Rose Gardens

For our annual rose gardern evening, we decided to go memorial weekend, usually we wait until the first week of June but everthing seemed to be blooming so much earlier in Oregon this year that we decided to go early. We weren't dissapointed, except for how incredibly busy it was. We went with Richard, Marissa, Lacey and William again. Right as we arrived Lacey told us she was on a quest to find the laciest rose. She thinks of some of the best activities. Shortley thereafter, she and Charlie were full on running through the crowds and the rows and rows of rose bushes. And we may have lost them a couple times which was a little stressful, but we all survived!

 

 
And then they were just being so darn adorable. I can't even explain how great it is that these kids have such a wonderful friendship.

They stopped running for a moment to explore the out-of-control water fountain. 

 

Miles is a pretty big Lacey fan also. He was happy to have some playtime with her as well.

This picture makes me laugh so much, I guess it just shows how trained, I've incidentally made my boys. I was trying to get all the kids together for a photo and my boys cooperated so well! Lacey and William were just not interested. Now, if I can just get them to cooperate in most other aspects of life...we'd be good!

We quickly went to find the boys' birthday roses but it didn't take long before they were off to the next thing so I never checked out mine or Max's rose. At least the boys' had blooms this year.

And now for the comparison sequence....I love it every year!

May 2004
 

Fall 2011

Spring 2013

Photo cred to Anna

2014

 2015

And for 2016! I like to think we get better looking each year! haha! And notice how my boys are covered in water!

And Richard and Marissa and family. 

Lacey was just about done!

Miles could have played in this fountain forever. Water went down his sleeve and dripped down the bottom of his shirt and shorts....but he just kept playing. 

...and he kept going back for more, I guess I should be thankful he didn't fall in, but I'm sure that wouldn't have phased him. 

It was already after 8 and Richard and Marissa decided to leave, we contemplated staying later to run in the large amphitheater but decided against it since Miles was soaked and it really wasn't all that warm.  So we headed back to the car, stripped the baby boy and drove home. I love family outings like this!

Night Hike

So it seems like this family activity was a really long time ago. A month or so ago, Max was running and ended up really far into the forest and came upon a beautiful little oasis that was perfect to take our family to. There was a large tree across the creek and tons of rocks and creek access to for our boys to play in until night fell. We started our hike at our favorite park, Max really wasn't sure how long of a hike it would be and he since he was running and had gotten lost a couple times, so we just ventured out and hoped for the best. 

Charlie had to throw a couple boulders into the creek before we started.

And my pictures all ended up blurry but whatever...we made memories!

 And we are off on our hike. There were some steep edges so Max ended up carrying Miles for most of it. 

We finally made it after trekking through  some mud and steep hills. It ended up being closer than Max thought. It was on a less traveled trail between our favorite park and our favorite forest. A new perfect little sanctuary.

 

The boys were prepared with  their water shoes so we just let them loose. And they went for it.

 After we were all wet and muddy and mosquito bitten we decided to head back before it got much darker. We even had this nice little balancing section on our hike back.

And there you have it, an excellent Summer (Spring) family outing.