Fall Family and Friend Fun

I do an event every year where the Tumwater Community comes to paint luscious pumpkins. And of course I had to have Jadyn there, but for an added treat my friend Jill was visiting WA from NYC and stopped by the event for a visit. I know she took a picture, but I didn't. Maybe she will share. It was so absolutely fantastic to see her. It had been too long. Sometimes I feel like a terrible friend. The reality is I probably am, but I love when you see people that you haven't seen in awhile and you can just pick up from where you left off...you don't have to try to brag or fill the time with little things, you just hang out and enjoy each other. I knew she was coming, but when she walked up behind me and I saw her...me the big baby started bawling! Well I wasn't really bawling, mostly a dainty tear or two was shed, but it had been too long. I think I will take a trip to the Northeast this spring.

My visits from far-a-way friends didn't stop there, my friend Mirza was in town visiting from Miami and was able to come down and visit me too. We had a great time and great talks. It was so good to see these friends after literally years of not seeing them. Anyone else up for a visit to the Northwest?! I am not sure there is much to recommend this area in the winter, scratch that there is me, I am up here...GET UP HERE!!!! Let me stop pontificating...here is a couple of shots of Jadyn at the most fabulous event...Pumpkin Painting!

We went over to my parents house on Saturday to take my dad a talk that I'd burned for him for his lesson on Sunday. We arrived and Michelle was out front raking leaves. Jadyn decided to stay and help and here is an action shot of the beginning of her hard work. She also managed to earn $2. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa, she had a great time. I wish I could make housework this exciting, not to motivate her, but to motivate me. Mom and Dad, can we start allowance up again? No? OK....

And here is a Sunday Dinner shot! I guess I should add some of the pictures that Jadyn took. One was of the dining room light, one was the blinds...she liked the juxtaposition of the black outside and the tan blinds...or the extreme closeups of Aaron and Adelyn, and of course the side shots of Jadyn's face because she 'just really likes her eyes'...but how about I just post one I took of Aaron, Adelyn and Jadyn...too cute.

It is so great to have family dinner. I love my family extremely, and it is kind of silly, but I like that we live so close (probably about 5 minutes from Mom and Dad, Jenn and Rebecca. - and yes they all live in different edifices.) Elizabeth needs to get back down here from Bellingham, and Ben complete his mission - then it would be perfect...I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family. I am thankful everyday. We had some challenges getting along there growing up, but it looks like we made it...I guess all that fighting made us that much closer.

Trick or Treat

So...Halloween or Trick or Treat as Jadyn calls it...yep it's getting more and more exciting in our household. This year - a Ballerina Kitty Cat, a look insired by the great composer Mozart. No small order, Jenn did the fabulous hair and make-up. Jadyn and I created the look and my mom helped in the construction. She actually did more than help, but I did manage to cut it out and sew two seams! I am so out of practice. And, drum roll please...here she is...

Of course we had to get the nieces together for a photo shoot! I love how Jadyn is eating a lolipop and Adelyn wants to try it. I think Becca got a picture of Adelyn putting the non-candy end of the lolipop in her mouth for a taste. She discovered that is not the tasty part!!!

Kindergarten revisited...

Jadyn is now well into her Kindergarten experience. She has already gotten 4 yellow frogs. These frogs tell me that Jadyn is quite the talker in class. Which truth be told, I am not surprised by at all. I finally unloaded the pictures from my camera and have a couple more from her first week of Kindergarten. This is the first day I took her to school. How hard is Kindergarten, I mean seriously. Two and a half hours? She is off every other Wednesday, and next week doesn't have class from Wednesday on. The school district makes life so easy for working parents. Thank goodness for Rebecca and Michelle. She loves hanging out with them. Rebecca tells me some really great stories, things that you never hear about your child from a day care or even school. I am really enjoying these. I get some good ones too though...for example.

