The Buck Stops Here

Rainbow Bridge

2012-01-21T19:59:00.000-08:00

A sunroom void of that sweet gray face as we pull up the driveway. A UPS delivery made without warning. The day's mail arriving through the slot without the milkbone thrown in along with the bills. This house is simply empty without Greta.

We have been showered with kind thoughts and remembrances for Greta this week, giving us a bit of reprieve from the grief of her absence. One of those wonderful gestures was a donation made by our contractors to the Oregon Weimaraner Rescue organization in Greta's name. The organization placed Greta's photo under the "Rainbow Bridge" section of its website, which honors weimaraners who have passed away but remain in our hearts.

I was not familiar with the term, "Rainbow Bridge," but a quick Google search revealed the tale of a special waiting place for our deceased animal friends who frolic and play until their beloved people cross the Rainbow Bridge and join them.

Today, we trekked over to the pet crematory to pick up Greta's ashes. It was pouring down rain, so Curtis ran into the building alone to fetch them. As he hopped back into the Jeep, he placed her remains, nicely contained in a flowery tin, in my lap. I felt tears brimming as the weight of the tin and the reality of its contents settled in. And then I heard Curtis exclaim, "Look!" On the horizon was the most vivid, gorgeous rainbow. So bright you could see each graduated shade within it. It was uncanny.

A rational person might say today's weather patterns led to that stunning rainbow. But I'd like to think that it was a sign from Greta, that she is indeed frolicking across that Rainbow Bridge. And it made me smile in spite of myself.

Farewell to our Gray Girl

2012-01-15T20:37:00.000-08:00

Last night at this time, I was doing the dishes and shooing Greta away from the dishwasher as I was loading the dinner plates into it. Tonight, I would do anything for a replay of that treasured routine.

Around 9:30pm last night, Greta sought refuge under the desk-- our first clue that she was not feeling well. At bedtime, she struggled to get up, and we had to carry her to bed. She seemed restless and uncomfortable, and finally, around 1am, she stumbled downstairs. Curtis joined her, as she continued her restlessness. By 4am, I took my turn holding vigil. Holding her head in my lap, while she struggled to get comfortable, I whispered to her everything I wanted her to know. How glad we were that we chose puppy number nine that fateful day in 2001. At 7:30am, the girls awoke, gave Greta kisses and hugs, and took off to the playroom.

Curtis and I remained by Greta's side as it became apparent that today was the day we would say goodbye. We made an appointment for a vet to come to the house at 10am, but by 8:30am, it was clear that Greta would never meet that vet. In a moment that gave me the biggest glimpse of humanity I've ever witnessed, I held Greta's head in my hands as she left this world. Looking into those deep eyes as she passed is something I will never forget. Amazing how much of this life we can learn from a dog.

My friend Heather reminisced with me today, remarking that Greta was quite a mischievous puppy. In her puppyhood, she stole a knapsack lunch from a fisherman out at Shadow Cliffs and a loaf of bread from a picnic at Tilden Park, among other things. Today Heather said, "I like to think that the last thing Greta stole was one more month with her family." And truer words were never spoken. Greta did give us a great gift in this past month, as we were able to fully appreciate each day with her, to spoil her with treats without worrying about her waistline, to tell her how much we loved her silly ways. She was a wonderful dog, a naughty dog, a lovable dog, an aloof dog. She was our girl. There will never be another quite like Greta. So human in her actions and her love of her family.

With broken hearts, we say farewell to our first baby, our wedding gift to each other. A priceless piece of our first decade as a family. Run free in heaven, Greta! Let Papa spoil you with treats, and seek Annie, Kennedy, and Bowie for companionship. Godspeed, sweet girl.

Happy 2012

2012-01-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

I was really hoping to find time to post about Ryan's baptism, our Christmas festivities, Santa's amazing gift to us. But right now, too many photos need to be downloaded and stories need to be written. So, we'll work backwards through the past two weeks until I get my act together.

We spent New Year's Eve with our fabulous "gang," making our resolutions together and enjoying the fact that our friendships grow and deepen with each passing year. Fortunately, my pal Erin sent a few snapshots from the gathering. How we love all of those little smiles!

Cheers to a 2012 full of health and happiness!

Our best Christmas gift

2011-12-22T13:45:00.000-08:00

Our remodel is *nearly* finished! Last weekend, we were able to move into the new spaces officially and begin enjoying them. The girls are loving their new room and bunk beds. Oh, and tub time. I think they've soaked in that fabulous bath every single night. What I appreciate most is the attention to detail: the gorgeous knobs and five-panel doors that match the original ones; the restored oak floors which blend so gracefully with the new oak that it's hard to tell they aren't both brand new; the perfect shower rod for a difficult custom space. Our contractors have been so amazing! The very best Christmas gift of all.

Okay, aside from this little guy, who is now three months old and not quite so little anymore!

Gray Dog

2011-12-19T12:47:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, Greta and I went for a 3.5 mile run, a feat for me but a breeze for the old gray dog. However, once we were home, she seemed lethargic and slow. A little off. That behavior continued throughout the week, and by Thursday night when she wouldn't even eat a piece of offered chicken, we were very concerned.

A heartbreaking vet appointment on Friday confirmed that Greta had internal bleeding, likely from a cancerous tumor in her spleen. Her body temperature was low, she had lost 30% of her red blood cells, and could barely walk. The vet did not think she would survive through the weekend. We were advised that euthanasia would be the most compassionate choice. We made the appointment for Saturday morning.

Surprisingly, Friday night she ate some chicken noodle soup. Then, begged for more. By Saturday morning, she was barking at the door bell, hoisting herself off her beloved sofa perch by herself without effort. She seemed altogether too perky to go through with the procedure. So we canceled. The vet suspects that the internal bleeding is temporarily clotted-- whether that is for a day, a week, or more, we don't know. He explained that often times these things wax and wane, but was very surprised by her ability to bounce back from such dire conditions the day before.

Today, she is sleeping on the sofa with Ellie (her beloved elephant), occasionally wandering to the front window to keep watch, and enjoying a rawhide. We don't know how much longer she will grace us with her lovable presence but we are treasuring this time with her. She has been a loyal, true companion for over ten years, so we will follow her lead when she tells us it's her time. Until then, there will be lots of snuggling that sweet gray mug.

Grown-up Night

2011-12-11T20:54:00.000-08:00

Shortly after we moved to Portland, we were welcomed into the most incredible group of friends (some of whom have been tight since elementary school). The four families kindly folded us into their lives, into their annual trip to SunRiver, birthday celebrations...and most notably, into their tradition of Friday night pizza night. Each Friday for the past three years, we've enjoyed pizza and pals as we all share turns hosting. It's always a wonderful way to end a busy week-- enjoyed equally by the adults and the offspring.

However, this group of friends has also wisely instituted another tradition: every few months, get a sitter and enjoy a grown-up dinner. Last night, we were the hosts of the grown-up evening. It was a beautiful reminder of the friendships we've forged here in Portland, and how lucky we are to be surrounded by such kindness and warmth. Oh, and for an evening, by conversation without interruption! The novelty!!

