The Rest of August, Including the First Day of School

Ever went through a very brief phase where she was making little yarn strands. I don't know what to call them. But sometimes the girls wore them as Pocahontas headbands. Sweetest girls I've ever seen.

This is a typical encounter of Wrenzy trying to love Tiny and getting upset when Tiny doesn't cooperate.

Ever and Leela did a one-day surf camp, and Ever was super into it. Their camp rash guards fit more like dresses.

They also got matching "best friends" necklaces. Leela has half of a heart; Ever has the other half.

Ella Rondo had a sleepover birthday party that included Nutella waffle eating, cupcake wars, facials, and t-shirt making. Chloe's eyes are not really like this:

Leela and Rafi had a pool party.

So did Thom and Annie Bunnell, and Wrenzy went poop (diarrhea?) in their pool and then tried to go to the bathroom and clean up by herself. She got poop everywhere. It was really, really awful. I learned that I have to make her get out of the pool to go to the bathroom at least every hour, if not more. Something weird happens to her when she swims.

Bunny Book Club / kiddie yoga at Melanie Oddou's wound up for the summer.

Wrenzy honed her driving skills in the Barbie car.

Ever started school on Monday, August 19. She chose a rather casual ensemble for her first day of second grade. She's in Ms. Cueva's class this year.

The littles started preschool at Little Bugs on Wednesday, August 21. They dressed up a bit more than Ever. It's so fun having them in preschool together this year. 

We had an end-of-summer living room slumber party. The littles took the floor, and Ever and I were on the couch. The littles were not happy that Ever didn't sleep on the floor with them.

Sam Hawkins brought Tess and Rue down for a beach day with us. 

We had yellow cake with chocolate frosting for Jim's birthday.

Tiny got fancy for a trip to Sprouts.

Jim took the girls surfing whenever he could.

Oregon in April, Part 5: Kentucky Falls Fail

On Thursday, April 11, we tried to hike the Kentucky Falls trail in Siuslaw National Forest. It sounded really great. On the way there, I became a bit concerned because it was really rainy and cold.

Forty-one degrees, to be exact.

We bundled up in all the layers when we got there. I convinced Wrenzy to wear the size 5 ski jacket that I'd brought more for Ever than for her.

Despite definitely starting at the trailhead sign, we could not find the trail. At all. Like maybe for a few feet it seemed as if we were on the trail, and then it was just fallen trees and debris and beaver habitat everywhere.

We looked and looked but finally gave up after probably 45 minutes. I was really upset about failing for such a stupid reason, especially since there was a review on All Trails by someone who had hiked the trail within the last week or so. I still don't understand how in the world we couldn't find the trail, but we really couldn't.

Dejected, we hit the bathroom before we headed out of the forest.

We'd made plans to meet up with old friends from the L.A. singles ward, Jon and Chris Bennion, in Eugene that evening. We headed to Eugene, had a late lunch, and squeezed in a very quick trip to the University of Oregon art museum (at Ever's vehement request) before it closed. Then we headed to the Bennions' and had a lovely visit and enjoyed some yummy pizza with their family. They have three boys, but as is typical with our shy clan, none of our girls exchanged a word with any of their boys.