Fun day for Saul (and all) in Tillamook

On Sunday we finally made it to Tillamook for the first time since probably August. How does the time go so quickly?! Well, first I was so tired with the pregnancy I wasn't safe driving home with Saul. And then it was wintery weather and I avoid that drive as much as I can. So now it's finally spring!

We got to see the progress Julie's made on their new house. We didn't visit with her and the kids as long as we would have liked. This trip we needed to visit with Grandma more. After dropping off furniture to start filling Julie's place and watching Saul trying to imitate his big boy cousin, Trevor, we headed out.

Next stop was the cheese factory. Aaron packed a nice lunch for us. We sat outside and enjoyed the cool Tillamook breeze and then headed inside for dessert. Saul had so much fun eating his ice cream cone!

Last stop Simmons Creek Road. Not only did we see Grandma, but we got to visit with uncles Eric and Scott, aunts Teresa and Barbara, as well as my cousin, Scotty, and his partner, Chelsey and their son, Austin.

Given the choice, I think Saul might like to live there. He loves puddle stomping, loves cows, loves horses...and now he also loves dirt bikes! He's always pointed out motorcycles and scooters to me on the road and has been fascinated with coffee-shop Craig's motorcycle, which is only ridden in good weather. On Sunday Saul got to see Austin (who's 7 like Trevor) riding his dirt bike. AND, he got to ride with cousin Scotty. Saul was so, so excited! In fact, he really wanted to ride Austin's. Fortunately, he understood that Austin is bigger and also that he wasn't wearing a helmet so could only go slowly with Scotty.

Reunan was such a great traveler, too. Grandma got to meet her newest great-grandson and I confirmed that I see alot of Simmons in our littlest boy. Of course, we also see Aaron in him and I'm excited to watch Reunan as he continues to develop!

Both boys slept on the way home. Saul was watching Sesame Street on my ipod and then just drifted off. We realize that we're fortunate to have kids who can be so flexible from time to time - skipping naps and traveling lots. Yeah!

Now I need to figure out how many more trips we can make out there as the weather continues to improve!

The three boy cousins.

Aunty Julie, Trevor and Kelsey with Reunan.
Driving the "jeep" at the cheese factory.

Thoroughly enjoying his ice cream cone.

Look at this happy little boy!

Grandma Simmons and Reunan.

Out! He had zipper marks on his cheek when he sat up.

First matchy-matchy photos

Saul and Reunan have their first matching set of pajamas. So, last night we had before bedtime photo shoot. During the first few photos, Reunan was pretty mellow and Saul very cuddly. Then, Reunan rolled into Saul and it was like he knew he was playing. As a truly proud mom, I find each of the following pictures so cute for different reasons. It's the facial expressions, the eye contact, the play...each one shows their personalities and brotherly connection in a different way. You can't imagine how many others I didn't include!

Pacifier conversation

We're working on Saul only having his pacifiers in his bedroom for nap and bedtime. He doesn't have one at school all day, so this seems like it should be easy. But, it's not. A few nights ago after we got his pajamas on and as we were making our way to the living room to watch a little tv before bed we had the following conversation:

Saul: Momma, can I have a pacifier with me while I'm watching tv because I'm really sleepy.
Me: Well, if you're really sleepy, maybe we should stay in your room and go night night.
Saul: No. But I just need my pacifier to help me feel better because I'm a little sleepy.
Me: (hesitating) Hmmm...(wondering if I want to say "no"...)
Saul: (taking advantage of the silence) I really want my pacifier. Can we arrange that?

What?!

A sprinter (spring+winter) Easter weekend in Newport

Scheduling a weekend in a yurt at South Beach State Park, just 2 miles south of the Newport Aquarium, seemed like a great idea in early March. Reunan had been born, we wanted to travel, take Saul to the aquarium, and not spend a lot of money. Forty dollars a night was perfect!

The unusually wet and cold spring (dubbed sprinter by a friend) made things a little more....interesting! We appreciated the yurt even more, though! Friday was a gorgeous day and travelling to the beach was perfect. Saul's question every 15 minutes or so was, "Are we at the beach now?" We need to get out a map and start giving him a sense of how places sit in relationship to one another.

Our first stop was Rogue, for an early dinner and beer. Below are a few pictures.

Saul wearing his "mask", otherwise known as my hat. How is it that all of my hats look so much better on him?

