An update on Bryn's latest spelling word sentence created for this week's homework. She used 8 out of 20 spelling words and all 5 challenge words.

"A circus character looked at an Oregon cardinal that was afraid of a particular paper dinosaur."

Manic Monday

Sorry kids for posting this pic but had to capture. This was on Monday at 4:15pm. I have a feeling it's going to be "that kind" of week.

p.s. In the back of the car is a small rocking chair with a simple rosette on the back. It's from my great grandmother Flora (we called her Nonna). After 10 years I'm finally repairing the caning in the seat.

What a day

Every morning Sean asks me, "What's on your list today?" In the evening he asks me "What did you do today?" The surly high schooler comes out in me and can only respond with a grumble and a "things" response. Like when your parents would ask, "how was your day as school?" The truth is I'm not that interested in talking about the vet appointment, driving to pick up kids from school and forcing the kids to do their homework. I feel bad for Sean because I think he's generally interested.

Wednesday, April 14th

6:30am - Wake-up

6:45am to 7:45 - Kids dressed and fed, don't forget teeth and hair, dogs out and fed and I got dressed as well somewhere in there.

8:05 - Kids dropped off

8:15 - Wash and vacuum out car

9:15 - Tennis with Mary and Maya

10:30 - Deal with ONK issue

11:00 - Home, take dogs out, check and respond to emails.

12:00 - Shiloh vet appointment

12:30 - Home, clean kitchen, straighten house, shower and dressed, get snacks and soccer gear together

2:00 - Leave to pick up kids

2:15 - Get Bryn and Grayson, make sure Hunter knows that Mary is taking him home after 5th grade performance practice.

2:30 - Drive across town for Bryn's appointment.

3:00 - Fred Meyer for groceries. Forgot paper towels, garbage bags, milk and vanilla ice cream.

3:50 - Pick up Bryn

4:00 - Drive across town for soccer practice

4:15 to 4:20- On the cell phone with US Bank for ONK, waking Grayson up from the car ride, getting Grayson's soccer shorts and shoes on and running to get to practice on time.

4:30 - Handed another piece of ONK news. ugh.

5:30 - Home

5:45 - Make dinner, straighten, kid homework.

7:00 - Read with kids

7:45 - Bath time

8:15 - Check end of day email

8:30 - Kids in bed

9:00 - Fall asleep

...and repeat.... I know... so exciting.

Treats

At that moment in time they had only one thing on their minds. Bryn picked a vanilla cupcake and Zoe a surprising vegan brownie. They got to have some much needed girl time.

Speaking of girl time we are looking forward to Alice in Wonderland.

Sentences

It's been a discouraging year for Bryn (and mom) and her homework. I'm not a fan of homework for elementary students and then to have homework that doesn't correlate to what you're learning in class is infuriating. Not quite over it yet. I do encourage daily reading and studying spelling words (spellings tests also get me going - better not to ask). Bryn who I would describe as an always creating artist refuses to decorate her weekly homework. You're suppose to make it look nice and make a creative border. A definite sign that Bryn is not engaged. I dread her homework each week but my favorite is the sentence writing section. The assignment is to pick 5 spelling words and write a sentence for each of them. Bryn's personal goal each week is to come up with one sentence with 5 of her spellings words. Therefore, she only has to write one sentence. She can't always do it, but she's never had to write more than 3 sentences. Technicalities.

I stood on the ridge of a large cliff with a kitten. (3)

I saw a large clock in my pocket. (3)

My father invented the other English alphabet in a flash. (5)

The squeaky water balloon went splash. (3)

I wore sunglasses while doing homework and throwing a football. (4)

Are people simple and little? (3)

A pilot ate lemon with a camel. (3)

A mouse and it's shadow ate up all the peaches and cheese. (4)

A series of sentences:

I broiled thousands of giant gumdrops.

I made a choice to stop broiling the giant gumdrops.

I am proud I stopped broiling the giant gumdrops.

Nagel

the beginning: in sean's early art collecting days he invested in two patrick nagel prints. many years later his parents secretly sent them to portland for the perfect unveiling in sean's new office. so maybe nagel prints aren't exactly what sean expected them to be worth, but his newest art piece is definitely a timeless classic.

Thanks to the Mori/Kassell production team. It made a wonderful Christmas surprise for Sean.

Post From My iPhone

Happy New Years

I think I'm off to the best and worst New Year's ever. Which I'm hoping is a good sign.

