Football.....

The last 2 weeks we have been crazy busy with football and cheer practice EVERY night. Yesterday all the hard work paid off when Tyler and Tanner had Jamboree. It's a kick off to the season and they had their first game. I think Tanner is meant to play football.... we all know he's a pretty big boy and it's hard to keep his attention in most sports. I worked so hard to get him on a team after we missed registration. So after we finally found a team and paid the fee I was so excited to tell him that he will play this year...... he told me he didn't want to play football, he wants to "play karate" I was so bummed. We made him try it out and go to at least one practice and of course he loves it! YAY! Tyler on the other hand has been ready for months to start, she could have cheer practice every night and be perfectly fine with that. She has a great squad and an awesome coach this year. I am just glad the kids both have something they love to do because this is going to be our lives for the next 8 weeks.......

2 Year Anniversary

WOW! I can not believe Dustin and I have been married 2 years already. We have done so many things and the time has gone by so fast. I have loved seeing the changes in the kids and watching them experience so many things since Dustin has been in our lives. He has shown me new places and taught me so much. These are a few of my favorite memories .....

Of course my first and my most favorite memory is our trip to Mexico

Dustin taking me to Denver to see my favorite band O.A.R.

Movie Marathons on a Saturday afternoon

First family vacation to Lagoon

Dustin teaching me to snowboard... then teaching the kids

Our Trip to Reno to watch a Boise State game

Our weekly date nights to Costa Vida or Panda Express and a Redbox

Our trip to Jackpot that Dustin planned the day before

Riding the kid's scooters late at night around the neighborhood with the dogs

Visiting my grandparents at the Oregon Coast

Our weekend get away to Sun Valley

Checking off the list of all the Ben & Jerry's ice cream's we have tried

And just last night, Dustin teaching Tanner to wake surf

I am looking forward to the many years ahead.........

Weekend Getway....

The end of July we had our first Rupe family vacation (Since we were kids) in Sun Valley. My parents rented a condo in Ketchum for all 8 of us!!! I don't remember the last time I laughed... or exercised this much in one weekend. Since it was a weekend planned by my parents it was obviously a "biking" weekend. It was so beautiful up there and nice to just get out on the bikes and enjoy the outdoors... Yes... even I enjoyed the outdoors. Oh and the memories that came back when Jacki and I shared a room.... trundle beds and staying up late giggling. What a weekend!!!

4th Of July

This year for the 4th we had a BBQ and watched the fireworks with The Marshalls. Tyler and Tanner have known the boys since they were born so we try and get the kids together anytime we can. My favorite was watching the kids hudled around the "dead fireworks" with their little sparklers trying to "re-light" them.... oh AND watching Dustin trying to "jump" the fountain fireworks...... I don't know what it is about boys and fireworks???

Oregon Coast

This year for our family vacation we went to the Oregon Coast to visit my grandparents. We had the BEST vacation ever. We stayed with my Grandpa and Grandma Clark in their beach home in Rockaway Beach. I have not been to the Coast since I was a kid and I was amazed at how many things we had to do and how many things we did not even have time to do. It was so much fun to watch the kids experience so many new things. They had a blast! I have so many pictures and it was hard to pick out some of my favorites. We already have a list of things we want to do when we visit next year. Here are some of the things we did.........

We rode bikes on the beach, and Yes.... with Captain Jack and Miko on our laps.

We watched the sunset every night... this is what I miss the most
We flew kites on windy days.....

We took a tour of one of the oldest light houses. We even climbed the 114 steps to the top!

Dustin's favorite part of the whole trip was the tour of the Tillamook Cheese factory.... I have never heard of Tillamook cheese until Dustin and I were married. He LOVES the cheese, ice creme, food AND the new cheese slicer he bought for his father's day present. I never thought anyone could take 30 minutes picking out a cheese slicer....but I will admit.... it is AMAZING!!!

Of course Tanner's favorite part of the trip was the train ride.

We spent a couple days in Cannon Beach, it was so nice out and the kids were able to play all day in the ocean. Miko and Captain Jack even met some new friends....

The kids thought it would be fun to have a mud fight. Let me tell you, that was fun to clean them off afterwards...... Sand was EVERYWHERE!

Something the kids have never done before is Frisbee, I was so surprised at how good they were.

We buried Daddy Dustin in the sand......

Then Tyler and Tanner......

We made a fire pit on the beach and made smores..... YUMMY!!!

Grandpa showed us how to feed the seagulls. You wouldn't see one for miles and then as soon as you pulled out some bread they were EVERYWHERE......

One of our big outings was the Newport Aquarium. It was so BIG and there were so many things to see. We were sad that we never saw the Octopus.

My sister Kathryn and Grandparents even threw a surprise birthday party for me!This is Tanner's shell collection he started while out there. Actually..... Tanner even taught Grandpa what the different types of clams are.