A Family Vacation FINALLY!!!

This will be a super long post....

Alex got a hay hauling job that took us to a little town outside of Newport, Oregon, so we decided to make it a little weekend family vacation.

 On the way over Bugs got tired of entertaining herself....

 and konked out!

 We parked the trailer at a boarding facilities that one of my Mother in law's clients uses. I thought the barn was pretty cool looking.

 The view from the barn was awesome!

 Miss Gingaroos was a trooper being stuck in her car seat all day!  We left our house around 11 am and after picking up hay, a hay elevator, and finally hitting the road we arrived to our destination around 7pm.  Then we had to unload 8 ton of hay and stack it in a loft of a barn.(we weren't suppose to have to unload one bale, but as our luck goes, the customer's help didn't show so it was left to Alex and I to unload.)  We finally got to check in and crash at our Motel room at 11pm.  It made for a long day for the girls.

 Bright and early on Friday morning we headed out to a beach.  The forecast for the entire weekend was pretty crappy.  We played on the beach all of maybe 15 minutes then headed back to the truck.  It was super cold, windy, and the rain went from a drizzle to close to a down pour quickly. The truck was a much better spot to be than the beach.

 Sophie was in awe of the beach and ocean, but did not want to go anywhere near the actual water!  Over the past couple of months she has began to fear the water.

 Due to a storm coming in the waves were definitely alive, but I had a hard time capturing the bigger ones on my camera.

 Miss Gingaroos didn't really know what to think, other than she was chilly!  But, as usual she is all grins! I discovered on this trip that every time I point the camera her way and she sees it she grins big for the shot! =)

 The water came in and Bugs ran desperately to get away from it.  After that she was DONE with the beach.

 Heading back to the truck to escape the rain, wind, and cold.

 The 1st beach going for this little gal tuckered her out!

 We headed to a local Irish Pub called Nanas for some fish and chips for lunch.

 Then off to the Oregon Coast Aquarium!

 Bugs loved looking at all the fish, but had more fun running amuck....let's just say she tuckered Alex and I out having to chase her.

 Touching some of the under water creatures!  She thought this was pretty cool.

 Ellie....didn't care! =)  Probably because her Mama didn't let her get her hands dirty!

 We had a hard time getting Bugs to look at the right spot when the otters were visible.

 Time for some sharks!!

 There were a couple larger ones that kept swimming right above our heads....Sophie would say "WOW" each time we pointed them out!

 After the aquarium we were pretty tuckered out.  We went back to the Motel and tried to catch a nap.  It's ironic because you fight Sophie Anne to stay awake until you're back at the Motel, hoping you can all catch a nap, and as soon as we get back to the Motel she finds her 2nd wind and NO SLEEP FOR ANYONE!!!  So we suited up and hit the pool.  This was Ellie Jo's 1st time going swimming.......

 She obviously didn't mind it AT ALL!  =)

 Sophie wouldn't stay in the pool very long.  She was crying and screaming every time we tried to get her to hang in the pool.  She opted out and chose to chill in the hot tub!

 Of course, afterwards she was tuckered out and laid like this during dinner and even fell asleep.  We hit this little seafood cafe, Newport Cafe, and the food was delicious.

 Gingaroos just chilling at dinner!

 The next morning we loaded up and went to The Yaquina Head Lighthouse. (my favorite part of the trip)

 Bugs instantly found the play area at the Visitor's Center and had to do a couple of puzzles before we could move on.

 Finally made it out of the Visitor's Center and up to the lighthouse.  The views were amazing!

 Alex and Bugs walked down to the beach below the light house and got to see Seals bobbing in the ocean.

 Miss Gingaroos posing for the camera!

Drawing in the sand was one of Bugs' favorite things to do.

 On our drive out of the lighthouse area we got to watch some Karate on the beach.

We cruised to the Port of Newport for lunch and some more sight seeing.

 This was were we got the freshest seafood of the trip, Local Oceans.

 This little bugger has been a horrible eater the last month or so, but could NOT get enough of the seafood.  Fresh crab, tuna, and crab cakes.

 The sun was in her face that is why she looks like she is disgusted, not because of the food! =)

She stole one of Alex's tuna kabobs and chowed down on it! =)

We decided to spoil Ellie Jo with her first taste of ice cream. (cake batter)

See how satisfied she was! =)  She really did like it after the first shock from the cold went away!

Sophie devoured the ice cream!

The two most important girls in my life!  So precious!

Checking out the sea lions at the port.

We decided to call it a day and headed back to the room.  Of course as soon as we got there Sophie got her 2nd wind and while Alex, Ellie, and I tried to rest she found....other things to occupy her time! grrrr....

For our final night we headed out to the beach for the sunset.

And a last meal of seafood...we stopped at this little cafe on the side of the road that was hooked to a convenient store...it was yummy!

And finally.....all tuckered out from the vacation!  Although it was a much needed vacation, going with a 6 month and a 2.5 year old is a lot of work.  We were glad to have the vacation, but VERY glad to get back home! =)

Not much going on here.

