A Little Bit of Boo

How cute are these smiles?!

She's 11 months now! Crawling all over the place, getting into everything, attempting to climb the stairs, grabbing everything off the floor and eating it (even lint!), and is bald but beautiful. She raises her arms and makes little noises when we ask her "How big is Brynney?", she plays peek-a-boo, she has almost 2 teeth, she grabs the johnny-jump-up and pushes it and says "Wheeee!", and is so all around rolley-polley-cute that I can't help slurping her up all day long.

8 Short Days

A wonderful visit with April last week.
We just really like her.

Sisters

or twins...we get asked this all the time, especially in Portland for some reason.

April is moving to the other side of the world next month...one last visit before she goes.

On Girls...

While having his 7 year-old photos taken yesterday:
Photo guy (trying to get Jonah to smile): Say "Girl's Stink!"
(Jonah belly laughs)
Photo guy: I bet you have a lot of girlfriends, huh?
Jonah: Uh, no. I homeschool.

Beautiful Dress, Grumpy Girl...

Ava was feeling out of sorts when I asked if she would stand up so I could take a picture of the beautiful dress Gammie made her...

...but this was the best picture I could get. Isn't the dress so cute?!

I did nothing to doctor this picture. (Our camera is broken and takes lame photos)
This is "Evil" Ava. hahahahaha

Ava and The Joe

Here's a pic of Jonah at the Poor's house for a birthday party. Fortunately for him, someone brought an Xbox 360 and the game Marvel Alliance. Unfortunately for us, we didn't see him for more than five minutes the whole party!
Speaking of the Poors: I think Ava either really likes the name Randy Poor or she has a little crush. Jon gave her a branch off our Christmas tree (she was sad to see it go outside) and she named the thing "Randy Poor". That branch died and I threw it out, so he gave her another one this morning. I thought maybe she'd name it Emilie Poor or Autry Poor or even Clarabelle Poor. Nope.
It's "Randy Poor".

Too Much Star Wars?

When Ava got out of the car the other night, she looked up at the full moon and said, "Look, Mom, another world!"

Boo in a Box

One of the best gifts we've ever received!

Tornado Strikes the Northwest--What?!?!

I have a small fascination with tornadoes. Perhaps this fear stems from my childhood. My family (Dad, Mom, four girls) took a three week long trip when I was eight and drove all over visiting relatives in Michigan (among other places). Among the memories I have of that trip (JoAnna telling everyone to call her "Decade" from now on because she was ten; Me telling Aunt Mina that she had a wart on her nose when it was a mole; April sleeping a lot--heh, isn't that every trip?; Jamie and I wearing a matching outfit) one stands out of a visit to Aunt Dot's house and a tornado warning we received. We had to all bunker down in the basement. Everyone was very chill and I am sure those warnings are commonplace in most of the Midwest. I thought it was all very exciting and loved telling my friends when we got back to school that we were very close to dying in a tornado (just a slight childhood exaggeration!).
Anyway, a few days ago there was a tornado that went through Clark County, Washington (Vancouver). Check out the news info here. So crazy! And to think we survived. :) --e

We're trainin' this one early...

I'm determined to have one child who's good at folding laundry. We've already begun Brynne's training.

That smile is my fav thing and today she cut her first tooth!!

Best Of...PDX (our version)

My friend Candace asked me if I would do a "Best of PDX" post on our blog just for fun. She is also asking several other bloggers to do this in various cities...click here if you'd like to see them all.
I wasn't sure that we even knew the best of anything in Portland, but Candace seems to think we do...needless to say, this task was a little intimidating! So I've been wracking my brain the past few days and the following is what I came up with...
Since PDX seems to have two seasons: Rain and No Rain, those are the classifications I have given things...I hope you enjoy reading this--I had a lot of fun putting it together (caution: it's really long!).

Playing in No Rain:

• Jameson Square is by far in our family's top five things to do on No Rain days (and hot is even better). After the kids play in the water fountain for a while we often walk to get either gelato, pizza, or coffee at one of the many fun eateries in the Pearl District.
  
