Fun in a box

2 kids + 1 big box = lots of crazy!



Sarah, giving Jakob a hug after poking his eye - she got a bit crazy with all the fun in the box!

Garden Therapy

As some of you already know, Amber and Josh have a gigantic backyard and are going to be planting a huge garden. We stopped over on Sunday for an impromtu visit/drop off stuff visit. Jakob was so excited to dig in the dirt, as was Mark (mostly for the Vodka Tonic that Amber so graciously provided him while he was shoveling). Jakob has never been one to like the dirt or even one to want to pick up bugs or anything wet/slimy etc. Well, that went out the window on Sunday, he was finding worms left and right (I have never seen such big worms before, he actually had to coax me to touch them). He literally sat, fell, touched, and dug in the dirt for a couple hours - unbelievable! He really wants to go back to dig! He has requested that we grow snap peas - so we'll be bringing those seeds over to plant and take care of thru the summer. So fun and so nice to be able to be a part of a kind of community/friend garden!

Here is the garden plot from above, the blue spot is Jakob!
Digging away
Found a few small worms
A "big fat one"!

What the kids are doing these days...

Loving swimming lessons


Trouble......

A Sunny Monday

Of course, the warmest day of the weekend - came on a Monday! We had a nice day (minus the sick Daddy in our house), we enjoyed the sunshine! Spent the morning with Dr. Joel, the kids both had check ups (both are ok, Sarah is on a non dairy diet for 2 weeks - good idea Carla - then to the ENT, Jakob is off to the allergist on Wednesday to see what might be triggering his asthma. Sarah is 15 months and 27 pounds, yes she is our butterball - as Mark so lovingly calls her (she has also been on predisone and eating like a horse, hopefully that is what caused her weight to spike), and Jakob is 4 1/2 and 40 pounds - hopefully he will have a growth spurt soon or Sarah will slow down somehow!!!). After that hour and half visit with Dr. Joel (I was mentally exhausted), we then went grocery shopping (not ideal to do with both the kids, but we needed some basics), then home for lunch, naps etc. We had a nice late afternoon walk/scooter ride to the park and river. Roxy really enjoyed the swimming, it's been so long since she's been in the water.

It was 80 degrees here today, crazy, since it was 50 degrees three days ago! I think this year has been the hardest on me, I haven't been affected by weather in the northwest until this year, and we've been in the Northwest for 4 years now (3 in Portland). Maybe it's the combo of the harsh Winter we had, having a toddler and a 4 year old (in the Winter weather), all of us having multiple colds, stress of work and the economy, and missing our friends and family in CA - any of the above have really affected me. But, today I got a little recharge after seeing life coming back to Portland:

Also recharged with a visit to the river, in the hot sun - just feeling the cold water on my toes, was so refreshing. I know that the kids liked it too - especially Sarah, I couldn't get a picture of her with her feet in the water, as she would literally just walk right out into the river, if she wasn't holding my hand!

Cutie pie in the sunshine!

My little lady, loves the dirt and anything having to do with it. She was sitting in wet sand, rubbing her dirty feet into the sand, and truly enjoying it. (I should mention that I don't have a picture of her from her digging adventure at Amber's house on Sunday evening, she was in a sweet little dress, and sitting/rolling/digging in the dirt with Jakob. Jakob was actually sitting in the dirt and digging for bugs and sometimes picking them up with his hands - amazing! We will be calling on Amber and Josh to help with some future dirt play/therapy!)

The kids coloring in the morning sun. Jakob made a sweet picture to bring to Dr. Joel, he now draws people with sky and grass (in every picture), it's really cute!

Sarah's new moves

Jakob's Latest Dance Moves - Wach out Elvis!

Beach Day!

Yesterday we made a trip to Cannon Beach with the Brink family, it was about 50 degrees there - but still had some fun! Unfortunately the ride home was a drag, the alternator on our Volvo went out, so it was quite the disaster - luckily we've got some really great friends here to help us out!!! Thanks Josh, Peter, and Julie (for sacrificing your kid in the front seat so that we could all get home)!!
Jakob, getting some serious height, jumping off a dune.

Jakob and Ian "Digging to the sea."
Jakob has a new cowboy/sun hat (w/bonus of UPF 50), but was cold so he wore his beanie underneath - quite the look!
Racing down the sand hill. 
Sarah, digging and feeling her toes in the sand!

Just a cowgirl, enjoying her drink!