Whale Tales

Off to Kindergarten I Go

2011-09-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY started Kindergarten this past week. It seemed like all my friends had started before me so I was ready when my first day came. I didn't appear to be nervous at all that morning, especially when I saw some familiar faces upon entering my classroom. My baby sister, however... well, that was a different story. Esther didn't want to leave without me and caused quite a scene as Mom tried to say goodbye and whisk her screaming child out in mother-of-the year fashion (a.k.a. purse and camera on one arm, 2-year-old under the other). Oh yes, and try picturing all this in a very quiet Montessori classroom. Perfect memory for our family. :-)

Here we are getting ready to leave the house.

By my cubby in the classroom.

And for fun, here is a collage with photos of my first day of three year old preschool, first day of pre-K, and Kindergarten. I'm definitely a big kid now. :-)

Star Wars Birthday Party

2011-06-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

I celebrated my 5th birthday in style this past weekend, Star Wars style that is. Mom and Nana had a lot of fun planning my party. I picked out some fabric I liked and with a 50% off coupon in tow, they bought enough to make a banner, flags, two table runners, silhouette pictures and cover the mirror above our buffet in the dining room. My favorite color is blue so blue felt was used to accent the black star/galaxy fabric.

Mom made lightsabers for all my friends using only pool noodles and black and silver duct tape. :-)

Our lighsaber treats were chocolate dipped pretzels. Yum!

Mom's very talented friend, Melissa, made my awesome R2D2 cake. I loved it!

We kids had a great time playing games. As part of our Jedi training, we were timed while trying to keep a balloon up in the air using only our lightsaber. Next, we practiced our aiming skills by shooting wall decals of characters from the dark side.

Then we went outside and we were given the task of destroying evil droids which were dropped down on us from above. After that, we played a Star Wars version of Simon Says, "Obi-Wan Says."

Finally, we were ready to go up against the death star. Together we overthrew the Galactic Empire!

After all that work, it was time to celebrate with food and cake.

And lastly, I opened up presents from my wonderful friends and family.

After the party was over Mom asked if I had a good time. I enthusiastically answered, "Of course I did!" What a perfect way to turn five!

Soccer Season Starts!

2011-03-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

It's my first season playing soccer, but I'm certain I'll keep playing until I make it to the big leagues. In fact, I've been telling people for months that I'm playing on the Portland Timbers team. :-)

My buddy, Michael, is on my team. Needless to say, we're going to have a blast playing soccer together!

Can't wait for my first game!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-13T15:03:00.000-08:00

Me: "Mom, I want to get a Valentine's day card to give my best friend."

Mom: "You do? That's sweet of you. Who would you like to give this card to?"

Me: "Probably Esther." And, of course, she then melts.

There is so much fun to be had when your sibling is also your best friend.

Snow, Snow, Snow!!

2011-02-07T15:10:00.001-08:00

We aren't enduring snow storms like those folks on the east coast, but we are about 45 minutes away from the mountain and thus can enjoy the snow when we want. We've been up to the mountain a couple times already and so here are a few pictures from these fun visits.

We went sledding with some friends one day and I LOVED it!!

We also went up to Government Camp when Aunt Carrie and my cousin, Job, visited from Houston.

Esther loved the snow too. :-)

Dad says he may even take me skiing for the first time this year. Woohoo! I love snow!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-23T22:14:00.000-08:00

The Christmas holiday is almost upon us and I am most definitely looking forward to it with much anticipation. Here are a few traditions we have in our family this time of year.

We always go to Zoo Lights, one of my favorite holiday activities. Every year it gets better and better. This year we lucked out and went on a warm night. We met up with some friends who are also Oregon Zoo members so it was lots of fun.

Kate, Bodhi and me

We also visited Santa. I was very excited to see Santa, despite the fact that we don't really do the Santa thing in our family. Esther, however, was not too thrilled with the guy in the red suit. Luckily, they managed to get one quick photo before the screams of terror began.

We decorated (and ate plenty of) cookies with friends.

Me and Kate enjoying our tasty treats.

This year we also rode the Holiday Express Train. I was thrilled to finally ride on a full-size steam engine. We went with our friends, the Smiths. Both of us forgot our cameras for the actual train ride, but Mom had hers in the car so we snapped a quick photo of our group before heading out.
Can you spot the unhappy person in the photo?

The train would blow it's very loud whistle and let off steam every few minutes and it happened to do just that right before this photo was taken. My poor little sister was not a fan.

We also made gingerbread trains later that day with the Smith family. Michael and I got distracted by all the toys though and Mom had a rough time keeping our little gingerbread train together! Yikes! Here she is with her train and her friend, Melissa, with her train. Melissa wants to have a gingerbread house making contest. Wonder who would win...

And here's one of us kids.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-11T16:13:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the late post on Halloween and sorry for my lack of blogging in general. My sister and I in our costumes were too cute not to share, so hold on to your hats. We may be the cutest Peter Pan and Tinkerbell you've ever seen. :)

Here's one Mom snapped of us together in the backyard.

And here's one of us with Wendy a.k.a Kate and Captain Hook a.k.a. Jameson. Aren't we the cutest?!

Unfortunately, Mom didn't get a whole lot of good photos of us trick-or-treating because this is what we looked like once we started off.

Couldn't even stop for a picture. Oh well. At least she thought to snap a few beforehand. ;)

Edgefield

2010-09-14T16:22:00.001-07:00

Mom took some photos earlier this summer of us kids at Edgefield (see my sister's blog) and then decided to take me out again a few weeks ago for a few of just me. Here are a few favorites...

So now we have some outdoor photos of me at four years old. :)

Camping Birthday Party

2010-06-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

As you know, I turned four earlier this month. To celebrate the day, my parents threw me a camping theme birthday party. I love pretending to camp in the living room so we had big plans to go to a park, set up a tent, have a scavenger hunt, roast hot dogs and marsmallows... yada, yada, yada... BUT, Spring 2010 has been miserably rainy. We had to change our plans and have the party inside at home. Bummer.

However, I was totally stoked the day of the party and didn't seem to mind much at all that we had to have it at home. I was just so excited the day of my party had finally arrived! We did set up a small play tent and even roasted marshmallows on an electric barbeque. Mom made some yummy "dirt cupcakes" (thank you Paula Deen for the excellent recipe!) that were enjoyed by all. I really did have a wonderful time and was so thankful my friends and family were there to celebrate with me.

Here are a few photos from my party:

A group shot in front of the tent. One or two of my friends may have snuck out of this photo-op.

Here we are roasting marshmallows out on our deck. Nana brought this electric barbeque and it sure came in handy!

I got a lot of help from my friends while opening my presents. They were just as excited as I was!

I gave each of my friends a favor bag that contained the following: a flashlight, compass, whistle, travel toothbrush, and granola bar.

The flashlights were definitely a hit!

I am so lucky to have great friends!

Almost Four

2010-06-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

My birthday can't come soon enough this year. I ask my parents every day if today is my birthday and they keep telling me "Not yet." Grr... well I did celebrate with my friends already and will soon post photos from my party, but here are a few photos Mom took of just me the other day. Knowing Mom, we will probably still take some outdoor photos when the weather gets nice.

Mom says tomorrow is my birthday. Let's hope so! I'm getting anxious to tell people I'm four!

"Is it sunny today?"

2010-04-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

Usually the first thing I ask Mom when I wake up in the morning is, "Is it sunny today?" Spring is here and I could not be happier. We've been going to the park a lot recently and I also love to ride my tricycle and new bicycle outside.

On the weekends we usually try to do something fun outside, if it is nice. Lots of times we head out to the gorge and do a little hiking. Here I am with Daddy at Multnomah Falls.

One weekend we headed down south to Detroit Lake. I had a lot of fun playing in the water. Boy, was it a good thing I wore my boots that day!

We also like to go to our Oregon Zoo whenever we get a chance. It's great being a member because we can go as often as we like and never feel like we have to see everything in one day. Oh yes, and if you're wondering, this is one of my new smiles.

Of course, my favorite thing to do at the zoo is ride the zoo train. :)

A few photos

2010-03-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

Mom was taking photos of Esther a few weeks ago and I shocked her by saying I wanted to have my photo taken too. Normally I shy away from the camera, but I was in an ultra good mood and wanted to show off my great smile. :)

Love for me is Family

2010-02-21T22:36:00.000-08:00

February hosts Valentines day so I thought I'd post a few photos of myself with the people I love most. It's been a fun month. Lots of rain, yes, but also quite a few sunny days too. Can't wait to get outside even more now!

Mom has taken quite a few photos of me with my sister. Esther just lights up whenever she sees me. She also loves to get hugs and kisses. Here I am playing with her and her fancy floor gym.

Here I am with my Dad on his 28th birthday. I adore my Dad and often say, "When I grow up, I want to be just like Danny (that's how I say "Daddy") and work in the city."

Allie and I like to cuddle. Mom caught one of these moments with her camera the other day. We are so lucky to have the sweetest kitty. She puts up with a lot from us kids.

And just in case you didn't know, Esther has her own blog at estherdyk.com. She posts on there, like me, from time to time. Here is a photo Mom took of her at 5 months. She's getting so big! We all love our baby girl!

Got Cabin Fever?

