Helping with Groceries

We made a grocery shopping trip Sunday evening.  Amber did quite well considering she was both wet and hungry, though she did sound like a siren through the store towards the end.  Amber and I went to find pesto while Sandi was looking at olives.  Sandi just followed the sound of Amber yelling to find us.  Fortunately, everyone at the store was in good humor (probably glad she wasn't crying or mad).

We got home and began unpacking our grocery bags.  Amber loves helping and quickly began unpack the bag on the floor.

Peanut Butter!!

This might be a case of 'you had to be there' but it still makes me laugh.

Last night Amber and I were in the family room playing.  Sandi was cooking steak but needed ideas on what to combine with it.  Trouble was, the fridge was proverbially empty after using up all the meals planned for the week.  Making dinners out of 'nothing' is what I did as a bachelor so Sandi asked to help craft the meal.  I picked up Amber and we headed to the kitchen to offer suggestions.  My first stop was the cupboard where we keep the canned goods.  I opened the door and before I could look at the contents

our little girl pointed and exclaimed at the top of her lungs 'BUJG-AA-BA!!!!!!!'  I looked, and sure enough, there was the jar of peanut butter.  Forget dinner prep, Amber wants peanut butter.  So, Amber had peanut butter and was happy, we continued on with dinner prep.

Snow Day (or Snowpocolypse 2017)

Out of nowhere, a snow storm descended on Portland Tuesday night.  It snowed all evening and into the night.

 Sandi went out around 10:00 to explore.  Already there was 4" on the ground.

 By morning, the snow measured 7" and it was still snowing.

 8" seems to be the final count.

 Bummer I had to work all day.  I sequestered myself in our bedroom and watched the snow continue to fall.

 When I got off work, we all bundled up and went outside.  Amber looked like a sumo wrestler with her snowsuit on.

 We borrowed a couple of sleds from our neighbor and gave Amber her first sleigh ride. 

 She loved it!!!

Sleeping In

We all had a rough night last night. 

After napping for only 23 minutes on Saturday, Amber wend to bed at 6:30.  (That was a long day for all three of us to be cooped up in the house together due to the freezing temperatures outside.)  Amber woke up at 2:15, 3:00, 3:45, 5:00, and 5:45, each time for at least a 1/2-hour or more.  I hardly slept between 2:15 and 5:00 and Sandi didn't do much better.  I think Amber finally settled down for good around 6:15.  When I looked at the clock this morning it read 10:00!  Sandi was awake just a few minutes before me and Amber woke up around 10:15.  We've never, as a family, slept in-until 10:00.  Part of me was mortified that I slept the day away, but most of me was grateful for the chance to sleep.  Fortunately, we had no plans to leave the house this morning as our church canceled their services.  We got up, Sandi made brunch while Amber helped me make coffee.

our little sleepy-head

Once Amber woke up and had a bottle, she was much more amiable to playing with her toys. 

Amber sporting her new sailor outfit

Visiting Santa

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Waving Hello

 

Amber learned to wave today!

 

Bye Bye!

Oregon Coast

This blog is all about Amber.  But Amber took a little break on this post and sent Mommy and Daddy out to the coast for a weekend getaway.

Grandma and Grandpa came down Friday afternoon so Sandi and I could get a take off after breakfast Saturday morning.  We arrived in Cannon Beach for their annual Stormy Weather Arts Festival.  It is the third of three art events Cannon Beach hosts each year.  We have never attended this one so this was our year.  

 After an afternoon of visiting galleries and meeting artists followed by an evening of receptions, we headed to our hotel south of Haystack Rock. 

 We never stayed overnight at Cannon Beach - its too easy of a day-trip.  But it is so nice to not worry about heading home in the evening. 

 In the morning, Sandi and I walked to downtown for breakfast via the beach.  Considering the stormy weather we experienced the day before, it was an incredibly pleasant morning.

 

Since Amber was going to entertain Grandma and Grandpa for one night, why not make it two?  After breakfast we drove north to Astoria.

 Astoria has been on our to-do list for quite awhile.  We did not have any real agenda - walk around town, eat good food, read books, etc but we did want to see the Astoria Column.

 This was kind of a highlight for me.  You can purchase a balsa wood airplane for $1.  We chose not too.  We walked up to the top and joined other people looking at the vista.  They had balsa wood planes.  It was so fun watching the planes get tossed over the side and catch an air stream. Suddenly a fumbling piece of wood turned into a sleek glider as it flew over the grass field below and headed towards the water.  One in particular seemed like it would reach the Columbia River.  It's the simple pleasures in life...

 Obviously, November is low season for Astoria.  We didn't find a bustling tourist town though we did find a very pleasant downtown to walk through.  It is also quite the foodie destination.  We took a neighbor's advice on where to eat and had a great lunch Sunday afternoon. 

 The rain wasn't bad.  The only time it really started to get us wet we ducked into a glass blowing shop and watched a couple of guys make a glass-blown vase.  Fascinating experience if you ever get the chance.

After breakfast on Monday morning we headed back home.   We missed our little girl.