Gold Beach

This was Opal's first time on the beach. She immediately rolled around in the sand and took two handfulls and put them right in her mouth. She loved the experience!

I never thought I would say this, but maybe sunscreen was not a good idea. Didn't think about all of the face-plants that would be happening with the new walker.

It was a georgeous day on the beach. As you all know, Ian and I like to have long, friendly "discussions" about different topics. We spent, no kidding, 45 minutes talking about the pros and cons of taking this little trip to the coast. We only had one night because of Ila's Saturday morning soccer game. It takes at least 3 hours to get to Gold Beach. Ian was leaving for 2 weeks in John Day early Monday morning and of course had not packed. We looked at the calendar and did not have another weekend open until sometime in November. We decided to do it and we certainly never regretted it. We had such a blast just being together. Ian lying on the beach for 10 minutes made it worth it, since he never sits still. Ila would live outside if we let her and she was in heaven! She is such a little scientist and adventurer. Her energy and strong will amaze me and drive me crazy much of the time, but on the beach she was so much fun to watch. She's brave! Ian and I find that we have to get out of our environment sometimes in order to really relax. Too many chores always looming at home. All in all it was a great weekend...topped off by seeing a mother bear and her cub cross the road in front of the truck on our way home.

Opal found the best seat in the house...eating lunch on the bank of the Rogue River near Agness on the way home.

Kindergarten

Ila is about to finish her second week of kindergarten and she says she loves it. She is in the bilingual program at Talent Elementary School where I work and she says that Spanish days are the best thing in her world. There are some kids in her class that she knows, like Brisa Bauer (above) and Violet, a friend from Butterfly House. It is so much fun to get to see her at school. She even rides the bus home! My hope is that our big girl continues to love it!

Willamette Valley Visit

We stayed one night at Melissa and Ryan's house. The girls worked really hard with their shovels to dig a hole big enough to give this dead mole (by Ila's boot) a proper burial.

"Uncle Ryan...Jackpot!!!!!!!!!"

Ila LOVES collecting the eggs when we get there so Melissa always leaves them for her.

Ila, my Dad, and Livia slept in my parent's tree house. They made it until 4am. There was a thunder and lightening storm that was getting a little close for comfort, so they had to move the party inside.

Ben and Natalie teaching Ila how to sing their favorite country song...something about dirt roads...hand motions included.

Ila, Eliza and Adie made this very long fairy path. They used fig leaves, apples and figs. It kept them busy for a really long time.

Opal had a rare quiet moment with Grandma Kris. I'm still waiting for my turn. Love you mom!

Ila and Opal's cousin Luci and Aunt Allison came to Yamhill to visit for the day. It is always so good to see them.

Natalie and Ila not wanting to have their picture taken.

One of Opal's new favorite activities is unrolling the toilet paper. This was at Grandma and Grandpa Reid's house.

Opal determined to get the green hat!

Visiting the horses (Hawk and Merlin) with Grandma and Grandpa.

Ila and Opal are so lucky to have such loving, fun, outgoing Grandparents...on both sides.

Opal's Birthday Celebrations

Pink birthday cake at Grandma and Grandpa Heuberger's house. Straight from presents to the bathtub!

Gus is such a handsome 9 year old. And he is so sweet to all of his little girls cousins. And we text each other on his ipod touch...I love it! Soon enough he will find cooler people to text, but I'll take it while I can.

Opal loving on her new unicorn pillow pet.

She looks like me in this picture...

and Ian in this picture.

So we realized last night we can no longer call her a baby. She's a toddler because she doesn't crawl anymore. She had her one year appointment last week and she weighs 23lbs3oz and is 29 inches long. Besides her head measurements being out of the park huge (nothing to worry about...Heuberger family trait) she is right where she should be. She swipes at Ila now, accompanied with a high-pitched "NO". She may have learned it from her sweet cousin Ashlynn who is 5 months older than her. She has all kinds of funny tricks that we have taught her. The best is hands over her head saying "b,b,b"(big, big, big) when asked how much Grandpa loves her. She sleeps pretty good at night until 4am, then she's in with us, which we don't mind. She loves food, obviously. The other day we were at the park with some family friends and their 5 year old boy watched her walk and said, "those don't look like thighs, they look like elephant legs!" I told him he could say stuff like that now but in a couple of years he better watch it;-) Thanks to everyone who has helped take care of our girls this year...they are lucky to have ALL of you!