I have the radio on in the mornings during our drive to Rebecca's. Most often it is on Sports Talk Radio...but Jadyn typically does not like the radio on...grrr...but sometimes she will want the music on. Her request is usually something she can groove to or classical those are her two favorites. If classical is playing she is like momma can you turn it up please? Well the big thing on her mind these past few weeks is Halloween, more specifically her costume. So we are travelling, listening to Mozart, volume way up, when she says to me: Momma, this music just gave me the best idea. Oh really Jadyn, what? Momma, instead of a cat for Trick or Treat (what she calls Halloween) I could be a ballerina. Oh Jadyn, I said, that is a great idea, you will be a beautiful ballerina. She is quiet for a few more minutes. Momma, this music made me think of an even better idea, for Trick or Treat I could be a ballerina kitty cat! Isn't that a great idea. Why yes Jadyn, that is simply fantastic. That will be the perfect costume. A few minutes later we arrive at Rebecca's, and she has realized that she has forgotten her movie at home and wants to turn around and get it. Needless to say that answer is no...well she didn't handle that very gracefully and had a hard time making the decision to go inside. I said to her, Jadyn why are you acting like this? You were having such a great morning. You came up with that great idea for your costume...She stopped me right there...Momma, I didn't think of that idea, the music did! Well they say listening to Mozart can make you smarter and according to Jadyn it definitely does, at least when it comes to getting her creative juices flowing! You should see the pictures she draws that the music tells her to draw. they are quite beautiful.

I had to share this picture, because this outfit is all her...I was taking her to the doctor to get her last immunization before school started and she saw this area of foliage and wanted to take some pictures. Where does she come up with these poses? Today was picture day at school and she told me she practiced her smile and when I picked her up she gave me the different looks she had given the photographer. But I should note, that today, even with all the smile practice, was a yellow frog day... :-P

My Brother & Jadyn

My brother Benjamin recently left for a mission (in July to MTC). Before he left Jadyn and he had a photo shoot. These pictures are from his last day in Washington. That was July and yes, I am just now posting them. Elder Baria is now serving in Tijuana, Mexico. I should insert link to his mission blog here...but I will have to get the link and update later. I know he has one...

And It Begins

Jadyn started Kindergarten on September 9, 2009...9/9/9. (I hope that is a good sign.) I was in a training that Wednesday and Thursday so Becca was meeting me at school for Jadyn's first day. I barely made it on time, but I did get to see the moment it all began. Becca took a few shots of the magic moments and uploaded the pictures. I am sharing - of course. I have a couple on my camera, but I can't get the computer to recognize the SD card is in the slot, so I will have to find the cord...it's around here somewhere...grrr...

She is in afternoon Kindergarten. And as far as I can tell she is loving it. I think she loves hanging out a Becca everyday more though...They have flower trimming, frog chasing, princess blanket, lava monster games...school...not quite so exciting. I really appreciate The Andersons help with watching her. She loves spending time with you guys...now if I can only find away to get her to be more gentle with Adelyn.

She rode the bus for the first time last week too, and man she loves it. Michelle watches her aftershool, and takes great care of her...but when she saw Michelle afterschool the day she rode the bus she freaked out...she wanted to ride the bus again...Am I crazy or do I remember detesting the bus??? Or was that only as I became older and more jaded?

Giddy Up!

What would you say to a camel? Jadyn went with Becca, Aaron and Adelyn to the Pt. Defiance Zoo. And for the bargain price of $5 she got to ride a camel...how fun. Who knew it would be her "most favorite day ever"?! Becca uploaded the pictures, so I am sharing. She talked and talked and talked about it...Thank you guys for taking her! She is very comfortable up there. Why is she scared to ride a horse? Camels are gobs bigger. I think Becca is right...she just had to walk out onto the camel not stand next to it, and with horseback riding you have to heave yourself up there! She had a blast! I love her smile in the last picture.

The Obsession is Justified

About a million posts ago (OK slight exaggeration I think I have only 32 total posts) I mentioned by new favorite TV show. I had picked my song of the day, Metro Station's - Shake It, I wrote at the time that the song reminded me of the show BONES (I had seen a youtube video highlighting the show)...well now, finally I am going to talk about it - it being my favorite TV show - BONES.

