Her Christmas program...

Deck the Bells....I mean halls. This little creative soul keeps me on my toes and laughing the whole time. Decorating a tree once isn't enough. My kids have to do it over and over and over again. And this day she decided to decorate herself too!

Our little "Snig-tails" in her school's Christmas talent show. Her teacher, Sister Jensen, made them all matching pants to wear for the dance. How cute is this 1st grade class? I am so grateful for the school that she goes to! It has been such a blessing for her and for us. She did the cutest little dance and then plunked the piano in the talent show. I say plunk because she hasn't taken lessons yet and just knows the right hand by sound. She plays a mean Silent Night, Sweet Hour of Prayer, and I am a Child of God though.

And then there was Harry....plum-tuckered (or was that me :) after a redecorating of the tree (daily occurence, and you thought cats were bad! Sheesh). I tried uploading the videos of said events, but a fringe benefit of having the slowest internet known to man is that videos are a no-go. This assumption comes after 1 full hour of letting it try to upload. Sigh. I am grateful for what I got though!

Merry Christmas one and all!

Jazz and trees...

Go Jazz! Kent is kinda a die-hard so when the Jazz made their bi-annual appearance here in Portland we HAD to go. It was a family affair. I had my misgivings....we were decked in our Jazz gear and them Portland fans likes the booze. I was envisioning streetside encounters worthy of a HBO special. Happily, it all ended in our favor. Jazz won! We arrived at the car in one piece with serveral "Hey good game"'s on the way and very few cuss words during. I only covered the kids ears once. A very successful first game for Harry.

Our friend gave us some tickets to something called the "Singing Christmas Tree" here at the Keller auditorium. It was wonderful. It is the largest Choir in Oregon. People from all Christian beliefs coming together to sing their testimony of praise and love of the Savior. I love this season.

Thanks a lot....

Tom Turkey

(January 2010-November 2010)

Brave Tom Turkey, a Red Heritage Turkey from Kookoolan farms, lived as freely as he died. He enjoyed bugs and wandering endlessly. Being a direct descendent of those Turkey's that the pilgrims gratefully lived for and with (not hybridized like Turkey's of today), he roosted in the tops of trees. Although disappointed that his race didn't win the battle for our great Country's bird (Bald Eagle indeed!), as our friend Benjamin Franklin suggested, he still lived each and everyday fulfilling all of his duties. He (and all turkey's) wasn't much to look at, but he filled all he knew with pride! Tom died and went on to the place all good turkey's go on November 19, 2010. He died as he had lived, peacefully, in the open air, with the most loving of farmers.

Tom Turkey cost me $25 and 20 bars of my soap. Worth every beautiful penny....

Now, with all that being said (and those who know my organic tendencies know how thrilled I am to say it), our Thanksgiving was something straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Hosted proudly and perfectly by the dearest, lovliest Miss Moss at her humble abode, Starlings. Yes, she names things too. Ahh a kindred spirit.

I love Thanksgiving! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Because "it is all about the food and doesn't pretend to be about anything else!" The yams took the cake, I introduced cranberry salad to the unlearned (thank you Mary for the greatest recipe ever!), but the Turkey kinda rocked. 'Nuf said, lest I sound prideful.

The company of the Grell's and lovely Lavinia (and family) made for the most remarkable and wonderful Thanksgiving this side of the Blue Mountains.

Top it off with Warr wonderful Blueberry Pie and Moss Chocolate Pecan pie, and you rolled me home a happy woman.

I get really homesick sometimes. How grateful I am for so many things. For health, home, warmth, love, friendship, life. Mostly, this Thanksgiving for family away from family. Love you guys for so many reasons! But mostly for your warm and open hearts and kindnesses. You are a tender mercy in our lives!

Happy UnHalloween...

I think Oprah has coined the "Ah-hah moment" phrase. So using her noun, (someday I will come up with a noun ALL MY OWN!) I had my "AH-HAH" moment checking out of Ross the other day. It was the 6th store in a string of unsuccessful Find-a-costume trips. And then, standing there purchasing a 4.55 dress for Bella it hits me...

ME: (insert bright lightbulb here)"I DON'T like Halloween."

CLERK:"Huh?"

ME:"I said I don't like Halloween. It causes me great anxiety trying to dress myself up differently from my daily rig-a-ma-ru. It stresses me out! (I think there was a hand throwing up here) It brings insane amounts of candy that I am against and still eat. It causes depression when I realize that all my best costume options are already in my closet and I choose from there which is sad on so many more levels than I care to count. It's a dark holiday representing darkness and all dark things. And just try to find a woman's costume that does not in some way double as lingerie...I dare you."

