10/8/13

What a marvelous weekend! We had some guests Friday evening for beers and snacks. Saturday we woke slowly and packed our bags for a trip to Depoe Bay. It's where the whales migrate through. We didn't see any but will go back in December when they pass in droves on their way to southern waters.
On our way in we stopped in Lincoln City where they were having an annual Kite competition on the beach. Cool kites and kinda crazy fliers! It was like watching an ice skating competition. They had a song they flew to and did stunts with the kites, as they sort of danced. We watched for awhile, let Ayla get some laps in.
We were at the D river, the shortest river in the world, It comes from a lake where the speed boat record was set, and flows into the ocean.
We continued south to find a hotel in our usual last minute hope for the best, accept most anything that doesn't have bed bugs way. We found a wonderful place called The Harbor Lights Inn. Which sat overlooking the smallest harbor in the world! We felt like we had driven into the Popeye movie!
We had a lovely room with a sliding door to the grassy area, so Ayla could get out as needed, and we had patio chairs to sit in, and drink the brandy(?) that was left complimentary in the room. We then went upstairs to eat dinner, we were surprised at the quality! It was Italian fare. I had Chicken Vesuvio, lightly breaded, covered in lemon juice, onions and mushrooms, with a side of homemade Italian mac and cheese, salad. Ed had baked ziti, and Lydia had her regular pasta in butter. It was all beautifully done and presented.
After eating we rushed to a beach to watch the sun go down. Absolutely beautiful! The colors in the sky, the textures of the land, the river running into the ocean, the waves crashing high and loud over the rocks! Ayla ran like a crazy beast, sniffing everything, tongue hanging out, that dumb look on her face she gets in moments of extreme glee. We three wandered around the scattered starfish, poking at Sea Anemones, and stumbled on an Octopus tentacle. Fascinating.
It was so peaceful.
As it got dark we made our way back to the car and headed back to our room to lay in bed and have a family movie night, watching Dolphin Tale, (again). Sleep did not come in a restful manner. There was a constant drip sound, I got up and put a washcloth on the spigot outside, it solved the issue, until it was soaked, so as I was drifting in and out of sleep, when, like nails on a chalk board it started up again.
Morning came gracefully, we went up for a delicious free breakfast. Italian Fritatta, biscuits and gravy, juice and good coffee. We took coffee back to the room and sat for a bit on the patio watching the mist rise and the day get to moving. We made our way to the whale watching site where the Park service was set up. Leaving there we went south, stopping at a few different beaches. All different, The first one we found fossils and participated in a Surfrider sponsored garbage pick up. The next stop was a grassy knoll overlooking the coast, the next was a great expanse of dunes and beach, we took in some good sea air here, then on to I think Agate beach where Lydia almost landed in dog poop, coming out of a round off! When I say almost, it was about an inch! This beach was a bit grubby, we didn't stay long, on to our last destination, Newport beach, which was similar to Newport R.I. except for the barking seals.
From here we headed home. The weather was perfect, it was the best birthday I can remember! Oh, this was my birthday trip, postponed because of stormy weather last weekend.
And now we are back to our norm, yesterday Lydia's school had a fun run, Ed and I went to cheer them on, he ran with them. And today is picture day. We were able to get Lydia into something besides the tie dye she had tried insisting on wearing. I suppose we do want an accurate representation of what she's into at this mile marker, but I couldn't let that go. We compromised and found an outfit to agree on, and got to school on the late side. Didn't enjoy the walk today.

10/3/13

Last nights show was great! We had second row seats in a tiny theater. It started out a little weird, one guy on the stage with his mandolin, a room full of people just staring at him. But he had so much fun, and was a natural entertainer that we were all good friends pretty shortly into it.
I haven't been to a show since I was first pregnant with Lydia, first as in, didn't know yet, but was.
I was exhausted and sat on the floor against the wall and I got car sick afterwards, driving the bends out to Mars Hill. Jorma Kaukonen.
Anyway, it was a good reintroduction to the in person musical world. Our new babysitter lives in the dorms at Ed's school, right up the hill. Very convenient.
It's been raining hard this week, the sun peeked out a couple of times, but I think today we are going to have a longer visit with it, into the next few days. We may try to take the birthday trip we had planned for last weekend. 

