The Great Oregon Coast Call Reunion 2015

Yes, the week deserves that long, prestigious title! We'd planned this reunion for over a year, and made sure EVERYONE in our family could attend. We tried a few years ago, but the imminent arrival of two new cousins kind of made the whole thing fold. This year, however, we managed to keep to our resolve and get together for a week on the Oregon coast. It. Was. Epic. And yes, we all still love each other! I have ALOT of pictures (and didn't even upload them all) so sit back and prepare to scroll awhile!

It began with a loooooong 14-hour drive. We broke it up by spending the night in Redmond, OR. When we checked in, we were upgraded to a suite! The kiddos were tired, but Amelia adapted very well, immediately checking her email and trying out each chair:

Cooper, not so much. The kid likes to be home, and has a little difficulty with changes, even if Amelia and I are with him. He did great, though:

The car ride down was not as bad as I expected. Once we crossed over into Oregon, it's illegal to talk on the phone while driving, so I handed it back to Amelia and Cooper to field any phone calls. They also used it to take a few selfies:

The next day we drove only a short 4 hours and arrived in Waldport, OR about 4pm. We walked out to the beach and just took a breath. Ah, the ocean........

Over the next couple days we played with cousins, went to the aquarium, lighthouses, Cape Perpetua, and played on the beach. We also had late nights playing games, talking, laughing and enjoying being with each other. Here's a couple hundred photos of all our fun:

Aquarium:
 

Lighthouse:

Cobble Beach:

I know what you're going to say, Katie, but it's a very flattering picture of me........

Eating at Mo's (best chicken strips I ever had!):

Andy's breakfast.

THE BEACH:

Dad wanted to walk out to the water--at low tide. It took him awhile, but he did it, with the help of David, Andy, and Ben. In this picture he was tasting the water.

Coltman kept us company in the early morning hours!

Saying goodbye:

(Lynnli had hurt her hand I think. Everyone was kinda tired!)

Random pics:

On the drive home we overnight-ed in Ontario and got home Sunday afternoon. I can't say we've done much the last couple days (other than laundry) but relax and rest from our vacation! We had a fabulous time and are already planning the next one---which will be within single-digit driving distance!

Summer is in full-swing and not slowing down much. Amelia is taking summer ballet lessons, Cooper has scouts, and we have the usual movies, picnics, spray park, riding bikes and other activities. Fall will be here before we know it. (Hopefully--it's HOT!)

Oh, What a Difference 9 Months Can Make!

Here is Amelia and Cooper and on their first day of school:

And here they are on their last:

Their teachers do a fun "time capsule" to show how much they've changed over the school year. Amelia grew an ENTIRE inch this year, and Cooper----well, Cooper grew about 2 1/2. (Amelia is wearing 1 inch heels.)

Cooper riding to school on the last day!

Amelia walking with us.

  

As tradition, we had lunch at Pizza Pie Cafe and ate enough to last a few days!!

Summer has officially begun for this new THIRD and SIXTH grader! Let that one soak in a minute.....

Continuing our End-of-the-Year Fun...............

The last couple weeks I've been lucky enough to chaperone both Cooper and Amelia's school field trips. Surprisingly, bowling with 85 second graders was just as loud as going to the museum with 5 fifth graders! Here are some pictures:

Cooper eating his lunch before getting his bowling on. 

Afterward we watched a movie. Do you know how often 85 second graders have to use the bathroom during a 96 minute movie? About 134 times!

We also had Amelia's last orchestra concert. She has improved so much over this year, and has decided to continue with the violin next year. We're deciding whether to take a few lessons this summer to keep up her skills and maybe improve a little bit. Here's my violinist:

 Last Friday I went with Amelia's "team" (3 classes) to the Museum of Idaho. They have a pirate exhibit and it's really interesting. I may go back again when I don't have to wrangle two high energy 11 year old boys, and three independent girls. I was tempted a couple times to have the boys walk the plank! :-)

Amelia with her two friends. She's just a darling little thing, isn't she?!

Finally,  Memorial day we had our first picnic of the summer and ride on the carousel:

We still have a few more things to pack into this week--last parties/dances/kickball tournaments/picnics of the year! Then these second and fifth graders will officially be finished!

Pinewood Derby, Powerpoints, and Spy Parties!

The last few weeks have flown by. Cooper had his first Pinewood Derby for Scouts. He did a great job, and did most of the work on his car by himself:

Now that Amelia's dance year is over, she decided to cut her hair. While we were waiting in the very stylish salon, she found a pillow she couldn't live without. Guess we're going shopping!

Because of our crazy schedule, Cooper's birthday party was last weekend. He chose a spy theme. Here he is with his dark glasses and code name. During the party the spy trainees learned to diffuse a bomb and get rid of the evidence (pop balloons), target practice (water guns), obstacle course with lasers (streamers), treasure hunt for clues, and finally figure out how to open a package that was locked (pinata). Cooper had such a good time he didn't notice everyone had brought presents for him until the party was over!

Amelia and her friend helped me corral and train the five high energy spy wannabes.

Mother's Day was wonderful. Cooper and Amelia made me a powerpoint. It was so fun to watch, and they did a great job.


After making my powerpoint,  Amelia and Cooper had so much fun they each made one for themselves. Cooper asked me to take a picture of his, but instead I took a video of him watching it. It's pretty funny:

I think that brings us up-to-date. We still have end of the school year parties, field trips, and celebrations.

Cooper's Baptism!

Last Saturday Cooper was baptized! It was a little harder than I thought to see my youngest hit this milestone. He seems so grown up already in a lot of ways, but then he'll also revert to toddler-age in the next moment!  It was a wonderful day, and he was SO EXCITED! He woke up at 5:30am and said, "It's a big day!" I gave him his new set of scriptures and case and he took them out, flipped through them, and put them back over and over. He is so excited to "look up scriptures using these cool tabs." He was baptized by his BFF Andy:

After the baptism, Grandpa confirmed him and did a perfect job. I think he was a little nervous, but it went well. Afterward, a friend of the family from Hawaii told Cooper when children get baptized in Hawaii they get a lei:

Cooper handled all the attention and well-wishing very well. Afterwards we went back to our home and had a luncheon. As excited as Cooper was to be baptized and become a member of the church, he was equally excited to get into his play clothes and "relax and get used to his new gifts". LOVE. THIS. KID!!

Although it was "Cooper's Day", Amelia managed to jump into a few pictures.

He went up to the stand yesterday in church to be introduced as the newest and "most enthusiastic" member of the ward. He looked so cute standing beside the bishop in his suit, grinning out at the entire congregation--his smile much like the one in the picture above! I realized in ten short years he'll be standing at the podium giving his missionary farewell. *Sniff* I was beginning to be sad until the bishop shook Cooper's hand and said he could go sit down. Cooper walked reverently to the stairs---then jumped down all of them at once. 

I still have some time. :-)