Thursday, May 29, 2008

Ciao l'Italia

Sigh. I just booked our last intra-Europe flight for the summer. There are a total of six. I feel like have have spent the last month surfing the web for flights and I'm glad it's over! If you ever need a cheap flight in Europe I highly suggest http://www.skyscanner.net/. We have had a slight change to our itinerary since we couldn't find a decent direct flight from Prague to Barcelona. So we are going to Milan for the weekend of August 16th. I'm already excited to have a good Italian dinner and see the Duomo di Milano.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Recycle!

Yesterday morning the sun was out and we heard thunder in the streets. OK, not like the real and a little scary thunder and lightening storm of last night (I can't believe the kids didn't wake up). It was the thunder of new recycling containers being delivered to all of Portland. It was so exciting, everyone was peeking out of their houses to see what was going on.






I think the delivery guys thought I was a little nuts. In fact the one on the left turned around to go the other way when he saw me with my camera. Now we have nice big containers with lids - no sorting (except for glass of course) and we can now put in plastic tubs. Yea!
Here is Sydney showing off our new containers.
Good job Portland!




















Friday, May 23, 2008

My sister, my robot

Last weekend Kyla was gone a lot - birthday parties and sleepovers - she's a girl with a busy social calender. Sydney was recovering from her round of immunizations, but caught on that she may be a little lonely. So before Kyla even left, Sydney had constructed a robot friend. Instead of legs, it seems to have two heads, but nonetheless, she announced that it was her new sister and they played very well together and had some very pleasant conversations.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Kyla Soars

If you live in Oregon you may need some art to cheer you up on a rainy day. I am amazed that the temp can go from 85 to 60 degrees in one day. Kyla is a true Oregonian, she was so excited that it was going to rain today. I'm trying to start a digital collection of Kyla's art projects so I can keep them forever, without really keeping them forever.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Ouch!

Sydney had her 4 year old check up last Friday. Everything went well even though we found out she had an ear infection in her previously ruptured left ear (late in February) and she had to have 5 shots! I was kind of dreading the whole thing because I knew she would need several vaccinations. She is old enough to know that some unpleasant things go on at the doctor's office. Usually she has no opinion about going, but this time she didn't even want me to mark it on her calender (probably hoping I would forget). She asked me several times what was going to happen and said that she didn't want to go. With all that asking for info, I couldn't conveniently forget to mention that there would be shots (yes, plural). If I didn't tell her, boy would I here about it later. "You didn't tell me they would do that!" So I told her and she seemed OK with it. She was very good at the doctors, I gave her the lollipop right before the injections started and that definitely helped. She didn't cry until the very last shot! After some hugs and wiping the eyes she stated. "I really didn't like that last one, number five really hurt!" What a trooper!
So she growing up very well. 34 lbs and 39.5 inches, which is about 50th percentile for both. She is catching up, I think last year she was closer to the 25th percentile mark. We're really hoping her ear will clear up because we have a lot of flying to do. In fact we leave for Europe six weeks from today! Gulp. (That's me trying not to freak out). I started a big list today and taped it to the wall by my desk. I think I need a huge bulletin board, my brain is getting full.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

My Future?

For Mother's Day I decided to start figuring out a new do for the summer. Well, it turns out everyone wants a virtual hair makeover. So, is this my future?

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Circling the John


Here are the girls riding with the preschool.

Click here to see the other photos from my album.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

First Blush of Spring

I know, it's a cheesy title, but it's the first thing that popped into my head. (It's all Barbie's fault.) If you have any little girls around you'll know what I mean. I can't even believe I let them watch Barbie movies, but the good thing is, Barbie is not playing herself, she is acting. I guess that is a good thing, because the movies aren't so bad. OK, enough about Barbie (except that I'm proud to say we don't own any dolls, just movies) and on to the picture. I have a few tulips in my yard and this picture makes me feel better about the state of our yard, where grass is definitely a minority. I even let Sydney, after repeated requests, pick one of the three pink tulips so I could replace one my pre-Mother's Day bouquets (of dandelions).
Here is another picture....if only I could feel the way Sydney does, which is that dandelions are not weeds, then I could have a whole yard full of beautiful yellow flowers. Wait, can I make a wish on that one? ...I wish there were no more ...wishes? Oh well.






Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Pool Party


Kyla and Joey, her friend from school, share a birthday on March 30, 2001
So they had a big pool party to celebrate number 7.
Photos compliments of David O'Connor - Thanks!
Click here to see a few photos from the pool.


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Monday, May 5, 2008

Itinerary

Not sure if it is too early for this sort of thing, but we recently finished booking all our accommodations for the summer. (whew!) So our itinerary is as follows:

June 30 - 10:30am we depart for Europe on the longest flight of my life!
July 1 - Paris
July 5 - Scottish Highlands (Aviemore)
July 12 - Edinburgh, Scotland
July 20 - SW England & Wales (Cardiff/Bristol/Oxford)
July 27 - London
Aug 3 - Bruges, Belgium
Aug 6 - Amsterdam
Aug 9 - Prague
Aug 18 - Barcelona
Aug 25 - Granada, Spain
Dec 16 - The Carolinas, USA
Dec 2? - Home

I am planning to post pictures as we go, but not sure how much time I'll get on the web.