Multnomah Falls

We spent the morning at Multnomah Falls. The boys thought it was really cool, especially the mist that comes off of the falls when you stand on the upper bridge.

Goof balls trying to look at the bridge and waterfall in the background through the back of their heads. It didn't work.

Hiding like two squirrels in a tree along the hiking trail.

Nate having his picnic lunch in the grass.

baseball

Christopher just loves this game.
Dusty, dirty, and happy as can be after their game tonight.

Is this how Hemingway started out?

Story writing. Nate is all about that right now. He bought a journal at the dollar store and it's where he keeps his 'collage' (his word) of stories. Yesterday he was sitting out in the shade getting his thoughts down on paper between catches with the baseball. Here are a few samples of what can be found between the pages.
"I Had A Dream"
I was in bed. I had a bad dream. The bad dream was bad, but bad dreams help your brain. And then when I had my afternoon nap I had a good dream. The End
"I Hit A Home Run"
I was in the MLB. I had a game against Canada, the best team in the MLB. But it was the first inning, then it was the ninth.....(this story to be continued)

honk honk

Nate is the big-rig whisperer.

2 rocks and old jeeps

two rocks...
...old jeeps.
I've been thinking about 2 rocks and old jeeps a lot lately. You see, two rocks and old jeeps have been the boundaries that Chris and Nate have had since they started to play out front. They have always been really good about staying between these two landmarks which can be found 3 houses down to the North and South of us.
But 2 rocks and old jeeps won't work forever. The boundaries must grow and will grow with them. When will it be o.k. for them to cross the street on their own? Walk to school? Go around the block by themselves? Ride their bikes to the park? All of these thoughts make me appreciate these simple boundaries while I can.
Setting them free and trusting is tough.
Knowing that they're somewhere between 2 rocks and old jeeps is something that I savor, because someday I will have to release them to the other side.

workin' guys

I've hated the boxwoods that adorned the sides of our front porch since we bought this house 4 years ago. Who on earth thought that square shrubs were a good idea? So, today we decided it was time they came out. Of course, Dan and the boys jumped all over this idea, and got the truck, the rope, and the hard-hat ready for the action. Nate was the foreman for the first shrub, and Chris rode freestyle in Dan's truck as these beasts were yanked from the earth. Lucky for us, the guys who do the yard across the street were happy to haul our remnants in the back of their truck for a mere $20.00....money well spent to have it all hauled away.

It looks a little sparse, but with a little TLC and some new plans/big pots it will look much better in no time. And the thrill of removing them was worth the effort.

what a writer!

Chris and Nate came home from school yesterday inspired to each write a book. Nate worked really hard on his, and I love, love, love the book that he created. He wrote the whole book completely by himself. The book is about how he and Chris are opposites. If you want to see the writing(and fun illustrations!) a little bit better, double click on each picture. Chris and Me.

Steps 2 and 1. (just like the leveling that they see on the books they read)

"I have a mole on my chin and Chris does not have a mole on his chin."

"I can do a button. Chris can not do a button."
"Chris is taller, I am shorter."
"Chris is a left hander, I am a right hander."
"I like broccoli, Chris does not like broccoli."
"Chris was born first, I was born last."

"Chris likes cheerios, I do not like cheerios."

"I like red, Chris likes blue and purple."

"Chris likes lemons, I do not like lemons."

"I like avocados, Chris does not like avocados."

"And Friday, May 15. I do not like Lotus Focus, Chris does like Lotus Focus."

The End

strike a pose

Nate with a cute and goofy smile. Maybe it's that uncomfortable pose that they put him in.
Chris looking like a true baller. So handsome!

The team....minus one player and one coach (daddy!)

tight rope walkers

These guys are fans of all things Survivor. We can motivate them around here by turning any request into a Survivor Challenge. Tonight they both did some tight-rope walking from their tree-fort to a tree that was about 20 feet away. Both boys won the challenge.Go, Chris!

lucky ducks

This sweet little story will make your day! My brother Greg sent this email to me this afternoon, following an exciting rescue he was involved with and I thought it was worth posting on here. On behalf of that poor helpless mama duck, I thank you. :)

Stopped at Starbucks on the way to work, and while walking in, I noticed a duck standing on the sidewalk next to the fairly busy street. On my way out, a guy coming in started talking to me about the duck, and I eventually figured out he was saying there was a bunch of ducklings trapped down in the storm drain, and the duck on the sidewalk was mom. Walked over there, and mom duck was squawking away, obviously upset about something. So that guy and I applied big brute force to get the storm drain grate out and up onto the sidewalk. The ducklings (I counted 10 of them) were just out of arm's reach down there, bobbing around in the current, and occasionally drifting out of site into the adjacent piping. I got down on the street on my belly, with legs hanging out into traffic, but couldn't quite reach them. A Starbucks employee then came out, and then a guy from another store nearby. I figured out that someone with longish arms holding a bucket should be able to reach them, and told the Starbucks guy to go find a bucket. He got that, and we directed traffic out of the way, and then we proceeded to scoop out the ducklings. We got all 10 of them gathered up, and took them over to the pond behind the Starbucks, which is probably basically where they belong. Couldn't tell where mama duck was, but I'm sure she was nearby. She had walked away when we came over to the grate. Naturally, it was absolutely pouring down rain the whole time, and I got soaked, and my jeans got very wet from lying in the street, and from having cars go by, and I got chunks of dirt and stuff in my hair, but it was a good feeling to help rescue the little guys. Took a few cell phone pics.

Lucky Ducks.

May Baskets...a lost tradition

Nate heading to the neighbor's house to deliver his basket and hand picked flowers. Trying not to get caught was the most exciting part!

(update: I think we really got her! See the Lapour's surprise here)
Stacey and Diane will find these lovelies when they return home.

art

I look at these pictures every morning in our bedroom and just love them. I thought that I should post them on here. About 3 years ago, and friend/neighbor of ours had just had twin boys and I was visiting them when I saw the most amazingly detailed and cute artwork in their nursery. I asked Stacey where she got them and she told me that she had drawn them. I was in awe and told Dan about her work when I got home. Being the good husband that he is, he contacted her and had her create 2 drawings just for me as an upcoming anniversary present. The one above is my favorite with two dogs...very similar, yet very much their own creatures. Notice that one is a little bit bigger than the other? You can probably tell which dog represents which boy, but if you can't you can get a clue from the letter in the dog collar. (double click on picture to see the details)

Two birds with lots of blue and orange in the picture. (go Gators!) The details are just amazing in her work.

.....and since I'm showing some art, I can't forget the canvas painting that Dan had painted for me by his co-worker's wife, Erin Sorenson for our one year anniversary & birth of Chris and Nate. This is a large painting and hangs above our bed. The boys always ask who is holding who in the picture. (it's kind of a competition thing, and they still don't have a straight answer from us because it wasn't designed that way) And don't forget good ol' Sadie Cat (appropriately depicted with one crossed eye!)