We were living large in Millwaukie......it was really going well......until.....
HEAT WAVE 2009 HITS PORTLAND.
Seriously, it is HOT. We have had 3 days of over 100 degree temps. It started on Monday....and it just keeps getting hotter. Today it was 105. It doesn't cool down at night, so you get no relief at all. This is suppose to continue until Friday. It is the hottest Portland has EVER been...no joke...beating all the records.
We totally punked out. We moved into a hotel Monday night. Smartest thing we have done in a long time. We are living in the A/C with an indoor pool. We are so much more comfortable, and much less grumpier than we would have been otherwise.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Living Large in Millwaukie
(The title is not a typo, that is how they spell it)
We cannot move into our new house for 2 weeks. We were so lucky to house sit for Mike and Beth (who have moved into their new house, but haven't sold their old one).....so we have our very own house all to ourselves.
It has been wonderful to have this break in the middle of moving. A nice, relaxing period with no house stuff to deal with. We have enjoyed it.
Millwaukie is a south of Portland.....it is its own little town. Very cute.....they had the Millwaukie Days festival last weekend, and we went to see the fireworks on the river. It was a lovely night....warm, but with a good breeze. The fireworks were great....Mo loved them, plus the music featured the latest summer Top 40 hits.....'gotta get that boom, boom, boom....." Could it get better.....oh, yes it can......
My favorite part was the concession area. They had a beer garden and a Papa Murphy's pizza truck. That was it! Who needs fancy food carts with crepes, gyros, and wraps........beer and pizza.....I like the way Millwaukie rolls.......
We cannot move into our new house for 2 weeks. We were so lucky to house sit for Mike and Beth (who have moved into their new house, but haven't sold their old one).....so we have our very own house all to ourselves.
It has been wonderful to have this break in the middle of moving. A nice, relaxing period with no house stuff to deal with. We have enjoyed it.
Millwaukie is a south of Portland.....it is its own little town. Very cute.....they had the Millwaukie Days festival last weekend, and we went to see the fireworks on the river. It was a lovely night....warm, but with a good breeze. The fireworks were great....Mo loved them, plus the music featured the latest summer Top 40 hits.....'gotta get that boom, boom, boom....." Could it get better.....oh, yes it can......
My favorite part was the concession area. They had a beer garden and a Papa Murphy's pizza truck. That was it! Who needs fancy food carts with crepes, gyros, and wraps........beer and pizza.....I like the way Millwaukie rolls.......
Moving Out
Well, this is about a week late, but we are officially out of our house. We got everything moved into the POD (if truth be told, Scout and Brad got everything moved into the POD).....and got the house cleaned up for the new owners.
Both of us felt sad and excited. This house holds many memories......good and bad. We lost Scout's mom and a baby in that house.....but we also had wonderful times with family and friends there.....we also brought Mo home to this house. So leaving is bittersweet.
On a side note, I went back to the house several days later to pick up a package.....and the new owners have PAINTED the entire inside of the house. I don't like it, but it is not my house, so who cares what I think.......it does make it easier to separate from the house......I wouldn't want to live there with that color scheme!!!
Both of us felt sad and excited. This house holds many memories......good and bad. We lost Scout's mom and a baby in that house.....but we also had wonderful times with family and friends there.....we also brought Mo home to this house. So leaving is bittersweet.
On a side note, I went back to the house several days later to pick up a package.....and the new owners have PAINTED the entire inside of the house. I don't like it, but it is not my house, so who cares what I think.......it does make it easier to separate from the house......I wouldn't want to live there with that color scheme!!!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Dancing Queen
When I was pregnant with Mo, Scout and I would lay awake and wonder what it would be like to be parents, what our child would be like. We talked for hours about all the things we wanted for her, happiness, college.....Scout dreamed of playing catch in the backyard, playing golf, and fishing....
This was my dream.....
How stinking cute is that!!!!!
This was my dream.....
How stinking cute is that!!!!!
No Grocery Stores for Mo
Today, we stopped in Safeway to pick up a baby shower card and to get a Starbucks. As we were waiting to check out, Mo sees a woman leaving the store. Then suddenly, out of her mouth...."Wow, she has a BIG BUTT!"
Fortunately, the woman was out of earshot....and several people around us snickered. I told her in my serious voice that was unacceptable, that we don't say things about people's bodies....but, I felt bad. She wasn't trying to be mean...she was just stating the facts as she saw it. Mo looked totally confused.......and I guess I don't blame her too much.
