Rolfs Family Oregon Adventure

Kindergarten Ainsworth Auction

2010-02-17T19:49:00.000-08:00

This will be for auction at Ainsworth Elementary School's Red Ball at The Nines in Portland Oregon on Saturday February 27th, 2010.

Custom mat and black frame by Frame Central on Macadam.

White Pizza

2009-12-13T13:55:00.000-08:00

Homemade whole wheat pizza dough
Lightly sauteed sliced garlic in olive oil
pearl mozzarella cheese
shredded mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
oregano

Ponies Cupcake Topper

2009-12-13T13:52:00.000-08:00

White cupcakes

Pink Frosting

Scallop punch

Photoshop Elements design for Go Ponies!

Best Chocolate Chip Recipe ... For now

2009-12-13T12:33:00.000-08:00

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Adapted from Jacques Torres

New York Times July 9, 2008

Time 45 minutes - Chill time 24 hours

2 cups minus 2T (8.5 ounces) cake flour

1 2/3 cups (8.5 ounces) bread flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons corse salt

2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar

1 cup plus 2T (8 ounces) granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoons natural vanilla extract

1 1/4 pound bittersweet chocolate disks or feves,

at least 60% cacao ( I used about 14 ounces)

sea salt

Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside
Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light and creamy, about 5 minutes.
Add eggs one at a time. Mixing well after each addition.
Stir in vanilla
Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop in chocolate pieces and incorporate with wooden spoon as to not break the chocolate.
Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches and can be refrigerated for 72 hours.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or non stick backing mat.
Scoop generous golf ball size mounds onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that may be poking up.
Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
Bake until golden brown, about 16-20 minutes.
Transfer to wire rack for 10 minutes.

Camp Sherman Sept 09

2009-12-11T23:24:00.000-08:00

We spent the weekend with the Mansberger's at their cabin in Camp Sherman

Camp Sherman buying penny candy.

Game night - Blokus

A ride to the Camp Sherman Store

watching the horses.

Walk to the Head of the Metolius River

Suttle Lake, Oregon Sept 2009

2009-12-11T23:08:00.000-08:00

Some of my favorite photos of the year!

Santa Con Portland 2009

2009-12-11T23:02:00.000-08:00

Santa Con - North Portland Saturday, December 5 2009.

Santa's on the MAX

Santa's outside Eagles Nest.

Inside Eagles Nest

they like it!

2009-11-15T21:03:00.000-08:00

Jamison Square

2009-09-27T21:25:00.000-07:00

Our friends come to visit from Bend. We had dinner downtown and then took the kids to run around in the park. There was still water in the fountain and everyone got wet. They had fun and it wasn't too cold.

Happy Birthday Alexa

2009-09-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

It was Holly's good friend Alexa's birthday was last week. Her mom took us to Baskin Robbins after school. I think she liked her ice cream.

forget back blogging = Latourell Falls

2009-09-27T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hike a Latourell Falls with Holly's friend Alexa a few days before school started

April Visit with Nana and Papa

2009-08-17T08:50:00.001-07:00

Papa arrived a few days after Nana.

The girls decided to decorate their rooms with all their drawings.

Emma wall of photos. It turned into a competition between the two.

Playing at Ainsworth. The girls school

Grandparents day at school. Nana planned her trip around this day.

Tulips - April 2009

2009-08-17T08:45:00.001-07:00

April 2009 visit to Woodburn Tulip Fields

Emma and Holly flying high as Mom and Dad cross our fingers
New iPhone!

I planted about 100 tulips bulbs in our front yard.

Basil and Black Pepper Ice Cream with White Balsamic Strawberries

2009-08-05T19:30:00.001-07:00

Basil & White Peppercorn Ice Cream

with Strawberries in White Balsamic

Ice Cream

1 1/2 cups 2% milk

1 1/2 cups half and half

pinch of gray salt

3/4 cups sugar

1 vanilla bean or teas. of vanilla

10 whole white

3 yolks, slightly whisked

2 cups basil leaves chopped

Strawberries

2 cups strawberries cored & sliced

6 T white balsamic

1/4 cup sugar

gray salt

white pepper

Place milk, half and half, salt, sugar, vanilla bean in non reactive saucepan.

Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring from time to time till sugar dissolves.

Slowly temper eggs, whisk in milk and eggs. Slowly add eggs to milk in saucepan. Heat to 180 degrees, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.

Turn off heat and immediately add basil and pepper. Stir. Allow to sit for 30 minutes in ice bath. Strain mixture. You can add fresh basil and place in blender mix till basil is small specs.

Place in refrigerator overnight. Follow manufactures directions to freeze ice cream.

Strawberries

combine all ingredients. mix well. place in refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.

Adapted from Michael Chiarello - Top Chef Masters

Fore Street - Portland, Maine

March Skating, Bowling and Zoo

2009-06-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

Rain at the Zoo

The Zoo's newest baby!

Bowling @ Hollywood Bowl, Amanda and Emma

Bowling

Skating at Oaks Park

Emma's Birthday Celebration

2009-06-20T08:55:00.001-07:00

Emma's 5! Our celebration at home on her birthday.

Pump It UpTom and I designed and decorated the cake. Emma had specific instructions, rainbow and a butterfly. Costco didn't have that option so we did it ourselves. The big girls: Olivia visiting from Atlanta, Holly and Katelynn

Mish Mash of February

2009-06-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Emma's favorite breakfast... or lunch..... or dinner at Shari's.
Emma having a laugh with her friend Allison.

Shopping at Zupan's, my favorite market.

Holly reading at the Ace Hotel

Our favorite go to easy and cheap restaurant. Laughing Planet.

Holly typing her first document for her science project

Catch Up... February Ski Trip to Mt Bachelor

2009-06-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

In February we went skiing at Mount Bachelor with Bronwyn and Dominic.
It was Emma first time skiing and Holly's second. The last time Holly skied was 2 years ago at Mammoth.

Holly and Bronwyn. Holly loved skiing with Bronwyn.

Probably the last time I'll ski. Snowboard boots feel much better!

Emma first time skiing

Pineapple Basil Martini

2009-05-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

Infuse vodka with pineapple for about a week. No sunlight.

