Fourth of July Weekend

I am going to have to do this in installments, because we did so much and took hundreds of pictures, so I think I will split up our adventures by activity and location.

Sunday afternoon, we packed up our stuff and headed to Salem to meet Austin's parents and sister so we could car trip family style. We packed the Suburban full of all our things and made our way to the coast. We had reservations for a two night stay in Waldport, Oregon (15 or so miles south of Newport). We ended up getting to our Hotel just  before sunset and we watched the sun sink down below the horizon. Even as the sun was setting, the weather was warmer than most days at the coast. A very good sign for the days ahead! We then headed out to get dinner, we were all starving despite all the snacking done in the car. We ate at a little Chinese restaurant and then caught the end portion of the Waldport firework show. After picking a few things up from the market we were pretty bushed so we headed back to get some shut eye.

I don't have many pictures from the first evening of our trip, but here are a couple of the sunset.

of thee i sing...

I have an exciting fourth of July weekend post coming up, but I have ZERO time to upload pictures, but I have to post something to honor the country that I am so blessed to live in. Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays, summer BBQs, friends, family, fireworks, picnics dressed in red, white and blue, while paying homage to our founding fathers and those who protect our freedom. I am so proud of my country and I am always proud to be an American, but today I am especially thankful for that privilege.

Here are the lyrics to one of my all time favorite patriotic songs: 


My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of Liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrim's pride!

From ev'ry mountain side,

Let freedom ring!

My native country thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love.

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills,

Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees,

Sweet freedom's song.

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

the sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to Thee,

Author of Liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,

With freedom's holy light;

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God, our King!

happy birthday little man!

Keenan (Maisie's boy toy) celebrated his first birthday today in Aumsville. We were a little late (or a lot late) Austin didn't get off work until 2 and then there was heavy traffic pretty much all the way there. I guess there were a lot of people getting out of town for the fourth, lucky ducks. Anyway, the party was so fun and Keenan and Maisie had a blast paling around every where. I think Maisie secretly thought she was having another party, she was very comfortable being passed around.  It was just Keenan and Maisie as far as babies go, so they both got a ton of attention from all the party goers. They ate cake, played in the pool and did a lot of wrestling/chasing in the grass. They are so entertaining together, their little personalities mesh so perfectly. It was a very fun day.

The cute little McArdle family

tag! you're it!

my sweet little Maisie girl.

Bauman Farms

After having lunch with grandma & grandpa (Bob & Diane, my in-laws) on Tuesday in Salem, we decided to take a little trip to Bauman Farms in Gervais Oregon, which is a couple miles outside of Woodburn. It was on our way home anyway, plus it was so beautiful outside that it would have been a waste not to spend the day walking around a little farm, petting the animals and soaking in some rays. We had never been there in the summer and I feel bummed that we just now went. They have a great pumpkin patch in October with the best fresh pressed apple cider and fresh baked donuts, but I have to say, it might just become a Halloween and summer tradition.

We had so much fun! It was the hottest day in a long time so we had to take a couple stops in the air conditioned market, but the weather was very enjoyable. We ate strawberry donuts, farm fresh strawberry-shortcake with ice-cream and washed it down with some of the best strawberry lemonade I have ever had. Grandma & Grandpa even showed up after they got off work. It was a great summer day. If only summer would just stay around.

The petting zoo was great. Our sides we sore from laughing so much with Maisie as she watched the animals eagerly try to get a scratch, pat and maybe score some treats. The animals were very social and not at all shy. The goats climb up the steep catwalks (or goatwalks I guess) there we even a couple new babies. A beautiful lamb named Valentine and a couple of teeny tiny rambunctious goats.

When we start trying to figure out landscaping ideas for our new place, I am definitely buying some gems from their garden. BEAUTIFUL hanging plants and very decently priced. It makes me so excited to stock up on flowers and plants and getting my hands dirty in the garden.

Here are some pictures from our fun farm filled day.

Sunshine

You are my sunshine.

My only sunshine.

You make me happy,

when skies are grey.

You'll never know dear,

how much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

Daisy Head Maisie

We found out about this book after we already had decided Maisie's name. But if we didn't spell Maisie the way we did, I think this would have been option 2. There are so many ways you can spell "Maisie" pick any of the following options:

Mae/Mai/May sey/sie/zee/zie/si/sy/zi/zy

At first we had a hard time deciding on how we wanted to spell her name. All we knew is that we wanted it to end with "ie". Once we found this spelling it was very mutual that we liked (loved) it best. It's very sweet, plus it has more of a "old fashioned" feeling.

This picture was nearly impossible to capture because Maisie wanted to admire (/eat) the flower, not actually wear it. Plus, we lucked out. The pink fluffy dress was her fathers day garb, it just happened to work perfectly to complete the daisy-head Maisie look.

We still need to acquire this book. It's not very common, but we will find it!