The Tricycle.

This used to be my old tricycle.  I was probable about Callie's age when I used it.  I'm thinking it's about 34-35 years old.  I'm so glad I saved it.  Callie just loves riding it around in the garage. 

Portland Zoo.

Matt and I took the girls to the Zoo in Portland.  I have to say,  the bats were my favorite.  Probably because they were the only animal that I could get really close too.  Probably because these flying creatures just amaze me at how they can hang upside down for longs periods of time and look quite comfortable and peaceful.  I could have just stood their for hours and just watched them, mezmorized by their talents.

 

As for Callie, well... she was in one of her moods for a 3 year old.  I don't think she really enjoyed it as much as we had hoped.  She didn't really want to cooperate.  I brought her stroller and she wanted nothing to do with it.   She wanted to tour the zoo on her own terms.  She'd want to go in one direction, determined to get her way and we would want to go in the opposite direction.  She never got her way and she'd let you know of her dissaproval by throwing one of her tantrums.  God, I love her like crazy.  I love her with every bone and fiber in my body but I feel like I'm really loosing control of my battles and I'm begging for help and the patience to get thru this.  I feel like I'm letting my oldest daughter, McKenzie down and not letting her enjoy her time with us because I'm constantly struggling with toddler issues. 

 

Anyway, I did have a good time and hopefully in another year or two, we can take the girls back and have a more pleasant time.

The Popcorn Cart.

For 75 cents, I had to get Callie a bag of popcorn. I know she enjoys feeding the birds her popcorn as much as she likes snacking on it herself.

 

These shots where taken at the water park in Tualatin. 

This Cracks Me Up

As I mentioned earlier, there was dancing to irish folk music at the water park in Tualatin.  Lots of kids danced and Callie thought this was a dance move.  She'd get on her hands and knees and lift one leg in the air.  I guess other kids thought this was a cool dance move and some joined in with my daughter to do the "one legged dance lift groove."

I Love These

These shots make me smile.  These were also taken at the Tualatin Water Park.

More Water Park Pictures

I love the photo where Callie is eating yogurt in front of this little boy.  She gives him a bite and then teases him by eating the rest of it in front of him.  There is this look on the boys face that says "can I have another bite?" but Callie just eats the rest in front of him, regardless of the fact that the poor little boy is just following my daughter around the park just begging for another bite.  It was just precious.  It had my parents and the little boys parents just cracking up in laughter.

A Water Park in Tualatin

My mom and dad took us to a water park where the kids could play.  Later, their was a small band that played irish folk music.  We listened to the most amazing music, while enjoying a wonderful picnic dinner.  I wish our town would get a band to come play at our water park.

My Mom and Dad

A picture of my mom and dad and their dog, Max.   I love this shot of my mom and McKenzie.  My mom hates her picture taken, so I try to catch the more natural shots.

Tualatin Park

We went to visit my family in Tualatin last week.  They took us to a local park so the kids could have some fun.  Matt enjoyed riding the teeter totter and a girl who was already at the park decided to join in on the fun.

Pretend Fishing

Callie has this pretend fishing pole she loves to play with.  The little plastic fish at the end came off and I don't know where it is, so I tied one of her bathtub letters to the end.  She loves to climb to the top of her sisters bunk bed and throw the line over and pretend she's fishing but a few days ago, I caught her doing this in the kitchen.  Callie you are so creative and I love you for this.  Love, Mommy

Blowing Bubbles part #2

 

Blowing Bubbles

Callie went to GiGi's house for 3 days. It was her first time away from us. I knew she wouldn't have a problem being away from home and I was right. Grandma said she was loving every minute of her time with her great grandparents and I was enjoying a brief respite. Grandma said Callie got into her office and started playing with the adding machine and was giggling up a storm when she learned how to make the adding tape work. Grandma said she must have made a 3 foot long mess of adding tape swirling around the floor of her office. I wish I could have got a picture of that scene. I gave Grandma some bubbles for Callie to play with for her stay and Grandma had a toy that blew bubbles when you dipped the gadget in the bubble solution. She really enjoyed that.

McKenzie is still in Portland with her Nana and Grandpa. Matt and I are leaving tomorrow a.m. to pick her up. Dad has a doctors appointment at OHSU on Friday. I'm hoping to make the Portland Zoo if it's not to hot. We will be heading back home Sunday.

pictures

 

Pictures from Yesterday

Matt, Callie and I

It's just the three of us. McKenzie is in Portland with her Nana and Grandpa for a couple of weeks and it's sure nice just having one child for a few weeks. It's amazing how much more I can get accomplished around the house. I took Callie to the YMCA yesterday and today for a swim. It's been in the triple digits for the last two days. Callie is great little swimmer and I can't wait to enroll her in some lessons this fall along with her big sister.

Ran into Bi-Mart to pick up a few things and Callie saw bubbles. I had to get some for her as she loves to blow bubbles and than have me pop them for her. I also bought a slip-n-slide. I'll post pictures after I assemble it. Can't wait to see what Callie thinks of her new toy.

I've been working on putting together an ABC book for Callie thru Shutterfly.com One of the photos I needed was something to respresent the letter "K." I had Matt give Callie a "K"iss and the shot turned out perfect.

Happy 4th of July

Picked up one of

McKenzie's friends, Gracie to spend the day with us. We all went to the Emigrant Lake Water Slides. First we had a picnic lunch and then we hit the water slides and had a lot of fun. Callie went down with daddy the first time and when they hit bottom, down they both went, completely submerged under water. Callie didn't think that was so great. I asked Callie, "want to go down with Mommy?" and Callie said "no no!!" I took her down with me anyway, this time with a life vest on and when we came to the bottom, I held her up and she didn't go under. She loved it and wanted more but not with daddy, so Mommy took her down the rest of the day. The girls had a lot of fun and it's so nice to see everyone having a good time.

At 10pm took McKenzie and Gracie down to the Piersons to watch the fireworks from the high school. We get a great view all from their driveway. I just put a blanket on one of their hay trucks and we were set.

description of photos:

1. Callie eating a cookie

2. One of the many goofie faces of Gracie

3. McKenzie going down the water slide

4. Picknicking at the Emigrant Lake park

A Trip to Grants Pass

Took the girls to Grants Pass to visit with the great grandparents and then took them around the "old town" to get some pictures. We went to Blind George's News Stand for some ice cream and popcorn. I think Callie enjoyed throwing the popcorn on the ground for the birds to eat.

Summer Fun

Took the girls to Lithia Park, then to Zoey's Cafe for some ice cream. McKenzie was complaining she was hot, so I turned on the sprinkler when we got home. They had a blast.

GiGi and Great Grandpa

They have been staying in their trailor they brought up to our house. This will be their second summer up here and I love it when they come. I feel I have so very little time before they are gone and I want my children to know their great- grandparents and I want them to build memories and hopefully remember them for year to come. I didn't think they would come up again this summer because they mentioned last year they didn't think their health would allow them to do this. You can't imagine how over-joyed I was to hear they were up for the challenge and excited to spend time with the children again. The one very important thing I want to do this summer is capture lots of photos of them with my family so I will always remember this wonderful summer and so my children will always have photos to look back on and remember their wonderful great-grandparents.