Flashback: Summer Fun with Friends

There's really nothing quite like a good friendship, is there? You know . . . the ones you can always depend on to remain just as strong whether you talk every few years or if you talked every day. So it is with the Coopers. Tara is one of my best friends from college, and our hubbys have become just as close over the years. Tara and Chris were married exactly six weeks after us, and their path has led them all over the place! From Spokane to Taiwan to Fresno to Oklahoma City to Sacramento to Spokane to Bend to Taiwan and back to the northwest (did I miss any, Tara?), all over the course of 14 years! We have counted the times our paths have crossed as a huge blessing.  To say we were overjoyed to hear of their return to Oregon this summer is an understatement. We couldn't wait to get back together. For as close as we've been through the years, we had yet to even meet each others' little ones! We couldn't wait for them to become friends and for our new adventures to begin.

We first met up on our camping trip to Sisters in July (watch for a post about it in the near future). Shortly thereafter, the Coopers came to Eugene for a visit, and the kids couldn't wait to take advantage of the beautiful summertime weather . . .

Who needs to run through a sprinkler when it's more fun to pick it up and point it at each other?

Jonathan, Caden, and Ellie became fast friends and are nearly inseparable now. They definitely know how to make each other laugh!

Ellie is eight months older than Jonathan and is always eager to show him the ropes. She's such a good friend!

The sunlight was perfect on our walk out on the path. The kids had a great time picking flowers and swinging on the bike racks!



Jonathan fell in love with Queen Anne's Lace over the summer. Our house was surrounded by fields of it, so he had an unlimited supply to bring me bouquets. :)



Happy to have his friends in town.



Ellie enjoying the ride.



Jonathan taking a break to check out the view.

The kids love having bike time every time they're together. Jonathan loved sharing his bike path with his friends. More than anything, he loved having his two friends spend the night at his house. The three of them disappeared for hours in the "cave" (under-the-stairs coat closet), only to be found with flashlights, Jonathan's camping toys, and tent all set up and ready to camp! Good thing we had plans for an early fall trip already in the works. More pics of the Cooper-Cohn adventures coming soon. 

What joy it brings us to see these three develop such strong friendships so rapidly. We should have expected it . . . their parents share a strong friendship; why shouldn't they? Yay for friends!