Christopher

2011-11-30T10:03:00.000-08:00

Our Elf on the Shelf has returned from the North Pole for another season. As you may know, he sits high up on a ledge all day, flying back to the North Pole each evening to report on behavior. This year, I wasn't sure how things would fly given the skepticism from last year. But, to my delight, both girls were excited to welcome Christopher back. Mary wrote him this sweet letter:

And Lucy kept it sweet and simple.

Thankfulness

2011-11-30T09:48:00.000-08:00

We have so much to be thankful for this year- which we scribed at our Thanksgiving feast in Bend thanks to these great print outs from Emily Jones Design Company.

First, we are thankful for our house, and that our project is just weeks away from completion!

Second, we are thankful that our sweet Ryan got to meet Uncle Ryan!

Third, we are thankful for time together. The siblings (minus Em and Ben) escaped to the pub one night for a hilariously great evening. It was an incredible weekend of togetherness in Bend, with Bahrmans who are always the most gracious hosts.

Procraftination

2011-11-17T10:41:00.000-08:00

I have slowly started doing a few consulting projects for my client again, which is helpful for our remodel hemorrhage...I mean, budget. But, I have to admit, the idea of getting new children's rooms ready makes me want to spend time crafting instead of working. A new version of procrastination... let's call it procraftination.

Last night's project was this fun one-- a canvas to hang in Ryan's room. I started by painting a canvas blue and then putting adhesive lettering on it.

Then, I applied a crackle medium, to give the painting a little texture.

When I applied cream paint over the top, the crackle did its magic.

Then, I peeled off the adhesive letters, and viola, this is the final product.

Sleep & Smiles

2011-11-16T19:23:00.000-08:00

Ryan is 8 weeks old today, which means it's been nearly two months since I've had more than 3 hours of consecutive sleep.

But, this is the greeting I receive after each snooze. As you can imagine, the sleep deprivation is instantly forgiven. Ah...my sweet boy!

You're so Vain...

2011-11-06T20:50:00.000-08:00

I bet you think this post is about you. And, if you happen to be our spanking new vanity, you are right! The custom-built (Curtis-designed) vanity has finally been installed in the kids' new bathroom. Now, to pick handles for those drawers...

(And many apologies if Carly Simon's voice is now stuck in your head like it is in mine.)

Six Weeks

2011-11-02T17:21:00.000-07:00

Evil Empire

2011-11-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

When I worked at Adobe, employees often referred to Microsoft as the Evil Empire. Now that I have children, I'm learning of another Evil Empire: the American Girl company.

Yes, they have beautiful dolls which have surprised me with their quality. And, they come with well-written historical books that knocked my socks off. But good God, does everything need to cost as much as a rare jewel? The catalog (which Mary "rescued" from the recycling) arrived last week, and to my dismay, the girls pored over every item in it for hours. Then, they circled the items they wanted. Consumerism has a young start these days.

Mary showed me a little armoire and said, "I'm asking for this for Christmas." I tried not to choke on my coffee as I saw the price tag: $349. I said, "Oh, sweetie, that's very nice but it's much more money than is appropriate for a Christmas present. It's $350!" To which she replied, "Oh, I know. That's why I'm asking Santa!"

Me: "Well, Santa has to buy toys for the whole world, Mary. He can't spend that much on just one gift."

Mary: "Mom, are you forgetting about the elves? They will make it, and then it won't cost anything at all! See, Mom, I have it all figured out!"

And off she went to write her letter to Santa and his elves, so they could get an early start. Gulp... see what I mean? Evil Empire, I tell ya.

Happy Haunting

2011-10-31T19:43:00.000-07:00

Our favorite goblins, enjoying some pre-trick-or-treat fun on the porch. And a rhino, a nod to Ryan's new nickname from our circle of pals.

All Smiles

2011-10-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

Little Ryan is one month old and all smiles. Why, you ask? Well, we aren't positive since our boy wonder isn't quite speaking full sentences yet. But our best guess is that it's because the construction project is making great progress toward that highly-anticipated completion. At least, that's what is making his mama smile these days.

Check out the progress in the new bathroom. (Those holes in the wall are for future medicine cabinets and lighting fixtures.)

And, look at the window (repurposed from the playroom) in the girls' new bedroom. Ahh...such great light in that room.

Lucy can't wait to move in! Soon, sweet girl, we promise! Up next...flooring! Stay tuned...

East meets West

2011-10-16T19:25:00.001-07:00

As you might recall, there was a bit of a race between Amy's baby and our baby to see who would make the debut first. In the end, baby Ryan beat baby Liesl by two days.

On Sunday, the two met for the first time. As you can see, Ryan relished the opportunity. And Liesl did her best to sleep through it. Maybe she foresees the teasing he might dish out in future years and hopes to get an early start on coping tactics...

Born to Bike?

2011-10-12T16:56:00.001-07:00

Anyone else notice a theme going on here? (Anyone else know another three-week-old with this much bike paraphernalia already??)

Fortunately, Ryan is all smiles about his future as a world famous Tour de France cyclist!

Two by two

2011-10-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

Two weeks old, and a champ through two back-to-back soccer games.

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: The Construction Edition

2011-10-03T11:05:00.001-07:00

Our home could not be a noisier place these days. Between jackhammers excavating, concrete trucks pouring a new foundation wall, power saws cutting wood and removing sheetrock, and nail guns putting up new walls and a new roof, it's louder than Grand Central Station most days. Here's the progress we've made thus far... starting with a new back wall retrofitted to be seismically stable.
A new foundation wall down below, so that the house can last another 100 years.

And, the future bedroom for the girls, complete with a fun vaulted ceiling which is so high that they can jump on top of bunk beds... (uh, who thought this was a good idea, again?)

And what does Ryan do through the incredible decibels of noise? Well, he sleeps like a baby, of course. With guard dog Greta close by on patrol. Yep, I'm pretty sure this noise is indoctrinating him in all kinds of ways. (And if he grows up to be a carpenter, it will surprise no one.)

Eleven Days Late...But Worth the Wait!

2011-09-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, September 21 just before 3am, we welcomed Ryan James into the family.

Proving the old adage, like father like son, he was laid back in temperament, content and cozy in the womb. Three induction methods and 21 hours of labor later, he finally decided to join the bright world.

Much like his uncle Ryan, his eyes sparkle and his smile is warm. And, for the many special James' in his life, he is already proving his merit with his content nature. We can't wait to introduce him to all who contributed to his special name.

We are smitten.

A little inspiration

2011-09-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with Mary and Lucy, once their due dates had passed, I decided we needed to bake a birthday cake to give them some incentive to come out and actually HAVE a birth-day. Following with the tradition, today we made a special cake for this little one. We plan to enjoy it tomorrow night with a dear group of friends to show this baby how much love is waiting for him/her. Let's hope it works...otherwise, doctor-mandated eviction is coming soon.

Reading the Sunday Comics... from 1918!

2011-09-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Today, apparently to make up for the lack of a new baby in this house, I'm being kept company by a barrage of contractors-- plumbers, sheetrockers, electricians, and more. And as they were cutting into the lath & plaster of the dining room wall, they found the Sunday Comics page....from 1918!

It is in color and miraculously preserved despite the years. It's also shockingly racist. But, still, a historic treasure. We plan to frame the (fortunately non-racist) Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn strip for posterity.