CLERK:"Well....bah humbug."

ME:"Precisely."

CLERK:"Have a nice day."

ME: "I'll try."

This is a representation of a faithful narrative of an actual occurence. Any discrepencies are entirely Oprah's fault.

The poor clerk. I think by the end of my rant she was smiling. I hope she still works there, unafraid, unhindered by phobias of a stay-at-home mom's ramblings.

Hence, Harry was Batman/Lightning Mcqueen/ Buzz Lightyear/Dinosaur...depending on the mood and the PJ's wearing. He refused to put on the cutest Lightyear costume that I borrowed for the ward trunk or treat because it felt weird.

Bella was Snow White for lack of a better idea. Whatev!

I went as me and with the exception of the above photograph, neglected to capture any Halloweeny event. I know that there is some deep physchological stuff there that we can delve into...but let's not.

Toothless fairy....

I find myself saying "Jill-ism"s, if you will. My mom, Jill, had the greatest one liners growing up and I usually find myself spouting one off here or there.

i.e. in answer to the demand..."COME ON." My daughter/husband would say "I'm coming." And I might say "Yah, so's Christmas." This one just gets funnier as I get older.

And I don't know how far it is exactly "from hell to breakfast", but I would go that far to see this smile...

She lost 4 teeth in two weeks. 2 of those she lost within 12 hours.

Her response when the last one went under the pillow for the tooth fairy: "Look daddy, it's a party of dollars."

I love my girl!

The half fast....

If you didn't happen to catch the above at first glance, allow me to enlighten you. After Elder McConkie's Saturday morning General Conference talk on teaching, I turned to Kent and said "You know my kids always listen better when I fast. Maybe I should fast every Sunday."

Kent: " That might be a little extreme sweetheart. Maybe you should just fast in the morning before going, ya know, like a half-fast."

As the words were coming out of his mouth, he realized the accidental creation of a dual meaning compound word. We both burst out laughing for the next five minutes. It was hilarious!

Here I must needs inform you as to my current calling, the sunday school teacher to 16 sixteen-year olds. I find this hilarious on many levels including, but not limited to the fact that I never went to Sunday School when I was 16. My teacher actually took to posting watchmen at the exits of the building to evade our escape, one of which was the bishop. Which brings me to a sincere apology. Dear Sister Oborn, I am so so so sorry for my lack of respect toward you during my adolescence. If it makes you feel any better, I disrespected everyone so it wasn't just you. And how I admire you now and always, you lovely woman, and may I just say that is a very fetching blouse you are wearing....


Anyway, this is the first time in our lives that we haven't been able to watch conference in the comfort of our own homes. We actually had to travel 20 minutes to watch it at the stake center. And we did! All four sessions. We sat in the nursery and watched it on the TV there while the kids played. We loved it so much. We are so grateful to live in a free country where we can worship freely. We are grateful for a prophet in these troubled times.

How sweet it is to be in love with this gospel, with my family, by my sweet husband, and with the Lord's precious words. How very sweet it is.



On an unrelated note, Bella raided Daddy's closet earlier this week and thought it was hilarious.

So we name stuff and stuff....

Our stuffed get-ye-up horsie is named Minty.

Her snuggle my little pony is named Violet.

Her lifelike chick is named Aurora.

His monkey is named Harry Two.

Garbage truck is just Garbage truck...don't mess.

Her new acquistion (praise be to daddy-daughter dates) is Princess Molly.

Harry calls his blanket his B-ness.

Our new piano (free from craigslist...oh ya baby) is named PEE-YAN-OH.

The firetruck's name is Sam.

His favorite shirt is named B.B.

Milk is called Moch-a Moch-a. A name so nice you say it twice.

Her porcelain doll is Cosette Angel.

His BMW toy car is called his "Burgundy car". Don't make the mistake of calling it red.

Harry will wear nothing....I repeat nothing....save his jeans. And Bella has not one pair "because they bug."

Here is my toothless angel-cake-cita. She lost it during church. Don't worry ward, she is vaccinated. So as we are searching on our hands and knees in the gym looking for the lost sucker for a couple minutes the mom behind us points and tells her son to pick up whatever that item was under his chair that she thought we may be looking for. I got there before he did...yuck! I have my limits. Bella was thrilled! She even got an orygami elephant $1 bill. Which she said of in the morning "It was crumpled, like a box." Strike one tooth fairy! There is always the orygami butterfly next time.

First day of firsts...

Bella's first day of first grade started something like this....

Opening hymn: Sweet Hour of Prayer

Recitation of our country's Pledge of Allegiance.

Recitation of the School mission statement which is...

