Problem with the Food Pyramid

"What I'm saying Nik, is that I think ice cream is just as much a real food group as all the other ones."

Future Concert Goer

The Face of Summer

TOU.5

They did it! And the girl beat the boys across the finish line! Way to go Whit! Bri, Chris and Chod you did good too.

Giving me gray hairs

Me-so came to live with us a few weeks ago. He only shows up at the most inopportune times, but when he comes out, his presence is widely known. Me-so is short for Me-so-sad. Which I think interprets into "I'm so tired" in big person speak. Or maybe the 3 year old has a depression problem? By dropping his head and saying "Me so sad" or "Me just so sad" it is obvious Me-so is here to stay until bedtime or a nap if we are lucky!

Super Hereos

We returned home from the temple to find a series of photos like this on the camera.

Not sure what went on while we were gone, or who was in charge. But it looks like they had a good time.

Post of the Coast

Bentley had hopes of seeing a sea lion, lighthouses, and a star fish, and maybe a crab while we were in Oregon. Newport made all of that come true, as well as adding harbor seals to our list.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse, we didn't get a photo of Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.

The sea lions were taking naps on the dock.

We found the seals working on their tans. A stop at the Hatfield Visitor Center provided star fish, crabs, and anemones, as well as showing us how to find shrimp, but the camera didn't get pulled out during the stop.

And then we drove through Lincoln City (had to a take a photo for our Lincoln).

Then we arrived at Cannon Beach with the famous Haystack rock.

Bentley absolutely loved the ocean.

Lincoln even dipped his toes in the Pacific.

Bentley got a little more wet than just his toes. Before we left he was soaking from head to toe. He kept saying, "Me loves the sand."

Mom and the Gink.

I'm thinking we have a future beach bum on our hands. It took us 45 minutes to get him off the beach, even though he was wet and shivering. One of the men at the meetings with Chod lives on Maui, he said he would teach Bentley how to surf. We may be shipping Bentley off to work on a papaya farm and surf with Chuck.

A quick stop at Multnomah Falls on our way out of town. Eleven hours in the car later and we are back home. With only one meltdown, someone* needed chocolate in a bad way. And it wasn't even me.

*hint: This person loves chocolate as much as he loves the beach.

Traveloque Part 1

We made it! When Chod said he had meetings in Portland, I quickly invited myself and the boys to tag along and we planned a quick trip to the Oregon Coast. But first we had a 5k to run and a rodeo to see.

Our first 5k as a family of 4.

4 generations of rodeo goers.

Luckily for all of us, the boys do really well in car. A few stops later we were in Portland, where there was a heat wave (102) and our hotel was pretty distant from any main attraction. IKEA was about the only thing within walking distance. While Chod was in meetings we spent our days swimming, napping, playing hide and go seek, some time at IKEA, and just plain chilling. The hotel had koi in the lobby pond and the 'alligator' (elevator) kept us entertained for hours.

The Portland temple.

My little Lincoln won hearts everywhere we went. After a he flashed his dimples, the ladies were at his beck and call. He had 3 staff members at breakfast waiting for him every morning with a high chair or anything else he might need. Not only is he a flirt, but he is also a tease. He perfected the art of bugging his brother. Lincoln found great joy in putting his foot on Bentley and then watching the fit that followed. If Froggie was loose in the van in Linc's vicinity, he would grab it and Bentley would start screaming as Lincoln sat smiling.

As soon as the meetings were over we headed to the coast.

Word on the street

Our conversation over a poopy diaper:

Me: Whoa, this stinks.

Bentley: Why?

Me: Because poopy diapers stink.

Bentley: No they don't, that's just a rumor.

Me: A rumor? Actually it is a fact. They stink.

Bentley: Nope, it's just a rumor.

Here we go again

August is showing no sign of slowing down and we are doing our best to hang on and enjoy it all. Between family reunions, baptisms, losing Grandma, the funeral, Chod's running, and more family get togethers I have been trying to keep my head above water, gas in the tank, and clothes washed. I did manage to get the kitchen mopped and the bathrooms cleaned this week, so we are sitting pretty now. We are averaging 3 days at home before we leave again. Which is enough time to unpack, do laundry, and pack again. Chod only has 3 more races until the season is over-a 5k, half and full marathon. If you have a chance to hang out at one of the finish lines, please come! (you will be able to see Chris too, if Chod isn't enough of a draw). Chod, the boys and I will be doing the 5k and I hear it isn't too late to sign up-so you can too.

When we are at home we have been enjoying play dates, the swimming pool, and the fruits of our labor from the garden. Last Sunday we ate trout (caught by Chod), green beans (garden), roasted potatoes (garden), and a salad (garden) with zucchini cake (garden) for dessert. How's that for being self-sufficient and enjoying the bounty of the harvest?

Late night visitor

We pulled into town after dark and Chod headed to water the garden.

Hours later he wasn't home, and I started wondering if I'd ever see him again.

At 11:57 the phone rang.

"Hi Nik"

"Where are you?"

"I watered the garden and then I drove passed Phil and Linda's. They were out with their telescope-so I stopped. I saw Jupiter and there is supposed to be a big meteor shower in a few minutes!"

Would you swing by your boss's house to see Jupiter in the middle of the night?

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls of All Ages

I proudly present, in Ring 3, The Amazing Lincolnator!

Grandma JoAnn

To my mom's mom. Thank you for....


...having a meaner bark than bite.
...raising 7 of the most creative, intelligent and hardest working people I know.
...trying to teach me how to crochet, even if I failed.
...letting me spend the night when I was 21, and getting up before I had to be to work (at 6) to make me breakfast.
...coming to my volleyball games, Grandparent dinners, 4-H steer shows, and graduation even though you had your own teenagers at home.
...Lincoln's dark complexion. I'll make sure he knows where it came from.
...making my mom go on a date with the guy who kept calling, but who sounded nice. He's now my dad.

She passed away this morning, but I know she was ready and my memories are good. I can't ask for more than that.

Swimming for free

The aquatic center can be rented out for the night. Many businesses rent it and provide dinner to their clients, patients, and customers as a night of appreciation. I would guess that most nights it is being used as a free swim party with the gates open and no questions asked to those that enter. Both our dentist and our insurance company have had swim nights this year.

When the invite came from the insurance company I looked at the date and thought it would be perfect. Wednesday night there was a Relief Society dinner, Friday night was Chod's work BBQ, and so a Thursday swim party and dinner would tie it all together with 3 nights of free food.

Thursday we enjoyed sandwiches and the pool, while commenting that your chance of showing up at the pool every night and crashing a party were pretty good, if you are that kind of person. We also mentioned how it was interesting that we hadn't seen our agent.

Friday night as we were getting ready for the BBQ, Chod glanced at the swim invite on the fridge and noted the date, July 31st.

Whoever had a swim party on July 30th. Thank you.

Apparently, we are "those kind of people".