Big Trees. Big River. Big Fun.

This was home sweet home for the last few days! 

...which would have been just fine were it not for the life-threatening bears. Seriously, mom and dad? Isn't it your job to protect us? I suggest we read the sign on the bottom and then follow the sign on the top. Just a suggestion.

Ok, I might forgive you for endangering our lives. This is pretty cool.   

You're welcome. I'll be here.  

Girls, kick harder before dad drinks my wine. 

 

Then, for a walk through the glorious trees...

 

Alright. Bears or no bears, long hikes through tree after tree after tree after tree...it's suddenly all good: this camping thing is awe.some.

 

We Love a Parade

June!

I am a pre-school graduate. The picture within this picture is a picture of me with a goofy grin and a declaration of what I want to be when I grow up: 

A famous singer. :)

I'm pretty proud of myself for getting all the way to KINDERGARTEN... 

but not yet.

First up: summertime. We headed to one of our favorite coastal campsites where the beach is actually swimmable. Well, the beach not so much, I guess... but the OCEAN is swimmable-- shallow and warm and perfect. A great kick off to summertime! 

On your mark... get set....

... JUMP!!!! (Repeat: 47,000 times!

 I'll be here. 

Then, back home for a quiet week before jumping into Y Camp...

Winona was at a cooking camp this  past week and loved it! Jez is an "Explorer" this year for K-1 kids-- lots of field trips, swimming, arts-n-crafts and gogogogogogogo. No more naps---she comes home one tuckered puppy. Ah, summer... you are so very good to us all. Looking forward to many more sunny adventures and long days ahead. :)  

I've FIVE!!!

Our incredibly sweet, always curious, spunky and funky little monkey is five. June of 2009 seems like only yesterday in many ways  (click here for a little stroll down the first months of wee Jezebelly's life. :)

Breakfast for dinner-- waffles with whipped cream and cherries to be exact-- was the birthday girl's request. Delivered! 

On Sunday, we celebrated with a few 5 year old friends at a local park. I wasn't very good about taking pictures that day, but we played "Pin the banana on the Monkey," bubble wand games and balloon games... the simplest ones are always the most fun!! 

The girls and I went out for a fun night on the town...

 ...including a stop at our new and COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY AWESOME skatepark. There were a LOT of kids there when we "dropped in," so the wee girls were a little intimidated, but we'll go back some early Sunday morning and really hit it, because man oh man, this place is amazing. Built under a bridge where there had been a long and sordid history of drug use and transient living... now a vibrant and welcoming recreational center. Love it. 

I may not win any half-pipe competitions (yet) but I've got the stylin' award in the bag, my friends. Show me the skater with coordinated animal prints to rival this and I'll yield my prize...Yup. Didn't think so.

 One of Jezebel's presents was Simon...now a family favorite. Mike holds the record... but not for long. :)

May!

May is always a fun month around here; for me, anyway! My birthday AND mother's day. In short: I am Queen for a Month. 

Ah, yes... I'll be sad to June arrive. ;) 

The month started off with a wonderful visit from Grammy and a fantastic production of Annie Meets Oliver! which both wee Grossmans starred in, but mama had lost her camera at a restaurant on that day, so no evidence exists for posting here... :( Take my word for it: they. were. great. :) 

 On Mother's Day proper, the girls set up Mama Spa-- and what a great afternoon it was. 

 I mean, these two lead such stressful lives, it's nice to see them able to kick back and relax a little. :)

Then, onto my birthday! Mike raided a local bakery for everything that had lots of chocolate and no gluten, and mama was one happy birthday girl. 

 ... and the girls provided live and incredibly fun entertainment! 

 This was not part of the birthday night's entertainment. 

This is just a regular Tuesday night. 

Saturday Market is in full swing, 

making our hearts and souls and bellies very happy. 

And welcome the newest card-carrying member to the Eugene Public Library! 

This three-day weekend was mostly spent around the house and yard, but today we headed out for a coastal adventure and found the Oregon Coast in rare very warm and sunny form. 

 We took a tour of the lighthouse: the highlight was the staircase. 

Sailors can see the light from 21 miles away...and no further only due to the curvature of the earth, not because the light isn't bright enough! Fascinating. 

We flew a kite! 

...and everyone except the driver slept on the way home. :) Back to it tomorrow, and the school year wind-down begins in earnest. Whew!