"Nobody will recognize me"

Sam's swimming lesson- take 2

Sam started swimming lessons on Tuesday. He stood by the pool and refused to get in for 25 minutes and then finally joined his Goldfish beginners group only to have the whistle blow 5 minutes later. He was ready yesterday. He jumped right in and had more fun than anyone else.

Spiced applesauce

I did it! I made my own applesauce from apples we picked! what the hell has happened to me?

Hood River and Beacon Rock

It was a gorgeous fall Oregon day and we drove to Hood River in the Gorge. We went to an organic apple orchard to pick apples with Sam's preschool. We ended up with 20 pounds of cool, crisp, red, Gala apples. I hope to make some apple sauce just like Grandma Eloise used to make. We ran into a friend of mine from work and her 2 year old and new baby and Sam's friend Manu was there.
On the drive home we decided to drive back on the Washington side of the Columbia River through the Gorge. We stopped at a state park called Beacon Rock and started on a hike. Little did we know that in an hour we would be standing on top of the world. About a million switch-backs and 850 feet of climbing put us WAY above the Columbia and the tree line. The trail itself was kind of scary, but the view was amazing.

Fall Day at the Zoo

Sam and I called it Hat Day and went to the zoo for the afternoon. The big cat exhibit was open and the tigers were sly. The sea lions were showing off for us underground. Sam got to make some Oragami which was cool because Carson is usually showing off her Japanese folding skills. He made a Bear Face Mask and wore it around until he fell down the steps.

Spooky Composer

Carson's piano assignment this week is to compose a spooky song. I thought this sounded like a ridiculously hard assignment, but she has been practicing. I am pretty sure Grandma must have helped her on this one last night because here is the first half of her song..... She is quite proud....

The alien in my life.

My favorite alien was playing with my photo booth on my computer and this is what he left me. This same little alien was in the back yard today with the neighbors and "someone" convinced him to eat a thai chili pepper. There were tears, snot, screaming, and some flaming pink chapped looking lips. Poor little alien.

today's food cart menu

Sharon and I met today for lunch at the carts. Japanese Samurai and Addy's Sandwich Cart. Yes, that is tuna salad with sliced hard boiled eggs on perfect crispy baguette. YUM!

Those smiles are all fake!!!!

Finally made it to see the Vaux's Swifts at Chapman Elementary. We watched THOUSANDS of the little birds funnel into the school chimney while we were sitting on the HARD HARD ground. We kept thinking the last of them had surely come when another huge group would fly in. Finally, at the very end, the Cooper's Hawk swooped in for a kill. Sam asked....."Why would a bird eat a bird"? Which I thought was a very good question. I have a bunch of pictures of the "serious" Dodys, and then came across this one. I think you were faking for me. Did you drink the smile juice or something?

"Swifts are insect eating birds that migrate south each fall. At sunset during migration they choose a place where dozens to thousands of birds can roost. Since the late 1980’s the Chapman chimney has been one of these roosting sites".

Corn De-cobber

We started off today with a great idea to go to Milwaukie (OR) and eat breakfast at Bob's Mill store and restaurant then go to Dave's Killer Seed Bread store. I had BOGO coupons for the Dave's Bread store and breakfast. We got lost driving there and then found it 1/2 hour before they opened. So we waited. Turns out Dave's was BOGO anyway today so I got four loaves of bread. Of course, I read the hours for Bob's wrong and they were closed........Came back to Portland for lunch on Hawthorne at the old stand-by. Shopped for produce and spices at Sheridan Fruit Company and then home to cook a yummy dinner (actually, Sharon is cooking). She is making a yummy looking roasted corn, onion, and chili salad and veggie pesto BLTs. Conveniently, SOMEONE gave me a corn de-cobber for just this occasion.

Move over Lyle Lovett

Sam and his new cowboy boots. Don't you remember how you loved to listen to yourself click clack in your new shoes? Sam has never had any shoes that make that noise.....until now.

only in portland

ok, so I should write about the lovely evening we had watching the symphony at the riverfront park, the perfect weather, the loud canons booming at the end of the 1812 Overture......but, i want to show the picture of this Portlander.
This is true Portland grit. This guy with his mohawk, blue nails, tattoos, and overall scary got attire was laying on a blanket knitting.......

