Portand People

Austin and I flew to Cannon Beach near Portland for our honeymoon years ago.  We decided to go back.

Fall colors flanking the busy highway.

Friends -- the Blisses came along.

We went to the Andrea Bocelli concert.  The best. concert. ever.  I didn't need ear plugs and the music was true artistry.  My soul just filled right up.  I wanted to go right out and be the walking emblem of humanities.

Haystack Rock -- the largest intertidal monolith (thank you t-shirt store for point that out on an unpurchased t-shirt that took 45 seconds to read and process) looks just the same, but felt colder.

We spent the next two days hiking and browsing -- this time we had money to spend and so $8 later I found a composition primer from 1872.

We ate a pile of shell fish and slurped butter.

We got caught in a hail storm.

We walked for hours along the shore just like before, but this time we knew what do to after.

Due to Covid 2020 and our 20th anniversary landing the same year, our trip back was worth the year longer wait.  May we forver climb mountains, walk beaches, drink butter and declare, "You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on."

I guess he'll first have to read Pride and Predjudice in order to declare his love in this manner.  For now, I'll settle for, "The house smells good.  What's for dinner?"  

 

Fall Flavors

Maisie and Maddie taught the most beautiful lesson in YW. They taught, encouraged, and testified. WOW!

I think my table is really pretty this year -- Molly pushes it over the top.

Sunday games -- Nick won.

Eddie and Ryan coded for STEM.  They made treasure hunts in their cards, then followed the code.  

More school and less talking!

Andy stopped his busy world to play charades one-on-one with Mo.

We made milk-plastics.

Thursday Austin and I went to Mesa for my cousin's daughter's wedding.

LOOK!  Here we are.

Grandma Goodell summarized every party best, "When you're in a big group, aren't you so glad to be you? I'm just so glad to be me!"

I'm finally hoping to heat my stye away.

This is Halloween.  We were the Heela Family from Disney's + Bluey.

Our YW carnival booth.

The aftermath.  Eddie gave me a Twix.

Ryan gave me an Almond Joy.

Molly gave me a Snickers.

Maddie promptly organized her candy.

What to remember?  My big kids were at a dance, Andy was working, Maddie helped the children trunk-or-treat, Austin was still in charge of the carnival, and I talked to each child that came to my car and made their parents laugh.  This allows me to catch the teens that come around 4+ times, and I quit giving them candy.  Boomers.

 

Molly #5

I took a picture of 4 year old Molly sleeping.  Her angelic face keeps me staring.  Those moon jammies covering her tiny body with a curlered head resting upon a Halloween pillow with a big bear in her arms, those tiny golden hoops flanking her rose-colored cheeks underneath those long, dark lashes.

 We were up early to celebrate with all the world walkers.  

Luckily she was tickled with her Bluey party and gifts.

I had to buy the masks so that we could be all the characters in her favorit show.

I even found a "Bluey" outfit sans the character's face.  Molly wanted Bluey cookies for her cake, and I was patient and let her help.

After a morning of building Bluey a house with Eddie, we invited all the MUHS siblings to celebrate with "cake: at lunchtime.

We left to drive to John's house to butcher chickens, so she scored with McDonald's dinner on the way

Molly's little voice is sweet and kind.  Usually her little arm is wrapped around a sibling, if that's not the case, then their arms are wrapped around her.  She's learning how to sound out words and talk quietly in church.  She likes to eat "healthy snacks" and can now ride her bike with ease.  She sings to herself, plays by herself and says the best one-liners like, "Mom, save me from this big naughty beast!"  We love our little bitty girl.

NO More Things

We are the luckiest family -- every Sunday Grandma and Grandpa B. make us treats and love us.

Molly snuffed up this make-up sponge.  Luckily after two hours, she blew it out.

She's a reader.

Ryan's visit to our family dentist proved worthy of $2.

Pilates, interrupted 10 times in the 10 minutes.

Wednesday was the last day Molly was four!  That double-four sign was just the best.

We drove to Utah to kill 26 chickens on John's farm.

Plucker + life saver

Here's our first round.

Look at all these happy farmers.  Four adults (+ Mom and Ron) and 17 children made quite the team for our butchering day. John's house lasted one day, and we were sad to leave.

We raced home Saturday for MUHS homecoming.  Andy and Landon picked up their dates.

Maisie's date, Connor, picked her up.

Both came home happy.  Andy has totally moved on from MUHS, but Maisie is still vibing. I love my good teens.