Training wheels and Astoria

This last week we took a day-trip to Astoria, Oregon to go exploring.  We started out at the Bow Picker - it was raining for our whole drive until we stopped here for lunch.  It's an old fishing boat they turned into a place to order fish and chips- which just happens to be the best fish I think I've ever eaten!  The boys loved it too, which says a lot since they were dipping it in ketchup.  yuck.  After lunch we went to the Maritime Museum.  I didn't think they'd like it very much but they got to touch everything and board the U.S.S. Columbia docked right outside in the river. 

Right outside the museum - Ronin is holding his breath like he's under water. haha

 

After the museum we headed to Fort Stevens.  Since it had rained earlier that day there weren't a lot of people doing the touristy things, which was lucky for us, we had the place to ourselves.  The boys loved this place, but Quinn got a little scared when we went down into the darker concrete rooms, he called it the "spooky place" after we left there.  haha  Looking at the photo below it does look a bit spooky and ominous...

After Fort Stevens we headed to Fort Clatsop, and lucky us, they were having a "Kids Day" there where the boys got to fill out an activity book to earn their Junior Ranger badges and make pressed flower bookmarks. Quinn got his face painted with a snake too.

Hanging out with Sacajawea

Filling out their Jr. Ranger books

This old guy gave a fire demonstration... he also fell off the bench. haha

On our way home, barely out of Astoria

 

Also exciting news - Ronin asked me to take his training wheels off his bike.  I was a little unsure at first, but I took them off, he fell three times and then he was riding his bike without training wheels!  He's growing up!  I'm pretty proud that he wanted to do it on his own and did it.  Now the neighbor kids have created a formidable biker gang...

Quinn is pretty proud of his brother - and he's trying to get away with something here...

His first ride without the extra wheels- I think he's concentrating really hard.

BFF's - Bella and Ronin

 

We had a fun weekend with Nana visiting.  We got to have a BBQ and do some visiting :) 

Us goofing around before Daddy comes to pick them up.

They called this a brother-hamburger... seems fitting

 

And now they are gone for the week.  :(  Ronin had a little harder time leaving me this time, I'm not sure why.  It makes me sad when he gets sad so I told him to have a super-fun time and not to worry about me because I have plenty to do until they come home again.

 

Quinny's new favorite song is apparently "Pumped up Kisses" (Pumped up Kicks), and we had to listen and dance to it over and over on Sunday before they left.  I like Pumped up Kisses better than Kicks ;)

 

Some random pictures:

 

Us at dinner a couple weeks ago- I like this picture- we aren't making funny faces. yet.

A bunch of our coworkers

Quinny walking Kiera

Hanging with the dog

 

Quinny is checking out the little lady Byrekka was babysitting last week

 

Lost of love,

C

Ape Caves Take #2

 

Week number two without the boys...  This week seems a bit harder already with the boys gone.  I keep forgetting that they won't be there when I get home... and it's only Monday.  I guess they are going to Vegas this week to visit their aunt and cousins.  Maybe just knowing they are further away makes it harder... or maybe it's not going to get easier. 

 

Last weekend when the boys came back I had little surprises for them.  Ronin is really into Pokemon, so I got him some trading cards and Quinny I got a notebook to write in and they both got little lunch tins to put their stash in.   Ronin made his cards their own carrying case, he's actually on his second homemade case because this one ripped.

Crafty Ronin with his homemade Pokemon case

Quinny and Bella writing in his notebook

It's been so nice this last week!  We played outside a lot, took Kiera for a walk, worked in the yard, went to an outdoor concert, went to the Ape caves, played in the sprinkler... 

 

Playing in the Jeep - we finally got the battery charged

At the outdoor concert

The boys with Randi at Brandee's house for a Portland to Coast meeting

 

Quinn kept asking when we could go back to the ape caves, so finally I "caved" in and decided to go Saturday.  Not wanting to go alone since I kind of knew I'd be carrying Quinn part of the way or the whole way - we had Robert and two of his kids- Madison and Damen; and my friend Kim brought her boyfriend and her daughter Ally.  Apparently everyone else had the same idea because it was packed and parking was pretty scarce.  Quinn was scared to let me put him down, so I carried him the whole way inside the lower lava tube, I think it's 1.5 miles round trip.  My shoulders are killing me.  Ronin loved it, his little legs were getting tired, but he was a trooper and didn't complain.  He found a cool little spot where the rocks were really reflective (mica?).  I asked Quinn if he wanted to do it again, and he said "NOOOOOO."   But yesterday he came up to me and said "remember the ape cave?  I want to go again! I'll walk this time mommy."  Somehow I don't believe him.

