Hillsboro Fountain

Last Monday we visited another fountain that we had never been to before. As all the others, it was very fun and unique. So far this summer we have hardly used our pool because we are enjoying the ample fountains, the friends that meet us there, and the absence of cursing (at times the youth in our complex that frequent the pool can be very profane)! Luckily, our pool just hired the summer life guard and now there will be constant enforcement of the rules!

The flows varied in the center of the fountain and surrounding it which made for even more fun- as it would change, the game would too.

The Good Shepperd

For our anniversary we finally bought our first picture of Christ. We have wanted one for some time and now we can look at this beautiful piece every time we come through the living room since it hangs above the TV. Someday we hope to get one that is several feet large to adorn and entire wall, but this picture is beautiful no matter what size it is! It's a Greg Olsen, my favorite.

Anniversary Dinner

As you probably know, we would rather spend our time celebrating anything, including our anniversary with the kids. Hey, they're both in bed by 7:30 so there is plenty of time to be adults after that.

For dinner we went to a place near the Temple that we just found out about called They serve a couple of things but mainly it is a burger joint. Chad got the 1lb burger and tried to eat it all. Midway when he started to sigh, I reminded him that it's not cool to be the biggest eater when you're a 33 years old and your slowing metabolism is evident when the stripes on your shirt dissappear! He agreed and hid his ego away when he asked for a to-go box. *As he read this he noted that it is important that I include the fact that there was on 1/4 of the burger left and that he could have finshed it.

Maisey loves cracking the peanuts that you can scoop up in a little pale from giant barrel- even though she doesn't like them and won't eat them.

Close Up

Here are two pictures of the kids that I snapped the other morning after they woke up.

Lucky them, they still look cute when they wake-up

(unlike some of us that have to work at it)!

Maisey's usually perky in the morning.

I wonder what this little man is thinking? Maybe, why is that crazy lady greeting me with a camera instead of more kisses!

100th Post!!!

Wow, 100 already! I just started in December and I hope all you readers are enjoying this blog as much as I am! I admit to not keeping a journal (at this time in my life anyway), and until I do, this is my weekly "journal". I have many things to do when I finish school next summer and that will all come with time.

Many people do something "big" when they reach their 100th post and some people even give away prizes! However, for my blog, I will incorporate a task that I was asked to do by another fellow blogger which, as you will see, is a trip down memory lane. It should be just as fun and if you don't see pictures below, they will be coming soon, along with a story of time. Check back later.

An Award

I was given this award by Melanie because I always leave her sweet comments (those are her words) on her blog. It is wonderful to be able to keep in touch with people and their families via the blogging version and I am glad for those that read! and with that being said, I am suppose to pass this onto 5 people I care about, and they can then pass it on to 5 others (even if they don't have a blog of their own). I added that part in because not everybody blogs, really!

#1 I send this to Jenny Sorenson for being one of my best friends, and for turning me onto blogging, baking, and much more. Although seeing you has become more infrequent since our moves, we will always be bonded and I will always be "Aunt Rachel".
#2 I send this to JoAnne Hadley for being such an avid reader and a great V.T.! I know you're probably reading right now!
#3 I send this to Alie Thompson for making me laugh out loud when I read her blogs. We haven't been able to get together for awhile but I am still able to feel included in their lives thanks to hilarious narration and pictures.
#4 I send this to Ciara Williams for being such a great tour guide and for helping us get a great start to fun summer. I especially appreciate all the help with directions... My new Thomas Guide may cut down on our phone time-lucky for you! And, you need to start a blog.
#5 I send this to Kristy Braithwaite for being such a good friend to everyone and for the times she's offered to watch Maisey during prenatal visits, temple trips, and peace of mind/date night, etc.
Pass this award on to 5 people you care about!

Look-O-Like

Ok, so I know everyone is getting sick of hearing me say how much the two kids look a like but originally I wanted to do a side-by-side photo and I wasn't sure how to scan and use my photos in blogger. They aren't the same ages in these photos but they are both in the car seat so I thought it was a good opportunity to put them together (as you can see Ryley's cheeks have chunked out, as Maisey's did the bigger she got). It is like de-ja-vu (sp?) every time I look into a smiling or crying face! The rounder their faces get, the more they resemble me.

Bumbo Baby

I had my eye on these funky little seats long before I got pregant. So, when the opportunity arose, we got one. Ryley enjoys watching everything we're doing while he's in it and before long he will be able to use it without the help of dish towels.

The box says 3+ months and we started putting him in it a couple of weeks ago. He is able to hold his head up better and better each day and a couple of minutes in the Bumbo is like baby P.T.

The Winding River

Yesterday, a friend took us to a pool (at Wilson High School) that we had never swam at before. It was SUPER crowded, but nevertheless still a blast for the kids.

Unique characteristics about it were that it had a frog kiddie slide, medium size bigger water slide, and a winding river ( a maze like course that flows throughout the pool).

I was only able to get my feet wet because Ryley doesn't really dig crowds when he is trying to take a relaxing dip. He would rather sleep!

The Fountain of Youth

The entire metro area is surrounded with fountains for the kids to play in. Maisey loves summer in the city for that reason especially. I guess since we were all kids they figure out that filling up a rough concrete square box with untreated water, wasn't the most sanitary idea for kiddie water works (especially for all the toilet trainers). One of our favorite fountains at Jamison Square actually forces water out through a barrier like wall of rocks, stands still for about 10 minutes or less, and then drains. Thank you to the designer behind that idea, he must be a parent!
These pictures are at the fountain across from the Beaverton library. When we go to that one we try to go on Wednesdays so we can score some stuff (especially kettle corn) at the Farmer's Market in the parking lot.

