Easter Best

Happy Easter!

Outside Brian's parents Church Service.

Easter Baskets in the morning, we will call this the BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS.... and that is how they acted for the rest of the day. "Champions" as in crazy children with more energy than the Tasmanian devil. Just kidding. All things (meaning all the candy) considered, they were amazing.

At the Easter Egg hunt with Gaynea.

Inspecting our findings.....

This is my all time favorite Easter Dress. Avery wore this years ago, and hopefully Auri will wear it next year. I love the simplicity of it, with the little Easter Bunny on the front.

After church and Brunch at John and Patsy's house, we headed into Portland to visit with Aunt Sandra. Two of Sandra's daughters were there with their families. It was such great visit.

I thought Patsy and John looked like a very handsome couple.

My favorite pictures of the day. Sandra and Patsy with their Annual Easter hats. They put them on at the end of the day and broke into song and dance. Their laughter reminded me of me and my sisters. Their love and happiness is so apparent.

What a Young Spirit!!

Lastly, one of my baking highlights, Meringue Bunnies. Huge hit....to be repeated next year.

Jake's 8!

Thought I would start out this blog post with a picture of what Jake (who is 8) likes to do most. You can always find this kid running, jumping, shooting a ball, and playing with guns. I joke that this kid has enough energy and needs so little sleep that one day he will be an ER surgeon.



Jake turned 8 this last week. And yes, 8 is GREAT. Why wouldn't it be great, you get 3 parties, get to see Grandparents, Cousins, friends, get to go to Enchanted Forrest, and get tickets to a Blazer Game.

He did all of this while on Spring Break....I swear he probably thinks this break from school was designed just for his celebration. And what a great way to think.



A token picture of the Family when the Gaunt Grandparents came over to celebrate.

I love Grace's look on her face. And to be truthful, this is where she is most of the day....on my side. Brian refers to her as "my shadow".



Cupcakes with Easter Eggs on them.

Indiana Jones book from Gaynea Patsy. He also got new Blazer shirt and shorts.

Gaynea Patsy and the Girls.

The Present from his Mom and Dad. Blazer Tickets! Blazers vs Mavericks. (Blazers Won)

On to party #2

We celebrated Jake and Cousin Auri's B-day up at my Parents.

The dirt bike cake Gaynea Shirli made:

Poppa and Max (with his new hair cut)

Grace and Poppa. I love Grace's pom-pom hair accessories.

Jake is eating his four layer piece of cake. Thankfully it was NOT all finished!

Warren wrote Jake a letter telling him he was the best Cousin ever. I thought it was touching.

Jake cleaned up with new Star Wars guys!

Counting his one dollar bills from Poppa. Poppa told him about six months ago that he would match all the money that Jake saved. Jake has seriously not spent one dime since that was said. I think he has almost 70$ saved up now.

The girls playing on Auri's new kitchen set.

Birthday #3 Enchanted Forrest with friends.

Jake and Zach on the log ride.

Kelvin and Jake:

Finally, The Blazer game......

And not surprising, the camera battery was low and this is the only picture taken :(

I love this Boy. I can't believe he has been under my care for 8 years.

He is fast, he is smart, he is caring, he is sensitive, he is sarcastic, he is a good dancer, he is learning to play the piano, he likes to make people laugh, he likes to listen to my music loud in the car.

I am starting to see glimmers of what he will look like as a young man. And it excites me and pains me at the same time.

Mom picking up Jake at the last day of Camp.

Happy Birthday Jake!!!

Binki Anyone?

Grace in her element on the couch today....

That's 9 binkis, that's right 9, and chocolate milk watching Dora. What could be better? A little slice of Grace Heaven.

Included the token picture of myself.....

These are pictures that Grace took while waiting at Jake and Avery's dentist Apt. Yes, that's right I let my toddler play with my camera just to entertain her. There were movies, color crayons, pet shops and numerous other toys. What did she prefer to do? Yes, take pictures. The dental hygienists probably thought I was crazy, or just a mother of three who has given up the fight. Anyway thought I would include them.

PS - Jake and Avery both had two cavities......Guess they got the Anderson genes.

Voodoo

As in Voodoo Donuts.

I do love this little town of mine. I love the small feeling, the close knit neighbors, the great schools, the library, the boat ramp and all the parks. But there are moments that I feel a little closed in. There are days when I only drive a total of five blocks, to and from the elementary school. These are the days that I yearn for something more than a chain restaurant, or a grocery store.

This past Saturday was one of those days.

When my sister Kiran was visiting a few weeks ago, her and Hill visited this donut store in downtown Portland after a lunch we had together. I wasn't able to go because I had to get back to the small town to get kids from school and ever since their adventure I have wanted to experience it myself.

It did not disappoint ..... (well it did disappoint Brian a little, Brian's only observation: "The lady in back is dipping donuts with her bare hands and her two foot long dreadlocks are not covered")

On the Menu:

The famous maple bar with bacon. Could there be a more appropriate donut for a cop?

Fruit loop donut and the Oreo Cookie Donuts also:



The furnishings were to die for. Remember these big ratan chairs from the 70's?

Grace's donut had blue and pink sprinkles.....but was difficult to hold.

Avery's favorite, the Captain Crunch.

Seating at Voodoo Donuts..... a coffin. How appropriate.

Grace soon tired of getting her hands messy and opted for just using her mouth.

Some of the video games.

There's that great chair!

While downtown with the sugared up children (they each had 2 whole donuts!) we decided to go for a little 'hike' around Pittock Mansion. The grounds are just beautiful and the Mansion is stunning.

Some of the details:

A view from further away.

Brian and the kids:

A view of Downtown Portland from the lawn of the Mansion:

Up the hill a little way we then hit the Rose Garden Children's Park just down from the Zoo.

I love Grace's face:

This little day adventure was just what I needed. The kids had a blast, and what's not to love about donuts and parks on a Saturday out of a small town??