Doug and I finally entered the 21st century two months ago when our extremely old phones finally died (in the tech world, five years is ancient). We can text! We can upload pictures to Facebook! And I do! So much so, that I forget to update our little family journal here. We've been a house of sickies for about 2.5 months straight, so not much has happened, but a little. However. There are a bazillion Instagram photos. So brace yourselves for the onslaught. Ready?
My awesome Dad took me on a daddy-daughter date to see Wicked. It was only the best Broadway I've seen, and I've seen a few good ones... I loved it so much! And we had a great time hanging out.
Our family colored Easter eggs and it was the first year the kids were old enough to be creative with them. They used crayon, dyed the eggs ombre style, and applied pieces of tape which they removed after dyeing to create effects.
Then we went to my Dad's for dinner and the Easter egg hunt.
Papa Scott givin' the rundown.
Cousins are the best!
Miss Evany at the bus stop with her lovely caramel colored hair and those gorgeous lashes.
While reading Bringing Up Bébé I was reminded of something I learned in French class: that children begin cooking in the kitchen at very young ages. One of the first things they learn to make is Gateau au Yaourt (Yogurt Cake). It is a very simple mixture and uses the yogurt tub to measure ingredients. Being a very simple base recipe, it's also easy to create custom versions. Here, Sterling is using a pomegranate yogurt to flavor the cake.
It was delicious.
My cute friend Rachel (center) had a birthday. All of us ladies went to the Cheesecake Factory. We laughed so much that our cheeks hurt and we had tears. Our ever-dwindling group of ladies is such a rare commodity. Such genuine camaraderie among so many ladies does not happen often. It is truly a gift.
On the nice days we've done a bit of work outside. Here's The Chubbs hanging out in his pack n play, discovering the sky and outside noises. He's such a doll baby.
Evany's Gateau au Yaourt was a Mango yogurt variation and we added some coconut. It too was delicious.
Doug's car that he's had since we were dating 14 years ago died last month so I've been commuting him around a bit. One day it was a doctor's appt across town in N. Portland, so the babies and I jaunted up the road to the Whole Foods to pick up some herbs and check out the pastry counter. The kids were enamored of this window display. We have a Whole Foods out here 2 miles away, but ironically, this one on Alberta is the only one I've ever been to- 13 years ago when we were living over there, and again two weeks ago.
Speaking of creams puffs...
Elam has been so stoic lately. I don't know what's up. Maybe it's a phase. Maybe it's just his little personality to be très sérieux. He still lights up and smiles for mama, so it's fine by me.
This one I call, Elam: Introspective. His copper curls and grey eyes just kill me.
My brother Cassidy and his girlfriend Erica came to visit. Don't be alarmed; the dog is not his girlfriend. That's Hyphy, the little mischief maker.
Hylton adores his uncles.
We went to the Farmer's Market on opening day. They have a little booth there with a gazillion varieties of tomato starts to choose from. I like to pick one or two unique varieties to try every year. And you can't leave the market without getting some of the fresh powdered doughnuts that literally melt on contact with your mouth.
Mon petite passed out halfway through. If I was that cozy, being wheeled around the market, I'd probably go to sleep too.
When we got home, we began hand-scraping the weeds out of a large portion of the old garden area to prepare for the play structure we bought from another family on Craigslist.
Hylton was helping with his Tonkas.
One of my many trips to pick Doug up from work. This time, we got there too early, so I let the kids get out to play in the courtyard. They had strict instructions to not run or get wet. ...Yeah...
Evie and I met a peacock on our way to DEQ the other morning. He crossed the street, crying. Evie thought he sounded funny. We could still hear him as we sat in the never-ending line.
Sterling climbing the walls. Literally. And one of the knights who say "ni" taunting him from below.
Daddy bonding time.
Lastly, Michelle, my dearest friend of 10 years, moved away two weeks ago. Why does 8 hours feel like the ends of the earth? There were several going-away parties in her honor: a beautiful tea luncheon (below), a movie/happy hour girls night out, and Rachel's birthday dinner was a combination of both due to timing.
Still sort of hoping she'll change her mind and move back...
