Roses

During the first half of June we have to make sure we take a trip to the Rose Gardens. We went last Monday and many of the roses had started to wilt, but it was still full of vibrant colors. 

We of course had to take our traditional-under the arch photo to document how our family has grown so here is the progression.

And our current photo!

Last, year, shortly after our family trip, I went again with the women from church for a guided tour, I learned a lot that I had never known. One of those things was about the Rose Medal Garden, There is a section of the gardens that have a rose bush for each year dating back to 1919. I guess each year a winning rose is chosen then added to that Garden. We decided to each take a photo by our birth year rose bush!

Max's bush was hidden by a shrub-1986

Charlie's bush didn't have any blooms yet-2011

Miles had two bushes, I guess there was a tie last year-2014 Also he was hamming it up, so there are a lot of photos of him!

I think I had the best roses, in full bloom, -1985

Next year, I'll make sure to take photos next to the name/year plates because they all have unique names.

Miles LOVED smelling the roses, and occasionally tasting them. He was so giddy!

Then Max took Charlie on a long bathroom break so I just followed Miles around while he explored and I took his picture. He liked to trudge his own path.

But then he got pricked

He was so funny here on the stairs. He would wave and smile to people as they passed. 

Then Charlie came back and was completely entertained with the spastic water fountain. 

Before going home we took the boys to run around the large amphitheater. We've realized that our boys will sometimes sleep in if they run like crazy before bed. 

Then Miles and Max explored grass while Charlie continued to run. 

When we realized it was 9:45 pm we decided to head back to our car. It was a perfect family night and the boys got exhausted!

Saturday Fun Day!

Last Saturday turned into a wonderful day playing with our best friends all day long! In the morning we met up with Richard and Marissa's family and they let me practice my photography skills and take their family photos. It was such a fun experience, however it isn't hard to make them look good! Here are some photos from that!

Lacey was ready to be done!

I was very pleased with how they turned out!

When we were done it was lunch and nap time so we parted ways but planned on meeting at a splash pad later. We took the boys home, and Miles slept while Max, Charlie, and I worked in the yard. When the kids woke up we met back up at Tualatin Commons.

Somehow Lacey didn't end up in any of the splash pad photos but I promise they were all there. When the kids were done, we talked about going to get ice cream but now that we are responsible adults with kids, we decided to go get dinner first :) Charlie was so excited to continue his play date with Lacey. We ate at a close teriyaki place that apparently Max and Richard had gone to on a Man-date at one point. It was delicious and the kids were great. After Dinner, we decided to continue our fun day by going to a Fro-YO place. Max and I have never been to one and Richard was shocked that we escaped Provo without ever going to get some. We definitely weren't disappointed. So yummy!

Then it was nearly bed time so we officially parted ways, Charlie asked if we could go to another place with Lacey. It so fun to have a fly-by-the seat-of your pants day (Is that how the phrase goes, it sounded extra weird as I typed it?) Richard and Max have been best friends since  they were 14 years old and we have been friends with Marissa for as long as we can remember. It was so fun to spend a day with them. I think I love summer!

Happy Graduation!

Nothing makes you feel old like sitting at your old High School watching your (11 year younger) baby brother graduate. Max stayed home with the boys and I was able to enjoy the ceremony with my mom and siblings, we were never able to find my dad. We tried to contact him but to no avail. Anyway, here are some photos.

Just in case you don't know what my brother looks like, he's the one with the flouncy curls! 

James and I tracked down Dan to get some photos. Here's some for you Elizabeth, James almost had a normal smile.

After the ceremony we walked back to my grandmas' house and started watching Goonies. I guess it was the 30th anniversary of Goonies coming out. Super significant for Oregonians like us. Maybe it sounds crazy but it was kind of fun just hanging out with siblings and not needing to chase down any kids. Max and Elizabeth and the kids were missed but we still had fun! When Dan and My mom and Don came back from the high school, we loaded up and went out to Shari's to celebrate. It took them forever to take our order and bring our food. I wasn't hungry so I got a piece of pie to take home to Max who had taken the boys to run themselves out of energy then put them to bed and started turbo-cleaning the house. 

And we tried a sibling photo..we are all grown-ups now.

 I got home around midnight to a clean house and a happy husband! Happy Graduation Dan (who I'm pretty sure will never read this)