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After a month of being gone, we have made it home safely. I'm not gonna lie, I am glad to be back in my own bed, but we do miss everyone and had such a great time!

In other news, I've hit the third trimester mark! whoohoo! We are still deciding on a name, so if you have any suggestions, we are open.

Today is our 7 year anniversary and I feel so blessed to have Tyson in my life!

Scroll down for all of our adventures!

Cali

On July 29, the kiddos and I headed to Cali for a little vacation time with the Crane family. Tyson flew in the next night and the kids, and myself, were so happy to see him, since we spent almost 3 weeks in WA.

We started the trip off with a tour of Tehema and Los Melinos, which is where Tyson's grandparents grew up. It was so fun to see these tiny little towns...I'm talkin' half the size of Ephrata here...tiny! This picture was taken outside of Germp's school house...just this one building, and 3 rooms for grades k-8.

This was outside of the ranch house where Germ spent a lot of her growing up days. It was beautiful! Not a house in sight and rolling hills all over the place.

The next day we headed to Shasta lake for some good ol' fashion camping. I just had to put this picture in of my cute little Lexter

One day we found this sweet waterfall.

Lexi, and Jace, were tube masters. This tube ride with aunt Merce lasted a good 20 min.

Unfortunately, we had to cut the trip a day early. As you can see by Burn's face, he had a slight problem. The first day we got there, he'd been out cutting away at some brush to make some tent spots. First off, he got stung by wasps in about 8 places, which started swelling up pretty fast and lasted a few days. When the swelling went down from that, he had gotten poison oak all over himself...if you can't tell, he had quite the allergic reaction and we in need of some medical attention. Don't be alarmed, he is back to normal and yes, still available!

And here are just some cute videos. I had to bribe Lexi with a new barbie to get her to wakeboard with daddy, but hey, she did it!

Baby James

While in Washington visiting my family, we had an unexpected arrival. Baby James Benjamin Center decided it was time to come 8 weeks early. He weighed 4 lbs 1 ounce and after being born in Moses Lake, was life flighted to Spokane, where he will be for probably another month. He is doing as well as can be expected and we are all so very grateful for modern technology! I was lucky enough to go and see him before the kids and I took off to California. What a sweet little boy he is. When I got there I asked the nurse if I could touch him and since he was only a few days old, she said that only the parents were allowed to touch him. I looked at her and said "Does it matter if I won't get to see him for a year?"...her response, "why do you have to say things like that?" (My next move would have been to start crying :-) Needless to say, I got to touch this sweet, tiny little infant. For pictures and updates you can visit their blog: centerfamily06.blogspot.com.

Fun!

Last week the kids and I headed to Washington for our annual Twin Lakes trip. It was a great trip and after about 5 years, we finally got some good weather! Lexi and Jace have really missed their cousins and it's crazy how much they grow in a year's time.

Lincoln, Max, Sadie, Jens, Maren, Natalie, Lexi, Katrina

These two were born only a week apart...aren't they cute??? Jillian and Sadie with Bryan

Natalie, Maren, Lexi, Jens

This was a highlight of the trip. Grandpa pulling three bike trailors behind...while the kids sang "All the single ladies" and "you spin me right round"...Grandpa the IRONMAN!

SNUGGLES!

Sticks!

Zingo

Fourth of July Weekend

We had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. Our favorite friends from New York (Austyn, Dustin, & Brody) came down to see us. Their car had been having troubles so we weren't sure if they were going to make it...but they did, only for their car to break down right when they got here...at least they made it! It was a great, enjoyable, relaxing, fun weekend!

Saturday morning we left all the kiddos with a babysitter so we could go out for breakfast

They had fun painting

We also headed to the pool and the park this day, but I didn't take any pics.
On Sunday, Auntie Austyn made cookies with the kiddos...look at Brody's cute face peeking over the side

That night we headed into the city to see the fireworks. Brody and Jace having a good time

Aren't we more beautiful than our college years...HAHAH...well Austyn is, and look at her cute baby bump!

The fireworks were great...for some reason I remember them lasting a lot longer a few years ago. It was perfect amount of time for the kids though and they all fell peacefully asleep on the way home. Thanks Austyn and Dustin for coming to see us!