Life with the Ball's

I love the Oregon Coast! It's been years since I've joined my family at the Oregon Coast. I booked a yurt way back in January and figured I'd end up canceling the reservation like I have in years past, but as the trip approached the reality of my summer hit me like a slap in the face. All I do is try to keep my boys off screens and it's exhausting! I hide devices, I turn off the internet, and then listen to them whine and complain about being bored. I was willing to do anything to make it stop. So I kept my yurt reservation and took Parker and Henry to the great outdoors. Let me just tell you this was the best idea ever and I might have to do it every year. These boys played with each other all day long and since we had a yurt, we had heat and electricity and I love glamping because camping is way too much work. I packed my instant pot and an extension cord and used that for all our meals. Our meals were easy and basic because it's easy to feed a family of three. We took hot showers after the beach and I smiled to myself each night as I climbed into a warm bed instead of a sleeping bag on the ground. Glamping is my happy place!

We made it to Tillamook in less than five hours and met aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents at Tillamook creamery for lunch. My boys wasted no time digging in to their ice cream while I visited with family.

Henry got this badminton set for his birthday and it got a lot of use, even among other kids at the campground.

Hammock flipping was a fun new discovery and only one kid got hurt

Lots of s'mores

I broke out my glow sticks that I always seem to have an hand and we had an epic dance party and parade through the camp ground. Henry was in heaven!

Morning walks to the tide pools were my favorite way to start the day

Our first star fish!

Henry and Owen discussing all things Mario and Pokemon as they hiked

We RACED to Tillamook one night and arrived as they closed the doors so we had the place to ourselves. Victory! Many laws were broken so this picture could happen.

Henry on top of the Voldemort tree

Henry found this all by himself and was quite proud of this cute little sea lion that died peacefully(?)

Glorious views

Snuggled up and reading. My mama heart was so happy!

Twinning!

Owen put Beckett on his shoulders and they became one mean water squirting machine

We discovered ice cream nachos (ice cream with chocolate waffle cookies) and our lives will never be the same.

Gabby and her amazing sand dollar collection

We found so many unbroken sand dollars but the tiny ones are my favorite

Parker posing as the monster/alien from Stranger Things

Henry pulled off a star fish! That takes a lot of muscle (and help from Mom).

So much beauty

All my boys will never get over the nickname for men named Richard. I don't get it either!! It's a strange world we live in.

Exploring with cousins

The world was our playground

Henry found the smallest starfish!

Parker and I logged some serious steps getting this kite to fly

Henry actually got blisters from all the digging. But they finally hit water and that was the goal.

Then they played in the ocean.

Rainbow fire is my new favorite thing! You throw a little packet full of who knows what onto the fire and it turns it all colorful and remind me of Harry Potter flew powder.

Parker was a great "big" cousin helping all the littles

Henry's rainbow loom was a hit! So many kids with so many bracelets that week.

Games out our campsite like always

So many pictures and I could've posted more. The Oregon Coast is pure magic. We lucked out with some sunny days and had so much fun with all the different families coming and going while we were there. Henry slept the whole way home and Parker wasted no time getting back on screens but it was worth it!

We celebrated Landon and Parker's birthdays this year in style! Their Utah buddies were staying with us for a couple days so the celebrating felt like it lasted a few days. Randy took the morning off work to take the boys and their friends boating. Naturally it was the one morning when the sun didn't shine but oh well. We bought a ton of breakfast food from McDonald's so the boys pigged out while they surfed and tubed.

Battle Tubes--no one died and only one injury!

Forced fun with their RC cars since I made them turn off screens

Landon eating his steak dinner on the road so they could make it to their golf session while Parker hosted a huge party.

Parker invited 13 boys over to watch Kpop Demon Hunters and didn't realize when he planned the event that it was his birthday so he didn't tell anyone! The bonus room smelled like stinky boys.