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.

Our New Addition....

We have a new addition to our family.... and no it's not a baby. Meet our new mini Shih Tzu, Captain Jack. One of my customers came into the branch with some new little puppies and Tyler and I fell in LOVE with Captain Jack. Dustin loves dogs and Miko has become his dog so I thought for sure he would let us bring a new puppy home. You can imagine my surprise when he said NO?!?! I was okay with his answer but when I talked to my customer she really wanted him to go to a good home and then I thought of all the reasons we needed a little puppy like.... Miko is home all day by himself.... this would be a good lesson for the kids.....and he was just so darn cute!!! But, Dustin still said no. So I told Dustin if we could just keep him over night and if he still said no after that I would know he meant it. So Guess what? WE HAVE A NEW PUPPY!!! Just look how much we all love him.....

Baseball

Tanner is loving Baseball this year and we are having a blast watching him. I can't believe how well he is doing. We had to pull the tee out the first couple of games but towards the end of the season he had it down. He even hit a few out in the outfield!

YAY!!! No More Training Wheels!!!

YAY!!! No more Training Wheels!!! After a few crashes and a few tears Tyler AND Tanner are now riding their bikes with out their training wheels. We are SO proud of them!

Tanner put a nice little scratch on Daddy Dustin's truck after running in to it..... TWICE!!!