• Biking as a family continues to be one of our favorite things to do, and Portland is one of the best cities in the world for bikers. We didn't get to do any biking last summer (new baby!) but some of the paths we like are: Eastbank Esplanade, Columbia River bike paths on either the Oregon or Washington side (right on the water), Springwater Corridor from Oaks Bottom to Downtown, and Poppop and Nana took the kids from Hood River to Mosier last summer on a paved, closed road just for bikes and had a blast. One trail I for sure want to try this summer is from Eagle Creek to Cascade Locks on another closed road just for bikes.
  

• Our kids love the Oregon Zoo and we used to take them there all the time Rain or No Rain!) when we had an annual pass...we've let that expire so we could try other memberships...but there are always 2-Buck Tuesdays! On "2-Buck Tuesdays" (the second Tuesday of every month) you can tour the zoo for just $2 a person (kids under three are always free). But it's stinkin' crowded on those days...so plan accordingly.
• Grant Park has a great fountain, playground, track (run or walk while kids ride bikes), and tennis courts.
  
• Mt. Tabor Park has a great playground, scenery, walking trails, and a dormant volcano to read about it you feel like it.
  
• Rocky Butte is beautiful and the kids run all around the circular paths while you take in the gorgeous panoramic views.
• Hiking can be a good option if it's just lightly raining, but we like to go when it's not raining at all... There are tons of easy kid-friendly hikes in the Columbia River Gorge (I only know of a few, however) and our favorite last summer was Wahclella Falls. Not a good option for entertainment when it's cold, though, since it's always colder and more windy in the Gorge than in Portland.
  
• The Fish Hatchery is not too far and although it's outdoors it can be a good option if you're desperate for something to do to get the kids energies out. Also pretty educational if you feel like talking to them about the fishies.

Playing in the Rain:

• OMSI is super fun for those Rainy days. Jonah says it's his favorite place to go. They recently (within the past two years) renovated their entire children's section so there are things to do and explore for all ages. There's so much to do I couldn't even hope to list it all...some things include dress-up and role play areas, water experiments, a huge sand area (really clean and nice white sand), flubber or playdough area, kitchen and grocery store play area, a roll around area for babies, blocks, vacuum discovery area (put the ball in, watch it shoot out), and more and more...Plus there's the Planetarium and Omnimax theatres and special exhibits and the huge Turbine Hall where you can battle the High school field trip groups and make your hair stand up when you touch the static ball.
  
• I love to go to Target. Walk up and down the toy aisles. I guess you can do this in almost any city, but it is one of my favorite things to do of all time so I thought I'd include it here. I don't know any mom who doesn't like going to Target! This provides at least an hour of entertainment for my kids. I just tell them before we go in that they're not allowed to ask to buy anything. If I can rustle up $1.20 from the bottom of my purse I get the kids a dollar special with an icee (bottomless icees with a huge bag of popcorn). Guaranteed to get you some wild, sugared up kiddos.
  

If you know our family at all you know that we LOVE pizza. Here are our favorite pizza options:

• Yummiest Pizza: Apizza Scholls on Hawthorne. Even just the classic margherita is to die for. Brick oven; yummy tomato sauce--need I say more??? It's also the picture up above...
  
• Most Family Friendly (aka: The Kids Fav): Flying Pie. Video games and tons of toppings. It's pretty much a heart-attack on a plate but the kids can be as loud as they want and no one cares.
  
• Good Ol' Stand-byes: Pizzicato and Hot Lips. They both have several locations all over PDX, both sell slices, and Hot Lips has vegan and organic options.
  

Date Night:
Jon and I always are up for a date-night and when Nana calls to say "Can I take the kids overnight?" we jump at the chance to get out for a quiet dinner. Here are our favorite places to go:

• Nuestra Cocina. Yummy Mexican food with a newer, gourmet flair.
  
• Jakes Grill. We just tried this one for the first time on our anniversary and both had a great meal. We'll definitely be back, plus we hear it's where the Trailblazers eat...hmmm...
  
• Screen Door. Southern comfort food with a gourmet twist. Comfortable atmosphere, yummy desserts, and the best pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on the planet. We've taken the kids here two times as well and they love the mac 'n cheese.
  
• Apizza Scholls. Are you sensing a pattern here?
• We go thru food-phases, and for a while we really liked Laurelwood Public House and their burgers or fish 'n chips. They also have really good beer. We've kind of burned out on it currently...
  
