CJ's Strengths

I asked my 10 year-old what he thought his strengths were and this is what he said...

1.  I am friendly
2. I am happy (almost all the time)
3. I love reading
4. Hanging out with my family (it is one of the things I like about myself is that I like hanging out with my family)
5. I like having fun (that is a strength)
6. I am athletic, but I can be lazy at the same time
7. I love pets, they are so soft and squishy

I love his optimism, rose-colored glass-outlook on life and how he is well, just happy!  #7 makes me laugh out loud...he does love pets, I just didn't know that is why he loves them so much! 

Not Quite a Year Ago...

So almost a year ago I had really had "enough".  Enough of the 2D conversations, enough of the faceless conversations, simple one-liners, venting from distant friends and well, I had just had enough of it. 

Now, almost a year later I have decided to get back together with my old flame. 

The reason is simple on some level and more complex as I think about the reasons.  HA!  Sounds like I am a bit crazy...

I want to see pictures of  my friends and family, and they are not willing or able to send via email (read they don't have time or want to post something twice).

I want to follow some friends' new businesses and what they are doing professionally.

I want to connect with friends and family...get back into the swing of things. 

I am ready. 

Are you Facebook? 

Guns and Roses...14 Years

This song has been in my head all day! 

I try and feel the sunshine

You bring the rain

You try and hold me down

With your complaints

You cry and moan and complain

You whine an tear

Up to my neck in sorrow

The touch you bring

You just don't step inside to

14 years

So hard to keep my own head...

That's what I say

You know...I've been the beggar...

I've played the thief

I was the dog...they all tried to beat
 But it's been

14 years of silence

It's been

14 years of pain

It's been

14 years that are gone forever

And I'll never have again
 
The song continues to get progressivily worse, Ha!
 
Happy 14th Anniversary Carlos! 
I love you with all my heart! 
Here is to another 14 years...and then another 14 years and then another...

Happy Birthday Zac

ME:  "We are going to see some animals!"
ZAC:  "See aminals?"
ME:  "Yes, animals at the zoo!"
ZAC  "Yeah...aminals!"

Today he is two.  Two whole years have gone flown by in the blink of an eye.  It is amazing to even try and remember what life was life before Zac...before his joy filled our happy lives. 

If I could describe Zac in one word it would be passionate.  He is filled with passion...in the way he hugs so fiercely, in the way he screams with so much anger (when he doesn't get his way), in the way he plays with so much gusto and all with a twinkle in his eye.  He is a two-year-old with the heart of a wise and mature soul.  Happy Birthday my dear Zac.

Here we are at the zoo with my mom, the Ryan's and the Wineland's.  Enjoying the relaxing and sometimes hot walk around the zoo.  We saw all the animals and Zac really loved the sea lions!  He laughed and screamed as they swam around him...swimming laps, doing flips and turns right by the window for us all to see!  He even squeezed in a short nap after blowing out the two candles on his birthday mini-brownie! 

Lots of love to the birthday boy! 

The River

Once again, we are at the river...enjoying the sun, water and peace of the river.  It is cool and refreshing in the 95 degree heat!  It was a short trip this year, but one that was much needed. Here are a few pictures!  (agin, the date on the bottom of the photos are wrong!)

Elmo!

Check out who is wearing some new underwear! There were a few accidents on the floor, some changes of clothing more than once...but we are at it for as long as he can stand it AND the weather is warm enough for him to wander around sans diaper and pants. 

It must be noted that I said to Zac..."hey, get up on the chair so mommy can take a picture of you in your new Elmo underwear (I might have said undies)", and then he put his buns out to show me Elmo on his backside (too cute) and then I said, "turn and look at mommy"...this is the poser shot I got!  Not sure where he gets it! (disregard the date on the picture; camera is all messed up)

OSU..the early years

Paige, Justin, Misha and Jeff

ParkWest 1991-1992

The fall of 1990 I started college at OSU in Corvallis with a roomie I had never met, but who would become one of my life-long friends. Misha and I were friends from the first minute we stepped into our tiny dorm in Poling Hall room 42o. That was a year of many valleys and peaks and a year that wouldn't have been nearly as fun without the Misha-miester. The details of that year are not blog-worthy (total lie, but if you think I am going to give any details on my family blog...not a chance!) Our second year of college we moved out of the dorm and into an apartment (townhouse to be exact) with two boys, Justin and Jeff...and here we are (almost) 20 years later!

