Harmony Olympics

For our last ward activity I wanted to theme around the Olympics since they are starting in August. I was able to secure with a little small talk and smiles....the beautiful Nautilus World Headquarters Campus "backyard" fields at no charge for our ward. I wanted the Olympic Torch to come into play in some way and passed the idea along to Ashley who did the design. We had 6 torches, each with an invitation/reminder as well as a list of who to pass the lit torch along to. It worked out pretty well when on the same night I passed them out, I saw ward members out passing it along to another family.
Our Olympic decathalon had several events...... Baseball,
track relays, and soccer kicks, tug of war, 3 legged races...
basketball and scooter races with popcicles and medals for all finishers.

Put on your cap and gown

Our little Kennedy graduated from Children's World of Music. She loved her teacher Miss Tracy. One day she said "mom, I never knew Miss Tracy had such a beautiful smile!" Both Griffin and Camdyn came here one year prior to Harmony, but neither embraced the musical aspect as much as Kenna. She sings those songs they learn throughout the year all day long! She attended with 2 other friends from our ward Brinley and Rachel. Turns out that she will be in the same kindy class at Harmony with those 2 as well!

Harmony Huskies

I'm finding it more and more difficult coming to terms with the fact that my kids are just going to grow up. It's a simple fact that I've known all along. Each new year in school marks one year closer to them growing up and growing away.

Both the kids had great teachers this year. Camdyn had team teachers. We loved Mrs Esser! The last day Cammy found out she and Cambree were once again going to be in the same 3rd grade class....that makes kindy through 3rd for those two! Look how happy they were :>

This is another sad tale. Mrs. Nicols was Griff's 1st grade teacher and our neighbor. She and Jeff moved to California the last day of school. We've known them for 5 years and they've been the best neighbors....had us over to roast smores, took the kids for the day when Brody was born, airport pickups....not to mention the wierd items I would borrow on a regular basis.....usually spinach lettuce or ice cream, depending on my mood for the day. With no kids of thier own my favorite line of Jeff's when helping us unload from a Costco trip was "I wouldn't even know what to do with this much cheese"....let alone the 8 gallons of milk. We packed them a roadtrip bag of goodies and came out to wave goodbye. Rebecca said that did her in and she cried for the first 50 miles.

Griffin has been at Harmony since Kindergarten. We went to his 5th grade graduation from Mrs. Tendler and Mrs. Johnson's class and I saw all the kids he has grown up with. Caleb Browning who is also in our ward is probably his best chum. They were baptized on the same day and have known eachother since 1st grade. It is hard to imagine him amongst all those middle school "punks" as I like to call them. Harmony has been such a great growing and learning environment for Griffin. Yesterday the girls and I were biking past on our daily ride and I started crying knowing Griffin was never going to walk through those doors again. It seemed like it would take so long for him to move his way around the building (kindy on the south side to 5th on the north). And now it's done.

Soccer Summer

In the Northwest Soccer reigns supreme. There's nothing like a beautiful breezy summer day to enjoy a soccer tournament. Especially when it's not a 2 hour away drive!!! Today they played in beautiful West Linn, and we came up to Lake's for pizza to follow. Griffin has really become quite the soccer boy. He looks like a natural on the field, especially with those locks of curly hair....It's so much fun watching these boys play! His team is more aggresive this year and they've really come together since playing competitive soccer last year as well. We look forward to many energy packed games and tournaments. Camdyn is also in her 3rd year of soccer playing up on a u-10 team. She was invited by a new coach to be on yet another team. Funny enough, Griffin's head coach will also be her new assistant coach. Thanks to Bev for the use of this computer. I'm still so aggrevated that ours will be about another 2 weeks!!!