3 oz Pineapple Vodka

1/2 oz Basil Simple Syrup - 1 to 1 ratio of sugar and water, add a handful of chopped basil bring to boil and let sit for 1/2 hour.

1/2 oz. Lemon Juice

1 oz. Pineapple Juice

2-3 leaves of basil chopped

Put all in shaker .... shake... shake... shake.

serves 2

Doggie Walking Service!

2009-05-05T21:29:00.000-07:00

Holly had her first paying Doggie Walking gig tonight. And she's been asked to walk Annie for the rest of the week. Nice little earner! :)

Here are a few snaps I took. It was a gorgeous evening.

Hail Stopped Play

2009-05-03T22:35:00.000-07:00

I managed to get a little video of the down pour of hail we had at the end of Holly's soccer game today. Unfortunately it was a mix of hail and rain so I was trying really hard not to get the camera too wet and so didn't take very good video. In fact, near the end you can hear that the microphone got water in it. Anyway, you get the idea. By the end of it all, we were completely soaked!

Even when it rains, Portland shines

2009-05-01T17:02:00.000-07:00

April 5, 2009 - 12:00 AM

Even when it rains, Portland shines
By LAUREN VIERA Chicago Tribune

Why everyone in the world hasn't up and moved to Portland, Ore., is a mystery.
Beyond being virtually pollution-free, surrounded by lush greenery and, at 568,300 people, a manageable size, it's home to the kinds of people many folks would want as neighbors: laid-back, eco-conscious city dwellers who love quality restaurants and art galleries and are as game for an evening in with a bottle of pinot as a morning hike through the woods.
There's one defining characteristic associated with the City of Roses: rain. While sun worshippers may balk at the idea of visiting the Pacific Northwest at any time other than in its glorious 80-degree summers, Portland is arguably a year-round destination.
Head here in the fall and a light rain jacket will carry you through autumn leaf-covered streets to dozens of cafes in which to duck the drizzle. Visit Stumptown in the winter and a parka and an umbrella (though locals don't really use them) are a nice change from snow gear, especially when there's a full agenda: Trailblazers games, movies at McMenamins' brew-and-view theaters, tax-free shopping in Nob Hill and, if you've got time, day trips to the mountains, the coast or both.
Here's our whirlwind weekend in Portland:FRIDAY
Portland is divided into five districts – Northeast, Northwest, Southwest/Downtown, Southeast and North Portland – each with its own neighborhoods and personality. Your best bet for lodging is downtown. Recommended: the boutique Hotel Modera in the historic South Park Blocks. The gut-rehabbed Modera emerged last spring with a luxe lobby; spacious, souped-up guest rooms (starting at $139); and a courtyard with native plants and shrubs and furnished with inviting fire pits.
Just east of PGE Park, Hotel deLuxe offers top-notch service in an award-winning, renovated, art deco building. Luxury amenities such as the pillow menu complement comfortable, well-appointed rooms (starting at $127) priced lower than they should be.
Most downtown hotels are within walking distance of Portland's trifecta of public transportation options: the light-rail MAX, the TriMet bus and the streetcar, all of which are free when traveling within the high-traffic Fareless Square region.
Catch the 12, 19 or 20 bus across the Burnside Bridge to your first amazing meal of the weekend: dinner at Le Pigeon. When it comes to locally harvested, expertly prepared dishes, Portland rules – and Le Pigeon is proof. It's exquisite. And tiny. Three communal tables are crammed around a large open kitchen, lined with front-row action bar seats. French bread and sea-salted Plugra butter whet the palate for the specialty here, squab, though rotations on the minimal menu include beef cheeks, a delectable squash tart and French-inspired classics.
As a post-dinner constitutional, head west back over the Burnside Bridge to Powell's City of Books, the largest used/new bookstore in the world. There are 3,500 categories packed into 68,000 square feet. Linger all you want: Powell's is open until 11 p.m.SATURDAY
Start in the Northwest and eat breakfast with the locals at Besaw's in Nob Hill. Standard egg and pantry dishes are the specialties at this 105-year-old joint, where impeccable service breeds customer loyalty.
Post-breakfast, take time to stroll NW 23rd Avenue (aka “trendy-third”), which has become a shopping mecca in recent years. Or head into the woods. Portland is surrounded by them, but massive Washington Park features numerous landmarks in its 400-acre sprawl. Among the highlights are the International Rose Test Gardens (rosegardenstore.com), where 6,800 bushes are cared for year-round; and Pittock Mansion, where 23 rooms have been pristinely restored with antiques from the namesake family that resided here during Portland's early-20th century growth spurt. Downtown is home to the smallest park in the world: Mill Ends Park (SW Naito Parkway and Taylor Street), just 452 square inches.
Back up north near Powell's, work up an appetite wandering the Pearl District, full of galleries featuring work by local and international artists. Grab a bite at any number of coffee shops here or, for a change of scenery, catch the 14 Hawthorne bus over to the Southeast. Start with a classic lunch at Bread and Ink Café, a neighborhood standard since it opened in 1983. Don't skimp on desserts, especially if you visit during blackberry season.
Saunter down Hawthorne Boulevard, known for its smattering of vintage and secondhand stores. Vinyl-philes shouldn't miss Crossroads Music; others may want to catch a flick at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd.), one in the chain of Portland's eclectic brew-and-views owned by the local McMenamin brothers.
Wash down the afternoon with a cup of bona fide Portland joe at Stumptown Coffee Roasters. The Belmont location was the local chain's second, followed a handful of years later by its neighboring Annex, which hosts coffee cuppings (tastings) daily at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Toast the action-packed day with a delicious, locally grown dinner at Noble Rot. The casual atmosphere and affordable price points here (entrees average $15) make the dishes all the richer, especially when paired with a slew of worldly wines.SUNDAY
Get up early to beat the brunch crowd to Helser's on Alberta, located in Northeast, an easy 25-minute ride from downtown on the 8 NE 15th Avenue bus. Helser's is heaven on a plate, with old family recipes for Dutch Babies and potato pancakes.
Take your time strolling east through the Alberta Arts District, where block after block of boutiques, cafes and galleries provide a slice of local culture. The vibe here is decidedly laid-back and just a little funky; dogs are given just as much sidewalk space as strollers. Crafters shouldn't miss Close Knit and Bolt, which keep Portland's do-it-yourself population sated.
Catch a cab down to SE Glisan Street for a leisurely lunch at Pambiche, whose colorful exterior and heat lamps help transform autumnal Portland into Havana, at least for a meal.
Cruise south down 28th Avenue to Burnside – the city's north-south divider – where a smattering of secondhand shops, cafes and bars form the hub of the Laurelhurst neighborhood. CHECKLIST
GETTING THERE: Portland is in northwestern Oregon, and is serviced by Portland International Airport (PDX). From PDX, downtown Portland is accessible via the city's light-rail (MAX) system for $2.30 one way, and travel time is just under an hour.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Modera, 515 SW Clay St.; 877-484-1084; hotelmodera.com
•Hotel deLuxe, 729 SW 15th Ave.; 866-986-8085; hoteldeluxeportland.com
WHERE TO EAT: Le Pigeon, 738 E. Burnside St.; 503-546-8796; lepigeon.com
•Besaw's, 2301 NW Savier St.; 503-228-2619; besaws.com
•Bread and Ink Café, 3610 SE Hawthorne Blvd.; 503-239-4756; breadandinkcafe.com
•Stumptown Coffee Roasters, 3356 SE Belmont St.; 503-232-8889; stumptowncoffee.com.
•Noble Rot, 2724 SE Ankeny St.; 503-233-1999; noblerotpdx.com
•Helser's on Alberta, 1538 NE Alberta St.; 503-281-1477; helsersonalberta.com
•Pambiche, 2811 NE Glisan; 503-233-0511; pambiche.com
•Alberta Oyster Bar & Grill, 2926 NE Alberta St.; 503-284-9600; albertaoyster.com
WHERE TO SHOP: Powell's City of Books, 1005 W. Burnside; 800-878-7323; powells.com
•Close Knit, 2140 NE Alberta; 503-288-4568; closeknitportland.com
•Bolt, 2136 NE Alberta; 503-287-2658; boltfabricboutique.com
•Queen Bee Creations, 1847 E. Burnside; 503-232-1755; queenbee-creations.com
•Crossroads Music, 3130-B SE Hawthorne Blvd.; 503-232-1767; xro.com
TIPS: Bring a rain jacket. Drizzle is inevitable here, and autumn and winter host frequent showers and storms. Hooded rain jackets are standard fashion and are less cumbersome than an umbrella.
•Drink locally. Coffee and beer are Portland institutions, but Starbucks and Budweiser hardly qualify. Try Stumptown and Widmer for starters.

