Sojourn to Oregon: July 2017

I'm super behind in writing about our trip to Oregon but we had family in town for Eve's baby blessing and moved so it's been a little hectic around here. We road tripped to Rockaway Beach, Oregon for my Mom's side of the family - Christensen family reunion. Let me just start off by saying that I am seriously the luckiest Mom in the world. Both of our girls did super amazing on the car rides, both there and on the way home. We didn't have to make any extra stops, I was able to feed Eve whenever we had to get food or gas. Hayley played with new toys that Grandma Susan got her and watched movies. I'm not saying they never cried, there were tears, but overall it was super smooth and they were so well behaved.
We left for Oregon on Saturday morning, July 8. We stayed in Pendleton, Oregon that night and then made our way to Rockaway Beach on Sunday. It was a long day of driving, 8 hours or so, but we survived and it made for less driving time on Sunday.
We went to the Nike store when we got to Portland on Sunday, for Dan (he's obsessed with Nike shoes), and tried going to the International Rose Garden but couldn't find a place to park with our big trailer so we figured that out on the drive home. We made it to our home away from home in the late afternoon/early evening and unloaded everything. We went for a nice, quick motorcycle ride around Rockaway at sunset. Dan and I stayed in the room with bunk beds and he slept with Hayley and I slept with Evelyn, both on the bottom beds.

The real fun began on Monday. We checked out a place to catch some crabs and then went up the coastline. We visited Cannon Beach, got some delicious fish and chips in Seaside, and I rode back to our house with Dan on the motorcycle. My bum was starting to get sore at the end but it was sure beautiful! We went to the family reunion dinner and "bonfire." It wasn't really a bonfire, so we didn't stay for very long. We attempted to watch a movie when we got back but the Chromecast wasn't working too well so we all went to bed.

On Tuesday we went to the family reunion breakfast and then headed to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. They sure make some good cheese. Hayley loved all the samples and stuffed cows they had in the gift shop, she had to carry as many as she could fit in her arms around with her. Then we went to see The Octopus Tree and a lighthouse. The weather was so nice there. It was nice to escape the heat of Utah for a few days. We picked up an ice cream cake for Hayley on the way back to the house because she turned two! We went to the reunion dinner and then came back to celebrate her birthday by opening some presents (a wooden play pizza, some cars, bubbles, a barbie,and clothes) and eating cake. We hung out for a little bit and then went to bed.

On Wednesday we went to the family reunion breakfast and while everyone went to the beach to try wake wenching, Eve and I stayed back for a nap. I was not getting enough sleep on this trip and it was starting to hit me. But apparently Hayley had a great time playing at the beach, not surprising because she loves water. And Mike, Dan, and my Dad tried wake wenching and were successful, for the most part. After lunch we went to Kelly's Marina and caught some crab. Dan stayed home with Eve and I joined the group with Hayley after her nap. We had a lot of crab and it was SO good. We went to the family reunion dinner and stayed for the auction after. We watched The Lego Batman movie once everyone was back home, and then it was time for bed.

On Thursday morning we loaded everything up, stopped in real quick at the family reunion breakfast to say thank you (my great Aunt Kathryn cooked all the food for all the breakfasts and dinners for at least 60 people), and then were on the road again. Once we made it to Portland we went to the International Rose Garden, the boys (minus Mike) had to drop us off and find somewhere to park. I've never seen so many roses, and boy did that garden smell good. We stayed in Mountain Home, ID that night. We got there around midnight so we were all pretty tired and cranky. Eve was not happy so I would be surprised if her crying didn't wake some people up.

On Friday morning we had breakfast and then hit the road again. It was nice to have a short drive and we finally made it home in the afternoon. 

Oregon is definitely underrated. I would go back again in a heartbeat. It was beautiful and there is lots to do. If you have the chance to go then do it!

Evelyn: Three Months

Oh how I love our little Evelyn! She makes me so happy and I just love her stinkin' guts!

Eve is starting to fit better into her 3 month clothes, and we just barely started putting her in size 1 diapers, even though they're a little big. She will usually "talk" to me whenever I talk to her. She will smile when I talk to her, after she's done eating, or when she wakes up. Hayley and Eve finally started napping at the same time so I try and be productive during that time, but usually I take a nap too because I'm tired. She is still going 8-10 hours at night (11 a few times), and I'm hoping she'll start getting closer to 12 soon because I go back to work in a few weeks. We started putting her in the bumbo and she does great at holding her head up. It'll be amazing if I can keep her alive 'til she's one because Hayley just LOVES to play with her; and when I say play I mean throw water in her face, jump around her, throw things at her, kiss her all over intensely, squeeze her, etc. Please tell me I'm not the only one who has to remind their toddler to be soft like 50 times a day? She loves to sleep in her swing. She's getting a little better about being in her car seat but it's still not her favorite. She drools quite a bit every once in a while, especially when sucking on her fist. On July 23 Dan gave Evelyn a beautiful, eloquent blessing. He told her that Heavenly Father is proud of her and that He is trusting to send her to the world at this time, that she'll have a contagious smile and sense of humor, that she'll be a shining light and positive impact on her family, that she'll grow up and develop good health, that she will become a daughter of God that we and Heavenly Father will be proud of, that she'll be curious and seek understanding and learning, that she'll enjoy God's creations and have a love for the world and spiritual aspects of the Gospel, that she'll be interested in Jesus and His Atonement and have a desire to share it, that she'll seek and maintain covenants including marriage in the house of the Lord, that she'll have love and nurturing in Motherhood & Womanhood, that she'll be a valiant servant in the Lord's work, and that she'll walk the strait and narrow path. We have been blessed with some choice daughters. She will use her legs to stand up when I hold her up. I am horrible at having her do tummy time but she does a decent job of holding her head up when she isn't just laying there enjoying being on her stomach ha. I got her first giggle out of her on July 26. Since then she has only giggled one other time, not for a lack of trying to get them out of her because it's the cutest sound ever.

I love those sleepy smiles.

First time at the beach.

The day she got her shots.

She barfed all over, luckily it was on our way home.

Her blessing dress.