Due Date

2011-09-10T15:12:00.001-07:00

Today is the official due date, which means many of you are wondering if our baby has arrived. Click here for your real-time, up-to-date answer!

Lucy's big day

2011-09-09T10:14:00.001-07:00

Today is Lucy's first day of kindergarten! With a beaming smile, new school shoes, and a big sister's hand to hold, she's off on a wonderful journey!

East of the Cascades or West of the Cascades? The race is on!

2011-09-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

It's been a joy to go through this pregnancy with my sister, who is due two weeks after I am. I've imagined the fun these two cousins will have being so close in age, and the future mischief they will enjoy together.

And it seems they are already causing mischief. With my in-laws on a cruise and my dad headed off for a week of "Cycle Oregon," we had a carefully orchestrated plan for the babies' arrivals. My mom would be in Portland around Sept 10-15 for our baby's arrival to care for the girls while we were in the hospital, and then she would cross the Cascades to be with Amy's family for her baby's arrival.

But, we've learned that Amy's baby is considering making an early appearance. And, of course, it's no surprise that my baby seems incredibly cozy and content on the inside, pointing to a late arrival. Which means poor mom has two grandbabies who could arrive within a week or even days of each other. Oh, those little rabble-rousers!

So, which will win the race? Baby B East of the Cascades, or Baby L West of the Cascades? Either way, I'm certain this isn't the last trouble-making that these two cousins will cavort in!

Oh, the irony!

2011-09-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

Mere days from our due date, no signs of impending labor, and Mother Nature decides to throw us a week of hot, hot sun. Oh, the irony!

Can you guess what game is popular in our house?

2011-09-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

All morning, the girls have been playing, "Hospital."

Here's how it goes....

"Mom, come be the doctor and help my baby get born!"

Now if only the REAL baby were showing any signs of wanting to be born...9 days and counting!

Porch Fairies

2011-08-30T09:04:00.001-07:00

Sunday, we found a bag of gorgeous pears on our porch.

Monday, we discovered these tomato beauties on the porch.

Today, it's the world's best blueberries, as big as marbles and as sweet as candy.

The porch fairies are spoiling us this week!

A Day at the Races

2011-08-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

Today we ventured out to Sauvie Island (about 10 miles north of Portland) for the Krueger Farm Kross Races with some friends. Not only did the girls participate in their first cyclocross race of the season, but they also met the Krueger Farm pigs, climbed a lot of trees, and enjoyed some time in a sunflower patch. A fabulous day of fun in the sun!

Pals & Pools

2011-08-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

I am the luckiest girl in the world in the friendship department. My amazing circle of friends hosted a little celebration last night for two of us in the group who are expecting new babies this fall. It was the perfect evening of great conversation and delicious eats, and of course, a baby pool.

Knowing that my babies tend to require an eviction notice, this crew wasn't shy about predicting late arrival dates for baby Loeb. Anyone else want to venture a guess?

This Old House

2011-08-25T10:16:00.001-07:00

In this nearly 100-year-old house, we hoped we would find some historic treasures as we began our construction work. So far, the treasures include the discovery of beautiful oak floors under the carpet upstairs, an empty ring box, and this fabulous old tin of Folger's black pepper, found beneath the floor boards.

No bags of gold yet....we're still hoping!

Summer Sundaes

2011-08-24T10:03:00.001-07:00

Mary never ceases to amaze me with her creativity. Very rarely is she bored, because she is constantly thinking of new things to create. Her latest project was a "Rainbow Sundays" ice cream shop, complete with various flavors of ice cream and toppings. She created little cones from construction paper, gathered up leftover gelato spoons and then peddled her imaginary creations to anyone and everyone who stepped foot in our home.

I love summertime!!

A Whole DECADE!

2011-08-21T21:51:00.000-07:00

Our Greta continues to amaze us all! Today, despite her many growing lumps, she celebrated TEN years of life.

We took her to the river to swim and fetch a stick, and then treated her to a "YoDawg" treat from the local fro-yo shop. Happy Birthday to our Greta girl.

Progress

2011-08-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

Y'all know what this means!!!

We finally were approved for our permits yesterday. Demo has begun. And I've never been so happy to have a noisy, messy house!

You know you're getting close when...

2011-08-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

the half-n-half in the fridge has an expiration date that is AFTER the baby's due date!!!

Sleepover Smiles

2011-08-13T22:13:00.001-07:00

Last fall, Mary had her first sleepover at Emma's house. Tonight, the tables are turned and sweet, delightful Emma is at our home for a sleepover. And you can't have a sleepover without making slumber party cupcakes. The girls loved decorating the little treats, and of course, devouring them after dinner.

Mary made a sign for the guest room in anticipation of Emma's visit, and predictably, little Lucy had to make sure she was included in the fun by adding her name. The big girls welcomed her to join them in the guest room, but Lucy ended up deciding she would rather sleep upstairs closer to mama.

Of course, here it is at 10:15pm, and they are still entrenched in another slumber party tradition: giggling instead of snoozing. Hopefully the giggles will turn to snores soon...if not, well, this is what summer is all about!!

Aboard the SS Uffelman

2011-08-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

We had such a great day yesterday aboard the SS Uff-- with captain Uncle John and crew. The girls loved riding in the "donut" with Aunt Patty and their second cousins Camden and Holden. Curtis got to enjoy some wakeboarding. And I relaxed with my big baby belly on the sandy shores. Twenty years ago, my cousin Michael and I enjoyed those same river channels on that boat-- who knew that two decades later, it would be so fun to watch our children experience these adventures!?

Thank you to the Uffs for a fabulous summer day!!

Girlfriends

2011-08-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

My fabulous pals Heather and Kate flew up from San Francisco for the weekend for a visit. Our time together included relaxing cappuccinos at Grand Central, a grown-up dinner out, window shopping, late night chats around the fire pit, and a hike in the Columbia River Gorge with Mary and Lucy. What a wonderful weekend-- and even more wonderful friends! Already missing them again-- and will especially miss them when Baby #3 arrives next month.

Future Generation of World Cup Players

2011-07-18T10:11:00.000-07:00

Today: soccer camp. Tomorrow: World Cup.

S'mores

2011-07-16T21:34:00.001-07:00

A favorite summertime activity....s'mores!

The Dreaded Three-Week Wait

2011-07-14T11:32:00.001-07:00

Well, somebody didn't put in a good word with the Big Guy. Our three-week wait for approval begins...

(Emily, this might just be proof that Fr. Rob is a "fake priest," after all!)

Bury St. Joseph, Say a Hail Mary, or all of the above?

2011-07-13T17:24:00.000-07:00

The day has finally arrived! After weeks of waiting on structural calculations, tomorrow is the day that our architect is headed downtown to submit our plans for review and permitting. The plans include our remodel upstairs, as well as some retrofitting and retroactive permitting for structural support on the main level of the house.

We have been warned that the plans will likely not be approved for 'over the counter' permits because of their complexity, which means that we will have to endure a three-week review process before we know whether or not the city will approve our project. And, with this belly growing bigger every day, that three-week wait just seems like a lifetime.

