We had a great time camping at Cape Lookout last weekend with some friends. The weather was perfect, the kids slept decently well, and they all played well together. We celebrated Father's Day there, went for a hike, played in the sand, and hung around the campfire.

There was also lots of smashing faces on mesh, sitting in camp chairs, drawing and pretending, and tackling sissy in her sleeping bag.

Also this week, Archer turned 15 months old! He's still 90th percentile for height and 70th for weight. He's getting pretty confident and quick with walking. He takes Mr. Fox with him all over the place. He still loves dancing and water and is starting to like kicking a ball and playing with cars. Something I hope I don't forget is after he is done eating (tons of) food at a meal, he'll do the sign for all done. If I say, "Are you all done?" he'll do what we call Super All Done and flap his arms like he's trying to fly away. He's got some rad surfer dude hair that's curly when he wakes up. I think I'll leave it long for the summer for the sun protection, but he's already had three mini-haircuts.  He's still just sweet and happy and we love him so much!

The kids and I had the privilege of being in a photoshoot with my parents while Jonathan was in Canada a couple weeks ago. We worked with Ashley Reich and she did such a great job capturing this funny stage of life. Ashley did our wedding photography and a family session when my grandma June visited last Spring. She has lots of energy and enthusiasm to keep the little ones going.

Here are a few favorites:

We went to the coast last week with Jonathan's family. It was beautiful weather and we were able to play at the beach four different times. Playing in the sand was Quinn's top priority. Archer got his toes in the sand and ocean for the first time. He's been to the coast twice prior, but was asleep in the Ergo both times. He seemed to like it a lot too. It was also nice to get some quality hang out time with everyone. Thanks, Jerry and Nancy for treating us to a nice getaway!

(bottom three photos by Jerry Gowins, http://www.jerrygowins.com)

We finished our summer with some nice memory makers. The Warrior Dash was a blast. It was so fun getting to do this event together and with our friends. We definitely hope to do another. It was a good challenge mentally and physically. And I'm still cleaning the mud off of me. Now my goal is to keep going running and keep liking running, so far so good!

Our dear friends the Littaus visited. It was so good to see them! They inspire us to love others more and better by their example. We spent thirteen hours straight with them and they still seem to like us. Shinobi obviously remembered them too.

We went to Sunriver with my parents and my sister's family. My sister and I were sent by my parents to get a massage - heavenly! We also swam, ran, played, laughed, pigged out, and the adults got some naps...the kids resisted. Archer loooved swimming! I guess it makes sense since he was born in the water. He's been a couple times and liked it, but this time he was doing some serious dolphin moves. Quinn played mermaid in the pool for over two hours. I guess we have water kids. Quinn also spent a lot of the trip climbing on stuff. Sunriver is always a nice getaway for us.

We went to Sunriver for four days with my parents, sister, and her husband. It was such a nice getaway. It's crazy to think about how different next year's trip will be with two new babies. We hiked, played outdoors, ate good food, and relaxed. A particularly special moment was Dennis playing worship songs on the guitar and all of us singing along. Even Quinn tried to join in. I just love these people!

Thanksgiving was very nice. My family and Jonathan's family got together to feast at my parents' house. And we enjoyed some down time just hanging around Eugene. Jonathan took some extra days off too. I even got a 2+ hour coffee date with a dear friend! It's amazing how one can keep a conversation going without a baby around, haha. We also got some projects done and had some fun. 

Notice the newest trend in smiling? 
And when it's not raining, we're swinging. This girl can't get enough. 

I can't believe football season is pretty much over. Just as Quinn is starting to outgrow her duck gear from Nana and Papa. It was so fun watching games with friends as the weather changed from warm to cold and the leaves started dropping. Now the house is starting to get festive. I pulled out the Christmas box yesterday...

P.S. I printed a couple of these free Christmas printables for some frames in our living room, go get some!

We went to the pumpkin patch this weekend with the two other families on our street with kids Quinn's age. It rained off and on, but was otherwise pretty fun. Afterward, we had some pizza and pumpkin pie. Our neighbor is very scientific and well-researched about his pumpkin pie baking and it turned out amazing. We also had some nice family hangout time and friend hangout time this weekend.

I made pumpkin mac and cheese for Quinn and me last week and it was delicious! And some pumpkin muffins too of course, 'tis the season!

Now I'm off to take Quinn to her first dentist appointment. I figured with eight teeth, it would be good to start taking her. Hopefully she's nice to the dentist!

So all my extra snuggling has paid off, Quinn has tooth #7 and 8 now on the bottom! She just wants to be held or on laps when she's working on teeth. 

For a long time now, Quinn has been content to sit and play with a couple toys or look at some books. But for the last week her interest in moving has drastically increased. Shinobi is no longer safe.

Quinn got sick for the first time last week. I'm amazed it took that long, breastfeeding is magical. She also had her one year check-up last week. She's continuing her streak of being in the 40th percentile for weight, 30th percentile for height, and 75th percentile for head circumference. She shared a paragraph with the doctor. She'll say things throughout the day, but a couple times a day breaks into a monologue a couple minutes long, haha.

I planted some blueberry bushes in my backyard this weekend. Hopefully they survive, I have a very black thumb. I have daydreams of sending Quinn out to pick some berries for breakfast next Summer, we'll see... We also went to Eugene for the weekend because my friend since birth (we are 10 days apart in age) was in town. Quinn got to meet her daughter Maya who is about two months younger. It was so strange realizing that was us over two decades ago!

 

Spying on the kids walking to school.