Snowy -- Meet Bird

While I was in Bellevue last weekend, Snowy went to play at Tom and Sylvia's house.  Snowy was fascinated by this feathered friend in a cage.  Snowy was showing way too much interest in this bird and was trying to jump up to the table to see him.  So Tom put the cage on the floor and they did a stare-down for a long while.  Then Tom took the bird out of the cage and let Snowy sniff him -- that was all it took.  Snowy was no longer the least bit interested in the feathered friend. 
(smart move, Tom)
 

Sun River 2012

Vacationing in Sun River --
Sweet Family....
 

These furry friends were in the backyard where they are vacationing. 

 

 

How-do-you do Horse -- Nice to meet you --  can I ride you????

 Last year Ruby was too afraid to ride a horse, but this year she was really looking forward to it.  In fact, as I hugged her good bye on Sunday night she whispered to me

"Grandma, I'm going to ride a horse!" 

 

Yikes!  He snorted at me!!!!!
 

Carson also rode a horse, but he is an old pro since he rode last year. 

Ahh, a climbing wall. 

Why people vacation in Sunriver, OR

More of Carson

I drove over to pick up the twins to spend the night at my house while their folks attended a wedding. On the way home Carson said "Grandpa Ray took us to some place really special and it was so fun!  We saw so many cool things." 
 So where did Grandpa Ray take you?   

"He took us to the DUMP!" 

Then Carson told me all about what he saw and how great it was to visit the dump.  (So why pay money to go to Disneyland when you can get such enjoyment out of the dump?????)

 

The next morning -- very early -- I was just getting back to sleep after getting up with Carson who had been coughing a lot all night.  He very quietly tippy toed into my room and got right up in my face and whispered "Grandma. Grandma!   Are you awake?" 
So I let him crawl in my bed and I snuggled him for a while.  Then I rolled over the other direction and he snuggled me.  He got right up to my ear, and very spontaneously whispered, 
 "Grandma Julee, I love you as big as the St. John's Bridge!" 
Oh my goodness -- my heart melted, even though I was so tired.  Who can resist that kind of love-talk. 

 

 My car  had to be towed to the dealer because it wasn't working (but as it turned out, it was just a loose cable and there was no-charge -- THANK YOU GOD!). When I told Carson -- who LOVES LOVES LOVES tow trucks -- that Grandma's car had to be towed, he asked me
"Did that make your car happy?" 

 



Engineer Carson

When Aunt Stephanie saw how much fun Carson was having with the blocks she gave them for their 4th birthdays, and how he made a "fire breathing dragon"  (see July 15th blog entry), she got Carson another block kit that makes dinosaurs.  Here is the first creation we made together.  He was quite proud of this dino. 

Of course Aunt Stephanie would never, ever think of getting something for one child, without getting for the other..... Ruby is showing her new Fancy Nancy doll the dino that Carson made. 

The next morning he decided to add to the dinosaur and made it into a dinosaur-ship.  He even gave it a name "The Orca-zan".  Little sister is being a "watch-bird", enjoying watching her brother at work. 

Carson had to check it out from all angles to make

sure it was just right!



The block set he got in June came with a little man.  Carson said "he can be the Captain of the ship."  I told him that Uncle Jimmy had been a real Captain of a ship.  To that Carson said

"this little man is Uncle Jimmy",

and he posed with a close up of his little Captain. 

 

When I told Aunt Stephanie what he had built she said to me "He's going to grow up to be an engineer."  I told that to Carson and he asked "What is an engineer?" 
"Well, he is someone who creatively designs and makes things." 
 I went on to explain that word can also mean the driver of a train.  To that Carson  said
 "I want to be an engineer on a train that drives me to a place where I can build things." 
 (In other words, he wants to be both kinds of engineers.) 

 



Emma & Lydia

I traveled to Bellevue this past weekend to my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's house to assist her in taking care of her two granddaughters for the weekend (as her husband was away fishing!)  Emma was a flower girl in a wedding, but Nana would need to pick her up in Seattle after the wedding, so I stayed home with Lydia.  Emma was lovely as a flower girl and did a fine job, too.  Here she is with her Mommy and Daddy (my niece Megan and husband Tom) who celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary on the same day. 



Little Lydia is 18 months old and runs circles around everyone in the room.  She is fast and hard to catch and hard to keep a hold of once you catch her.  She gives her Nana a run for her money -- hence me -- reinforcements for the weekend! 

Lydia is so full of personality, understands us, but doesn't talk, yet.  Who needs to talk when you have an almost 4 year old big sister that does it all for you.  The one thing that she said over the weekend was "mmmmm", which translates into "MILK PLEASE".  

It was such fun getting to know this little missy and helping out the family. 

Nana gave Emma a new princess doll on the day of the wedding. Emma was enchanted and said "I've been dreaming of this doll.  You made my dreams come true!"  (a bit dramatic, but she really was thrilled beyond words to have this new dolly and even slept with her tucked under her arm that evening after the wedding). 



Lydia loves her little car and steers the wheel and honks the horn the entire time. It's the one time we can keep her in one place (seat belt on of course) and not worry about what she is climbing on.  We took several walks and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! 

On Sunday morning after the big wedding night, Emma was tuckered out.  She found a comfy spot on her Nana, while watching Pollyanna on TV. Of course Lydia had to get up too -- but then she got down, then she got up  (you know..............up/down/up/down/up/down) 

We kept saying Lydia was going to grow up to be an interior decorator because she kept rearranging the furniture.  These are their "TV chairs" and Lydia was pushing hers all over the kitchen on the floor.  When she hit the carpet the chair tipped over with her on top.  She didn't cry -- so I grabbed my camera to capture the moment.  By time I got the picture she was frustrated because she couldn't get upright and began to fuss -- more angry than upset! 

102 Today In Portland!

This is how the wee ones stayed cool today.  Yikes -- 102.  That's too hot for us....

Oh Ru -- You Are Your Mommy's Girl!

"Mommy, I just have to wash my hands with these shoes on!"

Preschool Picnic

Today was the picnic for the preschool where the children attend.  Didn't get many photos, but a few cute ones.  Nanny Rach was down for the weekend and joined us -- the kids were thrilled to see her. 

Isn't little Miles above darling with his golden curls? 
Lots of great food and so healthy!  Never seen so many quinoa salads! 

Not quite sure what Carson was doing with his Nanny Rach ----