Ryan's 20th Birthday!

Ryan's birthday fell on a Sunday which was a blessing so that we were able to celebrate on his day off! :-) We enjoyed a family drive and dinner at Subway. We are so blessed to have this amazing young man in our lives. He is such a wonderful brother and son.. we are so blessed!!

Love this sleepy birthday-boy SO much!!

Beazell Memorial Forest Hike

The girls, Coco and I enjoyed a lovely hike at Beazell Memorial Forest

  The romantic story involves a man who loved his wife as well as beautiful trees.. such a meaningful place.. very grateful to have found it!

Delicious blackberries and huckleberries! 

This lovely cabana reminded us all of Belize.. it provided a must needed rest for we weary hikers. It had been a very hot week but thankfully this day the temp was only in the mid 90's

Lovely wild columbine

Harvest Time & Summer Fun

This is the fourth year of harvest for Ryan.. Second year for Grant. Both boys were promoted to the very desired positions of balers. For 7 weeks they both worked 6 days a week, 14 hours a day.. living 1 hour from work added lots of drive-time from past summers. Our special friends who live near their farm shop in Halsey offered the boys to stay with them through the five remaining weeks of harvest. That was such a blessing as that provided them an extra hour and a half a night of precious sleep. It was difficult for us to have them living away from home during that time, M-Saturday. We would only see them on Saturday nights and Sundays. Grady, who works at the shop where the boys were based out of was able to see them daily which was a blessing! We were all happy when harvest ended and the boys came home! 

My guys, carpooling to work

Grant with his tractor

Ryan and his equipment for after-harvest dirt work

The first few weeks of harvest when the boys had their hour drive they would normally get home at 1 am and leave at 6 am. Many nights their sisters would stay up to greet them! Made for some long nights!

                            

Sundays were lazy days! We would head to church and then head straight home for quiet family time.. these boys are so responsible and hard-working! We are so proud of them!

Grace, getting puppy loves!

Mandy with Biscuit!

Our special friend Autumn Grace and Ash take a trail ride!

Oregon Coast with Grandma B.

Yaquina Head is always a favorite spot to visit! 

The girls run around playing the 'compass rose' game on the huge inlaid compass near the lighthouse.. Grady would call out 'head northeast!'.. 'head southwest' etc. It was a fun way for them to practice their directions.

We really enjoyed whale watching in Depot Bay for a while. It has become a year-round nursery and breeding ground for gray whales especially. It was spectacular watching these giant beauties.

Miss Gracie

Enjoying a yummy lunch with grandma

Miss Ashley

Miss Amanda 

Wittenberg Picnic

It was a bittersweet and special (post) 4th of July picnic at the Wittenbergs. With Nonnie's health rapidly declining it was understood by most of us that most likely it would be the last family event that she would be attending with all of us there. Grandpa went and got her from the memory care facility that she now lives at.. it was so special to spend the time with her!

Precious Nonnie & Grandpa

Ripening Marionberries!

Aunt Libby brought some chalk and bubbles for the girls to play with

Uncle Doug and Mandy play a bean bag game

Laura & Grace's turn!

Baby Elijah! Andrei's darling son!

Mila and baby Elijah!

Grandma Barb gets baby snuggles!

Nonnie and Aunt Molly

Laura and Grandma Barb

Giant Jenga game!

Aunt Carolyn and Elijah

Treasures in the trees