Thursday, August 25, 2011

One Last Hurrah

Our time in OR is running out. We leave for MN tomorrow morning. I took Miles to the beach last Wednesday for one last time. It was extremely windy and a little chilly. But fun and beautiful, nonetheless.

Going out to the coast will definitely be a big memory of this summer. We went every weekend for the first 3 or 4 and more throughout the summer. We almost always got taffy in Lincoln City, usually ate at the Chowder Bowl in Newport and always had a grand time. It was a bummer that Dave was working and we had to go without him, but like I just said, we had to go.

The drive out to the coast is great and super beautiful. We have favorite spots and I tried to snap a picture for memory's sake when I could. Unfortunately, I didn't get the sideways growing trees and lots of other views, but I got a few of this cool spot:


It's one of those spots that's just as cool and pretty as it was the time before. Actually, the whole coast is that way-- it just doesn't get old.


That lighthouse in the left of the picture is this one.

Sand in the eyes.

Oh Miles, I love your chubby little feet so much. Don't get big and hairy. Or stinky.



Goodbye coast. It was so awesome. I'm sad.

Humidity and mosquitoes here I come! Whatever...

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Seattle

Well, we never went to Seattle the first time we lived in the Northwest, so this time around it was a must. When we first drove in, I have to say I was a little underwhelmed because of all the docking crane looking things on the south side of the city. Seattle didn't let me down, though-- I thought it was awesome! I really, really liked it. The whole super green and beautiful effect wasn't there because we arrived from the same kind of climate. Also, coming into Portland through the Columbia River Gorge in the Spring may just be unbeatable. That was fantastic. I think Portland is a prettier city, but I really enjoyed Seattle. Some things I picked up on: recycling-- everywhere; tons of smokers!; great food.

Dave took a half day on a Friday and we went straight to the Mariners v Red Sox game.
Safeco was a cool ball park.

Soaking it in.

The weather was totally perfect that night.

We were alllllllll the way at the top of the ball park, so Miles had room to roam.


The sweeper peeps stopped and did a choreographed dance...

Miles totally loved being at the game. However, he would always comment on how loud it was.

Ichiro and his unique stance. We, along with 20,000 other fans, scored some sweet shirts that bare his name. You'll probably see me in it in a coming post. Get excited.
DAM fam.


Red Sox won and it was fun. We like going to baseball games.

The following onslaught of pictures is from Pike Place, which was definitely my favorite part:












This guy pulled out a huge fish right before I took this picture, so I got all ready to take a picture of a huge fish being pulled out of a box... but it was just a bag of clams.




Those are all retro sodas. We got some that we'd never tried before and in the end I wished I'd gone with the one and only Henry Weinhard's. Mmmmm.

This guy was amazing. And funny. He's playing a harmonica, balancing a guitar on his chin (and strumming it once in a while), playing a guitar, doing two hula hoops, and shaker things on his feet. We ate delicious grilled cheese sandwiches from Beechers (super tasty) while we watched this guy. Dave never gives money to street performers, but this guy earned a buck.

We took the ferry out to Bainbridge Island:
The view.

Miles really loved being on such a big boat and watching the cars and motorcycles and bikers drive on and off the ferry.

Those are the docking crane looking things I mentioned before. You ask a stranger to take a picture and instead of skyline you get cranes. Or whatever they are. Is it that hard to look through a viewfinder?



We also ate some great seafood and wish we would have dished out the dough to do the museum of flight on our way back. Live and learn. Two thumbs up for Seattle!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Drivin' in my car

I have these old, old sunglasses that live in my car and Miles likes to wear them every now and again. On this particular day, I thought he looked too goofy/cute not to take some pictures. And he was leaving them on for an extended period of time, which he usually doesn't.


This picture kills me with its adorable-ness. Maybe you had to have been there...

Just driving us to Amsterdam.

Also, Miles and I had the funniest conversation the other day. It's a bit colorful and crude; consider yourself warned.

We were at the park playing on a teeter totter that is shaped like chicks. As in baby chickens. Miles was getting a little adventurous and kind of bouncing around and sort of bumped his wiener on the chick. I knew because he grabbed his crotch and we had the following conversation:

A: Did you hurt your wiener?
M: Yeah.
A: Well scoot back a bit so your wiener is right on the chick.
M: No, put your wiener on the chick!
A: I don't have a wiener. I'm a girl. Remember, girls don't have wieners, girls have ginas.
M: Put your gina on the chick?
A: No thanks.
M: Only wieners go on chicks!
A: (Laughing) Yep!

If only you could have been there! I feel sorry for you that you can't see his face in your mind or hear the way he talks. It definitely added to the experience.

Next up, you remember Albert, no? Well, Duane and Pauli (side note: Duane and Pauli are who we've lived with this summer and they are literally the nicest people I've ever met in my entire life. Yes, they have A LOT of stuff, but they are so kind, so giving and without a doubt have hearts of pure gold.) have had some 4 wheelers parked outside and Miles asked what they were upon their appearance. So we told him what they are and Dave said, "they're Albert's. Albert drives them" and made some boy 4 wheeler sounds complete with an Albert-driving-a-4 wheeler impression. Miles was down with that.

Then, we went camping last weekend and some peeps had some 4 wheelers. Miles was excited to see them, of course and we talked about how Grandpa Doug had one when we went camping before. Miles acknowledged all these facts with the one and only priceless child like enthusiasm and then added, "Like Albert!" Funny, and he's always blowing our minds with the things he listens to/picks up on/remembers.

Like, for example (I'm on a roll!), we (and by we I mean I) bought him a piggy bank. Dave was telling me not to because our car is going to be so packed going back to MN, I may have to balance it on my head. Anyway, Miles has been so stoked about this piggy bank. When we were in line to buy it, some peeps put change in it for him and that got him even more excited! He wanted to hold it on his lap in the car and look through the slit to try and see the money inside. He really, truly loves it will all his heart and soul (just trying to instill greed at an early age). On the way back to D&Ps (Duane & Pauli) that evening, Dave started talking to Miles about giving him money for his piggy bank if he cleans up and stuff. I interjected right away and Dave and I started having a conversation about what he could actually earn money for. I don't want regular helping out to be associated with earning money, there are some chores and things that should be done with no questions asked because we are a family, etc, etc, blah blah blah. We talked about it for a good 3 or 4 minutes ultimately deciding we'd have to talk about it/come up with some sort of system later. Then, then (suspense?) smarty pants, huge eaves dropper Mr. Miles says, "I want to clean up." I asked him why and he said "so I can put money in my piggy bank." Dave and I just looked at each other and sort of laughed in our state of "holy crap, this kid listens to EVERYTHING!"

Bingo bango, that's all.

P.S. Please hit me up with all your teaching kids about money, letting them earn money, piggy banking, etc advice.

Monday, August 22, 2011

A parade, A crossdresser

I took Miles to a parade one Saturday when Dave was working. Dave had heard it was a really good kids parade so we went for it. It was in a town called Silverton, OR. It was totally hokey and waaaaaay too long, but it was really funny watching Miles try to work up the guts to run out to get some candy. Then once he had his guts together, he was too slow or would run in the wrong direction. He did get some candy, though, so it was a definite success.

This is the back side of the main drag. I thought it was quite quaint and cool looking. But I wouldn't put Silverton, OR on your bucket list.

Happy as a peach.

Also, this dude:
is the city's mayor. Yep.

Lastly, I saw the class of 61 on a hay trailer or something. Win, win, win!