Fun Fall Morning

This morning, the kids and I put up fun Fall decorations. We painted pictures and glued faces on paper pumpkins. We set a bunch of blankets and pillows in front of the fireplace and had story-time with all the books we got from the library yesterday, then snuggled together to watch a Thomas video. All that while still in our pajamas. What a fun fall morning!

Mommy's Special Date with Isaac

Seriously, my mom is so, cool! She took me out for the day and let me choose to do whatever I wanted! There was no one but Mom and me. Abigail was with Gramma and Papa and Daddy was at work. So, This is what I planned for our day:

First, we took the Max train to the zoo. At the zoo I make an elephant mask that I was able to cut out by myself. I love scissors!

At the zoo, mom and I danced to Hawaiian music learned to hula. She kept going on and on about how much she wants to go back to Hawaii; she says I would love it there.

We went to see the new "Africa" at the zoo which is a home to lions and cheetahs. I wasn't too excited about the sleeping animals, but mom let me stay in the awesome safari truck as long as I wanted; I never get to do that when my sister is with us. To top it off, mom (for the very first time) let me play in the giant sandbox at the zoo. Every time we have gone in the past, she always says I can't play in it...but not today. I played in there a very long time with two other boys. We played with construction trucks and got covered in sand. I love being a boy!

After the zoo, we hopped back on the train and went to a big, old toy store called Finnegans. It was huge and I played at the train table for what seems like forever. I didn't buy anything because everything I had my eye on was too expensive, but I still had a blast.
We then hopped back on the train and took a ride all the way to the airport. We went to the top level of the parking structure and watched the planes take off and land. Follow that, we came in and played at the indoor play area in the airport. Mom and I built a Lego toy store (pictured above)...sorry for the face in the picture, I told my mom I had to go to the bathroom and she insisted that she get a picture of our building first.

Just when I thought the day couldn't get any better, Mom and I shared dinner together at the airport while we talked and watched more planes. She let me pick what we ate so we share rice and a Jamba Juice. I was so great to spend the whole day together...especially since I picked what we got to do. :)

It is tiring doing all the fun things you want to in one day. I had a little nap on the way home in the train. We didn't get home until after 7pm. Thanks for the fun day mom! Thanks Gramma and Papa for taking Abigail. I love you!

Isaac's Work Partners

Isaac has imaginary work partners named Rick and Ben; together they run a cheese-noodle company (it is not incorporated yet). We often find him on his pretend phone talking to Rick working out the details on their new deal. When asked what type of business it is, Isaac says that he is a noodle buyer at the Costco by the Max station (Portland's light rail train). Rick is the investor, aka "the money guy." Rick also gets the money for the Max tickets. Isaac drives a black big rig and delivers to the Costcos. Ben works on the cheese side of the company. Ben makes the cheese and delivers the cheese to our house in an orange big rig. I don't think that the company is going to be very profitable because the only person that can eat the cheese-noodles is Isaac (of course it is non-dairy cheese).

Isaac didn't miss us

Even though Isaac was separated from his sister for the first time since her birth, he didn't seem to miss her. He played with Dad in the evenings, went to a fair with the grandparents, smashed a car light, learned to ride a bike, had a few play-dates with the neighbor kids, got his face painted, got a new toy and got to eat lots of Dino-nuggets. Chris was spoiled too. One time, while I was in Cali, she said that my dad was serving him a bowl of ice cream in the couch. He said he had such a great time that I can have a girls' getaway every year. (Way to go! Thanks Papa and Gramma).

More Time in Cali

Reading to Hayden about bugs.

Abigail and Trev playing in the kitchen together

The next generation of the "girls"--Abigail and Mikayla

How our kids have grown! They were just kids; now they are on the verge of being adults.

Mrs. Koren and Mrs. Som

Abigail had so much fun with her grandparents. She loved the pool and just being with them. What a blessing that she can still fly free until Jan. ;)

Yes, Abigail was sharing peanuts with Everett! Since Isaac is so allergic, this is the first (and one of the last for a long while) time she tried peanuts. She loved them, of course.

In addition to going to Palm Desert, I was able to spend some time with my Kim and Lindsay's kiddos and stay with the Somervilles. Abigail loved Trevor and had a sweet time playing with Mi-Kay-Kay's dolls. Abigail had a few precious days with Chris' parents and got to see baby Hannah's room when we went over to Emily and Eric White's for breakfast (thanks for the fantastic omelet and muffin). We were also able to see old students from our 3rd grade class. Seriously, these kids are now 15/going on 16...time flies! Our "class reunion" was fun and I LOVED spending a day with Tiff and the babies. We went to Santa Barbara and had lunch at the Nordstrom Cafe. Our final day there, Tiff and I had a lunch, just the two of us, at Wolf Creek. Fabulous!

Cali Trip for Lindsay's 30th

We stayed at a really nice timeshare resort in Palm Desert to celebrate "Girl's" 30th. We had no kids, no hubbys and no schedule. We saw a movie, walked around the outdoor mall, had dinner on the balcony and talked until who knows when, got our nails done, went dancing and went out to dinner. Even the car ride there and back was a joy (not just because we had In-n-Out)... because we could just be together and talk. I am so thankful for old friends!!!

Me with Kim and Linds

This girl looks better now that when we were kids. She had so many guys try to pick up on her when we went dancing. I kept hearing her quickly say this line, "Married...just here for a girls' weekend..." Jason has a great catch!

We had a great dinner at Roy's. They served "Hawaiian Fusion"...whatever that is. The shrimp apps were the BEST! The server was so funny...we'll be laughing about him for years to come.

Yum!!!
With all this food, I did remember to get up early 2 of the mornings and run 13 miles (total--not each day). :)

A Bit of Summer Left

On Friday we went to the beach. It was hard to believe that fall is here.

Amber outside a Cannon Beach Coffeehouse
Isaac outside a Cannon Beach Coffeehouse

Abigail on the sand

Isaac and Abigail at the Cannon Beach Park where we had lunch

Chris and Amber loving the weather...and each other!

So cute with Hay Stack Rock in the distance
(Can you tell how windy it is? We are still trying to get all the sand out of Isaac's ears)

"Do Dat!"

Abigail kept saying, "Do Dat (do that)" while we were at the Burbank airport. I was wondering what in the world she was talking about...while she was saying it, she would make a funny face that looked like she was saying "O." After a while, I noticed the poster for the 3-D Toy Story across the parking lot. I realized that she saw the alien guy's face and wanted to "do that." It was so funny; every time she saw a poster, she'd make the face and laugh.


We had such a good time on our plane rides; she charmed the pants off of everyone she came in contact with. We had the best time together. I am so excited for more Mommy/daughter time!