2010-01-30T14:20:00.001-08:00

We had one day of snow last month, but for the most part it's just been another cold and rainy winter season here in the Pacific NW. Although I do miss playing in the outdoors, I have found a few fun ways to pass the time while stuck inside. Here are a few of my favorite wintertime activities.

I love to help Mom cook, but baking is really my thing. We have made many, many batches of cookies this winter season. Putting the sprinkes on the cookies is my favorite part!

My new favorite activity is camping. I have always loved playing in my Thomas tent, but one night Dad and I brought all my blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals in my tent, grabbed a flashlight, turned off all the lights, turned on the fire, grabbed a marshmallow and called it "camping." It has been a daily tradition ever since. Mom got tired of bringing all my bedding downstairs so Nana made a sleeping bag for me to keep downstairs and I also now have a special "camping" pillow reserved for this fun activity. Often times I want Esther to join me in the camping fun.

I still love to play trains too. It's always fun when I have a friend to play with, so just be forewarned that if you ever visit, I will probably ask if you'd like to play trains with me.

The last few weeks have given us a few dry and warmer days so we've ventured outside to our favorite local park a few times. I even got to ride a tricycle a few times. Yes, I am definitely ready for spring.

Our Happy Holiday

2010-01-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

This Christmas business just keeps getting better and better each year. I loved it last year, but I REALLY loved it this year. I loved all the family I got to see, all the cookie making, all the lights, and of course, all the presents. Ever since that wondrous day passed, I have been asking for Christmas to happen all over again. Mom keeps telling me to look forward to my birthday because it will come again sooner, but I really would prefer Christmas and all the festivities that go with it. Oh well, guess I will join her in the pre-planning of my birthday party (do you think she may only be trying to distract me from my constant requests for another Christmas?). At this point in time, I would like a superhero themed party. We'll see if that idea sticks around come June.

My family has a tradition of opening up stockings and one present on Christmas Eve. So, here I am finally able to open a few presents! Can you guess I was a little excited?

Esther had a fun time too. Here she is with Uncle Bill.

She got a cabbage patch doll for Christmas. Looks kind of like her, doesn't it?

The morning of Christmas. I asked Santa for Murdoch the train and was so incredibly excited to see him that morning!

Here I am making cookies with my aunt Carrie. She and Uncle Mike came to visit a week before Christmas and it was so much fun having them here. I LOVE to bake/cook and I really, really love my aunt Carrie. She and I had a blast during our most recent visit and I can't wait to see her and Uncle Mike again! I also can't wait to meet my new cousin!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Happy Late Thanksgiving!

2009-12-13T20:35:00.000-08:00

We had a great time celebrating Thanksgiving this year. We ended up spending Thanksgiving day with Mom's family and a few friends without family nearby, but we also got to see my grandma and grandpa Dyk that same week. We were able to do some fun stuff with them during their stay. Everyone knows I love the zoo, but there's one thing that can make the zoo even better... lights! Yep, we did Zoo Lights with Grandma and Grandpa and even though it was pretty cold, we had fun seeing the lights and animals that were still up.

Esther was a trooper all through the evening and eventually fell asleep in the stroller.

We also went to see the tree in downtown Portland one night during their stay.

We stopped off at Starbucks for a tasty beverage to warm us all up!

Here we are goofing around at a super yummy Ethiopian restaurant.

It was a great way to spend the holiday! Thanks for coming to visit, Grandma and
Grandpa Dyk!

Happy Halloween

2009-11-06T22:05:00.000-08:00

This year we trick-or-treated in Bodhi's neighborhood and I had a great time! Kate, Bodhi and I got the hang of it real quick and hit up quite a few houses.

Bodhi had some cool Halloween decorations at his house!

In case you can't tell, I was Woody (okay, really I just look like a cowboy sheriff) from Toy Story. Kate was a cowgirl so we looked pretty cute together. :)

Esther was given a hand-me-down chili pepper costume. She was so cozy in it, she fell asleep just after we started trick-or-treating.

Even though this photo turned out kind of blurry, it shows our whole family together this Halloween. We had a great time!

Mom also took these photos of us in our costumes.

Esther was pretty tired so we had a hard time getting one of us together. Oh well.

Happy Halloween!

Mom Turns 30

2009-10-16T22:34:00.000-07:00

Mom turned 30 this past week and her friends threw a surprise 80's roller skating party for her. My friends and I had a blast learning to skate and Mom had a ton of fun hanging out with her friends and family.

Esther didn't skate, but she was there and did a good job of being cute.

Mom felt very loved and I think may have even gone a bit overboard with the whole feeling young again thing.

She says the only thing she wishes she had done differently in these 30 years is to have already gone to Hawaii. Ha! Just kidding. Mom says she feels she has been very, very blessed in life. She has many things to be thankful for: a wonderful loving husband, two beautiful children and many wonderful friends and family who have loved her over her lifetime. Thanks to everyone who helped pull off a wonderful surprise birthday party for my mom!

First Bowling Experience

2009-10-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

I went bowling with my family for the first time. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to go again. My buddy, Bodhi, is pretty into bowling and showed me his tricks to the game. I definitely think I will need to get a bowling shirt with my name on it to be as good as him!

I love bowling!

Teddy Bear Parade

2009-09-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I got to be in my first parade! Every year Gresham puts on a Teddy Bear Parade and last year I was on the side-lines, but this year I was IN the parade with my preschool. I talked about it every day the week leading up to it and was so excited when the day of the parade finally arrived. Here are some photos from the day.

Me in the parade! I have a serious look on my face because we were supposed to keep moving at a pretty fast pace!

Me and Esther before the parade began

The whole family

First Day of Pre-school

2009-09-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

I attended my first day of preschool today at Scribbles Preschool. It was a lot of fun! I got to make a couple art projects using glue and markers, played games, sang some songs, had snack and got to play outside too! I told Mom I'd like to go again so that made her very happy. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go when we talked about it earlier this week, but after seeing all the fun things we plan to do each day, I'm all for it now. :)

My New Sister!

2009-09-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I got to stay with my Nana & Papa in Camas last night, and then this morning we got to get up early and go see my Mom, Dad, and my new baby sister, Esther Jane Dyk!

She was born this morning at 6:49AM (just 2 1/2 hours after my parents woke up!). She was 10 Lbs and 21.5" long! That is quite a bit bigger than I was! She is very cute, with dark hair right now, chubby cheeks.

Here are some photos of me with her, and also with my Uncle Bill and Nana.

First Trip to Dentist

2009-08-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

I visited the dentist for the first time yesterday. It was a great experience! My dentist office is not your average dentist office, I must admit. It's got a super fun waiting room with computers, a kitchen, castle table (kind of like my train table) and a train that chugs along the room up by the ceiling.

When it was my turn to go in to see the dentist, I got to pick out a movie to watch. I watched a Thomas movie, of course. I did great during my cleaning and check-up, opening wide and didn't complain at all through the process. I even smiled super big for mom when it was over. My dentist said I have really healthy teeth and so I got to pick out two toys on my way out! I got a bumpy ball and yo-yo. I already asked Mom if I could go back again!

A Very Busy Hot Summer

2009-08-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

It has been hot, hot, hot here. We've had temps in the 90's and even up into the mid 100's, which is not at all like what we're used to. We've kept busy still and so here are a few highlights of the past few weeks.

Our friends, Kristi and Phil, got married at the beach a few weekends ago and it was a beautiful wedding. It was nice to get away from the heat for a few days too! Mom took photos for them and I had a great time running around outside in the big grassy field right outside the reception hall (an old school house - so cute!).

The happy couple

Me with my friends at the wedding. Kate and I like to hold hands.

I did a lot of dancing too!

I had a great time playing at the beach the next day.

On our way out of town, we stopped in Ilwaco for Railroad Days. I had a great time seeing all the trains! This one was my favorite. I wonder why? Can you see Thomas and Percy in the photo? I keep asking to go back so I can see that train again.

A week ago, we went to a birthday party for my aunt Melanie which is always held at her parents house. They live on the Washougal River and have a huge yard. There were sprinklers, a couple pools, a playhouse, and beach balls to play with. It is always a great time!

This past weekend my mom's cousin, Cameron, visited before he left for Japan where he will teach English. We visited Mt. St. Helens with him and I had fun running around in the volcanic playground and seeing the elk through the big telescope. The mountain was pretty cool too, but it was kind of hazy so we didn't get the best view.

The volcanic slide

Checking out the elk

I got to talk to my cousin, Dominic, over skype, which means I can see him on the computer while talking to him. I am looking forward to talking to him again when he gets to Japan! Maybe I'll even get to visit him while they are living in Japan!

My Aunt Carrie also came down to visit this past weekend. She is on her way to Mississippi where she will spend the next two years at seminary with her husband, Mike. We had a picnic lunch at Blue Lake Park with her and it was a lot of fun being outside. I even got to play in the fountains with my buddy, Bodhi, who also showed up with his family.

We will miss having Carrie and Mike so close but wish them all the best as they begin a new life in Jackson, Mississippi!

Mt. Hood Activities

2009-07-13T14:23:00.001-07:00

Last week Mom and I met up with Meadow and her mom, Jocelyn, to visit the Wildwood Recreation Area. We went on a little hike and then had a picnic lunch near the playground. Meadow is very lucky to live in the Mt. Hood area. It is beautiful!

