Been a while

Two weeks ago we went camping at Kitsap State Park in Washington. Gage held a live crab with no hesitation at all. We talked with a family that had their own Aiden. The mom nicely held onto Gage so I could take pictures of the amazing clouds. Elina played with the family's daughter at the playground and tried the monkey bars. Connor hung upside down.




We decided to take a ferry on the way home. It's not often we get up that way and after all..it's the best ferry system in the world! The older kids and I walked onto the ferry because they wanted to see the salmon mural we could see from the parking lot.
While we were waiting I asked Connor if I could get a picture of him. One that showed his fabulous eyes. I mean..I can't keep using the one I took in Cincinnati as my official Connor picture, it's two years out of date! So we went through the usual routine: Connor looking so serious you'd think he was posing for either a mug shot or a military portrait. I say "come on, smile like you love your mother" which sends him cracking up. No inbetweens. He's always been that way...it's either black or it's white. Maybe it was prescient that we gave him the middle name of Grey?? A forshadowing of this parent's desire that her child find balance. I know he's exploring the middle ground a bit more often lately. I know this because sometimes I meet him there.

Ballet Girls

For the past two years, Aiden has bought season tickets for herself and Elina to go to the ballet. Ballet days have their own rituals: getting dressed up together, mom taking pictures, our special drop-off/pick-up place, the cell phone call to say when it will be over, and the intermission snack (a pretzel and waters). But what I like best is the drive home. They excitedly recount the evening "OBT has the BEST bad guys mom!". They laugh and exclaim, their voices rushing in and out and over each other, coming together then apart, deferring certain story points to each other in a dance of their own. Aiden tells of the moment in the dramatic opening when they realize that the tree in the set is really dancers as it deconstructs into the bad guys "minions"....."it was SOOOooo cool." Elina laughs so riotously as she tells of the little minions and pantomimes a chase where "they were running and running and running!" The retelling lasts all the way home with lots of "remember when" and "oh YOU tell this part!" Their sisterhood entrances me and I realize that I'm getting the best show of the evening.

Day THIRTY-ONE! <>

Sometimes things are solidly on the ground but look out of balance. Today I was out of balance but thought I was solid. You know when you start to fall and think you've righted yourself, and then you just keep falling and think NOW you've righted yourself... and then you just keep falling? Yeah. And everyone looks and you feel like you should take a bow. But you bounce up and say "I'm ok! Everything's fine!! Nothing's happened" but you have the bruises to show that you really did fall!


And it's a Thursday. The busy day of our week. Aiden usually works, volunteers at the therapeutic horse barn and goes to an institute class. I'm her transportation. Somehow I also squeezed in cuddling with the kids, falling like a dork in the library, hanging out with a friend, sweating, doing dishes and book club!
And somewhere in there got a picture. It would have been nice to finish May with something spectacular but I am quite happy with the month. It's been fun!

Day Thirty

I'm so grateful to have curious, observant children. Getting out of the car at the library Elina asked "they're purple????"
Yes. Juniper berries are purple. And very beautiful. Thank you Elina for noticing them.

Day Twenty-nine

Looking up into trees has always been something that calms my spirit. These ones at a rest stop along the Santiam were really cool, because the new leaves made circular patterns!



Went to Eugene with my friend. We stopped at rest stops and walked Gage about so he wouldn't get TOO tired of his car seat! He has just started that phase where he doesn't want to bend his body to sit in his car seat. What fun! Here he is walking with Donna, but wait! What happened to his head?

Day Twenty-eight

This duck has been at our pool every morning. I went to take his picture and along came the cat! The duck didn't care at all, in fact when the cat walked along the edge, the duck followed him!!

Day Twenty-seven

Sunday! Ended up taking Tim to an urgent care. He got two antiobotic SHOTS!
Connor likes this picture. He says it is "owlish"