• And speaking of good beer, how can I leave out McMenamin's? They always have good food, cajun tots, cool atmosphere, and their yummy Hammerhead brew is one of Jon's all-time favorites.
• Pho van has really consistent, great vietnamese food and we've been eating there since before they were so popular and before they had ten million locations. Try the salad rolls with peanut sauce and the pork skewers over noodles. They are also famous for their soups and their avocado smoothies. (Thanks, April, for the suggestion!)
  

Best Breakfast:

• Petite Provence. The yummiest pastries you will ever have this side of France.
  
• Cadillac Cafe
• Utopia Cafe
• Milo's City Cafe (Jon's personal favorite)
  

Movies:

• Movies are so stinkin' expensive nowadays that we rarely pay full-price. Why would we when we have a wonderful second-run theater five minutes from our house? It's clean, newly redecorated, and can take the kids. They even have babysitting (we've never used that, though). Whether we are taking the kids or not, our fav place is The Academy Theater near our house. Locally owned and only $3 for adults, $2 for kids.

Best Arcade:

• Ground Kontrol. If you're a regular reader to our blog, you know how much Joe and Jon love this place.

Gelato/Bubble Tea/Coffee (you know, Treats!):

• Bubble Bubble Tea in Fubonn (82nd Ave between Division and Powell is the new China Town and this is a mall there) has the best Bubble Tea we have found in the area (without trying every place, but quite a few).
• Via Delizia in the Pearl has good gelato. We also like Staccato Gelato on 28th near Burnside.
  
• Dutch Bros Coffee is yum and is all drive-thrus (Great for moms!). Stumptown is the best in Portland, but very "hip" if you know what I mean...If you want to hang out in a coffee shop (with or without the kiddies) we think Bipartisan is the best place in our neighborhood to go. They serve Stumptown coffee but is family friendly and they even have a few baskets of toys.

Yarn and Knitting Accessories (What, you thought I'd leave it out?!)

• Cheap: Fabric Depot, JoAnn's
  
• Specialty: The Yarn Garden
• Middle of the Road: Craft Warehouse
  

Well, that's all I can think of right now...If you have anything to add or I left anything out, please leave a comment! Hope you enjoyed reading some of what we love to do in PDX. --e

Christmas Toe-Time

For a very special treat I indulged Ava and myself on Christmas Eve and took her to get her toes painted and myself a pedicure. For $5 they did a super great job on Ava and did a really pretty flower on each of her big toes, too! (Mine as a tad bit more!!) It was so fun to hang out together and soak our feet for like 45 minutes until it was time to paint the toes. It was her first time to enjoy big-girl pampering that I love. I think this might become a Christmas Eve tradition...at least that's my vote!

Lost But Not Forgotten

Oops--I lost these pics! I knew I had them somewhere and found them today in my email inbox. Just goes to show ya...
Above is Jon and myself eating Christmas dinner at Will and Heather's house. They were excellent hosts and even agreed to let the kids eat Christmas dinner on their beautiful leather couches to which this mommy said "NO WAY, JOSE!"

At a Christmas party with Jerry and Louise's old friends. There were like 35 people there or something insane but it didn't feel
crowded at all; it was really fun (especially learning to play Canasta afterward!) and one of the grandpa's even
dressed up like Santa and entertained the kiddos.

Our friend Santa with Ava on his lap--so cute! (I think she's pointing at me to get the answer to his question--if she was good this year)

Jonah asked him if he was real so Santa had him touch his arm and said, "Do I feel real?" Great response! I'm not sure Jonah was buying it, tho...

A Few Fav's

One of our fav pasttimes with our fav people:

Playing Mario Kart Double Dash!!

With the Durias'!!

Happy New Year!!

Jon's probably going to kill me for posting this picture, but doesn't it just look like he's screaming: "Happy New Year! We love you all!" (BTW, it was our anniversary two days ago: 9 years! This picture is just one shining example of why I am sooooooo glad I married him!)
So last night we stayed up for the first time in probably 7 or 8 years and rang in the New Year with the Durias clan, Guitar Hero III, Super Mario Galaxy, the Wii, coke, clam dip, ribs, chipotle cole slaw, cornbread, card games, Lego Star Wars, and oh yeah, Dick Clark.
All in all, a wonderful start to 2008!

As Requested...