Something I need to be thinking about

2009-04-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

The bulbs I planted last November are now in full bloom. Nothing could look better for the time that they are in show! However the aftermath is not very pretty.
Saw this in the Oregonian today. I agreed to have the paper delivered again and happy I did. For some reason I don't go to the Oregonian online to read up on my usual features.
Need to back blog a ton... hopefully soon.

Post-bloom tulip care
Posted by The Oregonian April 30, 2009 05:28AM
Categories: H&G daily tips
The Oregonian
What you do after tulips bloom has more to do with their continued success than what you do at any other time.
Once the tulip bloom fades, snip off the flower right below the base of the bloom to keep it from putting energy into making seed. Leave the stem intact because nutrients in the stem and foliage go back to the bulb to form next year's flower.
After about five weeks, a little tug should be all that's needed to pull the wilted foliage out.
Braiding or tucking foliage together with a rubber band restricts the flow of nutrients to the bulb.
Check out Holly's shoes. She has had so many compliments I want them!

Once the foliage has faded, you can dig and divide bulbs so they don't get crowded and stop blooming.
When you dig them, you'll find a larger bulb surrounded by two or three small bulbs. Replant them in fall. The big one will bloom the following spring; the smaller ones likely will take longer.
Dry bulbs before storing in a cool place with good air circulation. Tie individually in discarded pantyhose or keep in a container with perlite, sawdust or shredded newspaper. Don't store apples nearby -- they give off ethylene, which will cause the bulbs to rot.
If you leave the bulbs in the ground, wait to fertilize until about an inch of new growth has popped out.

Baby Safety Foam - Tables, Fireplaces

2009-04-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

Hi all, our friends have this great company in Bend, OR. They have been in business for 7 years and have a great product.
http://www.babysafetyfoam.com/

Britain's Got Talent

2009-04-15T04:53:00.000-07:00

Do a search on Youtube for this one Susan Boyle - Britains Got Talent 2009 Episode 1 - Saturday 11th April

Eagle Eyed View

2009-04-09T12:42:00.001-07:00

Checkout 5:50 and the last 30 seconds of the movie.

No More Phone Books!

2009-03-10T19:22:00.001-07:00

http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/

caryperk: Free Shredding Event in Portland

2009-03-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

caryperk: Free Shredding Event in Portland

one more for today..

2009-02-04T19:41:00.001-08:00

Our new Mayor Sam Adams (40 something) has a scandal on his hands. He is openly gay and a story broke about one of his past relationships with a 18 year old male.....

Ommm......

2009-02-04T19:34:00.000-08:00

Just Say No!

2009-02-04T14:01:00.000-08:00

Kid coming home from the dentist

Top App

2009-01-25T09:23:00.000-08:00

Our friend Chris created this game. It's ranked number 2 on Apple's Top Paid Apps. Super Sniper

Now Tom wants to make an app. Any suggestions?

2009-01-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Holly's birthday with her six of her friends from school yesterday. I picked them up at school and brought them to our house. I know you are thinking bad idea. Yes, I know but we survived.
We started out with a treasure hunt that Tom created. They had a ton of fun running around the house like crazy girls. The final clue sent them to the car seat in our car where their was a big box with a birthday had for Holly.
Then we went up to Holly and Emma's room for hair and nail design. Next the girls came down to do a glass art project and then they made their own pizzas. After eating pizza we had cake and opened presents. Very fun party for Holly, very exhausting for her parents.
Tom will add more photos soon I'm sure....