"Moral discipline is the consistent exercise of agency to choose the right because it is right, even when it is hard. It rejects the self-absorbed life in favor of developing character worthy of respect and true greatness through Christlike service." - D. Todd Christofferson

Prayer

Small devotional by one of the teachers (will usually be a student) in which they used the following quote which I loved. "Moral character is the tree. Reputation is the shadow." - Abe Lincoln

(Huge sigh) ........And I felt peace.

And MY first day of Bella's first day was followed up with "Mom are you coming to class with me?"

"Sure. Do you want me too?"

"No."

"Oh." (I mean really people can you just hear the wind going out of my sails here....but of all the reactions she could have....this was actually the best and the one I wanted and I am so grateful.) Okay...I'll see you later."

"Love you mom." And she skips merrily away. Sandwich it with a game of freeze tag and swinging on the swings and it couldn't have been any better. She was happy.

A beautiful day. She came home and did her hour of homework. In which she verified all of the short vowel sounds she learned that day by gathering two items with each sound for tomorrow. They are also building a community so she packed her "accessories" (that's a fancy word for sparkly cars and airplanes for the community...duh!) Her words not mine. Then we soccer-ed ourselves out in the evening. Yeah for Kick-n-chase!

There she goes....

And thus we enter a new phase of life......

G &GG

Let it be known far and wide that my kids have the greatest grandparents ever!

Grandma and Grandpa Gardner came on up to our neck of the woods to get their fill of the H-Bear and Beba-meister. And oh-did-they ever! Poor Grandpa couldn't even use the bathroom w/0 a very anxious Harry sitting outside with his face squeezed beneath the crack saying "Gampa, Gampa is that you?" Poor guy. Harry at the beach with "THE truck"

Ignoring the crack in the distance that Kent just brought to my attention....ah hmmmm.....this picture helps to illustrate the nonstop interaction wif grandpa?! They ate it up every second.


Bebs at the beach.

At the farm on the way home from the beach for REAL milk.

How cute is she?!

We tried a new beach this time and really liked it. It had a tidal pool type thing that was great for the kids while we still enjoyed the beautiful waves in the distance. It was stunning...topped off with ice cream smiles all around!

Grandpa and his fan club.

Love these people!
We went to the Portland Temple and lunch together. It was so heavenly.


Hopefully we didn't love them out and they will come back soon. Tomorrow is good for us!

Keep Portland Weird...

There is a bumper sticker out there that says simply "Keep Portland Weird." It took us two years to go downtown to the riverwalk, but after an afternoon jaunt I now "get" that bumper sticker.....Portland is just.....out there. Really, really far out there. I will not be owning one of those bumper stickers anytime soon, but I get it now.

The bridge going up and down.
The view from the otherside.

Love this picture!

And this one. These are my little peeps watching the Portland Peeps.

First we walked around the bridge circuit AND THEN saw the glaring rent a bike sign and HAD to do that to. It was so much fun. And will be on our list of things to take people to do when they come and visit.

We ended the day sidestepping past a man yelling at himself and hitting his head straight into VOO-DOO doughnuts where I turned my nose up at the maple bar with bacon down the middle for a Portland Cream. The only reason we did this was because it was the shortest line we had ever seen come out of there.....there were only 7 people ahead of me. Crazy store, crazy doughnuts, crazy people. I came home and showered, but we had a great time.

More to come about our heavenly visit from G & G G!

Pictures...

We are visiting family for a while. I just wanted to share some more pictures from the wedding. The one of Bella takes me breath away. My heart sometimes feels like bursting with adoration for these spirits sent to our family.

Bird's nest....

That's it!

I am cutting my hair. And not because I don't like it, and not because it's ridiculously unhealthy. This is the year that I am going to pull off the Page Boy hair cut by dang! And all because of a bird.

On my run this morning past the golf course I WAS CHASED by a bird who kept diving at my head and pulling my knappy hair in my ponytail. HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A BIRD"S NEST ON MY HEAD. A BIRD'S NEST PEOPLE! I got a great run though, sprinting for the 17th and 18th hole until I realized that if I changed my hair to a low rat's nest, it wouldn't dive for me.

So the sadisitic bird is either a) giving all women with my hair predictament Portland over a complex or b)my hair really is a bird's nest.

Either answer is equally disturbing.

Lazy day....

Ahhhhhmmmmmm...... I would just like to own the fact that I have had the most ridiculously lazy day ever. Snuggling kidlets and watching Masterpiece Theatre's Emma. It was delicious...the movie and the day. Blissfully, beautifully, charmingly, wonderful day full of nothings. Harry and I were in our jammies all day, Bella the ballerina in her leotard and point shoes dancing to Vivaldi.