There really hasn't been anything big and exciting going on around here......

This little one is getting to be a pro at holding her own bottle!  And, she is slowly moving out of her 6 month clothes into 9 month clothes....this makes me super sad!  (She is just too tall for 6 month outfits)

 The two red heads in our house and in depth chit chats the other day!  I don't know what it was all about but at the end Ellie Jo was pulling Merida's hair...tisk tisk! =)

 This crazy girl sits on Merida's horse to watch t.v..  

 She is a little on the goofy side!  We'll blame her Dad for that! ;)

 I think all kids have their one moment where they are playing but are just too tuckered out to play for a long time.  Ell konked out and I must say not in a very cozy looking position!

 As usual, as soon as I took the picture of Ell this chica came running to get her picture taken too!

She then went right back to her perch by Tucson watching a Halloween movie!  

Anyway, I guess I just felt like I needed to get some fresh pictures on the blog for my family back in Utah to see, they just can't go too long with out looking at these weird little munchkins faces! =)

Ranch Work!

Every once in awhile the girls and I get to (did I say "get to"? =(...)  change irrigation at the ranch.  It really isn't too bad except lugging around the two girls is quite the work out! =)

Lunch time!

 We went for round 2 with Ell and solid foods...today I added some fruit to see if she'd enjoy that more.  As I was feeding her she was so smiley I had to get a picture.  Upon getting my camera out this big girl grabbed her lunch and gave this big cheeser! =)  I love my girls!  

Ell did indeed prefer this rice cereal/fruit mix to last night's pure rice cereal...but still didn't eat it too well. Oh well we will keep trying! =)

I caved!

 During our latest rodeo road trip this little Gingaroos of ours about killed me with being a bottom less pit.  I seriously could not keep the girl full!  Soooo I FINALLY caved and let my baby be a big girl and try out some rice cereal.....solid foods here we come!

 She didn't really know what to think of it!  I don't think she hated it but she certainly wasn't loving it either.  

 It reminded me so much of when Sophie first started solids...it was a slow start but soon she was all about the solids, so I hope Ellie will be the same!

One thing is for sure...she has the sippy cup stuff down!  =)

Rodeo trip to Ellensburg WA and Lewiston ID.

 We decided to road trip to some rodeos with Alex Monday thru Tuesday.....yeah it was a quick trip.  But we had the chance to stay at a motel and take Bugaboos swimming so we jumped in the car and went....... On the way this above happened.....Gingaroos decided she could hold her own bottle! =)  Things like this make me so happy that our little ones are growing but sad at the same time...if only time slowed down some.

 Although both girls are excellent travelers....there is moments where they look at us like the despise us for making them stay in their car seats for so long.  Thank heaven for portable dvd players!

 Alex and Bugs heading to the pool.  I totally packed my bikini...but who are we kidding...someone had to watch Gingaroos! (totally dodged that bullet of being seen in a bikini) =)

 I have been saying for too long now that I am going to put Bugs in swimming lessons, but have failed to at this point.  I don't know a lot of recreational stuff here in Bend and haven't done my homework yet.  Alex thinks we need to just con his dad into teaching her...but so far we just haven't moved forward on either plan.  Bugs does love the water a lot...but is somewhat clingy to the person holding her...I think I need to get on top of the swimming lesson thing.

This girl LOVES to jump! She is always jumping, but it took us a long time to finally coax her into jumping in to Alex's arms in the pool!  I don't know if she liked it, her reaction was up in the air!

Well, as usual I was too busy changing diapers, feeding Ellie, and who knows what else to snap pictures of the other adventures of the trip but oh well.  I will say this.....I think my days of going with Alex to rodeos, especially with the girls, is numbered!  It is TOOOO MUCH WORK!!!

15 minute trip to Smith Rocks!

 Over the Holiday weekend My Mom, Sister and Brother in law came up for a 2 day visit. I guess I was having too much fun to think about snapping pictures, except for when we rode over to Smith Rocks for a little day hike.

 My Gingaroos and I! I swear these baby carriers are THE most UN-COMFORTABLE things in the WORLD!  I seriously hate it and would never use it except every once in awhile it does help a little.  I also have to point out Ellie Jo's hat...I forgot her cute little sun bonnet so she had to be tortured with Alex's Red Sox baseball cap...ugh! =)

 Some of the group heading to the path.  I guess, in all the many years of living in Central Oregon, Alex has never been to Smith Rocks so he was, as a true tourist, finely reading the area map! =)

 Our little family!

Our girls had it figured out...Ellie Jo in her baby carrier, and Sophie Anne on her Dad's shoulders....the only problem with that was she insisted on holding his head just so...blind man hiking! gtm

Well we ended up having an emergency back home(everything turned out fine) but had to leave pretty much 10 minutes after we got there...but since I had a couple snap shots I figured I'd share! =)

My sister Tiff and her hubs David stayed and hiked...let's just say when they got back my Mom and I were perfectly happy that we had our trip there cut short! =)