More sun..this time while on skis

Can this really be February in Oregon?

We had an amazing weekend of sun and outdoor play...lots  of running around , playing catch, and enjoying the views from all over Portland.

Pictures I find on my iphone when I leave it unattended....

Scenes from weekend skiing

Actually, scenes from just before the skiing....Jackson carefully planning his route and Sean practicing looking like a snowboarder!

Rock and Mineral Field Trip

Last week I went with Jackson's class to a rock and mineral museum.  Lots of interesting things including the "ooh, aah" room where a large case of minerals are energized with UV light and turn all sorts of brilliant colors. (Especially vivid when the lights are turned off!). We also saw one of the world's largest collections of crystals and a meteorite display.

Hair Salon

These are actually from Christmas break. Sean was supposed to have a play date but his friend was sick. So I loaded up with books, snacks and other things and brought him to my hair appointment. Of course, once the snacks were gone, all he wanted to do was play with my iphone. I think he took about 50 photos. But he did capture a rare moment of my hair looking rather fluffy....something I can never recreate once I leave the salon. And , here is one of Sean's self portraits....

Mt.Hood on a perfect sunny day

This is Sean and Jim, skiing down the My-Ty trail which has been our family favorite. We actually skied as a family last weekend. Sean made it for about 5 runs and then he was ready to eat lunch. Jackson, however, could ski for hours and hours.

A week with Ozzie

Ozzie is the kindergarten class pet. He just finished a week with us and Sean was in  charge of recording all his activities in a journal. We kept Ozzie very busy and he even got to go to the dentist with Sean! (No cavities, by the way...). Happy MLK Day!

Sunday Sledding

Paper snowflakes

I went a little overboard with the paper snowflakes just before Christmas. Once I start making them, I can't stop...it's almost like it was when I was knitting ( for that one month back in 2002) You get in to a rhythm when cutting out the designs and it becomes a very relaxing process. Unfortunately Talus has shredded a few of them from pouncing on the window whenever the UPS man stops by to deliver a package. He obviously does not appreciate them in quite the same way as I do..

Happy 2010!

And a very special welcome to Colin Locke Davitt! A new year and a new nephew and cousin!

Not quite a white Christmas....

We at least had one fun snow day in Portland. It started at about 1:30pm and snowed for several hours. It was great snow for making snowmen and snow forts! The boys played for almost 2 hours before I had to drag them inside to eat dinner.

Christmas Tree 2009

It is always nice when the weather cooperates on the day we go to select a tree. Especially when it's a "U-cut" lot. (See Jim on the ground sawing the tree...can't imagine that on a rainy day!). Living in Oregon, we are spoiled by the amazing quality and variety of trees...we had our pick of Nobles, Grands, Douglas Firs and Redwoods. We brought home a Doug Fir that was almost too wide to make it through the front door. Now we are ready to get serious about the Christmas decorations.

Snow!!!

Last year at this time there was not any snow atop Mt. Hood. This year...lots of wonderful, fluffy white snow! The ski resorts are all up and running and we have already been up to ski one time. Hopefully this is a sign that we have a great ski season ahead of us. These pictures are from Timberline.

An afternoon at the Theater

We took the boys to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Oregon Children's Theater last weekend. They loved and especially enjoyed the Moon struck chocloate that was handed out to everyone after the show. The cast was in the lobby post performance to sign programs. The boys met Willy Wonka , Charlie asn a few of the Oompa Loompas.
The other photo is the Halloween candy count...and what it looks like when 2 boys have had too much sugar!

Pumpkins!

Recent events and photos

I took a really fun baking class with my friend, Mary. The photo is of the instructor, Julie, who was wonderful. I am ready to make some awesome cakes! Snow pictures are from Timberline Lodge which we visited last weekend. Sean was throwing snowballs at me, which he thought was hilarious. Also Jackson's self portrait and climbing the rocks at Foothills Park.

Weekend art project

Live from Schukart Lane.....

There is even more noise, I mean "music" , in the house now. We have a very old but very beautiful Steinway piano on long term loan from a friend of a friend. I still can't believe the woman let us take away her piano but she really wanted it to be in a house where it was being played. Her kids are grown and the piano has not been used for a long time. So, the goal is for the boys to take lessons and play lovely music while I make dinner and sip my glass of wine-HA!