Birthday Weekend

Well, I haven't had much of a chance to blog lately, mainly because we haven't been doing anything too exciting and because I have been pretty sick. Most of you reading this already know my good news. But, just in case you didn't, I am 9 weeks pregnant. It has been pretty rough for me the past three or four weeks, but hopefully in a few more the nausea will be a distant memory. I didn't plan anything too ambitious for the weekend before my birthday, but it just happened that there were a couple of events planned. On Friday some local friends organized a ladies game night. So, after doing some car searching (will discuss in another blog entry) I headed over to play bunco for a few hours. It was really nice to catch up with the local mountain women. On Saturday, Sarah came up and we went out to lunch at the Soup Spoon. It was nice to catch up and for her to spend some time with Meadow. We headed into Gresham for some pedicures and to meet up with other folks for dinner.

We went to Ruby's Spa, which is connected to Edgefield. They had a soaking pool, which we didn't get a chance to go in, but it looked so relaxing. After the pedicures, we met up with Todd, Liz, Amy and her husband Michael, and Travis and Alicia and their kids. Meadow was hanging with Todd's mom during dinner. I wish I had taken a few more photos, but at least I documented our beautiful toes.

After dinner we headed back to Todd's parents house and had some yummy cupcakes and ice cream. I was definitely spent by the end of the day. The next morning I had to head out of the house to get to my friend Amy's baby shower in Portland. It was a wonderful event and so nice to see the circle of support that Amy will have as she enters motherhood.

The pregnant ladies. I think Amy has one of the cutest pregnant bellies. It is amazing to think that mine will be that big in about six months.

So, that was weekend. My birthday's high light on Monday was buying new pillows for our couch and actually laying on the couch and enjoying the pillows. 31 should be an interesting age. I did also get to talk to some great friends. Thanks for all the birthday wishes.

Trip to the Children's Museum

This past Thursday Todd, Meadow and I met up with Tonia and Xavier and Hope at the Portland Children's Museum. We had never been, so it was fun to see what Meadow would be the most interested in. She really enjoyed the whole experience and probably could have run around that place till she dropped. Going down the slide in the Bob the Builder exhibit was definitely a highlight. She went down with Xavier holding hands probably twenty times.

Shopping in the mini store

Checking out! Meadow wanted to do the big kid things like Xavier.

Todd and Meadow really enjoyed the water area. Todd built his own river channels.

All wet. We had to change clothes after this even with the smock.

It is really fun watching the cousins interact. They even got the same exact lunch and thought that was pretty cool. Hope seemed to have a great time looking at everything in her mom's backpack. We all had a great time and were pretty tired. Meadow took a nap on the way home and I had to take a little snooze on the couch in the afternoon.

Little Builder

Meadow loves to build with her blocks and make really tall towers. Todd was getting a good arm workout lifting her up to put more blocks on the tower.

Playing Catch

We had a great time playing catch last night.

Little Artist

Just had to share a recent activity we did the other day. Fingerpainting! Meadow has really started to enjoy the process. We tried it several months ago and she wasn't a big fan. I think now that her fine motor skills are more developed she is getting a big kick out of it. She was very serious and into the project, so it was hard to get a big smile in the picture.

Putting some clothes and a mitten on her doll. The doll's most recent outfit was a pretty dress, pants, warm coat, and boots. I thought that was pretty fitting for the northwest and winter.

She chose all the clothes herself.
I am hoping to start incorporating some more regularly scheduled art and music time into our day. It is just amazing how the day goes by so fast with a toddler. So, I am working on being a more of a plan a head person so that we can incorporate more into our day. I wish I could have some of my friend's come over to help with some of this enrichment. I am sure Meadow would love if my friend's Jerri or Sarah came over to sing. I try my best, but singing has never been my strong point. Although, I was in chorus from 4th-11th grade so I can sing twinkle, twinkle little star pretty well. At least Todd has been teaching her a lot about ryhthm with his drumming. She likes to hit every drum he owns. We still need to get a video of her playing his drum set.

Palm Springs Weekend

This was our third annual trip down to Palm Springs. Todd's parents rent a two bedroom house for six weeks and invite many friends and family to stay with them while they are there. Steve is in golf heaven when he is down there and golfs almost every day. Rita really misses the crazy weather we have in Oregon and her grandkids, so she only stays for about half the time before heading back to Oregon.

