In My Next 30 Years

I've always liked the song "In My Next Thirty Years" by Tim McGraw. I wonder if we ever completely conquer all of our adolescent fears, and I feel slightly like I won't ever figure out exactly what I am doing here. But, I do know that I have lots of things I'd like to do in my next thirty years...here is a list of some of them. I was also talking to my brother and he encouraged me to make this list. Actually, he thought it would be a good idea to make a list of 35 things to do by the time I turned 35...let's see if I can do it.

1. Get a passport.
2. Use the passport.
3. Travel more. Internationalally and locally.
4. Go kayaking.
5. Take an art class.
6. Travel somewhere by train.

7. Buy a Lotto ticket.
8. Have some money saved.
9. Buy a house.
10. Spend more time with my loved ones-family and friends.

11. Pay off debt.

12. Go sailing.
13. Plant my own garden and harvest veggies and fruit from it.
14. Figure out what I want to be when I grow up.
15. Go back to school once that is figured out.
16. Fall in love.
17. Start a family.
18. See lightening bugs...for real.
19. Get a tattoo.
20. Surprise someone-a really good surprise.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.

20 things down...15 more to come up with...any ideas for things I should add?

Forget-Me-Not

One wonderful thing about my job is that we get to plan and implement wonderful experiences for our participants called Forget-Me-Not...it is sort of the senior version of Make a Wish...I've been able to participate in a handful at my new site and had done a BIG one at my previous site. For this event the participant wanted to go to the Grotto with her family and take a tour of the upper level and then have a prime rib dinner. We decided in the planning to coordinate it so it coincided with Mother's Day. We went on Saturday. It was a warm day and I started it downtown with the trains and then ended it in a beautiful, serene outdoor location and then at a local prime rib joint...here are a few pictures.

The Rhododendrons were in full bloom and beautiful!

 Tami and I were ready to be in air conditioning and the restaurant we were at also had a bar...I had to take these pictures...classic! 

When the day was done, I was exhausted, but what a lovely day...seeing a child excited about trains and then the wish of a dear participant fulfilled.

Choo-Choo....

May 11th is National Train Day! There are train stations all over the country that celebrate, including Portland's Train Station. Holly, Brian and their son, Isaiah and myself headed down to see the events. 

They had clowns...

 The train was impressive...and old...and we stood in line for a very long time to walk through it. But, that is what you do on train day.

 The sky was beautiful and it was actually very warm for the day.

 And there were lots of people that were there to see the train.

All-in-all it was a good thing and so nice to spend time with Holly, Brian and Isaiah.

Until the next adventure...

"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

One of big perks of my job is that I get to take my "old folks" on outings in the community. One of my favorite destinations each spring is the Tulip Fields. We go to the one in Woodland, WA and this year they were gorgeous because we were there in the peak days for blooms. Here's some nature beauty!

All white tulips with the exception of this one pink stripe on this one tulip... 

I think these pink ones are my favorites!!

 One of my participants took this picture of me!

As always, nature impresses!

Feed them and they will come...

I have a lot of birds in the wooded area that my apartment backs up against and finally got a feeder to more thoroughly enjoy them...well, after it hanging for over two months, I finally have birds feeding there! I was so excited to see them when I got home one evening. The pictures aren't great, but I thought I'd still share.

Miss Stephanie and Myles's Grand Adventure: Take 3...

I wasn't able to take any time off in December for my next session of Grand Adventure time with Myles, so we went during his spring break. We were busy the whole day...here it is in pictures!

Myles is excited for an adventure! Little sister, Josie was sad she couldn't join us. I promised her we'd have Grand Adventures soon! I can't wait for that!

First, Myles asked to go to my "old work" to see the fish in the big fish tank. I assured him that the fish weren't there anymore, but he still wanted to go so we did that. No pictures because there was no excitement.

Next we headed to the Portland Aerial Tram. I figured after Myles's pleading to go on the ferris wheel during our last adventure that he might like this...

...after parking and on our walk...you can see the pole and one of the tram cars behind him.

 Waiting to get on!

Watching the world go by below us on the way up.

 Up at OHSU...that is a looongggg way down.

 Next up we went to my "new work" to see those fish. Thankfully, there was success on the fish tank in this location.

 Then we went to my desk area and Myles spotted my co-workers jelly bean vending machine and had some jelly beans.

Working the machine...one of my favorite quotes from the day (I should write all of them down as I've forgotten all but this one) was when he was trying to get all the jelly beans out after putting money in. I recommended that he take out a few at a time the reply out of his 4 year old mouth was, "but that would be too easy, Miss Stephanie." I cracked up and he was so confused about why I was laughing. Classic. Kids say the darndest things.

 Looking at the fish again...

 ...and Myles wanted to take pictures with my camera...

Then it was to lunch we went. Myles was excited about eating on a school bus. We went to the Grilled Cheese Grill.

 In the bus...

 Myles with camera in hand, again!

 Self-portrait!

 Feet!

 Both of us!

 The view from a 4 year old's eyes...

 Our sandwiches are ready!!

 He kept doing this thumbs up thing, but with his eyes closed...this is new for me to see. It was stinkin' cute.

 Outside of the bus.

 Our next stop was to a paint-your-own pottery place. Myles decided he wanted to paint a picture of an Easter Bunny on a tile for his Mom and Dad...so away we went...

 ...very intently drawing the bunny before painting...

 ...ready!!

 All aproned up and ready to paint!

 Focused...

 While Myles was painted his tile I was painted a cute little birdhouse! Our final (pre-firing) projects.

 While I was paying, Myles found the play area with a chalkboard and a cat. He loves cats and has a whole little litter of them at home. He made another cat friend today...

 Leaving! The staff person that was working was so kind and helpful to us.

 Myles's hands on the camera again! Next time I go I will have to paint a gnome.

 Our last stop was Burgerville for a milkshake. It is tradition. We have to have a Burgerville milkshake during each adventure....and with Burgerville, comes balloons!

At home we filled Mom in on the day, with the exception of the pottery painting as Myles wanted that to be a surprise when I brought the tile by. And when I was leaving I turned and saw this adorable face watching me go. I wonder what kind of Grand Adventures she and I will go on...

Here's to many more Grand Adventures with these delightful kiddos in my life!