Poor thing, I encourage her to be observant, and she gets in trouble for it!!!!
Fortunately, the woman was out of earshot....and several people around us snickered. I told her in my serious voice that was unacceptable, that we don't say things about people's bodies....but, I felt bad. She wasn't trying to be mean...she was just stating the facts as she saw it. Mo looked totally confused.......and I guess I don't blame her too much.
Poor thing, I encourage her to be observant, and she gets in trouble for it!!!!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Walk Through
Last night, we went over to our new house to meet with the Dorr's. They have lived in the house for 38 years and raised 2 children there. It is clear when you talk to them that they love the house, and the only reason they are moving is because they cannot navigate the stairs anymore.
Spending time with them was so much fun. First of all, both of them are very saucy! Mrs. Dorr is really passing a torch to us. She gave us a detailed map of all the plants in the garden down to plant description and care instructions. She also gave us a map of our street with all the names and phone numbers of the people who live there. Helpful hints were also noted like "remind Mike across the street to mow his grass."
Everytime we go in this house, we get more excited. We cannot wait to move in.....more importantly, we can't wait to live our lives there. Scout is like a little kid waiting for Christmas! This place has has good house karma.
Spending time with them was so much fun. First of all, both of them are very saucy! Mrs. Dorr is really passing a torch to us. She gave us a detailed map of all the plants in the garden down to plant description and care instructions. She also gave us a map of our street with all the names and phone numbers of the people who live there. Helpful hints were also noted like "remind Mike across the street to mow his grass."
Everytime we go in this house, we get more excited. We cannot wait to move in.....more importantly, we can't wait to live our lives there. Scout is like a little kid waiting for Christmas! This place has has good house karma.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Thought for the Day
It is amazing how when you are first packing for a move....you wrap an item, put it carefully in a box which is labeled with all the necessary information......."left hand drawer from dresser in Master Bedroom."
Now, we are to the "throw everything in a box and get the box filled as fast as possible" stage. I actually labeled a box today that said "random items from bath, bedroom and kitchen."
Now, we are to the "throw everything in a box and get the box filled as fast as possible" stage. I actually labeled a box today that said "random items from bath, bedroom and kitchen."
Monday, July 13, 2009
Moving Update
Moving has begun......we have half our stuff in boxes, and the other half is scattered around the house. We have gotten to the point where we can't pack too much more, because everything that is out, is stuff we need until our actual move out day.
The smartest thing we did was to get a dunpster. We are purging a ton of stuff that we just don't need anymore and that is total trash. So right now in front of our house it looks like this....
One medium sized dunpster....
One very large POD....
I think we got the sizes mixed up....we should have gotten the extra large dumpster and gotten rid of most of our stuff. Just take the good stuff to the new house......
6 more days until we move out......
The smartest thing we did was to get a dunpster. We are purging a ton of stuff that we just don't need anymore and that is total trash. So right now in front of our house it looks like this....
One medium sized dunpster....
One very large POD....
I think we got the sizes mixed up....we should have gotten the extra large dumpster and gotten rid of most of our stuff. Just take the good stuff to the new house......
6 more days until we move out......
Tattle Tale
Mo is such a tattler!!! She knows what certain rules are and feels the need to enforce them with EVERYONE.....for example....
1. At the airport, these 2 women were running down the concourse trying to catch a plane....Mo yelled at them to walk, because "it is not safe."
2. At the grocery store today, a young woman was leaving on her bike. Mo pointed and loudly said "She is not wearing a helmet, that is very dangerous!"
Clearly, Mo is very safety conscious and also feels to need to enforce every and all safety guidelines.
1. At the airport, these 2 women were running down the concourse trying to catch a plane....Mo yelled at them to walk, because "it is not safe."
2. At the grocery store today, a young woman was leaving on her bike. Mo pointed and loudly said "She is not wearing a helmet, that is very dangerous!"
Clearly, Mo is very safety conscious and also feels to need to enforce every and all safety guidelines.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Thank you, I'll be here all week.....
Mo has always been funny......she cracks us up on a daily basis. She has always been aware of her audience and plays to their likes and dislikes....put a few grown-ups in a room with her, and she is dancing and acting, and has them eating of her hand within 5 minutes!