So, on the eve of this visit to the city, I'm really hoping that the plans qualify for permits tomorrow so that we can get started on the project. Which leaves me wondering.... is it St. Joseph who can help with this, the patron saint of the home and family? Or should I be saying Hail Mary's? Both? Anyone with a direct line to the Big Guy who wants to put in a good word for us, we'd really appreciate it. (And when I say Big Guy, I mean you-know-who, but if you have a direct line to the city permitting office, I'm willing to consider your contact a Big Guy, too. And I'm willing to bake him a giant batch of chocolate chip cookies.)

Day 1: Casa de Construction

2011-06-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

Our remodel project officially begins today! Here are a few snapshots of the inaugural day of work.

Wait, you say. That's the family room. With a bunch of holes cut out of it. Definitely not part of the upstairs remodel, you think. Yep, that's what we thought, also.

Turns out the previous owners were not completely forthcoming in their claims that all permits were obtained for the work they did at the house. Turns out they installed a 40-foot beam across the back of the house because they removed major support walls to create the family room and kitchen nook. And, it turns out that none of the work was permitted. None. Despite their claims otherwise in the disclosure packet they filled out for us.

So, before we can move forward with the upstairs remodel/addition, we first have to go through the process of permitting the existing support structure of the house, including uncovering all of the existing walls, window casings, anchor bolts to the foundation walls, beam installation, and more. Then, we will submit the existing structural details to the city for review, and they will hopefully approve permits so that we can then obtain permits for the new addition.

Even though this is a step backward before we can move forward, the sounds of drills and pounding help it feel like progress is being made. We expect this process to take 3-4 weeks, which means the addition will not be ready in time for the new baby. It was disappointing news, of course. But fortunately, we know that all a baby needs is a bassinet, warm milk, and lots of love. We figure the silver lining is that this baby will have no choice but to be a solid sleeper if he or she is exposed to drilling, hammering, and nailing at the beginning of his or her life.

Fab Five

2011-06-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

Our Lucky Lucy turned five yesterday. When she woke, I sang out, "Happy Birthday, Lucy! How's it feel to be five?" and she replied, "I'm not five until I blow out the candles, Mommy!"

We had a great day, celebrating first with cousin Chiara and cookies at Grand Central.

Then, we enjoyed dinner with all four grandparents, so Lucy could officially turn five and blow out her candles.

This morning, we continued the celebration with a few rides at Oak Parks with pals. Just look at the "no-hands" on the roller coaster. This girl definitely has some Great-Grandma Fisher blood coursing through her veins!

Beautiful British Columbia

2011-06-23T10:39:00.001-07:00

We just returned from a wonderful week in beautiful British Columbia, with a rental house in Vancouver serving as our homebase while we enjoyed the various sites of the area. We spent June 19, which was my parents' 40th anniversary, in Victoria having high tea at the Butchart Gardens and enjoying the spectacular flowers in bloom.

A quick stop at the Empress was needed, to remind them of their honeymoon destination back in 1971. We made friends with the Canadian mounties, of course. The Capilano Suspension bridge was an incredible experience, with treetop adventures waiting for us on the other side.
We also did a cliff walk along platforms suspended over the high canyon. Not for those who are fearful of heights!

At the Granville Market in Vancouver, we discovered the art of glass blowing with some classes, and we found the best cappucino in town.

And what would vacation be without several bike rides with the family? Here's the team of colored-coordinated cyclists, who enjoyed some easy rides around Stanley Park, as well as a daring day of riding at Whistler.

All in all, a wonderful vacation with family!!

Summertime?

2011-06-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we enjoyed our first 80+ degree days. Splashing in the kiddie pool, riding bikes to get ice cream, and more-- oh yes, we definitely enjoyed them!!

Running...Jogging...Shuffling

2011-05-31T10:38:00.000-07:00

Today is National Runner's Day. Who knew? Well, apparently, the apparel company "Lucy" did because they sent me an email to celebrate the day. Anyway, their email got me thinking about running...

You'd think I wouldn't experience too many "firsts" with my third baby. But, this is my first pregnancy where I'm still running as I enter my third trimester. Now, when I say running, I ought to clarify that my "run" has become more a slow, trudging shuffle. But, I'm out there. That's what counts, right?

And, speaking of out there: I just have to give props to my sis Amy, who is 5+ months along now, for completing a half-marathon this weekend. Yes, that is 13 miles with a 5-month fetus in tow!! But, as anyone who knows Amy knows, she's always been a bit of an overachiever... way to go, Aim!

Oh, and one more sibling shout-out. Thanks, Ry, for the shirt....as you can see, I grew into it!

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

2011-05-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

When it's rainy and awful at the end of May, life can seem a bit dreary. Fortunately, moments like this one are instant sunshine.

A Pregnant Pause

2011-05-15T20:40:00.001-07:00

In my spare time, I've been pouring over clawfoot tub styles, sink faucets, and most importantly, our architect's plans for our little addition/remodel project that should be underway soon.

On Saturday we met with one of the contractors who is providing a bid for the project. As she was discussing the stress of a remodel project, she commented that two of her clients this year have been pregnant women who were needing the work to be done quickly in order to be completed before the baby's arrival. I nodded, thinking, "I know where she must be going with this," and subconsciously rubbed my little kicking belly.

Instead, she shocked me by saying, "As you can imagine, those were quite stressful projects with that kind of impending deadline. I'm sure you don't want to place your project under such stressful constraints."

Curtis and I exchanged a glance. Clearly, we thought it was obvious that I am pregnant. Apparently, it just looks like I enjoy more than my fair share of cookies. And her comment didn't exactly lend itself well to an announcement that we, also, have an impending arrival...

So, what's a girl to do in such an awkward circumstance? I'm not proud to admit it, but I scooted my chair closer to the dining room table and sucked my stomach in and continued on with the discussion about spacing between studs and subcontractor schedules. But, talk about a pregnant pause...

Newest Slugger

2011-05-12T08:57:00.000-07:00

A snapshot of our latest shortstop. She loves playing t-ball with her team of pals and having her dad as one of the coaches...so much so that after the last inning at last night's game, she came to me with a frown and said, "Why does it have to be over so soon?"

Super Seven

2011-05-05T22:25:00.001-07:00

Our watermelon-loving Mary turned SEVEN yesterday, as unbelievable as that sounds. We awoke to beautiful blue skies and sunshine, reminiscent of her actual birth day seven years ago.

In addition to her own watermelon cake, she celebrated with sweet cupcakes shared by cousin Chiara and Uncle Tom, her birthday buddies. And, we ended the day enjoying the last hours of sunshine, with Mary taking her new roller skates for a roll around the block!

And it's official...

2011-04-25T22:30:00.001-07:00

Emily is getting MARRIED!!!!

Yep, Ben proposed, she accepted, and it looks like a May 2012 Alaskan wedding is in the works!! We are overjoyed for them both. And we hope not to scare Ben off with any wedding hi jinx (yes, family pranksters, you know who you are!).

Here's a snapshot of "Bemily" (as Curtis dubbed them) on the far left in this cousin photo from the fabulous San Juan festivities (fire marshalls and all) of Zan and Janna.

No more prickles

2011-04-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

Ever since Elk hunting season, way back in November, Curtis retained his (very prickly) beard. He claimed that he needed it for warmth during rainy, chilly bike commutes to and from work. But, he promised to shave it once Portland hit 70 degrees.

