Tigard Festival of Balloons!

Probably about 15 years ago or so I remember going to Cook Park in Tigard during the Hot Air Balloon Festival. I remember liking it, but not much else. Now that the photographer in me just begs to come out at certain times I have to give in. While Sam (and Josh) stayed hom sleeping, I dragged my butt out of bed on a Saturday morning at 5 am and headed to Tigard. I met up with my friend and fellow photography enthusiast, Catherine, for some great phtoto opporutnities. I was surprised how many people where there so early to see them inflate and take off. I guess not surprised at the adults, but at how many kids were there since the rides and food vendors didn't even open until 3 hours after we left the park. All in all it was great fun, and quite an experience. I have absolutely no desire to go up in a balloon still... fire, whicker basket, wind, no thank you! But loved taking photos. I hope next year to be able to stake out a spot in a valley view to get great shots of all the balloons in the air. We'll see.

Sam in the sand!

Samantha finally got to see the beach! It's a good thing she seemed to like it, since Josh and I tend to head west several times a year for some fun. She tried to eat some sand... tried and succeeded with a bit at least. Either way, she enjoyed it, and got a good bath when we got back to the room.

Family Reunion Baby Shower

This past weekend we headed to Cannon Beach for the Berger Family Reunion. It was strange without Wayne, but still good to see those that made it out this year. And the weather was great, dry until the drive home, and Sam got to see the beach for the first time. More pictures to come from the beach, and Sam. For now... This year's reunion included a baby shower for Josh's cousin Heather. It was great to be able to include family that doesn't live in the Northwest since we were mostly all together for a quick beach weekend. 

Diaper Bicycle Bear Present I made for the mom to be.

Great aunt Evelyn with Sam 

Happy 4th of July

My family ready to head to the parade

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! Samantha went to her first Hillsboro Parade. A tradition I'm sure she'll continue for many years to come. She enjoyed watching everything there was to see, but the sirens and horns were not such a favorite. Plus stupid Curtis Trailers were using super soakers and got all of us... not cool for a baby, I may have yelled a bit. Grandma Pat did a good job trying to shield her once we got the first spray. 

Trying to shield her ears from the loud sounds

Uh oh, here it comes...

Not enjoying the firetrucks

Exhausted after a long morning. Grandma always knows how to get her to fall asleep

Carol, Gauge, Regan, and Kara enjoying the parade

I would not have wanted to walk around in this all morning in the heat

Gauge swore he wouldn't smile for me... I snuck up on him.

Pat's favorite

Cousin Eugene right before his grand kids got him with water guns

Random Samantha Pics

I realized I had quite a few pictures that were just random... time to share!

 We have a stomach sleeper on our hands... she never stays on her back now

 My favorite people...

 The Frybacks!

Big Bear

Random story time... sometime last summer/fall a co-worker and I were out picking up some food from Costco for work. We saw a huge teddy bear and fell in love. I didn't buy it because I wasn't thinking anything but getting what we needed for work and getting outta there. When I got home I told Josh about the bear and for the next few days I went to every Costco in our area looking for it. It was nowhere to be found. Not at the Hillsboro location, not in Beaverton, not in Tigard. One day after work about a week later I headed to the Wilsonville location where I had originally seen the bear and it was still nowhere to be found. Well, last week I got off work early and took advantage of Sam being in daycare so I ran some errands, one of which was Costco to pick up formula. I grabbed the formula and was headed to the checkout lines when out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw the bear in someones cart... I knew I had to go looking for it. Not 30 seconds later I spotted a big box of the bears. Sold! It was meant to be. Normally Josh is the one who goes to Costco, this was my only time going in months! I was quite the site walking around with 3 cans of formula and a giant 53 inch teddy bear. I got quite a few looks, and even more when I put the bear in the passenger seat of my car since he wouldn't fit in the back with the stroller and room for Sam when I picked her up. It's huge, takes up a lot of space, but we love it!!!

5 Months Old!

Tuesday Samantha turned 5 months! I can't believe it and don't know where the time has gone. Lately all she seems to do is suck on everything and poop all the time. Thank goodness for her smile to get us through the stink. Haha. Here are photos from her photo shoot with mommy. She wasn't very smiley, but I think it's just because she wanted to eat her tutu and daddy wasn't home to entertain her while I shot.