Author: sara

Well life has been good lately. Wednesday we had such a good time- harvesting everything in our pj’s in the garden. Doing our daily goodwill drop off! Hanging at home- working in Abby’s room- hanging up hooks, a new light switch cover, cuddling and reading, making cookies together. Abby did her 1st lemonade stand ! She and her friend made $9. Super fun playdate!

Then we headed to Cozmic with friends and family to see Zany Zoo. The kids were real brave. Andrew touched a huge snake. We even saw a guy from our church sing with his band after for a bit. He was really good. What a fun day with the kiddos!

The other night Andrew and I went on a date down the street from Kyle and Abby! Kyle and Abby went to Sweet Basil and Andrew and I went to Ron’s. Then we went to different frozen yogurt places. Abby wanted to have Daddy Abby time so we separated and had one on one time. Andrew and I had a great time hanging out together.

Well we sold my little white car on Saturday. I cried. Sounds silly but I guess it’s all the memories I made with that car. It was my first car. My parents and I bought it together when I was 17. That is the car my mom and I drove from New Orleans to Eugene in 2000. It’s the car I had through high school, the college years, and my twenties. It’s the car that got me to work all those years. I commuted with it for almost a year Beaverton to Salem. It’s the car I took to drive my students in for fieldtrips. I even found Bullwinkles tickets in it from the last fieldtrip I took them on. I think a student even threw up in it on the way home. So bad memories but lots of good ones. So I cried thinking about all those memories and thinking how I had to say goodbye to this car that has been with me through all that. I cry now as I write it thinking of all those great times. So bye bye white car, thanks for being so good to me! And to Kyle- he got to use you for the last 4 years.

I’ll have to find a picture of it during its glory days in the 90s for a comparison:)

Abby today while on her tricycle, talking to Andrew, playing pretend: “So we’re on I-5. So we tak Coburg Rd. to Willamette…”

Andrew out of the blue in the car : “Pa loves me” He is a very confident little boy. He is always talking about who loves him. Gotta love the egocentric world of a two year old!   

Dear Abigail,

I can’t believe you’re 4. You are growing up too fast. I remember carrying you in my tummy- we went through quite a year together- working full time, going to grad school part time, commuting Beaverton to Salem 6 days per week. I remember you as a newborn- Daddy and I figuring out how to parent a baby. I remember our walks together in our old neighborhood.

You have grown from being a very active toddler into a very sweet, happy little girl. You love school, princesses, playing pretend, and most of all your little brother. The other day I overheard you saying to Andrew “You are my best …buddy.” You had him in your lap and then you gave him a kiss. Sometimes you want to wake him from his nap, you miss him so much! You are writing your letters now and love chapter books. You love to read the “sillies” in the paper with me. You love to cook , read books, ballet and going to the pool. You are my sweet girl and I am lucky you are mine.

Love,

Mommy

first day of school:

your favorite part of cooking!:

Our second vacation this summer was to Hood River. It was kind of a family reunion with my mom’s side of the family . We had 18 in one house! It was a lot of fun and gorgeous.

Here is the view from our window:

Abby and Kyle watching the wind surfers:

View of Mt Adams from the deck

The kids love their Aunt Andrea:

Here is Kyle and I with all the “adults” of the bunch getting ready to go white water rafting:   

It was wonderful spending time with all the family. I look forward to our next meet up. Thank you guys for coming to Oregon!

We attended a wonderful family reunion last weekend for the Roadman family. It was so fun seeing everyone again and really getting to know them all- hearing about Vicki and her collage fabric art and her volunteering. It was great talking with all the teachers in the Roadman family- so many! Vicki, Ken, Judi and a cousin in Washington. Gretchen, the nurse, was such a treat- so friendly , warm and welcoming. She said she got some great poses from Abby. I can’t wait to see those. Everyone was so kind to the kids. April gave Abigail many tasks to help out- counting guests, setting the table. Abigail made buddies with April, Vicki and Judi. Abigail kept bringing Vicki snacks- a cherry here, a chip there. She even invited her to talk a walk.

Andrew loved Tom’s tractor, he sat on it for about an hour.

It was great talking with Steve and Judi about all their moves just like me an Kyle.

Abigail was so confident going up to chat with adults, starting conversation. I am so proud of her confidence and love of people. I must say she gets the latter from me! When new people would arrive, she would tell me to introduce them to her. I remember reading somewhere to never miss a reunion. Now I know why! What fun! Gleaming wisdom from our ancestor who have lived through similar times- moving raising kids, putting careers on hold to raise kids.

The next one will be in three years. I hope to see more of the second and third generation there next time.

7/18 “I wanna be ballerina like Abby”

today after telling him we were going shopping for his friends’ birthday gifts: “No it’s my birthday. It ‘s my presents”

I am copying off Bob Welch ‘s idea and writing a letter to Andrew on here:)

Dear Baby Bear,

I guess you are no longer my baby bear since you are 2! I have called you that and “Little” or Little Bear” or “Buddy” or “Bud Rud.”

I still call you Baby Bear now. You will always be my baby since you are the youngest. You have always been a cuddler, more of a lap baby than your sister. You give hugs and snuggle into our laps. You like to sit close/ in lap for stories. You crawl into my lap at meal time a lot.

I love your big smile and your dimple just like your Daddy has. I love your deep voice you do to sound like Daddy.

You love all sports. You’re always throwing a baseball, a football or hitting a golf ball even at 6 am right after getting up. Yes your Daddy’s brainwashing has definitely worked.

You are an early riser – 6 am or 6:30 everyday since you were about 12 months. You are starting to sleep later though now which has been nice:)

You are a happy guy. You go up and chat with strangers.

You love to watch sports- volleyball, baseball, basketball , football. The other day you played golf for 1 1/2 hours without stopping once. You love watching games. You will sit for an hour and watch baseball. I remember taking you to a football game when you were 1 and you just sat completely still and stared in amazement.

You also love music- you really enjoyed the class we just took. You like drawing and helping me cook.

You love your “Aba” Lately I hear you saying ” I need my Abby.” You will play whatever she likes. You ‘ll sit while she serves you and plays restaurant.

You are my sweet, dramatic, sensitive, adorable little boy.

Thanks for brightening my days with your big sweet smile.

I love you,

Maman

  

  

  

Well we went on a road trip to California, got home Thursday. Then we were off again to Hillsboro for the day on Saturday. Then the 4th festivities. Tuesday the kids and I got back into our routine. Wednesday they had their first soccer class. They both loved it. I guess I am now a ” soccer mom.” We had fun playing at the park after and then after nap we went on a 5 mile bike ride with Sophie. The kids rode in my new bike trailer. I love it!

Today we are facing reality- grocery shopping, yard work. Tonight we are headed to concert in the park and tomorrow play in the park with Kyle. The weather is sunny as ever here- everything just looks gorgeous!

Here are some pics-

a 5K we all did

me and the kids at Toby and Alison’s wedding in CA:

us at Berkeley

I got to see my cousin Justin and his wife Joy there. We had an nice visit with them.

San Francisco

Abby and Daddy in the big city

I got to see my friend Heidi and she got to meet Andrew (She hugged him even with pizza all over him head to toe)

We got to visit Peyton and family in Medford

my new bike trailer and the kids ready for a walk

I insinuated Andrew was acting like the big bad wolf during his temper tantrum. 5-10 minutes later Andrew announces out of the blue to everyone in the car: “I not the big bad wolf”