I am not sure how many people understand the exciting life of a single mother. I wish I could say that I spent my evenings after Jadyn was in bed improving myself or cleaning like a maniac, but when you work 40 hours a week and work as a mom and dad, it is hard to come home and well - work. At least for me it is. (Don't worry - I do make time for the housework! Maybe I should use some of that time to update my blog...hehe) I am not a big TV watcher, mostly Football or movies or reading, but one night I tuned in to BONES, and the rest as they say is history. It was the end of season three and I had to watch every single episode, in like a week. I love it and now I follow blogs and twitters and youtube fan videos, I have even read a few fan fics (but I haven't written any)...I am obsessed. I know it. The first step in addiction is admitting you have a problem...well I admit I am a fan(atic), but I am not sure I would call it a problem...

I have tried to think about what is it in this show that I like so much? Yes, the whole will they won't they aspect of the show is there. Booth and Brennen need to get together already. But if they did would I lose interest? I have to think that I wouldn't. I am interested and invested (clearly) enough in these characters, that I want to see more of their life than just the dancing around each other. I want to see them dancing with each other, and I know I could stick around for that.

So what is it about this show? I have never seen one episode of Buffy (still haven't ) or Angel (ok, so maybe since BONES I now own all 5 seasons) so I wasn't following David Boreanez. Is it the writing? The chemistry? The angst? The great acting? The forensics? The mystery? I like to think it is a little of everything. You want a show to be smart - frankly because you are smart. You want to show to have connections between the characters - because frankly you have connections with the people in your life, including co-workers (I mean heck we are with them more that we are at home, right?) You want a show that isn't just dramatic, or funny, or romantic, or just one thing...because life isn't just one thing. I think we can see ourselves in similar settings, okay - I can't find killers based on people's bones, but what exists in this show is something we can relate to. We can find something to connect to, and I love making those connections.

The other thing that I think really draws me to the show is the arguments. I know that might sound kinda silly. But usually in life there are different ways of looking at things. To me BONES does a good job a presenting two sides of an argument. There are some instances where clearly we know what the writers want us to think, like dog fighting is wrong, and other times they are just saying...here look at both sides and talk amongst yourselves...I like a show that makes me think with out feeling like I am being reprimanded for the way I think.

I could go on. I could probably write a paragraph or two about why the character Booth is so appealing to women (at least me)...but I will stop there. Just buy the DVD's, rent from netflix, watch hulu and tune in Thursday nights at 8pm/7central on FOX.

Plus, you can check out the website: http://www.fox.com/bones

The reason for this wonderful post's title...last week on the BONES website, there was a contest...a contest to name what was on the USB drive in the briefcase. (Watch Season 5 episode 2 'The Bond in the Boot.') Well I submitted two entries and was lucky enough to be one of the winners. I am not sure which entry is a winner - I will find out tomorrow. They will post the winners on the website, so check it out! They asked for our picture so if there is voting...VOTE! I will update tomorrow with any link. And I can't wait to see what I get in the mail...

I will pick the song of the day Oingo Boingo "Dead Man's Party." It was the BONES promo song...thought I would pay a little homage (as if the entire post wasn't one already!)

Montage

So here are some random and lovely pictures of my precious...this might catch us up...just a little bit.

This picture was taken at Spaghetti Warehouse. It was Benjamin's going off to Ricks, I mean BYU - Idaho, family dinner. We also celebrated the one year anniversary of Becca and Aaron's lovely nuptials and kind of ate a little of the top tier of the wedding cake. On the way to the restaurant, we told Jadyn that she wouldn't see Ben for awhile and she started sobbing uncontrollably...Ben was of course flattered that he was going to be missed so much. I wonder how her saying goodbye for two years is going to go???

