Cereal Box Warriors

Who knew empty cereal boxes could be so entertaining?

Gone! Gone! All gone!

(use voice in A Christmas Story after the turkey has been demolished by the neighbor's dogs)

Gone! Gone! All gone! No basil! No fresh pesto! No caprese salad! No basil to dry for spices, no bruschetta, no basil in thai food, no summer pasta salads!

It's gone!

Obliterated by soggy, wet weather.

The only thing left to do is start afresh and plant anew.

Let's try it again.

Busy with cakes

Mmmmmm. Strawberry shortcake cake. Need I say more?

Or maybe Triple Layer Chocolate Torte is your thing (actually, this one ended up being quadruple layers). Either way, both will put an inch or two on your hips.

I'd be happy to oblige.

Home is where my family is

There comes a time in life when we realize all things must change. And the things we thought would forever stay the same, don't.

I'm a person who likes consistency. I like living close to my family, feeling comfortable in my surroundings, and knowing I am home. Once I set roots in a place, I never want to leave. My roots started on a little country road in Beavercreek, Oregon, in this--my childhood home.

My parents bought this house before I was born and it's the house in which I was raised. From a newborn December baby placed under the Christmas tree so many years ago, to an active youngster collecting chicken eggs and feeding cows, to a busy teenager learning to drive on the country roads nearby, to a college student coming home for the holidays, to a young married woman seeking the refuge of a safe place as she and her husband started a new life together, to family holiday dinners and gatherings, I have seen many, many, many days in this single location.

This single location, which has been my homing beacon, my refuge, my point of reference for all of my life, is now changing. As I've helped my mom prepare to move from my childhood home in the country to a smaller home in town, I have felt a gammet of emotions along the way. I've been excited for a new, easier change in my mom's life which will hopefully open doors for her that were previously closed. I've longed for times past when life as a child was simple and easy. I've recalled happy, joyful memories of family and friends. I've shuddered the thought of unfamiliar people inhabiting the walls with which I am so familiar.

It's hard to separate from something that has been so much a part of my life. Yet I know it's only wood and bricks, windows and carpet. And that my memories will stay with me always.

These past months have been a small journey for me. A journey of change, of separation, of letting go, and of realizing that home is more than a house, a bedroom, a back yard. It's about the people I love, no matter where they reside. And, that we can be happy wherever we are planted. I'm grateful for this experience. But most of all, I'm grateful my family can continue to be close to me (even closer, in fact!) and for the realization that it's not the house that makes the home, but the people who are in it.

Flag plant

Since Dallin turned eight years old he has started Boy Scouts. It has been a lot of fun for him so far. For Memorial Day Weekend he was honored to participate in the annual flag planting at the Willamette National Cemetery. All the scouts in the area gather together to plant a flag at each headstone. It's quite a production since the cemetery is HUGE and sprawling. It was a truly amazing sight to watch the beautifully kept green lawns go from being bare to being covered with flags in a matter of minutes.

I was proud of my boy. He learned something new about honoring our military and remembering the sacrifices of others. I hope he remembers this experience for a long time.

Cannon Beach, Fort Clatsop, Fort Stevens, and fun

We rented a beach house for Memorial Day Weekend and enjoyed our time with the kids and a special guest--Jason's brother, Brandon.

As we were moving our suitcases and groceries into the house, Karina asked me, "Are we moving here, Mom? Is this our new house?" I explained to her that we were just staying at the house for two days. Awhile later she said to me, "Mom, are we fake moving here?"

The kids played and played in the sand and water. It was cloudy but warm and a nice change of scenery.


I was tempted to leave the kids like this forever. I love it when they are contained.

Before we headed home, we visited Fort Clatsop and learned about Lewis and Clark's journey to the Northwest. Fort Clatsop is where Lewis and Clark stayed the winter before heading back east. It rained 120 days out of 122 days they were at the fort. It must have been a loooooong winter.






We ate lunch at Fort Stevens and toured around a bit. It was a nice, fun weekend and a great precursor for our summer vacation!

The Artist

Don't you just love it when kids start drawing coherent pictures? It's so cute.

Kyle drew this for me the other day. He says it's our garden--complete with radishes, lettuce, and spinach. Isn't it nice?