Clearly, I've done a poor job at updating our weekly activities. If I'm totally honest it is because the last few weeks of real summer felt like running around trying to get everything done.Then the last few weeks of August have put us in a haze as we are reexamining job, life, goals, and directions and all of those minor, lighthearted issues. So this post is just a hodge podge of the last few major (or minor) events that happened to make it on camera....or bear repeating.


 This was a sewing project afternoon. The girls each sewed the skirt they are wearing. (With a little help.) They both claimed to love them but they haven't been worn much since the event. (I can't say I was any better with any homemade clothes I made as a kid.)
 The girls and I took a special trip up to the Ogden Temple Re-dedication. It was amazingly uplifting. Nathan had a fever that day, which meant I got to totally focus on their experience and as we walked through each room I could pause and talk to them about it. Their favorite and mine, is "the room that makes you feel like you're in heaven." I was so glad that they were able to feel that and know what a wonderful place the temple is.

 The first day of school! First grade for Savannah and 3rd for Abbie.
 It bears mentioning that Savannah got a major haircut for 1st grade. I almost cried as my friend chopped off the long curls but she looks so cute in her little bob (this picture really doesn't do the haircut justice). Now she can brush her own hair without tears which is one less daily battle and everyone really is a lot happier.
 I don't have any major pictures of Nathan right now...probably because he wont hold still for any. But a new "Nathanism" poped up this week. Much to his sisters' delight, he calls his favorite snack, Pirate Booty, Pirate Poopy.

And yes....one more trip to the zoo. With a zoo pass, it is our go-to get out of the house activity.

Nathan is the comedian of our family. We are regularly spinning between wanting wring his cute little neck for writing on the walls (again) to laughing our heads off at the next thing he has said. I've forgotten to write down many of these lately but wanted to catch up with a few....

 At church Russ gets commissioned to draw backhoes and trucks for the duration of sacrament meeting. If he pauses for a second, Nathan reprimands him for his lazy character and forces him to return to work. After the artwork is complete...Nathan scribbles all over the result.

Abbie likes to sing. She also likes to lovingly tease her brother and sister. Nathan doesn't like singing, nor does he like to be teased. He has gotten to the point where often when Abbie walks into a room, before any teasing or singing has started, and yelling, "Abbie STOP!"

On our trip to Oregon, we spent the first night camping in the Blue Mountains. Normally, Nathan sleeps in his room alone. So when bedtime came and we were all still in the tent with him (three hours later than normal) the party started.Nathan was singing, climbing over everyone and non-stop talking and laughing. He finally ended up sprawled out on the air mattress Russ and I were supposed to share in Russ's sleeping bag, while I was curled up in a corner and Russ is on the hard dirt floor.

We have hiked a lot this summer and Nathan has become very excited about chipmunks. He loves to chase them until they run down into their holes or off into the bushes. So now whenever he sees a hole, be it under the slide, in the sprinkler valve box, or under the roots of the tree he says, "Chipmunk house....asleeping."


Nathan has been counting lately. He used to be say "One, two, three, six," now this is amended  to, "One, two, six." but on vacation he combined all the lessons we've been forcing into him with, "One, two, six, yellow, sixteen, blue.."

This Friday Russ called me from work.

"What time is the babysitter coming tonight?"

"5:30"

"Can she come earlier?"

"Probably, why?"

"We need to talk."

Friday Russ's company decided that they had been struggling to get back in black long enough and that it was time to close up shop. Thirty days and then thirty days severance. Then.....

I think I spent Friday in shock. We had been at the job almost exactly a year. We knew that this company would not last forever, but man we wanted it to. The pay was good, the people were great, the work was fulfilling and the hours were perfect. It is a balance that has been elusive over the years. We worry it will be hard to find again.

We have savings, we know how to be frugal, and we know how to work hard.
We can do this and will be fine.
We know that God is real. He loves us and will help us through this experience. He has helped us many, many times in our lives. His love and guidance are uplifting and comforting and give us great hope for the future.  He has already given us that hope in big old mountain size gobs, for which I am grateful.

I also know that Russ is an highly talented designer and illustrator, a crazy hard worker and so blasted much fun to have around that any agency/in-house position/company looking for regular freelance work would be lucky as a kid on Christmas to have him work for or with them.

But, truth be told, I just don't want this character-building-gaining-deep-perspective-on-the-meaning-of-life--the-universe-and-everything experience right now. I want to be able to sleep at night, plan my budget for the future, and return to my peaceful Thursday existence.

But no one asked me.

So forward it is....

This summer we took a trip up to the Oregon coast. We haven't been in a long time but as Russ's mom and my brother live in Portland this trip was way overdue. It gave us a good chance to enjoy family and the Pacific Northwest.

First a note to Future Nathan. Nathan you hated having your picture taken on this trip. You would turn and run away from me almost every time I got my camera out, and believe me I tried to get pictures of you. I am very sorry that I was unsuccessful much of the time.

So, what makes a great trip to the Oregon Coast?

1. For our family, doing the drive over two days was a must. Not only did it allow us to visit Russ's Grandma Lissy on the way, but it prevented a two-year-old melt down by Nathan. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of our camping party.

2. Once you make it to Portland, the Oregon Zoo is a must. My girls favorite activity was feeding the lorikeets nectar.




2. The requisite hike to the top of Multonomah Falls. This is best done if you do not have a fever. Savannah can vouch for that.




3. Crab fishing. This was a new experience for the Gray family. But we caught about 10 and had a great time doing it.



3. Beach. Now Oregon is not really a beach place. If you want to sit and read a book on the beach you will probably fail. First it will be to cold, and if it isn't too cold it will be too windy. Once it warmed up the kids didn't mind the wind....some of the time. Although Savannah did tell me, "Mom, I wish wind wasn't true."

 4. OMSI Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This really is an amazing place. We had to divide and conquer with me taking Savannah and Nathan up to the younger kids play area and Russ going with Abbie and her cousins to the older kids science area, but this was by far the highlight of the trip for everyone.


 5. Requisite stop at Powells bookstore. Plus we got to see dad's bookmarks!
 6. Tide pooling. The problem with tide pooling is that low tide was in the morning, when it was cold and foggy. It seems that experiencing 95 + degrees most of your summer means you freeze under these circumstances if you are under 10 and have a harder time enjoying things. Although, once we got into things the girls had fun.




 7. Seeing the lighthouse and more tide pools. This excursion was a little warmer and consequently more fun. You can't see in the picture but on the rocks in the back of Savannah there were 100s of seals.


 8. You eat a giant pancake because .
 9. Newport Aquarium. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.
 10. Devil's Punch Bowl. Once again this was cold, but it was awesome. I think this was my favorite place along the beach.