My Boys

Pope Family Reunion

This year we were lucky enough to have Caleb's family come to us (well, Port Orchard) for the Pope family reunion.  As always, a great time was had by all!

This picture really exemplifies the adults/kids relationships during the reunion.  

We love them all to death but when you get 21 together...it can be a bit of a headache ;-)

Activities consisted of:

*Pope vs In-laws challenge

In-laws won this year!

*Hike up to Hurricane Ridge

These deer had no fear of people.  We were really that close!

*Alki Beach

Not many pictures from there since we were in charge of dinner therefore very busy.

*Olympic Game Farm

Super fun to have all these wild animals coming up to your car.  We went through 2 whole loaves of bread.  This guy couldn't get enough so he decided to come right in.  

*Beautiful Sunsets while playing Kube

Fun stick and block game

Of course we could have used a lot more of this :-)

*Grandkid Talent Show

Coop read his fidgety fish book to everyone and was a hit.  Carter did his baby signs book.  

Such a fun thing for all the grandkids to show off their talents!

Just some cute pics.

Of course we had to have some family pictures.

*The Original Pope Clan

*All together now

I wish I had taken a picture of the BEAUTIFUL Bed & Breakfast we stayed at.  It was a huge, antique house built in the early 1900's but modernized so it was super nice accomodations.  It was AMAZING!

Once again, a great reunion!  

Movie Night

The other night I had a little movie night with the boys.  I had promised Coop that if he kept his pull-up dry for 5 nights, he could get a new movie.  We had a good time eating popcorn, drinking "spicy", and eating candy.  A regular old movie night on a blanket on the floor.

Baby Shower

Remember this beautiful girl who I took maternity shots of?

*more of this shoot here

I threw her a shower before I left for the Pope family reunion and good thing I did because she now has a beautiful little boy that came 10 days early.  Here's a few pics from the little event.  I loved that I had pictures from her maternity shoot to put up as decorations.  It added a nice little touch!

Look at my horrible posture!  Think I need to work on that!

Quick Trip to Downtown

So the boys and I headed to downtown Seattle with some friends to check out Pike's Place the other day.  Thought it would be fun to take the light rail except they don't have enough parking spaces so we ended up waiting 20 minutes, stalking people as they walked to their cars.  Then trying to get on and off the train, and walking around pike's place was SO not fun with a huge stroller.  That place was packed. It was smokin hot too, (which actually was the high point of the day for Seattle).  

We saw some fish fly and then headed to a delicious french bakery for some yummy bread.  

We also saw the gum wall which just totally grossed me out.  

Who thought that one up?!

Coop was having a meltdown in the stroller at this point.

Finally we headed home, or at least tried to but turns out the trains are PACKED during rush hour and getting a huge stroller and 2 kids plus my friend and her 3 kids and stroller on was near impossible.  Luckily we squished on after only waiting for 2 trains.

Not the best trip we've had but it was an experience.

Swim Lessons

First year of swim lessons with his own teacher.  So exciting for all of us.  First day, not so good.  He was so not ready to put his head under.  After a whole lesson of crying, we solved the problem by heading to a more beginner class the following day.  After that, the 2 weeks went by smoothly.  He loved it.  

He did great at floating on his back & he loved playing Mr. Alligator what time is it?

*The only way he'll put his face in the water :-)

*LOVE this face!

*Carter was not happy about sitting on the sidelines...not happy!

*Can't wait to do it again!

Home

So yes, I drove to Utah with my parents and stayed there for a week and a half.  While being a single mom of 2 very active boys, I didn't find a lot of time or free hands to whip out the camera so here are pretty much all the pictures I took while there :-)

*stopping at twin falls for a break on the drive there.

Eclipse

Saw it, loved it, want to see it again :-D

*Don't see this girl enough!  PLEASE move back to Utah when you are done with medical school!

*I'm convinced these guys will be linebackers together.

Lindon Water Park Fun

*Carter's first ice cream cone

*Coop's first movie in the theaters and in 3D no less. 

*My sister who I miss terribly during the summers.

*Coop's cousin/best friend who he misses terribly during the summers.

4th of July Fun

*Carter was NOT a fan of the fireworks.   Note blanket clenched in hands.

*Daddy met us in Wenatchee for the 4th.  So HAPPY to see him again.  

The boys obviously could not tear their eyes from the fireworks even for a second.

*I have a love hate relationship with food.  LOVE to bake it, LOVE the presentation, LOVE the taste, but HATE what it does to my body.  Such a dilemma!

I also love holidays that have a color scheme, oh so pretty! :-)

Good trip, hard to leave the house again, glad to be back with my hubby!

Now bring on the family reunions!