The Pioneers weren't on-line

We just purchased a brand new computer about 2 months ago and last Sunday something went down. Now we've had to send it back to the manufacturer because of a problem with the hard drive. I hate technology! The Pioneers got by without all these fancy gadgets. Why can't we? I use the Pioneers as my answer to any complaints. The Pioneers didn't have DVD's and mini vans to drive to Utah. The Pioneers were much colder than this when walking to school.....The Pioneers didn't have TV to entertain them when bored....they played with sticks or sang or killed chickens for the day's meal.
I'm our wards activities chairman and we had our ward Olympics this morning at the Nautilus World Headquarters Campus which is 2 miles from our house. It was nice weather and fun for the kids. Pretty much if there is a chance to bike anywhere with my kids, I take it. So to fill the rest of the day since Todd is working a 48 we've biked up to the Ortho office (so I can use the computer), will ride to the park and then up to Sonic to get a treat. Kennedy has "graduated" up to Camdyn's bike. Well, when you start riding without training wheels at 3 years old and your mom bikes you on any errand that can be done without loading up into the car....it's bound to happen that you'll be outriding your brother's friends.
So now I must buy a new bike for Camdyn since Kennedy is set on riding the bigger one. I've always wanted a bike with a basket, like the one's we've seen in European villages where that is the main form of transportation. They have big baskets in the front of the bike to carry milk, flowers and bread. It's so cute! I've always wanted one. Now, I did just purchase a new road bike which was a few thousand, so buying a bike with a basket wasn't the most needed thing on my list. But then the other night Todd tells me to come downstairs and see a mess the kids made and there in the family room was this pink bike just like the European ones. It was so sweet of him to surprise me like that! However....since I can't ride Brody on the back (and Brody goes where ever I go...unless I go out on my road bike) I found it might not be the most practical time to have this bike. But what a sweet guy for surprising me like that!
Anywho, to my aunties or sissy's who are wondering why I'm not responding it's because I cannot come over to the office or invade other peoples homes to get on their computers. I'm not amused with Gateway right now. Two months! What a joke, and it's going to take a few WEEKS to get it back. So since I will be off line for awhile maybe I can catch up on my scrapbooking....no, actually I would need my photo album on my software to do that! What a hassle :>

Old School

Only 4 1/2 days left of school. Jamie told me they were at Lagoon the other day and I thought...on a school day? I forget that the rest of the country gets out way before we do. I am so sad that Griffin will be going attending middle school next year, and leaves at 7:30. Gone is the 9 a.m. departure! He is such a blessing from above. Anyone who knows him is aware of how responsible he is. Yes, he still has to remind ME about appointments or checks to be sent to school, soccer tournaments and what not. When we are out and I need to remember something for later I just have to say, "Griffin remind me about this later", and he can.

Today I drove past Griffin walking with Camdyn to school. They are such good little friends and it made me sad to think that will never happen again. She doesn't like it when Griffin's friends meet up with them, because she likes to have one on one time to talk together as they walk. Hopefully she'll be just as good to Kennedy next year.....although I'm not sure I could put Cammy in charge of walking the two of them home:>

Perhaps summer will actually begin here once school gets out. Yesterday it was still 50's and rainy. It's a good thing I love the rain. Last night @ 8:30 I wanted to get a movie since Todd is working a 48 hours shift, so the girls and I bundled up and biked up to the video store. It was a little drizzly out, but one cannot wait for the rain to stop or we'd live our lives indoors!

Our little Mr. Boy

Brody got his first hair cut today. The kids came home and all said "Brody you look so cute....you look like Caleb!" Plus he's wearing his clothes, so that sounds right. I think he looks adorable. Amy cut off quite a bit of hair, but now I can see his adorable face even more!

Starlight Starbright

Our most treasured location to reside downtown is the restored Multnomah Hotel, now operated by Embassy Suites. I love anything old and historic. This hotel was onced frequented by James Stuart, Charles Lindburg and several Presidents of the U.S. We love the graduer of the lobby, the comfort of the suites and best of all the full breakfast, pool and manager's reception in the evening. I think we swam 4 different times!