Well, today was our lucky day. We got to enjoy a soccer game under beautiful blue skies and then weeding and planting the raised beds with glorious sunshine on our shoulders.

Of course, there was one other fantastic result of the gorgeous day: a shaved Curtis! Lucy was overjoyed to kiss a nonprickly cheek!

Spring has Sprung

2011-04-18T09:15:00.001-07:00

It's our second consecutive day of glorious blue sky, and signs of spring are all around: the blooming tulips, the grass growing faster than Lucy's hair, and the joy of awakening to birds chirping in the morning light.

Papa made birdhouses for the cousins, and our home is now proudly perched waiting for its first nesters. Now, time to get the garden planted...

Saltine Salvation

2011-03-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

I have eaten a mountain of saltines since January 1st. Too many to count. But, fortunately, the morning sickness has passed. This morning, I eyed the two remaining packages of those square little crackers. What to do with them, I wondered?

Well, I found a solution: this incredible recipe where you layer them in a jelly roll pan, smother them with homemade toffee sauce, bake them til they crackle, and then drizzle them with chocolate. And, yes, the result is every bit as good as it sounds.

Of course, this isn't a good remedy to my latest problem...the fact that my thighs have expanded faster than my belly. But, still delicious. Now, I'm off to eat some cucumber slices in a ridiculous attempt to negate the three saltine-toffee squares I inhaled earlier....

Speedy Boost

2011-03-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

Lucy's family nickname has been, "Boost" for a few years now. We have no idea where the nickname originated, but it just fits her well. And her Auntie Em agreed today while visiting Portland for the weekend. She joked that Lucy had a "speedy boost" hiding within her as we were hiking up a steep hillside.

Lucy would drop behind and ask for a hand climbing the hill...
And then she would feign exhaustion and ask for a piggy-back.

And, then, out of nowhere, she would be sprinting up the hill ahead of everyone, only to then run back down the hill and repeat the scenario. We figure she covered at least double the territory of the rest of us hikers today.

Hence, Auntie Em's upgraded nickname from Boost to Speedy Boost. Fits her well, we think!

Soggy St. Paddy's Parade

2011-03-20T22:46:00.001-07:00

I'm remiss in posting this picture of Lucy in the St. Paddy's Day parade. Irish eyes are smiling...despite the soggy weather.

Close Call

2011-03-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

On Friday, to celebrate a beautiful blue sky, the girls and I stopped for frozen yogurt on our walk home from school. I tied Greta up to a post on the sidewalk, and we went in and ordered our treats. We sat at the bar along the window, watching Greta watching us. The man behind the register commented on how nicely Greta was waiting, and he gave me the cutest little cup of yogurt with a bone on top for her. I took it out to her, and she lapped it up gratefully as I went back inside to sit with the girls.

Moments later, an Animal Control truck pulled up and parked (in a no-parking zone) right next to Greta. At first, I hoped it was just a coincidence. But when I saw him approaching Greta with intent, I quickly said to the girls, "I'll be right back!" as I ran out the door. He asked, "Are you this dog's owner?" I nodded. "Well, it's a nice dog, but you can't leave a dog unattended," he told me. I was shocked. "We were right inside watching her the whole time," I told him. He explained that it's illegal to leave a dog unattended due to the risk of dog bites. I was completely blown away. I told him that she was nearly ten, and we'd never heard of this law before. "Regardless, miss, now you know," he said, "dogs cannot be left unattended."

Meanwhile, Lucy came running out of the yogurt shop, sobbing because I left her so abruptly. "Apparently so," I said, "and I can't leave this one unattended, either!" as I hugged Lucy to calm her down. He didn't seem amused by my joke as he got back in his truck and drove away.

I'm very glad that Greta's close call with the Dog Catcher was nothing more than that. Can you imagine if I had taken one of the girls to the restroom or had my back turned for a few moments? Poor Greta girl would have been traumatized by a trip to the dog slammer. Oh, the shame.

And our little bun

2011-03-11T09:01:00.000-08:00

A sneak peek from a few weeks ago... anticipated arrival: 9-10-11.

Irish Soda Bread

2011-03-11T08:56:00.001-08:00

Speaking of buns in the oven, we know it's nearing St. Paddy's day when our Irish Soda Bread recipe gets a workout. Thank you to the very special Maria Gibbons for handing down the authentic recipe.

Lucy's latest quote

2011-03-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

Promise

2011-03-03T20:14:00.000-08:00

It has been a week of sorrow as we've learned of the deaths of three special people, two of them tragically gone in the prime of their lives. However, despite this, I can't help but think that today's technicolor rainbow in the sky promises brighter days ahead.

Knit 2, Purl 1

2011-03-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

On Monday, Gram Buck gave knitting lessons to the girls. They were both thrilled with their pint-sized blankets at the end of the lesson. Lucy captured the special afternoon with photographs, which explains why she isn't in any snapshots.

Terrifying

2011-02-26T15:36:00.000-08:00

Today my no-nonsense Mary went to a birthday party which involved going to a beauty school for an updo. Before she left, she insisted that she didn't want to get her hair done, since she prefers it tied back in a simple ponytail every day. As I said, no nonsense.

So imagine my surprise when she returned from the festivities looking more than Jon Benet Ramsey than my own daughter. With a gorgeous updo and, gasp, a bit of blush and eyeshadow.

Of course, she had a wonderful time with her sweet friends, and that's what is most important. At least, that is what I'm telling myself when I catch a glimpse of her all dolled up. Flash forward ten years, and I'm not just terrified, I'm petrified.

Snow

2011-02-24T14:16:00.000-08:00

Today, we awoke to a few inches of snow on the ground, and more lovely flakes floating down at a rapid pace. We loved it. I think the tulips, however, were rather confused.

A Tale of Two Sisters

2011-02-16T10:34:00.000-08:00

We all have a boiling point, where we get so frustrated that we want to explode.

When Mary reaches that point, she tends to cry, "Nobody loves me!"

And, in direct contrast, Lucy's words of choice are, "I don't love anybody!"

I have to laugh because this difference in responses says an awful lot about these two sisters and their incredibly different personalities.

Ski Weekend

2011-02-08T09:43:00.001-08:00

Skiing, sunshine, Sunriver, smiles, the Superbowl...all ingredients for a fabulous weekend getaway.

We rented a wonderfully spacious house with four other families in Sunriver for a few nights. The girls enjoyed an inaugural ski lesson on Saturday, sledding on Sunday, and hot-tubbing well, pretty much every day! Between the five families, there were 11 children ages 0-6, and it was truly delightful the entire time.

We are so fortunate this great group of families has included us in their adventures.

The Suspense is Killing Me!!

2011-02-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

Last night, Mary and I were reading one of her new Christmas books, featuring Kit, a child growing up in the midst of the Great Depression. We read a chapter in which Kit generously took some food to a hobo friend and ended up deciding to ride the rails with him for an adventure. Except, the adventure took a wrong turn and they ended up in jail. The chapter ended on a suspenseful note, but I promised Mary they would sort it all out when we read the next chapter. I shooed her off to bed.

About 30 minutes later, a tearful Mary came downstairs. I asked her what was wrong, and she burst out, "Kit is in jail and it's giving me nightmares! Mom, I cannot sleep knowing she is in that awful jail!"