Then yesterday my aunt Carrie visited and we drove up to Mt. Hood's Timberline Lodge. It was fun checking out the lodge, but I had the most fun playing in the snow. Now I can't wait for winter to come again!
It was pretty foggy up there, but Mom found this photo of the lodge online so you could see what it might look like on a clear day with the mountain behind.

The fireplace at Timberline is the largest in the Pacific Northwest. Above is a photo of Dad and Aunt Carrie with the fireplace taken on the first floor. Mom found this photo online since we forgot to take a photo of just the fireplace.

Mom and Dad on the second floor with the fireplace behind them. It was quite impressive!

I really liked the snow! Slippery, but fun!

4th of July in Seattle

2009-07-05T22:28:00.000-07:00

My mom and dad planned a fun little trip to Seattle over the weekend of the 4th this year. We were only there two days, but we packed in a lot of fun activities. The best part of the trip was getting there and back. We took the train (the Amtrak train, as I like to tell people) and the scenery from the train is awesome. I had fun meeting people on the train, watching movies, wandering around and just looking out the window. It was well worth it to go without our own car for a few days.

We also got to see my aunt Carrrie, who lives in the Seattle area. She was gracious enough to drive us around while there and we had a ton of fun celebrating the holiday with her. We decided to take the ferry to Bainbridge Island, hang out for a few hours there and then hop back on the ferry just before the firework display began at 10:00. Unfortunately, the show we were expecting to see got cancelled, which would have allowed to us have a great view of some fireworks, but we did see some off in the distance. Overall, it was a great time and we are happy with the way our 4th of July activities turned out.

Here's a photo of Me, Dad and Aunt Carrie on the ferry just about to head to Bainbridge Island from Seattle.

Our family just as we docked at the island.

We enjoyed some live music while hanging out in the downtown of Bainbridge Island. I had a blast dancing and playing with my balloons.

The next day we took the Monorail from downtown Seattle, where our hotel was, to the Space Needle. It runs above the city streets and is a pretty short ride, but I thought it was fun. If you ever ride it, sit up front for the best view!

Dad and me being silly on the Monorail. I'm wearing the shirt my Aunt Carrie and Uncle Mike got for me when they last visited Hawaii. Pretty cool, huh?

I also had some fun playing in the big fountain by the Key Arena. I got a little scared when the water shot out at me getting me all wet, but I told Mom and Dad I'd like to go back again someday anyway.

I was brave enough to go up and touch the center of the fountain!

After that, Carrie met up with us and we went to Snoqualmie to see a train museum. Just my luck... more trains! We got to check out all sorts of old trains and various cars up close, which I loved.

Check out this HUGE log on an old log car!

We took a walk that passed by a bunch of old trains that were partially disintegrated. It was fun seeing them all up close, especially the old steam engines.

Last but not least, we stopped off at Snoqualmie Falls. It was super busy, but we thought it was definitely worth stopping for, especially since it was only a mile from the train museum. :)

Hope you all had a happy 4th of July!

Thomas Day Out

2009-07-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

As part of my birthday gift from Mom and Dad, I got tickets to Thomas Day Out. I have been talking about seeing Thomas ever since my birthday and was thrilled when the day finally arrived. I went with Mom and Nana, Kate, Sara and Grandma Jill. We went on a night when hardly any other kids were there and basically had the run of the place. Of course, I was totally thrilled when Thomas pulled up and it was time to climb aboard. Here are a few photos from our fun day.

On the shuttle bus to the train station. :)

Here we are with the balloon guy. I had him make me a yellow dinosaur.

I got to meet Sir Topham Hatt too!

I also got a Harold tattoo!

There was a petting zoo with all sorts of cute animals.

We had a ton of fun on the bouncy house.

The highlight of my day was meeting Thomas! The sun was so bright in our eyes, it was hard to look at the camera.

And here we are on the train, ready to go!

We got these cool 3D glasses and wore them much of the trip.

What a fun outing it was. I keep asking Mom to ride on Thomas again and she says we can go the next time he comes to town (next year). Yay! Can't wait!

Outdoor Adventures in the NW

2009-06-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

My Oma, or Grandma Dyk, came to visit this past week and because the NW is just beautiful this time of year, we did a few fun activities outdoors. On Father's Day we drove down to Silver Falls and spent the morning and early afternoon there enjoying the awesome park and scenery. The drive (we took different routes to and from) was amazing and overall we had a great time.

I had fun playing behind the waterfall. It was like a little cave back there!

Here we all are behind the falls.

And here's one of just the falls. There are a total of 10 waterfalls in the park. We just saw the main one at the south falls.

Mom made stuffed peppers and strawberry shortcake (Dad's favorites) for dinner and we relaxed and watched a movie together before heading to bed. Love you, Dad! You are the best!

Then on Tuesday we went out to Timothy Lake. Timothy Lake is very close to Mt. Hood and is just a wonderful sight to see (if you ever come out this way). I had a blast playing in the water and checking out the park/campground. We hope to go back again someday and camp overnight.

I am glad we had some sand toys for me to play with, but I sure wish I had brought my river shoes with me so I could get in and have some real fun.

Look at this huge log! It took awhile for me to climb up onto it. Of course, I would not let Mom or Grandma help me at all.

We found a picnic table right next to the lake where we had the best view while eating our lunch.

Thanks for coming to visit Oma Dyk! We love you and can't wait to see you again!

Three Year Pictures

2009-06-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Mom did much better this year getting my pictures taken close to my birthday. We went to the Academy in downtown Vancouver to take them. Thank you, Susanne, for the photoshop actions. Mom thought they were fun and easy to use!

Turning Three

2009-06-11T19:14:00.000-07:00

I had a fun party to celebrate my birthday, but then I had a lot of fun on my actual birthday too. Mom and I went to Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver with Kate and Sara and had lunch at a cute little gelato/panini shop.

On the evening of my birthday I went to Chevy's with Nana, Papa, Uncle Bill and Aunt Mary. I got a free meal (with ice cream) and a sombrero to take home. It was a super fun day!

At Chevy's

Here are a few photos to show how I've grown in the last three years.

Here I am as a newborn.

At One.

At Two.

At Three (more 3 year photos coming soon).

Mom and Dad are pretty proud of the accomplishments I've made this year. I sleep great in my big boy bed and have recently become toilet trained, just to name a few. Here's hoping this coming year is even better than the last!

My Favorite Time of Year

2009-06-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

I love spring in the NW because we live in such a beautiful place and when it's not raining I get to go outside and enjoy my surroundings. Here are a few photos of my recent outdoor activities.

A couple weeks back a bunch of us got together for a bbq at the Salsigs and they had a slip n' slide set up in the backyard for us kids to play on. I LOVED it!

I got a little cold, so every once in awhile I'd wrap up in a towel with Dad to get warm.

I also went to the zoo with Kate and had a great time. We caught the bird show and even though we have had a zoo membership this past year and thus have gone lots, I never seem to catch the bird show. It was a lot of fun seeing those big birds up close!
Here is a photo of Kate and I waiting for the bird show to start.

Mom and Me hanging out by the elephants.

I think Nana has an old picture of Mom on this goat statue when she was about my age.

This week I went out to to visit my friend, Meadow. She lives right on the Sandy River and basically has a "beach" for a backyard. I couldn't wait to go play in the sand and have been asking for weeks to "go to the beach at Meadow's." We had a blast getting all dirty and wet.

We had fun throwing sand in this little pool of warmer water we found next to the river.

Then we decided we'd go in it and that was fun too!

After we got all cleaned up using her outdoor warm water faucet, we had lunch and played some more inside. It was fun playing peek-a-boo in a big box she had that we both fit in. What a fun day!

Most of all, I love riding my tricycle outside. I got a scooter for my birthday and I'm sure I'll enjoy riding it more and more as I get used to it, but for now my trike is the thing I enjoy most in life (that and trains).

Here I am on my scooter.

After about 5 minutes on my scooter the other day, I asked for my trike. :)

My Thomas Birthday

2009-06-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

On Saturday of this past weekend we celebrated my 3rd birthday. I have been making it known for months now that I wanted a Thomas birthday so that is what we did. It was a lot of fun, mostly because I had so many of my friends there. We met at our local park and played on the playground before having lunch and then did some fun activities before finally cutting the cake. My cake was amazing! Mom's friend, Melissa, really out did herself this year with my cake. I loved it! Here are some photos from my fun day.

Mom kept these railroad crossing signs she made for my first birthday party, thinking maybe I'd have another train party someday. We may even use them again!

Here are some photos of my friends and me with the Thomas poster my mom made. We all had fun putting our faces behind it!

We also played "Pin the Bee on James' Nose" with another poster Mom made. We all had fun taking a turn!

There was also a cookie decorating station (with train shaped cookies, of course).

I received many fun new gifts, but this one was the hit of the party. A remote controlled train!

Then it was time for cake!

I had a great time at my party and am so thankful for my many friends and family. Thanks to everyone who helped make my day so special!

