smileface

how we celebrated our 10 year anniversary

front side

we rented a little cabin in the woods.

backside

we were supposed to go to italy for 2 weeks, but last year we went to chuck e cheese, so i guess this is a step up.

 

it was perfect, though.

we had our own creek, fire pit, jacuzzi, and the kids had a small loft to sleep in.

have you ever had a tin foil dinner? i was really proud and excited about these until i realized the meat had a very metallic taste. hmph.

my favorite part of any trip is when we stop talking to each other and hang out in peace and quiet. i know, i'm so much fun. but telling ghost stories in the jacuzzi was a close second this time.

breakfast always tastes better in the woods, always!

that there yonder is an alpine slide. something like half a mile long i think. it was soooooo fast, i was terrified! but i'm chicken.

not these guys. fearless!

that is not us.

bungee swing. i should've tried this. maybe next year.

think this mini-golf course took about 5 minutes to complete.

if i remember correctly, this is called a "zorb," which is essentially a human hamster ball.

 

i swear the guy let them stay on these gocarts for 20 minutes. they looooooved it!

 

that's my fearless baby girl way up there!

what i would do for some maria's? the search for good mexican food in oregon continues...

that's what she said.

goodbye, summer...

we had a really short summer this year. even by portland standards. i can't tell you how much we've learned to appreciate sunny days and clear skies.

we spent a lot of time outside to capitalize on the weather, and spent almost every friday of the summer at a rainbow trout farm not too far from our house. its the perfect spot for picnicking and fishin with the fam. can't wait to go back next year...

next year i'll figure out what the heck to do with all the fish!

the merry kitchen

when i first heard about the merry kitchen, i knew i had to take the little girl. she's obsessed with food and loves to cook. i'm all for it, 'cause it's all about self-preservation. one day she will cook all the time and therefore, i won't have to anymore. it's genius.

here they are with julie, who is superb with kids.

stirring the crab meat and mayo together.

she sure loves to stir...

everyone else is watching julie cook garlic.

the day's theme was sponge bob. these are the krusty krab bites. i don't have to tell you that i ate mounds of them, so i won't.

at the far end you can see sponge bob's pineapple hut. devoured. period.

and of course, the man of the hour, himself. such a fun morning! thank you, julie!

the 4th

a few months ago we celebrated the 4th of july.

the kids participated in the "happy valley 4th of july bicycle parade." in other news, i've never felt so white in my life.

then we went to brent/irene's for some chow.

and then we went to dan/esther's to watch fireworks. it was a good day. happy 4th!

we went fishing

currently obsessing

multnomah falls / cascade locks, oregon

- hiking. i've spent the better part of this week on amazon researching proper shoes, socks, daypacks, you name it. my sister and i are going on a 5-miler this weekend. gotta start somewhere. do any of you backpack?

- interpreter of maladies by jhumpa lahiri. reread this week for the 3rd time. i've said it once, and i'll say it again, i would give a limb to write this beautifully. you have to read it. what's wrong with you?

- instagram. where have you been all my life?

- digital SLR. my new project. which camera to buy?

- pilates. i will conquer you damn it.

- coach classic. can't believe i want to buy a coach bag. this is crazy. on another note, isn't hanneli is so effortlessly chic? love her to bits.

- chocolate. i want to bury my face in a box of truffles. i'm such a fatty, it's unforgivable. for dinner earlier this week i demolished 3 krispie kreme donuts in a row. THREE. how does one forgive oneself after such a gross display of human depravity?

- this workout dvd. awesome. and marisa tomei is hot. period.

- the poorman's kate somerville. i love, love, love this stuff.

- barefoot running. have you heard of this phenomenon? waiting for these to come for me in the mail. 

food for thought

bookclub @ irene's

i started a bookclub at my church last year.

in my bookclub there are two rules. 1. you must enjoy books and 2. you must enjoy food.

one of my greatest regrets in life is that haven't read more.

another is that i didn't have a second helping of this phenomenal pie. life is so short! sigh!

month of glory: day 30

our last night in socal. april seems like eons ago. we capped off our trip with one last family dinner at los angeles institution- el tepeyac.

we waited centuries for a table big enough for our clan. everyone was starting to lose their cool. do you enjoy hearing about our first world problems?

holy burrito! my fam rules.

month of glory: day 29

we are seriously amusement park freaks, no?! sigh.

cal actually hit this bonus! it was amazing!

awesome, awesome day.

month of glory: day 28

day 28 was spent shopping in costa mesa. the end.