So, what's a mom to do? Well, of course, we had to quickly read the next chapter so that our heroine Kit could be set free and all was right again in the world for my sweet and sensitive Mary.

Gratitude

2011-01-28T15:31:00.001-08:00

Birthday celebration theories are everywhere. My friend Erin believes in the "Birthday Month," celebrating your special day the entire month. My sister Emily believes you celebrate for as many days as you are old (meaning that my dad's September birthday helped him celebrate all the way to Thanksgiving...well, nearly).

My personal theory is that my birthday is just the DAY. But, it's clear that my circle of friends and family buys into other theories because I've been spoiled rotten for an entire week! Fabulous dinners, entertaining plays, breakfast in bed, thoughtful gifts, decadent cakes...and SUNSHINE. I'm one lucky girl to be surrounded by so much goodness!

Touche

2011-01-14T15:39:00.001-08:00

Confession time.

Back when my girls were younger, the noisy, plastic toys would grate my nerves. You know the ones- that sing-songy tune playing over and over, the obnoxious "mama, mama" from the doll. So, when those plastic headache-inducing toys would thankfully "run out of batteries" (and yes, from time to time, this did involve surreptitious tinkering) I was overjoyed. The girls would ask me to replace the batteries, and I would shrug and say, "Oh, that is something Dad has to do. Let's wait until he gets home, and you can ask him to change the batteries."

This strategy worked very well. It meant that most obnoxious toys became relegated to the basement. And by the time Curtis got home, the toys were typically forgotten. In fact, to this day, the girls think battery-changing is a task that can be tackled only by Dad.

Now, that clever little strategy has come back to bite me. Today, Lucy and Mary wanted to build bunk beds out of their existing doll beds, and I offered that I could drill some holes and put pegs in to accomplish the goal.

Lucy looked me straight in the eye and said, "C'mon Mom. We're gonna wait for Dad. You can't even change batteries."

Touche.

Breakfast Babbling

2011-01-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

This morning, Mary's marionberry jam-coated bagel flew out of her hand with aero-skill, smattering purple goodness all over Mary and the table. As I was wiping up the mess, I commented, "Wow, that bagel is crazy this morning! It's trying to escape your grip, darling. Get a good handle on it before you try to pick it up again."

The girls giggled. Then, Lucy looked at the bagel on her own plate and grinned as she said, "Good thing my bagel is just REEELAXINNNGG."

And then it was my turn to giggle.

Farewell 2010

2011-01-05T16:34:00.000-08:00

Curtis and I said farewell to 2010 by spending the final day of the year on Mt. Hood. The weather was gorgeous. The powder was incredible. The snowboarding skills were rusty.

Special Delivery

2010-12-30T22:09:00.000-08:00

Look what the UPS driver delivered today....liquid gold! Our very own Extra Virgin, First-Press Olive Oil from Meadowlark Field. You can read the story behind this very special oil here, on my dear friend Kate's blog.

We can't wait to dip a slice of Grand Central Como into this beautiful oil in honor of Jane!

Sleepover

2010-12-28T23:11:00.000-08:00

2 six-year-olds + 2 stuffed animals + countless giggles = Mary's first sleepover!

The Christmas Low-down

2010-12-28T16:42:00.000-08:00

Christmas of 2010 will go down in history as being a wonderful whirlwind of days. A beautiful Christmas Eve began with gingerbread cookie decorating with the girls (and just try to determine which ones were decorated by Mary versus me-- it's tough to tell!). Dinner and mass, followed by a gift opening extravaganza with the Loebs. We think Grandma Loeb found every single Littlest Pet Shop package in the Portland Metropolitan area!! Oh, the girls were overjoyed!

Christmas Day was celebrated with Santa gifts at home, and then dinner at the Buck house with all of the siblings. Grandma Buck suspected Santa would bring the girls their specially-requested American Girl dolls, so she ran a small sweatshop in her sewing room whipping up all kinds of gorgeous creations. And Auntie Em the Author was at it again with a new book, North to Alaska, featuring none other than Mary, Lucy, Chiara, and of course, the canines in the family!

The day following Christmas was the larger Buck cousin gathering, with all but two of the Buck cousins able to join. We had 30-some people, including 9 children (Mary's the oldest) and 8 pooches. Chaos. But, blissful chaos. Cousin Becky is a fabulous chocolatier (yes, that is a real job, amazing, right?!) and she brought a huge chocolate Santa of delicious 70% cacao chocolate. Yum. The kids were a bit tentative to smack Santa with the mallet (understandably so, given that he had just made their year with special gifts), but eventually dear ol' Saint Nick was broken apart to enjoy.

An incredible stretch of days, with many fond memories with precious family.

Snowshoe Spectacular

2010-12-23T23:12:00.000-08:00

Today, we spent a spectacularly gorgeous day snowshoeing with my parents, my brother Ryan and his wife Nikki, and my baby sister Emily and her boyfriend Ben.

Everytime I hang out with my siblings, I learn new things. Today was no exception.

For example, I learned that no matter how old I get, Ryan will still catch me off guard and sack me in the snow.

And, I learned the fine art of sumo-snowshoe, a game invented by none other than Emily. Just like reindeer games, only much more fun.

Unless, while you're watching, you get sacked in the snow. Then, not quite as fun.

Doubting Lucy

2010-12-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

Late last week, the girls spied a Christmas elf, decked out in red and white elf garb, perched up on the door frame leading to our dining room. Mary knew immediately that he was a magic elf sent from Santa. An elf who will fly each night to the North Pole to report on the girls' behavior, and then return to perch in another location in the house the following morning.

Lucy, on the other hand, wasn't quite so faithful. I caught her darting back and forth under the door frame, with her eyes fixed on the elf. She repeated this a few times, then confided in me, "Mom, this isn't a real elf. It's just a stuffed animal."

"What? Why would you say that, Lu?" I asked, shocked by her disbelief.

"His eyes aren't moving. Watch this." She again ran back and forth below the elf, while keeping her eyes on that little guy. "See, his eyes don't move. He's just a stuffed animal. Plus, Mom, I think I see a tag on him."

Can you imagine? No elves? No magic? Well, our little elf, named Kristopher, better not be reporting this news back to Santa.

Angels Among Us

2010-12-15T18:45:00.000-08:00

Today was Lucy's Christmas pageant. It was equal parts fabulous and hilarious, with 40 preschoolers singing eight memorized Christmas tunes.

And there were only a few snickers about boisterous Lucy playing the role of an angel. Well, does six still qualify as a "few?" Hmm...

Anyway, here's one song for her fans who missed the live performance!

Blitzen

2010-12-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

As we were unpacking the Christmas boxes today, Mary picked up the Reindeer plates (with clever images which match the reindeer names). She looked at Comet, and said, "Oh, a comet is a type of shooting star, so that's why this reindeer is holding a star."

Then, she glanced at Blitzen. "Hmm....Blitzen is holding a wine bottle. So blitzen must be another name for wine."

Apparently, she began to second-guess her reasoning. After a moment of thoughtful silence, she asked, "But Mom, how come I don't ever hear grown-ups ask for another glass of blitzen?"

