Back in the PNW

Airport pick-up

Whenever we go to the airport to pick up people, we park on the top level of the short term parking lot. I love the views from up there.

 The Columbia river traffic, the airplanes coming and going and Mt Hood off to the East.  We got to be there again yesterday as Kiel and Cherise and Henry and Anabelle arrived from their trip to Michigan.  Cherise got to see a lot of familiar sites as they flew high above the gorge on their way into Portland.  It's good to have them "home".

 Playing with the toy kitchen

All of the kids, big and little, love this goofy kitchen. Little ones like Anabelle like all of the sounds it makes when you push certain buttons or pull handles. Bigger kids do more realistic play. Henry was stirring soup this morning. 

 "What do you want, Gramma? I'm cooking here."

She's getting to be such a big little girl.

 Beautiful Oregon scenes

 Our friend, Carolyn Smyth-Jen and some friends, rode their bikes through the Hood River area yesterday. She posted this picture from a portion of their journey. What a beautiful day for a ride.

 Our friend, Joanne Herr, took this picture this morning while taking a run along the waterfront. It was perfect running weather, cool and misty.  Hope to see the sun later today but I'm not complaining.

Portland looks pretty in any weather!

 The hills are alive

 with the sound of Hilmans!

I may have been admiring the Oregon views of a couple of my friends but I'm wishing we could be with this gang in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. These are all of Harlan's siblings but one. Left to right: Raymond, Bryan, Dennis, Naomi, Anita, Darrel, Loretta, Iris and Howard.

Looking forward to many more photos of this group and their offspring that attended this quadrennial event!

Baby steps

My littlest guy

Garrett and I have a unique bond.  But he knows that I'm Gramma and that Joylynn is Momma. He is totally two and incredibly sweet.

They're here

Cam's hard copy curriculum came in. He's obviously going to have a couple of online only classes to go with these. If he needs help with anything Geometry may come back to me if I work at it. Physical Science nope. World History is the only one that I have any clue about.  I  hope he and his teachers get a good rapport going right away because this "learning coach" appears to be in over her head this year. Glad they are his classes not mine.

 New views

 OHSU has a Wellness and Fitness Center somewhere in that building. One of these days Harlan and I are going to have to ride the tram from there up to the top on Marquam Hill.
My health and wellness building

I have separated myself from traditional medical treatment recently.  I still have a general practitioner and see him annually but the take a pill philosophy just isn't what I want.  I want wellness not a band-aid. So I'm consulting a physician at the College of Natural Medicine not far from that OHSU building.

I have been very impressed with the staff that I have met there. I am attempting to take their advice and make small changes to my lifestyle to see if my maladies are remedied or markedly improved.

Living Wall

Each of these plants is growing in a pouch attached to the wall. At the bottom of the wall is  tray with rocks in it.  I'm sure that there is some sort of irrigation system set up to keep these things green and healthy. It is very impressive as it's probably 10 ft tall and maybe 15-18 feet across. An excellent means of air filtration.

  Getting the kids involved

I picked up a little DVD and booklet that the kids can watch to help them learn about healthy food choices.  They may learn a little Spanish in the process. I also picked up a recipe book that features all varieties of fruits and vegetables in their recipes. 

Perhaps if the kids help make it they're more likely to eat it!

Late blooming lilies

 I don't know what variety of lilies these are but I thought they were very pretty.  There were about 10 empty stems for every blossom so they are at the end of their blooming cycle. 

The constant renewal of nature amazes me.

Another fabric purchase

Evie has the newborn quilt that goes with her Moses basket but I think she might need one for her crib. So I picked up a couple of new fabrics to make one.

I hope she likes it! I think her mom is going to.

Gotta get sewing so she can have it when they get home from their Michigan trip or soon after.

Vicarious vacation fun

This is another post full of cell phone pictures sent to me by my sister Kara or Cherise. Love seeing these kids having fun and being able to picture exactly where they are and what it feels like to be there.

Vicarious vacationing at it's best!

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man

Rowan and Katie were checking out a brick oven at Ft Wilkins State Park in Michigan's Copper Harbor. I'm thinking that the "Pat-a-cake" rhyme may have been recited by children in the vicinity of this fort when it was inhabited between 1844 and 1870.