Beatiful Days in the NW

2009-05-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

We had some really beautiful weather here in the Pacific NW this past weekend and we took advantage of it by being outside as much as possible. On Friday Mom took me to visit my Aunt Mary and her Kindergarten class. They were having a Mother's Day party so we dropped by to see the kids and have cookies and juice with them. It was a lot fun being at school with the kids and makes me even more excited to start preschool in the fall. Later on that day, Mom, Dad and Aunt Mary and I went to the restaurant, Beaches, and had dinner outside and then took a walk on the waterfront. Actually, we brought my tricycle and so I got to ride that while they walked. I LOVE riding my tricycle and ask to go outside at least once a day to ride it. I also got to have a picnic lunch with Nana and Mom on Saturday and then for dinner I took a wagon ride from Nana and Papa's to a fun restaurant called Old Fashioned Maid where they have super yummy burgers and shakes. I ordered a rootbeer shake... my favorite! On Sunday I rode my tricycle a lot with Dad while Mom did some cleaning in all our closets (yes, that is what she wanted to do on Mother's Day). We also took Mom to breakfast so she could get her favorite breakfast meal, french toast. It's been kind of dreary and rainy today so I am glad we spent a lot of time outside while the sun was out. Hope you all are enjoying Spring! Oh, I almost forgot to mention my sister's new blog. You can check it out at http://www.estherdyk.blogspot.com or you can click on the link on the left side of my blog. Esther has even figured out how to post a few photos on her blog. :)

Here I am with Aunt Mary at her school.

Here I am with Aunt Mary on the Vancouver waterfront.

Dad and Me.

Mom and I at Beaches (I wasn't into having my picture taken at the moment)

Hanging out with Papa at Old Fashioned Maid, where they give suckers as a treat in your kids meal. :)

Texas Trip

2009-04-20T08:46:00.001-07:00

This past week my mom and I visited friends and family in Texas. We flew in to Dallas and stayed a few days with my Grandma and Grandpa Dyk (Dad's parents) and then met up with some friends in Houston a few days later. We encountered some unexpected bumps along the way, but had a great time nonetheless! Mom had a cold going into the trip and I caught a stomach bug while in Dallas (I think Mom and Grandma ended up washing every towel and piece of bedding in the house), but after all that passed, we were good to go. Getting home wasn't easy, however, as Mom and I spent a total of 13 hours in the Houston airport waiting to get on a flight home. We managed to make it though and are glad we went. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Dyk and the Swanson family for having us!

Having fun at the park with Grandma Dyk.

Grandma Dyk took us to the Dallas Arboretum and I had fun pulling and riding in the wagon we rented. Do you like the new conductor hat Grandma Dyk got for me? I sure did!

They had all sorts of storybook playhouses at the arboretum at the time, but my favorite was this one, based on The Lorax.

Even though Mom is not super excited about this photo, you can see she is starting to get a belly. Woo-hoo.

We met Mindy half-way between Houston and Dallas in a town called Buffalo, TX. There was a cute little bookstore/coffee shop there and we had a lot of fun looking around. Mom even got me two used books!

I miss you already, Grandma and Grandpa!

Mindy took us all to a park Hailey and Hunter like to go to. There was a lake and fountains and a really great play structure for us to play on while we ate our lunches. Here's a photo of Hailey and I taking a break from playing.

We also visited a park with water fountains and us kids had a blast getting all wet.

Hunter loved playing in the water, as you can see.

I did too.

Another day we went to a place called "Pump it Up" with blow-up play structures you can jump on. I loved the big slide. Here's a photo of Hunter and I getting ready to go down.

Hailey and Hunter's dad, Benjamin, offered to watch us kids while Mom, Mindy and a friend, Carrie, went to dinner and a movie. They had fun, but so did we. We had a pancake picnic out in the backyard and watched a Veggie Tales movie.

Here's a photo of Benjamin playing play-doh with us kids.

Mom told Mindy that if we came, she would have to make chinese food for us so she did. Here's a photo of the won tons Mom and Mindy folded up for dinner our last night in Houston.

Grandpa Ted (Mindy's dad) came for dinner that night. He changed his vacation plans and came a week earlier just to see Mom and me. What a nice guy, eh?

We decorated cookies that night too. Yum!

Thanks for a fun time, Mindy, Benjamin, Hailey and Hunter! Come visit us anytime!

Easter Fun

2009-04-11T15:46:00.001-07:00

I've had some fun this week doing the usual Easter activities. You know, dying eggs, making cookies, etc. My favorite activity so far has been the Easter Egg hunt I got to do today. We went to the one at Blue Lake Park. I've included some photos from the week. Tonight we are having Mom's family over for an early Easter dinner. I love family get-togethers so that might top the Easter egg hunt. We'll see...

Happy Easter!

Putting the finishing touches on my Easter eggs...

I tried to eat the egg with the shell still on, but Mom finally convinced me it would be better if I took the shell off first.

Here's a photo of me in some Easter bunny ears we made at the hunt today

Getting ready for the hunt to start!

Nana was kind enough to hold my basket while I put my eggs inside.

I even met the Easter bunny.

The Easter bunny really wanted a hug, but I wasn't sure I wanted to get too close. Here's what he got.

What a fun day!

Sunny Spring Days in Portland

2009-04-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

We've had a few really nice days with sun and warm temps so I've been out enjoying a few of our wonderful parks. Yesterday I went to a park in Gresham called the Donald L. Robertson Park with my buddy, Bodhi, and today I went to Willshire Park in Portland with Kate. Here are a few pics from our days out. Some of the pictures at Willshire Park turned out pretty bright due to the timing of the day so Mom decided to make them all b/w. Besides, sometimes it's fun to try something different. :)

Let's hope we get some more sun!

Yakima... The Palm Springs of Washington

2009-03-30T21:53:00.001-07:00

I've seen a sign in Yakima that claims Yakima is the palm springs of Washington, but I am not sure what Palm Springs is like so I haven't decided what to think of that claim. This past weekend my fam and I went to Yakima to celebrate my great grandpa Northcott and Aunt Carrie's birthday. The first thing I did while there was check out this really awesome place called "Track 29." It's a mall with a wooden boardwalk facing the train station so theoretically you can watch trains go by (none came while we were there) as you walk and shop. The stores are unique in that they are made from old train cars. There is a restaurant where you get to sit and eat in a passenger car, but we had plans to go to the best Mexican restaurant EVER so we didn't visit the restaurant this time.

Here we are in front of the caboose which was made into a jewelry store. It was pretty windy so that is why I'm holding my hat.

I loved playing on the caboose!

Here you can see the backside of one of the stores. I thought it was pretty neat they were all made out of train cars. What a great idea!

The train station.

We also found an indoor mall with a fish tank I had fun looking at.

Then we headed to lunch at El Porton where the best Mexican food in town can be found. After that, we went to Grandpa and Grandma's new place. I was able to play with Jill, their dog, and had fun showing Mike, Carrie, and the grandparents all my favorite trains and some new cars I happened to bring along.

Uncle Mike and I just hanging out.

Taking a rest and enjoying a juice box with Aunt Carrie.

Being silly with Grandma.

With Grandpa and Grandma. The car I'm holding spins when you blow on the end of it, so that is what I'm doing in the photo.

I got pretty sleepy towards the end of the trip and fell asleep not long into the ride home.

On the way home Mom got a couple shots of the new windmills out near Goldendale and Biggs in the Kittitas Valley. They are really big up close!

Overall, it was a really fun trip and I'm glad we were able to be together to celebrate Aunt Carrie and Grandpa Northcott's birthday. Hope we get to go back again soon!

I'm going to have a baby sister!

2009-03-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad took me to the big ultrasound today and found out we are adding a girl to the family. It was fun getting to see her move on the screen and hear that she is doing great in Mom's tummy. The ultrasound technician kept saying, "Now that is a cute baby," but I had trouble seeing what she was seeing. She later added, "Now you'll have two cute babies," so I guess she knows what she's talking about. I'm kinda glad we are having a girl because I was getting real tired of hearing Mom and Dad discussing boy names (they never did agree on one, but Dad tried to make a few deals with Mom so he'd get a shot at naming the kid Atticus). My sister's name will be Esther Jane. Jane is my Nana's name and we thought Esther went well with Jonah. How am I taking all this? Well, Mom and Dad both seem pretty happy about the news so I guess I am too. :)

East Portland Community Center Pool

2009-03-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Our local community center recently opened a pool and I have gone swimming there a few times in recent weeks. It is awesome! The temperature is just right and there are plenty of places for me to check out while there. There is a large shallow area, a river area with a current and a whirlpool, a shark slide just my size and a big red slide. Today was the first time the big red slide has been open while we were there and I loved it! My only complaint was that I wasn't allowed to go all by myself. The lifeguard kindly explained to me I could go when I was a bit bigger, but it was a let down nonetheless.

Here are a few photos Mom took of me and my friends who were able to join us.

Sara and Kate laughing at my cheesy smile.

Sara and Kate being cute.

Bodhi and Marisa - This was Bodhi's first time swimming and he loved it!

Bodhi being silly. :)

The shark slide - I can go on this one all by myself!

The big red slide - what fun!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T16:42:00.000-07:00

Today I met up with some friends for a St. Patrick's day parade in the Houck neighborhood of Vancouver. Kate and Sara and Nancy and George all met us there. For those of you who don't know Nancy and George, Nancy and Mom met about 4 years ago in a knitting class. I'm glad they keep in touch because Nancy often informs us of fun activities going on in the area.

I loved waving at all the cars and children in the parade. My favorite part of the parade, of course, were the the train cars and there were two. The Burgerville train was super cute, but I really liked the big one that came by as well. It had a loud whistle!