So of course my daughter, the lover of pink, had to be something fabulous for Halloween. Jennifer and Michelle just happened to be on their merry way on visit to Texas...can you say pink cowgirl boots? Anyone? Well Jenn called me up from the western store and told me how much the boots cost - I was like...what????? Jenn said, no Kathryn she has to have them. I was like how many times could she possibly wear them. Well Jenn, being the favorite aunt, purchased these fabulous pink boots, for an early Christmas present. They of course completed the outfit. And she ended up wearing the boots almost every single day. She wore them today in fact. She loves them. One time when she first got them, she tried to wear them in the bathtub...she wanted to jump in puddles...well that is one big puddle...My parents are headed to Texas next week, and another pair of pink boots is on their to do list...are you reading this Mom?I just had to include this picture, because really, what is she doing. Is she miming a hat? Her imagination is fantastic. She found a pair of gloves and did a magic show.The fantastic five year old birthday celebration....speaking of the number five, Rebecca told me that she was talking to Jadyn and she was saying her numbers...and the number fivety was mentioned...not fifty, fivety. Cause really, ok ten, makes sense, twenty - well I don't know why it's not twoty...well maybe I do, but they thirty not threety, and then forty...ahh, that one makes sense, so then it must be fivety, because I know it is sixty, seventy, eighty and ninety...why would they switch back after forty and before sixty...it's gotta be fivety! I have no idea why she does it, but it's cute.One Sunday, after family dinner we all walked to the park. Was it a Sunday? No probably not. We were walking back and she wanted to pick every dandelion. The great part is, she didn't have a container, so she started looking through all the debris along the walk for the perfect container for her flowers...this was not her first choice. The first one I told her absolutely not, that is filthy! I guess it is true, one man's trash is my little girl's treasure. The next two pictures are on our mini-vaca to the beach this past May. We stayed in a Yurt. It was fantastic. You just walk right over the dunes to the freezing cold Washington beach. The first picture cracks me up. It reminds me of Kanye West...maybe it is just the glasses and the straight face. The second picture was from the next morning...she woke up at 6am and wanted to go to the beach, well it is freezing and all the clammers were out there, so I told her we needed to wait. So we waited until 7am...hehe...girl loves the beach. We were so cold even with all are blankets. I finally had the idea to dig down in the sand and make us a buffer...it helped immensely and we just hung out building castles in the sky, well no, we built them in the sand...but I get song lyrics stuck in my head...and I also ramble. We had a great day! Can't wait for the Beach this weekend...yippee!Just one I thought I would throw in...her hair is always so great. I had french braided her hair and it was starting to fall out and she decided she would fix the straggling pieces of hair by cutting them. She waited till I was in the shower, got the scissors and sheared her bangs, then cut the ends of the braids off to where the pony tail ended, and cut the hair that was hanging out by her ears...this was in November I think. It always looks so great growing out. Needless to say, she couldn't touch scissors for quite a long time. Even now, when she asks to use the scissors, she promises me she will not cut her hair...I say you better not...with a very scary face...and she hasn't...yet. But I just love her sweet look in this picture.

The pre-school she goes to has a program every year with fantastic pomp and circumstance. There is a Kindergarten graduation, and all the classes perform. Last year Jadyn didn't even attempt to sing the songs - even though she knew them all. This year, she moved her mouth and her body to the songs...I feel that is some serious progress...she is shockingly shy about somethings, and then she converses with complete strangers everywhere we go...it's a mystery. This is her pre-performance...no jitters. Calm, cool, and collected.

And the last one for tonight, cause frankly...I am tiziered...for Benjamin's "Farewell" aka speak in church on Sunday, sometime before he leaves on his mission, all us girls wore brown, and the grandchildren both had on yellow...this was completely un-planned, can you really see me trying to set up matching outfits, needless to say we had to take a picture. Aren't they the cutest?! Jadyn loves her baby cousin, often that love is so powerful, she forgets Adelyn's name...mostly she refers to her as "my baby cousin"...she will get it one day. Jadyn has been sick this past weekend and when we went to Sunday dinner at Mom & Dad's, I told her she can't hug or kiss the baby. She was devastated and it took her about 15 minutes to even talk to the rest of us...she was having one of her infamous dramatic episodes...it wasn't a fit of despair, but a nice calm and quite devastation.Ahhh, so precious...nighty night...until next year! LOL! I promise to be more dilegent, and at least get all my painting done so I can post some truly terrific after shots!

