Camping Part 1

Oh my goodness me. We are home from camping and what a trip! The boys had so much fun playing with their cousins. We enjoyed the beach. Boating. Fireworks. Hanging out at the campground. Biking around. And the Newport Science Center. I have way too many pictures (and am having a hard time just picking a few!) So I'll divvy up camping into parts again. We had a great trip with family and I'm already wishing we were back up in Oregon making more memories!!

We arrive! Newport State Beach Campground

Setting up camp

 the boys were beyond excited to be setting up the tent, playing inside the tent, and exploring the campground. It was hilarious. I love seeing their joy. It makes all the work totally worth it.

 helping daddy

 For weeks before our trip all caleb could talk about was camping and going fishing on the boat with grandpa. His excitement was contagious!

 there were so many sweet, sweet, interactions this trip. My favorites were of the boys with their great grandparents, their grandparents, their aunties and uncles, and their cousins. My heart was filled to the brim and I know I won't ever forget these beautiful moments.

 playing with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Steinkamp

 Great Grandpa Steinkamp was down there in the dirt right alongside Lucas shoveling sand. Heart squeeze.

 Don't  get me started on the cousins. The big girls were so tenderhearted and so gentle with the boys. They are a rare gem I tell you. There are three cousins the same age (caleb, little k, and little h) Then then three older cousins close to the same age who really took care of the younger ones. There are two more older cousins who were with the really big cousins playing card games and hanging with them. The younger cousins played for hours together and no one fought. While C struggles to engage with other kids in a large group he's really happy one on one, but never have I seen him so happy and content to just play for hours with so many other kids like he did this trip. It makes me wish even more that we lived closer so he could play with them more often.

cousins at play (at the campground there was a perfect spot for them to play)

 The helper girls, they are probably the sweetest kids ever.

 (the three little cousins)

Oregon Part 4

The Farm

Great Grandpa Steinkamp

The worker bees 

 Marion Berry Picking

 Cousins

 Sweet cousin K came over and was offering up some of her toys for the boys. 

Grandpa's right hand girls.

 The farming hub (look at the little ones plopped in the sand. The helper girls. The boys.)

 Ladybug sighting (do you see the ladybug? those berry stained hands? :) I love capturing hands; baby hands wrapped up in daddy hands; grandfather hands teaching, guiding, leading; strong and sure)

 sister girls

 safe with auntie

 such sweet sisters

  I love when the boys get to spend time with their cousins! Always makes me wish we lived closer; especially so they could spend more time at the farm and with family

 Zucchini picking

 loved the sun kissed, dirt filled cheeks after a morning at the farm.

 my sweet boys. how I love you so.

Marion Berry picking with Grandma 

 Caleb was so excited to go to Great Grandpa Steinkamp's farm and help pick. Today the boys helped pick Marion berries, peas, zucchini, and helped dig up potatoes.

Visiting Great Grandma Giles

 choo choo! (lucas kept saying this while riding on Great Grandma's walker)

 all tuckered out. fell asleep before we even made it to the car!

It was a big and full day for the boys! Visiting the farm. Burger king treat from GGpa post picking. Visit with GGma. Costco trip. Pie and bread baking when we got back. Tomorrow we pack up and head to the coast for Camping with the whole rest of the fam!