The Burgerville Train

I also got some candy (score!), a clover necklace, a couple balloons, and even a free book. It was kinda wet out, but Mom dressed me in rain boots and I had an umbrella too, just in case. Luckily, it didn't rain while we were outside watching, just on the car ride there and back. Must be the luck of the Irish!

Hope you all have a happy St. Patrick's Day too!

Water Resouce Center

2009-03-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

I recently visited a new (and free!) play area at the Water Resource Center in Vancouver, WA. I went there with my friends, Dane and Caden. I had fun playing with all the fun toys and then got to check out some other fun exhibits they had there. I think I liked looking at the big fish tank best. Mom forgot her memory card for the SLR, but had her little camera to snap a few photos for you to see.
Here I am playing with the magnetic bug board.

Another fun toy.

I loved looking at the butterflies in this exhibit. You can make their wings flap!

I got to watch this lady working on the fish tank. I'm not sure what she was doing, but I was mesmerized.

Here we all are checking out the fish in the fish tank. Sorry, but I don't think you can see any fish in the photo.

All the boys again.

Afterward, we went to lunch at a bagel shop that has a play area. I love bagels. Don't you?

My Amazing Friend

2009-03-09T22:09:00.001-07:00

I want to take this opportunity to share with all my friends and family the amazing story of my dear friend, Jenny. I know Jenny as the mother of my friends, Cassie and Gabby, but she is also a good friend of Nana and Papa's and has been a great support to Mom as well.
Jenny found out she had cancer just after I was born. The cancer was first found in her breast, but then was later found in her liver and bone. She was told by her first doctor that she had a 2% chance of recovery. Jenny has always been determined not to give up hope and so she found another doctor and has continued to receive chemo for the past 2 1/2 years. That is a long time to feel sick! With her new insurance and doctors, she has had to travel to Chicago every three weeks for chemo and thus meant she had to be away from her family (that includes one husband and four children now ages 3 to 18) for days at a time with each visit east. Still, she kept on and never gave up hope. As if she wasn't amazing enough just keeping up with the daily going-ons of her own family, she still manages to take time to care for others. For example, she never minds getting a phone call from Mom with any kind of parenting question. Having four children makes her an expert for sure!

A photo Mom took two years ago of Jenny and Frank's four beautiful children.

Six months ago Jenny's doctor gave her the news that her cancer had dramatically shrunk in size and he thought what looked like small traces of cancer may actually just be scar tissue. So, she kept doing chemo for a couple more months, was tested again and then received the news that it was GONE!!!! Time to celebrate!!! Jenny was able to quit chemo and began feeling better. Yipee! However, when she was tested again a couple weeks ago, what they thought was scar tissue before looked more like small traces of cancer again so unfortunately she is back on chemo for the time being. But, being the amazing person that she is, she feels it is just "a bump in the road" to full recovery. So, we had a party last night to celebrate her amazing progress and also to encourage her as she continues the fight. In case you can't tell, we had a Wonder Woman themed party. We had a full house and everyone had wonderful words of encouragement to share with our guest of honor. Mom says she remembers meeting Jenny for the first time around the age of 8 and thinking she was the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen. Anyone who meets her would agree it is still true. Of course, when Mom was sharing this memory at the party she got teary, but she says, "It's the baby's fault." I've been around long enough to know that may not be the truth. :)
We have no idea how many people across the country have been praying for Jenny, but we know it's a ton. She has inspired so many people with her determination and faith that she can and will beat this cancer. To those who pray, feel free to add Jenny and her family to your list of people to pray for. She will greatly appreciate it!

Yay for cake!

A New Member of the Family Coming Soon

2009-02-23T22:57:00.000-08:00

My family is expecting an arrival come this August... and a very special arrival at that. We are adding to our family by having another baby. My sibling is due August 27th (though the doctor says August 24th after doing an ultrasound - Of course, Mom is going with her own estimation) so Mom is just three months (or about 14 weeks) along now.

We are all pretty excited about the new baby and I am starting to understand more and more what this all means. I often ask Mom to show me her tummy and I point to where the baby is growing. I also tell people I have a baby growing in my tummy and say, "It's getting bigger and bigger!" As for Mom, she is doing great. Still a bit tired, but the nausea has pretty much all passed and she is looking forward to moving into the second trimester.

We'll keep you updated as exciting events come up throughout the next few months, such as finding out the gender. Mom is thinking we need another girl around here, mostly because she and Dad can't agree on a boy name (Mom likes Everett and Dad likes Atticus - probably neither will become a winner). We'll see what happens at our ultrasound in about a month. :)

Cousin Cameron Visits

2009-02-14T14:30:00.000-08:00

We were lucky enough to have my second cousin, Cameron, visit this weekend. Cameron and his family moved from Mexico to Nampa, ID just a couple weeks ago and he came up to Portland to interview for a teaching job in Japan. Although he was only here for a short time, we had a great time during our visit with him. I especially loved having him here. Cameron has a son, Dominic, who is just a year younger than me, and so naturally he knows how to have fun with kids. I was sad for him to leave, but hopefully we'll see him again before he moves out of the states again.

We had Mom's family over for dinner while Cameron was here and later Dad broke out the Wii for everyone to play. I even got a turn with it and amazed everyone with my running and tight-rope walking skills on the Wii fit.

Sorry about the lack of pants in the next photo. I guess I didn't feel like wearing them after I had used the potty.

Thanks for coming to visit, Cameron! We hope to see you again soon!

My Sweet Valentine

2009-02-14T14:02:00.001-08:00

Today is Valentine's day and I thought I'd take a minute to share some special thoughts about my valentine, Kate. Any time I get to spend with Kate is just magical. Whether we're having fun at the park...

or just out for a walk...

out on the town...

working on a project together...

or enjoying a quiet evening at home...

I feel lucky to have found such a wonderful person to spend my days with. Happy Valentine's Day, Kate!

Hope you enjoy this little video our friend, Marisa, made for us.

Portland Classical Chinese Garden

2009-02-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

My Aunt Carrie came to visit this past weekend so we decided to visit the Portland Chinese Garden. None of us had gone, but had heard it was a great place to visit and we were all glad we did. We got there just as a lion show was starting and although I thought it was pretty neat to watch from far away, I was not interested in seeing those lions up close. At one point, one danced over to where we were and I kept saying, "I'm a little bit scared. I'm a little bit scared," but he soon left.

Here we are by the amazing rockeries. They are configured to appear as mountains and clouds from a distance. Wish we had a better picture.

I also got to color my own dragon to take home.

Here I am showing it off.

This was a fun entrance.

And here's one of our little family in the Knowing the Fish Pavilion.

Thanks for coming to visit us, Aunt Carrie!

We Love Dad

2009-02-04T14:14:00.001-08:00

This past month, Mom and Dad celebrated their sixth anniversary and my dad also celebrated his 27th birthday. So, I thought I'd give a shout-out to Dad and tell him and everyone else how much we love and appreciate him.

Reasons we love Dad:

You love me very much.

You love Mom too and remind her often how you two are MFEO (made for each other).

Wedding Day 2003

You are highly motivated and hard-working, but have put family first on many occasions.

You enjoy cuddling on the couch.

You are a super fun dad!

You took Mom and me to Europe this past year for your fifth anniversary.

Okay, I wasn't really there, but I got to spend a whole week with Nana and Papa, which for me was even better.

We love you Dad! You are one in a million!

Our Local Community Center

2009-01-15T13:21:00.000-08:00

Over the last few weeks, I've been able to check out a few of the activities available to me at our local community center. They have an indoor play park that I've been to a few times and on Monday mornings there's something called, "Art Park," where they have a variety of art projects for kids my age to participate in. Mom and I met Kate and Sara for "art park" this week and had a great time making lots of pictures with stencils, stamps, paints, glue and glitter. I even did a little finger painting though I was not so sure about getting my hands all icky. :)

Kate and I also signed up for a gymnastics class at the community center. It's been fun playing on the all the equipment. They have a couple trampolines, slides, bars to swing on, balance beams and a few other things to use.

I spent most of my time today working on my somersaults. I am getting pretty good!

I can't wait to go to class next week!

I Love Friends

2009-01-13T13:51:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks we've done some fun stuff with friends and rather than blogging about each activity separately, I thought I'd put it all together in one.

The first activity I'll tell you about is Zoo Lights. Last year my family and I went to zoo lights and had a blast so we figured we better go again since I like lights so much right now. I've noticed most people have taken down their Christmas lights so whenever we go driving after dark I say sadly, "There are no more Christmas lights." Anyway, every year our Oregon zoo puts up thousands of lights and lets the community come see the zoo after they would normally close. It usually runs up until the New Year, but this year they extended it a week later due to the snow storm. We didn't get to see too many animals (only a few are still out for viewing), but I did get to see my favorite animal, the baby elephant Samudra. Isn't he so cute?

My buddy, Bodhi and I also had fun riding the wooden animals. Thank you, Marisa, for remembering your camera!

Last week my mom took me to Chuck E. Cheese's for the first time. We met up with my neighbor friend, Audrey, and her mom, Kristi. I thought it was a blast but I think Mom got tired of chasing me around the place. I was really excited about all the neat rides and games!
I was a little scared of Chuck E. Cheese, so Kristi held me while I got my picture taken with him.

This was my favorite game to play. I wanted to ride the horse all night.

