Creepy cool.

We have lived in our Portland house for about 1 1/2 years now. We are really loving the neighborhood and it seems I love it a little more each time I go out exploring. We are so close to fantastic restaurants, coffee shops, theater, local businesses, resale stores.....and the cemetery. Lone Fir cemetery is one of the oldest Pioneer cemeteries in Oregon, has a great history, and it is 1/2 block from home.

It began in 1854 when a man, Stephens, sold his farm to someone with the agreement that his father's grave could remain there and the new owner would maintain the site. Later that same year there was a boiler explosion on a steamship owned by the new farm owner. Ten people were killed and he buried all of them near the original owners father. In 1866, 20 more acres were added to the current location. Portland investors acquired it and sold plots for $10 each. In the beginning, there was one "lone fir" tree. Over the years, families have planted seedlings in memory of their deceased and the cemetery has become this garden-like sanctuary with huge trees everywhere. The estimate is that there are now about 25,000 known and about 10,0000 unknown people buried there including thousands of Chinese immigrants. I don't know how many headstones are there now, but most of the graves must be unmarked. Many of the old wooden markers were destroyed over the years.

We like to take the kids for walks in the "graveyard" as there is always something new to see. I know that is a little morbid, but they really enjoy it. There are wonderful mausoleums and headstones. People were much more clever about their headstones way back when. The big ones are grand and the people seem important, but I fancy the more humble ones. There are still 1500 plots left for sale.

On Halloween a group of people, http://www.friendsoflonefircemetery.org/tour.html,
reenact the lives and deaths of the dead. The even got Portland artists to write songs and record a CD to benefit the cemetery.

Carson took all the photos except for the one she is in. We think we may try to volunteer there as a family. I am trying to find out what they may need.

Inauguration Day is here!

I kept Carson home to watch the inauguration this morning since I wasn't sure she would see it at school. I love that she has no idea how historic this is. She knows it is a big deal because we told her, but the Obama's are just another family with little girls to her. She told me about learning the story of MLK Jr. at school and really can't believe that segregation could have been possible. I really think that kids today appreciate that people come from different places and have different shades of skin. If you are good, then you are good. Period! End of story. So on that note......

QUOTES FROM CARSON WHILE WATCHING THE INAUGURATION
(she made flags for all of us to wave)

"George Bush meant to do the right thing, but it wasn't right for us. He meant well".

"She (Laura Bush) really does look like grandma judy".

Re: GHWB: "Is he a little bit better than his son"?

"MLK Jr.'s dream really did come true on the day after his birthday many many many (i lost count of the many's) years later.

Re: Michelle Obama's mother living in the white house. "It must be fun to have your grandma live with you".

And my favorite! During Rick Warren's invocation he said something regarding Goodwill to all. Carson kept giggling and saying, "Goodwill, like the store". "That is so funny he said Goodwill".

QUOTES FROM SAM DURING INAUGURATION

"When I grow up I want to be Barack Obama"!

"She looks like a diamond ring". (Michelle Obama)

Change IS coming.

It happened. Carson is officially a big kid. We cleaned her room today and she decided to send all of her dress up clothes to Maggie and Rowan. Everything that was dress up, princess-like, even her Fairytopia Barbies are packed in a huge box and going back to Denver. She had a huge clear canister of "little things"~wind-up toys, rubber bugs, little people, etc. which she handed over to her little brother. She didn't even open it to pick out a few favorites. I realize this means I have to start treating her more like the big kid that she is. WOW! I even cried a little. But not as much as Rachel will when she gets that huge box of frilly sparkly pink!

More of Coolio riding her scooter with matching Go-Go boots.

Stop the car.... It's a free box!

