Independence Day

 We host our friends for a backyard potluck breakfast on Independence Day.  It was a great turnout.  We even got a few good family photos.

Wet Wet Wet!

 Amber loves to go outside and get wet on hot afternoons.  I've come home a few times to a soaking Amber who wants to be picked up and hugged.

 

lunch time

Apple

Amber asks for 'apole' all day long.  Sometimes 'apole' means banana or kiwi, but most often it means a green apple.  We've been slicing them up in thin slices before we give them to her.  Yesterday, Sandi gave Amber exactly what she asked for!

 Without any help from Sandi, Amber ate half of the apple.

yum yum yum

impresive

Tiny House

For our 6th anniversary, Sandi and I wanted to go somewhere exotic; somewhere we hardly ever go. We chose NE Portland. For those of you not familiar with NE Portland, it is the side of town where the cool people hang out; where the 'hipsters' live. It is also known as a foodie haven. Sandi found a little 'tiny house' village in the heart of one such foodie district. The Tiny House Hotel

Welcome to Kangablue

170 sq ft

This village has 6 tiny homes surrounding a common area

A tiny house is often between 100 and 400 square feet.  It typifies a movement of low-impact and simplicity.  We just wanted an enjoyable anniversary in a non-hotel and a story to tell.

Kangablue is very functional with a sitting room, kitchenette, bathroom/shower and 2 lofts

Our loft fit a queen-sized bed

Since we were in the heart of the foodie district, we only had to walk across the street for our dinner Saturday night. 

 

For breakfast the next morning, we walked 3 blocks to an amazing brunch place for an egg scramble

 

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!!

Sandi requested scones and bacon for breakfast.  (Side note, Amber had her first taste of bacon that morning and fell in LOVE.  Momma, why have you withheld this from me my entire life?)  After that we went to church and Amber had fun in the nursery. 

We got Amber up from the nursery.  As I picked her up Amber reached out her hand to grab my glasses and said 'Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!' cause that's what you say when you grab Daddy's glasses (according to Daddy).  Oh, I laughed...

A kind gentleman saw Amber snacking on her banana after church and serenaded her with a harmonica version of 'Pop Goes the Weasel.'  That was pretty cool.

After lunch and nap, we headed out to the back yard for photos.  We got a few good ones of Sandi and Amber

 

but not so much of the entire family...

 

her little jumper makes my heart melt

 

Oh yeah, it was our 6th anniversary too.  Celebrating the week prior made the specific calendar date easy to overlook.  I'll blog about that later.

Love you Babe!

Amber the Duck

Amber is generally a pretty chill kind of kid.  When she becomes inconsolable, going outside will generally calm her down.  Even when she is happy, she is possibly happier outside.  Sandi and I count this a blessing.  We love the outdoors, we want her to love the outdoors.  Sandi and I go inside when it rains.  Amber does not.

It's Saturday morning and we are making breakfast. Amber wants to go outside.  We try to say 'no, its raining' but she doesn't care. 

We put on her shoes and raincoat and out she goes. 

Water on the bench?

Yes!  Water on the bench.

Not even 2 and she has webbed feet.

Happy Easter! Easter Dinner

We were disappointed our original Easter plans were significantly altered.  Denise's family, who worked so hard to plan and prepare a wonder dinner/Easter egg hunt/fun adventure fell ill with the ick-crud.  What was to be a great gathering (bordering on controlled mayhem) turned into a quiet and intimate family gathering at my parent's table with Mom, Dad, Sandi, Amber and myself.  Denise was generous to supply the lamb and bunny bread in her stead; Mom provided the corn casserole, Dad provided the wine and we brought the salad. 

 

 Amber really enjoyed the lamb (the broccoli, not so much).

 

After dinner, we went outside for Amber's Easter Egg hunt.  Sandi 'hid' the eggs on the grass in plain view.  We all wondered what Amber would think and do.

 

the hunt....

 

I think she thoroughly it. 

Again, in her thoughtfulness, Denise provided the perfect hunt for Amber.  Her eggs were full of fun finger puppets and fish.

 

Enjoying the spoils....