Spring Break Oregon Style

Even though I vow every year that I won't let it happen another year, yet again, we have managed to spend our entire week of break under the cloud cover of Oregon. We escaped Portland for a quick over-night at an even more overcast location--the coast.

J wanted to go see the Giant Pacific Octopus at the Newport Aquarium, so the kids and I picked up Daddy at work and we headed West on Wednesday afternoon. We didn't have any lodging plans, except we knew we wanted to jump on beds.

We had dinner with the Reaumes, who had spent the week in Lincoln City, and stayed at the Palace Hotel nearby. As you can see, the bed jumping there was excellent. After a "make your own waffle" continental breakfast, we headed to Newport. The Reaumes had warned us about the crowds, so we arrived at the aquarium about 20 minutes before it opened. (See the family standing in line.)

Arriving early was awesome. We missed standing in a long line to get in; we had the run of the aquarium for the first 30 minutes; we ate a really yummy lunch in the cafe while there were still lots of open tables. That's really the way to go see the aquarium.

Afterwards we swung by the OSU Hatfield Marine Lab, and we were lucky enough to arrive just as they were getting ready to feed Amigo, their Giant Pacific Octopus. Jackson got a front row seat on the action. It was cool.

Finally, we headed to Yakina Head Lighthouse. It was a really terrible time to tidepool, the tide was too high, but we explored, climbed to the top of the Head and then poked around the beach until we found a few anenomes.

At last we headed home in time for baths and bed.

Click on the web album link if you want to see more photos.

How Not To...

And now the family will demonstrate how not to...
hula, wear a power tie, play Blokus, ice an octopus cake.

I Wish for Fish

J's 6th birthday party was a very fishy event.

First, the kids went "fishing." I had planned for everyone to catch Swedish Fish on a clothespin; however, John had other big ideas. They also caught pine cones, ski goggles, the bad pig mask...

Then they made fish prints. Luckily, neighbor Brian, an elementary school teacher, was hanging out with his daughter. He saw me struggling to maintain order around the fish print table, and he went into teacher mode and got everyone lined up and organized. If it hadn't been for the help of neighbors Caryn and Brian, we would STILL be making fish prints. Thank goodness for good neighbors!

After the fish prints came the shark cake and opening lots of presents.

I think everyone had a good time.

Oh, I didn't post barefoot pictures?

I could have sworn I posted pictures from last week's trip to the coast. Well, here ya go.

What a difference a week makes.

Last week the kids were barefoot. This week they're bundled up.

What We've Been Up To

Record Snowfall

When J was out of school three days and I was out for four last week because of on-and-off snow and freezing rain, we thought we'd hit the jackpot. Winter break came a week early. Then this Saturday, the snow started to fall again, and it hasn't stopped.

We've never seen this much snow in our home town in our lives, and even if it rains non-stop between now and Christmas, we are still guaranteed to have snow on the ground on the 25th. Please, you can stop singing "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" now.

Although it's beautiful and fun, I had been planning on shopping, and I haven't had a chance. If we can't buy it at the local grocery store, (Fred Meyer, for those of you who love to come here and shop at Freddy's), it won't be under the tree for Christmas.

Crash Curriers

It was a Sunday of family crashes at the cyclocross race. Daddy J took over the camera and took some photos for a change.

The first crash occured as the kids posed for a photo. H lost her balance and took Bubba down too.

Then, Mama had some trouble on the muddy course. This was not my only crash of the day, but it was the only one that John saw. And, well, it was the most spectacular since I fell into the innocent bystanders.

Fall Leaves and Kids Too

Halloween

More photos are posted on the web album, just click on the link to the right; however, here are a few photos from the beginning of the evening.

First, we had the great pumpkin carving. The theme this year was Darth Vader. I dunno; I think it looked pretty good, for a pumpkin.

Then, we had the sea creature predator prey chase in which the octupus chased Nemo and the shark chased the octopus. G, who was a fireman, decided to get in on the action as well.

And before we hit the streets H decided to try on the bad pig mask, so she could be just like her daddy.

Spookarama

Here is a preview of the kids Halloween costumes. I think it is evident that we have one Nemo, but it may not be quite so clear that we also have one octopus.

On Thursday evening we had a trial run with the costumes when we went to Spookarama at J's school. The PTA sold tickets and with them the kids could play games, do a cake walk, karoke, etc and of course they got to wear their costumes.

At the Braun's party on Saturday night, H and G showed off their scary teeth. They looked hysterical, but it was kind of gross because they kept switching teeth.

The Fall Varsity Sports Line Up

We have three fall sports we've all been busy training for: soccer, cyclecross, and potty training.

There are no humiliating photos of H sitting on the potty reading books posted here, but they do exist.

The photo of the kids on the playground is from this past weekend's cyclecross race in Ranier, OR. John didn't race, and I can't take photos and ride at the same time; so I have no action shots to post.

J has been playing soccer this fall. They don't actually play any REAL games, just scrimmage with each other during practice. But they gave the kids a uniform which they were supposed to wear to picture day. I couldn't bring myself to pay for photos of a team that wasn't really a TEAM, but obnoxious mom that I am, I took my camera to take a few action shots while they were in uniform. J has made great strides from the first practice. That day he had a sit down strike on the field and declared that he didn't like soccer and wasn't ever going again. Now, he joins a pack of boys who play soccer on the playground at recess.

J's friend in the middle photo was his best pal at Wee Works. They go to different schools, but they have rediscovered each other at the pool this summer and then again at soccer. That's what I love about this neighborhood. Portland may be big, but we might as well live in a small town.

It's amazing how fast the kids are growing and how much they are both learning. It's something new and funny and cool every day.