We were curious how different our trip would be this year due to our very mobile toddler. Meadow really had a great time and enjoyed looking at all the interesting plants and flowers that we don't have at home. We spent a lot of time outside during the day just enjoying the 70 degree weather as well as eating good food and playing cards at night. It is just a nice weekend for all of us to spend quality time together, which can be hard to do with our busy schedules.

Bampom reading books before bed time.

Getting some loves from Ghanny

Rita watched Meadow for us so that we go golfing in the afternoon. We had a nice time with Steve and both had some high moments. Todd birdied one hole and I had a 160 yard drive. My short game needs a lot of work though. One of my main problems is that I want to hit the ball as hard as a field hockey ball.

Todd's nice golf swing

It was a really beautiful course. I did make it over the water and landed just to the left of the green.

In the neighborhood where they rent the house there is an 18 hole putting green course. Meadow had fun helping us get the balls in the hole.

Learning how to putt.

Meadow loves wearing this backpack and sometimes will wear it all day.

Meadow really enjoyed riding in the cart. They would go on rides around the neighborhood. Todd and I rode bikes along side them.

At the bocce ball courts

Silly Van Hee's playing bocce ball.

It was nice to be able to experience a little break from winter for a few days. The night we got home it snowed an inch. I think Meadow missed the snow a little bit, so she was happy to get out and play outside in it. Todd and I missed the ease in being able to just walk outside without having to get all the gear on. oh well, I guess we will just have to wait a few more months for the warmer weather.

Snowboarding Weekend

This past weekend I had a lot of fun with Todd and Meadow as well as my friends. On Friday and Saturday morning I went up to the mountain snowboarding with friends and in the afternoons hung out with Meadow while Todd went kayaking. He had not gone on a good adrenalin run in awhile and had a blast on the Clackamas river. On Friday morning I carpooled up to the mountain with my friend Liz and we joined up with some other friends on the mountain. It was another gorgeous day with little crowds. It was really fun to be in a whole group of snowboarding women. Liz had not been on her board in a few years since she picked up tele skiing. So, she was excited to give it a go again. She used to be a snowboard instructor, so it was like riding a bike for her. We got a few hours in and were both ready to leave around 12, which worked out perfect for a few of the women who had to take a break to pump breast milk. I thought it was so awesome they had it all figured out to be able to do that on the mountain. On another note, I really appreciated being able to get together with a group of women doing something adventerous. It was a lot of fun being able to catch up with each other while getting some exercise.

Here is an example of one of the gorgeous views that day.
Liz and I

The ladies minus me

On Friday evening our good friends Sara and Randy came over the evening and to spend the night before heading to the mountain. It is always fun having them over for a sleep over because we don't get to see them very often and we get to catch up on our lives while drinking a few beers and soaking in the hot tub. They are also great entertainers for Meadow and as soon as they had arrived Meadow was very excited and was sprinting circles around the living room. After a fun evening, we had a very yummy waffle breakfast in the morning and then Sara and I headed up to the mountain with Randy in tow. We had a great morning of boarding and had gotten up early enough to miss some of the crowds. The snow was perfect mid morning because the sun had melted it just enough for some good carving. I had a really fun morning until a little boy came from my blindside and cut me off. I figured instead of taking him out I should fall. I was glad I had my helmet on that day. So, I have been a little sore the past few days but it was well worth it to save some possible broken limbs.

I headed back to the homestead for the afternoon while Todd went out on his kayaking adventure. Sara and Randy came back for the evening after their full day on the mountain and we went out to our favorite restaurant, "The Rendevous." I hadn't seen Randy and Sara since the fall, so it was great to be able to catch up. We are hoping to plan our Portland weekend soon, so we can check out their newly remodeled kitchen and hang with the city folk for a few days.

Styleeee Sara

The cute couple plus a guy with cool sunglasses and an orange hat.

Short Women Unite! Sara is just a hair taller than me. This is a funny quote from Randy that night. Somehow it was brought up that I was 4'10 inches and 3/4. Randy commented on how he had never heard of anyone using quarters until he met Sara. It must be our own little way of trying to act taller. Don't think it actually works though.

Beautiful view of Mt. Jefferson.

It was great to be able to spend so much time on the mountain this past weekend. I felt energized every time I was up there. I am not sure when we will have temperatures and sun like this again. Maybe not till June.