Camping at Clear Lake

 We had our first camping trip of the season at Clear Lake on Mt. Hood.  Lots of sunshine, refreshing water, and good times.  Our new 'boat'  had it's maiden voyage. 

 We  were also joined by our friends, The McMullens, for our annual camping trip together.  A big milestone this year was that all 4 boys slept together in their own tent.  It was hot, stinky, and they were pretty much on top of each other due to limited space.....but they loved it!

 The beach was filled with baby newts.  They were so cute, and the boys couldn't keep their hands off of them.  They would cluster together under rocks to get shade. They look like baby dinosaurs.

 Clear Lake.  Yes, the water was clear and refreshing. 

 Dinner the first night, by our very own Nate Moore.

Not the best quality of a photo, but I had to show how this boy eating  his spaghetti.  Nate made this batch all by himself...browned the meat, sliced the olives,opened cans, etc...The secret to his recipe is that he added 4 garlic cubes (compared to my recommended 3), and he added olives.  It was delish!

Family Vacation--Ko Olina!

 Aloha!  Last week we were on a wonderful vacation to Hawaii.  We stayed at the Marriott Ko' Olina Beach Club, and it was awesome!

 Lots of water time!  Snorkeling in the lagoons, swimming in the pools. 

 Family picture as we were heading into the Fia Fia Luau. 

 The highlight of the trip was swimming with the sea turtles!   They were amazing.

 With age comes independence.  Chris and Nate thought that it was really cool to be able to go to the clubhouse on the 3rd floor on their own, and cruise around the grounds without us. 

 This was a small and secluded beach where we found the turtles each morning.  My favorite place.

A sea turtle pops his head up as Dan is swimming with him. 

 Family shadow picture.

 Shave-ice poolside...each with 3 flavors!. 

 Beautiful, clear ocean water, and shells in the sand.  Paradise.

 'Lucky' the turtle sunning in the sand.

 Nate enjoying his 3rd piece of Guava cake at the luau.  Yum!

 Snorkeling!

Chief Sielu.  The ultimate coconut cracker and famous island man!

Playing ball in the pool!   

Baseball, Baseball, Baseball

 I have not posted on this blog since April.  My apologies.  It's one of those things that with every week that  went by, the thought of catching up on life's events started to become almost overwhelming.  I couldn't post everything, so I would just post nothing.  But there has been one thing that's been a constant in our lives since March, and that's baseball.  Now that the season is over, here's a post.

Nate as catcher, Chris at bat.

The boys played in Minors level, and both had a great season.  They love this sport, and it showed in every single game.  There were 2 games where they played each other, which was fun.  We sat in the middle of the bleachers and cheered for both. 

 

 Chris was safe as he crossed home plate.

 "Good try!"  Brotherly check-in.  Maybe next time......

 They each had a win against each other.  Their eye-black brings good luck before sunny games.  It's smeared on with a burned wine cork, so my contribution to the season is making sure that they have corks to burn.  :)

 Remember how Chris and Nate were such avid supported of the Concordia University team that plays in our neighborhood?  Well, the admiration goes both ways, and this group of players showed up to cheer on Chris at his game...

...and Nate at his.  This was beyond cool, and these boys will never forget how special they felt!

But wait!  There's more!  After the regular season ended, the boys continued to play ball on the Honors team for the league.  They were on the same team, and were happy to squeeze a little bit more baseball in before calling it a wrap.  Gr'aunt Karen and Gr'uncle Dick came and watched their final game on Wednesday night.  What a nice way to end the season!

A Day In The Life of Mama

 The pencils need to be sharpened!

My boys have been begging me all year to be allowed to come and spend some time in my classroom.  So when I found out that yesterday was Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, I saw it as the perfect opportunity.  They were excited!

 Nate leads a reading group.

 Chris leads his reading group.

Correcting papers.  

These boys were pooped after their day on the job! 

I think they'll be sticking to 3rd grade for a while.

Giraffe Painting

 Nate and I had a date last night.  Just the two of us.  We went to Vine Gogh, where I was a few weeks ago and painted my chicken.  When I saw that the painting of the evening was a giraffe, I knew that I had to sign Nate up for the class.  He loves Giraffes.

 The place was filled with adults, and Nate was the only kid there.  He just made the cut, since 9 years old is the minimum age for the evening classes.   Phew!

 It's starting to come to life.  Nate was eye-level with the nostrils (which at times looked like the eyes!), and I think that at times getting the perspective of the whole giraffe was challenging.  Always good to step back and take a look!  That's what artists do.

 After 2+ hours of painting on a Friday night (and definitely past his bedtime!) I could see Nate's steam running out.  But he felt good about his painting and had tons of fun!

The finished product.  Of course, Nate wanted to add the signature mole to giraffe's chin.  This way, there will be no mistaking who the artist was.  I love it!

Tradition at Neil Kelly

Chris and Nate's tradition at Neil Kelly.

It feels like the kind of story that finishes the newscast on a week night.  I love it! 

Baseball Opening Day 2013

Another season of baseball is here.  This year the boys are playing in Minors, and for the first time, they are on two different teams!  The next few months will be filled with baseball.

They love this sport.  I love watching them play this sport.  Here's to a great season!

Scientists

 Both boys participated in their school's first annual science fair.  Nate grew bacteria from culturing various surfaces around the school, and Chris tested the temperature of boiling salt water.  Very exciting.

We have entered the era of goofball expressions on their face at picture time.  

Nate's expression was due to his mother taking his picture while others looked on....Chris has the expression of his altar ego, Niner'.  Don't ask.

Chicken!

 Last night I went with some friends to Vine Gogh..a guided artist bar.  The painting of the night was called Portland Chicken.  Not being much of an artist, I wasn't sure how my final product would turn out.  But not to worry.....it was a ton of fun and I love my chicken!  I will actually hang this work of art on a wall in my house.

It was a packed house and the class was sold out!  32 chickens came to life and they were all unique variations of the same thing.

.

 My chicken nearing completion.

Chickens!

Grow Oak Tree, Grow!

 Yesterday we got our new tree.  The boys and Dan helped plant several trees in the neighborhood by working with Friends of Trees.  

 Our baby Shumard Oak.  Please grow to be big and strong so we can come back and visit you in 50 years!

It's cute and all, but I'm still bummed out about the trees that we had to cut down.  I hope that I can grow to love this mighty oak tree just as much. I'm sure I will.

Birthday #9

 Birthday # 9.  The  boys wanted to choose 2 friends each to have a 'man-cave' sleepover, and do all the stuff that 9 year old boys like to do.  They played the wii, flag football, nerf guns, basketball, dancing with a strobe light, playing chess, making geometric designs with toothpicks and marshmallows, rasslin', eating, watching a movie, and finally........falling asleep.

 As always, homemade birthday cakes.  Well, it's more like home-decorated~ but you get the idea.

 The entrance to the "man-cave".  Enter at your own risk!

Big burgers with tater tots for dinner.  yum!

Getting cozy after so much fun together and watching Diary of A Wimpy Kid.

They all  crashed by about 10:45.

I leave you with a video clip of them being goofballs at their birthday dinner this evening.  

I can't believe they're 9.  Happy Birthday, Chris and Nate!

Marimba!

Nate has been taking a Marimba class as part of the after-school program.  Last night he was able to perform for the audience at the Kindergarten Round-Up. 

The crowd went wild!  Contrary to this not-so-great recording, they actually sounded AWESOME!