Kids kids kids

When I started this bog I had grand ambitions that it would be filled w/ all my wonderful crafts and crochet projects.  And some posts about the kiddies.  Silly me!  I thought I could somehow change my life priorities.  Instead, this blog has turned out to mirror my life rather than my personal dreams.  Its all about the kids :)

Not that that is a bad thing....just a fact of reality.  So once again, here is a post about the kids.

All 3 grand-daughters have their birthdays at the end of August.  So to save some money, time, and make their birthday memories last longer than any toy might, we decided to take them all to Enchanted Forest, the Disneyland of the Northwest.  It was also a great end of summer activity for the Boy and Teen and her Boyfriend.

 

We packed a picnic lunch complete w/ birthday cupcakes.  The girls had so much fun running through the fairy tales houses, visiting the castles, and going down all the different slides.  They could not get enough of the Old Lady in the shoe slide.  We stayed there so long, they started folding the rugs and handing them out to other kids.

Taking a short break in between fairy tales

At the mouth of the Witch tunnel/slide

Panning for gold in the western town

Alice, Pappy, and china

The big kids even had fun. Of course they had to go on the log ride several times, as it takes a bit more than a slide to get their adrenaline running.  But at the end of the day (we closed the park!), all were exhausted big and little.  

 

After hours of running up and down hills and lifting a 3 year old up and down ("Molly, up, up!")  I think I've had a good enough work out for the next month. Today is definitely a day of rest and recuperation.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Saturday was the 3rd granddaughter's 3rd birthday.  All 3 came over and spent the weekend.  We had so much fun!  Catching frogs in the planters, jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler, Popsicles, and cupcakes :)

Then Spongebob and they all crashed before the movie even got going.

I wish we could keep them all the time...but then again I think sleep-overs are probably just as good.

Parades!

Time for  a parade.  We've been to the Hazel Dell Parade of bands and our favorite, the Jr Rose Parade to cheer on our favorite school band, Pleasant Valley Middle school.  They rock!

 And of course the drum line..check out that bell player!

Spring Break 2010

We just returned from our week of spring break. Once again, we tried for sun and fun and ended up with cold and SNOW! We went to Sunriver Oregon by way of Kah-nee-ta resort.
The weather was crazy!  We had snow, sleet, hail, sun, wind, rain, you name it!

The kids always only want to swim, swim, and swim.  So, we swam.  In the rain, in the wind, in the cold, and even in the snow!  The teen refused to accept that we were going to the mountains, so she packed flip flops, shorts and tanks, oh and her beautiful new sun glasses. Don't they look like they're having fun!

We went to the High Desert Museum, spent a day in Bend , found a great indie book shop Between The Covers, and a bead shop AZillion Beads!

We woke up this morning to about a foot of snow and it falling fast.  A crazy end to a week of freaky weather.

Walking w/ Dinos!

Yep, we went and saw Walking with Dinosaurs tonight at the Portland Rose Quarter.  The boy was soo excited all week counting down to this event.  And it didn't disappoint.  It was pretty cool.  The boy LOVED it and even the teen had a good time (contrary to her earlier claims).

I'd definately recommend it as a family activity.  Little and big kids both will be entertained.  There's some blood and roaring but not too scary or over the top.  And there is intermission after only 40 minutes, so not too long for little kids.  Its a bit spendy, especially when you add in the required shirt and program, but that's my only complaint.

 Here are some great photos we took,w/out flash!:

Another successful family adventure!

and tomorrow on to the Sewing Expo!

Weekend and grandchildren

It was another rainy, wet, moss covered weekend in the northwest.  But nothing adds sunshine like children!  We had the grand daughters over this weekend (all 3) and their laughter, playing, and even snoring where like rays of sunshine.  We have 4 grand-kids, all belong to my step-daughter.  The oldest, 11 years, is living w/ his other grandparents right now, so we didn't see him.  The second oldest "Pickle" is 8 and used to live with us so is quite at home at our house.  Then there is "Cilly" who is 4 and very much a bulldozer with the biggest smile you ever saw.  Last is "Angel Baby" who is 2 and a half and very shy for the first hour.

The Boy is an amazing babysitter!  Much better than The Teen who gets either bored or annoyed after a couple minutes.  Her door shuts...alot these days.  But The Boy seems to never tire of taking charge and coming up with games.  As soon as he expresses annoyance or exhaustion, one of them will come running up to him and off he'll go again.

Bed time was so easy!  The Boy made one big bed in the playroom, selected an appropriate movie, tucked them all in and before the movie was over, they were all asleep.  Angel Baby fell asleep in Pappy's arms, so we just laid her among the other three and she didn't miss a baby snore!

We forgot how early they get up when they are younger.  The Teen and The Boy have taken to appreciating the joy of sleeping in on Saturday.  But Angel Baby was up at the crack of dawn!  And there The Boy was, ready to play, change, and feed her if necessary.  He's a GREAT babysitter! 

Hopefullly "mom" got some needed rest while we got some needed "little kid" time.  Lots of tickling, dress-up, puppets, and PB&J.