Monday, August 26, 2013

First Summer

I don't remember my first summer. And if I was going to be really honest with myself, I don't remember much about summers growing up whatsoever. This is partly because I have such a bad memory but also because our summers as a family seemed to be pretty much the same each year. Occasional trip to see family, riding horses with my mom, playing in the woods & watching soap operas behind my parents back. My older (and much wiser) sister Meaghan mentioned to me early this year that she had hoped this summer wouldn't be about "us" anymore & that the focus should change to making memories for our kids. See I told you she is much wiser. And that is exactly what we did!

After what felt like a whirlwind of June/July, August turned out to be just as exciting but a little less bumpy. Our goal in August was to spend some time on the Oregon coast taking in the smell, sound, sight of the ocean & spend some time in Northern Idaho enjoying the ease of a rustic cabin miles & miles from the mainstream. I was a bit fearful that both trips would tire me out... but I was happily surprised that the twins were a breeze on both, thanks to the helping hands of my family. Maybe this thing called "parenting" does get easier with age & practice, after all.

But less about me & on to the real stars! The twins are doing amazing. They turned 10 months on August 8th & have developed into the most precious, most precocious, most wonderful little beings a person could ask for. They are both crawling rockstars & continue to crawl into, on top of, under anything they place their mind on. They are beginning to play with one another & have very interesting conversations. It goes something like this... Lucy "adbadadadulaitsbitsu" & Hunter "abh". Hunter loves to explore & lurches toward any sign of an open door, gate or drawer. Lucy loves to stand/walk with assistance, loves to sing & can spend several minutes flipping through books pretending to read aloud. Each morning (starting at about 6am) they stand up in their cribs & recap the previous day in their own language -- as a parent, it is the MOST amazing way to wake up each morning.

Here are some of the highlights of our trips & of course the in between.

Lincoln City, Oregon

Beach walk

Mother Meaghan

The beauty of the coast

Naked cousins

Sunset

A lovely couple

Motherhood

Top of Thumb Hill

Papa & his Hunts

Hidden children

7am (VIDEO)

Celebrating Cara

My sisters

Sisterly love

Pacific City madness

Twinsies

Hayden Lake, Idaho

Sunset from the cabin

Lil Lucy

Swimming with my bums

Kayaking

Dinner with mom

Our family

Our Nana

Grandpa holding his great greats

Visit with our Aunts & Uncles

Beach day

Splish splash

Cousins

And in between...

Laughs(VIDEO)

My beautiful sis

Playdate at Lake Washington

Lulu at her Godparents Chris & Cheryl's

Cousin Emmie & Hunts

Grandma's bliss (1)

Grandma's bliss (2)

Dadda(VIDEO)
Afternoon at the summit of Crystal Mtn

On top of the world

Zoo day with Aunt Buzz & her fam

Morning antics

Drive by at Grandpa's

A day in my life

Swing joy

My ABSOLUTE favorite pic

What a Grandpa

Celebrating Joe & Nadine's 70th Wedding Ann

Just a girl & her Papa

The Hunts(VIDEO)

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