We've had a lot of rainy weather these past few weeks so Mom and I went with Sara and Kate to the Jantzen Beach carousel for something else to do. Kate and I loved picking out our horses and can't wait to go again!

Here I am showing off what I call my "cute face."

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T14:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day flew by in a whirl for our family. We had Mom's family over to our place to celebrate the holiday and had breakfast together first, then opened some presents, and finally had our Christmas lunch/dinner. It was snowing pretty hard all morning so because the fam didn't want to have any trouble driving home, we kind of hurried things along sooner than we might've otherwise done. It was a good time though and we enjoyed having a white Christmas.

Papa helping me open a new train.

I received many new Thomas trains for Christmas, my favorite being 'Rosie.' I have been asking for 'Rosie' for a couple weeks now and my parents kept telling me, 'Maybe you'll get Rosie for Christmas. You'll just have to wait and see.' This was tough! I love trains so it may seem sacriligious to many reading this, but I have now uttered the phrase, 'I've got too many trains.' My parents just about died when they heard me.

Mom wanted to get a photo of everyone at the dinner table, but right as we were sitting down, someone spilled a cup of coffee and after we got it cleaned up, she must've forgotten so here's just one of the table. Mom inherited my Great Grandma Anderson's dishes and got this great little runner at a bazaar this year to go with them. Our friend, Jenny, made the centerpiece arrangement. Isn't it all so pretty together?

Here is a photo of the front of our home (yes, we are still snowed in) as of today. We ended up getting about a foot of snow at our house over the course of the week. Because of the wind, however, there were parts of our driveway that were almost up to 2 feet. It's raining now and is supposed to get warmer this weekend so we are hoping it'll be safe for us to drive sometime this weekend. In the meantime, we have the MAX train and have been walking to the grocery store. Gresham was hit the hardest by the snow storm and the governor actually declared a state of emergency here, calling in the Oregon National Guard, because emergency vehicles were not able to get out to people in need due to the weather. We are lucky Papa and Nana's truck has four-wheel drive (they also brought chains just in case) so they could safely drive out to visit us.

Uncle Bob shoveled a walkway in our driveway yesterday. What a nice guy! :)

Snow Storm 2008

2008-12-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

And the snow continues to fall in Portland... we now have about 6 inches of snow and a sheet of ice on top of that. Aunt Mary, Mom, Dad and I are stuck at our home today and probably will be for a couple more days. To keep things interesting we have been baking (peanut clusters yesterday and gingerbread cookies today), playing in the snow, watching Christmas movies, building indoor forts with blankets, and as a final resort, taking the MAX train to Gresham Station (our local outdoor mall) just to get out of the house. The weather forecast predicted freezing rain last night and today so yesterday afternoon we thought we had better get out of the house while we could. Okay, well, while we thought we could. There was no way we were driving anywhere with our front-wheel drive cars so someone came up with the brilliant idea to take the MAX train to do some last minute Christmas shopping. Although the MAX train is only a block away from our home, we turned back once because the wind and snow was so bad we were not sure our brilliant idea was so brilliant after all. But, because we were going stir crazy we pulled ourselves together and made another go of it. The people waiting at the stop said they had been waiting for an hour, so again, we almost went home. Fortunately, the MAX train came just a few minutes after we got to the stop and we were off! We headed first to the Mens Wearhouse so Dad could look at some suits (his Christmas wish was to get a few new suits and this was our chance to take Dad out shopping with us to get them). Next we headed to Old Navy so Aunt Mary could pick up a few items. As we were walking back to the MAX stop to go home, we saw a MAX train pass by. Oh no! Much to our surprise, however, there was another train right behind it. Whew! It was a long wait before our train actually set off so I got kind of bored and hungry waiting, but at least we were warm. Then the real fun began. The wind and snow was still pretty bad as we made our way back home after we got off the train and as we crossed the street, Dad and I slipped on the icy road. Luckily he fell on his back (though not lucky for him) so I was just fine as I landed on his chest. Mom quickly came over to pick me up, asked if Dad was alright, then proceeded on her journey home with me (you realize I did not mention her helping him up). BTW, Dad is fine (Aunt Mary was kind enough to help him up). As we were taking off our snow clothes, Mom stated, "Well, that was fun, but I would not be willing to do that again!" The look on Dad and Aunt Mary's face said it all. If they had to go back in time, they most definitely would have done it again.

Playing in the snow with Aunt Mary

Making gingerbread cookies

Waiting for the MAX to leave

Rewind to a few days ago and here are a few photos of Kate and I playing in the snow and of our trip to Peacock Lane. All the houses on Peacock Lane are lit up with Christmas lights so because Kate and I are both enthralled with lights this year, our parents thought we should see it. It was a blast!

Catching snowflakes on my tongue

I wondered what my snowman would taste like

More Snow

2008-12-18T14:16:00.000-08:00

This morning we got another bout of snow so Mom and I went out and made a little snowman. The snow was perfect for making a snowman! I had fun helping Mom find twigs for the arms and rocks for the eyes and mouth. We even had a carrot for the nose, but only a baby carrot. I wanted to eat his nose, but Mom said we had some more inside. So, I gave my snowman kisses instead.

It's snowing in the NW

2008-12-14T13:57:00.001-08:00

We woke up this morning to find snow outside. It rarely snows here and when it does, there's rarely enough to play in. However, today was an exception. Besides the fact that Portlanders go nuts whenever it snows (they can't drive in it), it is a lot of fun to play in. I'm loving it!

Holiday Festivities

2008-12-07T22:27:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I know I did. On the actual holiday Mom and I were sick, but we had fun anyway watching a few family-friendly movies we rented and got take-out Mexican. Yum! The next day we went to Nana and Papa's for a traditional turkey dinner that Mom, Nana and I had been working on throughout the week. In case you are wondering, I helped by stirring the pumpkin pie filling. Because we were sick on Thanksgiving, we ended up going on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to Yakima so I could still see my grandparents from Texas, my Aunt Carrie and Uncle Mike from Seattle and the Northcotts, my great-grandparents. Grandma and Grandpa Northcott are in the process of moving so we didn't stay long because we didn't want to be in the way. I did have a ton of fun playing with my family (especially Grandpa Dyk) and of course, Jill, the dog. So, now that Thanksgiving has come and gone I have been keeping myself busy by partaking in the many wonderful holiday festivities offered in our Portland metro area. For example, I attended not one, but two tree lightings! The first tree lighting was in Camas and I went with Nana and Uncle Bill while my parents were at a Christmas party. I also managed to meet up with Santa on that fine evening. The next day I went to the Washougal tree lighting and got to sit in a real firetruck! Apparently Santa arrived in it, but I missed that. I, however, did not miss the opportunity to check out that fire truck after he had gone to see all the boys and girls. I also got to try cotton candy for the first time. It has a strange texture I'm not so sure about yet, but I managed to try it anyway. The Camas Christmas Tree with Nana and Uncle Bill Washougal Christmas Tree After we saw the tree lighting in Washougal, we all headed over to see the Christmas boats. I really liked this event and am glad it is a tradition in our family. They even had a boat that was decorated as a fire truck, complete with sirens! On the way home, we sang Christmas carols and realized we don't know the words as well as we thought we did. I also helped Mom decorate the tree and have only broken two of her ornaments thus far. She keeps telling me they are supposed to stay on the tree, but I can't see them as well that way! Hope this finds you well and enjoying the wonders of the season. Love, Jonah

Totally Random

2008-11-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

I've got some random photos for you that have been sitting in my take-along camera. I figured it's been awhile since you've heard from me and you must be dying to see what I've been up to.

So, here ya go:

Our family attended the Salsig Movie Night. We all get together once a year and watch a movie in their backyard. Usually it's held in the summer, but it was a fall movie night this year so we watched Ghost Busters II. I had a lot of fun playing with Kate and Bodhi and all of his toys.

The Kiperman Family

The Salsig Family

Here's a photo of me and Kate at the indoor playground at Clackamas Mall.

Here's another of me and my friend, Malachi. Malachi's mom, Marci, and Mom met while working at Old Navy way back when Mom was a freshman in college. Malachi lives with his parents in Kalispell, MT but comes out this way to visit family and friends from time to time. Isn't he a cutie?!

Here's a photo of me hanging out with my buddy, Blaze. I think Blaze is a cutie too and I love to visit him at John and Rebecca's house. :)

I also got to see my friend, Meadow, awhile back. We all met up for lunch at Red Robin. Meadow is really into balloons right now. Remember when I went through that phase? My parents sure do... whenever I would get a balloon I would hold onto that thing until it died. Anyway, it was fun seeing how big Meadow is getting!

Mom, Nana, Charla, and Aunt Mary and I went to the Camas bazaar at the old H.S. (now Liberty Jr. High) and had fun checking out the newly remodeled school. Check out their mascot the kids made themselves. Pretty impressive stuff.

And here's a silly photo of me dressed up in Dad's shoes and hat. I love putting on big shoes!

Halloween Fun

2008-11-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun this year celebrating the Halloween holiday. I wore my tigger costume several times and loved it!

I loved my pumpkin and wanted to carry it around with me all the time. Too bad my pumpkin isn't turned so you can see the great carving job and it'd be nice if I were smiling in the photo too. Oh well. I'm still cute.

I didn't actually go trick-or-treating on Halloween, but I did go trick-or-treating at my dad's office and also went to the harvest festival at Nana's church. It was kind of rainy on halloween so it's a good thing we celebrated a bit early.

