OCF 2013

Alas, the Oregon Country Fair has come and gone yet again.  This year we did it as a family of four though!  Parker is enjoying her time spent out there more and more...it's perfect for kids.  She loves the puppet shows, music, plays, food and playing with her friends in the woods.  I can't wait for Asher to experience it as he grows up!

 Two things needed before the Fair...caffeine and a parking pass.

I had to post this...Aaron painted this sign for one of the art displays.  Pretty proud of his beautiful lettering :-)

Parker spinning the world around.

Aaron and Parker checking out one of the many plays.

Our camping area.  We deck it out pretty well!  Our tent is over on the right...hard to see it with the sun blasting.

Our great friend Billy.

Little Anneliese turned two!

One of our friends is a painter...he whipped out a few paintings of our camp!

Parker LOVED the new kids playground.

4th of July!

Are there going to be unicorns at the parade?  

That is what Parker asked when we told her we were going to a parade for the 4th.  Awww...the things that go through a 3 year old's mind!  We drove to a neighboring town and hit up their festivities for the morning.

At first Parker was a little timid about going after the candy.  But she had an older friend with showing her how it's done!

After the parade we went to a BBQ where the fun and running around continued...so much so that it tuckered everyone out!

That evening we had some friends over to BBQ and to chill out in the awesome weather!  Check out my fruit and cheese plate...I was pretty stoked about it.

Also made some festive pudding pops.

Parker and I decided to go out on an adventure and watch the fire works...her first time!  I was stoked, I haven't seen fireworks since she was born and I love them.  It all started out great...

Then the show actually started and she was not having it...she got scared!  It was "too loud" according to her so she had to cover up. 

The next day we headed out to pick some blueberries...our goal for the freezer is 50lbs.  We ended up with 24 lbs, on our way!

Family Camping

It was our first camping trip as a family of four and Asher's first ever!  It was also father's day weekend so Aaron got to pick the location.  So of course he picked a state park on the coast which happen to also be on a lake so he could bring the boat to fish.  This park was pretty cool, it had a nice big play ground which Parker loved! 

Asher was a champ and did great for his first time camping!

The downside of camping...Parker waking up as soon as it gets light out.  So it was 6am both mornings for us!

 We packed up a picnic for lunch one day...

 After that both kids fell asleep, which never happens, so we were stoked.

Aaron was CERTAIN we could all go for a boat ride together...I was skeptical.

And I was right.  This was the closest we got to the boat before Asher started crying.  He did not dig the life jacket. 

So he and I went for a walk while Aaron and Parker fished for a couple hours.  I told Asher these were the fish Daddy likes to catch.

 She is starting to get the hang of her bike!

 Smores plus peanut butter...awesome.

Also had to have some popcorn!

Ended the weekend dancing for Asher at breakfast time.  A successful camping trip!

Parker Bliss Turns 3.

The request was to have a "Fairy Garden" Birthday Party with cupcakes and friends.  Consider it done!  I asked my mom if she would make a bunch of tutus for Parker and her friends to wear and take home.  They turned out amazing!  Better then I ever would have thought and were a hug hit!

We made a countdown for Parker on the wall so she would have a visual on when her party was and when her actual birthday was.  She had so much fun taking a number down every day.

The day of the party finally arrived!  Everyone got to pick out a tutu and fairy wings...

 ...and a magic wand.  Then they decorated their own crowns.

They ate...

 

  They played!  It was so adorable seeing them running around in their outfits!

 I also set up "Fairy Dance TV"...which basically consisted of my video camera hooked up to the TV so they could see themselves dancing.  They LOVED it!  Such fun and cheap entertainment!

 

Presents were opened...Parker's favorite part, to be expected!

Parker loves this banana bread I make which actually has no sugar or butter in it...honey and sugar-free applesauce instead!  So when she requested cupcakes for her party I just turned the "bread" into cupcakes.  Kids happy...parents even happier!  

 Asher was a trooper and basically just chilled the whole afternoon while big sister had her day.

 Parker is obsessed with Alethea...she is 10 and is so fantastic with Parker.

 The next day was her actual birthday...her GOLDEN birthday!  To celebrate we started the day off with special chocolate chip pancakes. 

 The rest of the day was spent at gymnastics class, playing in the yard and at the park.  Then we had swimming lessons.  This crown was a gift from one of our friends, she didn't want to take it off!

 Her class singing to her.

 FINALLY home for dinner, presents and cake!

 All in all...a very successful Golden Birthday was had!