Ladd Photos

Big brother Gavin helped Connor warm up before the game.

I took the boys to see Butterfly Jungle at the Safari Park, which is an aviary where they have different species of butterflies flying around inside with you.

While waiting in line, one of the zoo keepers was offering samples of mealworms and crickets to taste. Gavin went for the mealworm, and said it tasted like popcorn. Connor was disgusted.

Connor had a little graduation program for his Life Lessons classes he participated in though the school. He showed off his karate skills and the instructors demonstrated the different character lessons they taught.

Gavin had a great game, getting several hits and looking amazing out in the field while playing 3rd and LF. The Bandits won the game when it was called due to a mercy rule: 17 to 2.

Celebrating Connor’s birthday with some sugar.

The boys had fun at Tia Kristel’s house celebrating Mother’s Day and Connor’s birthday.

Another beautiful day at the Safari Park, hanging with wallabies, goats, and gorillas.

Gavin wrapped up his clarinet career with his final performance of the year. I think the band really improved since their first concert.

Connor’s performance took us all around the globe this year. The kids dressed up in the cultural attire of their ancestors and sang songs from around the world.

It feels like just yesterday that we were dropping off our little “Bub” Gavin at kindergarten. But he’s not so little anymore and is ready to go conquer Oak Valley Middle School.

We couldn’t be more proud of Gavin. He got a Presidential Outstanding Academics award, a Reading Olympics Silver award (for reading 5000 pages and running 75 miles), and was discharged from Safety Patrol as a Staff Sergeant.

Most importantly, Gavin is a good kid with a big heart, who is trying his hardest everyday to grow into an amazing human.

We love you Gavin! Congratulations!

We spent the afternoon at Cooper Mountain west of Portland, having a nice picnic lunch and a hike. We all started off on a little looping hike, but when the path forked, my parents and little brother decided they had had enough of nature. My boys, wife, little sister, and I decided to do the big loop, taking in lots of beautiful vistas.

After getting settled in Newport for a 3-day trip, we wandered around the bayfront. Only a single sea lion was around to great us, the others must have been out eating lunch.

The fish were too smart this morning, eating our bait but leaving the hooks. Gavin caught a striped surfperch but he was the only lucky fisher of the day.

We spent the afternoon at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. There was a very in-depth interpretive center covering the marine life and history of the lighthouse. The lighthouse wasn’t open to visitors, but we walked around it and then went down to Cobble Beach.

My boys and little sister started off the morning poking various sea creatures in the tide pool at Cobble Beach. We even saw a gumboot chiton… renamed the sea enchilada by my kids.

We spent the afternoon at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, petting more tide pool creatures and learning about the local ocean habitats.

The Rice Museum has the most amazing collection of minerals and petrified trees that I’ve ever seen. Connor is really into rocks and was in heaven.

Later in the day, back at my parent’s house, I took some pictures of all the grandkids together, including the newest addition: Baby Braelyn Stewart.