Yard work

I know this doesn't sound like an exciting post, but I promise it really is. Brian's parents came over from Montana to help us out with much-needed yard, fence, front door, rock work, etc. I can't believe how much work they did and how amazing it looks! I wish I would have gotten more before & after pics, but I took a few of the boys unloading the rocks that were delivered by a gravel truck - the highlight of the week for Tristan!

Happy birthday, Dad!

We got to celebrate Brian's birthday with all of his family this year! I think this is the first time since our wedding four years ago that he had his parents, his sister & family all together for his birthday. And since his aunt also lives here, she also got to join the festivities. It was a low-key event with dinner at our house. But would you expect anything else now that we have two under the age of two?? No more basement parties (ala 30th birthday) or trips to NYC or a night at Skamania Lodge. Dinner with the fam is about as exciting as we get now!

Apparently, I didn't take any pics of the birthday boy and decided to just get a few of the kiddos. I promise there was a birthday patry for Brian that day!

Visitors!

We had our first visitors since moving to Bend! Well, really our second if you count the Zervises who just happened to be here the weekend we moved. Even though it was a quick few hours, we still loved seeing Lynds and Jaxson! I'm loving the fact that we live in a resort place because not only are people wanting to come and visit us and the beautiful weather, we are also seeing friends who are spending the weekend in Sunriver, Black Butte or Camp Sherman! I have a feeling we have a full summer ahead of us!

First guitar!

Our trip to Hood River made a huge impression on Tristan. We have Nate and his guitars to thank for Tristan's recent obsession with wanting one of his own. He has always loved music. In fact, he would listen to Pandora on my iPhone on our long commute any time we left home each day, starting when he was about a year old. He would sit in his car seat with earphones in his ear as he jammed to Jack Johnson or Dave Matthews. He only wanted to listen to acoustic rock. A boy after my own heart :) And then after his getaway weekend at Grama & Papa's house in February, he was introduced to the "hotdog dance" by Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which led to his infatuation with Jake and the Neverland Pirate rock band. Not the cartoon, the real live band. We watched all 10+ of their videos continuously. And he knew exactly how to navigate youtube to find them, without any help from us at all. Crazy.

Anyhoo, that is how the guitar obsession began. After coming home from our Hood River/Portland trip, all he talked about was a guitar. We even had to leave a restaurant early while having lunch one day because he spotted a guitar on the wall and couldn't understand why he couldn't play it. It was later that day that we gave in and realized this may not be a passing toddler fad and bought him his first guitar. And ever since then, it's been non-stop jamming with youtube videos, songs on TV/radio/CDs, etc. Here's some of the first pics and videos. Please excuse the hair as we are in desperate need of a haircut!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne8EQ7wdFLM&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY8zQaL2ftQ&feature=plcp

*September update - These videos are two of MANY I have of him playing his new guitar. In fact, I had to start a youtube channel for the first time so that I could share them all with the grandparents. I'm sure there will be another post soon dedicated to these videos :). Oh, and I also couldn't upload the videos from our computer so had to put the youtube link instead. Hope to figure that out soon.*

Goodbyes...

This trip to Portland was filled with goodbyes. Even though it's been a few weeks since we've moved, we still had a few "items of business" to finish up on.
On Friday, I went to my classroom to say goodbye to my students and families for the last time. I also said goodbye to the wonderful staff that I have loved working with for the past eight years. What an emotional day it was!

Not too sure why I didn't get one last picture with all my students, maybe because I probably wouldn't have been able to contain them all at the same time. A little busy/excited to say the least! But these pics are of various teachers who agreed to have their heads shaved, tied to the basketball poles, eat nasty concoctions the students made for them, etc. since they met their Jog-A-Thon goals. Good thing I was on maternity leave for that faculty meeting!

And of course it was also our last appointment with our wonderful Dr. Bobenreith. She was my doctor through both pregnancies, helped to deliver both of my little ones (which turned into C-sections) and was also their doctor after they were born. We've been through so much in the last three years! We'll miss you!!

And then on Sunday, my mom, Brian and I went into my classroom to take home all of my things. We had to rent a trailer since we were taking eight years worth of possessions I had accumulated!! It was a very bittersweet day...I am happy to be able to stay at home with my sweet little ones, but pretty sad to know this is the end of a chapter in my life. This school and classroom have been home to me for eight amazing years. My FB post I wrote on Friday sums it up best: "Mixed emotions on so many levels today...said a lot of goodbyes...students, parents, school and an amazing group of teachers. What an incredible 8 years it has been (well, really 11 overall)! Excited and grateful for this new chapter of my life, but will miss SO much about what I consider to be my "dream job". On to the next adventure!!" Here are some pics of us collecting my belongings:

How empty it looks :(

Goodbye, 1A

13th Annual June Birthday Crew!

