Thursday, August 15, 2013

Summer wind down

Well, here we are, just three days left and we will be back on the plane to Oman.  This summer has flown by but has been wonderful in so many ways.  We have been so absolutely blessed to have time with our family and friends, as well as take Aberly on new adventures.  She is such a joy and it truly filled our hearts to see her loving life and Oregon.  Her energy is exhausting, but we love watching her grow and mature.  Emalyn has also changed so much in these past few months and she kept all of us smiling each day, even if we were sleep deprived from her wake-filled nights for awhile. 

Since my last post, we finished out our final week in Bend and then came here to Corvallis to stay  with my family.  Here are a few highlights:

-  Beach trip!  We headed to stay at a beach house in Lincoln City for a week.  A trip to the Aquarium was the highlight for Aberly.
  
 

-  Fair day at the Benton County Fair.  Hot and crowded, but always an joy for kids, especially once they look at you with pleading eyes to ride rides, which means paying for an all-you-can-ride bracelet at the low price of $30.  Ouch.  We made sure Aberly got her money's worth!
 

-  Enchanted Forest.  Oh, the memories of going there as a child.  Aberly loved it just as much as I did as a kid.  They have added a "kiddie ride" section which, of course, meant another ride bracelet just like the fair, and one for daddy to ride the bigger ones with her (Aberly's favorite was the bobsleds).  Another pocket-draining adventure, but well worth it!  And hey, I loved being there again!  Such a magical place.
 


-  Playing at local parks and the downtown fountains!  They were cold, but Aberly jumped right in.  We also had a fun afternoon at the local Aquatics Center.  The slide was her favorite!

-  Helping Papa with chores around the house, as well as helping Nana with baking.   Aberly LOVES to be a helper.



-  Playing and hanging out with Papa, Nana, and Uncle Andrew (both Aberly and Emalyn).  Mommy and Daddy got wonderful breaks to do errands and such, and even had a few dates!
  
 
 
-  Zoo!  And not only were we at the zoo, but it was a zoo as we made our way through the park with our great friends, Jon and Kristina, and their four kids.   It was crazy.  But the kids did great and the parents did not lose any sanity (not that I know of).  And we loved getting a chance to catch up with them after two years.  Aberly and their daughter, Alice, were born on the same day and they were a hoot to watch (I included a picture of them as newborns at the hospital for comparison sake).  Friends one minute, competing for something the next.  They both are strong willed and full of energy.  After the zoo, we were so lucky to have dinner with Uncle Kevin and Uncle Connor in Beaverton. 
  



-  A visit from my cousins and their kids, as well as my good friend Andrea and her two girls. 
 

And so much more!  Here are a last few sweet pics of the girls to make you smile.
  
 
 




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