Glass art project

Glass Art Project
Reading the clues for the treasure hunt.

Running up the stairs after reading a clue

Holly's Robot Cake. She's really into making robots out of recycled material. she is collecting a lot of trash!

Holly's 7th Birthday

2009-01-08T14:39:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Holly's 7th birthday yesterday. Her Uncle Brian is in town for an interview at the VA hospital so he was able to join in the celebration. We are crossing our finger he gets the internship (psychology). He is also applying to Hawaii, New York City, San Deigo, Long Beach, Tacoma, WA and Lancaster PA. Not a bad list.
Holly had a birthday blueberry muffin for breakfast. At school she got to share and read a few poems from her favorite book, A Light in the Attic. Her favorite poem is The Homework Machine.
The whole family including Uncle Brian picked her up from school and went to see the movie Bedtime Stories and then to dinner at Pastini. When we got home she go to open presents and eat a cupcake.

picking Holly up from school

Opening Brian's present

Happy about a gift!

Cupcake faces

Mommy supervising

Here's a cute card I made for her. Inside were two coupons, one for a "shopping spree" (get more shirts) with Mommy and one for a trip to Powell's Bookstore with Daddy.

Arcade after the movie

MSNBC Top 29 Places to Visit in 2009

2009-01-01T22:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, #10 Here it is....
"#10. Willamette Valley located about an hour’s drive south of Portland and spread out on the banks of the Willamette River, this up-and-coming wine region has been making waves of late in wine glasses across the nation. Billing itself as the "place for pinot,” this slumbering grapevine district is home to more than 200 wineries, most of which beckon visitors with tasting rooms and even eco-wine tours. Visitors can also opt to take in the vineyard-covered landscape from a hot-air balloon ride, trot along farm-dotted trails on horseback, or take home a one-of-a-kind find from one of the many antique shops.
Why go in 2009: Although enthusiasts forecast that this area will be the next Napa Valley, the less-commercialized Willamette Valley remains — for now — a much more affordable vino-centric destination than its southerly California neighbor. Plus, new developments are on the horizon for those looking for an alternative to the area’s charming B&B circuit — in August, for one, the region’s first luxury inn, The Allison Inn & Spa (www.theallison.com), will be unveiled, featuring extras like a restaurant dishing out regional cuisine and a working vineyard"

More Random Snow Shots

2008-12-27T19:53:00.001-08:00

Random Snow Shots

2008-12-27T19:41:00.000-08:00

Here's a sampling of various snow shots I took.

First a few shots of our closed street:

Some parked cars:

And no shortage of sledders:

Kim's Bro

2008-12-27T19:13:00.001-08:00

Brian and I walked to downtown one afternoon. On the way he was nice enough to pose for a few shots. Thought I should post them here for all you girls. :)

Night on the Town

2008-12-27T18:49:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics from Kim and my excursion out downtown one evening during the snow.

Right out side our house people were having problems with their car on the hill

These are drinking fountains you find all over downtown. Right now they are serving ice cold slushies (20F).

Kim was nice enough to pose for a landmark photo-op. She's saying, "Welcome to Portland!".

The snow ploughs wanted to pose as well.

As you can see that they are not making much of an impact.

The streetcars were running just fine.

But the food carts were not.

If you like to have your beer cold, this is the only way!

After walking, posing, cocktails and chatting, we finally waited for the streetcar to take us to the bottom of our hill...

And started the long trek up...to bed!

Super fun night!

Finally

2008-12-27T10:04:00.001-08:00

They ploughed our street! Yay!

And the temperatures are rising fast!

This was photo was taken THREE days ago!

2008-12-23T09:51:00.000-08:00

"Thank God our toilet is not like that!" Tom

2008-12-21T18:25:00.000-08:00

Listen closely for Tom as Addie gets to the top of the stairs.

sledding video

2008-12-20T17:43:00.000-08:00

Day 7 of SNOW

2008-12-20T14:54:00.000-08:00

We were lucky enough to get out of the house yesterday for most of the afternoon. We woke up this morning to more snow and it's been snowing all day. It's really dry and light snow so it's fun to play in because we don't get wet, but not good for making snowmen or snowball fights.
It feels like we are on vacation. I think we will all be sad when it's over and back to reality. For now we are extremely happy with our "staycation" baking cookies, watching movies, playing games and drinking hot chocolate. We just come back from sledding. Here are the photos.

Heading out for snow fun

Yeah I got one great sledding photo! I love it!

Throwing the very dry snow

Addie is not a sled dog.

Emma ready to go home.

We had to take our own photo. Not bad.

In Loving Memory

2008-12-15T12:38:00.000-08:00

Janet Engler

She lost her battled with brain cancer on December 13, 2008 in Saco, ME
Survived by our great friend Claude Engler.
I took this photo of her on their wedding day in Portland Maine on August 13, 2005

More Snow Pics

2008-12-15T00:28:00.001-08:00

Here are a few more images from today's snow escapades.

SNOW!

2008-12-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

24 hours after the weather people predicated snow, it finally snowed at about 7:30 this morning. I woke up at 6:30 this morning and peeked out the window hoping to see white. Nothing. At 9:00 everything was white.

Holly's school

Emma not really sure she loving this.

Me, Holly and Addie

Love this photo. Addie loves playing in the snow

Tom and Steve setting up to take a photo of Addie catching a snow ball.

Strike!

Photograph of Jesus

2008-12-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

How cool is this!

How it all turned out

2008-11-29T17:08:00.000-08:00

Best recipe of the night, Saveur's Sweet Potato Casserole. See previous post for recipe.

Other winners, turkey, gravy (homemade), stuffing and mash potatoes. The cranberry sauce would have made it to the list had I served it. Forget to take it out of the fridge. Tom is enjoying the cranberry sauce on his turkey sandwiches.

Loser of the night, Apple, Leek and Squash Gratin. File this one under healthy gratin to be served with pork.

I love cooking but for some reason Thanksgiving dinner leaves me wondering how it all can take so long to cook and be eaten so fast.

Holly's favorite was the mashed potatoes and gravy and Emma liked the turkey.

