At the Park Today...

Today while the "big boys" were in school, Karin, Kate, and I took the little ones (if you could call them that... all 3 of them are pretty large for their ages!) up to Mt. Tabor Park. They played together really well today with minimal arguing and it seems if Mason and Reason are about to actually get along again. Yay! They have kind of been at each others throats for the past several weeks so it's good to see some harmony. The kids brought presents for Mason for his birthday too, which I think helped restore some niceness for them. I actually meant to do a kids birthday party for Mason (just a small one while older siblings were in school) but my children just cannot get well! Even towards the end of the park today Mason was a total grouch and totally full of snot but it also is making for a good nap. And I can't complain about that! ;)

Mason Birthday Pictures

Just a few pictures from Mason's birthday...

The bike was from Andy and I, he was totally thrilled when it was in the house....however, once he was outside, not so impressed!

He also got a battery powered "John Deere Tractor" that he was totally thrilled with! That was from Grandma Leslee and Grandpa Chuck. His cousin Declan also got one for his birthday...

And the shirt he is wearing is a birthday present from my friend Crystal, who has had quite the knack lately for finding appropriate shirts for my child. This particular shirt says "Your Looking At A Legend". That's definitely Mason! ;)

New Purse

So I did get a chance today to go to the Mt Tabor Art walk and Sale. I got a few hours by myself (that is impressive in and of itself) so I walked up to the general area with a stop along the way at Stumptown for coffee. The weather wasn't too warm or sunny (which is perfect for me!) and it was a lovely walk. First stop was Lydia's who's daughter is in Matthew's class and who I have worked a little bit with in Art Infusion for Matthew's school. Her work is beautiful and I was so impressed and in awe. I am most certainly not an artist and not particularly artistic but her work was wonderful and I loved it! Then it was off a little further to another house featuring this. Oh what fun I had in there!! And of course I did end up buying a new purse...although I did inform my husband that I was incredibly restrained since I easily could have chosen about 10 purses!! What this gal does is makes purses out of discarded materials. I still want the purse she had that was made out of a scrabble board....so very cool! She also had some made out of plastic place mats and many made out of bookcovers. The one I chose is made of an old Portland Public School library book...in fact I chose it because on the one side you can see (and feel the texture) of the Portland Public Schools stamp on the front of the book cover. On the inside of the purse she left the pocket

that would have had the card to check out the book from whatever school library it was from and it also has all the color pen markings from an overly ambitious child from who knows when. I absolutely adore this purse...and the fact that it's made from material that his it's own history just impresses me all the more!

After my purchase of my new purse I really wasn't left with much time before I needed to head back home but I did check out another spot and then headed home. It made for a lovely afternoon and the whole time I was gone my house was getting painted on the inside! It's almost done (it will get finished on Monday, part of the kitchen and then some touch ups) and the walls look so much better now that it's all clean! Now if I can just convince Mason to keep his hands off the walls.....

Saturday Fun

So if anybody (locally) needs entertainment this weekend I suggest checking this. Hopefully I will get a chance to go today since I have to work tomorrow but I love this kind of stuff. You never know what you will find! :)

Mason and Clara

Mason and Clara yesterday afternoon....on their way to Clara's house to play. I'm totally loving the sherbet colors....very summery!

Oh...what a night....

No....nothing particularly special happened tonight. It was just one of those beautiful summer-like evenings where the kids were getting along and having a good time together. There was a warm wind blowing but it wasn't hot out and the grass was being mowed so everything smelled wonderful. I watched the boys play as I puttered around the yard and I couldn't help but wonder if I wanted to be them or if I wanted to be me as a kid again. I guess it's the parent in me that is so enjoying seeing my children run around barefoot and having a fabulous time without a care in the world. I think I just am overwhelmed by their enjoyment of all the world has to offer them in that little moment in time and realize how happy I am when they are happy. Not every evening can be like this as there are always mouths to feed, chores to be done, and planning for the next day's activities to think about. The weather can't always be so perfect and I tend to enjoy the time when the sun is going down anyway; it was a beautiful day out but my skin does not handle the sun well! But for a short time tonight everyone was happy and I actually slowed down enough to enjoy it. Mental note: slow down more often, although it's good to be one step ahead it is also important to enjoy the moment! :)

I felt the need for a few pictures even though I didn't take any tonight. It didn't seem quite right to spoil the good times by going in the house and getting the camera. The pictures are of Matthew with Robert and Clara one morning before school. It was a lovely morning and they were having a good time. Mason was still not quite feeling better at that point, so he was in the house pouting! ;)

I Can't Believe He Is Almost Three!

Can you believe that on Saturday, this little baby will turn 3? I can't!! It sure seems like yesterday since he was this tiny, however, those were also a lot of sleepless nights! This child did not believe in consistent sleeping until he was about 13 months old.

Things started out a little rough too...Mason got to stay a couple of extra days in the hospital due to Jaundice. He ended up fine but boy was he yellow!!!!

It's quite mind boggling to see how far he has come. And that preschool is just around the corner and that he really and truly is no longer a baby. But then again, he will be the first to tell me that he is a big boy now! :)

Thank God Your Here

O.k. I seriously just got off the couch from watching this show "Thank God Your Here" (on NBC) and I am in tears! As in...incredibly funny!! I don't know if this show is new or what but I've never seen it. They have 4 different comic actors/comedians to participate in improv comedy and it was hysterically funny! They had Tom Arnold (amazingly funny and I haven't particularly been a fan of his), Fran Drescher (another one I haven't been a fan of, but she was good!), Angela Kinsey (from The Office, which I totally love!!) and now I am drawing a blank on who the 4th guy was. They basically were competing for the "Thank God Your Here" trophy at the end of the show and were given props and a set that they had never seen before and had to play along with a story line that they had no prior knowledge of. Like I said....amazingly funny and a perfect light hearted hour before "Lost"! :)