Park with the sisters

On our last morning in Oregon, we packed a picnic and meet up with Katrina's sisters at a park. The kids played and ate, while we talked and ate.After a little sand digging, the moms took all of the kids on a walk through the trees and down to the river. The kids played a little in the water and feed some ducks, while we all depressingly tried to keep them from falling in or getting too wet. The boys, Kenton and Kris stayed back and played "Disc Golf" with only sticks and trees - silly daddies! But they had a lot of fun.When we got back to the park, the kids played, swung on the tire swing, climbed the play scape and dug in the sand some more.Charis really loved playing with Sadie. We do not get a chance to play with any little girls and I think that makes her drawn to them.When the kids took off down the hill and into the open meadow, it looked like a lot of fun to just run and be free. But when they went a little too far we sent Kenton after them.Kris rounded up the kids with his tickle guns while we packed up the car. Or maybe they were tickle light sabers for Finn.
Thanks Hecht sisters (Katrina, Becca and Gretchen) for making us feel at home and enjoying a morning at the park with us!

Picnics and outside play

On Saturday, we went out to breakfast. It was great, good food, wonderful company and funny kids.
I had to take a picture of Charis writing her name and drawing a picture. I love that girl!
That night we had a BBQ picnic in their backyard and enjoyed the cool weather. I would give anything for Oregon weather in the middle of a Texas summer.

On Sunday we spent the day with Katrina's parents and family, who always make us feel like we are part of their family. Then back to their house for outside fun with some friends.

Riverplay park

On Friday morning we went to Riverplay park. It was a great park with a giant play scape and water and sand. I did not plan ahead well enough, so I tried to keep Charis away from the water and sand. I also had broken my toe (although at the time I thought it was just badly bruised) and so playing on the equipment was nearly impossible. But that was okay Charis and Daddy had a great time.Kris and Charis found these tubes and speakers that connect all over the park to talk to each other. Charis loved them.She also loved being pulled across the pretend river in her "boat".
Then Kris and Charis pulled someone else across.

Oregon parks and gym

On Thursday, we walked to the park next to Katrina's work. She saw some parents that wanted to meet Cedar so we went ahead without her. The kids had a great time playing together and we loved helping, watching and joining in on the fun!I loved that Finn went down the big slide on his stomach. He is such a wonderful boy/kid!
After the park we went to a kids' gym. We all really enjoyed it. Katrina and Cedar were very limited on what they could do at the gym but I think they still had fun.We really easily feel into a routine of showering, taking turns caring for the kids, making breakfast and getting out of the house for some morning activity. Then returning for lunch and naps followed by easy going evenings of homemade dinners and outside play and sometimes games for the adults after the kids went to bed. It worked out nice for us. Also, Charis loved their backyard and it was fenced so she need little to no supervision which was really nice.

Oregon here we come!

We are so excited to be visiting our friends, the Henry's in Oregon. They drove to Portland to pick us right outside of the security area. Finn and Charis started playing like there was no time passed since they had last seen each other (which was last year when the Henry's visited us in Austin).
Our first introduction to their newest family member - Cedar. He is so adorable and peaceful.
Once we got our bags and headed out, we decided on McMenamins for lunch - an old favorite from when we used to live there.

We spent a lot of time doing fun things like going to the library, parks, special food places and just visiting. It was definitely our kind of vacation.

Our little artist

We are so proud of Charis for so many things, but watching her draw is amazing.
She drew this all on her own while I was washing dishes. She has always loved whales, I think because of the story of Jonah and the whale. By the way, it was not cold at all, she just really likes that jacket. And because there was not a good reason to say no, I just let her be a little silly.

Playing with Dollhouses

Charis loves playing with her dollhouse but usually wants me to join in. Honestly, I get bored after a few minutes and want to do something else, but I try to play as long as she wants - after all we did buy it for her.Recently I have enjoyed it a little more because we spend most of our time setting it up and organizing it into different landscapes...houses, farm, pond, zoo. And then we only spend a little time walking the people around to the different areas.
When we got her these new circle rugs, she insisted that the blue one should be the pond or ocean. And now that Skot has moved in with us, she wants the little boy in our people set to be Skot and have his own room that you have to ask to go into. So cute!

Family music band and doctor

We had the Elkinton clan over for dinner and hanging out while Leah and Fabricio were in town. But somehow I did not get any full pictures of them. Before dinner, Charis convinced everyone in the living room to be part of her band and brought them all out musical instruments.

After dinner we all sat outside and Charis got to open a package from Uncle Phil and the O'Neals. She was so excited! It was her very own doctor tools. She loves to pretend to be a doctor and will use whatever she can find to play. Thank you Phil!
The rest of the night Charis went from one person to another "fixing" whatever was wrong with us or just giving us shots. It was very cute and hilarious at times.