Let the Grand Adventure Begin...

It was time for the summer edition of Grand Adventure Time with Myles and boy, we did it up right today. So much so that I'm tired all over again thinking about it. A good tired. No. A great tired.

We started the day leaving one little sister crying crocodile tears since she wasn't getting to join us and the other little sister smiling big smiles because she isn't old enough to know what she is missing. And Mom. She deserves a grand adventure!

First we made our way to the Columbia Springs Fish Hatchery, on a tip from my friend John. We had a great time looking at and feeding fish.

If you look closely you can see the fish. They are thick in the water. This pond held fish only about 3 inches long.

We found the feeding pond with HUGE fish and ducks.

 Getting food out of the bucket.

 Smiles!

The fish in the feeding pond were about a foot and a half long.

Next we made our way to the Pearson Air Museum. Quite frankly, it was disappointing. It used to be privately run and house lots and lots of planes but then was taken over by the National Park Service as it is on the grounds of Fort Vancouver. They now have two planes. Myles wasn't disappointed as he had no expectation, but I was disappointed. It'll be awhile before I venture over there again.

 Plane one above and plane two below.

 We spent more time at the coloring table in the lobby than we did in the museum.

 Pilot guys that Myles want to play with.

 When we were leaving there were a couple small planes that were getting ready to take off that we watched.

 Then we walked the quick walk to Fort Vancouver....

 And made our way the the carpenter shop...

 There was a nice carpenter re-enactor and he was working on building a cart.

 He gave Myles a top and showed him how to spin it...

 Myles will be practicing a lot....

 Smaller than the cannons.

 Next we headed to lunch at one of my favorite summer locations...the Island Cafe! Myles colored and was particularly patient while we were waiting for lunch.

Loving the umbrella in his drink of choice...chocolate milk!

 Chillin' next to the skeleton.

Among the sailboats.

 On our way off Hayden Island we stopped to swing and play on the play structure.

 Then we went bowling at Grand Central Bowl. Such a fun place to go. This was Myles's first bowling experience that he could recall.

 

 And he was a pro with the ramps!

 His favorite bowling ball to use was the 12 pounder.

 Our score midway...we were tied.

 I like the above picture of us better, but I like the "Let's Go Bowling" sign in the one below better...

 Our final score...I barely won...and he was ahead of me for a long time. I think this was the lowest low score I've ever had bowling, but we sure had fun!

 Then we were off to our traditional Burgerville milkshake...

 And then we went home. Such a wonderful adventure day. As a told a friend who checked in at the end of the day, it was "delightfully exhausting."  Mom, Josie and Ella greeted us when we got home!

There were many conversations we had because Myles likes to talk, but my favorite one went like this:
him: "I lost a head one time."
me: "At John's house?"
him: "Yep. It's in Pete's Legos."
Leading up to this segment of the conversation we'd been talking about Lego guys (and there heads) and John and Peter are cousins of his. He also strongly recommended that I have a baby to keep me company and to play with his little sister Ella. Man, I get it from all directions, even the 5 yr olds in my life now! Heehee!

"Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose." ~Gertrude Stein

Portland Taiko is celebrating their 20th anniversary this season and were playing to celebrate that at Washington Park's Summer Festival, which is always a great venue at the Rose Garden Amphitheater. I made my way up late in the afternoon so I could get a good spot. Took dinner, a book, my crochet, but only ended up really people watching. 

There was an South Indian dance group that performed one dance solo and one dance with the Taiko group...Japan meets South India. Not something that makes sense in my mind, but fun to see in person.

It was a lovely evening and afterward I stopped to smell the roses-literally.

It was also the Super Moon Full Moon night and this is the glimpse I got of it. Pictures don't do it justice. It looked amazingly large and wonderful.

I can't believe it's almost mid-August. Summer is flying.

National Night Out!

Portland celebrates National Night Out right! There are all sorts of family friendly events at Portland Parks all over the city. Churches also host events and this year the church that Dave pastors at was hosting such a party! BBQ, lawn games, crafts for the kids, oldies station DJ and other fun. Since it was a Tuesday night I joined them since that is my usual night to spend time with this lovely family. We had a great time!

Josie and I spent time dancing, which has been "our thing" the last several months. Stasia video taped a bit of it. It was sweet.

Ella and me! Isn't she sweet?!

Croquet time! Toddler version, anyway!

Limbo...how low can you go?

Ahhhh, what a lovely way to spend a summer evening. Oh, and the police came to say hi as well as a fire truck after we'd left.

Obon Fest 2014

I ventured to Obon Fest this year again after a several year hiatus. Listening to two taiko (Japanese drum) groups and people watching.

