Indian Beach....

I wonder if I have always loved field trips, the break in the monotony, the spontaneity of it all. We went to the beach with some friends last week, and here are the pictures that the incomparable I-Shuan took. We went to a different beach than our "normal beach" and branching out is healthy.

This is Bella and Harry's little friend. Love this kid.

This is the greatest part of the beach, they all zonk after. Completely gone-zo. So cute. Thanks for the great fun guys. Love you!

Organic gardening.....

What would a hypothetical person be doing with 2 pounds of cayenne pepper, a pump sprayer,a six foot ladder and goggles? Why invoking organic gardening 101 of course! Apparently, worms no-likey cayenne pepper (does anything?) and this could be the end of my wormy apple problem. However, now what to do with the 1st degree burns all over my body from said Cayenne pepper problem. Hmmmmm, tap, tap, tap, I wonder...........

Oh and for future reference, cayenne pepper clogs the sprayer and so untwisting the pressured Cayenne pepper H2O concoction 20 times to figure out WHY it isn't coming out is among the dumber things you could do in this hypothetical sitch. On the upside, all my zits are gone. And the numb tingles all over have also subsided, ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

Also, we just got back from Utah. My brother had a baby, Avery and Kent's sister had a baby, Edith. Anyway, while we were there my amazing cousin Ashley took our family's pictures. Click here to see some of them. http://ashleymaephoto.com/blog/ Thanks Ash, Love you.

Introducing Milkmaiden Soap...

It's not that I spazz out with excess creative energy, really, it's just that I have a very healthy appreciation for natural things. I have always been fascinated by soap making in all of it's beauty and I have also been disconcerted by the lowest of the low quality of commercial soap. Combine this with my research on goat milk with all of it's health benefits and WA LAA...you have my newest endeaver....Milkmaiden Soap (the milkmaiden in the scenerio would be me). It's made entirely of coconut oil, olive oil, and goat milk (that's it)! It took me a long time, a lot of research and a whole bunch of failed attempts before I made the perfect recipe for the most amazing of soaps. Don't panic....it's organic. Anyway, thought I would show you a picture of the finished product. Thank you I-Shuan for your mad graphic designing skills. Can I be you when I grow up?

You can visit the blog at.....

milkmaidensoap.blogspot.com

So for friends and family, they cost $4/bar or 3/$10 dollars. Basically, if you find out about the soap through this blog....that means you. At the farm, in the stores around town, they are $5/bar. They weigh between 7-8 oz. each. which is double the size of commerical soap bar...so it really is a deal.

Anyway, just thought I would share. Not that I like to toot my own horn, mostly because there is a disagreeable quacking sound when I do, but I am pretty thrilled to be proud of a highest caliber product made from my own hands.

A jamstress...

Once upon a time there was a lovely, slightly plump jamstress who wanted to make the world's greatest raspberry jam, a family favorite.

This jamstress was also semi-adventerous and went wake boarding on her magical Kingdom's birthday, even July the 4th, with her prince. Whilst her children were outsourced to darling babysitter they adore.

And she rocks!

Anyway, back to the tale at hand. She wanted to make the world's greatest jam. But the kingdom said "In order to have a successful jam, one must add an obscene amount of sugar in order for it to work." The jamstress, in an effort to actually taste the fruit in the jam rather then the sugar, sought out the wisdom of "Oh-wise berry lady" on top of ole' yonder hill in the berry patch. "Oh wise berry lady" directed the Jamstress to a wonderful thing called Pomegrante Pectin which reacts with the Calcium in the fruit rather then the sugar and said, "Cook it, little Padawan." So the Jamstress, cooked her jam (this is the secret) and added only a cup of sugar and 1/4 cup lemon juice.

And the Jam gods, smiled down with favor upon the young, adventurous jamstress with a jamming success. And all the children of the land, young and old, lived happily ever after (for the rest of the day.)

With smiling faces too!

THE END

Bella's Birthday....

Patience and fortitude, patience and fortitude...." is what my mom has always said. It is what you will need while your peruse this lengthy post documenting my mom, sisters and nephews visit to us in the great state of Oregon. It is what they all needed as they drove across two states to get here with two children.


Bella with her cake from Whole Foods, which she has been asking for everytime we are in the store for the last 3 months. I mean honestly. And luckily Grandma was in town, who is sweet enough to say "Whatever the princess wants."

On the morning of her birthday all she wanted to do was go milk the goats with momma and visit the farm. So we all went to do the chores because I was in charge for the weekend while the farmers were away. And of course enjoyed our favorite donuts while there.

Not the most flattering shot of the goat but captures the moment don't you think.

Better.

Feeding the pony.

Bella turned up the quirky notch in all photos with Grandma, as you will be able to tell.

Sweet Conner helping with the chores.

I don't even know what to say about that face.

Ian is the most amicable little boy ever. So chill and in his own world. Our favorite recent quote from him, though there are new ones everyday is: "(reading from the primary song book) Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess named Bella, until the Autobots came and told her to CALM DOWN." Love it!

Boom, boom ain't it great to be crazy!

Again. Strike a pose.

Grandma and all the grandkids.

Choo, choo. At the OMSI. Who knew science was fun? Not me.

And seriously, could you have guest come to Oregon and NOT partake of the sweet berries....NO! So we went berry picking. So fun.

I can neither confirm nor deny, that my kid went off into the wheat to go pee. (huge shoulder shrug here.)

With a car full of whiney kids, and still an entire city of Seaside to see without strollers, we decided to take the bicycle tour. Six seater, no less.
And let's just say it, how gorgeous is my mom?! Love you.

Playing the ocean at Cannon Beach.

My wanderer. He just meanders everywhere.

This picture is just pure poetry, considering that Bella's most recent career choice is "Softball, tennis, basketball teamer princess." What is that?

I am madly in love with my children. They are truly the hightlight of our lives. Bella is the most unique, wonderful, kind, charismatic (how can she be so like that so young is beyond me) smart, fun, sweet love of my life. I adore that she wants "just girl time with mom." I love that she loves people, all of them so fervently from the depths of her heart. I love that she has her paper doll and cabbage in order laying by her bed when she goes to sleep. I love that she asks for a fourth book at bedtime. I love that she gets excited to see us. I love that she is brave. I have so much to learn from her and look forward to learning it through our lifetime. Happy Birthday, my little girl. We love you.

Thank you mom and Annie Annie for making the trip to support and love us and adore the little girl we all want to squeeze. Love you mommy.