Yesterday we had our 13th annual June Birthday Crew celebration by going wine tasting with the girls. We went to my absolute fave place who has my absolute fave white and red wines - Sokol Blosser. I could drink this like water...scary how easy it goes down :) We also went to two new places recommended by Brittni who is a wine expert due to her great, new business, Vintner's Society. All excellent places!!

Jenna - our preggo DD, "safely" driving the winos to our destinations. What a good sport!

Lynds, Britt & Falks

Ali, Lawrence & Erin

Carrie & Lo

June bday ladies!! Check out the foufou wine bday glasses - thanks, Lynds! And it looks it's time to get a new pair of sunglasses...yikes.

Our preggo DDs!! Lo - 4 months. Jenna - 5 months.

Beautiful view at De Ponte!!

All of us on our way home...pure entertainment!
After the wine tasting event, we then met up with the guys and kiddos at the Corrados for a BBQ. Such a great bday celebration!!

Lawrence & Talia - Law remembered that we took a picture of her wearing the same dress while she was holding Tristan when he was the same age...crazy memory!

Love these two - always up to something.

All the June birthday crew members - Lo, me, Brian, Brittni & Falks (love the faces of Aubrey and Lincoln in the background). And not sure if Brian is trying to blow out the candles...? You can always count on him to either have his eyes closed, looking the other way or making a funny face. Maybe he's not a born poser as us girls?? :)

Some of the guests who helped celebrate our birthdays!!

Hood River

Yesterday was Day 1 of our mini-road trip. Since we have to go to Portland for a busy, busy weekend (wrap things up in my classroom, last doctor's appointments, June birthday celebration, etc.), we decided to route through Hood River/Parkdale so that Brian could go to a few appointments and so that we could also visit our dear friends, the Clarkes. They bravely let us stay the night with two kids and two dogs in tow (did I mention they are a kidless couple??). Tristan especially loved visiting them since they recently acquired a few goats and chickens. I have a feeling this may be a frequent trip for us whenever Brian has appointments in Hood River!
Amazing view of Mt. Hood from Parkdale, just minutes from the Clarke residence.
Tristan was in absolute heaven when he saw Nate's guitar and ukelele! And his dreams came true when Nate decided to have an hours-long jam session with him. Their favorite of the evening - Puff the Magic Dragon, of course!
Love this picture - it looks like it could be his folk album cover.
Another amazing view of Mt. Hood - this time from their back porch!
Both Tristan and the dogs were intrigued by these animals!
The next day, Tristan, Talia and I went to breakfast and walked around downtown Hood River for a few hours while Brian was at his appointments. Here is one of my cute breakfast dates :)
Thanks to the Clarkes for being wonderful hosts!! Can't wait to visit again soon!

Bath time!

Now that we have a bigger tub, bath time has become so much more fun! They can now both fit at the same time, even thought Talia is still in her own mini-tub. I know Tristan is looking forward to the day when he can have a splashing partner - so far he has been really good at being careful in the tub with his sissy.
She looked so sweet all bundled up after tub time that I tried to get a good picture of her, but all I could get were about five pics of towel over face, hand in mouth or a scared face from the flash. Oh well...this one is pretty cute, too!

Happy 2 month, sweet Talia!!

Today we celebrated our sweet little Talia's 2 month birthday by enjoying one of the free weekly concerts at the ampitheater. I'm pretty sure she enjoyed it just as much as we did :)
Here are some of her 2 month milestones:
* She is so interactive now! She loves to smile and coo at whoever is around her. Even if it's "talking" to the bugs/animals on her activity mat and swing :)
* She is finally filling out! We are having her 2 month check up later this week, but it seems that she has definitely put on a few pounds!! I have a feeling though that she will always be my little petite girl as she is still pretty small.
* Considering everything she has been through these past few weeks with our move, she has been a pretty relaxed baby. Her demeanor is pretty "chill" (for a lack of a better term) - even her cry is soft and sweet :)
We are soooo lucky to have her in our lives and love her more and more each day!!
Smiling on her 2 month birthday :)
I have a feeling this will be a weekly event!

Cousins!

Now that we live super close to our cousins, we are able to see them all the time! Here are some pics of our times together :)

The GG Toddler Band (George/Goody)

Cousins Eli & Talia
Emma & Talia snuggling while watching a movie
One of the many yummy restaurants Bend has to offer!
T and cousin Eli playing Power Rangers, although I don't think T knows what that is. He just wants to copy his big cousin :)