The Gauntlet

Yes...it is past time, way past time that I update this wonderful blog of mine. My parents have a blog now and they have posted more recently than me so I figured it was time to get back to my highly informative and not to be underrated updates. So strap into your seats and enjoy the ride!

So much has happened it would be ridiculous for me to try to attempt to fill in all the gaps. I think my last update was more than a year ago...hang head in shame...so the highlights...well I bought a house. That is a big one. Sept 2008 I signed my life away to usbank...for a reasonable fee over a few decades. Here is she is:Three bedroom, 2.5 bath, garden tub, walk-in closest, gas fireplace and all. I have procrastinated in posting pictures because I wanted to do before and after pictures...but after pictures seem to take a long time...there is always a list...but the outside looks the same, so there ya go.

Since September, myself and the numerous worker bees I call my family, we have painted every room, but the second upstairs bathroom (and the very hard to reach wall in my landing - hence no after pictures, that darn stairwell.) Jadyn's room is, shockingly, pink. (and I don't mean that sarcastically it is actually SHOCKINGLY Pink) Actually, two shades of pink. She loves it. Loves it. We did that before we moved in. Then we put tile in the laundry room (thank you Dad and those fabulous knees and the kitchen floor) painted it...new base boards (in most of the house)...my room is a luscious green *actually called - Bayou Shade* and it is marvelous absolutely marvelous (you better be saying that like the old Pepsi commercials - cause that is how I am writing it...hehe...) And of course, put new flooring in the kitchen/dining area and added a new island cabinet section. Actually the island/cabinets are just floating in the kitchen, you can slide them anywhere and the top they have is my old ikea table top. I am nothing if not resourceful and it provides me another (convenient) place to put stuff in and on. Clearly it is still on the to be completed list. But life is busy and we must work and play and take care of the day to day...so my extras often fall by the way...side. I had a little rhyme going there for a second...go me. I must have a lyrical soul deep down in me somewhere...well I know I have a rambling one...that one is not so deep. Let me refocus.

So here are a couple more pictures...the before pictures...and some kinda after...

Yeah, so this is the kitchen...

This is the kitchen after the new floor.
See my shiny new table back there...so fun!

I threw in this picture of Jadyn chillaxin at the new dining room table...check out those fab pictures behind her...Pictures of Jadyn eating...with various members of the fam...and of course a little African safari thrown in - I love it after all - so appropriate for the eating room!

This lovely shot is the Living Room!OK - this is a different angle of the living room, but you get the idea. Check out those amazing curtains my momma made! She is awesome!

Jadyn's Room! Get ready for it!

Bam! Pink! I made her name pictures and they are above her bed, she takes them down all the time so it is difficult to keep them straight. Well that and I hung them crooked...

So that is a peek at the lovely new abode. It is a different duck, home ownership...when I plugged up the garbage disposal...I couldn't call maintenance...I had to call my dad. He is better than maintenance anyhow, for a lot of reasons but mostly because he taught me a new skill - how to unclog the garbage disposal...and yep, I have already had occasion to practice this said new skill.

Jadyn & Song of the Day

I need to write down what she says as soon as she says it, because she says some great things, but as usual - I am forgetful. Dang...but here are a few things:

1. She is sitting on my exercise ball, and she closes her eyes and says, "I have to do my ohmmms." and she starts chanting...ohmmm...what? Where does she get that from?

2. We are in the car on the way to school/work and she says, "I am tired of school, how about we take a break." Like what Jadyn, a vacation. "Yep, thats a good idea mom, a vacation." Amen baby girl, sounds perfect. But I am a little worried that she is already tired of school and she is only in pre-school - 13 more years to go baby girl!

