Day 274: Birthday cake

We have celebrated Noah's birthday for four days and today was his birthday party with his friends. He wanted both a soccer cake and a dinosaur cake - so we made a cake with soccer playing dinosaurs. Unfortunately the cake itself was about the worst I have ever made (really dry) BUT it looked cute and satisfied the birthday boy.

Day 273: A walk in the woods

I enjoyed the most restorative and uplifting day on a retreat with my wonderful sisters from church. It truly was a "retreat" from the busyness of day to day life. As well as great Bible teaching, discussion and prayer, we ate good food, played Apples to Apples, laughed a lot and took a walk by the river and through the woods in the afternoon.

Day 272: Happy Birthday Noah!

What better start to the day than opening gifts on the front porch?

Day 271: Birthday eve celebration

My baby is going to be five tomorrow! We won't all be around tomorrow evening, so we went out for dinner this evening to celebrate the youngest member of our family. We all took turns to share what we especially like about Noah: one of my favorite things about this boy is his positive, confident attitude towards everything he does!

Day 270: More soccer

Apologies for the disproportionate number of soccer pictures, but between the five of us involved in soccer, we have practices and/or games five days a week. We love it!

Day 269: Sonnet 29

It is pretentious to say I was just thinking about my favorite Shakespearean sonnet - but I was, and here it is...

Day 268: Sunset

I was trying to take pictures of the game Johnny was reffing this evening, but the light was too low and the only photo that came out well was this sunset.

Day 267: Homework

It took until seventh grade but this boy now finally has homework every night.

Day 266: Goal kick

We love soccer season every year but this year is going especially well. I am particularly proud of Anna whose confidence has grown immensely since last season.

Day 265: Swan Lake

We LOVE the music from Swan Lake in our house and Anna really enjoys playing with her Swan Lake ballet theater while she listens along to the orchestra.

Day 264: Stream to Hidden Lake

Remember this? Here is the finished piece! David and I find ourselves humming it all day long...

Day 263: Soccer practice silliness

Anna's soccer team is being coached by two amazing young women, members of the high school ladies' soccer team. Not only are they learning great skills, but they are having so much fun!

Day 262: Goalkeeper

It is really hard to get a great short of Johnny in action - everything happens so fast - but if you look closely you can see the ball speeding towards him as he reaches out to push it away.

Day 261: Lunch with the girls

What a treat to have lunch on a restaurant patio with lovely friends!

Day 260: Bonneville Dam

Visiting the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery with delightful friends is a really wonderful way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon. Here are Anna and her buddy Bryanna watching the salmon in the fish ladder.

Day 259: Back-to-back soccer

As will often be the case on Saturdays this fall, we had three soccer games this morning. Unlike some coming Saturdays when games overlap, today's schedule was perfect: 9 am: the Strikers (Anna's team won 6-3); 10:30 am: the Spartans (Johnny and Daniel's team drew 2-2); 12 noon: the Thunderbolts (we don't keep score at Munchkin level, but Noah's team played hard and had a lot of fun!).

Day 258: Fun at the park

This boy loves to ride his scooter to the park for a late afternoon adventure.

Day 257: Blackberries

All year round I feel that we have a problem with the invasive brambles that would take over our yard if we gave them half a chance. I make an exception in September when we enjoy the fruit of our weeds and are glad we didn't completely destroy them.

Day 256: Referee

Johnny reffed his first soccer game today. We are really proud of him for taking on this responsible job - my baby is really growing up!

Day 255: On my classroom door

The posters I ordered for my classroom arrived! Woo hoo! I put them up and the classroom looks much more interesting. My favorite poster is on my door...

Day 254: Boy heaven

While his sister was at her soccer practice, Noah and his friends made mud pies. Thank heavens for the washing machine!

Day 253: On my Kindle

Actually, I don't have a Kindle, just a Kindle app on my iPad. But it was close to the end of the day, I hadn't taken a picture yet and I thought a screen shot of the books I have been reading recently would be interesting. It's an eclectic mix!

Day 252: First game of the season

I am sure there will be many soccer related photos over the next few weeks. Anna's team, the Strikers, played their first game this morning, followed immediately by the first game for the Thunderbolts (Noah's team!).

Day 251: More dragons

Here is my artist at work - and, of course, drawing a dragon.

Day 250: Book Club

One of my favorite evenings of the month - this month we were discussing "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", which most of us loved. I am embarrassed to say I haven't finished it yet but, so far, it is really good.

Day 249: Back to school (part two)

Today it was the turn of my seventh grader and my preschooler to start the new school year. They also had a terrific first day. We are looking forward to this coming year...

Day 248: Back to school (part one)

It's back to school for my fifth grader and my second grader! They were so excited and they had a wonderful first day back...

Day 247: My new news source

It used to be that I listened to BBC radio online every day, but in preparation for teaching French, I have switched to French radio online. I am enjoying it, but I am going to have to make time for my BBC fix...

Day 246: A helping hand

After church today, a number of families headed up the Gorge to hike the Wahclella Falls trail. We stopped on the return journey so the kids could play in the water and I was very pleased and proud to witness Johnny help his sister across the creek.

Day 245: End-of-summer gathering

One of the many things I love about our life here in Portland are the cherished annual traditions we look forward to. Today was one of those special days - getting together with treasured friends at Trillium Lake on Saturday of Labor Day weekend.

Day 244: Cabin reunion

Anna went over to a friend's house today and we held a Trout Creek cabin reunion for these boys. Johnny and Noah were special guests and a wonderful evening was enjoyed together: they had nerf gun battles, cooked hot dogs and smores over the fire pit and finished off their reunion with root beer floats.