we just couldn't wait till august

We just couldn't wait until August to spend the afternoon at the beach.  Peter took the day off, we packed up a picnic, the kids and the pup and went to the beach.  There were a ton of clouds in the sky, but it was sunny and kind of warm actually.

Violet dancing/posing for pictures. 

She had a blast and we went through all our extra clothes because she kept running back into the water.

It was a good day.  After the main beach we went to check out Damon beach per our instructions from Grandma, but the road to the beach had been washed out and the girls weren't in the mood to go for a walk so we'll check it out next time.  Then we went to some of the shops, we found a great candy shop next to a kite store and we got a little bag of candies from our childhoods complete with candy cigarettes and neopolitans. :)  We had a fun time.  In two weeks we are going Camping in Long beach and a few weeks after that all the cousins come to town and we go to the beach again! I think I will be vacuuming sand out of my Car seats a lot this summer :)

 Vi is a preschool graduate!  Her class had a little song and grad ceremony.  It was adorable.  I've got a video that I've got to process but I'll upload it soon.

 Claire was psyched to hang out with all the kids at the little program.  We just found out that Claire will get to go to this preschool too.  Since it is an integrated program of children with Speech delays and other special needs, half the class is for normally developing children and Claire got one of those spots!  I am so excited!  This means I will have 3 hours a day 4 days a week, all to myself!  It's perfect because I am taking 4 classes this fall and I will need some homework time...and maybe a little gym time too :)

Vi after the graduation, having a Popsicle on a sunny day.

Soccer Started 2 weeks ago!  Violet had one little melt down at the first 9 am practice but she has gotten over that (with the help of a bribery deal and a steady supply of treat promises)  But once she gets out there she loves it!  She loves to run around and is actually getting to be pretty good at kicking the ball.  Her team is full of new kids that don't know how to play yet, and we played our first game against a second year team that was really good!  I think we lost by at least 20 goals, and it was pouring buckets of rain but as we were leaving Violet looked at me and said "MOM! WE WON!!!"  So it was definitely worth standing out in the rain at 9 am on a Saturday morning.  It's official...I'm a soccer mom!

Cruz hung out with me for one of the practices...He is a little suspicious of me.  He only warmed up to me once I fed him.  Pretty picky for a kid sucking a pink binky if you ask me ;)

Once Cruz was fed, he took a nap in his car seat and Claire swooped in to play baby.
I think she misses her baby toys.

Violet and Liv out on the field with Greg.  Having a blast.

Vi after practice showing us how to properly eat a nutty buddy...apparently only one bite is necessary because this is the only bite she took :)  Well summer has officially started and we are having a great time.  I am hoping the rain will die down soon, or Vi may need rain gear to play soccer!  We are looking forward to fun times with the cousins in about a month...bring on the beach!!!

what to do in Lincoln city?

Hi I was just thinking about the Corier Reunion in Lincoln City and since we are going to be there for a few days I thought it might be fun to go see some things nearby.  So I went to the visitors website for Lincoln city and I found some stuff that might be fun, if anyone wants to do any of it.
The theatre is playing looney tunes for the kids, this might be good if it happens to rain (I doubt it)

There is a display garden called the Connie Hansen Garden, that is free.  Click on the words "connie Hansen" to see the website.

Regatta Park seems like it would be a great place to take the kids, there is a playground, and walking trails and apparently a really really big tree that we are supposed to look at :)
Also near Regatta park is Spring lake trail, it's 2.5 miles but it is paved and goes around Spring lake. (I would love to do this, I took the girls on a 3 mile hike in the mud when Claire was a baby and they had a blast)

We could go look at the seals that gather on the Salishan spit- the website says there is usually about 150 of them there.

There is a covered bridge not to far away, I don't know if the kids would be interested in that but I would like to go see it if anyone wants to come with me.

And of course there is the Oregon Coast aquarium in Newport- I think it's about an hour from where we will be.  I have been and it's a great aquarium but it is a little spendy (20$ a person)

anyways, let me know if you want to do any of this stuff.  it looks like there is a lot of fun stuff to do.  Oh and we have to fly kites, Lincoln city is the Kite Mecca of the world.

Vi turns 5

 Violet turned 5 last week!  Happy Birthday sweet princess!  Violet had a great birthday.  We went out to dinner with G and G Corier and had cake a presents at their house that night.

 Vi has been asking for this cake for months.  She was so excited when we opened the box.  Peter got her trick candles and it was pretty funny.  She kept shouting...OH NO!  it isn't working!

 On Friday we had a party with the Wright family.  The girls love pinata's for their birthday.

 They have yet to break one open on their own, luckily there were a lot of helpers there that day ;)

 Claire is very serious about her pinata duties.

 Diana found a baker in shelton that made this adorable rapunzel cake for Violet.  Tangled is a favorite cartoon in our house (it even has inspired  V to cut her hair a few times)

 Present time!  Vi got so many wonderful presents and she had so much fun.  I can't believe she is 5 already.

 Vi got a rapunzel costume from her Aunt Diana and Claire is in love with the shoes.
they are heels! starting young!

 V as Rapunzel the bride.  She is in love with this costume and wears it all the time!  Thank you Aunt Diana!

 Claire takes a turn as Rapunzel

Dress up time!

Hope everyone is doing well.  We are excited for the Corier Reunion in a few weeks.  It is going to be very fun.  I would like to celebrate Claire's birthday while we are at the beach since everyone is here, so come ready for cake and party games! :)