Here I am at Dadddy's office.

Mindy and her two kids, Ashley and Addy, met us at Nana's church festival. Here's a photo of all of us at the festival. In case you're wondering, Nana had just eaten a blue raspberry snow cone before this photo was taken.

I love my friend, Ashley, and am going to miss her now that she's gone back home to Kansas City.

Mom and Dad got dressed up for a halloween party of their own last night and I got to stay home with Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill is the best! Dad didn't want to wear too elaborate a costume so Mom finally convinced him to go as JFK and she dressed as Marilyn Monroe. Mom finally got her chance to be blonde and big-chested. heehee!

Scandalous!

Bi-Zi Farm Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Mom, Nana and I went to the pumpkin patch with my friends Ashley and Mindy. I had been asking Mom to go for a couple weeks and was pretty excited when we finally got there. I got to pick out my own pumpkin to take home! I also got to see some farm animals, play on a hay pyramid, play in a corn box (kind of like a sand box), but mostly I LOVED playing on the mini tractors. When we left, I kept asking to go back so we may have to find a time to go again before the season is over.

Fun with Kate at Laurelhurst Park

2008-09-15T15:00:00.001-07:00

Kate and I visited one of the best parks in the city, Laurelhurst Park. What a fun day! I loved playing on the teeter-totter with her and we had a lot of fun chasing each other too. This park is HUGE!

Mom also took some photos of Kate and Sara together. For more photos of Kate, continue on to the next blog.

My Friend Kate

2008-09-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

Mom took some photos of Kate the other day and I thought you might all want to see how cute she is! She loves to have her photo taken, as you can clearly see. :)

Mom took some photos of me too (of course I couldn't get away from it just for one day).

Meeting the newest member at the Zoo

2008-09-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the zoo to meet the two-week old baby elephant. I was pretty excited to meet the newest member of the herd and although the wait was almost an hour, I was patient and am so glad to have gone. We happened to get in at a time when the little guy was napping so I didn't get to see much of him, but he was sure cute!

I also got to ride the zoo train with Kate and of course had a great time! We saw Elk along the way and the birds used in the Birds of Prey show. What a fun day!

Do you like my hat? I didn't want to wear it when I first got it, but this morning I asked Mom for it. I think Kate likes it too.

Kate really likes to kiss me, as you can clearly see. Can you blame her?

An Update and Photos!

2008-09-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

Mom, Dad and I have been trying to do some last minute fun stuff before the summer ends. It's already getting cooler and we are getting more and more rain so I feel fall is just around the corner.

This past weekend, however, the weather was perfect for our trip to the Oregon State Fair. We met up with my friend Bodhi and his fam for a fun day. I got to see tons of farm animals. Quite a change for this city boy!

The pigs made me a little nervous when they oinked, but I loved petting the bunnies!

I loved sitting on the tractors!

Here's a video of Bodhi and me dancing to the awesome fair music.

I also went to ride the merry-go-round at Jantzen Beach today with Kate, our moms, and grandmas. What a fun time! I wanted to go again and again and again... I'm sure we'll go back for another couple rides 'cause Kate and I loved riding the carousel horses!

Best Friends Forever.

After we rode the carousel a few times, we had lunch at the Island Cafe where I got to see boats driving by and I even got to feed some ducks and one big goose!

Tomorrow we are planning to go see the baby elephant that was recently born at our local zoo. I love summer outings!

Friday Afternoon Photoshoot

2008-08-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

Mom decided to take some photos of me yesterday while playing in the backyard. Here they are!

My Week and what I LOVE

2008-08-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine wrote a blog about her family's week and included pictures of a few things she LOVES to do in a given week (at least I think that was the idea, right Susanne?). Since it looked like a fun and different way to update my blog, I thought I'd give it a shot.

I LOVE my mom and dad.

I LOVE going to the park. Mom had her 10 year h.s. reunion this past weekend and this next photo was taken at the family picnic. I didn't get to go to the main event (the picture of Mom and Dad above is from the night before), but I had fun playing at the park the next day! I especially had fun puddle jumping and was so dirty I had to take a bath before nap.

I LOVE seeing friends and I LOVE ice cream! These are my friends, Hunter and Hailey. Their mom, Mindy, came up from Texas to attend the reunion. Mom and Mindy go way back!

I LOVE my aunt Mary. This picture was not taken this week, but I did get to see my Aunt Mary a few times. She's like my other mom. :)

I LOVE Kate.

I LOVE going swimming with Mom, Kate and Sara.

I LOVE going to Nana and Papa's house and I LOVE my trains. You will rarely see me without at least one in my hand.

Well, that just about sums up my week! Hope you all had a good week too!

Summer = Swimming!

2008-08-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

My Aunt Mary has a pool at her apartment complex so Mom, Kate, Sara and I went to check it out and do some serious swimming. That's right; there are no baby pools there!

Mom brought along a floatie car for me to relax in while in the pool. Kate and I thought it was pretty neat, but we mostly liked hanging out in the hot tub. It was just the right temperature (the pool was pretty cold!), definitely not too hot. It actually reminded me a lot of bath water.

If you're wondering where Aunt Mary was while we were all swimming... she was sunbathing and also took a few photos while we swam. Can't wait to go swimming again at Aunt Mary's!

Forest Park Hike

2008-08-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went hiking with my Mom and Dad to Forest Park. Forest Park is the largest wooded city park in the United States. It runs right next to downtown Portland. Because it is so huge, we just hiked a bit of it, but I had a lot of fun seeing all that we hiked.

I get excited whenever I get dirt on my hands (keep in mind that my back yard is made of plastic) so here I am showing them off.

Yes, I realize it seems I take my trains everywhere.

I was really into the all the cool leaves, rocks, etc. on the path and preferred sitting on the ground to get a closer look.

The pretty leaves got me all excited for fall to be coming soon!

Summer Fun

2008-07-23T21:41:00.000-07:00

The weather hasn't been too warm here these past few weeks, but we've been enjoying ourselves and know we should appreciate this cooler summer weather (I realize some of my friends don't have it so nice where they live). Just tonight Mom and I went to a concert in the park, Crown Park to be specific, where a band called 'The Rockaroos' was playing. Bet you wish you could've been there too. ;)

This past weekend Mom and Dad took me downtown to pioneer square for our annual sandcastle competition. I'm not sure why I look so grumpy in that last picture. It really was fun seeing all the sculptures, but the Burgerville crew won my vote. Any guesses why?

Meadow and I also played in our pool the other day, but it was kind of chilly so we didn't stay out too long. Mom thought these next few photos looked cool in black and white.

This is the face I made after I dumped a bunch of cold water all over myself!

Here I am giving my best pouty face after Mom said I couldn't play with her nice camera.

And here's Meadow being cute.

Meadow getting dry after our quick swim.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to see Meadow on a regular basis for much longer. Her mom decided working in Vancouver was not for her (her commute is over an hour) and it's also hard for her to leave Meadow. We don't blame her, but we will sure miss seeing Meadow on Mondays!

Bastille Day at Jamison Square Park

2008-07-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Portland celebrated Bastille Day at Jamison Square Park so Mom, Dad and I went dowtown to partake in the festivities. I had lots of fun playing in the water at the park and listening to the music. I also loved riding the street car from downtown to the Pearl district, which is where the festival was taking place.

I was showing everyone where the water came from. :)

They had a few French cars at the festival. Pretty neat, huh?

After we walked around the park we decided to stop at Starbucks to get ourselves a couple frappuccinos. Dad even gave me a sip of his. At first I asked for a sip of 'milk.' Then after I tried it I asked for a sip of 'ice cream.' I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew I liked it! FYI, Dad is always the one who shares his coffee. Mom thinks I'm much too young. :)

I can't wait to go back again! What a fun park!

Fun at the River

2008-07-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

My friends, Kate, Bodhi and I went to Dabney Park yesterday to play in the river. I loved playing in the sand and exploring the little island we were on.

I wanted to show Mom all the sand on my hands!

What a little studmuffin I am!

Thank you, Moms, for a fun day at the river!

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

Mom, Dad and I celebrated the 4th by going out on our friends', John and Rebecca, boat. It was a super fun ride, going over waves and seeing the city from the water. I can't wait to go again!

John even let me drive the boat for awhile!

There were a ton of other boats out that day! They probably stayed to watch the fireworks later that night. How fun!

These people brought their own pool!

Thanks, John and Rebecca, for a great day out!

In case you are wondering whether we stayed to watch the fireworks, I've gotta be honest... no, we didn't. We went home so I could take a nap and then hung out at home that night and played our new Wii (a graduation present to Dad from Oma and Opa!). It was a fun day!

Oxbow Park Birthday Party

2008-07-02T13:20:00.000-07:00

This month two lovely ladies celebrated their birthday and they invited me to partake in the festivities. Last night we had a little get-together at Oxbow Park to celebrate our friends, Sara and Katie. Of course, we kids had the most fun chasing each other around and getting dirty.

Yes, Isaac's right foot is completely submerged in water in this picture. What a funny guy!

My buddies and I were having fun kicking the ball around until we saw this deer, so we decided to run after it instead. Truth be told, this was not your average deer. It would not leave us alone all evening! I know our food looked good, but I couldn't believe how badly this deer wanted to join our party!