Here are a few photos.

Preperation for Thanksgiving Meal

2008-11-25T11:10:00.000-08:00

So far the menu looks like this:

Good Eat's Roast Turkey by Alton Brown

Apple, Leek and Acorn Squash Gratin - Martha Stewart

Mashed Potatoes - something I will put together

Sweet Potato Casserole - Saveur

Cosmopolitan Cranberry Sauce - Epicurious

Bourbon Gravy - William Sonoma

Cornbread Stuffing - Trader Joe's... we like it simple

Still need to get a brine bag and figure out dessert. Any suggestions?

New Passport

2008-11-24T21:47:00.000-08:00

I have been delaying getting Holly a new passport. We really want to keep them up to date just in case we ever decide to go to Ireland on short notice. Unfortunately my motivation came from the passing of Tom's Grandfather at the age of 93. He was living in Germany and his wife is still living. It's a shame that we never got to meet him. Tom visited him only in his youth. We are grateful to hear stories of him tending to his tomatoes and chickens.

Tom's Grandfather and Grandmother

Holly's 1st passport at 5 months. I had to hold her head up for the photo as it was taken at about 3 months old, before she could hold her head up by herself. The difficult part not to have my hands in the photo..... but you can see my hand at the very bottom. Too Cute!

Now will you eat your vegetables?

2008-11-24T21:42:00.000-08:00

Holiday Cheer in the Air

2008-11-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I started making my gifts for the Holiday. The kids were great and played all day with each other. It was great for me to be able to get focused and accomplish so much. Also got reacquainted with Photo Elements. How do you like the new banner? Continuing the project this morning before going to see Twilight today at 4:00. Last night went to a Harvey's Comedy Club and dinner at Isabel. What a great weekend!

Roller Skating at Oaks Park

2008-11-21T16:10:00.000-08:00

One of our rainy day activities. Roller skating at Oaks Park.
This was Emma's first time on real skates. She did great.

Halloween and Friends

2008-11-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

Holly with her friends Alexa and Sara.

Emma with her friend, Francis.

Bad News and Good News

2008-11-07T18:53:00.000-08:00

Bad News: My cell phone died.

Good News: Tom and I have new iPhones!

Tom: "The last time I used a MAC was in college."
Tom excited 2 hours later: "I have an iTunes account and they have my credit card!"

Tom's blip yesterday. You can see his blips at www.blipfoto.com/constant

Deep Deep Fall

2008-11-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Holly, Addie and I went for a stroll around the neighbourhood. We are not in California anymore!

Holly also brought her camera.

Halloween Wrap Up

2008-11-02T20:37:00.000-08:00

The start of the month saw the unpacking of Halloween decorations:

Something that Emma was totally into!

We also made a Haunted Gingerbread House:

Kim got dressed up for her Witches' Night Out:

She also created Holly and Emma's Halloween outfits:

First outing was the Boo Bash at Kim's gym:

Lots of candy.

Then We had Emma's school Halloween bash:

More candy (and cup cakes).

Holly had her Halloween Parade at her school:

With her friend (and witch) Sophia, and about 300 other kids!

Finally Halloween night actually arrived and we went trick or treating at our friend's neighbourhood. (Thanks Jen and Kevin. We had a wonderful time!):

The weather was perfect. It was nearly warm and very dry.

Nana and Kim had fun too!

Afterwards, everyone counted their takings:

Even more candy!

I did it!

2008-10-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

Here are the finished costumes of Princess Peach (Emma) and Princess Daisy (Holly) complete with gold star. Way cute with the wigs!

20 Year High School Reunion

2008-10-30T20:27:00.001-07:00

Well I almost didn't go. What a mistake that would have been. I didn't want to regret missing it so I had to make the effort. Lots of love to Tom for being super Dad for a long weekend.

I spent most of my time with my old friend Sue. Photo at the end. We had lot of fun going down memory lane.... literally. We drove by a lot of our old hang outs. I regret only taking one photo that weekend, a picture of a car totally covered in keyboard keys. Thankfully I could download a few that the photographer took.

Me, Sue and Geoff

Witches Night Out

2008-10-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

We had our annual Witches Night Out last Saturday. Only requirement: witch hat. A few of us met and Jen's house and headed to our first destination, a reserved room at The Chesterfield. To our surprise it was "closed for renovation". Do ya think they should have let 30 witches know that they were closed! We ended up at the Doug Fir Lounge which was perfect. After meeting up with more witches we had a photo moment and walked across the street to The Galaxy Lounge for karaoke. I had no plans to karaoke as I really don't sing. But Sarah (whom I recently was reacquainted with at my 20 year high school reunion) talked me into singing. I didn't know what song until we were up there. Thankfully I knew the song.... Neil Diamond Sweet Caroline.

We never made it to our last destination as everyone was having fun karaoking.

8 years Later

2008-10-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

What's uppp?

8 years later....

Sewing Project Update

2008-10-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished Emma's dress. I can't believe I did this! A huge thanks to Heather M's mom Wendy from the Sewing Room in Beaverton. If you ever need to buy a sewing machine this is the place. She helped me so much and gave me great tips. I couldn't have done this without her.

I started Holly's tonight and I feel like a pro. They both have the same dress but different colors. Emma is Princess Peach and Holly is Princess Daisy from the Mario Party game on the Wii. I even made the crowns.

More photos soon.

Quick entry to let you know what we have been up to!

2008-10-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

Our friends Niki and Tom from Laguna came to visit. They are considering moving here. Smart couple! They came up from CA and drove up the Oregon Coast. They loved it so much they took the coast home. Visit from our friends in Bend who inspired us to make the move to Oregon. Kim and Julie

GUYS Grillin' Iron Chef Competition hosted by the Shorts.

Not so secret ingredients; rum, ribs and shrimp.

The four husband had to each make a drink, rack o' ribs and a shrimp dish. I have to say all the wives were so impressed! Everything was wonderful.
Aly even had prizes for the winners! Tom did great and won the ribs category. Check out Alton Brown's Who Loves You Baby Back Ribs recipe. Tom also made a Lapu Lapu from Royal Hawaiian. He found the recipe here.

