checkin' in

Oh, Hi! Remember me? I am currently seated on the couch next to a passed-out little dude covered in layers of blankets with Tiggy and Mickey on his lap. Poor guy has the stomach flu. As in, the same illness that Elle was inflicted with only last week.

Thus, the blogging has been non-existent. However, there are exciting new projects brewing up in BlogWorld that I cannot wait to share with you. Hopefully I will have more news soon, but, until then, I will leave you with some photos taken by a guest photographer while at the Zoo, long before the Stomach Bug of 2013 came to live with us...

Our feet, and a clue as to who the mystery photographer could be...

The Zoo is already getting ready for Zoo Lights! (Note lights on tree above) I'm SO excited!

Eleanor's bum

He put a bird in this shot to try to make it artsy... what a little Portlander.

... if you haven't guessed yet, it's this guy:

 

... anyway, Happy Sunday everyone! Have a great week!

(Pictures of James and me with kiddos taken by my good friend, Elissa.)

Read more...

happy weekend

Happy weekend!
In the greater-Portland area we are switching out our beautiful sunshine for rain, beginning this evening.

Luckily, we took full advantage of the sunshine this week with bike rides, park trips, and even swimming yesterday.

One day it was so warm that Elle had to take her pants off at the park.

But, Autumn begins tomorrow. I am celebrating by making soup tonight.

Tomorrow we are going to the Farmer's Market and having some friends over for dinner. I hope it's rainy and cozy.

Happy Autumn Eve everyone!

Read more...

happy weekend

Happy weekend, friends.

We are heading to Corvallis for a family photo shoot tomorrow. I bought the kids long-sleeve shirts to wear, but we may be switching that up since it is supposed to be above ninety degrees tomorrow...

... and then rainy on Sunday, of course.

What is everyone else up to?

Read more...

summer, as seen through the diaper bag camera

Remember how I was super dramatic about how busy we have been all summer? Well, I decided to share just a few snippets of what we have been up to. 

All these pictures were taken with the little camera I keep in my diaper bag and pull out when ever I think "I really need to document this!" 

Half of them are taken while balancing a baby in one arm. So, not the best quality, but, hey, at least I'm documenting...

Corbett Fourth of July Parade. Always entertaining:

Happy Valley Splash Pad:

Nerf gun buddies!:

All ready for camping:

The dudes. Fishing. Hanging out. Doing what dudes do:

 More dude stuff: throwing rocks into water:

My child was a blur the entire camping trip:

 Happy camper:

 James and daddy on the tube:

Rock climbing gym. James can't stop talking about it, even though this was as far up as he climbed:

 The zoo with our friends the Triplet Gals:

Blue Lake splash pad (goggles optional):

Pony ride:

a little work mixed in with all the fun:

 touring the Rose Garden (that's what I'm calling it regardless. Just like Civic Stadium.) :

getting messy in the sand box:

Hopefully some recipes and more house tour soon! (I know, you are just on the edge of your seat, ha)

Read more...

vowel letter art projects

For a while I was daily doing "school" with James. Around the time I got really sick he decided he would no longer participate in school. So we are on summer break. However, I want to share the vowel activities I came up with for him to do:

He used an apple slice as a stamp with paint for "A":

For "E" I used this template. I traced all the pieces and then had him fit them on and glue them. Then he colored his elephant. For "U" he colored the umbrella and glued on the pre-cut rain drops.

For "O" I drew a large oval and had James glue on googly eyes and then he cut and glue legs to make an octopus. For "I" he glued a pre-cut ice cream cone and scoops of ice cream. Then he glued real "fwinkles" all over the ice cream.

For "Y" he simply cut pieces of yarn and glued them on a piece of paper.

Who knows if he is really learning his letters from these activities, but he enjoys doing them and I love to display them in our house!

Read more...

"fwee"

James turned "fwee" last Monday. We had his joint party with cousin Nathan on Sunday.

There was a pinata (full of toys, glow sticks, and candy!) :

Presents (James is obsessed with his new drill; he keeps it in the garage next to Daddy's drill) :

"Fwimming":

Sister was exhausted from all the partying and took a power nap on Grandma:

I made a dino cake complete with an exploding volcano:

The birthday boys each waiting to blow out their three-year-old candle (but really just wanting to eat cake) :

horse-back riding:

This was the car ride home:

...a success!

One year ago
Two years ago

Read more...