Just too cute

I have no reason other than this picture is so damn cute i couldn't help post it. Piper braves the chilly outdoors to go to Tumble class this past tuesday. The bummer is that later that night she got really sick in her tummy and we have been home cuddled together on the couch keeping the fire stoked and the freezing air out all day.

gobble gobble

ds



It was a fun day to be off work, hanging out with the family. Uncle Mark came over with a bird, stuffing, gravy and berries. yumm. Mama made the taters, green beans...and a fresh from scratch apple pie. HMMMMM so good. Piper had fun playing with Uncle and decorating the Yule tree. Piper also enjoyed making turkey cards for the grandparents.

Boss and Piper

Jamie brought over her new puppy Boss last night-a 6 month old Bermese Mt. dog. Piper introduced Boss to her stuffed dog Charlie and had fun petting Boss' fluffly puppy fur. Boss was such a good boy chillin' out while we had some dinner and conversation. Piper and Boss will see more of each other as time goes on-and i am sure a little pony ride atop Boss will happen eventually.
Good times!

Tumble Time

Tuesdays are special days because Piper gets to go to Romp and Roll tumble class. Not a much of a class really, just an opportunity for toddlers to play on mats, balance beams, bars and trampolines. Piper could spend more than the 1/2 hour allowed too, but other classes fill day so we make do with the time we have. Piper has so much fun jumping and running and tumbling down the mats and playing with the other kids too.

the real halloweenie

Piper got to flaunt her cute witchy costume at the mall on Halloween. Mama and Papa flew in from a small vacation called VEGOOSE, still a little hungover and tired, but happy to see their little monkey and take her to her first trick or treating outing.

Opting for the mall instead of the freezing cold outside, we all headed to Clackamas town center where Piper figured out quickly what all the other kids were doing in costumes. Piper had fun walking around and checking out the other costumes and getting candy!

Good ol' sneaky mama brought her own bag of goodie composed of stickers, bubbles, beads, raisans and pretzels. Once in the car, mama switched out the candy for the sticker lot and Piper never knew she got dissed on the tootsie rolls and lolipops in exchange for rasins. Mama is sneaky like that.
whahhahahahahahahahahahahaha

I put a spell on you

Piper poses for the camera in her Samhain outfit for this year. We traded in the cute fuzzy bear stuff for a nice witchy outfit. She looks great and ready to ride to the moon.

Autumn is in the Air

ah, the fall leaves, the crispy cool days. Autumn is here in full swing in Portland. Piper took advantage of a sunny day and learned about playing in the leaves. Mama gathered up leaves from around the yard and put them in a pile. We had fun rolling around in the leaves, tossing them in the air and making a mess!

pumpkin carving time

Piper was very excited to help carve out the pumpkins this year. The excitement was all for the messy part though. These days, the messier the better for this pint size! Handfuls of slimey pumpkin guts and seeds sure were fun to pull out of the pumpkin and slop onto the plate (and sidewalk, and mama's legs, and papa's pants....)

The finished product!

Piper shows off her pumpkins-even though she is shying away from the camera.
Dadda did a great job carving out Piper's favorite character, DORA THE EXPLORER. While mama went for the more traditional route with a scary pumpkin face.

The Pumpkin Patch

On Thursday we ventured to the Pumpkin patch in search of the perfect pumpkin. The great pumpkin charlie brown!
It was a venture of many firsts for Piper. Her first Hay ride and first visit to a pumpkin patch. She had a blast on the hayride and even more fun romping through the patch to find her perfect pumpkin. We each got one and Piper picked a nice white pumpkin-not to small-not to big- but just right. We didn't end up doing the corn maize (daddy wasn't into it) but perhaps next year we will give that one a go. We picked up many gourds and fresh corn to take home and packed the car up with all the goodies and went home. Piper loved her experience.
Can't wait to do it again next year.

Pumpkin Patch 2

A few more photos

Pumpkin Patch 3

Here are some more pictures from our great orange adventure

New Playhouse!

Piper was excited to come home to a new playhouse in the yard. Complete with sink and stove, she quickly got to work making some food for Charlie (her stuffed dog) and singing him lullabys.


Of course Piper wouldn't be Piper if she didn't stray from the norm. Here she demonstrates the alternative way to get into the playhouse. Who needs doors when a window is much more fun to climb through. Yes, I realize she is practicing for her teenage years early of course. Mental note-locks on screens and alarm on windows when she reaches....13!

Piper can't wait to have her friends over for some playhouse fun.

happy birthday gracie bug!

Piper enjoyed helping Grace celebrate her big birthday number two this weekend. Grace had a nice party complete with pinata, yummy treats and party hats! The girls looked so cute in their matching outfits (that Jen's mom made for both of them!!!-how sweet is that!!) we are so happy to have watched the girls grow up together and look forward to many more birthday parties to come.