10/1/13

Well, we got a sitter! Ed and I were all ready for our first night out in this fabulous city. We have tickets to see Chris Thile play in a relatively small theater. We were sitting in the restaurant across the street before the show when I looked at the sign and turned to Ed to ask him if it was Tuesday or Wednesday. Oh alas.
Our tickets are for tomorrow night. Hmmph. We enjoyed a beer and headed home and sheepishly asked the sitter if she would care to return tomorrow night. Luckily she agreed. This is turning out to be a very expensive anniversary date!
OY!

9/28/13

Last weekend we had Edie overnight and Saturday we went to the science center. The hamster made a couple escapes. Lot's of hammie shenanigans!
Monday night we had back to school, so Lydia stayed at her friend Willa's and the next night Willa's parents went to hers, and she stayed with us. The week was somewhat uneventful otherwise. Lydia is having a flare up of homesickness. She is missing her friends badly.
As tomorrow is my birthday, we were going to do an overnight at Depoe bay(you can google that) but some bad weather is coming through, with 30 mile per hour winds, so we will do it another time. We instead went to see Monster University at the cheap theater and then went to the mall. Had dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Apparently the power had been out, but by the time we got home it was back. While Ed was parking the car and I was taking Ayla out, the hamster escaped AGAIN! It was not looking good and I had to put Lydia to bed. She and I were reading when we heard Ed yell AYLA NO!
Sesame was found again, the three of us managed to corral and catch him. He was a bit wet from Aylas mouth(!) but not much worse for wear. I can hear him now, running his nightly miles on the wheel.
Our wedding anniversary is tomorrow and we have tickets for Tuesday night to see Chris Thile play. We don't have a sitter yet, but think we will. Ever the flaky ones.

9/24/13

I am trying to find where my pictures went, but here are a few. Movie in the park and some bad apt. shots just to give you a visual. Our Heron. And Lydia being cute. But don't tell her! I'll try to get some better ones up at some point!

9/17/13

Yesterday was a tough one. As we were walking off to school, Lydia started getting nervous. The walk was a stilted one and came to a complete halt in the woods. I got her that far but could move her no further. I finally broke down and called Ed for help. Luckily his office was a stones throw.
I heard the school bell ring in the background and knew that it was only going to get more awkward for her at this point. How humiliating to have to walk into a space you feared, with dried tears, puffy eyes and terror all over your face. I was angry, but I understood. After deliberating for a bit we told her this was her one turn and that tomorrow(today) she would return to school on her own or be carried in.
It was a very very long day at home. She did well, there was no t.v. during school hours and she entertained herself.
This morning Ed has meetings from 7:30 until 9:30, and we all(including Lydia) know that I cannot carry her. But she was great. We talked last night about how I wear Mama Bea's ring and what it means to me. She started looking for something she could wear with the same purpose and found a bracelet that her daddy brought her from one of his trips. When it was time to leave she started looking for more. I took her in my bathroom and dabbed her tiny wrists with my patchouli oil. I got her to the front door and kissed her palms so they would stay kissed, and out the door we went.
I told her last night that I would leave Ayla at home so that I could walk her in as far as she needed me too. As we started up the hill she faltered, I said "I spy..." and then we were off! The game didn't last long but we talked about how we are going away for a night for my birthday, which of course in turn, began a conversation about her birthday, she wants to swim with whales. And from there she started to tell me how long whales and dolphins can hold there breath and how deep they swim.
We made it through the woods without a pause, I could see the playground and hear the kids, I felt a little panic in my gut, fearing she would balk, we kept walking and went all the way into the center! And there we stood, only talking a little, looking for her friends, though she didn't feel ready to run off. So we stayed until the bell rang, there were other Mom's too, standing and talking. Lydia and I were in our own little bubble. When the bell rang, she turned to me, said I love you, and with not much fear showing, kissed me as she went to school.

9/15/13

Not much to say for today. A late start. We went to the Columbia employee store with a pass that Edie's mom gave us. Lydia was not very happy today and our trip was short.
Blah for today!