Week #29: Family Time

This week...

...we spent time together. Here's a look...
Claire decided it was time to break into the Creamies I had stashed in the freezer. These are delicious! Aaaahhhh! You'll find them at Winco.

We went and saw How To Train Your Dragon 2. That was a great movie. It was nice to just hide away in the theater for an hour or so. Here's Lainey shooting a fireball with the cast from Guardians of the Galaxy.

We went boating with some friends, the Clarkes. Even Grandma Linda got out on the boat and the tube. Claire had a really hard time being on the boat. Jason held her and, once we got going, she calmed down.

Paul and Bennett

Grandma Zirker and the two of our girls brave enough to sit in the boat on their own.

Getting Grandma ready for her ride in the tube.

Emma, Lainey, Tegan, and Payton

We saw some horses. Deputy Monds, that Jason works with, invited us over so the kids could take rides on their horses, Sarg and Hot Shot. His boys, Sam (15) and Nick (13), even led our kids around. Then they gave us a goat tying demo. The kids were so excited and we were so appreciative that they would take time on their Saturday to have us come.

This is one happy girl.

 

We stopped off here...

...and here. Yum!

Jason and I went to Portland. Part work, part getaway. This delicious treat kept us company on the drive. Thanks Julie Marie for thinking of your favorite Deputy. :0)

We had some great views along the way. Just the two of us out on the road.

This was a startling sight when I looked up. I thought that truck was going to ram us. Haha!

Then we hit traffic. Ugh!

We stayed at the Red Lion at Jantzen Beach and found a little hole bar and grill nearby called Boomers Burgers and Ribs. We didn't want to venture far from the hotel or have to deal with traffic so we opted to go there. I loved the the pencil thin fries and how they came in a bucket for Jason. I was super excited to try the fries on my burger, but the BBQ pork wasn't sitting well with me. Cindy's official review: I would go in again for an order of fries, but nothing else.

We ate at the hotel for breakfast and had a great view of the River. It was hard to think of Portland having claim on our Columbia too. And man, I've never seen so many bridges. 

Jason studies the menu...

The view from our table

Good Morning!

We traveled the city, with our windows down and our my hair blowing in the breeze. We held hands. We laughed. We enjoyed being together...We saw Paul Bunyan? Don't ask me.

We walked the Pearl District on the advice of our friend Kuniko Votaw who used to live in Portland. They always say, Ask the locals. 

First stop was the bakery, LoveJoy Bakers. I love places like this. I'm compelled every time I visit such a place to find a table by the window, take out my journal and write the thoughts of my mind as I nibble on my pastry (I didn't specify what kind; I could eat them all!)

Second stop was a cupcake shop, Cupcake Jones. Yes, the sign shows $3.75 each for the jumbos and $41.00 for a dozen. We stuck with the minis at $1.50 each; much more our price style.

Jason tried the red velvet and I tried one with peanut butter (I can't remember the name.)

We passed up several places for lunch because I just wanted a nice little sandwich shop. These are also my favorite. I had almost given up hope and resigned myself to the Pizza whatever when we came across this place called Via Delizia. (I italicized it because it was that good. Sigh! Plus, they had a giant fake tree in-the-restaurant!)

Look at this deliciousness. Mmmmm. I want to go back.

Look at that deliciousness. Oh, I mean...he's wearing one of my favorite shirts.

We made a trip to the Temple and stopped in at the relatively new visitor's center. I have a soft spot in my heart for visitor's centers. They played the recording at the Christus. We shared about serving our mission together. They showed us a video about families and we shared our desire to make time to play and be with our children by putting our to do's aside.

Here's a panoramic view from the hotel out across the river. 

The view from our room.

Hanging out in our room. I painted my nails and toes and then was relaxing as they dried.

We stopped off at Multnomah Falls on the way home. There were way more people than I thought there would be. I was way more unbalanced by the narrow hike and being on the bridge than I thought I would be.

Week #28: When Time Stops

This Week...