We relaxed all night while the guys made dinner and served us. WOW Fun!

Lots of different faces in this photo.

Madonna always helps wins points.

My Grandma and Cousin Kathy from Cottage Grove, Oregon came to visit. My Grandma is a huge Johnny Mathis fan so she flew up for the concert and treated her granddaughters. The first night we had dinner at Jake's a Portland landmark and the night of the concert I made dinner and headed out to see the concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Very special night.

More photos to come soon.

Leprechaun in da Hood!

2008-09-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

It's a hard-knocks life!

2008-09-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

Kim is out of town so it's just me and the Girls for the next 5 days. I'm not worried though. Emma's got Mommy covered.

Vaux Swifts Video from last Friday night

2008-09-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Oregon Bounty Cocktail Finalist Announced.....

2008-09-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately I was not one on the list. I have to say I am disappointed. I would have been tickled to win.
You can see a list of winners here.

Choose your commercial wisely

2008-09-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

This is just weird. Your an all time record holder for gold medals and you get this gig.

Great Idea

2008-09-11T15:45:00.001-07:00

This is what Heather R and I wanted to do!!!!
Sit Still Salon We were thinking of just doing different party themes. No salon involved.
Great design, no so great name.

Emma Starts Pre-K

2008-09-08T14:52:00.000-07:00

It's Emma's first day back to school. She posed for a photo before we set off - sporting her new lunch box that she had picked out.

Once at the school, all the kids played while we waited for class to start. Emma was a very considerate driver.

After putting her lunch box in her cubby (that she found all by herself)...

Emma got down to business...

And soon had a pal to work with.

As we left, there were no tears nor worried looks. She was a totally non-plushed by the whole affair. Later, when I picked her up, all she wanted to do was show me some new playground tricks she'd learned, but had nothing else to say about class. She's a bit of a cool cookie.

However, before we got home she had fallen asleep in the car. I put her down on the couch when we got in. She sleep for three hours! Addie kept her company.

(BTW, Addie got her surgery staples removed this morning.)

So that was Emma's first day at her new school. We are very proud of her!

Our Visit to California in August

2008-09-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

Great trip to California in August. We basically stayed at the beach all week. We were all happy to spend time at the beach and in the ocean. Group picture by TomHaving dinner on Doheny Beach
Cooking hot dogs and smores on Doheny Beach

Holly in the Ocean at Blue Lagoon
My FAVORITE photo!
My Mom, cousin Jennifer, Aunt Linda and me at Crystal Cove.

I spent a lot of summers here with my cousins and aunt. She is a preschool teacher so she had the summers off to take us to the beach to find coffee bean shells and buy us penny candies on the way home. All the kids at Cyrstal Cove. We met up with Nelly and her girls Cadence, Michelle and baby Emma. Our old neighbor from Foliate, Alissa spent the night. Kids also had a sleepover with Madison.

Tom and I took the trolley into downtown Laguna Beach. Surprising number of locals take the trolley for transportation. I am talking to a friend I bumped into on the trolley.

We went to the Royal Hawaiian for Lapu Lapus, dinner at Thai Brothers and no we couldn't bring ourselves to go the the Sandpiper. We took a big leap and went to the Montage.

Blue Lagoon

Abby and Lily's third birthday party with all the cousins
Love this photo. Abby on left, Lilly on right

Sewing Project

2008-09-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

I have taken on a sewing project. The girls wanted to be Princess Daisy and Princess Peach from the video game Mario Party. Tom and I will be Luigi and Mario. Guess what, no such costume. I searched the internet and all I found was that most costumes are "made".

I found the patterns that will work. I have cut all the fabric for Emma's dress now I just have to sew it. Harder than it looks. Luckily I have a dear friend whose mom is a pro and is going to guide me on my start. I'll keep you posted.

Daily Show: Palin's Choice

2008-09-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hold tight, the best comes at 2 min. 21 sec.

Back to School for Holly

2008-09-03T21:23:00.000-07:00

Holly's first day of school at Ainsworth Elementary with Mrs. Pruitt. She is in a 1 and 2 grade mix, hopefully that will work our great.
She was a bit nervous but we had a chance to play on the playground and meet the teacher the week before.
Holly was the first up that morning and already dressed and eating breakfast when I came down to the kitchen at 7:15. We left the house about 7:35, it's about a 1/2 mile walk to school. We will be walking to school until it gets to chilly.

Walking on Clifton towards Vista.

First time at her desk. Too cute! She sits next to a boy named Henry.
Holly's Real Estate

Emma with the class pet.

Emma's PreK

2008-09-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

I waited in line at 6:30 in the morning last May only to get on the waiting list for the PreK program we wanted for Emma. We found out a few weeks ago that she got in! It's a Spanish Immersion class three days a week at Fulton Community Center. Fulton was built in 1914, and was formerly an elementary school. A far leap from Oso Grande built in 2007.

We are hoping that this will help her get into the Spanish Immersion Program that is offered here at Ainsworth Elementary.

The Boys Iron Chef Challenge

2008-09-01T21:07:00.000-07:00

The tables have turned. This weekend Tom is invited to participate in a very exclusive Iron Chef Challenge a la Eastside Portland. Requirements are one drink, one appetizer and one main. The not-so secret ingredients are rum, shrimp, and ribs.
Rules are regulated by.... yes, the women. Here are a few:
Each round will be judged separately by the ladies (whose impartiality is beyond question)
9. Judging for each round will be be based on Taste (20), Presentation (10) and Creativity (10)
A prize will awarded for each category.
Presentation order for each round will be determined by random drawing.
I will let you know what Tom is presenting and if he wins, AFTER the big day. I don't want to give away of his secrets to our competitors.

WOW, Heather M took all our kids to OMSI last week!

2008-09-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

It was raining last week so Heather M volunteered to take ALL 9 of our kids to OMSI! She even took the time out to ask someone to take of photo of the entire girl gang.

No, we wouldn't do that to her. Her little one Allison wanted Mommy to be in the picture too.

OMSI is great for the kids on a rainy day. The kids had a great time playing together. We will definitely go back during the winter months.

