Blogging is like journaling, when you get so far behind it almost gets to a point where you don't know where to start again. We have been having a great summer so far. We were lucky enough to have both of our families come and visit and we had a blast - as we always do when they are here. We've been swimming, hanging out at the beach, trying to be a little productive and mostly enjoying the beautiful Portland summer (a little more sun would be nice please!). We hope you are all having a great summer and not working too hard :)

Just Another Day at the Park!

Sunday Evening Thoughts

So I usually don't use our blog as a venue for expressing my deeper thoughts. I seem to use it more as a photo journal instead. But, the house is quiet (Justin is camping with the girls this weekend) and the baby is sleeping and I am contemplating a few things. I seem to keep coming back to the same thought lately and I want to see if anyone can shed some light on it for me. Or maybe by writing it down, I can shed some light on it myself. Why do we insist on finding the negative aspects of each other and focusing on them. Why do we speak unkindly about others to our friends? Why is it easier to do that than to find nice things to say? Why are we intolerant of each other's flaws or actions? Why do we care? Why can't we just let people be? This sounds so negative. I know that there is much kindness and love in the world. But I am thinking right now about this "syndrome" of "speaking unkindly". I've noticed that it seems to start at an early age (I didn't know the "mean girl" syndrome hit as early as first grade, but apparently it does) and seems to continue throughout our lives. I've been really feeling a push lately to focus on kindness and tolerance. I think because my kids are at an age where I really am pushing this with them and I'm realizing that every thing I say in their presence affects the way they see the world. When they hear me being intolerant of flaws I seem to find in others, this gives them license to do the same. I want so much to be able to dismiss the negative and focus on the positive in my relationships with others. I want others to do this with me too because I know I have much to work on. Tell me how you do this, I want your thoughts!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

9 years of marriage! (How embarrassing, my mom just reminded me that it's actually only been 8 years of marriage - ha ha, sorry honey) I just can't believe how much we have packed into these short 9 (really 8) years that we have been married. This October I will have known Justin for 13 (really it has been 13) years. So much has happened in those 13 years. We had no idea how life would turn out for us but we couldn't be happier about where we are and what we are doing with our lives. There's so much more in store, we can't wait to see how life continues to unroll for our family. So far we've had (in no particular order): 3 kids, 3 graduations, 3 states of residence, 3 foreign countries visited, and countless wonderful memories. I love you JT - you are such a light in my life. Thank you for your amazing positive outlook, tireless work ethic, and for being the anchor and joy in my life. Happy Anniversary and here's to many more to come!

Pictures are from our bike ride (without children - thanks Marissa) last weekend along the Willamette River that runs right through downtown Portland. It was beautiful and we were reminded yet again how lucky we are to live in such a fabulous city!

Happy Spring!

Every year (okay, just the last 2 years since we've lived in Portland) we've gone to the Woodburn Tulip Festival. I love it! What could be better than acres and acres of beautiful tulips of every color you can imagine. This year I got to go with my mom which made it even better. Thanks for being a great date Mom! There's nothing like beautiful flowers to make everything seem new and beautiful and good in the world.

(This tractor one is for you Dad!)

They Know Too Much!

This is a conversation that went down in our home a few days ago:

Emma: Mom, can I have one of those orange drinks (referring to the orange cream sodas left over from our Spring Break trip)

Me: No Emma, we don't have any left.

Emma: Can we buy some at the store?

Me: Sure.

Emma: When?

Me: Sometime.

Emma: Okay.

At this point Emma walks in the bedroom and tells Abby in an excited tone of voice: "Guess what Abby, Mom says we can buy some orange drinks at the store sometime."

Abby lovingly puts her hand on Emma's shoulder, gives her a look of pity and shakes her head.

Abby: Emma, let me tell you something. When mom says "sometime", that means never.

Emma: Awwww.

Now this is not totally fair as I am sure that sometime I will buy them an orange cream soda, I just don't know when! 

Happy Easter!

We hope you had a great one!

Newport Spring Break Fun

March '09 - Spring Break Newport

So, we're thinking Davis likes to suck his fingers! It's always those middle two and sometimes he has to use the other hand to hold them in, just in case they try to fall out. It's cute right now, I'm sure we won't love it in a few years when he's still sucking on them. But it sure is useful in the middle of the night when he finds them and puts himself back to sleep.

Wicked!

To kick off our Spring Break vacation last week (more photos of that to come), we went and saw Wicked. I LOVED it. I am such a sucker for musicals and this one did not disappoint. The music was so catchy, the story was so clever. I just loved it, loved it. It made me want to do a little dance when it was over. Plus, dates sans children are few and far between these days and it's always nice to feel like I can sit through something without stopping every few minutes to dig for a distraction from the magical diaper bag. Thanks for another great date Justin! 

