Eye of the Tiger

A quick trip to the Oregon Zoo.... We had a pretty low key weekend, and I mustered up the energy to take all three kids to the Zoo by myself. They were really good and it was almost relaxing.


Eating lunch next to the bronze penguins.


Near the fish exhibit...there is water flowing above Jake's head.

A curtesy photo of the three of them together....my photography skills are amazing...

This is right before Jake got a sliver under his nail from Grace pushing him into a wooden rail....that' s how the fun ended and the long walk up the huge hill to our car began....

Hoop'n It Up

Jake was signed up for a Basketball camp last week at George Fox College. The coach is the head coach of the college boys team. It was everyday for three hours.....needless to say, you know who was exxxxxhausted! Three hours of Basketball would tire any one out!!


Jake and Jack - sports friends...




On the sidelines....red jersey


Coach Sandquist - Jake was quite impressed and even asked for me to take a picture of him with the coach.

The whole 'team'

Catching some air.... it was a little painful/funny watching their scrimmish, lots of double dribbles, traveling, and shoving. It was quite cute.

The girls on the walk into the gym to drop the boys off. Avery, Friend Grace (Jack's sister), and Baby Grace. Everyone won this week....The boys got to play b-ball, the girls got to play with each other, and Grace got to tag along with everyone. She is perpetually asking, "Can I go, Can I go?" if she sees someone putting their shoes on.

This picture is soooo vintage Grace, a healthy distance away from most people.

Father's Day

For Father's Day, Brian just wanted to go down the the Oregon Coast. We rented the great little house my sisters and I had stayed in, in Depoe Bay. We headed down and went straight to Neskowin. After 12 years of going to the coast together, we had never made it to this beach. It was such a wonderful spot. It had a little 'river' heading into the ocean. The kids were able to play in the water and rocks without their parent's worrying they would be swept out to sea....

I hope to go back to this spot with all the cousins when Kiran is up in July.


One of the views at Neskowin


Daddy's little girl. She didn't want to walk on the sand for about the first fifteen minutes.

Neskowin - this beach is actually pretty tucked in and thus not too windy.

At the beach house, there were some shells. Grace could not get over hearing the sound of the ocean!! She just kept saying, "I hear ocean, I hear ocean!" She was genuinely soooo surprised!

Treasures found....

Depoe Bay the next day. We were at the observatory and Bri was pointing out all the boats.

The Bridge in Depoe Bay. The boats have to go under this bridge to 'park'

The courtesy baby seal we saw in the bay.

A great Father's Day Weekend. These children are truly blessed to have such an involved Dad. One who reads to them almost every night. One who loves to take them out in his boat, take them for walks with Cassy, go to all their School functions, sports games, and practices that he possibly. One that tries to put pony-tales in their hair. One that teaches them to throw a ball, ride a bike, and be kind to those in need. One that leaves work early just to go to a Dr's apt they have. One that makes it a priority to go on Christmas dates with his daughter....

To date all the Chapter Books (I can think of) that Brian has read to the kids:

Charlott's Web

Treasure Island

The Hardy Boys

Nancy Drew

Wind and the Willows

Winn Dixie

The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles

Talent

My Grandmother was an incredibly talented, smart woman. There are many days that I wish she was here so I could get her opinion on something. She had impeccable taste. She wore her long hair in a bun for years (who knows, maybe that's where I get my love of long hair). She canned fruit and baked the best bread. She would make baked bread in the shape of turtles for us kids when we visited her in Boise, ID in the summers.

My mother has many of her paintings and furnishings in her house. Since my parent's move down to Vancouver, we have been 'discovering' many more of her creations. My sister has re-framed many works of hers and has them in her house. They look amazing. I saw these at Hill's on Sat night and told her that I just loved them. She said I was more than welcome to take them home.

On the back of the paintings they say Class of 1933. I think they are just timeless. They remind me of her so much. I'm grateful for her, for her strenghth and for her talents.

