Playing Hooky

Ryan has been working liking a madman the last couple of weeks, so I decided to play hooky from work so we could spend some quality time as a family.  We decided to take a trip the zoo. As always, it was a blast.  What was Henry's favorite exhibit you may ask...the exhibit that is still being constructed because he was able to witness diggers in action.  The boy LOVES, LOVES, LOVES heavy machinery!

Henry also liked the chimps, elephants, sea lions and giraffes.  Mama's favorite exhibit is the elephant exhibit, in particular watching baby Lily with her mama.  Babies of all species are just plain cute.

 

Happy, happy.  Any day that I can spend with my boys is a good one.  I love my Man.  I love my Little Man.  Both are my inspiration for everything good in life.




Makes Mama smile to watch Henry and Daddy walk hand in hand.  I can't wait to play hooky again so we can go on another adventure!



It's just more fun with kids



This past weekend, my dear friend Jen and I went to the beach with our kiddos.  At first I thought I might be a little nuts to invite 5 kids to descend upon my humble abode, but I am soooooooooo glad I did because it was so much fun!!!  I have decided that life is just more fun with kids.  I really hope we can get together again soon.



It didn't take long for Henry to make a new best friend, Andrew.  Henry LOVES Andrew.  He enjoyed the other kids too, but Andrew was his favorite.  There is a good chance that Andrew was his favorite because it didn't take more than a hello and the two of them were playing Legos together.  I was really impressed at how sweet all of Jen's kids were with Henry, and how inclusive they were of him, even though he is so much younger.



"Got-U!!!"  Thank goodness Brady is a patient young man.  I love how digging in the sand is a timeless source of entertainment for both two and four-legged folk alike.  This digging fun began after Henry, Brady, Andrew, Soph and I got drenched from head to toe in the surf (okay...the kids were drenched from head to toe, I was only brave enough to go in to my thighs....chicken). 




Love birds.  Oh were does time fly!?!  I remember when Joey was interested in blocks, trucks and tormenting his younger siblings.  Now he is interested in GIRLS.  ECK!!!!  I suppose he's still interested in tormenting his younger siblings too.  16 going on 36...



Lexi and Brady.  Lexi has such a nurturing quality about her.  It melts my heart to watch her with Henry.  I can envision her with her own babies someday (hopefully many, many, MANY days later).  She's thoughtful, which is refreshing to see in a teenager.  Seriously though....how did she become a teenager?  I remember holding her when she was just a cherub-like baby.

Eventually, Henry decided to get his WHOLE body into the digging adventure.

I think what amazed me more than anything this past weekend was that we spent time engaging in classic fun, rather than electronic fun.  Don't get me wrong, I love movies and TV and the Internet just as much as the next person, but I was encouraged that a group of kids ranging from 2-16 could still entertain themselves by playing a board game, sitting around a campfire playing storytelling games, eating ice cream, digging in the sand, splashing in the waves, and just sitting around enjoying each other's company.  This weekend filled me up with love, hope and encouragement.  Thank you Jen for sharing your time and your kids with me!

Many Thanks

There are so many things I am grateful for these days.  Here are some highlights:

*  Observing Henry and Ryan watch for trains downtown while visiting Ryan at the fire station. Nothing melts my heart quite like watching my two boys together.

*  Chocolate marble cake.  Thanks Ryan for having a birthday so we could have an excuse to indulge (not that I really need one).

*  Live music and an evening out with friends.

*  Grandma Sherry and Grandpa Keith watching Henry, including some recent sleepovers.  Henry LOVES his "Gamma Sheeedie and Gammpa Keeeh"! 

*  Playing with diggers and dumpers with Henry.

*  Morning coffee with my Honey.

*  Sleeping for more than 6 hours.

*  Piano lessons.  My very patient instructor is amazing.

*  Reading, for fun.

*  Lunch time walks with Britney.  She is one of the best listeners ever!

*  Surprise visit from my dearest friend Jen.  

*  Reading books with Henry.

*  Building sand castles with Henry.

*  Walks with Sophie.

*  My mom. For everything.

*  Movie night.

*  Playing with the Ko kids.

*  Dinner with Ryan's folks.  Good to catch up, sans kiddo.

*  Building train tracks with Henry.

*  Date nights.

*  BBQ with Nick and Mary.  Ryan made the best ribs!

*  Dinner with Beth, topped off with Ben and Jerry's ice cream.  Great food, great company.

*  Day dreaming.

*  Tenants.  Yes, we have tenants in our rental!  And they have paid their rent on time!  And mowed the lawn!  

*  Gardening.  I've harvested strawberries, tomatoes, peas, lettuce, basil, blueberries and cucumbers so far this year.  So much fun.

*  Playing Legos with Henry.  

*  Snuggles with Henry.  We used to snuggle in "Mama's bed," but now we snuggle in the "Big Boy bed."  Yup, Henry hit a new milestone and has decided he no longer wants to sleep in the crib.  

*  Fresh cut sunflowers. They make the kitchen so happy...or should I say they make me happy in my kitchen.

*  Crocheting.  I'm almost done with the baby blanket I'm making for girlfriend who is due this month.  Yay for more babies!

*  Farmers market. I love open air markets and I love food.  The farmers market is perfect for a person like me.

*  Lunch with Grandma O and Grandpa Jim. 

*  Water table fun with Henry.

*  Berry picking.  Berry eating.

*  Getting to work early so I can work fewer late nights.

*  Feeling happy. Recently, I experienced another dark season (emotionally) for a couple months.  But now, this week, I'm feeling happy.  It is so good to feel a bit more "normal" again.

*  Cobbler.

*  Organizing some of the mass quantities of paper in my house.  Little by little, I hope get better organized by the end of the year.

*  Evening jogs.  Last week I decided to get back on the horse and start jogging again (after taking nearly 3 months off).  Man am I out of shape!

*  Neighbors.

*  A whole month without rain.  Yes, a whole month...in Oregon!  I love the rain (as a true Oregonian), but it is summer, so the sun is welcome.