We went for a walk down to the beach right after unpacking, figuring it would be a gorgeous sunset and it was our first really beautiful day. It was both of those things, but also ridiculously cold! Saul being a kid took off his shoes and played in the water a bit. Of course, we didn't have a towel as we hadn't planned to stay long. So, by the time we got back he was sandy and very uncomfortable. Aaron got him rinsed off and then we bundled him up and let him watch Sesame Street on my ipod while we got the bedding set up for the night.

The yurt had a bunk bed with a double bottom bunk, where Reunan and I slept, and a top bunk, where we stored stuff. It also had a double futon (see picture below) that we laid out each night for Aaron and Saul to sleep on.

The boys chillin' while I was getting things unpacked and our sleeping arrangements ready.

Little boy focused on his Sesame Street.On Saturday Saul was really hyper and crabby in the morning. We went to get coffee at a great spot we remembered in Nye Beach and then stopped by the grocery store for a few last minute items. By 10 a.m. we were on our way back to the yurt with plans of spending the remainder of the morning before lunch and nap at the beach. Instead, Saul fell asleep. Aaron carried him into the yurt and he slept until 2! It was such an unexpectedly relaxing 4 hours! I took Reunan outside to enjoy the last bit of sun without disturbing Saul's sleep. I read three magazines, crocheted on the blanket for Michelle's #2, cuddled Reunan and listened to the sound of the ocean just a quarter mile away. Aaaah. Heaven.

When Saul woke up we ate a quick meal and hurried down to the beach, knowing that this was the last of the decent weather for the trip. We had a great time playing, but the wind was not spring-time warm. It was cold! Saul could have lasted a little longer, but we didn't want a repeat of the prior evening and also planned to bbq dogs on the fire.

Playing with his beach toys.

A happy boy in a really big sand box!
Hip dadda with Reunan in the pack.

Coloring Easter eggs for the first time.

Reunan bundled up for a great nap outside.

Close up of the sleeping boy.

And here are just some more pictures from the trip. Somehow, I didn't get any at the aquarium. Probably because Saul didn't hold still long enough. The phrase of that visit was, "Come on, guys. Let's go see some-ping else!" as he headed off in a run.

Reunan showing his moves.

Happy to be cuddling with his dad.

Sleepy boy.

Cute boys.

Another sleepy boy.

Happy boy on his way home.

Boys around the house

I've really made an effort to have the camera handy lately. Typically, I'm not a big camera person, but I know I'll regret it later if I don't capture the boys now. They're both so cute....and if I don't post here there's at least one family member who will let me know it! (Yes, that's you, Mom!)

So, here are just some random pictures from the last few weeks.

Saul cuddling with Reunan. I'm holding Reunan, who's just finished nursing and clearly hasn't yet been burped. Notice the milk all over his mouth.Reunan chilling on the couch. His expressions change so quickly. There are about 10 other pictures around this one, each with a different expression.

Swingin'

Waking up. The furrowed brow is a signature Reunan expression.

Sleepy boy. And, the last time he slept that way in the pack and play.

He's so long already I had to turn him the other way.

Saul cuddling his new Pendleton bear, immediately named Bergen Bear. He's a gift from our fabulous neighbor Annetta, who works at Pendleton and has been very generous with the boys.

Saul showing me that he can still nap in his little rocking chair.

Sandbox fun

Someday it will be spring here. Until then, Saul's stuck wearing his big coat to play in his little sandbox. The box seemed so big when he got it for his birthday last year. Now, it's hard to imagine two kids or more playing in this thing. We're already thinking about other backyard sandbox options, especially since we have some areas where grass just doesn't grow.

The good news is that Saul LOVES his sandbox and we enjoy the few chances we've had this spring to let him play in it.

Saul in his sandbox. Maybe more toys than sand?

"Mom, will you stop asking me to look up?"
I love that his tongue still comes out a little when he's really concentrating.

Reunan slept in the pack while Saul played. That meant I mostly walked around the yard.

Twice the kids, twice the stroller!

Below is a picture of our maiden voyage out with the new stroller/bike trailer for the kids. The weather was great, the sun lower in the early evening sky, and we got to try out all sorts of features. We absolutely love it and look forward to the many walking, jogging and biking adventures we will take with it!

The big qestion is how long it will be before the first argument between the boys inside.