Summer Update

We've had quite the busy summer! It's hard to believe August is rolling by too. We kicked off our summer with a 12 day road trip to California! The first day we drove down to Eugene and had lunch with our lovely friends Robb and Kellee. The kids loved exploring their home, a little too much... Max dropped and broke a flute that Robb got in South America :/. Robb and Kellee were super gracious hosts and after our delicious lunch we played at a park in Eugene for a bit. Back on the road for a long stretch to Aunt Terii's house in Rogue River. We had a fun dinner with Terii and got to see cousin Celeste. We spent the night there and in the morning we met up with Angie and cousin Nick and his baby Blake in Grants Pass. The kids had lots of fun playing at a really neat park and hanging out with family. Angie took a lot of pictures and bought us a yummy lunch. In the afternoon we headed out for the trek to Eureka. Alice fell asleep just as we got into the redwoods. Max and I enjoyed getting out of the car for a moment to hug a tree :) We rolled into Grandpa Tim's house around 6pm and he took us out to dinner, we had a ball at a mexican restaurant, and the kids got to ride back to Grandpa's in his really neat mercedes, the loved it! The next day we played on the beach and then took the kids out to lunch at Los Bagels downtown, and we splurged on a horse and carriage ride! We enjoyed tromping around Sequoia Park in Eureka for hours. The kids crawled through a hollowed out redwood log! We also visited the Sequoia Park Zoo. After three days in Eureka we drove to Oakland where we stayed with our friends Kiyo and Jenna, they are expecting a baby boy this month, so exciting! The next day Shawn had lunch with our friend Ben in downtown Oakland. I thought I'd take the kids to a playground, but within a few minutes it was pouring rain! We dashed into a neat little place for lunch, the Alice Street Bakery :). After Oakland we headed into Berkeley and enjoyed visiting with our friend Susie, and the kids enjoyed playing with four year old Leo. We made it to Corralitos by dinner time and got to check out Brian and Jamilah's new house! It's a big ranch style home and Brian very graciously gave up his bedroom for us and the kids to stay in. Jamilah even bought an adorable sleeping bag for Alice to use. The kids love all the toys and fun that comes with Brian and Jamilah's house! We had a great time in Santa Cruz, lots of time on the beach! Shawn's brother Jesse and his family drove up from San Diego to hang out with us. We went to Monterey Bay Aquarium with Brian, we got out for dinner with friends by ourselves (thanks for watching the kids, Jamilah and Brian!), Jamilah threw a great party too! After 5 days in Santa Cruz we trekked over to Modesto. It was HOT there! 111 degrees! We had lots of fun with Grandma Rose in her friends pool, and she and Shawn took the kids to see a movie in the afternoon, Alice's first movie theater experience! I think it was Monsters University. We headed out in the evening due to the old volvo not having A/C. We schlepped up I-5 to Weed, stopping at 1:30AM for the night at a hotel. We arrived to Medford in the morning and saw our old friend Cris and her 2 cute daughters, then we spent the afternoon hiding out in Aunt Terii's cool house watching cartoons and napping. That evening we met up with Cris and her family for a fun dinner at Abby's pizza! I let the kids have tons of quarters for vending machines and games, lots of fun. We finally arrived in Portland around 1AM, the kids were asleep and we were wiped! What a fun trip! We may do something like this again next year. In mid July I flew to Ohio on my own for my good friend Heidi's wedding! I read a lovely piece at her and Crow's wedding, it was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed the time on my own to visit with Heidi and help out at the wedding! A few weeks ago I took the kids up to Seattle on my own for three days of fun with friends, and lots of time on the beach. This last weekend we went camping on Whidbey Island with my brother and his family! Here the kids are having a great time in the back of Uncle Pete's truck!