So why do I feel guilty? Can anyone enlighten me on this one?

Mark and Brooke...

It's official! All of my siblings are now married! How does that feel mom?

The wedding was beautiful. Thank you for picking such a perfect soul mate Mark, you guys are perfect for each other. We love you!

If ever there was a flower girl right?! She did such a great job. She took it all very seriously.

Bishop Barlow did a great job.

The first dance.

The flower girls.

Reading...

If Harry learns his alphabet or ever has a desire to read, I will give Bella 100% credit. She falls asleep reading every night. After we have gone in her room to turn off the light 3 times, she continues to read from the light in the window. She just loves to read. And Harry follows whatever she does. What a great example this little girl is to our family!

I love moments like this. (minus the look of irritation I am getting.)

Camping...

We went camping. The honest use-matches, tin-foil dinner, bumpy ground tent camping reminiscent of YW camps of old. Yup, that would be us. I figure it is a great way for us to see this great state that we live in. And it is! This campground was GORGEOUS, right on the beach. We were blessed with no rain.....a few sprinkles (Oregon kisses really) on Saturday morning and that's it. We arranged the tarps overhead and underhead (Thanks Lavinia!) and thanks to my ingenious inclusion of rope in the supplies (plus the "Bacon-saving twine" Kent found left behind on a tree over yonder) we had ourselves a splendid 'ole set up. It was the kids first time tent camping. (ya,ya I know!) It is so much fun to just lay together and fall asleep and laugh absurdly at nothing and everything. We played Guess Who approx. 35 times. Bella spontaneously bore her little testimony around the fire about how Heavenly Father loves her and everyone. I love my family! I am so grateful to have these memories. Bella's favorite was the fire; Harry's was peeing outside (as usual).

I was feeling pretty good/well prepared after night #1. I mean yes, I forgot a tablecloth, but come on..... where's the "rough" in "roughin' it" if you don't forget a thing or two, right? Anyway, I am feeling pretty good AND THEN, "George Jetson" backed in next door and with the "beep,beep, beep" of his lifted 2015 cherry-red-Chevy-truck his entire campsite burst to life. No joke! They backed in. We said Hi as we walked to the playground. Came back a short 15 minutes later and VOILA! Their entire Hilton version camp site was in full swing boasting a hearty fire, meal half way prepared, tent set up, firewood chopped and propane tiffany lantern(which attaches to the propane stove) lit up lovingly, while the golden retriever dozed in the warmth and they played cards! People like this shouldn't camp in public areas, it makes people like me glare unwillingly.

Quote of the evening: After I put out the fire for the 15th time trying to get the tin-foil dinners done, our neighbors went for a walk. And Kent said "I'm glad our neighbors didn't see you do that, otherwise I would be really embarrassed." For the record, my fire came back and kicked everyones butt, and mine did it "al naturale" w/o gas! Take that George!

So list of things to get for my 72 hour kit/camping kit:

41 tarps

firewood

bowls

marshmallow roasters

tablecloth

ax
duck tape

....and one of those buttons that the George Jetson people used to acheive their perfection. Anyone know where I can get one of those?

P.S. After perusal of this blog, lest people think me shallow, I would like to say that the people to the other side of us were also excellent and admirable campers (and climbers and hikers and students and...etc. from Canada) however I felt no grudges toward their fondue night...none. It was just that one neighbor with the truck. 'Nuf said...

Zoo...

I was as astonished as the next person when my husband woke up before me a couple of Saturday's ago ready and rearing to be at the Zoo on the day they started their summer hours. He wanted to be there at 8:00a .m. We made it by 9:00....close enough. Riding the horses. I love this principle. "Here-ride this-and -leave-the real-animals alone." I tried applying the same tactic to tea sets and somehow they still always want to play with the real thing. Go-figure.

Um, disclaimer, my baby girl has dressed herself since she was 2 years old. No amount of coaxing, begging, pleading, persuading, bargaining and out-right bribery will make her change her choice of fashion. Some things are worth it and this battle just isn't worth it to me. (Sigh), oh well, I adore her.....just....what's the word.....Sense of Selfness. She is just her and I never want to change it. But the above is a representation of said stubbornness. How cute is my little fashion-ista?!!

Driving the tractor at the zoo. How cute is he?!!

Daddy took (and loves) this picture. It was while she was watching the Walruses (or whatever they are ) underground.

The preceding was also a pictorial representation of the only sunny day we had in months. It was here and gone.....a beautiful,warm, dry 48 hours that took place about 2 weeks ago. Just wanted to capture it for ya.