Lucky!!!

Look who came to visit! :) Lucky is the neighbors dog. He is a total sweetheart and I believe he is 6 years old now but really acts like a 2 year old dog. Full of energy and obviously some mischief too! So about a week and a half ago (yes, when the weather was actually nice!) Lucky decided there were more entertaining things on the other side of the fence. Actually what I really think he is interested in is something behind the fence he can't see through.....

But the neighbors weren't home that night and we were out in the backyard doing some weeding and Lucky felt he needed some company. So, he joined us.


The kids had fun with him....Andy was a little unimpressed when he peed right were Andy was weeding! Later on, when the neighbors came home, they were highly unimpressed at Lucky's antics. They immediately put up some wood to block his path while we went inside to get the boys ready for bed. About 45 minutes later, as Andy was reading bedtime stories, I had run downstairs for something and noticed that whatever the neighbors had done to keep Lucky contained, had not worked. He was at my back door again, probably looking for the cats! (he had seen them there earlier!) I had to laugh and then told him to go back home. The next day, the neighbors did some more work on keeping him contained and we haven't seen him in our backyard since. We actually don't mind, but the owners are worried that if he figures too much out (like jumping the fence!) then he will get into the front yard as well and then there will be trouble. I don't blame them but it was fun while it lasted! ;)

Nah, He Doesn't Like Birthdays.....

He isn't shy about being sung to either! For Mason, everything about birthdays are just fine....except for the being patient until the next birthday part!

It's Time For Summer Break....Already??!

Ok well....Today is Mason's last day of school! I can't believe how fast the year has gone, and how much Mason enjoyed his year at preschool. I know I have talked a lot about Matthew's great year but Mason has had a really fantastic one as well. He is already looking forward to next year, and so am I since then he will go to school three days a week. Yay!! Anyway, these pics were taken just a few minutes ago as we get ready to leave. In the pictures is Pickle the cat, the last animal we have taken home. Mason enjoyed Pickle but I really think it was Charlie that was his favorite! I really am beginning to think this child is a total dog person! It will be interesting to see what he thinks of this ......

What Will You Be Doing This Weekend?

I plan on going the Mt Tabor Art Walk at some point on Saturday! I went last year, but only managed to hit up a few houses. But the ones I did visit were great! Lydia's studio will be open, as well as the place were I bought my very lovely purse last year. I'm excited to go back and also check out some more local art, it should be fun!
And speaking of fun things to check out.... one of the women that is the grandmother of one of Mason's preschool friends is opening her studio over the weekend. I almost loathe to use the word grandmother because Diane is so charming and sweet and as classy as they come! I intend to make a little time for a visit there as well!

Four

My Dear Mason,

It has been such a busy last couple of days that I have had very little time to reflect on how fast time is passing and how your birthday is almost here. Not that anyone around you doesn't realize that tomorrow is your birthday....you aren't exactly shy about informing the world of this fact! It is amazing though....you are growing so quickly. And not just size wise, (although you aren't exactly small!) but mentally in leaps and bounds too. I am constantly impressed with your wit, your courage, and your enthusiasm. I love how seriously you take your "jobs", both at home and at school! And even though some days your stubbornness can drive me absolutely crazy, sometimes it also serves you well in that you do persevere in what you do. I hope you enjoy

your birthday, I really have no doubt that you will. Happy 4th Birthday!

Love you, Mommy

I Threw a Tantrum.....

For some reason....we seem to get plenty-o-door to door salesmen here in SE PDX. Irritates the hell out of me. We finally had had enough. So we bought a lovely little sign for our front door. Something along the lines of "NO SOLICITING"!! In bright red, and can pretty well be read from the street. And even if you can't read it, the message is usually pretty damn clear. Apparently, not today. This young gentleman rang the door, informed me that he wasn't trying to sell me anything he was trying to give me an updated, wireless alarm panel. Whatever.....I was annoyed but also right in the middle of cooking dinner (which is probably why we got the damn sign anyway, it's always during dinner!). So I basically told him I knew nothing about the alarm (yeah right!) and he would have to talk to my hubby later. I know, I know, I should have just told him to go away and never come back but I was unsure. Basically, hubby nixed the whole idea (fine with me!) and kept pointing to the sign when the guy came back. And in the end we were both annoyed that the guy even came at all. So in my fit of irritation..... I produced this...


wonder what other information I could get out of a sales person? ;)

1st Grade Art- Art Infusion

So I have meant to post a few pictures of some of this year's art infusion work in Matthew's class. Art Infusion is a program at Matthew's school to bring art lessons into the classroom. They are parent led, meaning the parents learn the lesson and then bring it into the classroom and teach it to the kids. It's a great way for parents to get in the classroom and teach and besides the added bonus of getting to know most of the kids! What can I say, I am a snoopy mom who kinda needs to know which kid is which etc.

Anyway, this latest lesson was surprisingly one of my favorites. It was the only one this year that I didn't make it to the training so I was definitely not teaching it. However, the lovely Lydia Hess taught it (I actually love it when she teaches the lessons!) and it went really well. The subject was flowers and Georgia O'Keeffe and using oil pastels. And it was amazing what these kids can do! The pictures are still on the kids' lockers and I very much enjoy looking at them. I am also really hoping a lot of these kids choose one of these pieces for the art show coming up!