We ran into our Seattle friends Deb and Skip on the beach, they were camping at the same campground and told us about a talent show some kids were putting on at the amphitheater. We went to check it out, but when we got there no one was around, so Caden and Alice entertained us with dancing and Caden did a very good impersonation of the summer hit "Hey, Sexy Lady". Shawn taught Alice how to bow after her little performances and she was very pleased with herself! The kids had a great time playing around the campground and sleeping in a tent for the first time. Pete and Teresa were great camp hosts and cooked great meals for us. After camping we headed back into Seattle and hung out with Alicia and Loren for the afternoon, the kids were so happy to see them! After a bunch of fun in the sun we droveve home, we're still trying to get all of our stuff put away! In other news we bought a brand new car a week ago! We went with a 2013 Honda Fit, a hatchback little station wagon thing. We're enjoying driving a 5 speed! Now we need to get our volvo all cleaned up and put it on craigslist... I'd kind of like to keep it, but I don't think we want to take on the cost of two cars. Tomorrow I'm heading to the zoo with the kids and Aunt Grace. This weekend we'll go to Enchanted Forest with my brother Pete and his two boys. Later this month Grandpa Tim is coming up for a visit, and we'll check out the Clackamas County Fair. So many summer adventures!

First Update in Many Moons

I should probably change the URL of our blog as we don't live in Seattle anymore! Most everyone knows we moved to Portland in late June. We finally bought our first house! Here are the kids in the entryway. We love, love, love having enough space for everyone, our own little garage, and our very own washer and dryer! I so do not miss coin-op! A few weeks ago Max decided he wanted to sleep in his own room. We were gifted an amazing new and very comfy full sized futon from our sweet neighbor who moved up to West Seattle. So, lo and behold, just as Max was thinking about his own room, a nifty bed appeared for free! We've been enjoying showing the kids a bit of Oregon scenery. A few weeks ago we took a trip to Multnomah Falls. The next weekend Shawn and Max went back and hiked to the top! Alice and I stayed home and baked a cake :) It was quite an adjustment for all of us doing new things, but I think it's safe to say we all really love our new life. Shawn went from working in busy Queen Anne, to working at home in our quiet neighborhood in outer Northeast Portland. No more coffee shops three doors down, but we do have a fantastic library a few blocks away, and Max's school and a great playground are nine short blocks down the road. I've had quite the bumpy road with employment, but things seem to be working out. I took a job that was not a good fit with a wine distributor and was let go after about four weeks. I'm glad it happened, really, my boss and I did not click, and I was thinking that I should find something else anyway. So I went back to work for a medical clinic who I'd worked for years ago. Sadly I was laid off in January after just four months of employment. As luck would have it a good friend of ours needed some help in his office through late spring, so I'm working there three days a week. One day a week I'm working from home for the non-profit in Seattle that I have worked for for several years. I really love having Tuesdays at home with Alice, and Thursdays I am able to pick Max up from school and we have some one on one time. Alice started daycare four days a week. The first daycare we tried she did not like, with good reason, a very poorly run place. A friend recommended an amazing Reggio based preschool and Alice just loves it. She talks about all her friends and loves going to school everyday! She has blossomed socially, is more outgoing, and seems very happy to have a group of peers all aged 2 to 5. Max has adjusted to spanish immersion kindergarten, he's there a full day, and it's 90% spanish! He's clicked with two boys in the class and really loves playing with them after school when he can. He's surprised us and enjoys his after school care! He attends a YMCA program at his school three afternoons a week. When I come to pick him up he's never ready to leave at 5pm, he's working on making a paper airplane or a craft. We've enjoyed many cultural nights at his school, most notably Native American Cultural Night. We got to attend a pow-wow and see some amazing dancing. Shawn's stepped up and is the PTA president this year at Max's school. He's put in many, many hours working to improve our neighborhood school. I've made a name for myself as the "snack lady" and I bring in treats for Max's class every Tuesday :) We've enjoyed seeing more of my sister Grace as she and her partner live downtown. It's good being back in Portland! I like the more laid back pace of the city and the cost of living is really so much less that our quality of life has dramatically improved. We miss Seattle, and all our friends there. We've visited twice, and Max is asking for a birthday party up there. Perhaps the weekend after Memorial Day we'll have a beach bash at Golden Gardens? That's all for now, --Kilburn Family Portland