-- Post From My iPhone

Happy Birthday

I was going through our photos today putting together my annual year in review photo book for the fam. I can't believe I never posted this picture from Sean's 40th birthday with family on Mt. Hood. I'm only 6 months behind.

The Diagram

Anyone else feel they need to make a spreadsheet to track their Flu and H1N1 vaccines this year?

Kindergarten

I have this huge struggle every school picture season. To buy or not to buy. In my elementary days it was always the D package for us, which meant the end of the line for me. As an adult every time I see that Lifetouch envelope in backpacks all those end of the line feelings come back. Let me preference by saying that I was a pretty competitive elementary school student and I never liked being at the end of any line.

Our family takes lots and lots and lots of photos. There is no need for cheap school pictures in our lives. I always get the class picture but as for the individuals sometimes I get a few just to make my elementary school self feel better.

I also don't believe in school picture retakes. 2 years ago picture day was on the first day of preschool at 8:15am for Grayson. Sooooo many tears and the picture was the saddest sweetest picture ever. What they didn't tell me was that for every holiday gift the kids made they were going to attach the student's school picture right in the middle. I have about 6 handmade Grayson gifts with that sad little face looking at me seeming to say, "Why mom why?"

We just got Grayson's school picture today. It makes me smile every time. I wonder if 20 years from now some schoolmates girlfriend will be checking out his picture books and wonder what ever happened to that kid?

Road Trip

The Sunseeker


Path to Wallowa Lake


Trout Fishing


Daryl

Joys of the first fish.

Opossum

Sean thought he heard water dripping in the garage. After closer inspection he discovered a sweet little opossum trapped in a storage bin that had no lid. Must have fallen in and couldn't climb back out. There is a video tape of the rescue but it was a very mild mannered rescue. No "When Animals Attack" footage. We talk of the opossum often and hope family was nearby.

Another Great Dinner

Little M blends in perfectly with this gang.

PGE Park's concession stands. The message is so direct.


What baseball is really about. The food. The American Heart Association was there today and it was also Kids Eat Free Sunday which was a hot dog meal. Of course the kids ate them. I'm just saying......


Parade of Little Leaguers around the field before the game started. They had their princess waves down.

A 102-year old tradition was upheld on Wednesday.


This year they made us smile.


They made us oooh and ahhh....


They made us proud that our children participated.


For a hesitant parade going mommy they sold me again. I'll be back at the Junior Rose Festival Parade with lawn chair and water spray bottle in hand next year.

Game ball!!!! For a kid who has never been interested in baseball or hit an actual baseball before April this year he's done great. Saturday he hit a double and made a run which helped his team win by 1 point. Wondering if he'll play again next year now that he's got the itch. Not sure if mom can handle 3 kids in baseball at one time. I'm exhausted.

these boys were not going to get away from us while waiting for the ferry.



teamwork




too much fun with one little sharpie.


announcements... anouncments... anooouuuuncements.

we were the special guests of auntie lulu last weekend for a special mother's day victorian tea at her church.


i am and always will be a farm girl and it was delightful dressing up as 2 country girls. our simple outfits were nothing compared to the jaw dropping dresses some ladies wore. there was a victorian and edwardian fashion show showcasing women who had made their own dresses or started collecting pieces for their dresses decades ago. made me realize that every girl needs a victorian dress in her closet. you never know.


homemade coconut macaroons, cucumber dill sandwiches, and lemon drop candies for our tea. the woman on the left behind bryn just had her 100th birthday and didn't look a day over 75.

bryn on the way home..... "lu that was more fun than i thought it was going to be."

Hunter's 4th grade class studied Oregon this past year. It's also been Hunter's dream for the past 4 years to travel in an RV. In 3 months we're packing it all up and taking a 10-day trip around Oregon. As an Oregonian there are places I haven't visited yet. I think I'm more excited than the kids. We've been trying to figure out how to document the trip and thanks to my friend Alison A. we are all set.

At the Oregon 150 Challenge they have hundreds of places to see and visit this summer. I can't believe how many adventures I've never heard of right in the Willamette Valley. We are signed up and ready to hit the road.

Did I mention I'm REALLY exited?

what a day.....

muffins for moms at preschool (not muffin top moms)

bryn's class play

library duty (read my favorite kid's book june 29, 1999 by david wiesner)

2 sets of dinner voila meals delievered

sean's lasik eye surgery

max and zoe over for a sleep over

alameda brewhouse for dinner

baskin robbins to follow (of course)

visit from grammy

what we thought was the world's longest hopscotch with 105 squares (10,001 world record)

short circuit for friday night movie

4 sleepy children off to bed without a peep

a great day.