Weekend in B & W

"Determination" is his middle name

Give him an opening and he'll muscle his way through it. Even stop and teeth a bit on the chair rail.

"I guess if you are taking a picture, you're okay with what I'm up to."

"One more rung to duck and Freedom!"

Oh my goodness I am going to have to start damp mopping every night to keep him from cleaning the floor with his knees and the top of his socks.

Spending time with our "Young" friends

The first time we attended Central Bible Church we went out to eat at the Pig 'N' Pancake in NE Portland with the Youngs. Today we repeated the outing.

Harlan is in training to start helping out with running the soundboard at church.

Michael Young was asked to give his testimony before the congregation today. He is such an awesome example of God's redemptive work in a person's life. And he's a great friend.

I enjoy getting together with the Youngs.

Debbie is such a genuine and lovely woman of God. It's a blessing to have her, Nathaniel and Michael in our lives.

Today reminded me of the fellowship times we used to have with Generations Church back in the day. It was kind of a retro weekend.... thus the black and white.

I don't know if I'll get to post before the girls and their kids get here but Alyssa, Rowan & Katie and Cherise & Henry are all coming to visit this week! I'll post pics when I get a chance.

1st Grade performance "Get Down with Mama Goose"

Morning Mambo

Garrett loves to move to music. He makes his own if there is none playing. This is the little face I see every morning peering over the edge of the porta-crib.

He is 11 months old today!

Rock Creek 1st graders "Rock the house"

Thursday night Wyatt and the rest of the 1st grade class gave a performance of Mother Goose rhymes set to music and jazzed up. I don't have any photos of the performance but have to say it was a fun evening. Wyatt brought home a note on Wednesday night informing me that if my child was playing one of the "kittens that lost their mittens" that they needed to bring a pair of mittens. Early Thursday morning I sewed up a pair of flannel mitten shapes. Wyatt liked them with the stitches showing and with his flare for the dramatic, was a great little kitten! MEOW!!!

Cousins and Friends

Wyatt's cousins came to watch him as well as a few friends. Of course Genevieve and Danika attended too. Corralled them all for a quick picture.

Ice Cream Treat

Sometimes uncles aren't the finest influence on youngsters. He started the whole ice cream mustache thing and pretty soon everyone was trying it. Silly kids.

Red sky at night

The picture doesn't due justice to the color of the sky. I saw a perfect sunset in my rearview mirror as we headed home. The saying "red sky at night, sailor's delight" held true. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny and warm day.

Could get used to weather like this!

Afternoon PT

Pediatric PT

Garrett's pediatrician has been concerned about his neurological and physical development since he was a tiny baby. She put in a referral to be evaluated when he was 4 months old. I didn't hear anything. She put in another one at 6 months. Again I didn't get contacted. Finally at his 9 month check we got the ball rolling. At the evaluation it was determined that he was a couple months behind in physically. They gave me some things to work with him on. Yesterday was his first official PT appointment. Joylynn and I were both able to be there. The same therapist that evaluated him was the one that saw him yesterday.

She was so pleased with all that he could do. He kept crawling over to the mirror and standing up and reaching for balls she put along the exercise bar that was there. He also crawled over to a bench that she put toys on. She kept moving them and encouraging him to move to get them.

He wasn't sure that he liked this form of balance work. He was apprehensive about being so high on a bouncy surface.

Doesn't look like he's worn out from the workout. He will be seen again next month and if he is making the same progress he's made so far he won't have to go any more! He's pretty much caught up with his age level.

#1 Reardon son

Jess picked up Wyatt from school and met us up at the clinic. They were waiting in the lobby. Wyatt, Garrett and I piled into our van while J&J rode in their rig back to our place. I parked in a spot that was next to this wall. I told Wyatt that I remembered where I parked because I thought of him. My #1 Reardon grandson!

Wishes

We have quite a crop of these things but I think the neighbors are ahead of us this year. When we pulled in after school I said, "Look at all the wishes, Wyatt". He asked why I called them wishes. I said that sometimes people pick them and blow them and make a wish. He said, "I call them dandelions."

I guess I'll start calling him, Mr Technical.

Lovely Mother's Day!

Mom's Day 2011

I had an extended celebration that started with a pedicure with Alyssa on Wednesday. She and Katie bought me a lovely scarf. I got earrings, candy, food, flowers and a couple of DVDs. I felt extremely pampered.

Sunday Dinner with the boys

Since Mother's Day fell on our day of "rest"aurants... we wanted to find someplace to eat after church that wasn't packed with people treating Mom. We planned to have a large roast beef dinner at home this evening so I brainstormed and came up with a winner (I thought so anyway).

Harlan, Hayden, Cam and I ate at St Vincent's Hospital cafeteria. No lines, lovely view of the courtyard and fine food for the price.

