I'm Standing!

Generally I try to show more discernment and restraint when I choose pictures for the blog.  This time I couldn't help myself. 

A Pirate's Life for Me

Cannon Beach Art

Sandi and I were looking forward to our annual Cannon Beach Plein Air Arts Festival for several months.  We really enjoy walking around the town meeting artists and watching them work.  This time Amber joined us! 

After seeing a few artists and galleries we decided to walk to the park for lunch.  We foolishly hoped we could set up the pack'n play for Amber and read while she napped.  Silly mommy and daddy!  We finally gave up and had Amber sleep in her stroller while we walked the town. 

In the afternoon the artists hosted an art fair.  We sipped a local Chardonnay while enjoying high quality (and expensive) art.  It is always fun to complement an artist on their work and so impressive that they did all that in one day.

Amber had enough culture for one day so we headed to the water.  It was Amber's first time at the beach and she loved it.  It was fun watching her crawl in the sand and take her wave-chasing in the water.  The water was cold but she really seemed to like it.

 

First Dance

I wasn't dressed for it but Amber wanted to dance.  So we danced.

Amber and Grandpa

Amber and Grandpa hanging out.

Happy Grandfather's day!

Wrestling Elephants

Every month we break out the pink elephant for Amber. We used to set her on it. Now we let her beat it up.

The Fence is Finally Finished!

When Amber started crawling, it was a huge wake-up call for us. Someday Amber would be playing in the back yard and would need an enclosed space.  Building a fence around the yard was always on our list of things to do but it kept getting pushed down as other things came up. 

Good riddance!

yucky fence parts

The neighbor's gate also got an overhaul

This was undoubtedly my biggest scale project 

Laying out the fence and planning where to plant the posts was its own undertaking

Dad came down and helped install the cross beams after I planted the posts

Gerald and I would install the slats after work

After 2-months of work It is Finished!.

We love how it creates our own private park.  Now we can enjoy dinner on the patio without seeing other people walk by.

We decided to extend the fence out to the front of the house to hide the utility wall.

 

So glad we did

The final touch was a little half-fence between us and the neighbors