Silly stroller girls

 Evie is pointing at something and Anabelle is laughing.  Looks like their enjoying their day exploring the northern most point in the state of Michigan.

Cousins + a couple of extras

 I forgot to ask Kara who the two little blonde kids that are on either side of Rowan are.  It's pretty much family tradition to pose on or near this wagon when visiting the Fort.

 From left to right and top to bottom: Hayden, mystery boy, Rowan, mystery girl, (my sister's girl) Alexa, (and boy) Luc, Henry, Katie, Evie and Anabelle. Bellie girl was in rare form that day. Look at her goofy pose!

Good to the last lick

 The whole gang ate homemade pasty at my mom's house this evening.  Katie was using "my bowl". When there were just three of us, my brother's and I each had our own bowls.  Dave's was blue, Gerry's yellow and mine was pink. Katie seemed to enjoy the yummy yogurt dessert that Aunty Kara made for the occasion.

Clean living in the Yoop

 Henry and Katie had a bath together after their site seeing trip. I want to see sauna pictures of all these kids.  Put 'em all in buckets and take some pics. If this Gramma was there, they'd be in the sauna every night! Gotta foster that Finn side when you get a chance.

Cute co-pilot

Cherise is usually co-piloting when Kiel is driving but I'm sure she fit in the backseat with the car seats better than Hayden did. He looks like he's made for the job though sporting those aviators.

Two weeks down and less than two weeks to go of his vacation.

Can't wait to hear all about his trip!

Dental check-up

NE Health Clinic

 Genevieve got to see a dentist this morning for a check up. It is on the second floor of the NE Health Clinic. She got to wear one of her new outfits that was bought for school.

She was doing pretty well in spite of the boring waiting room. She did better when she found a couple of books to read.

Smiling through the pictures

I was very proud of her sitting up there with the lead apron on. She did very well tolerating the films in her mouth too. Good job!

Beginning to get nervous

She was wishing for a stuffed animal or something to hold. A quick phone call to Mommy helped.

 The cleaning and fluoride treatment went fine and the doctor was very nice.  We are making appointments to get a bit of work done but she'll be getting a little help from nitrous oxide for that part.

Smile restored!

 I got her a friend to take to her other appointments with her. Purple is her favorite color!

New look = no more Bieber bangs

Cam has been asking for a haircut for a while. He's had a long on top hair style for a long time.  He wanted something shorter and different.  It is short and he looks different. It looks blonder. And he is quite happy with it. 

 I would like to thank Charles for distracting him and getting him to smile. 

 The haircut and the smile look good on him!

Kid flicks

Right footed or ambifootrous?

 Garrett puts things between his toes quite often.  Today it was a pencil. He tries to pick things up with his toes too.  I haven't paid close enough attention to know if he is only right footed.  He tends to be ambidextrous with his hands but I'm not sure if he'll be amifootrous too.

Morning movie at the mall

The kids prefer to take the escalator but since we had a stroller and I was by myself with them everyone got into the elevator.  Garrett gets a little nervous and Danika acted like she was scared but she really enjoyed the glass walled ride.

Seeing "Puss 'n' Boots"

 We bought a big tub of popcorn.  Each of the big kids had a tray to refill. The little guy was the keeper of the bucket.

 Garrett isn't quite old enough to sit for a full length feature. He and I spent about a third of the movie standing in the back of the theater until he fell asleep. Then I was able to join the kids for the final 3rd.

 We've enjoyed the Regal Family Film Festival (now called the Summer Movie Express) for many years. Since Hayden and Cam were little. It used to be free but now it's $1 per person.  A very inexpensive morning out that we could take advantage of twice a week... if not for the little guy.

Movie cutouts

The kids like to kid around at times.  Wyatt pretended to shoot and arrow at G'vieve. He missed.

Food for the family

 I'd never noticed the copper colored McDonald's arches on the front of the counter before. Danika noticed them and was down there tracing one with her finger. 

 Har got to walk over and join us for lunch. Cam did as well.  He actually walked to the mall while we were in the movie and spent some time at Barnes and Noble. 

We stopped back by there and picked up a book for him and a couple of delicious coffee beverages for Har and myself.

I think we'll make arrangements for a sitter if the kids want to see any more movies this summer.