Important Information....Please Read!

I got this warning in an email from my sister. I hope it will save you some grief. Please read it!

Tick Warning!

I hate it when people forward bogus warnings, and I have even done it myself a couple times unintentionally...but this one is real, and it's important. So please send this warning to everyone on your e-mail list.

If someone comes to your front door saying they are checking for ticks due to the warm weather and asks you to take your clothes off and dance around with your arms up, DO NOT DO IT!! THIS IS A SCAM!! They only want to see you naked.

(I wish I'd gotten this yesterday. I feel so stupid...) Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha............

Movin' Out

I've spent the last few days packing boxes and hauling loads of teaching supplies from my classroom to our garage. Aauugh. I really hoped my fairy godmother would wave her wand and do the whole thing for me, because packing and moving really isn't my favorite. My mom and Julane helped keep me on task, as each time I walked through the door of my classroom my first instinct was to give up and go home. Anyway, with lots of help, and some good cleaning out I've vacated my classroom for this year. The person hired to teach third grade preferred to use her own things and I totally get it. I've taught in another person's space and it is hard to do. Libby discovered my classroom and loved it. There were so many great things for her to get into and she was occupied every time we went. I should be done moving this week.

Tonight, Shane planted a tree in the backyard because we desperately need afternoon shade in the summer. He did such a good job I think we might plant a second tree. Next week's project is to expand our shed out back so we have someplace to store my teaching life. Right now we can barely move in the garage.

The Long Boarder 2

I didn't write anything the last time I posted about the pictures of Shane's new hobby.....his longboard. When I first met Shane (in junior high) he was a total skater with the lamest haircut ever. He'd flip his hair around because it always covered one eye. Anyway, snowboarding followed, then took over, and eventually he gave up both. Since reliving the good 'ol days by taking up snowboarding again, he's decided he may as well be a skater again too. Thus, the long board. The best was the other night, on his debut run....as we followed him out to the street to see what kind of radness he had to show us, the neighbor kid goes flying by our house doing a wheely on his short board. I didn't even know you COULD do a wheely on a skateboard. Shane looked like he'd totally had the wind taken out of his sails. Poor guy. He hung his head and said, "I'm just a fat guy on a skateboard." We (I) encouraged him by saying, "Yeah, but you're OUR fat guy. Now, get out there and show that kid how to carve that board." And that's exactly what he did. He's the best 'over 30' skater on our whole street. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for picture proof.
P.S. I barely had to nag him to get the helmet. He realized (mostly) on his own that it would be a good idea.

The Long Boarder

Good Night Kisses

We're having more awake time everyday. Luckily, we're still having pretty sleep-filled nights.

I took the girls walking on the river trail this week. We stopped to smell the roses at rose garden. Libby was mostly fascinated with the gravel path.


First experience with alphabet soup....



On Wednesday night we met our friends Paul and Patty at their RV for a BBQ. Libby's favorite part of the meal was, what else, the ketchup. She could make a meal out of anything for dippin'. Today, Paul and Patty fished with Shane and we had trout for dinner. I haven't eaten trout since I was a kid and it was really good.





Julane and the boys are here tonight on their way to Portland for cousin Carson's birthday party. Peyton was content to sleep with Aunt JuJu.

We all went outside to watch Shane rippin' on his new long board, and Libby took a minute to have her own daredevil moment.

The Nelson/Anderson Wedding!

What a great weekend. Our friends Mark and Amy tied the knot yesterday and it was so special for our family to be a part of the celebration. We were such the proud parents as Libby made her way up the isle as a flower girl. I promised to get the pictures up today, so here they are....

Peyton's one month picture. Her cheeks are chubbier than they were a month ago.

Here is Libby taking in the fabulous garden with Lynn.

The Rehearsal


So full of happiness that it can't be contained!

