Not yet!

She is standing up and it is far too soon! I don't want her to grow up yet!

Sweet as Cream

I just love this girl.

She got a little messy with her blueberry torte on Easter.

She's just sweet and creative and funny and thoughtful and silly and vivacious!

SPORTS!

Jared learned this from Ruth and me last summer.

We learned it from a couple of fantastic comedians.


Well, Jared has started T-Ball!

 He got to be pitcher (which means catching the ball and throwing it to first base in T-Ball)

So the kids are all new to the game and barely get the rules.
One kid ran to home and then started around to first base again.
Of course, all the outfielders were running for the ball
A few kids tried skipping home base and ran from third straight to the dugout.
No one had any idea of what to do with the bat.

It was glorious!

#tbt : Tattle-telling

Hey, guys. Remember that time when Jared got a camera for Christmas and within days learned to use it to inform his superiors about the forbidden escapades of his peers?

Well, finally uploaded for the world to see is the evidence!

Bunk Beds?

This is what playing looks like when you don't have a yard.

House update #1

We're seeing some progress with our house!

Once or twice a week we head over to the house and see what's new.

Kids playing on a construction site reminds me of my own childhood!

 I'm looking forward to that front porch

 The view out of our front door

 Can you tell that this is a kitchen yet?

 Dining area and the back yard

Initially they forgot that window on the right, but quickly remedied their mistake. Disaster averted!

 Living room and a bedroom back there too!

The playroom

The bedrooms and bathroom upstairs

So far, everything is going pretty smoothly. Things are pretty much on schedule and Ken and I are low stress. Our new neighbors (they've already moved in across the street) have only had good things to say about the construction company and the neighborhood.

Portland Part 2

Just a few short days later, Ruth and I returned to Portland because she hadn't the chance to see much before I had to return to some responsibilities on Monday.

Primarily, our visit was food based!

Voodoo doughnuts are great and it has that ultra-weird Portland vibe.

After a morning of shopping on 23rd street with Emily, we met up with Dave and the kids for food cart lunch. And there were some real hits! I got bulgogi and Ruth got a killer BLTGC (bacon lettuce tomato grilled cheese). And I wish I could've had more time and a bigger stomach to explore all the food on that one square block!

The crew

Hiking and more shopping followed by dinner at Besaw's. I highly recommend it!

We got to check out their kitchen garden out back!

And then we got like 6 or 7 desserts from down the street. Dave and Emily sure know how to pick 'em!

While I was off galavanting, Ken took care of all three kiddos! It was my first time away from Norah and a bit harder than I had anticipated. He is a good man and a supportive husband.

When I am gone, he serves dinners featuring ramen, french fries and pizzadillas. (Quesadillas with pepperoni)

The night before I returned, Emily and Ruth helped me dye my hair with some super organic, natural henna I'd bought earlier that day. I love returning with a surprise for Ken!

It was a blast to spend so much time with family and I think Ruth is convinced to live in the Northwest! I hope she finds her dream job nearby when she finishes school!

Portland Part 1

During Easter weekend, we stayed with my cousin Emily. I am so lucky that she is nearby!

On a recommendation, we stopped at Maryhill on our way west. There is a Stonehenge replica as a WWI memorial. Just a few miles away is an art museum designed after a Romanian castle.

The drive through the canyon was beautiful!

 This was erected in 1918 for the six men from that county who died.

 Overlooking the Columbia.

 JARED BE CAREFUL!!!!

 

 Just kidding!

 We wandered the museum's grounds (mostly because we weren't going to pay to go into a museum with kids that just needed to run anyway)

 

Jared was so excited to see a "Q" word!

 It was so wonderfully relaxing to stay with the Boyds in Portland. We went to the Rose Gardens.

 This willow reminds us of Milwaukee!

 These second cousins love each other.

 And then they treated us to Salt and Straw ice cream. Flavors like gummy worm surprise,  strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper, pear & blue cheese, cinnamon snickerdoodle and so on.

 Emily is such an amazing hostess and cook. She puts on a Easter feast like this with no sweat!

 We scootered (and walked) to the park before we had to drive home!

Little sister problems

You can't quite join in on the fun yet!

Story time

This makes my heart just burst!

Norah is growing!

Norah's first year is speeding by us. I sometimes forget that she is past the stage where I can set her down and expect here to still be there after more than a moment or two.
She is funny, especially having inherited her grandpa's signature laugh. She finds her own food and fun on the floor at home. And unfortunately, she has reached that age of exploration, so she is learning what it is like to tumble repeatedly and recover.
When she is out and about, she is quite serious. Norah doesn't smile easily for strangers. But she is endlessly entertained by Jared and Rosie.

Ken loves to stick Norah in laundry baskets to keep her busy, so he can get some chores done.

However, it usually doesn't interfere with a five-load day.

Look at those teeth! Watch out!

"I get to stay up later than the other kids!"

She's so adorable, I want to eat her up!

 Sometimes Jared sets up a "habitat" for Norah. And it delights her! Crawling all over Rosie's bed with dozens of books?!?
A dream!

 This is her funny little crawl.