 

Sparkly cave

 

 And when we got home, we turned on the sprinkler to wash off all of our sweat :)

Sprinkler!

 

Video of Quinn in the sprinkler

That night Robert and I had dinner with some friends at Edgefield to celebrate Brandee's birthday.  It was weird out there.  Random gardens, orchards and a golf course with a ton of little buildings. 

Amanda photo-bombing us ;)

Sunday the boys and I hung out at home, I got a little yard work done and I made a rhubarb crisp that I shared with my neighbor, Gigi.  Quinn discovered that dipping rhubarb in sugar is amazing!  So I found a lot of half-chewed-on pieces of rhubarb around the house.  Ronin wanted to play some games, so we played Hungry-Hungry Hippos and the fishing game - Quinn pretty much sabotaged each.  While Quinn was distracted with playing something else we got the Simpsons chess game out.  I slowly went through every move the pieces could make and each time it was his turn I'd explain who can move where and what would happen if he did.  It didn't take him long before he was thinking very strategically without me explaining anything- I was actually impressed with some of his moves and it didn't take long for him to capture my king!  He brought the game to daddy's to play with him too this week.  It's pretty cool to see his brain grasping strategy and liking this game. 

Ronin even cleaned the playroom on Sunday, I think he's hoping he'll get more Pokemon cards to come home to. haha  Quinn did the opposite of cleaning.  So now they are with their father and I miss them, but they are having fun and I'm glad.  Hopefully the week will go by quickly... and the summer too.

Lots of love,
C

Milkshakes & Puddles

It's almost the weekend and I'm starting to miss my boys more and more.  I hope they are having a blast and don't miss me too much.  It's strange having a quiet house and nobody telling me to get them food or juice.  Kiera even got a walk in this week.

Last week I wanted to take the boys to dinner and had a coupon for Boppin' Bo's malt shop.  We had burgers and milkshakes, it was an old 50's diner and the boys loved it.  Actually I kind of loved it too, yum... ice cream!

Ronins milkshake - strawberry

Quinny opted for the banana milkshake (which I liked the best too)

Their food came in old cars

Quinny got the classic pink one

Ronin posing with a bug on the fence post cap

 

Last Sunday we went to Lewisville Park to enjoy the nice weather and get out of the house.  We found a slug, and lots of mud puddles.  Ronin asked if we can go back sometime and I promised him it would be our park and we can go back a lot.  I love that place.

 

Ronin at the playground

My little swinger

I thought one of them would fall in for sure

Our picnic lunch

Along our little "hike"

Goofballs

Quinny pushing Ronin around

boys and mud

After work one day my friend Kim and I made red-white and blue tutu's for the holiday.  I made Kiera wear mine. She didn't hate it, but didn't really like it either...

Patriotic dog

 

 My friend Deborah had "craft night" one night and we all sat out in the mosquito infested woods of her parents property making 4th of July lanterns.  It was a lot of fun and I got to bring Alesha and Madison with me. :)

Brandee and Byrekka

Madison, me and Alesha with our lanterns

Brandee and her lantern

Madison being a goof

Alesha, Madison and me

 

Other than hanging out with Robert and his kids and visiting with friends, not a lot is going on.  I can't wait to pick up the boys on Sunday and hug them :)  The free concerts in the park start up again next week for the summer - I'm sure we'll be doing a lot of those.  I might take the boys to the Lineman's Rodeo this month too - I've never been and I heard there are some fun kid activities to do there.  Next month is Portland to Coast, which I'm kind of looking forward to but kind of dreading at the same time... it's a lot of work being stuck in a van with sweaty women while being tired and cranky. 

 

That's about it for now!

Lots of love,

C