a peek into summer 2010

as far as i see it, even though summer really just got started, its already halfway over. here, family and friends, is what we've been doing with our time.

bikes (or scooters) on the street-- a daily affair

issy made him a bed in the hall, and he really used it!

my garden. really only going at 50% capacity this year. better than nothing, right?

our first time riding bikes with the public! sunday parkways is awesome!! google it if you don't know about this pdx event...

a visit from auntie naomi and uncle noah. short but sweet!! this is us at the farmer's market at OHSU

when you buy a bunch of live shrimp to cook on the bbq, the least you can do is save one and dress it up in a paper towel and electrical tape tuxedo, right??

the birthday girl requested swimming for her day so that is what she got.

making the world's best gluten-free, corn-free chocolate cake for sister EVAH!!!

karaoke at voicebox lounge was awesome!!!

could be singing george michael...or lady gaga...or no doubt...or the beatles...

we love auntie na-na!!

never under estimate an afternoon chillin' in the backyard.

a sigg bottle to reflect all personalties:

downtown adventure: waiting for the street car

downtown adventure: on the streetcar after a trip to finnegan's. these kids know the importance of staying hydrated on a 90 degree day!

downtown adventure: jamison fountains....ah, smell the chemically-treated water in the air!

what could August bring?? i'll try my best to blog it for you:)

George-Ephraim Turns Two

George-Ephraim, or Geo, or Georgie Boy, or Vubbie, or The Vubs as he is usually called.....
was born in the wee hours of the morning on April 27th two years ago today,
directly above my head where I type this,
a smooshie-lipped, curly-headed boy
a boy who brings joy
so much joy and love,
more than I could ever imagine one little boy bringing to a family,
yet his joy spreads much farther,
as he offers this joy to everyone he passes,
rosy-red cheeks glowing with delight,
smiles spread like ripples on the mouths of those in his presence...
oh, little boy, thank you for your joy!

Things to know about George, The Two Year Old:

Favorite food: hummus, just straight up with a spoon. the more garlic the better.

Favorite song: Changes by David Bowie

STILL likes to be swaddled to fall asleep. He has a special blanket for this--his "Mi-Mi" blanket which is a fleece Nightmare Before Christmas blanket.

A day is not a day without walking to the mailbox with Papa.

He never fails to say sorry ("Waaah-reee") or thank you (Day Do!") when the occasion arises. In fact he gets irritated if he thanks me for dinner and I don't say "You're welcome."

He loves shoes. Prefers them to bare feet. Walks on his toes if his feet are bare so they won't touch the floor.

If I were to use one word to describe George it would be: delight (he is both delighted at everything around him and delightful to be around.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY GEORGIE BOY!!!!!!

and my 20's come to a close....

better things to do today than sit on the computer, so i am "phoning this one in." blake and i dug up this song a few weeks ago, neither of us knew the other one loved it. seemed appropriate for a birthday blog post. i noticed that it came out three years before i was born.

enjoy....and don't you DARE make fun of their hair!!


(PS: MOM, make sure dad sees this!)

KANSAS - Dust In The Wind
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29 by 29 update

i did it. workout #29 complete, and tomorrow is my 29th birthday. too wiped out to be excited. lost one pound after complaining about gaining 7. wish i had done more on the calorie-intake front while i did this. all regrets and bitterness i am sure will be swept away in the shower--i'll give myself that long to be disappointed. then i will step out renewed, toned, glowing with accomplishment, and grateful for my health. because that's how i roll.

:-)

29 by 29

me with my broth containers--thanks to MG for taking my picture!

so you facebookers may know that i challenged myself to do 29 workouts before i turned 29--at the time, this gave me about 11 weeks which seemed like plenty of time, especially since i was basically going from 0 exercise, to about three times a week. i began the first few weeks with uphill walks around the neighborhood, and then started doing my favorite denise austin video, fat-burning yoga--one good hour of strength training and stretching (plus a killer ab workout), but not a lot of cardio. then i finally popped in the Shred Level 2 workout that Breana gave me, and boy am i glad i didn't just watch it first because it might have scared me off for good. i survived the intense 20 minute workout but decided that i would rather push myself extremely hard for half the time, than go back to my not-as-demanding but full hour routine. a mother's time is precious! the shred workout is crazy because you are working multiple areas at once in three circuits: stength, cardio, and abs. almost enough to make you want to die but just enough so you can survive the 20 minutes. its hilarious, too, because i don't have real weights so i scan the pantry before each workout for something to hold, usually some 2 pound broth containers!