Here are a few photos of the families and one of all the gals.

I had fun singing 'Happy Day' to Sara and Katie, but I had even more fun eating that cake Marisa made! Yummies!

Happy Birthday, Sara and Katie! We love you!

Pool Party!

2008-07-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a perfect day for a pool party so while Meadow and I were napping, Mom blew up the pool and put water in it. Kate came over after her nap and we all had a ton of fun playing in it!

Before Kate got there, Meadow and I had a blast following each other in and out of the pool.

I love drinking pool water! Mom says it's 'yucky' but I don't mind!

It was super fun dumping water out with my bucket, but brrrr was that water cold!

Here I am showing Mom the sign for 'cold.' Kate thought it was pretty funny!

Here we all are afterward, exhausted but happy!

Bathing Beauties

2008-06-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

This past Friday was Sara's birthday, so Mom, Kate, Sara and I all went to Blue Lake Park to have some fun in the sun (and water). :)

Kate and I stuck together pretty much the whole time we were there. Mom even caught a few photos of us holding hands as we walked around the fountains. Neither Kate or I liked getting our heads wet in the water, but we sure had fun watching the other kids! I can't wait to go back again. In fact, I keep saying to Mom, "Kate Swimming! Kate Swimming!"

Later that day we had our first Merbabes swim class. Mom and Sara thought it would be a good idea to get us kids used to the water. I wasn't sure what I thought of all that water and pretty much clung to Mom the whole class. However, by the end I was having a little fun playing with a ball and enjoyed moving around the pool.

In case you are wondering if a ghost took all these pictures during our swim class, I thought I'd give a shout-out to my Aunt Mary who came along to take photos of my first swim lesson! Thanks, Aunt Mary!

Oxbow Park

2008-06-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

Today I visited Oxbow Park with Mom, Kate and Sara. We packed up a lunch, sunscreen and our camera (the necessities in life) and headed out for a fun day. I had never been to this park, but Kate goes with her family quite a bit. The river was pretty high today, but hopefully next time we'll be able to play on the beach. I think we'll come a lot more this summer and will maybe even brave a night there to go tent camping. As long as Kate's there, I'm sure I'll have a great time. :)

I like to hand Mom all the 'icky' stuff I find. By the way, do you like my new hair cut? Mom decided to cut it with the clipper rather than taking me to the barber shop. If you remember, I didn't like that experience too much. But, I did great for Mom this time.

I had the most fun just running around the park with Kate. This place is a lot bigger than my backyard!

I got to dig in the sand too!

Kate and I had fun sniffing the foxgloves we found on one of the trails there. Aren't they pretty?

We saw a mama deer with her baby at the park too. I also saw a couple chipmunks but Mom accidently scared them away before she could get a photo. Next time.

What a Weekend!

2008-06-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I have never been so busy in all my life as I was this past weekend. My dad graduated with his MPA on Friday and so Mom, Oma (Grandma Dyk) from TX, my great Grammy and Grandpa Moore and my great Grandma Dyk -all from CA- all came to Dad's hooding ceremony at PSU. After that we had everyone over to our place for a yummy steak dinner. My family and I are so proud of my Dad!! He worked extremely hard to get through school all while maintaining a full-time job and remained a dedicated father and husband. The university was so impressed with him that they gave him an award! Way to go, Dad!

Saturday was my big birthday party and so my Aunt Carrie and Uncle Mike came down from Seattle to see me and the rest of the fam. I had a great time at my party and enjoyed showing my friends my new backyard and even let them play with a few of my trains. My friends and family spoiled me rotten with gifts. I feel so loved. Thank you to everyone for making my day so special!

Mom made all my friends a fun zoo animal t-shirt to take home. Here's Bodhi in his! He loves monkeys!

Isn't this cake incredible?! Mom has a gal in her book club that volunteered to make it for free! Lucky me!

Then, on Sunday we drove over to Yakima to visit my great Grandpa and Grandma Northcott for Father's day. I don't particularily like long car rides, but I was sure excited to see my grandparents and their dog, Jill. I also got to visit with the horses their neighbors own.

Here I am with my great grandma Dyk and her RV that she drove up all the way from Sun City, CA. She and Dad drove the RV over to Yakima while Mom, Oma (Grandma Dyk), and I drove our car. I really liked my Great Oma's wheels!

Mom thought this picture looked cool in black and white. In this photo is me, Dad, my great grandpa Northcott and the nice horses I met while there. Happy Father's day to all the dads out there!

All I can say after being on the go non-stop for the last three days is, "Phew! I'm pooped!" I slept in until 9:30 this morning and then took a 3 1/2 hour long nap today. Gotta catch up on my zzzzz's!

My Oregon Zoo

2008-06-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hi again. I wanted to share some fun photos of my most recent trip to our very own Oregon Zoo. I went with my friends, Kate and Bodhi, and we had a great time checking out all the animals. If you ever come to Portland and need something to do, I'd highly recommend visiting our zoo. It's getting better and better all the time!

I love those silly penguins!

Mom and Dad are throwing me a Zoo themed birthday party this weekend. I can't wait!

It's great to be 2!

2008-06-09T22:47:00.000-07:00

I am officially two years old now and I can honestly say I feel much older and wiser than I did at one. Because I'm a kid and it's generally more acceptable for little kids to brag, I want to tell you about some things I've learned in my two years here on earth. I've learned my colors (though red is a little hit and miss), my shapes, and I can count to ten and say most of the alphabet. I've also learned that it's much more fun to play with friends when I share my toys and say 'please' and 'thank you.' Yep, I've pretty much learned all there is to know.

On my birthday last week we had over Uncle Bill, Nana and Papa for a barbeque dinner. We had steaks/hamburgers/hot dogs, mom's homemade mac 'n cheese, corn on the cob, chips, and cake (all my favorites!). My family sang 'Happy Birthday' to me and after they got done I ran over to my cake saying, 'cake! cake!' because isn't that the cue for cake? Mom suggested we wait a little while so I got to open a few presents from the fam first, which I didn't mind. I got a lot of great Thomas stuff and I am loving it all!

Look at all my Thomas loot! Thanks Nana and Papa!

I got Cranky the crane, a new addition to my train table!

I wanted to help Dad blow up my Thomas hopper ball!

I love to give kisses to say 'thank you!'

Dad's family is coming to town this weekend to see Dad graduate with his Masters of Public Administration so we are having another little get-together while they are here. I can't wait to celebrate some more! I keep singing the 'Happy Birthday' song to myself so I think I'll be ready to chime in this time!

My week hangin' with Nana

2008-06-01T21:29:00.001-07:00

Papa was out of town this past week hunting with a buddy in Wyoming. So, naturally, Mom and I wanted to make sure Nana wouldn't be lonely so we we spent the week doing lots of fun stuff together.

On Monday, Nana, Uncle Bill, Mom and I went to Multnomah falls. I thought it was great fun and didn't mind at all getting wet.

One day we just hung out at Nana's and made 'Monster cookies' which consist of oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate chips (among other things). Yum!

And finally, we went to the coast and visited Lincoln City, OR. What a beautiful day that was! At first I was a little unsure of the sand, but after a short time I was digging in with my shovels and covering my feet and legs with it. I had a ton of fun playing with my new toys in the sand, watching the kites flying in the sky, and even tried to chase some crows down. I kept saying, 'Touch the birdie!' Mom told me birds don't really like to be touched, but that we could say 'hello' instead. So, then I ran after them saying, 'Hello! Hello!'

A New Backyard

2008-05-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

Most of you know I live in a townhome, which means my parents and I like the idea of a low-maintenance home. Well, when we purchased our home we thought it was great that it came with a very small backyard. What we didn't realize is that grass doesn't grow well back there and because the yard doesn't get any sun, it was almost always muddy. So, my parents decided to have turf put in. Yep, fake grass. It's great because it looks like grass and feels soft like grass, but it's never going to need water or fertilizer and we were even able to get rid of the lawn mower. We love it!
Mom was able to find some really great deals on fun toys for the backyard. Gotta love craigslist!

Dad thought these next few pictures were pretty funny because a) I'm using a plastic mower to mow plastic grass b) I just happened to get my shirt all wet while playing with my water table right before this picture was taken. Thus, the shots of me mowing the lawn with no shirt.

I thought there must be something wrong with my mower. Kates' blows bubbles, so why doesn't mine?

I really liked my uncle Bill's sunglasses!

Do you think I like being outdoors?

2008-05-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

YES!!!!

I have had some fun recently enjoying what sunshine we've had these past few weeks (it hasn't been much). Here are a few photos of our going-ons.

I attended the Gateway 'Fun-o-rama' parade which goes right by Kate's neighborhood. It was my first parade and I love that they throw out candy to the parade watchers!

I loved the train car the best!

Isn't this a weird car?!

I also went to the zoo with Kate and Bodhi and had a ton of fun watching the animals. My favorite to watch were the sea lions. I realize you can't see any in this next photo, but you can see my new favorite facial expression.

I also went to Laurelhurst park again with Kate because I just can't get enough of those silly ducks!

Here's me saying, 'Wow!' because of all the ducks right in front of us! Oh, and you may notice I have a 'boo-boo' as Kate says, or 'Ouchy' as I say, on my nose. I took a face plant on the pavement while playing outside at Kate's house one day. It didn't stop me from wanting to continue playing outside!