3. So we are looking at houses and we are driving through this one neighborhood and I show here this yellow house that is for sale and ask her if she likes it, she says no, I like that one...pointing to the one that is painted light pink...of course you like that one...thank goodness she didn't see the purple house.

4. We pull up at home and she releases her seatbelt, reaches around to the front and gives me a huge hug and says, "Mama, I am your snuggle bug." - yes you are indeed my love, yes you are.

I will add more as I remember...and I need to upload some of her artwork...the are hilarious. She makes up all kinds of creatures...her imagination is amazing.

I have to include this picture. She was in my bed and started jumping...even though we have discussed this MANY times...she still choose to hop hop hop...fall out of bed. She got a good knock on the head and a busted nose. Check out that beautiful scab. She was ok, and she hasn't jumped on my bed since...the couch, but not the bed...I need to get her in gymnastics I guess...

Song of the Day - instead I updated the entire playlist! Go me!

OK one more post...

In case you wondered what a recreation professional does...I will give you a little insight to my summer. Please remember that summer is the most beautiful time of year here and remember that I spend it WORKING. Be jealous be very jealous. So one thing I do is Day Camp, not just Summer break but Spring and Winter breaks also. I also added a Counselor-in-Training program to Summer Camp three years ago - I love to create more work for myself - but it is a great program. I am also responsible for the Free Summer Food Program, providing free breakfast and lunch for Tumwater children. We have a huge event on the 4th of July - Parade, Festival, and Fireworks, and I do a little for that (mostly advertising and set-up). It is hard - as it is usually the week or closely thereafter that summer camp starts, so I stay busy...then I am responsible for the creation and production of our quarterly brochure and the Fall Brochure preparations begin in July, whew! Now for August...I take the lead on our Outdoor Movie Series which are Friday Nights in August. Last one is this Friday - Enchanted - I am really looking forward to it, mostly because after Enchanted - the event will be over for this summer. I make a 'commercial' for each film, this summer I made one...too busy. Then this year we decided to change our fundraising - Glow in the Dark golf tournament to August...and that was just this past Saturday. It worked out, but I was not able to do all the promotion and begging for money that I had done the previous year...so hopefully next year we can move it to September or back to May...please...anyway, just a small little glimpse into my life. And a poor justification for the lack of posting and updating this blog...it's a pretty lousy one, I know. But I have to say - it's a great job. I love it and I love the people I work with, even if I miss summer. Camp ended last Friday and Screen on the Green is over Friday...looking forward to Labor Day, maybe Jadyn and I can get out and enjoy the sunshine a little...can't wait!

Home Sweet Home...Maybe!

Do I want to be rich mom or poor mom? Look out world, most specifically Donald Trump, because I am about to become a real estate mogul. So I have started looking for a house. Well more than started, I actually made an offer on one. It's a short sale (yes, I now know what that means - thanks to my wonderful Real Estate Broker, Phil Harlan - and I can explain it reasonably well - but will refrain as it is not that exciting and actually kind of boring...)anyway the house I offered on also has two other offers, so we'll see. It is the hardest thing to get out of my head...$210,000 for this - in this area - it is actually a great house for the money, you should see some of the stuff I have been looking at - I am kind of a snob...this house is awesome - but do you know what I could buy in Texas for that? But I am not in Kanas anymore, or Texas for my example, and I can not think about that. But I do, I even look at what $70,000 less will get me in Texas, and you know what - I need to stop that. Let me think...living up here in WA, am I going to make $70,000 more dollars in say 30 years than I would living in Texas? It's a close call, but a house here will appreciate so much better, but will I be able to live the minimized life style home buying will require of me? Sure. But it is definitely going to leave a mark! But I am paying more that $1,000 a month to live in this apartment so why not be able to paint my own walls for at least $400 more dollars a month? It's so totally worth it.

