fishing

Spencer loves fishing in the pond that's in the apartment complex fish #1 fish #2 fish #3 fish #4 more fishing misc pictures: the boys and a lion at the zoo the boys playing in dad's truck Spencer's new aquarium, with 2 swimming frogs. And yes, you are looking at the extent of our furniture...we have that, a tv, a few beach chairs, and 2 air mattresses.

swamp tour

Captain Jack's Swamp Tour, out of Patterson Louisiana I can't get over how funny Parker looks in this picture (it's hilarious blown up) Most of the pictures I took were of the Atchafalaya River. We had to go atleast 20-30 minutes down the river before we got to the swamp. water lilies

Beach House

Here are some views of the Beach House.

Even More Oregon Coast

We had a great time at the beach house.  The weather cooperated, we played at the beach.  The views were spectacular.  Everyone had their own room :)  Andrus Family Reunion tradition dictated that the kids must have a fishing pond and fish for prizes.  There was also a talent show.  Alex won the talent show with his two puppet shows (The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Fraggle, and Brer Fraggle).  He won a cow puppet from the Tillamook cheese factory.  Alex was very sad when it was time to go - we all had a great time and would have liked another day or two.  Another year perhaps.

More Oregon Coast

After Vancouver, the plan was to drive up to Astoria to see the Goonie house and then drive down the coast  to Lincoln City.  The country side is absolutely gorgeous.  We went over lots of big bridges and the weather, while overcast, was still beautiful.  At Astoria, we parked the car, walked up the private drive, T.J. and Tyler did the truffle shuffle, we took some pictures and got back in the car.  It took all of ten minutes.  Then we stopped for lunch and the kids got quarter machine prizes.  Then it was back in the car to drive to Lincoln City.  It was about four-five hours of driving (easily), and not how I would have planned to spend the day.  My goal is to watch the Goonies before the summer's done.

We also had a chance to revisit the Newport Aquarium.  We spent the whole trip trying to convince Alex that he has indeed been to the Oregon Coast before, and the Aquarium.  He was just too young to remember.  He is very adamant that he has not been to the Oregon Coast before and that this was his first time going there.

Oregon Coast

One of the major events of the summer was the Andrus family reunion to the Oregon Coast.  Howards and Tyler/Emily came over the weekend before we all headed out.  Alex had a blast playing with the girls, and Natalie played with the dog-Bailey Sparkles.

Our first stop on the way was at Multnoma Falls.  It still looked just like I remembered from all those choir trips to Portland.

Natalie's favorite part of the trip was getting to stay at a hotel in Vancouver.  Surprisingly the kids were super excited about the couch bed and wanted to sleep in it with just the two of them, which was just fine by Nathan and me.

It's the Muppet Show!

It's the Muppet Show!!!  Yay!!!!!!  Alex and Natalie put on their very own Muppet Show in the bedroom.  Alex was the host, along with Kermit the Frog.  Fozzie told jokes.  Animal played/drummed rock and roll songs.  We had to play the Barber Shop Nirvana song over and over for about thirty minutes strait while Alex did "barber shop" makeup and hair on everyone.  And then there was the grand finale.  Sometime I'll have Nathan help me load the video of the grand finale.