You can run but you can't hide.

This little park was hiding from us but we sniffed 'im out.

I love the 'aaaarggg' stance.

(I love the name of the boat, it's my brother's white trash nick-name...I'm sorry if your name is Rodney...I have an uncle Rodney so that makes it OK)

Explorers!

Ahoy!

This merry-go-round was awesome! It had these vintage ride-on pony's bolted to a platform that spun...very cute.

Gymanstics

Addi's been in a gymnastics class ever since we came to this fun yet admittedly soggy place. It's been good to have a fun and active place to go for an hour each week. Here are some pictures from "Show Day".

She LOVES her teachers. I don't blame her Teacher Christine and Teacher Steve are pretty awesome.

Not the most advanced, but probably the most enthusiastic gymnast.

Imagine!

That's the name of the children's museum in our area. We went this week with Addi's pre-school class. She had tons of fun with her friends and I was busy snapping picutres of exhibit's I'd like in my basement (stage, vet office, cafe, etc.).

I think Addi's favorite part was this horse. She was on it most of the time and she'd take her friends on 'rides'...they became quite attached...Addi and the horse I mean.

OK this was the best part they had a park on the roof! Serioulsy people it was awesome!

...you don't have to tell me...I know I look good

Courtesy of Salon Addi.

The House of DI

Can I just tell you how happy I am to be near a D.I. again....very.

Thank You For Your Honesty

Mom, why did you do your hair like that...you look like George Washington.

Vancouver!

We took a trip down to Vancouver to visit our dear sweet friend and adoptive Mother/Grandmother, Ilene. We've known her since Texas...so about 5 1/2 years, but this is the first time since then that we've been in close enough proximity to visit.

And she spoiled us to DEATH!! We went to cool restaurants and a cool museum, IMAX Show and Star Show INCLUDED!!!!! not to mention tons of little things for Addi along the way. She wouldn't let us leave without armloads of little luxuries, including a huge down duvet that I haven't unwrapped myself from yet.

Addi LOVED Ilene and cried when we had to leave. She named her home (a very beautiful condo) "The Castle" and wants someday to live in a "Castle".

Here are some pictures from the Museum. It is the OMSI and it's actually in Portland. I tried to get some cool pictures of Portland itself but the weather was not cooperating...maybe next time. And there will be a next time.

Addi loves herself a magnifying glass.

I can hear the ocean!

Who doesn't love spin-art?

...all the better to hear you with my dear.

OK this was funny, There's Addi in the middle doing the weather with a million other crazy kids and while they're dancing around or staring she is quietly muttering to herself and pointing and swooping her arms along the storm pattern. "...here is where the storm is heading....Newport will be 50 degrees today..."

One of our favorite parts was the chemistry lab where we did Ph tests, made a glow-in-the-dark liquid with hydrogen peroxide and took the shiny finish off a nail.

The only thing that she liked better was opening up an owl pellet and digging in it for rat bones. We found 3 skulls (front teeth in tact), 4 femurs, 3 mandibles and various ribs and smaller bones. They said the pellets were sanitized but we washed again just to be safe.

I really liked the table cloth at this cool BBQ place we went to in Portland called Russell St. BBQ. For the record, the food was AMAZING!!!

She's Five!

I can't believe it but it's true. She's 5!

We had a "family party" this year.

But we did have friends over for cake and ice cream.

Bear Den

Anyone who has talked to me in the last couple months is sure to have heard of "The Bear Den." As part of my "job" at Addi's pre-school I make up the "dramatic play" room in a theme.

My first theme was Bear Den.

Here's the fishing game. We have cloth fish with magnets in their eyes and magnet fishing poles.

Here is the actual den made of card board boxes and cushions. I happen to love the bear family portraits.

On one bulletin board I have a Bear Wall of Fame. Complete with Pooh, Paddingtion, Corduroy, Smokey and the Berenstain Bears.

On another, a feel good bear diet (minus cute cuddly animals such as seals, rabbits etc.)

Then I made a game where you match the bear to it's habitat.

You use Velcro to move the bears around.

I have a board with the 8 species of bears.

And I made a little camp site in the corner.

So here's the full effect. The little red tote is full of bear themed books.

(Stay tuned for the Post Office and Fix-it Shop coming up soon)

HAPPY YOU NEAR!!

In Boston we got used to hanging out with our friends for hours. We'd just show up on each other's doorsteps and stay for the day. We were a little sad to realize this isn't the norm. Luckily we found some friends with our same "hang out" philosophy and we've been spending TONS of time with them eating great food and basically hooping it up at all times and until all hours.

(As an added bonus they have girls just Addi's age.)

Getting the Party Started!
So we were at the Morris' for New Years.
We glutted ourselves on cheese and chocolate fondue.
The little girls were so anxious for the new year that we did an East Coast countdown thinking they wouldn't make it to the West Coast countdown....but they did.
There was horn-blowing, and streamer whirling for hours!

Addi's favorite part was banging on pots and pans out on the balcony...(I'm ashamed to say that her mother never lets her do that)

I'm not to old to party like it's 1999.

Pike's Market

Grandma Wood came to visit for a week. We all had a really great time.

One of the more memorable highlights was our trip to Pike's Market (you know the place where they throw the fish)
sweet graffiti
(that might be the name of my band)

All of the fruits and veggies looked so good and fresh, they smelled awesome.

(It's a huge piggy bank)

There is a general fishy smell that Addi was not too fond of.

Anyone for a fruit log?