I am not a rich girl by any means, but I get compensated fairly for my job, which rocks by the way. I just have a single mother's income...which is sometimes hard, but we have plenty. I celebrated a great deal the day we no longer had to buy diapers, the celebration will also be great the day we only have part time day care...that will save me serious coin. This time next year Jadyn will be in kindergarten...I think it would be nice to be settled somewhere. Yep I just wrote that - kindergarten and me settled. I have lived in Washington almost 7 years and I have lived in 7 different dwellings...commitment problems? Maybe. More likely, no place feels like home. With the purchase of a house it will be home for at least 3.5 years, so it better be something I love. Hopefully this place will work out, because - I think I would love to make a home there. I posted a picture, but nothing else...I don't need anymore competing offers...

Summertime - and We're Living BUSY...

Jadyn, Aaron & Becca (and baby) - Crater Lake

Man, what a long time since I have posted. Well the good news - we've been busy, the bad news - we've been VERY busy. It will take me a long while to update this adequately. May, May is seriously the last time I posted I think...Can I even remember that far back? Four year olds change so much in three months I hardly can believe it. She is officially a little girl no longer a toddler. So onto the skinny...

Memorial Day Weekend:

As has become tradition in our family now, we take a trip together somewhere nice, sometime between my Mom's birthday (May) and my Dad's brithday (June) - these dates nicely coincide with the holidays that celebrate both mom's and dad's so we figure it is density, I mean destiny - so in the past few years, excluding one year I think, we have spent time, in some exotic locale (well within driving distance) together. This year's Destination: Sunriver, OR. (Past trips include and are limited to: Whistler and Yachets which was a Beach house...anyway...) Once again procuring a lovely vacation home we travelled with glee to first shop in Portland and then second vacation in Sunriver. There is lots of golfing in Sunriver, but we didn't do that. Instead we went bike riding, went to visit Crater Lake (which you will see was covered in snow and NOT like the pictures I'd seen, but was nonetheless a lovely (and very long) drive.), some went rafting, we enjoyed an nice winter storm, and visited Sonic. Yes there is a Sonic in Bend - it was wonderful. I would like a route 44 Diet Dr. Pepper - thank you very much. It was funny, it was the grand opening weekend for the Sonic (we don't have these in the Northwest yet - in case you were wondering why Sonic made the list of things we did - and my dad thought we were crazy for going on a special drive just to get a drink - but I am ok with being a little bit crazy. That crushed ice is over the top wonderful - anyway I digress...where was I??? let me end these parenthesis first.) so we definitely had to stop there, but let me just say - it was crowded and had a wait - Sonic, the heartbeat of Bend. Then it was time to go home and we stopped at the Silver Falls State Park which was really cool and did some hiking - at which I sucked at - the straight paths are ok the vertical paths - I need to get my butt in shape. These falls were amazing and worth a trip. Then it was back to Portland for more shopping - have I mentioned our love for tax free shopping - if not you might have discovered our vicious little secret - we love Portland and tax free shopping. Tell the world...but in addition to all the dry goods we bought - I have some great shots of the trip. On the way down, Jenn gave Jadyn the camera to play with I guess. I have about 50 shots of the sky and 10 shots of this red truck, not to mention the countless pictures of Jadyn's feet (she is obsessed with them - or it would seem from the quantity of pictures she took). One morning when she was up at 6:15 and the rest of us (me) were still trying to sleep, Jadyn snuck into my purse, took out the camera and went to the bathroom to take pictures of...you'll never guess...her feet. I was dying. At least the bathroom floor of the vacation house is now immortalized, because I can't delete that picture....sneaky sneaky Jadyn.

Thought I might include a picture of Jadyn's hair in the morning - this is the same morning as the feet shot...love it!

10:30 on my birthday eve - I gotta get to bed, going to a baseball game with 35 kids tomorrow...need my sleep! Much more later?! Or much later...

Oh, and I need to go back to my song of the day or post...really diggin this song...check it out! So Summery, ya'll feel me? (Metro Station - Shake It.) It also reminds me of my favorite new TV show, but I'll save that for another post!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpU78IeTx_c