Too Cool For School

She is becoming such a big girl. I turned around to find her with sun glasses on and crossing her legs like a lady, sitting on the stairs..... By the time I grabbed my camera this is what I caught.

The Graduate

Avery graduated Kindergarten today! She really had a fabulous year. Her reading and writing has exploded and she continues to impress and surprise me with her 'poems', stories, and art work. She is such a little joy. She often notes to many that her "talent" is her art.

Her teacher, also Jake's from last year, was really amazing, and I don't use those words lightly. Her patience and enthusiasm in a class full of 21 'crazy' kids is just impressive. Avery loved her.

Mom and Dad after graduation ceremony.

Her BFF Lucy. They have known each other since their 3 yr old Preschool class.

And what did we do after graduation? What any girl would do to celebrate! Manis and Pedis....

Toes drying.....

Boating Season Has Begun

After our last boating adventure (we brought the boat and excited kids down to the river, and the boat didn't start :) we got a new boat batterry and decided to try our hand at putting the boat in the water again!! Started like a charm.....

It was a quick trip just putting around, but as you can see the kids were in heaven. And noticibly absent was Grace. We got a babysitter for her. I can only handle the one adult to one child ratio!

Johnson 48 on the Willamette

Captain Brian - at least that is what he makes me call him on the boat....

Dare Devil Jake in the open bow

You can just feel Avery's excitement at the wheel.

More Paradise Hawaii 2009

When we were in Hawaii almost ten years ago, we ate at this great restaurant in Napili Bay, the sunset was amazing, the food delicious, and the atmosphere just unforgettable. So much so, that Brian and I really wanted to go back! It made that kind of impression on us.

Well when I called to make the reservations, I expressed our desire to sit where we could see the sunset and tried to dial in a time she could fit us in. She mentioned something about the early birds and getting us a window seat after they had left ....and I remember thinking it was a weird thing to say. The picture below was from when we first arrived. After the picture, we were promptly seated in a great spot. Got situated and looked around, only to realize, we were BY FAR the younest ones there!!! The early bird comment all made sense. It was like we had stepped out of a restaraunt out of the 1950's!! All the blue hairs (no offense) in their dinner jackets and nice dresses. Brian and I were dying! We finished eating around 8:30.... and needless to say, we closed the place down! We had a pretty good laugh over it all. The food was still amazing as was the view.


Sunset in Napili Bay




Brian and I after our dinner at Napili Bay. A candid photo that Brian took... But I think it turned out pretty good. Me in that white sweatshirt. It was the only one I brought! I didn't think I would need any....but to my surprise it did get pretty chilly at night.

Sunset in front of our Hotel on Maui

Driving up the coast with the Shumways. We stopped to find a Geocache by one of the light beacons.

My toes (red toes are happy toes), my view at the pool.

This is one of my favorite pictures from the whole trip. This was on our last full day there. We layed by the pool for seven hours. It was amazing.

More Hawaii posts to follow...

Dress Up

Avery dressed Grace up yesterday as a Princess. Avery donned the Ariel mermaid outfit, while Grace got Ariel's 'dinner dress'. It was just the most precious thing. Avery was explaining the whole 'Ariel' premiss to Grace.



Grace's normal scowl... Reese, look familiar??

This is Grace's attempt to stick her tongue out at me!?!?!?!? Can you believe it? I had yelled at her to stop spitting water into MY cup.... and this is what I got. I was so startled I had to keep from laughing. It was the first time she had pulled anything like that out! Fortunately for me, my camera was nearby. I was dying!!

Things

Who ever said that things can't buy you happiness??

These are my recent purchases from Forever 21. The ring was around 4$ and the necklace 12$.

And I will just say I have been smiling aaaaalllllllll day!! Sometimes I get the greatest joy out of the smallest things....

Kiran I will buy you one if you like!!

Piggy Backs

One of everyones favorite past times!! Piggy Backs.

This is one of the only reasons I would ever want to have another child..... So the older two would not have to fight over the baby! It is a constant battle they have. Who can get Grace to play with them the most. I will be honest, Avery usually wins out.