07:00

Visitors! Yay!!! Uncle Gabe, Aunt Mariah, and Grandma McNeff!

Even Roxy has missed them!!!

They came and doorbell ditched a Mr. Potato head Star Wars toy then the kids ran out and found them hiding at the side of the house... needless to say they were speechless and thrilled!

We all got to go to a lighthouse!

Newport!

Marian got a seal, Dani got a turtle, and Reed got a book with a compass

The Newport Bridge

Newport Aquarium!

Love their faces!!!

Marian was thrilled that the crab was looking "right at her!"

Jeff even got in with the fun of "fishing"

The girls wanted to pose like a mermaid

Beach time!

It was a beautiful day for the beach in October!

Notice the lack of Reed's rolled up pants....

Grandma's seagull

Reed running up and down the coast

Georgies for Dinner!

The next day...Antique shop hunting

Then onto OMSI and the Sherlock exhibit!

While mommy took the kids to play

and play they did

And of course you have to study something at OMSI

A real falling star! The kids were thrilled!

Then next day....

a walk to the labyrinth at North Valley....

Love the fall colors!!!

Walking the peace path

Time to show everyone our fun parks!

Mom and I took a jaunt down to the bridge to get some fun pictures

Back at the park...

Kids and leaves....need I say more....

Boccie game going on....

Time to head out to the river at Roger's Landing

We have really missed Grandma and Grandpa...it was so fun to have them come out!

Love you all!!!

Hoe down with Friends after the cider press!

2013-10-05T22:46:00.001-07:00

First it was cider pressing time!!!

First you take the apples, and you grind them, you grind them....

Then grind them some more...

It was not the easiest job in the world, but rather fun in the end :)

Even Dani got to try...
Then you press all the juice out of the crushed up apples...

and let me tell you it is umm, umm, good!

Next was the hoe down and square dancing!

Get your partners and get ready to kick up your heels!

and pull funny faces for the camera

Reed was my partner for the evening! He did a very good job too!

Tartar sauce

2013-10-04T18:55:00.001-07:00

Jeff says this is the best tartar sauce he has ever had. I just made it up so he told me that I needed to write it down, so here is the recipe:

Mayo-1/2 c
Dill-1/4-1/2 tsp
Pickles-1-2 diced
Lemon Oil-1-2 drops
Lemon Juice-dash

Life Lately.....

2013-09-30T16:19:00.002-07:00

A few monster rain storms have just finished up, leaving behind a few scattered showers in their wake...it filled the watering can, so the kids thought that in between storms they would water the plants...because they really needed water?

Marian seems to have sunflowers following her wherever she goes! She names them all Louie.

Love the spectacular fall colors out here!

Afternoon clouds roll in...

I LOVE this tree!!!! This is a cool foggy morning...

And Po is getting stir crazy because he can't go out when it is raining :o)

Dani's 4th Birthday!

2013-09-22T14:56:00.001-07:00

My Dani Doodles is 4! She has been so excited that it is her birthday today. She just could not wait to open her presents! She got her pinata yesterday with cupcakes, and today her presents!!!

I love her faces!

She loved the beautiful shell!

Stickers!!!

Her very own bunny! He even hops to her!

What a happy little girl! I think Jeff put it best "My baby turns 4 today. Can hardly believe it. She is too much fun though.....only girl I know who can speak in long, descriptive

paragraphs and still puts all of her

clothes on inside out with shoes on the wrong feet."

She is such a smart little girl, yet when it comes to speaking her opposites, she is queen!

If she is outside she wants to be in, and says so by saying she wants to go "outside." If

she is shivering, she says "whew, I am so hot!" If she bites something to hot, she loudly

declares that the food is too cold!

We love our Dani of opposites!

Dani's Pinata Party

2013-09-21T19:08:00.001-07:00

The kids have been begging for a Pinata for months! I told them that they could have on for their birthday...so Dani happened to have the first birthday since the begging started. We invited a couple of friends over to help "share" the spoils. I think everyone had a good time!

It was Dani's idea to bring the blindfold. She also remembered the bat made sure that we had it all ready to go!

Dani and her friend Sarah were to two that broke it all on their own and sent the candy spilling to the ground!

Yay It's time for School again!

2013-09-10T14:32:00.001-07:00

Back to school time, and this time everyone is involved!

Dani's first official day of school as well as her "meet the teacher"day.

Some good looking kids here!

September at the Beach!

2013-09-08T22:14:00.000-07:00

Everyone all excited to head down to the surf and the waves!

My cute little Dani doodles!

It was a bit windy, but not bad, Marian soon took off the jacket and was in the water as far as she could go, the water was even a bit warmer than usual, not warm mind you, just warmer :o)

Go Roxy go!

I love this one! Dani's face is priceless!

Paw prints in the sand!

These say it all!

We saw what we thought were kites......then found out there were surfers attached to them! It looks like a lot of fun!

Dani found a crab leg!

Proof that I was there too!

This picture says fun for everyone!!!

I love how Jeff caught Marian's hair flying!

My adventurous kids! Marian did find a tide pool up there

So we all had to have a look!

We got to build sand castles too!

My Man :o)

My man with my dog! ;o)

The drive down to the shore! I was trying to show the bright blue sky (not a cloud in sight), then when you get down to the shore there is a cloud bank that just seems to sit there all the time, kinda cool

The kids found an abandoned sand castle and had fun exploring it

Then Dani found a little friend!

My camera lens got some salty spray on it, so I have some pics that turned out as if I had instagramed them.

Our day at the beach...

A nice spot to chill and watch the waves.... Roxy wanted the ball to be thrown though....

You can tell this is a popular spot to have a campfire....lots of charcoal in the sand there....

A neat shot of Marian...

Marian did finally get tumbled by the waves, they were pretty choppy today....I had been walking Dani up to some warmer sand when I looked back at the other two and saw Marian get hit with a wave that somersaulted her. She was rather panicked when she got up, and I was already running down to her... however she was a bit turned around and ended running the opposite direction from me, looking for me. She was a bit shaken when I finally caught up with her, but was soon back out in the waves.

Roxy fell asleep before we had pulled out of the parking stall! All she wanted to do was chase that ball, and the farther it was thrown the better!

Tired kids after a fun day at the beach!

I LOVE this tree across the street from our house! And here I am I got to play at the beach too!