The Grass Family Chronicles

Every year, the Oregon Symphony performs a free concert at Waterfront Park in Portland. I read about it in the newspaper earlier this week and thought it would be a fun thing to check out. We packed up a picnic and headed off with no expectations. It turned out to be a wonderful time! The weather was beautiful and we found a nice spot right across from a little beach access area where the boys played until it was time for the concert to start. They really got into the music! Jakey sat on my lap and listened very intently for a while. Then he got up to dance. Andy got a plastic knife and was using it as his baton. He actually started crying when we said it was time to leave. Caleb sat with Daddy and really enjoyed taking it all in. It's definitely something we'll be doing next year!

Posted in: on Sunday, August 31, 2008 at at 8:50 PM 3 comments  

We've come so far with swimming. There used to be lots of tears associated with going to swimming lessons, but the boys have really learned to enjoy them, and even more important, enjoy the water while learning to swim! Teacher Melanie was a big part of that, and we will miss her as she goes off to college.



They can both float on their backs and fronts, and do some great front strokes. Caleb especially is getting very good and has even learned to take breaths while swimming!

Posted in: on at at 8:35 PM 0 comments  

We spent last weekend at the beach with Grandma and Grandpa. The weather was unusually mild and we took full advantage of it!





The boys really loved playing in the sand. We buried them in "Jedi Fighter Jets" and they pretended to fly around in them. Poor Andy was knocked down by a wave the evening before, so he wasn't that excited about playing in the water, but we waded a little bit. Caleb was really into it, though. He loved chasing those waves!

Posted in: on at at 7:50 PM 0 comments  

Today was Caleb's soccer jamboree. We all went to cheer him on! First, there was a soccer clinic lead by England's National Junior team. Fancy!




The weather was really hot - we are having record three-digit temperatures! The kids cooled off with lots of water breaks and we eventually just started pouring water on Caleb's head. Poor kid never complained though; he was really into it!



After the clinic, his team, Red Lightning, had a practice game with the Blue Monkeys. Caleb was a little hesitant at first, but really enjoyed himself. He even ran to guard the goal when the other team got closer!



It's shaping up to be a fun season!

Posted in: on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at at 4:04 PM 1 comments  

The other day, Caleb and Andy wanted me to take pictures of them making different kinds of faces. It's so rare that they actually WANT me to take pictures of them, that I jumped at the chance to do it. Here's what they came up with:

Here's Andy's "Ha-YAH!" face:



Caleb's Mad Face:



Andy's Laughing but trying to be Mad Face:



Caleb and Andy's thinking faces:

Posted in: on at at 3:59 PM 0 comments  

Our kids sure like corn! Jakey especially has been enjoying it. He's quite good at getting it off the cob. Good thing he has all those teeth! I hope you've been enjoying the great summer produce as well.

Posted in: on at at 3:54 PM 0 comments  

I packed a few books for the boys when they went camping, and when they got back the first thing Andy wanted to do was "read" me this book.

Posted in: on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at at 12:41 PM 2 comments  

Here's the my first video:

Posted in: on at at 12:40 PM 1 comments  

Joshua got me this awesome video recorder for my birthday, a Flip Video. It is so fun and easy, so I will be posting lots more videos now!

Posted in: on Monday, August 11, 2008 at at 8:29 AM 0 comments  

Sorry for the infrequent posting, folks. It's been busier that usual around here. Let's see, we've done lots of berry picking, although I forgot my camera for the blueberries. We had Venture Camp at church. Caleb was an actual camper! Andy and Jakey stayed at the daycare while I took pictures and taught classes. All of the aunts and uncles were here for a while and that was tons of fun. The boys were seriously besides themselves! Caleb and Andy went on a camping trip with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Peggy, Uncle Michael and Aunt Becky. Again, overwhelming fun for them. We got Caleb signed up for soccer and he things he's hot stuff in his cool gear. We took a fun trip to the Great Wolf Lodge.

Some other big news is that I've taken on a temporary job with Paul's company. It has been a bit of an adjustment, but I think we're doing all right. We have a babysitter that comes in the morning and I leave and go to a coffee shop or Grandma and Grandpa's.

I think that's all I can think of for now. I'll try to finish off the summer with more posting!

Posted in: on Friday, August 8, 2008 at at 9:10 PM 1 comments