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.