Kabluey - The Movie

2008-08-25T21:38:00.000-07:00

Go see Kabluey! It a great movie that is written and directed by Scott Predergast the nephew to my super star Real Estate agent. I went to see it on Sunday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised!

It's in limited release around the country. If it's not playing in your city you can add it to your Netflix, to be released in 3 weeks.

Enjoy

Addie Recovery

2008-08-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

So Addie had surgery last night. They found some black plastic piece in her stomach along with other things including part of the livestrong bracelet. Tom picked her up from Urgent Care and took her to our Vet's office where they can look after her for the day. She should be home this afternoon. Now we know that it was something in her stomach, so she will be fine, just needs to recover from surgery.

Addie Update

2008-08-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

It seemed Addie may be okay yesterday, but by evening time she got very still and lethargic. She even threw up the small portion of food we gave her.
This morning she went into the basement bathroom, I think because it was cool, and just stayed there. We kept checking on her and I started to notice a bit of a shake. We called the vet and ended up taking her to urgent care. Urgent care vet spoke with our regular vet and decided to keep her and do surgery this evening. They are still a bit puzzled by what may be the cause. We hope that they will find the answer in surgery.
This photo was taken last weekend at Gearhart. She loved the beach.
Rest soundly little doggie.

Three entries for cocktail contest.

2008-08-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

Here are the recipes I entered into the Oregon Bounty Cocktail competition.
Who knows maybe one of these will be the unofficial official Oregon State drink. :-) ENJOY!

Oregon Hazelnut Espresso Martini - Serves 2
2 oz. Lovejoy Hazelnut Vodka
1 oz. Frangelico
1 oz. Kahlua
2 oz. Chilled Stumptown Espresso (your choice)
1 oz. Whipping Cream

Spiced Cocoa Rim
1 T Superfine Sugar
1/2 tsp. cocoa powder
¼ tsp. Penzey’s Spices Chinese Cassia Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Fresh ground nutmeg

Chill Martini glasses and Hazelnut Vodka in freezer.
Mix Spiced Cocoa Rim ingredients.
Lightly dampen (not wet) rim of glasses and dip rim in spiced cocoa mix.
Place all ingredients in a chilled cocktail shaker with lots of ice. Shake vigorously for at least 10 seconds.
Pour into martini glass.
Alternative: instead of rimming glass, add a pinch of the spiced cocoa mix on top of martini

Clear Joy - Serves 2
2 oz. Clear Creek Distillery Pear Brandy
2 oz. Lovejoy Vodka
½ oz. Lime Juice
1 oz. Ginger Simple Syrup (recipe follows)
Oregon Sparkling Wine, you choose!

Chill Martini glasses, Pear Brandy and Vodka in freezer.
Mix Ice, Pear Brandy, Vodka, lime juice and ginger simple syrup in chilled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for at least 10 seconds.
Pour in martini glass and top with 1 oz. Sparkling Wine.

Ginger Simple Syrup
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
1 inch of ginger root sliced
Bring all ingredients to a boil in small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Take off heat and continue to steep ginger. When simple syrup is room temperature. Chill

Sage River - Serves 1
3 oz. Fresh Grapefruit Juice
½ tsp sugar
1 lemon wedge
½ oz simple syrup
4 sage leaves chopped
3 oz. 12 Bridges Gin
grapefruit peel twists

Sparkling lemonade

Put sage leaves, sugar and lemon wedge in cocktail shaker crush together with muddler or end of wooden spoon. Add ice, simple syrup and gin. Shake vigorously.
Pour in rocks glass with ice, top with sparling lemonade and garnish with twist. Also will have bits of sage leaves if properly muddled.

Poor Addie

2008-08-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning thinking that Addie was off to the vet for surgery. To my surprise Tom had returned home with her. She has been sick since Tuesday morning.

After a phone call to my cousin Jennifer (vet tech) we took Addie to the vet and had an xray and blood work. NOT to our surprise there is a small object stuck in her intestine. We were instructed to restrict her water, so that she doesn't throw up and try to give her small portions of wet dog food to assist the object through her system. She kept throwing up so Tom took her in this morning to have it removed. They ( Tom and the Vet) did another xray and it seemed that the object was moving through her system. So for now we are just going to try to get it to come out on it's own. POOR DOG!

Getting Ready for Oregon Bounty Cocktail Competition

2008-08-18T20:10:00.000-07:00

Tonight Tom and I had our first tasting of my ideas for the Oregon Bounty Cocktail Contest. This afternoon I visited Clear Creek Distillery . They didn't have much of what I wanted to use but a few thing perked my interest. Their Pear Brandy and Cherry Liqueur (I was surprised I preferred that to the Cassis Liqueur).
First I made a martini with the Pear Brandy ( top secret recipe for now) Good!
Then I made a Espresso Hazelnut martini. GREAT!
It was so fun. Tom is a great one to taste and give feedback. We adjusted both recipes at least 3x's. Don't worry I made very small batches. :-) At one point I even stopped everything and dashed up to Stroehecker's for half and half, which made the drink.
We just looked at the rules and judging criteria for the contest. I think I am going to have a difficult time choosing the region for each of my drinks. They say I can enter one recipe per email. I think I'm going to need one more email address. I want to enter 3 different cocktails.
Can't wait to share with everyone.
Kim

2 Things to Watch

2008-08-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

Rent the movie Water. Be prepared for subtitles. No excuse not to watch!

Next, check out Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman in Long Way Down. First they rode their motorcycle around the world in Long Way Around. Now in the sequel they are riding from Scotland to Cape Town, Africa. Tom and I are loving the Brit Whit!

Also, had a great trip to Laguna Beach, CA last week and then to Gearheart, OR this weekend. Too HOT in Portland. Look for posts of our adventures soon.

Kim

Wish me luck!

2008-07-31T14:30:00.001-07:00

Wish me luck. I am going to enter this contest.

I'll keep you posted on what I enter and when (?) I win!

