Hunger Site

I really, truly, ABSOLUTELY want to write an extremely thought-provoking, life-changing, blog entry about helping others. Sadly, I am constrained by my lack of ability to do so. Therefore, I would just like to write that RIGHT NEXT TO the top blog entry there's a small black icon for the "Hunger Site." If you click on it, it takes you to a website where you can click another icon and give a FREE CUP of food, just for clicking. Mind you, if you were to buy something from one of the sponsers, additional cups of food would go to feed the hungry. But, that's for you to decide on your own. I'm just hoping that you will add this website to your list of favorites and click on the free cup every single day. How much more simplistic could it be? I don't think there's an easier way. Please click and donate. Thanks so much!

Just hanging out!

I just wanted to put one last entry up today because I had some cute photos of the kiddos together (and Brian horsing around), so here they are!

Here are my two munchkins actually sharing a space without yelling, screaming or glaring angrily at each other. I swear, they do really LOVE each other, but sometimes you can't tell by the "STOP CODY, MOOOOOOOOOOM" stuff that I witness. But, when they are being sweet to each other, it's definitely a Kodak moment!

Here's Brian and my little daredevil Cody, doing what they do best, having fun doing some acrobatic feats that bring my heart right up to my throat. Strangely, it seems to affect these two so differently, by making them laugh, then attempting to outdo their last event. Cody does seem to love the tossing in the air, jumping off the couch, and the physical movement whereas Caitlin seemed to move much more cautiously. (I honestly think I prefer the caution.) =)

Fun at the CM

We got to go to a birthday party yesterday at the Children's Museum. I have to say, it was fun, but I'm always flabbergasted at how poorly the bathrooms are situated at these places. There was one "family bathroom - changing table" but it was just that, a changing table area. I would like to vote for all kids' places to have at least two "family bathrooms" in them. Don't you think?

Anyway, there are some great play rooms at this place. We really liked the treetop room, where the kids could climb a few steps and be inside the "tree." You could also crawl under it and it was fun to play hide and seek there.

Here's Cody on the pretend horsey. He didn't seem to sure about it and he's been on a real pony so maybe he was just disappointed? hee-hee We had fun in other spots too, but I often "miss the moment" with my camera. My little dude, Coders, doesn't like to pose for pictures and is often in such movement that my photos come out blurry anyway. (Also, there's a LOT of flourescent lighting in this place so my pictures were coming out dark anyway. Sorry. At least I blogged about it, right?)

Masterpieces...eh-hem...I mean good tries

Here are my first attempts at artwork. Ha, ha. I invested in some Mod Podge (is that what it's called?) and set off on my own.

My first attempt at being artistic was painting this ugly old (but great framed) wooden basket. I've thought more thoroughly about it since and probably would have gone with the white I originally thought about, but didn't pick due to some brain malfunction. Brenda will still like it because I tried, right Brenda?


The silver is obviously not the best color, but I thought it might look like galvanized steel (which it doesn't). Then, I decided to put Brenda's name on it and Caitlin got to pick out the name stickers. At least Brenda will always know it is hers. HA!


These two trays are something I've had "in the works" for at LEAST two years (maybe more, sadly). I found them (unstained) at Michael's and decided I was going to make them something special. I stained them (possibly last summer, maybe the summer before, who can remember?), waited for DAYS for them to dry (who knew I was supposed to wipe them after applying the stain?), then just sort of, kind of forgot about them. I finally decided to "GET SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS DONE" this past week end and kicked out three different items. Wow. Some kind of feat for those who haven't an artistic bone in their bodies.


This last piece is something Caitlin and I are working on for her bedroom. I've wanted to hang something that matches her "theme" for quite some time (and probably bought these canvases a few years ago). Today, I went to the store, bought some white paint (to lighten the current pink we have) and Caitlin went to town painting the background color. We bought some wallies at a garage sale (again, most likely two years ago) and thought we could make a pretty picture (or two - we might do both) for her wall. We will probably mod podge it tomorrow! Yeah! What do you think?

Maybe Brenda is starting to wear off on me. Who knew? (I saw BEADS on sale at JoAnn Fabrics this afternoon, while I was buying the white paint. It made me a little crazy thinking they were calling out to me to start making my own jewelry! I might go back tomorrow to look at them all again. I will most likely need a new project two years from now. Right?)

