Zoo Times, Again

A few weeks ago we invited the Dinsmore clan up for a trip to the zoo...

I think it's safe to say Oliver and Allison had a BLAST!

 This trip happened on the same day that I took Oliver to the Sit Still salon to get his hair cut...Daddy decided to give it a little trim but had issues making it "even"...

 

 Mild Stink Face.

 

 Papa Peter

 Little girls LOVE to hold Oliver's hand.

 The first time he ever went into the petting zoo

 I have many, many more pictures, but never have the time to edit them all...

Zoo La La

On Memorial Day, we actaully had a while day off together as a family. It has been a couple of months since that happened and we were anxious to get out and do something. With the nasty spring weather hanging around for WAY too long, we decided to take the boys to the zoo. The morning started off a little cool and cloudy, but by midday it was a perfect, sunny spring day!

(somehow that happens every time we go to the zoo...)

 

Henri in my new Ergo carrier. I heart it SO much! I have tried so many different carriers, but if I had it to do all over again, I would only use this one....

This month the dinosaur exhibit was brought back. Oliver was really excited to see it...but that quickly faded...

 Especially after Daddy tried to feed him to one!

 After a couple of elephant ears, we decided to finally take Oliver on the train. He has been obsessing about trains and since we didn't have the stroller, we felt like it was a good time to go.

 

Having fun with Henri's foot...

This is my favorite series that Graham captured. I have titled it:

Anticipation

 TRAIN!!

 He had so much fun. He spent about 80% of the time just peering out the window watching the tracks. For days he kept talking about it. We will never be able to go to the zoo again with out a train ride!

 Henri enjoyed it for the most part as well. He had a bit of a rough time as he was so sleepy and hadn't had his nap ...

 And then the soothing rocking of the train car lulled him to sleep....

Christmas Fail

The past couple of weeks things have been pretty crazy at work for Graham. Many, Many banquets and a Banquet Chef that quit in the middle of it all. Needless to say, he has been working 5am-7 or 8pm 6 days a week...We were really hoping that this past week he was going to have his 2 days off again as we had so much planned to do, one whole day filled with Christmas errands. So we had to cram everything into one day which turned into an almost utter failure. We didn't leave the house until noon which already made it tough.

We had to stop at Babies r Us to pick up new sippy cups for Oliver since he likes to chew the straws, a new mesh feeder for Henri since the dog decided to chew that and some diapers. (at least we only have to buy 1 size!)

Next stop was the Zig Zag Ranger Station for a our Christmas tree permit. We didn't have much time as we wanted to see Santa and were meeting friends for Zoo Lights at 5pm. WE got up there, got our ticket and map and headed up the closest road. After a bit we pulled off onto a logging road (thinking we needed Sammy the Samurai, Jessica & Joe...!) We thought it might have been the spot, got out, bundled up and head on our way....

Almost 8 months can you believe it!?

Oliver LOVED the snow. I've been surprised that he remembers it from last year. We have been talking about it and Christmas a lot lately and I was happy to see that he didn't freak out!

And we headed down on out on our trek....

Making it a whole 50 feet before Graham deciding it would be best to get back in the car, drive and then he would get out to chop a tree....

The view.

We drove some more, didn't see anything, tried a different road, nada. Then Graham decided to give me a panic attack by backing down a very steep narrow road on the side of a mountain...makes my heart race just thinking back on it!

We kept seeing people with great trees and I seriously wanted to ask where they found them...(at about this time, my camera batteries died)  :(

We eventually found the tree spot and it had about 2 feet of snow. Graham got out and climbed up and absurdly steep hill to check out a couple of trees that turned out to be 20 feet tall...oops! We had some great laughs but decided to head home and stop at a tree stand we saw in Troutdale. Only problem was when we got to the tree lot we didn't have time to stop. We were hoping to stop at home, get some more snacks, batteries and dry shoes for Graham but we hit rush hour traffic and made it to the Zoo at 5 o'clock on the button.

I really wish I had pictures of the Zoo. It was a lot of fun and I got numb to the cold after awhile. Oliver spent a majority of the time on Daddy's shoulders. I don't think he could have really walked if he wanted too it was so cold. He just hung out and chowed on a cookie.

So, needless to say, our house has yet to be decorated for Christmas, it seems to have snuck up on me really fast this year. I haven't even started sewing my gifts yet! (partly due to the fabric people screwing up, but we won't get into that...)

Mom will be saving the day with a tree drop off in the truck tomorrow while Graham is at work. At least we DID get a baby tiny tree for the boys in the playroom. It is very cute and after some frustration, annoyance and a drill, in the stand, naked.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day.

:)

Happy Holidays!

Fun Fall

Last week we were supposed to chop wood and stack it for seasoning (i cut some large branches off of our Cherry trees in front) and do some other house projects after Graham got home from skating at Pier Park. While he was gone, I got the sudden urge to go to the zoo. It was beautiful out and the last sunny day know for at least a week to come so we decided to skip Oliver's nap and go to the zoo! It was worth it, hardly and people and the new lions were out on display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ESCAPE!!

So has most of you know, and have been experiencing yourselves...it's been freakishly HOT here. We have a little window AC unit in our living room but with these high heats it hasn't been working very well. The kitchen gets sun all day and we have measured the temperature at 106 yesterday evening, today it only made it up to 99! We know that 106 isn't the hottest it was, we just put the thermometer in there too late...

Anyhoo, we have been sweating it out, the boys spending most of their days in only diapers and Henri sleeping in one and no blanket! That is hard for me since with Oliver it was winter and I was always worried about him being too cold. Oliver has to sleep in pj's or else we will wake up in the morning to a naked boy and pee all over the crib!

Yesterday, Graham's coffee meeting for work got canceled so he came home and took the truck into the shop. I got the boys and Roxy together and piled in the car. WE met Graham in the Pearl, stop at Freddie's to get a bucket and shovel (alas, this store did not have a toy section...boo.) so we picked up some lunch and free cookies for Oliver.

Then we set off for the Beach!

We needed to stop for gas and were lucky enough to spot a gas station and Fred Meyer just outside of Hillsboro. Graham dropped me off to look for the bucket while he filled up the car. This store was HUGE!! I was sore and tired just walking from one end to the other, of course I made a wrong turn and had to walk the whole length of the store and back again. Those are moments when I realize how much healing I still have to do from the c-section, the majority of the healing happened quickly but it takes Months to feel somewhat normal again...

Of course they were sold out of pail sets but I found some cleaning/gardening toys for Oliver. Duel purpose, he's been interested in cleaning and sweeping but can't handle the big broom and dustpan, now he has some his own size...

The drive was sunny and hot the whole way. Just as we crested the last foothill, we saw that Cannon Beach was totally socked in. At first I was disappointed as I was hoping for a nice beach day by Oregon standards, but then once we got on the beach i found the temperature was perfect and he mist felt wonderful! 

Here are some of my fav pics from the day.

 

  

Haystack Rock made a very brief appearance. We were actually pretty close and couldn't see it most of the day.

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

Ok, this isn't a fav pic, but I thought I should include myself for once.

 

  

Buried Boy, showing off his crossed arms pose.

 

  

Smiles McGee

 

  

Passed out.

 

Still snoozing, but Oliver had stolen the hat.