Here are the details:

Let your inner bartender shine in the "Create the Oregon Bounty Cocktail" Contest. It's simple: design a drink that represents your favorite part of the state, using Oregon's artisan distilled spirits and local products. Pick one or more of the following regions: Portland Metro, Oregon Coast, Central Oregon, Southern Oregon, Willamette Valley, Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge, or Eastern Oregon and then get cocktail creative. Download a PDF list of Oregon distilled spirits; most are available at Oregon liquor stores; for others, contact the distillery for information on where to purchase.

Oaks Park Trip Photos

2008-07-29T20:10:00.001-07:00

I took a few pictures at our trip to Oak's Park today. Some good ones of Holly and Emma on the roller coaster ride! Just click on the picture:

Oaks Park Today

2008-07-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today we went to Oaks Park Amusement. Tom took one of my favorite "blips" today! Click on the image to go to the blip itself.

It's a High Dynamic Range image... whatever that is.

Dominick and Bronwyn

2008-07-21T17:56:00.000-07:00

Dominick and Bronwyn came to visit for the weekend. The weather managed to stay pretty much perfect for them. we also managed to show them a little bit of Portland. Dom particularly enjoyed Stumptown coffee; no surprise there. Didn't take very many photos but here are a few:

Saturday night we BBQ'ed in the backyard. Yum!

Sunday night we all went out to eat. Dom and Bronwyn brought Holly and Emma cool sunglasses to wear. The Kids love them.

Dom also played some Wii with the Girls. Here they are playing Boxing. Funny how Dom kept getting beaten up! Nice one, Dom.

Here you can see Emma getting into it. I'm not sure who she was rooting for.

Kruger's Farm

2008-07-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we went to Kruger's Farm on Sauvie Island. We meet up with some new friends of ours and their kids, who are all girls. The evening was perfect in every regard.

We picnic-ed and listened to music on the main lawn.

The girls all went off adventuring about the various fields and planed a berry picking surprise for the grown ups. I was allowed along asthe offical photographer.

There was also a hay ride to enjoy.

All in all it was a great evening.

Day In The Life Of A Portlander

2008-07-15T22:10:00.000-07:00

We had a full Saturday.

Started out downtown with lunch at Piazza Italia:

The whole experience was great. We felt we were vacationing in Italy as it seemed like everyone spoke Italian and the Tube was tuned into an Italian TV station showing some crazy horse race taking place in some large town plaza filled with people. Looked way dangerous.

We then caught the tram to Powell's book store. The tram is free to use within downtown limits. The girls love it.

Before going in to Powell's we popped into Pete's Coffee. The girls got chocolate and vanilla milks, and we got coffees.

Finally make it to Powell's. It's a whole city block just crammed with new and used books. It's divided up into different coloured rooms. The kids book are in the Rose Room.

After Powell's we when for some gelato just up the street at Mio Gelato. Yum!

Got the tram back to our car and then decided to go to the park near our house, over at Strohecker's.

We started of by eating some snacks and reading in the shade of the Great Big Tree.

A large group of people were grilling and playing Basketball there too.

Then the girls played on the merry-go-round, over by the play structures. They haven't thrown up yet, but it's bound to happen some day.

Finally get home and crash for a bit. You can see how dirty Holly's feet are.

The girls then rounded out the evening with some Wii action.

After that is was dinner, baths and bedtime.

After all that, Kim and I were well and truly pooped!

Our Visit with Olivia, Kathy and Robyn

2008-07-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

It was nearly one year to the day since we last saw Olivia, Kathy and Robyn in California. They moved to Atlanta and we headed to Portland. We were so excited when they called last fall and said they were planning a trip to Portland in the summer. They came to visit last week for 7 days and we had a great time. The girls were with each other nearly 24 hours a day and go along beautifully. We all had such a great time.

Here are some of the highlights. Not neccesarily in order.

Decorating 4th of July cookies. See Tom's photo blog for a nice picture of Olivia and sprinkles

Kathy, Robyn, Olivia

Fourth of July girls

Emma and her Fourth of July socks for Kathy, Robyn and Olivia

Staying cool at Jamison park

Cape Meares Lighthouse
Cape Meares

Fourth Of July
Fouth of July dinner. Marinated Flank steak, shrimp skewers, corn and the cob and salad. Kathy made the berry tart on the cover of Cooking Light this month.

Our dinner out at Podnah's BBQ pit was bust. We got there at 7:30 and they were out of ribs. I asked them if they had just one rib left, I didn't want to have to come back to try the ribs. They ended up finding 4. By the time we left the "Out of" menu looked like this...... I've read so much about this restaurant, but I will not make an effort to return.
Kathy and I joined in at My Masterpiece Art Studio
Ice Cream Flavors at Tillamook Cheese Factory
Learning on the computers at Tillamook

The beach at Oceanside. Lovely day!

Great dinner at Andina

Singing at the Farmers Market

Foo Fighters

2008-07-11T00:14:00.000-07:00

Saw the Foo Fighters tonight at the Rose Quarter

A Singing Good Time at Portland Farmers Market

2008-07-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

Emma, Olivia, Holly

Girl Time

2008-07-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

Kim and the Girls had fun doing girl stuff tonight.

Some Things We Love...

2008-07-07T13:47:00.001-07:00

Addie loves hanging out with us.

The Kids and I love playing the Wii.

Kim loves cooking and concocting cocktails.

The girls love playing Lara Croft Manor.

And we all love dessert!

Lick Of Paint

2008-07-07T13:34:00.001-07:00

Finally got around to painting the kitchen.

Before:

After:

Our Freegan Dog!!

2008-07-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

Problem...

Solved!

:)

[And no, I don't have a potty mouth. Look up Freegan and the section on foraging.]

A few nice photos

2008-06-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

Emma reading a book in her room

Addie posing on the newly cleaned porch
My photographer in action
cozy dog

First Lemonade Stand of the Summer

2008-06-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

Holly has been wanting to do a lemonade stand since we left California in August last year. We gave it a try at our last house, but Birdshill Court was too quiet, not much traffic.

We live on a busy street at our new house, however it may be too busy. Drivers are going to fast and it's difficult for them to stop.

We did have success with pedestrians. They made about $3.50 each.

She got to do it with her friend from soccer and kindergarten, Megan.