Lincoln City Getaway!

For Mark's 30th Birthday, I had big plans to surprise him with a night away to the coast. I arranged a babysitter and booked the hotel. It was all "hush, hush" and I was so excited to see the look on Mark's face when he found out. Well, about a week before Mark's birthday, he was scouring every line of our American Express account when he came across the hotel charge in Lincoln City. When he asked me if I thought it was fraud, I had to tell him what I was up to. I was so disappointed that the secret was out. It actually was better that he knew. We had to push it back a few weeks since his birthday landed right on Easter weekend and the weekend I threw my friend her 40th birthday party. We wanted to go when we had nothing to hurry home for.

We stayed at the Inn at Spanish Head, a hotel right on the Oregon coast in Lincoln City. We had a beautiful ocean view from our room and I loved falling asleep listening to the sound of the waves crashing up on shore. The best part was dinner at the Tidal Raves Restaurant in Depoe Bay which came very highly recommended by everyone. We had a table overlooking an ocean cove and were able to watch the sunset as we ate (sappy romantic...I know). The food was absolutely incredible. We had crab cakes, clam chowder, grilled shrimp and fish and a big cookie a la mode for dessert. You would have thought we were starving by the way ate. It tasted so good! It was the first hot meal I've actually been able to sit down to in a restaurant (let alone at home) and enjoy without having to wrestle three kids.

We swam in the heated outdoor pool, sat in the hot tub and shopped the outlets the next day. It was so much fun just to be with Mark. We missed our kids but enjoyed the simplicity of it all.

View from our hotel room!

The happy couple

Frankenstein Sand Art

View from Tidal Raves Restaurant at Sunset

The Beautiful Oregon Coast

Happy Easter

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter! We wish we could have been with our families in Utah but had fun watching Macy, Nicholas and Karlee running around the house finding eggs the Easter Bunny had hidden. Macy kept asking for a Barbie and a "Prince." She thinks Easter is like Christmas. I tried to keep it toned down this year because I don't think Easter should be about the presents. She was very excited to find that she had gotten what she was hoping for. I'm having some regrets thinking maybe we shouldn't have started with Barbies so early. What's next...make-up?


Both Nicholas and Karlee loved opening the eggs and finding jelly-beans inside (which they shoved immediately in to their mouths). I emptied all the eggs very quickly. Nicholas also ate half of a hollow chocolate bunny, tinfoil and all, before we caught him. Little rascal! I can't wait to get rid of all this candy since I am one mostly eating it. But, I must admit that Easter candy is definitely the best!

Nicholas carried around his Easter Basket all morning! I just love this picture. The basket is almost as big as him!

The Difference Between Boys & Girls!

It's been so fun watching the differences between Nicholas and Karlee growing up along side each other. They pretty much reach all their major milestones together, just in their own little ways. In this video, Nicholas and Karlee are just learning how to use spoons to eat with. Karlee has it all figured out. Everything comes easy to this girl. As you will see, Nicholas is having a harder time figuring out why he isn't getting any food in his mouth! I love it!

Celebrating 40!

My good friend turned 40 on Saturday and we threw her a big party to celebrate! We wanted her to turn 40 in style. No "Over the Hill" balloons or gag gifts, just pretty invitations, beautiful flowers, and lots of great food, good music, and fun family and friends. We had over thirty people there. It was a great night and I hope one she'll remember! Everyone should have a party when they turn 40! Happy Birthday, Girl! Your 4o's are going to be great!

Another 30 -Year Old in the House!

Happy Birthday to Mark! He's just turning 30 today but doesn't look a day over 21! That will particularly be nice for him when he hits his 50s and 60s. I love this picture because it shows how loved Mark is, especially by his children! We LOVE when he walks in the door after work! He brings such a happy spirit in to our home and always picks us up when we have bad days. I could list a million and one reasons why I love him, but the greatest reason I love him is because when he loves you, he loves you with his whole heart. He is the nicest, most genuine and sincere person you will ever meet and I am so grateful to have him in my life! Thanks for being such a wonderful father and husband and for being my greatest friend! Happy Birthday today! We love you!

Grand Oaks Easter Egg Hunt

This morning, the neighborhood that we live in hosted their annual Easter Egg Hunt. We were there 15 minutes early because we heard they started at 9am sharp. I stopped to say "Hi" to a friend and then turned around to find Macy out gathering eggs as fast as she could. She was so embarrassed when she realized she wasn't suppose to have started yet. We just let her keep her eggs! Whoops!

They had the playground divided up by age groups so the younger kids didn't get trampled on by the older kids. Nicholas and Karlee were doing their best just to get around in the dirt (let alone carry an Easter basket and pick up eggs). It was still a lot of fun and a gorgeous Spring day in Corvallis! Finally, some sunshine!!! Afterwards, we headed over to a neighbors house for an Easter brunch!

The playing field.

Macy and Karlee comparing baskets!

Macy with her basket filled to the brim!

Spring Break Visitors!

Mark's sister, Heather and her husband, Jason, came to visit us over their Spring Break! We had such a great time with them and drank lots of Cokes and ate lots of candy. We are so glad they were able to make it despite the fact they they missed their flight after Heather was denied a boarding pass since her driver license had expired three weeks ago on her birthday. They ran to the DMV in Salt Lake and made it back to the airport just 10 minutes shy of when their flight was suppose to leave. Airport officials still would not let them on. Luckily, they got on a flight that afternoon. We had a great weekend with them! We took them to see Multnomah Falls and to the Newport Coast. We also did some shopping in Lincoln City and ate at Moe's (famous for their clam chowder).

Heather was such a trooper (despite being deathly sick in her first trimester). She and Karlee would cuddle up on the couch and sleep together. Karlee misses you, Aunt Heather! So do we! Thanks for the great visit! We can't wait for Depoe Bay next year with the little one!!!! :-)

Spring has Sprung!

A few weeks ago, we drove a few blocks from our home to see a bunch of baby lambs that had just been born this spring. There was a whole barn full of them and some "Mama's" waiting to give birth. Most sheep give birth to two lambs at a time (which I didn't know) and it's not unusual for them to have triplets. I totally could feel their pain. They were HUGE! The baby lambs were so cute. The kids loved it! We'll definitely go back next year!

Macy took this picture. Not bad for a 3 year old!

Nicholas "B-aaa-ing" at the sheep.

This was the view from the sheep barn! These mountains (hills) are in our backyard. They are so beautiful, especially this time of year!

Scary Ghosts Live at Our House!

It's not uncommon for me to look over and see Nicholas walking around with his blanket over his head. Nicholas and Karlee LOVE to play Peek-A-Boo! This video is pretty funny! (Disclosure: Some nudity involved...Nicholas doesn't have a shirt on due to himself spilling lunch all over it.) I especially love Karlee's jabber at the end of this. These two are getting so funny!