Beach Day-Lincoln City

Less than a week later we had another beach day planned with my cousins. We have been doing this annually for the last couple of years and it's so fun to get all our kids together. I sat on my chair and let my kids loose. This was a different beach but still had a nice inlet of water for the kids to play in without needing to go in the waves.  There were also lots of large rocks to climb on and a little pool area with lots of little fish to catch. We all arrived around noon but I didn't pull out my camera until a  couple hours later. The weather was perfect! The sand was everywhere and the kids were all happy. This beach was quite a bit busier than the last one we went to but we still had a blast!

Somehow they just felt the need to keep moving this log.

Miles and Everett are 6 months apart and they play so well. They stuck together pretty much the whole time.

More log moving!

Little Edgar is always a joy!

My cousins, (and sis-in-law)

After we were slightly burnt (whoops) and most of the cousins had left, Elizabeth and I decided to go out to eat and she had a gift card to pig n pancake which she chose to share with us so it was extra exciting. And I'm sure we were quite the sight with our 7 (noisy) kids in the middle of the restaurant but it also made me laugh because I remember one time when Charlie was about 9 months old we decided to go to Olive Garden (Elizabeth had two kids at the time) and I remember thinking it was so daunting and stressful ( I had one kid!!) It's crazy how things change! Anyway, My kids stuffed themselves on pancakes, and Charlie finished off everyone else's leftovers until there were no pancakes left on the table. 

When we were done we washed up and briefly checked out the gift shop. Edwin was thrilled to see a shelf full of trucks. Then I saw a monster truck bus high on the shelf, I showed it to Edwin, his eyes got big, his face was shocked and he let out the most joyous scream that I've ever heard come out of his mouth. Usually when he's excited about something he plays it cool and tries really hard not to make a scene or show emotion (Example: That time he got to sit in a firetruck and he completely straight faced, whispered to the firefighter to "close da door") Anyway, I guess you just have to know Edwin and how he tries to hide his excitement to understand this moment. But anyway, he only got to hold the truck for less than a minute then I put it back on the shelf and we left. He was upset for really long portion of our drive home. Whoops, luckily the bus truck is only $5 and in our Amazon wish list for next Christmas. Anyway, this post is about a beach trip. And it was another winning beach trip!

Beach Day-Les Shirley

 This seems like a lifetime ago but my friend, Heather and I went on a beach day trip with our kids. It was absolutely perfect. The weather was amazing, the beach wasn't crowded, the kids could play in the water without getting swept away with the waves and Heather and I could just sit and chat while our kids played nicely. This was a new beach spot called Les Shirley park, attached to Canon Beach, I hadn't been here before but it was amazing and we are excited to go back!

The boys got right to work moving sand around.

And our friends joined us soon after!

All the kids. It's amazing how smoothly our outing went considering we have all these rascals. 

 

Our friends had to leave after awhile due to a grumpy baby but we still had some time so we kept playing for awhile. 

I think this is my favorite photo of the day.

He makes that face to push up his glasses...

Sand, sticks, and water....that's all they need!

He likes finding lines or trails and walk up and down them..this one was extra special since there was a splashing puddle at the end.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that this was a very good day, and resulted in more beach trips before the summer ended.

Date Night/Ear piercing

We've made the goal to go on more dates! I will actually say that we've gotten pretty good at having home dates and setting apart at least one night a week to focus on each other and do something unique or fun that isn't netflix or housework or something. But we also have the goal of an out-of-the house date twice a month. One of those being a temple date. Thankfully we have a found a super responsible 15 year old boy that is great with our boys and the boys love him so dating has been a bit easier recently! Anyway, the other day (okay like, well over a month ago) we had plans to go to dinner than the temple, at the last minute we decided to go get my ears re-pierced instead of dinner before we went to the temple. Apparently I stopped wearing earrings when Edwin was born and my ear holes of 30+ years grew in. I ended up getting my ears pierced at Claires where all the preteens get their ears pierced. Worth it! Then we realized we needed to eat quick so we grabbed something from the food court. We rushed to the temple to make it in time for an 8 o clock endowment session, only to find out that we were late and on Friday nights, the latest endowment session starts at 7:30. But we still had time to rush in and participate in the sealing ordinance. They needed another couple to come and help them complete some ordinances and we arrived just in time. During the sealing ordinance I was thinking of my green Grandma the entire time, she was nearing her 94th birthday and her husband had passed away nearly 30 years ago. I thought of what a joyous occasion it would be for them to be sealed in the eternities after death and how much my grandma must miss my grandpa. About 27 hours after this, my green grandma passed away, and we have plans to do her temple work next summer. Anyway, it was a peaceful date and we were where we needed to be. 

So naturally we take awkward selfies outside the temple.

I'm also realizing this is our last temple date and it was over a month ago so maybe not doing super great on our goal...however, we have both attended the temple separately since then so maybe we're doing ok? Doesn't really matter, I just like dates. Rambling done!