My mom used to dress my sisters and me up every year and we would all go to the Holland Festival at Redlands Christian School. My sister JoAnna still takes her kids there every May to this day (they also attend school there just like all my sisters). Anyways, the best treat there was the Olibolen, a few small Dutch donuts put in a brown paper sack with powdered sugar--we would shake the bag until they were covered in the sugar and eat them warm...I have so many fond memories of those festivals and this is just one of them.
It turns out that Jon's mom Louise has made these for many years as well (they grew up calling them "Rolnas", a nickname given to them by Jerry, Jon's dad). About three years ago Louise and I tested each other's recipes for Olibolen. Here is the winner:
Olibolen:
Proof yeast by combining a packet of yeast and 1/2 C water with 1 tsp sugar. Let foam up in a warm spot for about 5-10 minutes to make sure the yeast is active. Then...
Put all these ingredients in a bowl:
2 C milk
2 eggs
1/4 C butter
1/4 C sugar
1 tsp salt
Add the yeast combo
Add 4-5 C flour (add until barely sticky)
Can split dough into parts at this point and add different things such as chocolate chips, raisins and apple chunks, nuts, cinnamon, whatever you want. Traditionally with raisins and grated apple.
Cover and let rise for a while (like an hour and half or so) until doubles in size.
Heat up vegetable oil in a pot until 350 degrees (or can use a deep fryer--heehee-now you know why we make them only once a year!).
Drop the dough by spoonfuls into the hot oil--do not overcrowd the pot and drop the temp.
Fry until brown on all sides.
Cover with warm glaze (recipe follows) or can dust with powdered sugar. YUM!

Glaze:
1/2 C butter
1 C powdered sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 C sugar
1/2 C milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
Dump all ingredients into a small saucepan and let boil for 5-10 minutes.
Keep simmering
Dip hot the Olibolen into the glaze with a large spoon and let drain on a cookie rack or tray. Will be hot!! Let cool a few minutes before you completely scorch your mouth...I hope you enjoy them as much as Jonah does!

A few moments with Ava

Coloring Shrinky Dinks (a Christmas present) at the table...
Mom: What color do you want me to color this flower for you, Ava?
Ava: All my favorite colors. You know: pink, purple, blue.
Mom: What about orange?
Ava: Oh yes, orange can be such a comfort.
Mom (laughing HARD): A comfort, huh? What else can be a comfort?
Ava: Cats. Cats can be such a comfort.

A few weeks ago Tonya and I were driving through the Winter Wonderland (basically a bunch of lights and light-up toys on display at PIR) with our girls, and Ava kept seeing the lights reflected in the windows of the car:
Ava: Look, Jolie, it's the Light of the Lord!!

Christmas Play and Olibolen!

Jonah was the Innkeeper for our first ever children's play at Eden Bible Church. He did so well at remembering to tell Joseph and Mary to go use the stables.

Ava was an angel and she is right in the middle of this picture (behind Joseph and to the left a bit). The kids were super cute and sang "Away in a Manger" complete with hand motions.

After the Christmas play Poppop and Nana came over for presents and some lunch (thanks for the ham and cabbage rolls, Nana!)

The Food Network's gonna be knocking at the door for these cute chefs any day now...

Jon and I started an Olibolen tradition (just about the best Dutch donut you ever had) the second year we were married. Louise and I did a throwdown (taste test) for the guys this year and made one batch with granny smith apples and raisins and one batch with chocolate chips. The winner by far was the apple & raisin one!

The Boo started waving Bye Bye on Christmas Eve and Jonah lost another tooth. Just some little Christmas miracles! Hahaha!! Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Jonah B-day Part 2

BooBoo Loves to Jump!

A friend lent us this Johnny Jump-Up and Brynne goes to town in it when we tell her "Brynney, Jump-Jump!"

Sweat my Sweater 2007

Every year our church has a Christmas party called Sweat my Sweater (as in "you know you love my sweater!") Here's just a few pics of our crazy outfits. Sorry, Mom, for mocking the iron-on, puffy paint, Mary Englebright sweatshirt Jon is wearing (I think you had that one once upon a time..) And my friend Jessica and I showed up with a matching set... (Click to enlarge photos, oh and check out my green eyeshadow. While I was putting it on thick Ava kept declaring sweetly "You look soooooooo beautiful, Mommy!"

One more

Here's one of Jonah opening a present and Momma being soo excited! haha