Jeff and fellow Poling Hall alum Audrey put together a small gathering at the Kennady School, a McMenamin's Pub in Portland. It was a quick 5 hours of laughs, "hey remember when you...", looking at some really bad pictures of all of us, more laughs (mostly Justin's really loud laugh; gotta love it), poking fun at Jeff and remembering how we were all so young and and so dumb...with no boundries. Glad we have grown up a bit since those days!

Playdate

A nice afternoon visit to my friend Heather's with Audrey and her son Eli turned into an great afternoon of eating, chatting, laughing, watching the kids play and enjoying each other's company. 

Here the kids are eating popsicles...dripping everywhere and totally having a blast!

Audrey is cracking me up in this picture!  She reminds me of the evil guy from Raiders of the Lost Ark!  Heather is just barely hanging on with her morning sickness.  Glad we were there to take her mind off it.

Heather's daughter Ayla has a great play structure in their huge backyard...Zac had a blast! He is getting so independent.

Eli drove Zac around for about half and hour...we were convinced Zac fell asleep a few times.  He was beat.  Eli on the other hand was having a blast being the tour guide to Zac.

Ayla driving Zac in the back of the Gator and Eli followed in the Jeep.  They drove all over, having a blast, laughing and sometimes going off-road!  These three had a great time and played very well together!

Birthday Dinner

My mom Jule, my sister Anna and I all wearing necklaces from mom.  They are our birthstone stone with a Chinese medallion.  We love them! 

It's My Birthday!

The day started out rather early...for some reason I could NOT sleep one minute past 6:30 am!  It might be due to the fact that my mom made the most delicious dinner for my family birthday gathering at her house the night before.  She made all my favorite food: BBQ steak, veggies, halibut and pasta with a wonderful 2003 Panther Creek Pinot Noir! And to top it all off, my family and some very close friends where there to celebrate with Anna's wonderful, super yummy and homemade peanut butter bars. 

The day that marks my 39th year of life started out with my husband making me coffee while Zac slept (CJ was overnight at Mimi's) and I played on the computer a bit, then breakfast with my boys.  Zac and I went on a walk to a friend's garage sale then over to my classroom for a consultation with another teacher friend and rearranged a bit then dropped Zac off at my mom's for a few hours while I went out to lunch with friends!  Whew...it was a very busy morning!

Julie and Gayle took me to Bistro Maison (again!) for some yummy drinks, lunch and dessert that lasted about 31/2 hours!  We had a lot to talk about!  We watched all the lunch guests arrive and then where still there while they cleaned up for lunch and were getting ready for dinner.  We had a blast!  

With just under an hour to spare Heather picked me up at 4:30 and we (with her parents) were off to Spirit Mt. Casino for another round of drinks, dinner and dessert! And again with lots of talking and catching up to do. Then we were off to see Air Supply in concert!  Whooooo-hooooo!  What a blast!

They played all the old classics and a few new selections from their new album...with lots of dramatics, lights and just an overall good show.  What a blast!  

Finally Heather's dad threw some money into a specially selected slot machine and after I pulled the handle a few times...well, let's just say I am now going to get a nice pedicure before school starts!   

It was a very great day, full of tasty drinks and savory food and sweet desserts and great people! 

Happy Birthday! 

Auntie and Audrey in Albany

It is true, my great college friend Audrey and my Aunt live in the same town...Albany.  So, if we head down to see one, we usually make the time to see if the other is up for a visit also.  Audrey was ever the gracious and wonderful hostess and her husband provided the good grub on the BBQ.  CJ played well with little Eli and Zac and Po-Po got along well...minus their shouts of "mine", "ahhhh" and "waaaa".  Down the road lives Aunt Vicki with her two daughters and two small dogs.  Zac was in  pure heaven with the playing, chasing and petting of the dogs and CJ had a blast watching movies and playing too.  We spent two nights relaxing and talking.