End of Summer

We didn't go home after Black Butte. Well, we had to send Darren home, but the rest of us went to Eugene to keep the party going! I insisted on doing one of my favorite things: feeding the ducks! Even though there was a new sign at the park saying it's against the rules, we sorta pretended we didn't see it. I knew Erica would love it.I didn't realize how much Justin would love it! He was so brave, letting them eat the bread right out of his hand, much to his Aunt Jenni's distress.Then the boys did a little fishing with Grandpa.My miniature golfers. Justin got a hole in one!The reason we just HAD to go back to Grandma's house was to see Melanie and the fam! Wow, those kids have grown. It was SO great to see them and get to know them again. And I loved meeting my new nephew, Joshy! He's a sweetie.the girlsthe boysWhen it was time to go home, we took the party home with us to Seattle! Aunt Jenni was kind enough to accompany us home and it was SO great to have her on the drive home. She played with the kids and even babysat while Darren and I went on a date. We did a lot of playing too. We visited the troll under the bridge.The obligatory nose-picking picture.We had a little picnic on the temple grounds.The boys came home from the Mackley's Knight Camp in this adorable getup! Very picture-worthy.I really wanted to take Erica to the zoo and Justin couldn't even remember his last visit, so Jenni provided the perfect excuse to get out there. See the leopard?This is Erica looking at the elephant. She especially loved watching the meerkats. She cried when I finally pulled her away!
Then Michael showed up for the weekend and we showed him the city.
Thanks for such a fun visit, Michael and Jenni!Fun at the space needle fountain with friends.Erica's first ever summer watermelon!And my favorite way to finish the summer is at Safeco field! This was Erica's first game and she got soooo tired by the end, but refused to give into sleep.

Black Butte Ranch

Thank you, Marc and Connie for taking us to this beautiful place! In the mountains of Central Oregon near Sisters and Bend, is this fabulous resort. The pictures speak for themselves, but there is so much to do and the cabin we stayed in was so luxurious. It was a mini reunion of Jolleys and Erica was glad to be reunited with her grandparents.
And we were very excited to meet this new little Jolley. We love you, Cameron!Carly loved him too.
Every night Grandpa put the boys to bed in their bunkhouse. They slept in a room full of built-in bunkbeds and felt like big boys sleeping in their own room. It was adorable to see them all gathered around Grandpa's storybook. And we were exhausted from all the fun stuff we did during the day!Kellen taught Joseph how to play chess and they stayed focused on this for about an hour everyday, smart boys! They also played quite a bit of Scrabble with Grandma and Jenni.We had our choice of three different pools and we spent time in each one. On this day, we got kicked out of the big pool for adult swim, but had a blast with the noodles in the wading pool.Erica LOVES the water.There was lots of bike riding.Grandma had an awesome craft for the boys to do everyday, like decorating these cute visors.A fun canoe trip.Good times at the park.Tennis player boys.
If you get up early enough, like these cute girls in their jammies, you can watch the deer come and eat breakfast out of their special trough.A front row seat right from the deck.Pigtail twins. Erica was a bit sassy with her cousin. She yelled at Carly everytime Carly came near her toys, her food or her bath. If she could have said the word "mine" it would have been said.Ice cream on a scorching hot day. Erica was quite the little beggar and Grandpa's a softie.We had the best "Anniversary Party" on our last night there. Carol threw it for us parents with the help of our kids. It was so fun! We played the newlywed game and Darren and I killed at it. The wivesThe husbandsThe adorable helpers.What a great trip! Let's do it again!

Utah Trip 2011, Part Two

Finally! The rest of our Utah trip in pictures. The first day we were there, the kids beat the heat in the kiddie pool in Grandma and Grandpa's awesome new backyard.Erica was happy to see family.Elle is so sweet with Erica. She shared all her toys and showed Erica how to play with dolls.On Independence Day we enjoyed a BBQ with the extended Anderson family and then did fireworks back at home. The kids had a blast with Grandma and her glowsticks! (Her brilliant alternative to sparklers.)Taylor and Jonathan put on the fireworks show for our little culdesac of fire.Joseph still just doesn't dig fireworks. It's the same every year. remember this, and thisBut he still managed to enjoy the show.The rest of us enjoying the show.Swimming at Grandma Mangum's house!Happy birthday, Grandma!We even made it down to Beaver to see Grandma Williams.As usual, more beautiful pictures my Dad took! We love you, Grandma and Grandpa!