Lately, she has been trying out funny sayings, funny words....and repeating things that Scout and I (mostly Scout) say that get a laugh. She latched on to the "like a fox" phrase.....Scout will say that she is sly....like a fox.
Tonight, as we were leaving the park.....Mo says....."I'm sweaty.....like a fox."
Lately, she has been trying out funny sayings, funny words....and repeating things that Scout and I (mostly Scout) say that get a laugh. She latched on to the "like a fox" phrase.....Scout will say that she is sly....like a fox.
Tonight, as we were leaving the park.....Mo says....."I'm sweaty.....like a fox."
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Keep Portland Weird
I have always loved those bumper stickers to "keep _______ weird." I have seen them about Austin, Santa Fe, and of course Portland. But how weird can a city be, if you have to keep reminding people! Shouldn't it be evident that a place is weird? Wouldn't everyone be able to see how weird it is?
Several things over the past few months have reminded me just how quirky Portland is....I don't like word 'weird'....has a bad connotation to it.....quirky sounds lighter, and more fun.......so, some quirky observations of late.....
1. While in my car, I had to stop for several children riding their bikes....or rather their UNICYCLES. These kids were around 8 or 9.....all riding unicycles....and riding them quite well! Who rides unicycles these days?
2. Again in my car, I passed a guy waiting at the bus stop. He was full on break dancing all by himself.....no crowd, just popping and locking and getting down! I did notice he had boom box on top of his back pack. Which is good, I mean, you never know when you are going to get a few extra minutes to practice your mad skills!
3. Mo and I love to go to the park.....and with the beautiful weather there are lots of other kids there. Last week, we met a lovely little girl named Pandora. Who names their kid Pandora? We also met a baby named Osama (the mom was quick to point out that it means peace). Gotta love a place when Mo's name seems mundane and run-of-the-mill.
I love Portland.....
Several things over the past few months have reminded me just how quirky Portland is....I don't like word 'weird'....has a bad connotation to it.....quirky sounds lighter, and more fun.......so, some quirky observations of late.....
1. While in my car, I had to stop for several children riding their bikes....or rather their UNICYCLES. These kids were around 8 or 9.....all riding unicycles....and riding them quite well! Who rides unicycles these days?
2. Again in my car, I passed a guy waiting at the bus stop. He was full on break dancing all by himself.....no crowd, just popping and locking and getting down! I did notice he had boom box on top of his back pack. Which is good, I mean, you never know when you are going to get a few extra minutes to practice your mad skills!
3. Mo and I love to go to the park.....and with the beautiful weather there are lots of other kids there. Last week, we met a lovely little girl named Pandora. Who names their kid Pandora? We also met a baby named Osama (the mom was quick to point out that it means peace). Gotta love a place when Mo's name seems mundane and run-of-the-mill.
I love Portland.....
Thursday, July 2, 2009
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
The other night, Scout and I went back and looked at the pictures from the day Mo was born. I was crying remembering that day, and how life-changing it was! Seems like that was really just yesterday.......I feel like even though I enjoy each and every day with her, I have no idea where the time has gone......when did she grow up?
A look back.....
2006 - newborn....after 16 hours of labor....our 10 pound girl was born!
2007 - made it through the first year....the party was for us.....Mo had no idea what was going on!
2008 - The terrific two's........first 'kid' party in the park.....the kids ran like crazy people all over the playground!
2009 - First year that she really KNEW what a birthday was, and couldn't wait! She looks like a little girl!
A look back.....
2006 - newborn....after 16 hours of labor....our 10 pound girl was born!
2007 - made it through the first year....the party was for us.....Mo had no idea what was going on!
2008 - The terrific two's........first 'kid' party in the park.....the kids ran like crazy people all over the playground!
2009 - First year that she really KNEW what a birthday was, and couldn't wait! She looks like a little girl!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
You say its your birthday.......
For the past 2 years, we have celebrated Mo's birthday at our neighborhood park. The kids love it and we love the ease of just taking pizza, juice and cake to the park....and viola....a birthday party! Here is a slide show showing how much fun we had this year.
The scariest thing ever!!!!
In Georgia at all the malls, they have these jumping things. Mo wanted to try them more than anything in the world. We were assured they were completely safe (and they are).....but it still feels SCARY when you are watching your very small child jumping almost to the ceiling of the 2 story mall.
The video shows how fearless our child is........the screams you hear are me, not Mo's.
The video shows how fearless our child is........the screams you hear are me, not Mo's.
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