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| David helping Gabey fiddle with the piano |
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| Since we got gypped on last months beach attempt, we went for the day when we thought the weather would be nicer. Here is the view at the Octopus Tree near Tillamook. |
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| Brooke, David, Kate, and Gabe at the Octopus Tree |
| Oddly-shaped Octopus Tree |
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| Not a great day to see the ocean at Cape Meares lighthouse due to the fog, but we tried! |
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| But it was windy enough to finally fly the China kites from Nanee and Papa! |
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| Brooke enjoying the beach |
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| David, Nicholas, and Zach braving the cold water |
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| Gabe on my back |
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| Brookey relaxing on the beach. |
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| Followed by a stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory Brooke, David, Nicholas |
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| David wanted sprinkles on his chocolate ice cream, but the Nerds they put on there were so sour! He ended up trading ice cream with his super nice mom. |
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| We love ice cream! |
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| A few days later, Nicholas and Zach hosted a "How to Play Pokémon" party and taught a bunch of younger kids how to play. |
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| Then off to Wallowa Lake in eastern Oregon with Mike's mom, aunt, and sister and her family for 4 nights. Heading up the steepest tram in North America to the top of Mt. Howard. Brooke and Ellen, Nicholas and Carolyn |
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| Mike and David on the tram |
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| At the top where the tram lets us off. Gabe, Kate, Zach, Nicholas, David, Mike, Brooke, Ellen, Hazel, Tom, Sara |
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| At the top of windy Mt. Howard Beautiful view! |
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| Hiking around some trails at the top |
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| Walking back to our campground, we found a nice resting spot! |
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| We stayed in the state park and everyone else stayed in a cabin nearby. The boys liked to visit the cabin and get their fill on the ipads. |
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| Hazel (6 months old) and Gabe (14 months old) 7 1/2 month apart cousins |
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| David enjoying a slushie |
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| Playing in Wallowa Lake |
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| Wallowa Lake |
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| Brooke roasting a marshmallow |
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| David eating his s'more |
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| Gabe eating his s'more. Haha! Just a graham cracker. |
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| Only 2 kayaks were available so Nicholas, Zach, Tom, and Sara tried them out. |
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| It takes a little team work to maneuver a kayak and we wondered how Nicholas and Zach would do... |
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| Nicholas' goal was to paddle around the whole lake, they didn't quite make it that far during their one-hour allotment. |
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| David and Brooke wanted to try the bumper boats so Carolyn and I went too. |
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| Walking over the river that emptied into Wallowa Lake. |
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| We spent most the afternoon playing in the river. It was REALLY cold but Mike braved his way across. |
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| Nicholas and Zach were determined to do it too. |
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| Some spots were pretty deep and Mike had to help Zach back across. |
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| Brooke certainly wasn't going to let her brothers out-do her! |
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| And David too. Mike went back and forth across that river many times! |
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| Earlier in the day, Gabe pushed on the screen door in the trailer and fell out, catching the steps between the eyes. It left him a good-sized bruise, bump, and some scrapes. But he's happy now! |
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| The kids decided to dam the river. |
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| The deer were not shy! This one was in our neighbors campsite looking for food. |
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| Not only would it find what it wanted from their campsite, but would eat right out of people's hands! |
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| Two days after getting home from Wallowa Lake, Brooke, Gabe, and I drove up to Spokane to celebrate Grandad's 99th birthday with him. Along the way I got a flat tire and a rock chip in my window so instead of a 9-hour drive, it was 11 hours. |
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| Half way to Spokane, we met up with LaRene and Naomi and went the rest of the way together. Naomi, Brooke and Gabe at a park in Spokane. |
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| Annual picnic at Audubon Park for Grandad's birthday Naomi, Brooke, Gabe, LaRene, Grandad, Kate |
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| Gabey and Grandad enjoying a peanut butter cookie together. |
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| All my aunts, uncles, cousins, and their kids who were able to make it to Grandad's 99th birthday this year. |
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| After we got home, Gabe is trying to feed himself. |
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| Only a face a mother can love! |