Located only 4 blocks from Pioneer Place, and 4 Blocks from the Waterfront, Saturday Market and Max, and 8 Blocks from the Pearl and Powells we were able to walk anywhere and everywhere with the kids. First off we had set out chairs for front row seating along the Starlight Parade route. We simply marked off our spot with tape, set out the chairs around 2 pm, then went on our way....hoping that it all remained intact when we returned 5 hours later. Luckily everything was as we left it. After the manager's reception of nachos, veggies and drinks and some swimming Todd and Griff walked up to do the Starlight Run which follows along the parade route while the girls and I walked along the blocked off downtown streets, where parade watchers and vendors filled the streets.

The run started at 8 pm and the parade immediatly following. Brody and Kennedy, Camdyn and I enjoyed watching the runners....many in costumes pass by, some with candy to throw and others with a high-five for the girls. This group of cute bumble bees from my ward were buzzing along, looking like they were having such a fun time and stopped long enough to let me snap a picture. After tons of awesome bands, drums, illuminated floats, and the Clydsdales below.... the kids were tuckered out. Luckily I was able to go right in off the sidewalk and put the little boy to bed! Todd and I settled the olders then went for a lovely walk downtown where half the city was still celebrating.

What makes Portland unique

Aren't I lucky to live so near to my favorite
city? I love the various districts, sights and flavors of Portland that keep it so unique and changing. From vintage trollys to yuppies in the NW districts. From statues, fountains and sculptures scattered throughout downtown to punk kids with the most unique hair do's! Whenever we stay downtown I always rise early like a birdy and run the most fabulous route dad and I ever made up, with even more fun little trails and turns I've added since they moved. Starting downtown, I run up Broadway, through PSU, to Washington Park, through the Rose Gardens and huge mansions surrounding the west hills, on trails down to NW 23rd, east to the Pearl District, over the Steel bridge, along the waterfront, over the Broadway Bridge, along East bank esplanade, over the Hawthorne bridge, down to Waterfront park and back along the West Bank boardwalk to the hotel. I was able to run twice since we stayed 3 days downtown, the 2nd time taking Todd. He said with all the turns and different places we were running he wasn't sure if he could find this route on his own. I took Griffin out across a few bridges. He's a great little runner and keeps pace with me just fine. We had fun seeing the ships as we crossed the river and running past the festival center, picking out which rides he would go on later. I got 26 miles in within 2 days and LOTS of walking with Todd (while kids stayed in the room) and even more with the kids in tow!

One is sure to find something unique at Saturday Market. I spied some darling beanies, an astronaut, punk kids and elephant ears. We kept having cravings for elephant ears. Splitting 5 ways doesn't go very far. Above is a picture of my most favorite house in the whole wide of Portland. Everytime I run past it, I can just envision sipping lemonaide on a summer night on the porch. We can't houses be built this cute now a days?

Waterfront Festival Center

Mammoth Monday is a great time to go enjoy the rides with no lines and cheap prices. I can't believe what these carnivals get away with! We let each of the kids pick 4 rides. Todd and Griffin opt for the scary, Camdyn the not-s0-scary and Kennedy sticks with the kiddie rides. As for me...I'm happy to take the pictures and hold Mr. Boy. My motion sickness prevents me from even WANTING to go on a ride! I get sick on the swingset.

Rose Festival Fireworks

For the past 14 years we've made it a tradition to come down and enjoy the Firework Spectacular, the kick off event to the Rose Festival. It started when mom and dad took us down, now Todd and I have been coming ever since. We have our favorite spot on the waterfront lawn, right near the speakers that blast awesome music in sync to the fireworks. I loved the music this year...some U2, country and 80's remix! Sometimes we park and ride our bikes in with a picnic....The one time a year we splurge on KFC. That stuff is so good! This year we parked on the East Side, walked over the Hawthorne Bridge and enjoyed the show from Waterfront Park. The kids had fun playing soccer, doing gymnastics, having our feast and treats as we waited for the show to begin. I love this tradition!