As you all know, Portland is known for weirdness. That's why I fit in so well. (I would insert a big smiley face icon here but I hate them). From freaky tall bikes (see above), some of which are covered in faux fur to the small plastic horses on the old horse rings still on the sidewalks. Carson loves the "free box" thing. When people don't want something anymore, they put it in a box labeled "FREE". Carson and Sam have been known to demand me to stop the car so they can look through a free box. They have found many a treasure in the free boxes in our neighborhood. Carson found a giant wooden African Goddess head statue which has a prime spot on her special thing shelf. Sam found a handmade paper tree topper? shaped as an angel which has mysteriously (hint hint) disappeared. I love these old Real Estate paper boxes which someone has turned into free boxes. They are all painted up. I saw an old pair of shoes in one. There was a can of sunkist soda in another.... I will be taking pictures of the boxes when I stumble on one. Here is one example.

So what if I am trying to re-live my childhood.

We took the kids roller skating the other day which really sparked some childhood memories. I used to go roller skating with my Pappaw Burl on Saturday mornings. He was one good skater. He could go forward, backward, dance, do the limbo, and the hokie pokie (which he taught me and I can still do all of the above). I think he took Steve and Jeff when they were little too. We had 3 roller skating rinks in our little town. I think the Bellview skating rink is still there. It had an old wooden floor with big lighted board telling you what was going on at the time; couples skate, reverse skate, etc. I could skate for HOURS. Well, we moved to Portland and wouldn't you know...they have an old wooden floor roller rink with an huge organ that they play music on!! So of course I had to get right online and buy myself (notice I didn't say Carson) a pair of roller skates. Shiny white ones with pink wheels (that's them above). I seriously feel an adrenaline rush just thinking about them. Maybe I will go a lot or maybe just a few times, but just having those skates will be so nostalgic. Now I need some pink puffy pom poms to go on them. Maybe I will get on EBay and get Sharon a unicycle so she can feel nostalgic too.

ps. Oaks Park Skate Rink has Alternaskate on Monday nights. For "alternative folk". I guess that's me........

pps. Look out roller derby girls.

Another Samism.........

"I wish the park could go on forever so we would never have to go home."
He must have had a good time playing. I love Laurelhurst Park and feel very lucky to live so close. The kids rode trikes and scooters (with no helmets.....gasp!). Sam rode his little bike down a hill faster than he has ever ridden it before. He was really going fast enough to make his Peds ICU mom a little nervous. I started to tell him to slow down and then got to laughing with a man walking his dog about our culture of hyper parenting. Let them be kids! I even got a chance to take a ride on the scooter.

"Mommy, it's burning my eyes!"

Just when you think you can't take the gray anymore.......the sun comes out and all is better. It was a cold day today with a big shiny sun. Kind of like Denver in the winter. You have to take advantage of this when it is here, so Sam and I went out for walks and rides all day. Then we picked up Carson and went to the park and played soccer and ran and got cold and muddy. Even in the cold I could feel the warm Vitamin D soaking into my skin. Maybe the sun will make another appearance tomorrow! When I took the first picture, sam actually said...."Mommy, it is burning my eyes"!

Designs by Carson!

I have been promising to make Carson a knitting bag for a while. I kept putting it off because I just couldn't figure out what kind of bag to make for her. I saw a woolen felt bag the other day and decided to let her pick out her colors (yes it really is that bright) and let her design something for the outside. She drew the bunny and I made it out of felt and then put the bag together. It is a big hit. Sam wants one too. He wants a robot that winks. I have a lot of that blinding pink left so I might make little totes for Maggie and Rowan, too.

I think I hear silence.....if only for a minute.

Today was what mother's heaven must be like. Two kids sitting at the table with a hint of sun shining in the window and no one was asking for anything. Nothing. At least for 10 minutes. Carson can read to herself now and Sam (who was just crying about not being able to draw anything) was drawing lots of intricate little scribbles. Each one had an elaborate story to go with it. Must be that Waldorf school we are sending him to.

Some pig

Sam's collection of banks just keeps growing. We went to the 100th Monkey and he made this piggy bank. Someday I will take a picture of him in his sea of banks. Good thing he is a saver. He can take care of his mama's someday.

I want to be a scientist......

