Cousin Sleepover

With Amy and Tom away in California for a few days, we enjoyed time with our sweet cousins. From water gun fights at the lake to bubble baths to neighborhood strolls for frozen yogurt, fun was had by all! 

Team Jess

In March, one of our dear friends was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer. As a mom to two little girls, she was determined to win the fight-- and to ignore the fright. Her motto became, "Focus on the Fight, not the Fright." And true to her brave and courageous spirit, that's exactly what she did and continues to do. In July, she entered OHSU for the grueling process of inductive chemo and a bone marrow transplant. 

That same week, the Be the Match organization held its annual 5k run/walk downtown. As anyone on the sidelines of cancer understands, Jess' group of friends wanted to do "something" to help ease the burden. There's a sense of helplessness to watch a friend fight a battle without being able to step in and take over when her own body gets exhausted. And so, we did what we could to support Jess-- including creating "Team Jess" for the Be the Match event. 

While we were huffing and puffing through the streets of Portland during the race, we had a view of the hospital up on the hill where Jess was enduring unbelievable doses of strong chemo. Thinking of her struggle, I (and surely many others running alongside me) silently sent prayers up to her room as we weaved through the streets of Portland. It was a powerful and wonderful day. 

Two days later, Jess received her bone marrow transplant, using her brother's stem cells, and is doing remarkably well. For this, I am grateful beyond measure. 

Ironman Idaho

Our bi-annual Buck vacation this year was in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.

The first task of the trip was to be the Support Crew for Ryan and his friend Pete who competed in Ironman Idaho. What an athletic accomplishment! It was even a feat to SPECTATE, some might argue (particularly Liesl who fell asleep mid-French fry when we stopped to grab a bite to eat)!

The energy and spirit of the race were inspiring. Ryan completed the race in under 12 hours, with a big grin as we cheered him through the finishing chute.

Next up on the agenda: relaxation! Well, relaxation of the Buck variety-- meaning long bike rides and daily runs on the nearby trail, and plenty of water fights, swimming and paddling in the lake. It was a good thing we were so active, since each day was capped by another Buck tradition: Amy's gourmet meals.

The lake was ideal for spotting wildlife including blue herons and even a moose right outside our door. The Fourth of July brought a charming lake tradition, the annual boat parade, by our dock.

It was a wonderful week and we are grateful to Ryan for the impetus of this trip. So: who is doing the next big event so we can plan Buck Vacation 2016?

A Gr-8 Day for Lucy Ladybug

Our little Lucy ladybug celebrated her 8th birthday with a cake (decorated largely by her big sister) and a gaggle of friends who came to eat, drink, and be merry.

Best of all, our animal-loving girl asked for donations to the Humane Society in lieu of gifts and was able to make a wonderful donation to a cause close to her heart. Which, as her mom, melts my heart.

First Communion

There are those rare days when a mama simply gets to bask in the goodness of her children. Yesterday was one of those days. Lucy's First Communion was celebrated with our dear cousins, grandparents, and our amazing circle of St. Agatha friends. By all measures, it was a day overflowing with love and joy for our Lu.

Double digits

Mary's entrance into the double-digits was marked by two huge milestones: her first published piece of writing and her first public reading.

She submitted a poem to a statewide anthology project, Honoring Our Rivers. Lo and behold, her piece was selected to be part of the publication. On the heels of that news, she was invited to read her poem at Powell's bookstore, along with other student contributors.

And so on her birthday, we joined the large audience at Powell's to hear her poem. Though the room was packed to the gills, Mary did not show any signs of trepidation. Her voice was clear and bright as she read her poem to the crowd.

This girl, with those twinkling blues and creativity in spades, is already blazing quite the trail. I can't wait to see what she accomplishes in her next ten years.

Talk about a bear hug!