beach 2013

 Stella loved boogie boarding this year.

She stayed out in the cold water for hours!

 

 Sam and William ride a wave in.

 

 Evelyn loved the sun, sand and water

and wearing ruffled swimsuits!

 

 

 The Three Musketeers

Mitchell, William and Sam

 

 Preston and Daddy

 

 

 Little boy on the big beach

 

 

 Baby bellies at the beach

Carrie 35 weeks, Megan 30 weeks

Who wears two sets of stripes?!

Me!

 

 

 Miss Victoria loved the sand

Such a happy girl

 

 

 Cousins building castles

 

 

 

 The Three Musketeers are at it again

 

 

Henry jumps a wave

 

 

 

 KC helping the kids touch a crab they caught

in the bay with a fishing pole

 

 

One of our beautiful views

 

 

 The whole family.

12 adults and12 kids this year

 

 

 Dads have fun too

 

 

Uncle Nick and Preston



four

 This is how a princess turns four...

(I know, it doesn't look pretty, but it tasted divine)

 

 



 

right before my very eyes!

 

Oh this girl!

and angel and a firecracker,

all wrapped up in one.

 

Each day an adventure,

pre school

friends

dressing up

drawing with markers

talking and talking and talking

mommy snuggles during nap time

scared of the garbage truck

waiting for school kids

having snacks

polly pockets

 

We love you Evie Angel!

beach review 2012

 little wanderer,

cruising the sand,

playing in the "bubbles"

snuggling for warmth

 

 Twin Rocks

 

 watching the sunset from our deck

 

 playing in the surf

 

 my Evelyn angel

 

 riding on the boogie boards

pulled by dad

 girls, girls, girls

riding the waves on boogie boards

(they were awesome)

playing school, singing call me, maybe

doing hair

and giggles

 

Sam on the move, always

 

boys, boys, boys

digging in the sand,

making forts,

playing football,

running in the waves

 

 on the way home we drove the

Scenic Columbia Gorge route

we hiked to waterfalls,

viewed from Crowne Point

and drove the winding roads home

 

 the Mighty Columbia

Ahhh, the wonder of a photo!  These pictures today were a gift.  As we have been adjusting to our fall routine, we have felt a little frazzled and stretched a bit thin.  We will settle in, and feel more comfortable in a few weeks I'm sure...But today, the beach, and vacation memories were especially  beautiful.

a year

 

One year ago,

we were sending our baby into surgery.

Not sure how that perfect little boy could be any cuter...

 

Today, he is 19 months of perfection.

We are thankful every single day for this little Preston.

Grateful for his health, his dimples that flash often,

his hugs and kisses.

We are so thankful for a talented surgeon who

repaired his cleft lip.

We are grateful for those 7 months that

we got to enjoy that adorable clefty grin!

We are happy that we have pictures

to remember.

We love him,

just the way he is

Esplin Reunion

Silver Creek, Idaho

 beautiful, sparkly, little creek,

perhaps how it got the name...

 camping in a tent

 visiting with relatives (45 i heard)

 playing in the chilly creek water

 fishing with dad in the creek,

and releasing the catch

"mom, i caught 5 fishes"

 warming up on the sandy beach

cute little cabins

(and not so cute "out-houses")

 cousins, cousins, cousins

swimming, swimming, swimming

in the hot spring pool

(which i did not capture on camera--i was wet)

 running free

 Stella and Tessa,

inseparable all weekend

"cousins are SO FUN"

"how far is Idaho from Pasco?"

Grandpa Williams and his hiking stick.

Preston's love of hiking sticks & canes

meant he cozied up to whoever had one

that he could charm away...

more fishing...

Evelyn dropping her pole when her "catch" was

alive and wiggling!

Beautiful trees, blue skies, warm temps, cool nights, fires, good food, new friends, aunts & uncles, cousins, memories made.



picnic

The annual company picnic came in June.

Anticipated by all, for the food and friends, but mostly the bounce houses.

This year it was a Saturday full of wind, rain, and unseasonably cold temps.

Us adults huddled under blankets and the shelter of a tent...

the kids headed out for fun, not taking notice of the weather at all.