Happy Birthday Daddy

Daddy's birthday celebration was spent on the water again this year. Every year David and Annita Watson treat Chris and our family to a day on the lake. This was the best year yet!

Chris, Lauren, Katie, Brooklyn, Chantelle
We wake-surfed...who knows if I am saying that right!

Did some gentle and EXTREME tubing....Blake, Chris, Katie, Lauren & Brooklyn,& Caleb

Relaxed in the boat...Caleb and (toothless) Brooklyn

Relaxed/Explored in the water...Caleb and Lauren with the log they found.

Jumped off cliffs...Chris and Brooklyn jumped off a 30'+ cliff together. Then the girls did it by themselves on a shorter jump. (Brooklyn above)

There goes Katie

And of course Brooklyn did some wake surfing again this year with her Dad.

The girls had such a great time and are scared of nothing! I love that about their personalities, but it makes me nervous some times too.

Happy Birthday to Chris who is the funnest, kindest most caring Daddy we know!

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July!

We just love this holiday and all it represents. It has felt even more special as we have celebrated it in Vale, Oregon, with my family for the past 5 years!

Lauren, Brooklyn, Katie
Red,White & Blue layered cupcakes (thank you Carla Parker for your great idea/recipe)

Waiting for the parade......

Lauren, Ella & Brooklyn waving to everyone!

Cute cousin Ella

Resting in the shade.

Katie and Ali

Most of the Hiatt gang :)

This is "My First Rodeo!"

One of the things I love about going home to Oregon in the summer time is the 4th of July. Vale has a 4 day rodeo and the whole town comes alive with cowboys and Oregon Trail Day events. Each July 2nd, there is the Vale Suicide Race where contestants enter to race their horse down this mountain (you can see the trail at the top right) across the river (the people at the bottom of the picture are standing at the river bank) and into the rodeo arena. It is started with dynamite and is super exciting. This year there was a record number of people attending that night. 16,000! That might not sound like a lot, but the town only has a population of 1,600. :)

Very Exciting! Katie and I went on July 2nd and then I took the little girls for their first time on the night of the 4th.

Lauren enjoyed the cotton candy

Brooklyn enjoyed the popcorn, soda and ice at the bottom of her drink!
(notice the ice ring on her finger)

Katie snacked on everything and loved the glow sticks when it got dark. She also LOOOVED seeing the bull riding.

Katie reeeeeeaaallly wanted the bulls to knock over the clowns pink barrel. The girls all giggled at the silly clown. :)