Down Town Portland

Every year "Naval vessels from the United States Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Maritime Forces arrive from around the world for a four-day visit to the City of Roses."

Landon was so pleased that Sweetie shared her ritz crackers with him.
They had big fences up for security reasons. We had planned on touring the ships however they were 2 days late getting into port...so instead we watched them come into port.
Each time a ship would come in there would be a smaller ship shooting water into the air to announce its arrival. This one shot out red and white water since it was for a canadian Navy ship. Other shot out red white and blue.
The kids really enjoyed watching the bridges go up to let the big Navy ships come through
This was our 1st time in downtown Portland. I love the architech. It was amazing.
Fernando had a interview with a company near the airport down town so while he was doing that we hopped on the max and went to the mall. I SO would have loved to have gone shopping there with out the kids... :)
The babies first max ride
It was once again raining so here are the kids wating undercover for the max to pick us up
Our last stop was the famous voodoo doughnut. These are so delicious. If you ever go to down town Oregon you HAVE to try them.
After down town we headed back to Erika's house, ate pizza and put the kids to bed. Fernando slept while Erika, her husband and I got in one last game and finished off our virgin strawberry daqueri pina coladas. :) At around 11 p.m. we loaded up our kids in the car and headed to UT. The kids were AMAZING for the drive! They woke up around 7 in the morning and we stopped for breakfast. We didn't stop again in Layton to get free Krispy Cream doughnuts and that was it. We had a wonderful time in UT (though I forgot to get pictures....)even though we were only there for pretty much the weekend....
We went out to go to my niece and nephews baby blessings. They looked SO adorable! I am really glad we were able to be there. It is so fun having a niece and nephew close to Gabby's age! It is hard being so far away from family! Know you are loved and greatly missed!

Oregon Coast

We spend a couple of day on the Oregon Coast in our condo. The sun didn't get the memo that is is summer...and I think perhaps this was our COLDEST trip to the coast yet, but the beach is the beach and the kids got their fair share of sand regardless of the weather.
pSomebody dug a huge whole and left it and it became the kids playground. Hours of fun were had here! Us moms spent most of our time in doors with the babies but when the kids were about this one they couldn't get enough of her and she LOVED all the attention.

I love this pic that Erika took it captured it all... of the 3 days we were there this was the only time Gabby and I went to the beach
The kids found a big hole someone left for them and had hours of fun despite the cold...
fetching water to add to the hole
the Oregon rain didn't stop them from having fun
Gabriella and I lasted about 10 min or so then the moms went in with the babies while the dads stayed out with the bigger kids. Gabby doesn't look too amused...she is kind like me when it comes to the cold. Our condo had a perfect view of the pool and beach so though us moms spend a great deal of door indoors we still were able to see the kids having a great time!


finding seashells
Erika and I stayed up WAY too late one night making bracelets. We had such a great time I think this might become a new tradition. We made matching black and white bracelets for us and then I made Gabby 4 little ones and she made her girls matching patriotic ones.
Us adults played HOURS of games and stayed up way too late doing so... the later it got the funnier everything got and kookier Joseph got. We are all avid game players and can never get enough 'game time' in.

Gabriella got her first taste of oatmeal. She DEVOURED IT. She liked it so much that she grabbed the bowl and I pretty much had to SHOVEL it in her mouth as fast as I could. It is safe to say she is a fan. :)

The kids had a fun time riding the luggage cart back up to the hotel room once everything was loaded into the car.
Yet another fun trip to the coast even if the weather didn't cooperate we still had a blast.

Portland Temple (warning picture overload.....)

It has become tradition to go to the Oregon temple every time we visit Oregon. It never fails every time we always get so many great pictures thanks to Erika and her mad photography skills. This trip was no different.

All of us at the reflection pond. I love Ben and Landon's faces
This has got to be one of my favorite pictures of Gabriella. You will often see Gabriella snuggled up against my face like this she LOVES it.
Landon's first kiss.....
There were TOO many adorable pictures of these two so you will just have to click on the collage to see them larger... I couldn't figure out which ones to leave out because I love them ALL!!
Ben and Ballerina best of buds
girls being sassy I LOVE this girl! I wouldn't trade my best friend for anything!
Landon was being way too cute! Ben didn't want to cooperate to much for pictures..
jumping...I love his contagious smile!
there is no wonder why this guy ALWAYS has bonks on his head...
being himself in his nice suit and all...
and I can never get enough of this girl!

he he her headband fell too low and was making her ears poke out.
and can't leave out the love of my life! I am so lucky to have Fernando in my life he is truly AMAZING!!!
she loves being in the air

lovin my babes
all of us
Yet tons more memories to add to the other Portland Oregon temple memories! I love that we all get along so prefectly!! Erika did I tell ya how much I already MISS YOU??!!!!

Multnomah Falls Hike

This was taken at the base of the falls. There are a lower and a upper falls. We hiked up to the upper falls 542 high. I wish we had gotten a picture of both the falls because they were exquisite. I know these pictures are small but if you click on the collage picture you can see them bigger.

I wanted to do something new this Oregon trip and thought this hike looked like fun. The falls were beautiful! The weather even cooperated for us so we weren't rained out! We all had a great time. The kids were troopers hiking ALL the way up to the falls and back (2 miles). Poor Joseph hiked the whole thing with Cpt A in the back pack AND pushing the stroller(intended for Sweetie but she didn't end up riding in it... all the 'extra stuff' ended up there instead. Fernando has a pretty big fear of hights and Landon is naturally a clutz...so he was quite concerned about Landon falling off a cliff or something. There were quite a few part where there were steep edges. Sadly to admit, this is our first real big hike as a family... but most certainly not our last. We are looking forward to using our hiking back pack for Gabriella. She is still a little to small for it yet... For fun we put her in it, before our trip, and you could barely see her head poking out above... but give her a couple months and she will fit it.