Visit with Nana

Nana came up last week for a 10 day visit, which was kicked off by a visit to the urgent care with Sarah, for a severe kidney/bladder infection - thank God she was here, not her ideal vacation but really ideal for me to have her be able to help with the family/house as this was all happening, it really was perfect timing!! Thank God for Moms!
We've been doing a lot since then, berry picking, trips to the park, hiking at Tryon Creek State Park with a worm class added in for Jakob, concert in the park, swimming lessons, fondue dinner and the Lion King on stage (with Jakob - super fun!!), trip to the zoo, the 4T trail (trail, tram, trolley and train) and a trip to the beach - and we still have her here for a few more days! Mark and I got out last night for some dinner and drinks - in the sunshine! Tomorrow, is happy hour night for Mom and I as well! Can't wait!

Berry picking at Kruger Farms, on Sauvie Island
Fondue at the Melting Pot!

We all really enjoyed this! Jakob had no idea what he was in for here!!

Cannon Beach, first beach trip of the year!

Jakob showing Sarah the sand crabs he dug up.
Sarah doing what she does best, rolling in the sand and getting it everywhere!!
Nana and Sarah sharing some quiet time.

Jakob in the hole that Daddy dug, all the way down to the water!
Nana and her babies!

Time Flies

Well, Mark and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary (June 7th), which was really our 18 year anniversary of being together - amazing! Anyhow we took our first trip without children (for more than 1 night, Grandma Kathy was kind enough to fly up here to watch our little rascals), to California to see Auntie Amber marry her beloved, Josh! We drove 16 hours there and back and it was fantastic, no whining, no crying, music blaring, us singing, laughing, dreaming, eating In n Out and talking - I felt like we were dating again, things were new and fun again! And then we got to enjoy a beautiful wedding (all be it super hot and the bugs were a bitin', but so beautiful), and reconnect and remember how amazing our relationship can be and is when we aren't super stressed, over worked and tired. So, thank you Amber and Josh for getting married and helping us to remember why we got married!!
Our camera batteries died at the wedding so we don't have many pics but I will post what I have....
The cute couple, dressed up for the wedding - and no food residue on our clothes, from little, sticky fingers pawing at us as we left!
We arrived at the wedding a bit early, it goes without saying that a bride is stressed out before the big event, Amber was shall we say a bit frazzled but most importantly looked amazing, said the sweetest things in her vows as did Josh, and enjoyed the rest of the evening! Did I mention that I haven't cried that much at a wedding before, honestly they really are meant to be together and I would have never made it thru the ceremony had I had to read my own vows!!

Oh and I didn't mention how great it was to sit back and watch a wedding, not have to really do anything but just enjoy and partake in the festivities, amazing!!!

Here is the dress that I was so honored in being a part of Amber choosing/designing, it is so gorgeous! I should mention that Josh wore a kilt that had complimentary blues/greens in it, he looked fantastic as well, just don't have photos of him!

Here is the bride having some liquid relaxation before the ceremony! (Sorry Ambie, I know you don't like this photo, but it is so great!)
Besides socializing with a ton of people in Ventura, celebrating my Grandma's 81'st bday, staying up late, going to a wedding (all in a few days time), we also enjoyed a bit of the sights in S.F. (thanks to my Aunt Stina who let us crash at her place on our way up north).

Happy 81st G.G. Willy! I hope I have her genes, isn't she gorgeous!!

Rain rain go away...

It is supposed to be the start of summer and the rain just hasn't quit here, really we've had a record month!

Here are the kids playing last week after dinner, we had a crazy downpour, so I took them out for some puddle stomping!

Just as quick as the storm came, it left us this...

A nice Saturday

Nice weather in May, a visit to the Sellwood park and a picnic in the backyard of good friends!

Jakob leading the way on his scooter, Sarah saying "WAIT brada fo me!"

Sarah showing her newest skill, hanging upside down on anything, with feet above her head, while the merry go round is moving! Seriously nauseating to watch!

My best Mom moment, Sarah yelling to get her unstuck from the slide, I told her to wait so that I could get the camera! Maybe I shouldn't have had that 2nd margarita (we were at a friends house now, not in a public park)! I'm pretty sure you can see how she felt about that!
Little kids table!

Jakob (super cheeser face) and his girlie, Kaedyn, hanging in the hammock!

"Happy Mother's Day Mama, Happy Birfday too"

This is what Sarah so sweetly said to me as she helped herself to my breakfast in bed!! Jakob said, "Mommy isn't this the best Mother's Day for you, I didn't wake you up, you get a yummy breakfast in bed, I'm cleaning up your dishes and we are going to eat donuts and go to the park!!" Sounds like it was pretty exciting for him too!
We did just that, we ate donuts from my favorite little Gelato shop in our old neighborhood, they also make the best homemade donuts, I love the chocolate ginger! Jakob had the "Prince of Darkness" (chocolate donut/chocolate sprinkles/frosting), Sarah had the "Fairy Princess" or to her "the pink one".

We headed to the Sellwood park, it seriously was too hot to go to the park the kids wanted too, no shade and my body is not ready for this weather yet!!
The constant challenging/fighting between these kids (as you can see below), didn't stop even in honor of Mother's Day! AAH!


An attempt a nice pic with both kids...



Thanks to my wild kids for letting me be their Mom, it's seriously endless work, but it is so worth it to see their sweet, caring, goofy, smiling faces everyday!
And thanks to their Daddy for the wonderful present (letting me sleep in, breakfast, dishes done, house straightened up and a gift cert. for a manicure!), you are SO wonderful!
Oh and thanks for letting me have a break, on Mother's Day no less, away from the kids and out shopping with Amber, it was a fantastic break!
A special thanks to my Mom and My Grandma for always giving me an amazing example of how to be a loving, strong, kind and a caring Mother.

Overheard the kids saying....

Sarah crying in bed, "The clock is clocking Mommy...does that scare you?"
I think we know who was scared there.

Jakob this morning, "Mommy is Mother's Day about Moms loving their kids or only about the Moms?"
I think he was trying to get at that he wants a gift to. I informed him that Moms always love their kids but Mother's day is a day to celebrate Mothers, by giving us presents and things!

Sequim 2010

Once again we had an amazing trip to Sequim to see the Schroeder family! Lots of fun on the farm, lots of firsts for both kids including holding a chicken, getting to find a fresh egg, holding a garter snake, finding crabs, oh and shooting a BB gun!
Parents had fun talking, drinking and relaxing! Wishing we could have stayed a lot longer, Jakob was really sad to leave, as was I. To have that connection with friends where you can just be, is so special. Thank you Wen, Joe, Abs and Wes!

Sarah getting up close and personal with the cows, she was given quite the lick by the cow in the background!
The whole gang!
Abby helping Jakob pick up a hen!
Shooting a BB gun, in pj's no less! Can't get any better than that when you're a boy and 5 years old!
The gang watching Jakob ride Willow.
Wes's first ride!!
Sarah feeding the goats - only to get head butted a few minutes later, "Ouch GOOOATT".
Bald Eagle flying overhead!
Jakob and Abs, finding TONS of little crabs!
Abby found this little guy!