so where am i at now? well, i've done 26 workouts and my birthday is on friday. that means i have to now bump it up to everyday this week, from my usual tues-thurs-sat routine, and i will reach my goal (and i won't have to workout ON my birthday, i hope!!) the results have been totally unexpected--i'll be honest and say i thought i would have dropped at LEAST ten pounds, i was hoping for 15. but nooooooo. i've GAINED 7!! i know its muscle, that is obvious since i feel way stronger and have a new definition to my arms and legs that was not there before. but its disappointing. i wanted to be down a size and into clothes that i wore pre-george. i also thought the working out would "kick-in" some natural weight loss, now that baby Geo is 18 months and barely nurses. oh well. it is what it is. maybe i'll keep it up through the holidays....

sunday, in two parts

part one: father's day, in downtown pdx

hello hulk

we finally visited portland's only jewish deli, kenny and zuke's

quick stop at buffalo exchange

taken by blake

blake has a car now, makes life much easier. isadore helped wash it that afternoon...

part two: chemynne's 40th birthday at mt. tabor park

c's friend from ny, kat, and her partner, parker, had just flown in, plus daena and oliver came (with some big news!!!)--the happy group shot

the pointer

a birthday kiss from athena to mama

swingin'

a solisticy moment

blowing out the candles on the brownies--happy birthday, c!

i love this sweet moment

taking the girls to the bathroom on their brownie high

Happy Goobie Day

Can someone explain to me how this happens? In the blink of an eye, your sweet, pulsing bundle of love-embodied-in-life goes from this:


...to this?Its almost to much for a mother to bear. Of course, you want to see your children grow and develop and succeed, but can't at least the last child stay a baby forever?


To distract ourselves from the shock and creeping melancholy of the fact that Georgie is ONE today, we took the kids to the zoo to frolick. In some ways Geo is still a baby, like when I see him here, happily hanging in the backpack, taking in the world with his eyes only.

But then when he is set on the ground and his explorer is set free, I am reminded that he is now a little boy. Look out, Goobie takes on the world!!

...or at least a carrot stick;)



Ah, my family. Dark silhouettes again the blue glow of life. Nothing stops. A mother can only desperately try and keep up...be open, be available, be observant...and take lots of pictures.

The Lukster

....turns four today.



To our Lukie Lou: brave, compassionate, expressive, bursting with love...Sweetness and toughness all rolled into one adorable little package. Our family would never be complete without you. I remember thinking as soon I finally brought you home, after 12 days in the NICU, how it seemed that no bonding was lost, I'd somehow known you forever and your huge round blue eyes somehow had never NOT existed to me. Papa and I, and even Mayan, can see you blooming right before our eyes...we love you so much! Happy Birthday, Isadore Naomi!




For some more super cute photos of the party a few weeks ago, check out my sister's blog.

Summer Bash Weekend '08

Saturday morning the whole family reunites with our sleepy guests who came in Friday after the kids were tucked in...Geo gives C a smile:Michael and Geo kick it on the round couch with Baby Nermie:
Thena and MG give humper some love:

Sunday before party, Auntie Na-Na and Uncle Noah show up (a suprise visit from LA--of course I was in on it but not the kids)

MG studies C's technique as they decorate for the party with sidewalk chalk. This was SO much cooler than traditional party decor:

Guests begin to arrive--big and small! Allison "introduces" her little Sweetpea to Zeke, canine lord of the manor. We all had a goooood laugh at this one:
Sweetpea nevertheless was a HIT with the little kids. Another homerun hit was the kitty ears that Joi made for Isadore:
Zeke still got some kid-tention, though, from Kaden mostly:
Sweet pile of goodies for the littles--homemade crafty goodness, thoughtful homeschool activites, or store-bought from small local businesses...we have AWESOME friends:
The crew listens to Jade read the next clue on the treasure hunt:
..and it leads to the fireplace! The final clue:
Nicole whips out her compass to help the kids figure out which way is west:
The booty!:
Root beer float time: the kids wait patiently (well, some more than others....):
Mayan's first RB float ever...she likes it!:

Kids in the playhouse (Is, MG, Kylin, and Max):

C and M brought these awesome Egyptian "action figures" for MG:

The old-skool San Diego crew: Daena, Blake, Nicole, and Chemynne together again after......MANY years:

She may never take either of these things off:

A cool B&W of C taken by a kid I'm sure:

B was taking most of the pictures all weekend so here he is enjoying some post-party and post-pizza relaxation:

Isadore and Thurston:

Siblings B and C and thier babies, George and Athena, respectively:

We were so stoked to have an extra bonus night with C and M and A:

Isadore not only is a great big sis, but a great cousin as well--making sure thena doesn't fall on her bum:

Monday night--grillin' with Naomi and Noah. Apparently, my blackberry gallette was a hit:

Telling spooky stories in the tree house:

Quality aunt and uncle time: