Airshow

Jack reading about the F-15 Eagle
Doug explaining how a gun works by sticking his finger inside the barrel

Planes in formation

Cockpit of a black-hawk

Not quite big enough to be a pilot...but maybe a co-pilot for now?

Ella looking at the "Miss Red Dear" vintage plane.

Very cool preying mantis on a post

We decided to jump on the train and go to the Oregon Air Show today. Loved seeing Jack's face light up playing in all the military heavy machinary. Was interesting to try and answer Ella's questions about military, soldiers and war. We sat in the sun and watched planes fly overhead until the kids got tired of being stationary (and there was rain on the horizon). What a fun day.

Summer in Oregon: AKA Berry Season

Big Berry, Little Fingers

Sour Berry Face

Sweet Berry Face

Berry Farmer Jack

Eating the bounty

Ready for a "berry" beautiful day

One of the many reasons i love oregon...berry season. wonderful days of picking and eating berries to our hearts desire. the best line at the berry farm today was from jack: "Let's go, I'm full."

Fireworks fun

A night filled with reclaimed memories of the excitement of watching fireworks. The kids even fell asleep watching fireworks in the hills from their bedroom windows.

Night at the game

We enjoyed a late-night out with the kids. Took the train to PGE park, had cotton candy and hot dogs for dinner, and stayed for a great fireworks display.

Jack's Birthday Activities

Rocket-Ship Carrot Cupcake

We ate cupcakes BEFORE we had burgers- per Jack's request The spaceship landed on a huge burger: defended by the robots The wind was insane!

Happy Birthday Jack!

The Present/Icing on the cake: A train trip on the Mount Hood Railway

Birthday trip on the train

Back to the Blog

unable and unmotivated to contend with those that make daily or semi-weekly posts (you know who you are), i have officially decided blogging will be a bi-monthly occurrence for me. this last month has been filled with events- both joyful and sad.
jack turned the big "4" and we celebrated at the park with lots of friends (including grandma brown) on a VERY windy day with a rocket-themed birthday. as his birthday present from mommy and daddy we went to hood river and took a ride on the train.
doug turned the big "3-1" which we celebrated with a day at the coast drinking of lots of wine on the beach, a long nap in the sun, eating lots of crab, and watching a beautiful sunset.
my parents made a last-minute trip to see us (mostly the "grandchildren" part of the family, that is). doug wasn't here for their visit, because our dear friend clark witt passed away, and doug was back in new york for his funeral service. when someone is lost, it reminds us to enjoy the time that we have together- it can be too short.

will i regain the motivation for further posting? yet to be seen.

Pop Rocks

Paradise on Earth

I'll never forget driving through the gorge when doug and i first arrived in oregon 6years ago. i remember saying "this looks like paradise on earth" as we drove by the cliffs with waterfalls cascading and the greenery of the ferns and moss.
the awe still remains, and we were able to go and enjoy our favorite little town of Hood River for my birthday this year. it was a joyful and relaxing way to welcome in my 29th year.

Spring Performance- phase 2

So this is a late post about jack's "spring performance" at his pre-school last week. activities included planting (jack picked sunflowers), an easter egg hunt (jack was the first to fill his basket) and a song the kid's performed. in case you can't understand the slurred singing of the 3-year-olds, the song goes something like..."it's raining, it's raining, on my head, on my head. pitter-patter rain drops, pitter-patter rain drops, i'm all wet, i'm all wet

"Spring Performance"

Ella's kindergarten class put on their spring performance today. i was at a conference, but daddy doug got to enjoy the festivities. After the kid's sang their songs, there was an easter egg hunt on the playground and the parents and kids planted seeds. ella chose daisies and sweet peas. so we'll have to document their progress as they grow over the coming months. (for those of you who haven't been to our place, if you look close in the picture of the windowsill you can see the train we commute on pulling away from the stop. it's literally our back yard. thank god it's a quiet electric train.)

Day Trip to Corvallis

crazy jack in the car


abe and jack enjoying a snack


glued to the TV watching a "Big Trucks" video

After a hectic run out the door to get ella to school on time, jack and i hit the road south to corvallis to see bonnie and abe today. jack made the song selections in the car, and much to my delight requested we listen to weezer. so the drive down was serenaded by my favorite band, plus the enjoyment of seeing all the daffodils in full bloom.
this was our first visit to see bonnie's new place, so jack brought abe a housewarming present- a tonka truck that he used to love. bonnie even made us a special quiche. the "girls" tried to do some crafting, but the boys had other things in mind (NAPS), so we parted. thanks, bonnie, for a great day visiting with such good friends.

cornbread anyone?

Uncle Sillyhead

Doug's brother Sam (aka Uncle Sillyhead) made a montage of our time in NY a few weeks ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMRLW6IPqlo&feature=channel_page

Spring Break

fifth (and last) day of spring break: rainy day trip to the zoo. picnic lunch and ella treated jack and i to cotton candy. *disclaimer on jack's puddle-jumping pic. the hiking up of the pants would be his mom's suggestion and not a truely authentic jack move.*

fourth day of spring break: no pics cause ella decided to do a fieldtrip with her school. she had a blast playing soccer at Indoor Goals with a "coach."

third day of spring break: story time at the library and field trip to "bounce land." Ella said her legs were so tired after climbing the rock wall 3 times that she just "couldn't get her legs to move." Needless to say, was an early bedtime tonight.

second day of spring break: pajamas 'til 11:00 and lunch with daddy

first day of spring break: trip to the nickel arcade on SE Belmont.

Random Sundays

i love sundays for their pure randomness. i awoke with the memory of a dream (tainted by a belly full of wine and baby-shower cake) in which i was bowling with Barack Obama. a leisurly morning getting ready for and attending church. in the car while talking about my upcoming birthday ella announced "you're not REALLY old until your 30." i guess i still have one good year ahead of me. we made it home just in time to watch the nail-biter march madness game as Mizzou (my alma-mater) fought their way into the sweet 16.

the random day wouldn't be complete without holiday decorating and an early bed-time for the kiddos.