Camouflage

2010-12-04T22:41:00.000-08:00

Since Curtis has returned from his annual elk hunting trip, he hasn't felt compelled to shave his beard.

Today, at the US GranPrix of Cyclocross, I finally realized why. It's so that he blends in better with the dirt. Camouflage for the competition.

And speaking of cover ups, I had to look for shelter myself while volunteering in Lucy's preschool class on Thursday. As I was helping children with an art project, I heard Lucy in the middle of an altercation across the room. My ears perked up. Lucy was saying, "Yes, you do kill the elk. It's nature!" while another little girl was fighting back tears, saying, "We don't kill elk and deer!"

Fortunately, the teacher interceded to help explain that Lucy was talking about hunting for food, and skilled educator who she is, she worked it into a little talk about the life cycle. But, as I listened to Lucy insisting that elk must be killed, I certainly could have used some camo of my own...

Blur

2010-11-30T11:18:00.001-08:00

The past few weeks have been a wonderful, fun-filled blur. I'd love to tell you all about it, but unfortunately my free time is packed with consulting and volunteer commitments. Until I have a moment, you can go here to visit Amy's blog and read all about our fabulous Thanksgiving adventures in Bend.

We are so grateful for Amy & Tom's incredible hospitality and for the many blessings in our life at this busy-but-beautiful moment in time.

Compound Words in the 21st Century

2010-11-08T17:42:00.001-08:00

This afternoon, Mary was upstairs playing, "school," making a list with her imaginary class which read:

Compond Words
House/hold
Apple/sause
I/pod
Hair/brush
I/pad

Apparently, as a student of the 21st century, there are a whole host of new options for compound words! When I laughed and explained to her that the iPad and iPod didn't even exist when I was a kid, she looked at me suspiciously and said, "So they were just their own words, and couldn't be compounded? Oh, that's sad."

Sad indeed.

The Mama Bear Instinct

2010-11-08T09:33:00.000-08:00

Every mother has experienced that overwhelming "mama bear" instinct. The I-can't-help-myself reflex to protect her cubs. That reflex is alive and well in this mama bear, let me tell you.

Mary and her sweet pal Molly spend their recess time building caterpillar houses out of sticks and leaves and acorns. They create elaborate homes for those furry black and gold caterpillars we see from time to time, with bath tubs and a swimming pool-- even swings and reinforced rooftops. A wonderful, creative way to spend recess, in my opinion.

But not in the opinion of the evil girl. Maybe I should simply call her misguided. She is, after all, only 8. She trounced out of school, flanked by two boys, and went straight to the tree where the latest caterpillar house had been lovingly and carefully built. She shouted to anyone who cared to listen, "Stupid first graders-- they think fairies are real and they build these dumb houses for them. Dumb girls! How stupid, stupid, stupid!" and then she proceeded to take her foot (oh, yes, you knew this was coming!) and crush and stomp that little caterpillar home until nothing was left of it.

From ten feet away, this mama bear was boiling inside. It took every bit of restraint not to grab her by the collar and march her to the nearest teacher to demand a year of detention and gruel for hot lunch.

Instead, I waited until she looked up from her destruction zone and when she caught my eye, I said firmly, "That was not a nice thing to do." She smirked and walked away, the two boys trailing after.

I was furious that this little girl so wickedly and swiftly destroyed hours of creativity and delight. Until, that is, Mary and Molly came running out of school to continue their work on the caterpillar home. They saw that nothing remained, and Mary said, "Oh, the wind must have knocked it over." And Molly replied, "Well, now we get to build a whole new one and it will be even better!"

So, this mama bear didn't need to rise up and growl after all. These girls still have their sweet souls and their creativity. The misguided second-grader couldn't destroy that. If only we all could handle setbacks with such grace.

Treats

2010-11-01T08:43:00.001-07:00

Luckily, Halloween was filled with only treats in this house. We began the day with Greta consuming and successfully retaining one tablespoon of soft food, which was a great relief.

Then, for the third year in a row, we joined the neighborhood Monster March, in which hundreds of local goblins parade around the block. Each year, it gets bigger and better. We left the parade and marched straight to our friends' home for pizza with the "gang" and a birthday celebration for one sweet lion-clad boy. And, then, we trick-or-treated our way through the streets back to our home.

Of course, our best treat is a mutt who was feeling well enough to greet tricksters at the first ring of our door bell. I've never been so happy to hear her bark!

Carving

2010-10-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

For the first time in nine years, we carved pumpkins without a gray dog at our feet. You see, poor Greta hasn't been able to keep an ounce of food or water down since last night. After some IV fluids and tests at the vet, we're hoping she begins to improve tomorrow. Otherwise, Halloween will be a very scary day for this house.

Flanked by the girls' carvings, here's a pumpkin in ode to our sweet Greta Girl. Who hopefully will be back to her rambunctious, crazy self soon.

When it rains...

2010-10-26T13:35:00.001-07:00

it pours!!

On Sunday, despite torrential rains and wind gusts, I ran a hilly half-marathon with a group of girlfriends and my big (but much littler) sis Amy. Now, when I say that I ran with them, I should clarify that I mean we all left the starting line together. But, they are all speedy gazelles, so I finished well behind them.

Those speedsters all managed to break two hours, and I came rolling in a few minutes after, to cheers and ringing cow bells from Curtis and the girls. But, I was delighted to finish with a smile on my face and without damaging my knees. As Grandma Fisher used to say to me, you are only given one set of knees. So, I tried to use them and not abuse them.

After crossing the finish line, I was meandering through the crowds to get some water when Lucy spotted me from her perch on Curtis' shoulders. She saw the finisher medal around my neck, and exclaimed in surprise, "Mommy, you won! You won!!" Yep, I feel that way, too.

Hip hip...

2010-10-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

Hooray!

Our friends Heather & Pete have just returned from Ethiopia with the incredible news that they have passed court (aka legally adopted) their daughter. And, now that it's official, they can finally share photos of this beautiful little girl.

So, go congratulate sweet Aliyah Meseret on becoming part of an amazing family!!

Calendaring by Weim

2010-10-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

Each season brings markers. Perhaps in your family, it's the absence of leaves on your maple tree. Or, the first morning that you glimpse frost on the rooftops.

At our house, we know that fall is creeping toward winter when we find Greta sleeping under our covers at night. People always look surprised (read: horrified) when we tell them where Greta sleeps. But she really does curl up small. Can you even tell she's under there? Honestly.
By 10am when the room is sufficiently warmed by the sunshine, she usually makes an appearance above the covers. Without even unmaking the bed. Now that is a well-trained mutt.

Cyclocross

2010-10-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

When you're six, the closest thing to heaven is a Cyclocross race. Here's why:

1. Nutella-filled waffles to warm your chilly hands and your belly.

2. Cow-bells to ring to your heart's content.

3. A fun bumpy bike ride, with a ribbon waiting for you at the finish.

Come to think of it, when you're 36, it's still pretty heavenly-- because in addition to all of the above, you get free beer, too.

Parting is such bitter sorrow

2010-10-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

... when the farewell wasn't planned!

This morning, I was up before dawn for a run with girlfriends. I laced my sneakers and sleepily exited the side door, when I noticed our carport's fleet of rides seemed lacking. Then, it dawned on me. My trusty old Cannondale and our Burley trailer were missing! Gone. Vanished. Taken by a thief in the night.