Dessert destination

We made a Starbucks stop on the way home. Dessert drinks for the boys and coffee and treats for Har and I.

This evening the grandkids came back to us. Courtney and Charlie were here for dinner. Rylan (who worked today) was able to have dinner with us as well. Krystle and Nate were here for dessert. Tomorrow we get back to normal... whatever that is.

Zoo trip and coming up on Mother's Day

Oregon ZOO

I renewed our zoo pass. I made sure that Henry, Katie and Garrett are now on there. I love that the Patron level of zoo membership allows for grandparents to add their grandchildren on as zoo members. It pays for itself in less than 2 visits when I count the two guests that are able to get in free too. Zoo membership is a great deal anyway.

Above are the kids and grands that went for the day of adventure. They all look ready for the drizzly day.

At least Rowan and Katie were. Lyssa forgot her jacket, so a trip to the gift shop for a hoody was in order.

It now belongs to Hayden.

One of my Blossoms!

Katie looked like a bouquet of color sitting in the living room the other morning. My mother, affectionately calls toddlers "little fart blossoms". Not exactly my term of endearment but somehow it works when Mother says it. This little fart blossom is in motion all the time. If she is awake she is going. One thing that is super sweet is that she loves to have a cuddle blanket when she is tired. She doesn't have one favorite, like Rowan does, but she loves each and every one of the flannel blankets I've made her.

The double sided flannel on the left is one of Katie's new ones the one on the right is for Cherise's little Anabelle.

Shopping before naptime

Alyssa needed a few things and I hadn't been grocery shopping in ages so we headed to Freddies. About halfway through our trip we realized that Lyssa hadn't had breakfast and Katie was needing a snack. Lys bought a yogurt and fruit cup and some Snapple. All the tables in the deli were occupied so we headed for the furniture section, spread Kate's blanket on a bistro table and had a little bite. I love how flexible you need to be with toddlers.

One of those days :P

This morning I was quickly allowing myself to get caught up in various things that were worrisome and bothersome. I was turning rapidly into "Hazel Dithers". The final straw was discovering an ant trail that I thought we'd taken care of a few weeks ago. They were back!!! AAAGGGGGHHHHHH! I got some ant spray out since there were no babies around and no food around and killed those critters. Of course afterward I was scrubbing up ants and insecticide residue while still fuming myself, when something caught between the counter and backsplash wouldn't be budged. I put some muscle into getting it loose. I took the above picture of what it was... a tiny piece of magnet with a word on it. I got the point.

Mother's Day

Our niece's husband took this candid shot of Mom and me just before Courtney's wedding ceremony. Mother being Mother and me being me.

Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you!

Thanks for keeping me put together ;)

Week of fun times

Coffee with my grand-girls

Danika informed her mother that she wanted me to take her out for coffee. So on Tuesday morning I drove out there and picked up her and Genevieve and took them for coffee.

Love those petite pastries! Just perfect for little women.

Had to take them over to Target for a little shopping. Danika kept saying it was

"the BEST DAY EVER!" I must admit it was pretty great.

Happy Hour Date with the Hub

Har and I have begun to have our weekly date time again. It has traditionally been to meet for Happy Hour when he got off of work on Tuesday or Thursday.

It worked out much better this week to meet on Tuesday. He more often than not orders the burger. It is super messy and tasty. He also orders a cone of fries.

I mix it up. This week it was a fish taco and prawns. It is a pretty cheap date as dates go. We also are getting to know the wait staff and it's kind of our own version of "Cheers".

Lyssa and the kids are here

It was such a lovely morning that Katie wanted to play out on the porch. I went out with her and after playing for a bit she informed me that a stroller ride up to Starbucks would be just great. So we summoned her mom and went for a walk. I got to have coffee with all three of my granddaughters in the same week! I'll have to wait a little while until I can be taking Cherise's little girl there but she is due in 9 weeks! So it's not super long.

Courtney is now a brunette?

Came home from Lacey to discover a box from hair dye in the bathroom trash. I was curious but thought perhaps one of Krystle's friends came by and had her do their hair. Nope, it was our youngest daughter. She popped in today and I was surprised I even recognized her. After seeing it a few times over the course of several hours, it's starting to grow on me. I think the waves in her hair are more visible with it being darker.

Help with yardwork

The boys were out in the yard mowing and weeding. Rowan asked for work gloves too. He didn't stay out there very long but he sure was cute in his Sponge Bob gloves.

My kids ROCK!

One of the projects that has been needing to be done is weeding between the river rocks beneath the maple tree. It seems when the weeds spring up, they are hard to get to. Alyssa and the boys removed all the rocks, rearranged the weed barrier and put the rocks back in place! I guess the old saying holds...a job worth doing is worth doing right.

Thanks guys!