staycation birthday week

While we had an amazing time in Sunriver, we decided to cancel our California trip and skip all the driving to have a vacation at home. It was a blast. We took some time off over my birthday week and enjoyed hanging around town, going to the pool next door, visiting Jamison Square, eating ice cream, visiting with friends and family and generally just enjoying Portland in the summer. All that said, living in general is a lot of work and energy with little kids. It was really nice just to sleep in our own beds and wake up to our creature comforts while enjoying some time off together. And as it's our last summer before Dalia starts school, we really wanted to try and keep things simple. Glad we did! Here are some photos from the last few weeks.

 

Sunriver

We spent a few days in Sunriver with our good friends, Cecily, Owen, Neva and Felix this year. We are hoping these summer outings become a habit forever. We got to celebrate Neva's birthday while we were there, spent time on a lake, time in the hot tub, and even took a hike that was like exercise (haven't done that in awhile :) ).

rhyming on the road

 

family photo?! hooray.

dinner outside

deer!

hot tubbin'

relaxin'. she says, "ahhhh"

first Coke

happy birthday!

 

summertime!

 











 
There's lots going on around here, as usual. Dalia just finished zoo camp at the Portland zoo.She had an awesome time. And it was so great to just be able to drive 3 minutes each way to drop her off and pick her up. It's such a treat to be so close to so much fun. I got to take a couple of walks with Eloise and soak up the neighborhood (still adjusting, you know). 

after a few days with Mark gone

We've been enjoying summer fun. Mark was away for almost two weeks (phew). We enjoyed playing in our yard the most and getting lots of company from friends who empathized with my aloneness taking care of the girls. I'm much busier, actually, when Mark is away. But I did try to just do a bunch of hanging around with Dalia and Eloise. Since it's the last summer before Dalia starts Kindergarten, I'm trying my hardest not to schedule too much and enjoy the long and lazy days with not so much to do. That said, she's scheduled to begin a ballet class next week and we are looking forward to a vacation with some friends, and planning a short trip to the Redwoods. 

After Mark came home, we had a couple of days off with him to enjoy summer before the rain returned. Don't worry folks, it will indeed come back on July 5th.

I'm free, I'm free!

We're dealing with some minor health stuff with Eloise. She has to see a specialist in August about some low antibodies we found out she has after trying to get to the bottom of why she has such enlarged tonsils. I'm thinking it's a food sensitivity, but we'll see. In the meantime, it's got me practicing staying conscious and present, loving and patient. Funny how those little hiccups have to occur sometimes to keep me grounded and grateful. 

our deck is also good for hanging out in little bowls of freezing cold water, too

Jamison Square, Summer Solstice

Mark finally got the barbeque set up and we are loving grilling in our new space. Our deck is totally convenient to the kitchen now and boy, the view is amazing. Sure beats grilling in a driveway. 





We are still adjusting to our new environment. So excited to have gotten out in the garden to plant some tomatoes and strawberries. Dalia helped a ton while Eloise enjoyed her independence messing around in the garage and playing in the dirt. We hung a swing for her (finally) and she hung in that with her helmet on for a while. No photo so you'll just have to imagine the cuteness.

Eloise is starting to talk so much. She's as verbal as her sister was (oh lordy). Her new favorites are Yay!, Happy, Oh, Me, and just yesterday she said, "I love you". The other day I was sitting down playing "annya" which means play doh and she said, "Mama, happy. Ella, happy." I'm starting to wonder if someone is paying her. She's really great at asking, "what is this" and also puts her hands up to ask where someone is. I'll have to try for some video. It's truly difficult for me to tear away to video things now. I have a lot of dance performances piling up, but to capture those cherished moments, I'm relying on my heart for that these days. And trying to write it down. Media is getting the best of me and I'm feeling like a break is indeed necessary. 

(just some other fun summer pictures):

pool! wish it was warmer

eloise's "tar tar"

father's day with Pops

our old stompin' grounds, Sellwood park

As for me, I'm starting to teach more again. Excited for what's to come in my work life. Looking forward to making some commitments outside of my family life. 

So that's the update for now. If you don't hear from me until the end of July, I assure you it's because we're having a blast. And hopefully sleeping a little bit. Boy am I tired.