Memorial Day Weekend

This past Memorial Day weekend we got to spend time with two of our most favorite families, the Layton's and the Christensen's.  The Christensen's we have known since 2005 when we moved to Tacoma, WA for Hyrum's residency.  Kari and Aaron were in our ward and we became really good friends.  I don't know how I could have survived residency without such a good friend.  The Layton's we met while living in Germany.  Miles and Missy are super fun to hang out with.  The Layton's were stationed at Ft. Lewis (in Washington) this last year and will soon be moving to Georgia (boo!).  I decided it was now or never to hang out with them and so I organized a camping trip.  I was able to reserve 3 camp sites near Ocean Shores, WA, all right next to each other so we could hang out for a few days.  It just so happens that Kari Christensen and Miles Layton are 2nd cousins (or something like that) so that was fun for them to catch up and chat about their families.

I just love both of these families so much.  My kids had so much fun (13 kids between the 3 families)!  It was a great weekend and only rained Sunday morning but cleared up enough for us to have a great campfire dinner by Sunday evening.  Lot's of fun at the beach, adults only evening campfire chatting once the kids were in bed, yummy food shared around between all the families, 13 kids packed into our tent trailer to watch movies while it poured rain outside, games of 'capture the flag' and playing kickball on the beach...good memories all around.

Kite flying is awesome on the coast...it's ALWAYS windy:)

The boys playing in the sand dunes.  The kids had so much fun playing 'capture the flag' in the dunes.  Plenty of grass and steep dunes to sneak around on:)

Kick ball on the beach!

Paige Layton found this awesomely huge crab on the beach. 

Townsend and Maggie Christensen on their way back to the campsite.  I have pictures of these two together when they were just 2 years old:)  Man, time flies by so quickly!

It wasn't really that warm so Julian was the only one of my kids that wanted to get in the water.  He found this "puddle" and played in it for hours.  It was actually pretty warm water in this puddle.  "Dad, take my picture while I jump!!!"

Emerson and Max Christensen plotting their next move during 'capture the flag'

Our campsite.  It was a great little place for all the kids to gather and watch a few movies on the iPad during the rain

Townsend and Max Christensen roasting weenies over the campfire

Emerson, Emi Layton and Townsend playing 'apples to apples'

Not the best picture but just to give you an idea, this is only 10 of the 13 kids we had with us.  They were all around the same ages so it was lots of fun for everyone!

Some Pre-Summer Fun

The twins are Webelos now in scouts and they were able to attend an afternoon at one of the camps.  I guess it was "medieval" themed because here is Emerson lugging an enormous 'sword' across a field...

...And this is Townsend (red jacket) 'jousting'

Julian enjoying the first corn on the cob of the season!

One day, a few weeks ago, Emerson woke up and said he didn't feel well.  I'm either the worst parent or the best parent ever because after looking at the weather and realizing it was going to be 75 degrees at the beach I let him (and Townsend) stay home from school...and then I took them to the beach:)

The weather was so warm, all the boys got in the water to play

Emerson worked really hard and dug a giant pit

Townsend showing off his hand stand.  The sunburns were worth it!  It's not every day it's sunny and warm at the beach here in Oregon and you have to take advantage of it when it comes:)

Julian's preschool took a field trip to a local berry farm.  Each of the kids got to plant and bring home their own sunflower

Julian's favorite part of the day was feeding the chickens and goats:)