Northwest String Summit 2006

This weekend was the 5th annual Northwest String Summit at Horning's Hideout. A weekend of class act blue grass with many legends and of course Yonder Mountian headlining the event all three days of music. Frank and I headed out early on Thursday to catch a good campsite at family camp for us and Jen and Josh and Grace. Frank found some prime estate on a hill in the trees so we had shade all weekend (which was key in 90 degrees). Jen and Josh arrived Friday afternoon and Grace and Piper had a super fun time playing together everyday. We all had some sleep issues with the girls, but aside from that-it was a steller time! The music was super jammin and the girls LOVED to dance and play. Attempts at the hoola hoops were made-in a few years the girls will be pros at the hoola. Friday night left us all pooped so we crashed early dispite the rocking music echoing across the valley. we actually had such a prime spot we didn't need to go into the venue because we could hear the music crystal clear from our campsite. Josh went out alone friday night to catch some YMSB. Saturday night was the same, everyone crashed after first set, but Brandy headed out for the full second set Saturday night-and what a nite! A naked guy jumped on stage as they were beginning a jam and tried to jump on the mandolin players. he was chased around the stage and proceeded to jump into the crowd. The band made jokes about it all night and it was pretty funny.

So the kids and families had a great time. There were tons of kids and Piper and Grace made friends with a lot of the kids around us. It is fun to be around other parents who like the same music and for the most part share the same ideas about food and fun. So its not big deal if the kids share each others snacks or sit in each others chairs. we are all a big family at family camp. most of us anyway. we were unfortunate in the fact taht we had that ONE BAD MAMA behind us at camp that proceeded to get tanked each night and yell and carry on about her cocktails and getting F-ed up as loud as she could to her friends. She woke up the girls a few times and we could only feel sorry for her kids. I guess there is one bad egg in every bunch.

it was a hot, dusty weekend, but so full of great music. Really, the people around us were so cool and even if they weren't parents, they reeled in the delight of watching the kids dance and play and have so much fun. We took several peacock trips-going up to the lake to find the peacocks that own the land. No, really. Horning's, amoungst other things, is a peacock farm and there are tons of peacocks running around the property. Don't be suprised to see one pecking around your camp or crossing your path as you zig zag through the camp ground. The girls loved to watch them...and chase them a few times too. The peacocks are used to it though, so they don't complain too much. they just run away behind Bob Horning's house if they get sick of it. hahahaha.

well, to a wonderful weekend. we are lucky to get one show in at HH this year. hopefully Bob's neighbors will lighten up and we can get some more shows in next year!!!
to good friends and good times!!!!!....oh and naked guys. yeeeeeeehaaaaaaawwww

Belly Paint

After a super fun morning playing with all her friends at Jen's house with the mama group, Piper took on some finger painting. Which soon led to belly painting. The colour here is pretty darn good i think. worthy of a picture.

A fun weekend

Piper and mama went to a good friends house up in Washington this weekend. Aaron, his wife Teri and their beautiful daughters Caillean and Amber had us stay the night and showed us a wonderful time. The girls played in the river several times, we went for a hike to the top of a mountian overlooking the valley with views of the river and what we decided was Mt. Rainer in the distance. The girls had fun picking wild Blackberries and Huckleberries, thier hands and face covered with berries.
Piper and I had so much fun playing with the girls we came home exhausted!!!!
Aaron and I had great spiritual conversations that led well into the moon of Sunday morning admist a crackeling fire in their back yard. We can't wait to go up again to do some ritual celebrations and let the kids play again. It is so great to have good friends!!!!

Sun Valley ID

We headed out to Sun Valley for a wedding this past weekend. Piper was a gem in the airplane and the overall travel experience this time around was excellent. Sun Valley is amazing and beautiful. I would move there in a heartbeat if i could afford it, but frank is a tree hater and said no way. (just kidding frankypie) Trees..standing around like STUPID JERKS!
anyway, the wedding was very nice and it was a nice time. Frank and i got to check out The Dirty Dozen Brass Band while we were there. We love the DDBB and to see them in a small little bar was cool. To hang out with the band...that was even cooler. Everyone was wasted so i am sure they wouldn't remember...but i get them all to sign my poster. so i have proof.

well, piper loved the trees and fresh mountian air. we will be back for sure.

The visit

The family had so much fun having Alicia and Amber and Jason over to the homestead for a few days. Piper and Amber enjoyed playing, dancing, drawing and of course...eating ICE. We can't wait for them to come back to visit or hopefully move back so we can enjoy their company ALL the time. Amber has become a beautiful young lady turning 7 in a week. Last time I saw her, she was 4. It was good to hang out and watch the kids have a good time.