Summer Fun

Our summer this year was very odd. It felt like it went fast but also dragged on forever. I think that most of the reason was because at the beginning of the summer James was laid off from his job. So him and I went into "survival" mode and limited any unnecessary spending and started looking for jobs. Luckily it didn't take us long before we both found jobs. I was offered two part time jobs and was going to try and figure out how to do both but when James got offered a full time job. I realized there wasn't going to be anyway for us to do 3 jobs between the two of his with one car over a distance of close to 50 miles. So I took the part time job closest to home which is a sales associate at Wild Life Trading Company at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. Basically I'm a cashier at the gift shop. James got a job at a 5 star hotel as a bell hop/valet. Both of these jobs are not even close to what we've been doing the past 10 years of out lives. But we figured that maybe it was a good thing. Well for James anyway. He hasn't exactly enjoyed his years of being an MA. Its been rough and he's had his ups and downs. He was wanting to change fields with his degree anyway so now is the best chance to start that process. He is on track to finish his bachelors by late next year, so this will give him some time to think and do some research. We did try and fill up the summer with fun though despite the new jobs and new schedules to figure out.
Avery and I painted a lot of rocks and then proceeded to hide them all over town.

 We have also had the chance to visit the Hatfield museum a lot this summer and the tide pools on the beach and the aquarium.

We had fun playing in our little kiddie pool and playing with friends. Kilian started standing up on his own. He is growing up so fast.

 Avery was invited to a birthday party. We bought a new car. And had a chance to go to the Oregon State Fair.

 Our summer was very up and down but overall we tried to have fun and make the most of it. But I am SO ready for school to start. :p

July 4th

Independence day was a little blah for us this year. The day was cold and overcast and James and I just weren't in the mood to deal with crowds and people. but eventually we figured we should get out and do something. So when mom and dad said they were going to go for a walk and then to the store we figured we'd tag along. We followed them to Toledo. We parked by the train museum and then headed down to the docks and walked along the river. Then we headed back to land, crossed the street and walked along main street. Everything was closed, the whole town seemed dead. Mom joked that obviously the place to be on the 4th wasn't Toledo.We ended our walk at a cute little park where we let the kids play for awhile.

 After the park we headed to the store and then back home to make dinner. We fired up the BBQ ans had hamburgers, hot dogs and grilled corn on the cob. Delicious! We didn't really feel like going back out for fireworks so we stayed in, and just enjoyed the sunset and rainbow that came.

 "America! America! God shed his grace on thee; and crown thy good with brotherhood. From sea to shining sea."