And the thief even had the nerve to leave evidence, in the form of a 32-oz. orange soda in our recycling bin. Hey, it is Portland after all, which means even the crooks try to be green.

Typically, the bike and trailer are under lock and key, but I was lazy yesterday afternoon and forgot. Which is a good reminder to me to be more vigilant. Curtis is convinced that we will catch the perpetrator and is already scheming a sting operation. Wish him luck...and don't attempt to enter our carport after dark unless you want to stumble upon a booby trap!

However, there is a tiny upside here. Curtis has seven bikes, and I now have zero. Which means the next new bike in the family will NOT be for Curtis. A small consolation.

Anticipation

2010-10-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

This weekend was all about anticipation. My wonderful friend Heather is days away from a jet plane ride that will forever change her life. She and her husband are headed to Ethiopia to meet their daughter and formally adopt her. And then fly home and wait an excruciating 3-6 weeks until they can return to Ethiopia to bring her home for good.

On Sunday, Kate and I hosted a celebration with Heather's "village" of friends and family. Every child is anticipated and loved before his or her arrival. But our collective anticipation of sweet little Aliyah is overpowering, palpable, incredible.

Hurry, hurry, Father Time!!

Hip Nana

2010-10-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

We went to visit Nana last week, and would like to officially declare her winner of the "Most Hip Nana Ever Award." She now has an iPad! Seriously, how many other 87-year-olds are this tech-savvy? She is amazing! (And probably reading this blog on her uber-fab iPad, in fact.)

As you can see, Lucy has already begun praying to St. Nicholas that one lands under her chimney this Christmas.

Loebtoberfest

2010-09-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Beer, bratwursts, and Bavaria all graced Curtis' birthday Oktoberfest celebration this weekend. With fantastic decorations and music (thanks to Aunt Patty and Mom), it was a packed Haus of herrs and fraulines for an Oktoberfest party to remember. PROST!!

Adventures of the Wedding Travelers

2010-09-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the gorgeous wedding of cousin Zan and his bride Janna, we spent a long weekend on San Juan Island, which is north of Victoria, B.C. but somehow still in Washington, thanks to curious boundaries drawn by our forefathers.

It was picture-perfect, including time for canoeing, lighthouse viewing, and fun times with our amazing family. And of course, our dancing girl Lucy was once again the Energizer Bunny of the dance floor. (Was there ever any doubt?)

The adventure began with a ferry ride to Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island.

Look who arrived from Alaska: Lucy's "hair-twin"-- Auntie Em!

Uncle Ryan playing, "Catch the baby," with Lucy.

I convinced Amy to do a long run with me. Remind me to never do that again. Amy is way too fit and fast for the likes of me. We got lost on the muddy trails of the island and ended up running an impressive 9.6 hilly miles-- the furthest distance I've run in 12 years! Not so impressive-- I had to stop on several of the hills to catch my breath, as I watched Amy effortlessly climb them like a gazelle.The girls loved time with their cousin Chiara-- including Madrone-climbing.

Mary was so excited when Papa shared a clam shell with her at the Lime Kiln Lighthouse.

The gorgeous Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel at Roche Harbor, with a beautiful hydrangea garland courtesy of Aunt Patty's enviable green thumb.

Janna and Zan were so joyful! (Oh, and yes, this was taken from the very back of the chapel. Fire Marshal Jack Herron did not make an appearance, but we were certainly glad the church survived our crowd.)

The view from the back of the chapel of Roche Harbor. Emily's boyfriend Ben got put to work right away (it's okay, Ben, really, it's a compliment!).

Our dancing queen loved her dance partners, Nathan and the other Emily Buck. Lucy also loved dance time with the original Emily Buck and Ben. And Lucy took this shot of Ryan and Nikki-- a dance queen, and a budding photog. Clearly, a good time was had by all!
(Oh, and sorry in advance, Zan and Janna, for the surprises you'll get when you develop those disposable camera shots. Most of them will look something like this, courtesy of that budding photog:)

It's official

2010-09-14T21:42:00.001-07:00

Okay, no teasing. The old Soccer-mom cliche rings true. Next thing you know, I'll be driving that minivan. God help us.

Back to the important details, though. Mary enjoyed her first opportunity to show some fancy (albeit polite and passive) footwork out on the soccer field. Go SONICS!

Who Cares....

2010-09-14T21:38:00.001-07:00

about the millions of green tomatoes on the vine... when you get to harvest this lovely green broccoli!

The trick to keep 'em little

2010-09-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

Lucy is always good for a quip or two. Here's her latest during dinner last week:
"Mom, you know how you always tell me I need to stop growing so fast?" Lucy asks.
"Yes," I reply.
"Well, I know how I can stop growing."
"How's that?" I inquire.
"By not eating dinners," Lucy says, and then adds, "especially not THIS one!"

But, she's growing anyhow, as you can see from her first day of school pictures.

And, speaking of growing up, Papa Buck celebrated his birthday last week. Mary made him painted ponies for the celebration, in honor of the horses he loved so much on our trip to Central Oregon. Mary did nearly all of the work by herself!

We think Papa appreciated the effort more than the circus peanuts and extra-sticky-sweet-chocolate frosting! (Next year, we'll be sure to make something with oatmeal and figs and raisins, Papa!)

Fall is upon us

2010-08-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Fall is in the air. The air is crisp at night and dusk arrives at the early hour of 8pm. But the surest sign? Our gorgeous hydrangeas have taken on that papery, ashy quality.

Stay tuned for back to school posts...the next sign that a new season is upon us.

Sous Chef Mary

2010-08-24T12:27:00.001-07:00

On today's summertime agenda: nectarine & cream cobbler. Isn't my sous chef magnificent?

Oh, and yes, those are Grandma Fisher's baking cannisters you see. We agreed that she was blessing our cobbler from above because if you think it looked good going into the oven, you should see it out of the oven: a golden and buttery delight.

Kah-nee-ta Nostalgia

2010-08-21T20:00:00.001-07:00

Many times as young children, we were swooped up on cloudy summer days by our sun-loving mama to head to Kah-nee-ta in search of the sun gods of warm springs (and the warm pool). And so my parents asked if they could help us re-live the fun with all of their granddaughters this summer.

The girls loved swimming in the spacious water, complete with the bear sculptures I remember from my youth and the equally strict lifeguards reminding everyone to keep off of them.

After swimming, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the lodge restaurant. And then we decided Lucy had plenty of energy and could use a walk before bedtime. Grandma and Mary led the way, up a rocky, steep hill to the top of the bluff. It was a gorgeous climb. The only problem? We were all in flip flops (or worse, flip-flop heels!), so the trek down was quite a challenge. But, we made it thanks to sure footing and some hand-holding. And those of us in the least stable footwear had to pose for a snapshot as evidence of our survival!

That night, Grandma read stories to the girls on the hotel room's balcony and shared the tradition of finding the first star of the night. And in the morning, the crew awoke bright-eyed and ready to head back to the pool for more splashing and swimming.

How lucky we are to have such generous grandparents. Not only did they allow us to re-live the nostalgia of our childhood, but we were able to form new memories in this special place with our own children.