...we took a bike ride. We didn't go far. Given our last bike ride adventure, long rides are not our specialty...yet. :0)

...I gave my Beehives a fun reminder to dig deeper in our lessons and personal study. I reassured them that they were edible.

...our lego guy almost lost his head in the cake. 

...Paul and Lainey kept watch over the banana bread muffins. 

...we had a visit from some jarring aliens. Hehe!

...we took a trip to Pasco Rentals. No trip is ever boring when Lainey is along for the ride.

...we went swimming with cousins. We're back at Zae's pool with Grace, Aubrey, and Payton. Wahoo!

...Paul tried his hand at sewing. He's adamant in his refusal to take piano lessons, but he will sew! I don't get it.

...time stopped for us on July 9th. It was as if we were standing still and everyone else was rushing around us in the frenzied activities of everyday life. We felt closer to each other and our neighbors. We took some time to just stay home and keep our kids close. Jason and I would pause and listen to the kids play; it wasn't noise, it was music to our ears. We were grateful to be alive and be together.
     I'm sure others can relate to experiences like ours that occur unexpectedly and leave a track of emotional and physical wreckage in their wake. No police officer ever thinks they will have to deal with an active shooter so close to home. Never in their own neighborhood or with their own neighbor.  

Benton County Sheriff Keane (below left) gave a great statement of the incident in a press conference with Pasco Police Chief Bob Metzger (below right).

Sheriff Keane's statement:

The view when we were able to get back into our house. Crime scene tape isn't something you ever think you'll see outside your own home.

Week #27:"But, when's the 4th of July?"

This week...

...we celebrated the 4th of July in simpler style this year. Traditionally, we go all out on independence day. And I love that, because I love America and the freedoms we enjoy. However, throwing a big bash can be taxing. Jason had to work the 4th this year and I wasn't up for hostessing a big celebration without him. So we went simple, simple, simple. I think the kids still had a lot of fun. I'm reminded of a conversation I had with Paul earlier this year...

February 17th, 2014 

Paul, Ben, and Claire were playing well together as I was doing the dishes.

Paul: Get the fireworks!

Mom: (In a teasing voice) Fireworks? Is it the 4th of July?

Paul: Haha! When is the 4th of July?

Mom: On the fourth of July!

Paul: No, when is it?

Mom: On the fourth of July.

Paul: What? It's actually on the fourth day of July?

Mom: Yes! That's why it's called the 4th of July. 

We went to the 4th of July breakfast at the church in the morning. 

Paul and Claire played Crepe Paper Mummies.

Timber!

Breaking Out!

Hold Still!

It was so fun to watch the fireworks with just our little family. Jason went to bed early and Claire ended up crawling in with him. She is devastatingly afraid of fireworks. Lainey was pretty freaked out as well, but fell asleep on the couch when I put a movie on for her. Perfect!

...I had a good find at the goodwill. Photo courtesy of Claire.

...we had raspberries from Grandma Zirker's garden. Nothing like picking them fresh. I remember picking raspberries growing up, it wasn't always a fun job then.

...Emma found a quiet spot to read her book on the tablet. Her and I are both reading the Septimus Heap series. Excellent read! We're on book six.

... I posted an Oreo rice krispie recipe to Facebook as "a new recipe to try." A friend commented that it would be a good recipe for him to try and I could bring some by any time. Haha! I was actually not feeling well and so he brought me a batch. Tyson Chapman is the funniest guy and even turned the misspelling of my name into a good laugh.

...Emma learned to sew.

...Officer Jason Gilbert got a surprise hug from Lainey. Jason works for Pasco Police Department. We see him a lot for his lunch/dinner breaks and water refills. He came by on the fourth and shared in our BBQ fun. When Lainey saw that he was here, she came tearing our of the house, down the drive, and launched herself for a huge hug. She doesn't usually make such a big deal of his visits and never asks for a hug. It was so funny and cute at the same time. Now they're best buds.