At Mom and Bob's House

Driving to Tri-Cities - Mom and Jer

Me and D

H and me

Trip to Pendleton

Packing for a road trip, and yes, Kitty, you're extremely helpful. 

Band Concert Selfie!

We have pigtails!

Finally!

I'm NEVER cutting it again.

(Famous last words)

Sunny Day!

Perfect shot of my phone.

Our Sixth Anniversary

This is how we're celebrating twenty-four years together: 

Sunday night - watching the Oscars in our hotel room and having a killer time.

Monday morning: "Let's pick up the kids!" 

Then it was off to Multnomah Falls.

Side falls

My traveling companions

Then, the Portland Rose Gardens

 Frisbee in the Shakespeare Garden, because why not

The Shakespeare Garden Sundial

Bella: "Mooooom! The garden's making PUNS"

Then, lunch at Carol's Corner Cafe...

Carol's has amazing biscuits, as demonstrated by H

And finally, Buffalo Wild Wings

Time for chow

It was a busy, lovely anniversary. I'm so grateful for my wonderful man and our awesome kiddos.

🍒

Converse Happiness

Sleepy Catness

Great weather we're having!

Had so much fun playing spazoid tennis with H today. I really stink at tennis but can't help myself. 

Gallon House Covered Bridge

...near Silverton, Oregon, on Abiqua Creek. We took a personal day from going to church.

Abiqua Creek

Some of the crew. Rock throwing and general silliness

Looking down at the water

Brennan and Bella found something cool...

...a self service roadside vegetable stand.

Brennan bought an onion.

As a reward for enduring my weird covered bridge obsession, we treated the children to pizza. I can't tell you how happy I was to learn that a Pietro's existed so close by. The pizza was, as always, AWESOME, and this location has laser tag and mini golf as well. Everyone was thrilled.

Phrase of the Day: Backwoods strumpet

Awww

At an Allis-Chalmers conference they attended in the 1970s, Gran and Neenaw met Laurie Lea Schaefer, Miss America 1972. She was signing autographs, and they asked her to sign this picture for me.

I just now found it in a box of old stuff. My heart is shattering from the sweetness, knowing they were thinking of me.

At the same conference: my award-winning grandfather. I miss him something awful.

❤

Signs of Spring!

"Dearie me, Granny Tea Bread!"

I inherited some darling vintage linens from my mom. Love the red crocheted edge! 

Yo.

Trying this Instagram thing.

Oh Netflix...

...must I constantly reassure you? You're worse than a clingy boyfriend.

"Are you still watching The Office?"

"I'M HERE AREN'T I"

Later: Took R to the church for New Beginnings. Can't believe my baby will be twelve this year! 

New Beginnings with R

Obviously enjoying it

Snuggling With "Needle Feet"

My dad came up with that moniker. He loved playing with her when he visited.

"STOP PUTTING KITCHEN UTENSILS IN THE DRILL"

...yet another entry in the "Things I Hear Myself Saying To My Children" diary.

(The funniest was the vintage nutcracker.)

Lie-y Liarson

Adventures in Genealogy: today I learned that my sweet 18 year old aunt married a man who said he was 30 but was really 34, and had been married three other times before her. Puke! And thank you, Montana marriage records!

HAPPY 2016

 Just hanging around the house today.

2016 is already amazing

Starting it off right with sparkling apple
cranberry cider and of course, Mad Libs