Gym Time

Well, at least someone in this house is using the gym. I know that's not really funny but hey, schools back in session, I'm always functioning on minimal sleep (and that is both a blessing and a mystery), and it's time for constant summer fun in the sun. Ryley love his baby gyms and until now his favorite was the Baby Leap Pad with flashing lights, a mobile, and singing. However, he recently figured out (most likely unintentionally), that his other Baby Einstein one is motion activated and the jungle animals are quite amusing.

Barbie Bliss

For Maisey's birthday she got the Barbie house of her dreams. She absolutely loves Barbies and after Christmas and her birthday, she now has tons! For her birthday we went shopping at Toys "R" Us and we were going to let her spend her birthday money and pick a gift from us. We contemplated buying this exact house but after thinking we thought it was something we should leave up to Santa. Anyway, later that night my sister in-law Carey called and told me her neighbor had one that she would be selling in her garage sale the next morning. So, as you can imagine we moved in on the deal (especially since it was never used and only 6 months old from Christmas '07). What girl wouldn't love this 4 foot, 3 story, neon colored house?

A Mystery

Maisey is finally better after being sick for 8 days! She came down with a high fever Monday afternoon following her birthday and Father's day weekend. We were pretty scared because she started vomiting on Thursday and was sick up until Sunday. The doctor didn't know what was wrong and after inconclusive blood work she had to have a CT scan. Today is Wednesday and after not eating for an entire week she's eating like a bird. But, that's ok, we'll take it. Today as she got dressed she said, "Wow Mom, I got skinny!" She even noticed she lost weight and yesterday she wore a dress that was marked to be packed away, however, now it zips again. We were pretty scared and we are so thankful it isn't/wasn't something terrible! I could not imagine the agony of watching one of my children be hospitalized for extensive treatments if they ever got really sick. It was so difficult to see her in so much pain and there was nothing I could do.

The Home Stretch

On Monday I started back to school... Luckily, I had some electives and this summer term is ALL online. In the fall and most likely the remainder of the year, I will have to go to campus for each class but I am SO happy that I don't have to make that drive during rush hour traffic for evening classes. The more time at home the better. I can always find something to worry about and right now it is the fact that each class is only 4 weeks long! Bummer. I prefer the 12 week courses but at least I'm knocking them down and this is my last year-for awhile anyway.

Father's Day

For Father's Day we went to visit family that we hadn't seen for sometime. We were honoring our father's as well as my two cousins who just graduated college. It was great seeing my little cousins who are only 4 1/2 and soon to be 3- Maisey really enjoyed their company.
Chad loved his Father's Day gift: a CTR ring.

We love our "Daddy" because he is so caring and fun.

The Family + A Friend Party

I bought a Costco cake and I thought we would let Maisey personalize it by taking a trip to the cake deco store... Good idea? Yeah, but don't do it unless you're making the cake. The decorations ended up costing more than the cake and although it was 'Build-a-Bear', we pretty much could have stuffed a real bear to put on the thing!
Cousins Colby, Ruby, Eliot, and Peyton.
Maisey and Opa with Sage and Daddy in the back.
Maisey and her buddy Sage.
Colby, Peyton, Ruby, and Uncle Adam on the Frog Hop.

Making it Fun!

On Maisey's birthday she pleasantly awoke to streamers and balloons scattered throughout the hall and living room.

She wanted her new favorite breakfast: strawberry cream cheese bake. The cream cheese is sandwiched between the bread.

Maisey's sleepover girls. Cousins Ruby 10 (left) and Peyton 7 (right).

Pink dyed heart pancakes. Everything was Pinkalicious and if you know a girl that loves pink, you've got to buy the book. That book was such a hit it was a theme party a year or two back for playgroup.

Playing Professional

Most every one knows I love to bake, but not everybody knows I'm a 'wanna-be" cake decorator. I just like to fool around at home and I have no real chance at ever being a professional; I am slow, messy, and did I mention MESSY! For those who were interested as I talked about Maisey's cake this year, here are some from last year too!

As you can see this ballerina cake was longer than Maisey. We had no idea how to transport it to the pool party we were having so we wrapped huge Rubbemaid lids in cheap tablecloths... Where you see the gap in the torso we later filled in with pink cotton candy to make a 3D tutu. The legs are frosted twinkies. Just to give you an idea as to how big this thing really was, the head and arms alone are a 9 x 13", the torso is something like a 10 x 15".

This horse cake was also a big hit at another end of the school year birthday party. It is sad but nowadays you can't make homeade treats for school- unless you live in Hood River I guess.

My grandma made this one for her family party in Eugene.
I made this cake really quickly, and I mean really quickly- hence the lack of color and detail on the duvet. This was for a last minute slumber party this year with her cousins and they could hardly care what it looked like. The cake is a bed and where it is raised are strawberry swiss rolls for body contour, marshmellow pillows, and Nilla Wafer faces.

Birthday Dedication on Growing Up

The pictures on top are in order from youngest to oldest in each of the next three posts.

Feeding the ducks in Libby Baby clothing which I loved to splurge on and custom order for her.

Last July during our moving mess, which I was able to crop out.

Pre-school field trip to the pumpkin patch and this year without 10+ inches of her long curly hair!

Easter this past March.

Ok, so it's obvious I'm not computer savy and if I had more time I would figure out how to make a slideshow. However, now is not the time for blog discovery. Check back Monday and you can re-live our weekend birthday celebration.

Maisey Continued

18 mos. and fooling around with the idea of modeling. Her 2nd baby contest. She didn't win but she did win one at 5 wks.

2nd Birthday with an Elmo theme at Our Children's Play Place.

Oktoberfest in Eugene.

The fetish for dressing up begins.