Sights and tastes of summer, YUM!

Who can resist basil? Not I. The summer is such a great time for home grown basil, home grown tomatoes and delicious fresh mozarella cheese. I love to make this caprese salad (is it really a salad?) with those ingredients and a little olive oil, salt and pepper.

It sure is yummy. So far, I've been able to get Cody to eat it (not a big surprise),

but not my little Caitlin. She still resists the allure of those fresh tomatoes.

Since our tomatoes are not quite ripe (or even fully grown for some of the varieties) we had to buy some vine ripened (organic) from the store. You should really try this and let me know if you like it. I love it (as does Brian and Cody). Try it, try it, and you may, love it, love it everyday.

Good times...

This year we decided to get a zoo membership. It's very expensive to just take a one time trip (something like $10 for adults, $8 for kids), around $40 per TRIP. So, we thought we would get a membership and try to enjoy going more often (and making us feel like it's so much more affordable). So far, we've gotten our money's worth.

We also like it because of the bonus concerts in the summer. We get free tickets (as long as there are some still available) for Wednesday evenings and it's quite a good family time. We pack up our blanket and head on over to the zoo and set up on the grass. It is hard to keep the kiddos entertained while we are trying to listen to and enjoy the music. But, it does make a fun family time and here are the pictures to prove it.


Here's Caitlin getting a running start to come jump on her Daddy-o.

Cody needs a haircut! (But he really doesn't sit still well and it makes me too nervous, so I do it in stages.) He enjoys bouncing on people's bellies who are trying to lie down and enjoy just listening to some music.

We had to get get some hand-dipped ice cream (which I thought meant dipped in chocolate, but just meant not soft serve, bummer, but lesson learned for next time. I had already told Caitlin we could get some ice cream).

Here we are enjoying our packed snacks.

Caitlin and Coders getting along. Such a cute sight!

I know you are all so impressed because I've posted so many entries in such a short time. Maybe you could get on Brenda's case for waiting a week between entries. I can't anymore because of my poor track record on my own blog. If you'd like to take a look at her blog:

http://sparrowjourney.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

4th of July - action packed!

We started off the 4th of July by heading downtown to the Blues Festival. It is right on the Willamette River and quite packed with people. We stopped at the Fountains first to get cool (at least the kiddos got to get wet - I didn't bring my swimsuit - next time I will). It's quite a great place to enjoy the water and see lots of other kiddos.

We spent most of the morning into late afternoon, at the Blues Festival on the waterfront. We went with our friend Paul (who is the Dad of Margaux) and had quite a time. The music is so great to hear live. There's just nothing like it...the beat...the way it makes you want to move (and pretend that you can groove)...the food, WHOOPS, I was talking about the music! Anyway, it was a great time, hot, but fun and exhausting!

Here are Cody and Caitlin enjoying their PB & J's on our blanket. We were listening to the A & E stage. Those musicians were very good. I guess there was some type of competition that they were in, so it was GREAT music.

Caitlin getting her face painted (which quickly washed off once we went back into the fountains).

Here are some random pirates that were out on the 90+ degree day. They sure are tough guys to wear all those clothes in that heat!

Later on that evening...

Here are Caitlin and Cody enjoying our amateur fireworks show in the driveway!

Here are the fireworks that we set off in our driveway. We bought a great package at Costco and spent a good hour lighting them off. It was fun and the pictures even turned out pretty good!

Hope you had a great 4th of July! (Please post comments as to what you did or where you went. I always enjoy living vicariously through others!)

Random things...

Here are some random photos of Brian mowing the backyard (random and rare, I should say). Both of the kiddos have enjoyed the little play lawnmower, but Cody seems to love it. He always wants us to mow the yard and constantly says "loud lawnmower" and "Mom, lawnmower" (because he knows I most often mow the back grass).

Here he is trailing after his Dad. (Cody's newest thing is to call us just Mom and Dad, no longer Mommy or Daddy. Don't know why, it's just so.)

This photo (and action) brought back some old memories. I thought I would dig this out of the archive just to show the sweet, sweet similarities.

This last one is a funny little drawing that Caitlin made. It's "No Codys allowed." I can't even remember why she drew it, but it's funny nonetheless. Happy Summer!