On Saturday morning Shane unpacked and assembled the bike we bought online for Libby. It's a run bike and has no pedals and no chain. It also has no training wheels. The idea is to get her on a tiny bike with only two wheels with her feet on the ground. Kids learn to make the bike go by "running" with their feet (think Fred Flinstone car meets toddler bike) and balancing. Then, they learn to build up enough speed to coast by pulling their feet up off the ground. Libby liked the bike right out of the box, but we had the seat set too high so when she straddled it for the first time the bike tipped over. Now she wants nothing to do with it. So, it's sitting on the living room floor until she takes another interest in it. Potty training so far has gone much the same way....We'll not be trying that again for awhile. :)


Peyton looked so cocoon-like I had to take the picture. She's doing what she's does best....sleeping.

The Wedding...

Libby's favorite part of the day was the dancing! In these pictures we were kiling time between pictures and the actual ceremony by playing on the dance floor. Hung above were chinese lanterns which she found so fascinating. When it came time to really turn up the volume and party, Libby and her dad were right in the thick of things. We didn't plan to stay late, but we finally pulled our little cherub off the dance floor at 11:15! That's p.m! At one point I looked over at the dance floor, saw Libby get tossed into the air, and then disappear again among the dancers.....twice. It was like her own little mosh pit!




11:50

Friends

We're home from Astoria and because I can't stand staying cooped up at home for long we got together with some old friends this week which was really fun. On Thursday Rachelle and Cathy, who were my very first teaching partners at Santa Clara, came over and brought not only lunch, but also gifts and hand-me-downs for both girls! I recently described Cathy and Rochelle to someone as my "dream team" in my first two years of teaching. Thankfully, we don't have to be teaching together in order to get together and catching up was great.

Then, today the girls and I went to Lynn and Ken's house for lunch. Lynn was my teaching partner for a few years in third grade. I've described Lynn as the Energizer Bunny, and if you could see her garden you'd know it's an accurate description. Libby followed her all around the garden picking and eating yummy treats. The raspberries were her favorite. Ken got out some manipulatives for her to play with and we had a nice time catching up. I've been so fortunate over the years to have worked with some great people who I no longer call colleagues, but friends.

Tonight the girls and I went to the rehearsal and dinner for our friends Amy and Mark who are getting married tomorrow. Libby is a flower girl in the wedding and seems delighted with her position. I'm too tired right now to go download the pictures from my camera, but I know I'll take a million pics tomorrow too, so......stay tuned. Unfortunately, Libby has a brand new scab on the same knee that just finished healing. Fortunately, the dress hits her below the knee. :)

We spent time this morning on the front step playing with the water toys. Peyton was in my arms, and Libby did her thing in the bucket of water. It was a great time filler and the house was still clean when we were done. The problem with being home for too long is that the house gets too messy. When we have activities outside the house (even if it's only in our driveway), then I don't have to clean the house at the end of the day......again.

Both girls are in bed. Shane's on his way home, first stopping to have a beer at the rehearsal dinner/party which is going later than the girls (or I) could do. We did the party in shifts. It's bedtime for me.

Astoria

Is this even legal?

Mom and Shane tried to go clamming yesterday and I came along with the girls in the jogger. There wasn't a clam to be found on the beach so we had to make a stop at the seafood market on the way back to the trailer.


Libby was soooo tired yesterday afternoon and took a serious nap, which gave Peyton some time alone to snuggle with her dad.



Getting the clams ready for the hot pan...

Home Sweet Home

Good dog Grunny

Cooking clams in the big pan..

After a great dinner of clams, salad and bread we drove into town and visited the Astoria Column. It's perched high on the hill overlooking the town of Astoria and the views are incredible. There was no wind at all so it was really warm and Libby had the greatest time running in circles around the column. She crashed when we got home.





Waking up in the morning can be a slow process.

Shane took my mom fishing this morning and they caught (and released) five sturgeon. They had a great time. The girls and I met them at the boat ramp at noon and we had lunch at a brewery on the water.

Right now we're all just finishing showers and naps. I think we're going to play on the beach a little later.