First Day of 1st Grade!

After a whopping three weeks off for summer vacation, Ry went back to school today for her first day of 1st grade. It is going to be so weird having her gone all day. I will miss her...and little Bailey won't know what to do with herself! It is only noon on the first day and I have heard Bailey say, "We go get Riley now?" 500 times! I am sure she is having a great day...but only three more hours until we can go and pick her up!

The standard first day of school pictures:

Ry lined up with her class waiting to go into the school:

Oregon

We are hanging up the keys! Over the last three weeks the girls and I have traveled nearly 3300 miles in the car together! Just a week after getting back from New Mexico, we loaded up in the car with my sister and nephew and headed off for our annual trek to Oregon to visit my grandparents. Our first stop was in Hermiston. We visited Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Don, which was fun. They have a pool so the kids were in heaven!

Bailey had no fear of the water. She loved Grandma's pool!

Riley learned the fine art the cannon ball. She got to be pretty good at it!

Bailey would get so tired swimming that she would beg to get into bed - I had a hard time keeping her up later than 7:00 at night! (Yes, I know she still has the choopie...we will be working on that here in the next week or so).

Bailey got her fingernails painted for the first time at Grandma's house. She was pretty proud of her pink "dingernails".

Our next stop was at Grandpa Fred's house. We hit the beach, the Tillamook Cheese Factory, and had fun roasting hotdogs and making s'mores on Grandpa and Grandma's porch.

The 4-Generation Shot

Riley and Bailey watching the workers make cheese at the cheese factory.

The boat in front of the cheese factory - notice Bailey plugging her ears? There was an airplane flying by...

Bailey loved the beach. I couldn't ever get her to look up at the camera for a picture...all she wanted to do was dig.

...except for this picture - my sister was holding a piece of candy above the camera. Whatever works...

Ry before plunging into the really cold water at the beach.

Grandpa, Riley, and Brody getting ready to cook up some s'mores on the front porch.

Papa helping Bailey cook her lunch.

We had a great time visiting everyone. But after 14 straight hours of this:

we were all very happy to be home!

Bluth Reunion

Last week we headed down to New Mexico for the Bluth family reunion. Before heading to the campground where the reunion took place, we went to Cory's parents for a few days. Both of the girls were excited to go to the ranch, and Grandma had the pool and trampoline ready - thanks to countless reminders from the girls, I am sure. Cory got to spend three or four days helping out with work around the ranch...he was in heaven! Though he was busy working he saddled the horse for Ry to ride (Bailey said horses are "too scary") and took Ry out to check a water tank on the motorcycle. We watched Cory and Grandpa work some cows, and the girls got to feed the horses. It was great fun. Here is a video clip of Ry riding the horse:


After spending a few days at the ranch we went to the reunion, which was held at a campground in the mountains. There were tons of kids for the girls to play with and they both had a blast. One of the highlights of the trip for Ry was riding the plasma cars down the hill...see the video clip below. The kids also spent a lot of time at the park and doing different crafts. There was a pinata for the kids, basketball, horseshoes, and frisbee golf for the adults, lots of food, and good company.

Ry eating S'mores

Cory, his mom, his youngest sister, and the girls

Cory's family

Riley and Quinlan riding double on the plasma cars

Riley and her cousins, Clayton and David

Bailey climbing a tree - she was so proud of herself!

Riley's turn taking a smack at the pinata
This is all Bailey wanted to do...she stayed up too late and was so tired!
Bailey's "pretty bag" that she made - we had a tough time getting her to let it go.