This year we packed up the girls and the car and headed to Angie's in LaPine for the weekend. We didn't leave Friday night until after 6, which turned out to be a blessing because it meant less traffic and the opportunity for the mini's to sleep in the car.
At least we got the less traffic bit.
The girls finally passed out about 40 minutes before we pulled into Angie's driveway; they were so excited to spend the weekend with Hannah and Christopher that they were just too wound up to sleep. But before long The Sand Man got the best of them and they were out.
If only they had stayed that way.
Friday night sleeping arrangements were painful at best. All 4 of us were in the same room, which would have been fine had it not been for Natalie, our resident Houdini, popping out of her Pack 'n Play, claiming "Me sleep with Mommy and Daddy!" and hopping into bed with us. Ashley had a great bed made on the couch in the room and slept like an angel the entire time. Once we finally got Natalie to stay in and sleep in her bed, it was nearly midnight. So when she whispered to me at 5:15 Saturday morning "Mommy, me sleep with you?", I pulled her into bed with us just hoping she'd go back to sleep so that the rest of us could catch a bit more shut eye.
Wishful thinking.
I think we managed to keep her in bed until 6 or 615, at which time Jake took her out to watch cartoons and I caught a few more winks while Ash snored away in her bed. By 645 all of us were up and at em for the day.
I'm sure this didn't please Angie.
Saturday we took all 4 of the kiddos to Pappy's Pizza in Bend where they have an indoor play structure. Hannah and Christopher are so wonderful with Ash and Natty; I don't think we saw the girls more than 10 minutes the entire 2 hours we were there. They were climbing and sliding and wiggling and playing all throughout the play structure. It was exactly what the girls needed. And Daddy and Mommy, too! It also gave us the chance to chat with Angie and Chris, something we don't get to do nearly often enough.
Thankfully Saturday night the girls were both so exhausted it didn't take much coxing of any kind to convince them to hit the hay. After a little self-tanning lotion, my purse and lipstick set-back, we finally got Natalie down for the count (by this time it was nearing the 9:30 mark). Lucky for us both girls slept until after 7 the next morning, which was incredible.
Sunday morning we got up and ready and headed off to church. Ashely was apprehensive to be left in her classroom as she was the first kiddo to check in, but the teacher handled it very well and gave Ashley snack duty. Between that and the promise of visiting the playground outside, Ashley was all in! After church we ventured to the Old Mill District for some lunch and a walk along the river. About halfway through the walk there's an awesome play structure and climbing rocks. Again, it was Hannah and Christopher to the rescue! They climbed and followed and played all over the place with the girls, adequately wearing them out.
I couldn't have been happier!
We left Sunday night around 8:30 and pulled into our drive around 11:45. Ashley and Natalie finally passed out around 10, but not before we discussed all of the fun things they had the chance to do over the weekend. Both were *obsessed* with volcanoes and learning the names of each and every mountain and butte we passed. If you've ever traveled to Central Oregon, you know that left plenty of opportunities for discussion.
Plenty.
Thanks to Angie and Chris for opening their home to our hurricane. Extra special thanks to Hannah and Christopher for keeping the girls occupied and playing with them, nonstop, all weekend long. It was a great weekend!
PS I have other pictures from this trip, but they're on my camera; these are just shots I captured with my celly. I'll get to sharing the camera shots. Someday.
Saturday morning all 4 of the kiddos snuggled onto the couch, watching cartoons
Saturday night after a long and hard day of playing - this was the second attempt at putting her to bed. I took this after she dug through my purses, painted her face with my lip stick and rubbed herself down my self-tanning lotion. She was anti-Pack 'n Play so I stayed in bed with her until I was sure she was good and out. I couldn't resist snapping a pic of her sweet little sleeping face - I rarely get to see her sleeping.
After Jake moved her to her bed, I had to capture her sweetness (and stillness!)
Midget passed out, sawing logs, catching Z's
The mini's enjoying Sunday afternoon lunch at Jimmy John's - haven't had JJ's since 11/2010 in Rapid City, SD (they recently came to Oregon). Siiiigh. It was just as good as it was back then. Too bad I didn't get to dive into the Italian Night Club sammy like I did back in 2010; Thirdling takes the full blame for this one. Maybe one day I can find it deep in my heart to forgive her?
Crazy rainbow-type thing that greeted us after lunchtime
Who needs the double BOB?
Checking out the ducks and geese on the river
Awesome sculpture-thingy on the walk around the river. It was pretty awesome; there were engine/motor parts inside the horses ("horsepower") and giant chainsaw bars and various other logging parts making up the log (I figured this all out on my own, by the way). Genius. FINALLY! Art that even I can understand!
Next to the play structure were these awesome climbing rocks for kiddos, like Ashley and Christopher, that find it hard to stay at ground-level. Here you see Christopher convincing an apprehensive Ashley to join him at the top...
...and it wasn't long until they were both proudly declaring themselves as King of the Mountain!
PS It was great watching Ashley play with Christopher. She can be somewhat cautious when it comes to certain things, but all of her inhibitions seem to go by the wayside when she's playing wingman to Christopher. It's also nice because, like Ashley, Christopher's energy supply seems to be endless. :)
Of course the next obstacle that presented itself was "How on earth do I get down?" That's where Daddy the Great comes in. Here's Jake coaxing Ashley down the side of the rock...
...but even that got to be too cumbersome. So instead Jake convinced Ashley to just jump into his waiting arms. This is probably my favorite shot of these two. Here's Ashley placing complete and total faith in Daddy. Little does she know she'll still have that feeling 30 years from now. Lucky Midget.
For months and months Ashley has wanted to play on one of these "Twisty Poles" (as she's aptly named them), but she neither knew how, or trusted herself. Luckily it was Christopher to the rescue...
...and it wasn't long until she was twirling down the pole. Over and over and over again.
This is the toy that stole Natty's attention; it was made to resemble a waterwheel and when turned, the little blue beads inside would scatter and make a cool rain-sound. I should know. I heard it for 10 minutes, straight.
Again, here's Christopher convincing Ashley life outside of your comfort zone is where it's at. Earlier she had attempted this climbing structure but backed out after making it up 4 or 5 rungs. But with Christopher at the top, she went for it, and then was so proud of herself when she reached the summit!
Not sure exactly when it happened, but at some point Natalie's lack of sleep the night before hit her full-force and she decided to take a rest, juice in hand, and recharge her batteries.
I was told, by Natty Kat, "Mommy take picky (AKA picture), I make face!" And a face she made!
It was nearing time to leave, which meant the kiddos wanted just 1 more round of rock climbing
1 seriously happy Midget
Of course it meant Daddy had to catch a flying Midget again, but I doubt either one minded. One loves being in Daddy's arms. And the other? The other is thrilled to be needed by the little spirit that made him Daddy for the first time.
Adorable
1 cool Daddy and Mommy
Good job on the party planning, Allen!
Tasty cake pops made with love by Jolina, owner and baker extraordinaire of Zoey's Delights 
Taking a moment to get a pic with the gal of the evening 
Happy couple
