a day at the oregon coast

May 27, 20155 Comments

last sunday we got up early to head to the coast with ryan’s sister and her family.

we made a breakfast stop at camp 18 and explored some of the additions they have made to the grounds to showcase the history of logging in the pacific northwest.

i could have walked around for hours taking photos of the old rusty stuff.

this train car was particularly fascinating to me…

wooden doors…rusty metal…chippy paint…

the exterior was beautiful turquoise bead board…

isn’t that rust spot just perfect?!

i can just imagine the stories that the old walls could tell…

there was a swallow nest on one of the walls, and the mom and dad were eagerly waiting to return to their babies, but were keeping an eye on the stranger peeking in at their home…

not sure what this was used for…transporting animals was my guess…

the ferns and moss seemed to find it a good place to call home…

we decided to take a drive to ecola state park instead of just driving to cannon beach.

our kids had never been there, so it was a first for them, too!

goonies never say die…

{random fact about me: did you know that goonies is the movie that put a move to oregon in my mind? when i saw the movie in 4th grade i remember thinking, “i want to live there someday.” here i am, many years later living my dream.}

beautiful haystack rock at cannon beach just after low tide…

there was a spring of water coming off these rocks…the moss was like a carpet…

we ended up setting up a spot at indian beach and exploring for a while…

it was a perfect day for the coast.

i really liked visiting indian beach again. it’s small, not crowded and has tide pools to explore and surfers to watch. the last time i was there was with oakie.

i hope to make a handful of day trips to the coast with my kids this summer. if you live in portland and want to meet us there, leave a comment and i will put a list of e-mails together to let you know when we plan to do another day trip!

home is…at the oregon coast

strawberry fields and good beer

May 22, 20151 Comment

ryan’s sister and her family are visiting us this week.

they drove here all the way from rochester, new york!

you can see more about their travels on their blog halfway to somewhere.

on tuesday we took everybody out to kruger’s farm on sauvie island to do some strawberry picking.

after working up an appetite (although, there may have been a few strawberries eaten) we headed over to hopworks urban brewery {i wrote about the hub in one of my very first blog posts} and ended up having the banquet room all to ourselves.

to say that these cousins have fun together is an understatement!

when the kids have been at school and the cousins have been doing their own exploring, i have been busy making jam from the 20 pounds of strawberries we picked!

so far, i have made strawberry vanilla {from the book food in jars}, strawberry thyme, and strawberry basil!

this is my first time making strawberry jam and it is a lot of fun…i may sneak away to go strawberry picking by myself before the kids get out of school for the summer.

speaking of summer, this is where we will be exploring…

sun river, oregon
rochester, new york
lake pend oreille, idaho
bella beach, oregon

stay tuned…

home is…adventures with cousins!

it’s the middle of may already?!

May 14, 20155 Comments

just a few photos of what we have been up to lately…

i am going to miss my days with her when she goes to school all day in the fall…

when she was an infant and the little guy was only 2 i remember thinking, “how am i going to get through everyday with them?” and that the day would never come when they would both be in school full time. now, i am wondering, “how am i going to get through everyday without them?” and how did it get here so fast?

he still loves coffee…especially when i drink it outside in my favorite spot in the backyard…

the clubhouse is still a big hit…in this photo she was the police commander and they had a crime to solve…

the mild weather has been perfect for evenings filled with baseball…

also, due to the mild weather, the garden is going crazy…the elusive artichoke…

my happy place…

rhodies in the front garden…

i lightened up the mood in the playroom with this white granny square afghan…a thrifted find from a couple years ago…i also rainbowtized all the books…

fridays are for lacrosse…

he’s so tired by the end of the week, but he really likes lacrosse…

i can totally picture him as a goalie…

our first fishing morning of the season…the pink pole caught the first and only fish…

the little guy is so helpful…it’s amazing how they can actually fish on their own now…

there was a huge bullfrog under the dock…

we also saw two bald eagles defending their nest across the river…

baby girl had her mind set on a lemonade stand, so we made it happen…

it was a successful day…friends from the neighborhood (and all the way across town) came to get some…

i call this the best seat in the backyard…and it’s mine…

trying to get out with the dogs…this was the first of two runs on monday morning…odyssey is the best running buddy…

and, here’s crazy, i mean, rainy! she has some manners to learn and will be heading to “summer camp” in idaho soon!

we’ve got some special visitors coming in a couple of days…stay tuned!!

home is…full of springtime fun!

{spring break} operation bigger clubhouse

April 2, 201512 Comments

My parents came out to visit us over Spring Break. It was the first time my mom was able to travel on an airplane after having BOTH of her knees replaced last year! She has recovered amazingly and we had so much fun being active over the break!