I figure there is a certain window to introduce electricity and magnetic circuits to my girl. After which, she won't be interested in that. She likes science and math, so we got her a circuit kit for Christmas. Carson was amazed that she could actually build something with circuits. She "built a circuit that ran a fan and lights. She also learned how that nice man jump started our car on Christmas by building a circuit and then "jumping" another light. She even made up her own inventions. She is one clever girl. Later, she went straight for the kids sewing book and made herself (with a little help) a stuffed tomato head. The kids are having so much fun with all their toys and puzzles that they got for Christmas. Moms are really happy they can go back to school tomorrow!!!

Happy New Year People!

A gift for any age!

Thanks to Grandma Judy for the Stomp Rocket. We have been snowbound for days (dare I say weeks?) so today we decided to get out and try out the stomp rocket. Well, as you can see...... Grandpa couldn't wait for his turn and the kids were very impressed that his rockets went the highest. They could have stayed for hours stomping but we had to get Aunt Lenora to the airport for the 2nd time today! I tried to get an action shot of the rocket taking off, but it really did shoot off at rocket speed. You just have to believe it by everyone staring at the sky.

50 YEARS!

Happy 50th Anniversary Don and Norma!

Yesterday we had a lovely celebration for 2 of my favorite people. Sharon's parents have been married for 50 years. We all went to their church which is a beautiful cathedral in SW Portland. There was a coffee hour after the service where we got to meet many of their friends. People were delighted to help celebrate such a significant and joyous occasion. We then went to the London Grill (in the Benson Hotel) for a champagne brunch and were told by the waiter that we were "doing a good job". I guess that means we made a small dent in the buffet food? And now D & N can get to work on the next 50 years.

Portland is a sloppy mess.....

but, we made it out and went to a play with the whole fam. It took two loads of people in the car, lots of slush, a disastrous trip across Burnside with two children, two hot chocolates, and a coffee. Not to mention Carson's doll and purse and Sam's Totoro bag. We climbed over hills of plowed snow and stepped in rivers of melting ice while getting rained on just to see Biglittle Things. It was well worth it. It was sort of a mime, dance, clown troop and it was fabululous. There were great costumes and masks and the characters came up into the crowd. Literally....they climbed all over us. The children LOVED it. The adults loved it. I even ran into a fellow WVian. Noted by his WVU sweatshirt worn proudly. Carson had her new American Girl doll with her and the little girl sitting in front of her had her new American Girl doll with her and they waved to each other. So cute. Then two carload trips back home to have pizza and wine. I love holidays. Thanks Gma Dody for the tickets and the idea!

more christmas

all this AND, it snowed on Christmas Day!

Carson makes us breakfast on Christmas morning with her pancake mix from grandma. The kids opened their presents from Santa and gma judy and papaw rick. Then we moved on to other presents. Mom's drank much coffee! Grandma and Grandpa Dody came over and we ate a delicious meal of Sharon's choosing. Then MORE PRESENTS! The kids received wonderful gifts from everyone. The American Girl Doll was a hit, as well as many science kits for Carson. Sam was really happy with his airplane and box for special things. He got puzzles, books, cars, little people.

EVEN MORE SNOW PICTURES FROM CARSON's BDAY

Wow, it really snows in Portland. Once every.....never! This morning we had a great breakfast for Carson's birthday. Cinnamon apple French Toast. Then she opened some PRESENTS! Thanks Grandma Judy for the Popout dollhouse. That was a big hit. As was the potholder loom. We played in the snow for a while and Sharon cleaned off the car. Even Lu got some snow action. It's naptime now.

Cabin Fever!

Well, it just keeps snowing. It is so beautiful here since no one (and I mean no one) goes and drives on it. This is the most snow Portland has seen in many years. I think we may attempt to get the kids out today for a while. Even if it is just to go walk around the block. I am feeling a bit cramped and cabin feverish here. Sounds like the bus route I take to work is canceled and the hill up to the hospitals is treacherous so I may have to take the aerial tram to work tomorrow. That is going to be an adventure. http://www.portlandtram.org/index.htm