New Milestone - Davis is Sitting Up!

Something New to Look At

I needed something new to look at, I couldn't look at those pictures of me anymore. This is much cuter. We had to get Davis a hat and tie, I mean, what is cuter than a baby in a tie. Who says boys are no fun to dress!

Caution - Majorly Superficial Post

I have an issue. It involves my ability to deal with the status quo. I love change. I love change of scenery, weather, apartments, and mostly hairstyle. Those of you who have known me for a long time, have seen the many different colors and styles that my hair has been over the years. Some on purpose and some not. Well, I've reached this time in my life again when I am itching for a new "do". This is the first time in a long time that I've had long hair and I've never had it long and dark before. Justin thinks I should leave it for a while, I am back and forth on the subject. I have a hair appointment in a few days and whenever I go in undecided, something drastic occurs. I am putting this out there for public opinion (because I know none of you have more important things to think about :) Here are a few examples:

My hair now. . . 

Brown with bangs

short and blonde

medium and blonde

shortish and blonde

I couldn't find a picture of the black hair with purple highlights but I don't think that hairstyle is currently being considered. So, what should I do?

Lou Lou Turns 5!

Emma has been asking to go camping for her birthday for 3 years in a row. We've had to explain to her that camping in Portland in March would really not be that fun. But since it was the "family party" year, we decided that we could camp at home. We made a "camping" cake (scene), a paper campfire and even pulled out the girls beach tents for sleeping. Justin and I slept out "under the stars". It was so much fun and Emma was thrilled. After hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner, we "roasted" marshmallows, ate cake and ice cream and then watched Planet Earth in the tents. It was a great birthday Emma - we love you!

The Cake - Justin took the scrap cake pieces and constructed the hill, complete with edible grass, gummy centipedes and spiders.

Getting ready for bed . . . 

It looks like they really think they'll roast if they hold them there long enough.

Emma made that hat herself, just in case anyone didn't know it was her birthday!

Itzhak Perlman

For Valentine's Day Justin gave me (us) tickets to see Itzhak Perlman with the Oregon Symphony. It was just this last Monday. Oh my goodness, it was so fun. I love the symphony anyway and to see Itzhak Perlman in person was amazing. We had a great time - thanks honey, you are a great date! 

Here's a little ear candy for you:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dggfA9Vo64U

Nostalgia . . .

Every once in a while I am hit with a major case of nostalgia. We love Portland, we are totally happy here. But we miss San Francisco too and when I think about it sometimes I get kind of melancholy. It was such a good time in our lives. The city was amazing and we feel so lucky to have lived there and experienced all we did during our 4 years there. I know we will feel the same way when we leave Portland. I was just going through some pictures and found a few of our favorite things about SF. 

Tidepooling - We absolutely LOVED going tidepooling. We can't wait to do it here at the Oregon coast. It was the girls very favorite thing to do and we went as often as we could (it didn't hurt that it was only about 20 minutes from our house and it was free!)

The Marin Headlands - right across the Golden Gate, about 10 minutes from our house. We loved to come out here and have picnics and enjoy the view of the bay. It was a perfect Sunday drive destination and we probably did it at least a few times a month.

The Palace of Fine Arts - This is my favorite place in SF. I love the architecture, it is so beautiful. It was my favorite place to go and walk around with Justin and the kids. I spent a lot of time there while we were in SF.

Alamo Square - Full House - what else can I say?

THE RAT!

I'm sure that some of you can relate to this. I have a husband that thinks he's pretty funny. I will admit it, I am a super jumpy person. I get startled so easily and most of the time it just takes Justin walking in the door from work to scare me. Well, about Halloween time Justin found a new way to scare me to death. The rat. I've honestly never seen anything uglier. I don't know where he found it but one day it showed up under the sink and when I went to get the dishwasher detergent, I very nearly had a heart attack. I should have thrown it out while I could. Since then the girls have grown attached to the rat. They won't let me throw it away and I don't have the heart to do it when they aren't looking although I know I should because . . . the rat keeps rearing it's ugly head at times when I least expect it and most of the time now, it's the girls that are the instigators. Everyone is against me!

My Amazing Mom!

I just have to brag about my mom for a minute. I can't say enough about how wonderful I think she is. She is smart, talented, a wonderful mom and grandma. She is also super-crafty in all things. Something I aspire to but never seem to get the hang of. This Christmas she went crazy making gifts for everyone and we LOVE all of the things she made. I just had to show off a few of them. These matching aprons she made for the girls and me have made me so happy. I've never felt so cute while cooking and the girls are really motivated now to help out in the kitchen, which is good and bad :)

Here are the darling cupcake outfits she made for the girls. They love them and would wear them every day if I would let them. Thanks Grandma, we love it all!