One of the main highlights of the trip began after we all went to watch the little guys baseball practice on the morning after my parents arrived. Shortly after we got home, there were multiple trips to Home Depot to get supplies…to fix our large deck near the house…and upgrade where the old playhouse used to sit into a new “clubhouse” for the kids!

We removed the railing from around the existing deck between the trees and started building walls on Saturday afternoon!

Between Ryan’s deck project on our large deck and the project my dad and I were working on it was a flurry of activity in the backyard. My mom was helping out by keeping the kids entertained…which was so amazingly helpful.

By the end of the day on Saturday, the walls were framed.

By Monday morning, the roof supports were taking shape and we were measuring and cutting cedar fence boards to put on as siding!

By Tuesday, Topher was putting the roof on and nailing the last finish pieces of trim onto the clubhouse.

It was so much fun to work with my dad on this project for the kids.

We made fires in the firepit almost everyday as we worked through the changing Oregon weather.

We celebrated and played in the clubhouse the rest of the week after we returned from our other adventures.

I have plans to paint the interior ceiling white and the interior walls a turquoise color.

I will also add canvas curtains to the front entry and to cover the windows and the slide door.

Until then, it’s ready for play!

I am not going to write up a post about how we built this…it was a labor of love. However, I will say that I was inspired by and The Handmade Home’s Handmade Hideaway. Their posts were invaluable in showing my dad what I wanted to accomplish and helpful for us to figure out how to get it done.

Thank you, Topher, for helping me bring my dreams into reality. It was so awesome to work on this project with you!!

I will be sharing more details in the next weeks as I add more finishing touches…in fact, Ryan added an awesome touch last night that I will need to share with you!

home is…a labor of love.

rain and sunshine

December 8, 2014Leave a comment

It takes both rain and sunshine…

to make a rainbow.

Meet Grand River Hoji Rainbow, our new black lab puppy! We call her Rain, Rainy, or Sweet Girl…as Lorelai likes to call her.

This was her very first adventure with us…cutting down our Christmas tree!

She came from the litter of tiny puppies that the kids got to hold in October when we visited Idaho.

You’ll be seeing lots more of her.

home is…plenty of rain and sunshine to make rainbows.

{through the rearview} fall in the flat tops

September 23, 2014Leave a comment

I took these photos the last time I was up in the Flat Tops of Colorado. September 2005. I knew it would probably be the last photos I took up there in a long time as we had just decided to make the move to Oregon.

I made Ryan stop on the way down the road so I could take most of these photos.

Lots of good memories were made up there.

Withe the dogs.
With family. With friends. We camped up there a lot from 2000-2005. It seems so long ago. It is one of my favorite places on earth. home is…memories of a favorite place.

the lake

July 24, 20144 Comments

we were in northern idaho with family last week playing at my aunt and uncle’s lake house. i had over 1000 photos between my phone and big camera. i’m only sharing a few here…

playing, smiling, paddle boarding, sailing, talking, waterskiing, running, eating, jetskiing, collecting, laughing, boating, teaching, fishing, learning, swimming, jumping, loving, exploring, celebrating.

home is…a week of lake life.

{milestones} the little guy is seven

July 9, 20146 Comments

We celebrated the little guys seventh birthday recently.

Seven.

That’s big.

He’s awesome.

Physically, he can do anything he sets his mind to.

Rock climbing, bike riding, baseball, skiing, snowboarding, swimming…pretty much anything he tries, he is good at.

When I asked him what he wanted to do on our upcoming trip to the lake he replied, “I’ll try anything.”

And, he will.

He’s reading. Not voraciously into books quite yet, but I imagine it will only be a matter of time.

He’s brave. It’s hard to remember what it was like to go to a new, big school and have to make ALL NEW friends. He did a great job this year.

His favorite class (and teacher) in school this year was music. Music. What an awesome thing.

He loves his sister. Sometimes, it’s not cool to show his love, but most times he does. He reads to her, lets her play minecraft with him, shares his legos with her, and indulges in the play that she leads. He is the best big brother she could ask for.

As tough as he is, he has a real sensitive nature. He loves fiercely. His feelings can be easily hurt.

One on one time with him is amazing. He has awesome thoughts and ideas that he doesn’t always get to share unless we get time alone with him.

He loves science, nature, and exploring the outdoors.

He knows a lot about technology and is not afraid of it…he knows more about iPads and iPhones than I do!

He is creative and thoughtful.

He has boundless energy that can sometimes get him into trouble, but most times is just hard to keep up with.

He keeps us on our toes.

He tests boundaries.

He loves his family.

And, we love him. Like crazy.