Big Second Grader!

And she is off! The first day of second grade started with much excitement. Carson is excited to have three of her best friends in her class this year. She decided to wear a skirt instead of her favorite jeans. Here she is in front of her school, Richmond Elementary. We have a new principal this year and I met a part time art teacher this morning which is new also. Last year parents ran the library and there were no official music or art classes. Sounds like we have both this year.

Dibs.

Ok, ok, ok. So I know I am not really in the distinguished Monninger blood line, but I am calling Dibs anyway. Well, when I caught a glimpse of this amazing tin "wood grain" picnic basket with a small circle of vent holes on one side and wooden handles coming towards me at the symphony last week, I got a little woozy. It is the perfect example of another time where the food wasn't super sized and sandwiches were stacked for a picnic into perfect little towers. When I noticed that the tin was being carried by my favorite in-laws, then I knew I was "In like Flynn". The inside is even monogrammed by the original owner, Nina. So, sorry Lenora, Jeff, and even Sharon. You can have all your parents' valuable jewels and heirlooms, I am calling Dibs on the tin.

Pie eating contest

Well, we missed the pie eating contest and the giant prize winning tomato. But, we did see pigs, sheep, goats, cows, chickens, horses, and mini horses. Yes, mini horses. We spent the day at the Oregon State Fair yesterday. Carson loved the animals. Sam couldn't have cared any less about them. We rode rides and played carnival games. The kids had no idea I only let them play the games where everyone wins a prize. We walked away with 7 crappy "made in China" stuffies, a blow-up mallet, and plastic swords. We rode the fair lift (aka....cable cars) across the fair.

We watched the judging of the mini horses. So there are these little horses that pull around a little carriage with a little lady dressed in a little hat. Very funny. Carson got to talk to a lady in a little hat who has a mini horse.

We touched and fed the sheep. Touched them before and after the shearing. The fluffy ones feel like a temperpedic mattress. Carson got to talk to a few teenagers from FFA who were showing their animals. What a city girl with her pink purse, ipod, and big pink sunglasses.

I wasn't too sure of the booth "Are you going to Heaven?" at a fair/carnival....but, whatever. I wonder what the prize was there?

The search for Randoseru (ランドセル)

Back to school shopping.....I remember it well. We went to Hills Department Store and picked out some Garanimals (remember--match the tiger shirt with the tiger pants) that got put on layaway. We got to go to Hartley's and get something great. I remember my first penny loafers that came from Hartley's. The man behind the counter even put a shiny penny in each one.
I loved the pencils and paper and folders and crayons and the smell of new school supplies. Now it is my turn to take my daughter back to school shopping and things have changed. Now, the school sends a detailed list of things that are to go to the classroom. Your child puts it in the 'kitty" and it gets shared with other classmates. The kids don't even get to keep a stash of super sharpened pencils in their desk.
Last year Carson noticed the Japanese children at school carried these wonderful sturdy leather backpacks. (Actually, I noticed too). So I started doing my research and this is what I found.

The Randoseru is given to a child at the start of elementary school and they are built to last through 6th grade or so, but many children will keep them through adulthood. This morning we went to the Japanese bookstore in search of Randoseru. Too bad I told Carson she should have one before I realized they are about 30-50,000 Yen or about 300-500$. Guess we will be sticking with Hello Kitty.............

The Kempens are here. The Kempens are here.

We had 5 days of utter chaos and excitement when our beautiful 5-year-old twin girls and their mama Anne visited. I believe we blew the budget on fun. The highlight of the trip was the Enchanted Forest. Wow. Talk about a place for kids. It was built in the 70s with a storybook fairytale theme. The kids had so much fun. There were kiddy rides, panning for gold, fun caves to go through, fairytale houses.....
For my birthday we hit the walk up waffle window and perused Hawthorne. Everyone under 8 got Totoro and Catbus softies.
Maggie and Rowan taught us the Tarzan song which I can't stop singing. Almost constant fun (except for my bright idea to have all the kids sleep in a little tent in C & S's bedroom).