This group is called En-Taiko and is a group of youth taiko performers and they were awesome. I'd never seen them before.

I tried to upload my favorite of two videos of them, but it wouldn't load...so you get my #2 pick for now...

 

Then came Portland Taiko...a group I've seen a number of times and enjoy each time.

 And a video of them....

A lovely, yet hot Portland summer early evening!

Unphotographable: Love in a Room

In the past I had read somewhere of someone capturing in words the moments of their day that were unphotographable. I experience many of these such moments and have decided I need to be better about recording them in the written word. So, my Unphotographable moment for tonight is about the unseen, but felt love in a room.

As I often write, I am beyond blessed with the wonderful friends in my life and as we age, I've become blessed with the children of these friends being a part of my life. I am writing this tonight (7/29), but will wait to post it until I've filled in a few more posts that I am behind on chronologically.

This evening I made my usual Tuesday trek to Stasia and Dave's home for my ritual weekly visit. I am blessed by this family of five that embrace me as one of their own. This Tuesday was different as Dave wasn't leaving for his usual Tuesday meetings, so Stasia and I would sneak out once the kids were in bed. There was the usual wind down to bedtime routine. Snack time, reading time, teeth brushing time, dancing time. I started dancing with Josie and Myles months ago and my heart is happy each time I pick Josie up and she triumphantly says "hand" with her hand up as that is how I taught her way back when so we could "dance" in a slow dance position. Stasia got a video once I think-I should inquire. We always sing our own song, either "Jesus Loves Me" or "The ABC Song" with varying volumes and lengths of squeals of delight and looks of pure joy...from Miss Stephanie and whichever child is in my arms. As I struggle with keeping Myles in my arms and on my hip I can't help but wonder when the wee little one that he was grew into the lanky-almost-Kindergartener that he is now. That I suppose is one unphotographable moment, but not necessarily the one that touched me most that evening...

Because this was an out of the ordinary evening with Dad being home, we all (kids as airplanes in my arms) made our way to their room for the in-the-room bedtime routine. Three adults to two kids. There were hugs, and evening prayers and kisses and then there was one or two 'just one more hug' requests. As Myles and Josie got love from Mom and Dad and Miss Stephanie I couldn't help but reflect on the love in the room. I pray that these kids recognize the love that surrounds them in their life. The love that surrounds them when hugged by any important person in their life. They've got Mom and Dad and grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles and cousins and they've got me and we all love them. I hope that they always feel that. I also pray that all children would know this love that these kids are blessed with because it is amazing how much love is in a room at a time and how immeasurable it truly is. Love in a room is so tangible, so amazing and so unphotographable in its entirety and essence.

An old, but priceless, poor quality camera phone picture during bedtime routine one night months and months and months ago.

She turns 1!!

Happy Birthday, Ella! 

This ever precious Goddaughter of mine turned one today and her big party was Sunday! Here she is in all her birthday girl glory!

 She knew how to attack that cake!

Momma and the birthday girl!

Miss Stephie and the birthday girl!

 I love these pictures!

Miss Stephie and the birthday girl's (very wet) big sister, Josie! This picture cracks me up!

 Present opening time!

 I picked out this motion sensored, moving, talking cat that was a big hit (for more than just the birthday girl)!!

 Happy day to you, Miss Ella! I can't wait to see how you grow and change in the coming years and all the ones after that! Lots of love!

La Luna

One of my favorite short films. Could watch it over and over and over. And over again. Love!

Childhood Rememberances

One of my favorite cartoons when I was young, and I very vividly remember today was a Disney silent show about living trees. I particularly remember the part where the lady tree is getting ready and "powders" her face with dandelion seeds. Posting for easy watching and nostalgic purposes.

BBQ and cupcakes!

Jenny and Sara and I indulged in amazing BBQ tonight. When I left I didn't think I'd need to eat for 24 hours because I was that full and taking leftovers home. Mmmmm....

We had a lovely time on this warm Portland afternoon/evening.

In January or February I had seen a kit for a needlepoint cupcake wreath and bought is at Jenny's encouragement as Sara had inadvertently become nicknames "Cupcake" at work and she is still reminded of this. SO...I finally got her cupcake wreath done and was able to gift it to her. She loved it, which I was glad about.

Happy sunny weekend!

Welcome to this world little one!

Holly, Brian and Isaiah welcomed baby girl Bethany Paige to the world on July 24th. I was glad to visit and meet her and hold her. Such a sweet bundle of little girl goodness. 

Big brother, baby sister and me! 

I'm so blessed in my life to have all these lovely children around!