I asked him some questions this morning to get a feel for how HE feels at seven.

favorite color: green, yellow, gold…well, actually, the whole rainbow
favorite toy: bike
favorite t.v. show: wild kratts
favorite game: minecraft
favorite snack: chewy chcolate chip granola bars and poppa’s popcorn
favorite animal: pronghorn
favorite holiday: christmas
favorite book: anything about minecraft
favorite song: welcome boys and girls (sung by his music teacher as they enter the classroom)
what do you take to bed: sweetie (his big yellow dog)
favorite food: pizza
favorite thing to do outside: ride his bike
what do you want to be when you grow up: zoologist or wildlife biologist
what are you most grateful for: ben and pop-pop
favorite part of the day: afternoon
what makes you happy: sweetie at bedtime
what are you scared of: spiders
what makes me special: my family

To be part of his life EVERYDAY and watch him grow is one of the biggest joys of my life.

home is…seven of the most rewarding years of my life.

grand river hoji ben {january 25, 2000 – july 7, 2014}

July 7, 201417 Comments

We bought our first house with him in mind.

He was born less than one week after we were engaged.

We drove 6 hours, one way, to pick him up…I had to drive the last hour so Ryan would not speed.

His biological mom’s name was Jo-Jo.

His biological dad’s name was Fast Eddy.

He was a grumpy old man as a puppy.

We got married when he was 10 months old.

We used to run across creeks and hide behind trees to make him learn to swim.

More times than not, when he would throw a fit about getting into the car (usually in the middle of nowhere Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas or Nebraska) we had to get in the car without him and drive down the dirt road, with him in hot pursuit, just to get him to decide to get into the car with us.

He taught us about tough love.

He introduced us to people and places we never would have met or seen without him.

He took us on adventures I will never forget.

We ran through high mountain parks in snow-thunderstorms together.

We “got turned around” (you are only lost if you are never found) after dark on logging roads in Idaho together.

We woke up with a snow covered wall tent at 10,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains more than once together.

He traveled from coast to coast with us.

He stayed at Hotel Monaco in Chicago (even took a bath in the tub) and Super 8’s all over the country.

He swam in rivers and lakes from New York to Colorado to Oregon.

He chased birds where most will never get a chance, or be good enough, to chase birds.

He stopped me from walking in on a burglary in progress in our home.

He taught me patience.

He taught me unconditional love.

He taught me to be a mom before I was a mom.

hunting in the colorado flat tops {9/2005}

bella beach {7/2011}

walk around the block {2/2012}

almost lost him {3/2012}

the three amigos – Oak, Ben & Odyssey {4/2006}

snuggles {3/2012}

sleepy face…he was so sick in march 2012 {3/2012}

such a gentle boy – sharing with baby teal {12/2013}

reece’s first hunt {11/2010}

mt. hood {8/2010}

grand river seminar with mike gould {10/2005}

always

just hanging on the deck {10/2011}

dog of instagram {8/2011}

loved to dig a hole to rest in – idaho {10.2006}

pillow we bought for ryan’s parents

grand river seminar – idaho {10/2011}

getting a bath {2/2014}

family dog {8/2011}

dog pile {3/2011}

chukar hunting {1/2009}

He couldn’t hear.

He couldn’t see.

He was in pain.

For the last week he barked each time he had to go out to go potty because he needed help standing up to go outside.

Last night, after he barked for help I slept on the floor with him.

His last night with us.

This morning, I carried him outside so he could go potty.

He was stubborn. Always.

He didn’t want to have to be carried outside to go potty, but his body was failing him.

It was time to let go.

Fourteen and a half years.

Our family won’t be the same without him.

Rest in Peace, Grand River Hoji Ben.

home is…knowing all dogs go to heaven.

a day at the fishin’ hole

June 10, 20143 Comments

today i got to spend the morning fishing with a bunch of kindergartners and it was perfect…well, almost.

there was one kid who fell in the water. he was in our group. luckily, he just got wet. the teacher wasn’t surprised.

the little guy rode the school bus for the very first time and liked it. he was nervous, but got right on and waved from the window when we arrived at the fishing hole. {although, he did tell me that he will only ride school buses on field trips until he is in college}

sunshine and blue skies overhead, jumping fish, and happy kids.

our group of three boys each caught a fish.

the mom leading our group was, obviously, a fisherwoman. between the two of us we had no problem baiting the hook, casting the line, holding the fish, and getting the hooks out of the mouths. so much fun!!

the boys were as patient as three kindergarten boys will be. luckily, there were salamanders to look for, osprey overhead, and other groups to compare fish with!

they eagerly watched the fish get cleaned and were excited to take them home. {the pond is stocked with trout and there is no catch and release}