The cutest bananas ever

Ok, so the fruit basket got tugged on and broke, bruising almost all of the baby bananas (so they ended up in a smoothie) but really, who wouldn't want to buy these petite fruits?

Thanksgiving

Kristin and I walked the 2 blocks to New Seasons and picked up our meal in the Radio Flyer.


Vivian, finally satisfied with the size of her piece of pie.


Vivian and Acacia enjoying said pie.


Sabine with her table decorations. Move over, Martha.

What I willed into our house

OK. I know it doesn't look like much. And the pegboard...well, I could always take a leaf of Kat's page and cover it in paper, but hey, it's a book display shelf! As a librarian, I know how much more appealing outward facing books are, and I wanted a better way to strew our large selection of books, as well as ones checked out from the library. I'd been looking at them on various sites, dismayed by their hefty price tag ($150 and up, not including shipping). Bret said he could make one (with Papa G's Shopsmith) if I could figure out the dimensions. But that takes tiiiiiime. And I really wanted this now. But I didn't want to spend the cash.

In steps Portland Craigslist to the rescue! I found a garage sale that said they were moving, and selling lots of furniture. (I'm also looking for an inexpensive art materials cabinet, inspired after reading (well starting) the book The Creative Family.) Bret took the girls to Laurelhurst park, while I drove to the sale. I had to "sneak up on it" as I'd forgotten my piece of paper with the address, thanks to numbered streets and some great landmarks (parks/playgrounds) I didn't get too lost.

The first thing I see is the pegboard display (which, Bret assures me he can modify to have even more display shelves). Did I mention it also has some shelves in the back, and it has wheels? And they were selling it for...EIGHT DOLLARS. I also found 3 bulletin boards for $2 each, and two folding tables for $25 for the set (a 6' one for my sewing room, and a 4' one for art projects downstairs). Dang. I love a good yard sale.

And, I love thinking about something that I'd really like to have, putting it out there, and having it find me. Very cool.

If you've been thinking of a visit...

Vivian's latest thing to say after guests leave is:

"You come here, you stay here. You don't come here, you don't stay here."

Hard to argue with that.

She first said it after Kat and Marley left. Marley, Sabine and Vivian invented "fun land" -- a game in which the king and full size mattresses get pulled onto the floor (well, part of the way) and much jumping ensues.

The photo above is of Vivian, Kate, and Sabine on a display bed at IKEA. We had a great visit with the Fredrick/Fleury clan -- the girls played pretty much non-stop for 7 days. Wahoo!

We finally hooked up the wii...bought a $30 tv at Goodwill tonight so wii can play whenever wii want to...When we first got the wii, Granny Jean and Boopy were in town, so we made miis of them when we made ours. While in WY, the favorite of the girls was bowling, but they moved to another sport tonight...somehow Granny Jean became...the BOXER. I think maybe she thought she was fighting W.










The man behind the wii...

Best Cat Ever

I remember trying to dress up our family cat, Annie, in baby clothes, but I don't ever remember her being this patient. That Cisco is one cool cat.

Halloween, Corvallis Non-Con

Bret preparing to take the girls trick-or-treating


In the wagon (they went to a neighborhood a few blocks away)


At the Lugo's in Corvallis...this is what happens when the mommies go out for an hour or so...swinging on a hill above a creek and dart-throwing. Can't see anything wrong with that, can you?

Somehow we forgot to take our camera out of the bag at the Gold gathering (too much fun playing music and talking with the great folks there...), but we had a great time!