Crayola: The Art of Childhood

I thought I'd post this one early so that those of you not gone camping for the long weekend and are bored enough to be sitting at home reading blogs (!)... can maybe be inspired to do something fun with/for the kids! Let's see what Crayola's second suggestion is:
Week #2: Turn Your Home Into an Art Gallery
Purchase inexpensive frames and hang your kids' creations around the house. Tape some drawings on the ceiling above the kids' beds to inspire their dreams.

Please tell me if you ever end up doing one of these!

Elijah found the missing bear...

So next time you are at Sears Sevenoaks upper floor keep your eyes open for a teddy bear out of place! Elijah found this teddy bear in the stroller area and showed me. I took a glance then a closer look to read the note tied to it's neck: "bring this bear to the portrait studio for your prize!". Okay! So off we went to claim our prize. We won a free sitting and a 8x10 portrait. This is it! {There was a better shot of us taken that I had chosen, but they couldn't print it out because the photographers arm or something was in the way. Anyway, they printed this one out for us in a few different sheets. I got them all free and we get to go back again next week to re-do our free 8x10!} So keep your eyes open for that bear!

Aldergrove Lake

On Friday, the 18th, Jenelle invited whoever could join her and the kids for a swim at Aldergrove Lake. So I dared myself and took the 4 boys to meet them there! It went really well. Aldergrove Lake is the perfect location for little tykes (Cherith, I know your daughter got some sort of rash after swimming there, but for most of us it's wonderful!)... and they did fantastic. They splashed in the water, running and jumping, playing and throwing sand (ugh). We spent all morning there and had a picnic lunch with Jenelle, Tatiana, and Chase.I even allowed Samuel to venture off the blanket. How can one keep an eye on three 2 year olds in the water while keeping a moving baby confined to a colourful blanket when there is sand just beyond its borders? lol Off he went to see what the big boys were up to!
Thanks, Jenelle, for inviting all of us to these Friday excursions! We are so glad we dared to meet you there... it was a success!

Black Mountain Ranch

The next day we went down to Kurt and Dana's trailer at Black Mountain Ranch for a visit. We had a nice time hanging out, going for walks, swimming, playing on the playground and riding bikes. Alise and Elijah are little buds. It's so cute to watch. Dana even questions if one day we'll be family! lol again. Although the following photos are only Elijah and Alise, the rest of us were there too taking part in all fun!Thanks for a fun day!

7 and a half months...

Look at me! I not only can crawl everywhere and pretty quick too... I can and do stand every chance I get! I started this a week ago and love that I get some neat-o views of the couch, my saucer, my brother and my mom/dad's legs! What a big boy I am!
(My Mom and Dad keep saying that I will be walking by 9 months too, like Brandon... I think I'll prove them right! Stay tuned!)

Bar-b-que time

On Thursday we went out to Aaron and Jen's for a BBQ with the gang. It was great evening for everyone. As Korinne said on her blog, she spent a good chunk of time playing in the huge sand pile with the kids. Elijah loved picking the flower to go onto the top of each sandcastle.Steve and Samuel try to spot the next apple to fall off the tree above them!
Aaron and Jen, thanks for inviting us all out for dinner. We had a spectacular time!

Ten Year Grad Reunion

And I am so disappointed, but I have not a single picture to show off from our Grad Reunion that took place this past weekend. It was a fantastic weekend filled with three events for our class and their families. You'll have to trust me that this happened and that that is how we spent our past weekend!

Fellow Grads: it was a great time visiting with you. See you in another 10 Years!

10 Years Later...

So here we are, 10 years later! In grade 12 we went together to get a portrait done for something fun to do! And this year, during our 10 Year Grad Reunion Weekend, since we were all together, we updated it. Anita, Pamela, me, Alexa and Miriam

Crayola: The Art of Childhood

I found a neat article entitled, "52 Creative Ideas for 52 Weeks of Fun..." by Crayola. I thought it might be fun, if I remember, to post an idea each week. Maybe it will give you something to do with your kids one time...?!
Stay tuned every week for the next idea!

Week #1:
Create an Art Center in Your Kitchen. Organize a shelf or rolling cart with kids' art supplies, and let their creativity flourish while you are nearby.

Oregon Vacation

We spent the last 8 days in Oregon with my family. What a great vacation we had! Lots to do, lots to buy and a bit of relaxing too. Our first stop was Seaside. The weather wasn't the greatest this time around on the beach, but the boys still had fun in the sand.Samuel's turn to eat the sand now! Elijah did that his first summer there tooIn one of our walks through the little town, Matt Paul and Carla did the Bumper Cars and the three of them and Mom and I went on the Tilt-a-whirl. What a blast! Laughing and squishing Paul in the middleI don't think the ride had even begun yet and Matt's already practicing his scream!

We stayed in Seaside for one night and then off to Portland for the week...

Some of us bought a City Attractions Pass that kept us busy throughout the week. On Monday Mom, Carla, Samuel and I went to the Rose Test Garden and the Japanese Gardens while Paul, Dad, Jason and Elijah went to the World Forestry Museum (which wasn't as bad as it sounds!).
Portland is the City of Roses... it was delightful to walk amongst rows and rows of rosesJapanese Gardens: Grandma and SamIn the afternoon Jason, the boys and I went to Portland's Children's Museum; Elijah had a great time there playing in a water zone, Kids Cafe, clay creating...and this rubber pit

one of the attractions was the Oregon Zoo. Elijah went with my family one day and a second time with us another day this week, lucky boy! He loved running from exhibit to exhibit of giraffes, bears, meerkats, monkeys......and of course, Penguins
Samuel liked it too. I noticed he tried to interact with the elk actually, it was very cute!Asian Elephant

Since Matt and Paul were going home on Wednesday, we celebrated Carla's birthday early in the week at Red Robin. The crew came out to sing and everything for her, which she enjoyed! Happy Birthday Carla!After dinner we went for a walk to the Willamette River... Elijah was in his glory all week having his Uncles, Aunt and Grandparents with us!the Family

On Wednesday before Matt and Paul left, we took a drive out to Multnomah Falls. Along the Scenic Route, we stopped at this gorgeous look out over the Columbia RiverJason and SamuelCan you spot anyone up on the bridge? Matt, Jason, Paul, Carla and Dad are all up there for a closer look. Jason and Matt continued on for a 2 mile round trip hike to the top of the Falls. (these are the Falls talked about in the Glenbrooke Series, Alexa)

The rest of the week included the OMSI (Portland's "science world"), Chinese Gardens, Art Museum and lots I mean LOTS of shopping with even more deals than we could imagine! One store called Frank and Meier had a huge sale going on as it changes hands into a Macy's... it was a 4 floor store with racks upon racks upon racks of 60% off last ticketed price. So, we went there 3 times to comb the racks and bring home bags and bags of clothes.Grandpa holds Samuel to give him a change of pace from being in the stroller or on my back. the local Transit system has a street train called the Max...which has a Fareless Square circling downtown Portland. We rode this a few times... Elijah loved the train! Choo choo