Mt. Tabor Hike

Kat and I, plus our dogs hiked Mt. Tabor today. Kat lives rather close to this place and hikes there often.  It was my first time.  Such a lovely location with nice paths that weren't too hard on my old knees.  They have these lamp posts throughout the trails -- must be back in Narnia! 

 

We came across a man walking his CAT!  It was a gorgeous cat and so sweet.  Frankie was afraid of it and Snowy stared it down.  I asked him what breed and he said "Bengal" like the tiger -- and it looked like a miniature Bengal Tiger, too

This is 1 of 3 reservoirs at Mt. Tabor that overlooks Portland. 

A Day Off School At Grandma's House

We started our morning with Aebleskivers  (Danish round ball pancakes) that the twins decided should be colored  (like the Easter pancakes I made last year).  So they helped me color the batter and enjoyed  a blue and orange breakfast. 

 

 

I got out their Great Grandma Mildred's auto harp and showed them how to play.  Of course it is a one-person instrument, so while one played it, the other played the piano.  Ahh, Grandma Mildred would be so proud of her sweet great grand babies.  She was a concert pianist and opera singer and is now performing in God's choir.  

 

Here Carson is singing and playing (with great form!).  For some reason he decided to sing "The Ants Go Marching One By One, Hoorah!".  Of course he had to sing all 10 verses before he could relinquish the auto harp to his sister. 

 

 Miss Ruby is playing the piano that my parents bought me when I was 10 years old. 

 

Love those legs!  He concentrated for the longest time on this instrument.  

 

The kids came to spend the night with me after swimming class because their school was closed for parent/teacher conferences and I took the day off work to be with them.  I had told them the night before that we could go to the park early the next morning before it got really hot (we had a 80-90 degree heat wave for a few days).  In my mind I was thinking 9:00ish!    I knew we had to get an early start so it wouldn't get too warm at the park.  I never thought twice about saying that to them. 

The next morning Ruby came into my bedroom at 5:45 AM and was up for all day.  Carson rolled in 15 minutes later.  I figured the sun woke them up and didn't think about it.

That night at dinner Kristin asked Ruby "Why did you get up so early at Grandma's house?" 

"because I wanted to be ready to go to the park!" 

(AHH, my fault!) 



Swimming Class

The twins both have a new swimming class on Wed. after school.  I went to get them ready and give them a snack while waiting out front of the school for their Mommy to arrive. 

 

Carson, Ruby and Clay (the little guy from their school that Ruby says she is going to marry) are in a private class at a local community pool.  Carson told me even before we got to the swim class that "Grandma, I'm good at soccer and football, but not at swimming".  The truth of the matter is he is scared to put his face in the water.  Kind of difficult to learn to swim with that issue, but at least he was having fun as you can see by the goofy face he is making! 

 

Ruby, on the other hand, has become her mother's mermaid (just like Kristin was) and can hardly keep her head ABOVE water.  Several times the instructor had to gently pull her up by her swim cap to get her attention.  She loves it and is very proud of herself, too.  

Even as the instructor is giving directions, Ruby is UNDER the sea!  

Ruby did a great job of floating on her back.  

While Carson continues entertaining us with his silly faces.  

 

He was trying very hard to do what he was asked to do, only by not putting his face in the water!

Happy Mother's Day

 

Katharine and I spent Mother's Day together -- starting by attending church.

We then drove up to Multnomah Falls and thought we were going to hike to the bridge.  When we arrived we found the trail closed down due to a rock slide this winter that damaged the bridge, that you can see is covered in plastic.  



 

 

(Say, I wonder if that is Mr. Tumnus' light pole to the right above?  Maybe Kat and I were really in Narnia!) 

 

Mom and Me selfie!

 

So we continued our adventure of exploring and came across the Bonneville Dam.  What a spectacular site!  As you can see, it was a beautiful, sunny day.  

Another Mom and Me selfie at the dam. 

Then we came across the fish hatchery and fish ladder.  Kat is feeding the rainbow trout in this pond.  They would practically jump out and take it from our hands -- guess they are conditioned to all the folks that feed them -- and yes, they were big and fat trout!  

There was one sunny spot where the trout showed up really well under water. 

 

Next we came across the sturgeon pond.  Those suckers were really big!  

Don't fall in Kat -- those sturgeon could swallow you whole!  

Kristin was able to wrestle some excellent tickets to the Timbers professional soccer game on Sunday.  They were so close to the field, and were located in an area where the food and drinks were provided.  

 

Because Kristin's BFF's husband works for the Timbers, Carson and Stacie's son were able to play on the field after the game ended.  What a thrill for an almost 6 year old boy who talks about growing up to be a pro soccer player! 

 

 

We ended our Mother's Day by all coming to my house for a fajitas dinner.  Lovely day! 

After dinner Carson was sitting on his mommy's lap and asked "when is kid's day?" 

 Kristin gave him the same answer all of us parents have given to our children over the years 

 "Every day is kid's day!" 

 

Ruby proudly carried in this wrapped Mother's Day card for me that she spent about 45 minutes making.  They were handing out carnations at the soccer game for Mother's Day and some how Ruby ended up with a bunch of them that she cut and taped onto this paper for me.  She was so pleased with her creation -- and so was I.  Thank you Sweet Ru! 

 

 

 

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Happy Mother's Day Mom --

Grandma Gee and Great Grandma Gee. 

MISS YOU! 
(I bet you are playing your bassoon in God's celestial  orchestra!)

EARTH DAY - 2014

Being PORTLAND, of course the children studied Earth Day in school.  They learned how to conserve, recycle and care for their EARTH.  I'm sure there was lots of discussions, art projects and practical things they could do as children to protect their EARTH. 

 

When they got home from school they were very excited to tell their parents all about Earth Day.  Both kids were quite disappointed when their mommy said they couldn't go out right then to collect trash at their local park.  She did say they could do it over the weekend,  since it was after 6:00 and they needed to eat dinner and get ready for bed. 

 

 

 

Probably the best comment came from Carson the next day.  He went up to his mommy and whispered   "To help save the Earth, I used less toilet paper!" 

(Yikes, I'm not sure that is the BEST use of conservation, Buddy, but I commend you for thinking such a thing would be important)