Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Chris got back from his Asia trip yesterday after two long weeks and Mimi got in today.  The boys are double-ly happy and excited.  They kept asking all day when Mimi's birthday "party" was going to be.  Nicholas helped me make the cake and the icing and we got to sing happy birthday to Mimi a day late, but so glad we got to celebrate with her none the less!  All that the boys need is singing happy birthday and eating cake to make it a party!  At one point today, I ran out to the market and I was told Christian got upset because he thought I left for the birthday party without him.  He is too funny, but I can't explain the warmth that their joy for life brings to me!  We love spending time with you Mom, so happy to have you out with us!

Meem with her happy boys!

Happy Halloween - 2012!

 I thoroughly enjoyed the day, the boys excitement is a delight to see!  However, after what seems like a month long celebration I'm ready to move on from Halloween.  Today was a perfect climax to the Halloween "Season."  My two little pirates may have had their most fun Halloween together yet.  Trick or treating tonight, Nicholas kept saying, "Christian isn't this so much fun?"  and "Mommy, I love you, you're the best!" as if I was the reason he continued to fill his bag with candy.  Putting Christian to bed tonight, he asked if we can do it again tomorrow.  Christian is fond of the lollipops this year, and if a house did not have any he would say, "lollipop please."  Very cute!  One of the best parts?  Their Grandmom Ranalli is here to participate in all the fun!

Attempts at pictures before trick or treating can be quite a challenge due to the anticipation of candy AND the use of cool glow sticks Grandmom gave them.  Both made for VERY excited boys!

Halloween Season also included many other fun days!

Painting pumpkins, I love their concentration faces!  A jack o lantern was also carved, (a bit too early) it didn't quite make it to Halloween.  And, Chris and Nicholas did it one Sunday while Christian and I were napping, so I didn't get pictures of Nicholas' face touching the insides.

A trip to the pumpkin patch with friends.  

The boys are getting big, aren't they?

What would Halloween season be without Halloween pj's?  Thanks Mimi!

And, a Halloween Party at Portland Children's Museum, among the other Halloween parties we attended with Nicholas' school.

One happy Halloween, and one tired mom!  What's next for our little Ranalli family?  Thanksgiving and a move.  That's right, we are finally ready to buy another home and stay awhile!

Early Fall - 2012

Already October tomorrow?  I thought the fall would slow us down a bit, but so far it hasn't.  We're having a beautiful Indian summer here with no rain.  I might regret saying this come April, May and June but, I'm ready for the Pacific Northwest rainy season to begin!

Our unofficial last weekend of summer, Labor Day weekend, was spent with my good friend Dana and Mike.  Dana' first visit to see us in the Northwest, but hopefully not the last!

No trip is complete with a waterfall hike in the Columbia River Gorge.  

And a trip to the beautiful Oregon Coast!

Nicholas started his final year of preschool before kindergarden this year and he is really enjoying it!  He can count to "infinity" as he likes to say when I pick him up everyday...I think he is going to be a math guy!

 Here is a picture of him on the first day.

 And inside his school garden.

Having an after school treat with this two favorite school friends, Miles and William.

We've also gotten in a couple more camping trips before the cold and rain since the boys just love it so much!

Cool kid camping and eating smores!

 Brrr, trying to keep warm in the tent early morning.

Fishing with views of Mt Hood

Like father, like son!

Other than camping and school we've just been enjoying our time around Portland.  We are really loving it here!

 I thought he was awfully quiet one morning!  Mischievous boy got a box of tissues, shredded them and used them as trash in his trash truck.  Yes, he still loves trash trucks!  At least he's graduated from trash cans!

Brothers!

Morning at the zoo while big brother is at school!

Christian and Hadley riding the rides at Oakes Park in SE Portland!

Keeping daddy company fishing on the Willamette River.

Neighborhood biking crew!

Yes, that's right, Christian is now riding Nicholas' old balance bike and doing so well!

Eating some pbj's in the back of Daddy's truck in Tillamook State Forest.  The boys finally convinced me to come along four wheeling, another favorite activity of their's.  Let's just say we'll leave it as "boy time!"  Haha!  If you can believe it, they have off road vehicle parks...much like ski resorts with marked trails that tell you level of difficulty.  Just like skiing; green = easy, blue = intermediate, black = difficult.  Let's just say I was a buzz kill with my worrying and I'm not sure if my neck enjoyed the jerky ride:)!

Arrrrr!

Just this past weekend, Nicholas' good friend, India,  had a pirate ballet birthday party.  Coincidentally, Nicholas wanted to be a pirate for Halloween so it worked out perfectly!  The boys love playing dress up on a normal day at home and the first thing they asked to do when they woke this morning was put on their pirate costume!

Hadley, the ballerina, and the pirate brothers dancing at the party!

Nicholas doing well balancing the book on his head during the pirate treasure race!

Fun birthday party with dear friends, they too lived in Kirkland and now live in Portland.  Fun fall so far too, we're going to enjoy another beautiful week here with no rain in the 10 day forecast.  

Summer 12 = Visitors, Camping, Fun, More Visitors, More Camping and More Fun!

This may be the most busy and memorable summer of my life.  It's flying by and I can't believe Labor Day is around the corner.  Two more rounds of guests and a trip to Seattle and then we can call it a summer, whew!

Here is a mega picture upload once again before the last few busy weeks of summer!

Uncle Christian's visit to Portland!

We had a very fun weekend with Uncle Christian.  The above pictures are from the bike tour we gave him of Portland!

Our Camping Weekend at Lost Lake in the Mount Hood Area

One of the highlights of our camping trip, Nicholas was catching huge salamander and we even let him keep one as a camp pet during our stay until he released him before we left.  

 Boys first s'mores experience.

 Boat ride with a view of Mt. Hood in the background.

 Nicholas enjoyed holding daddy's fishing worms!

First camping trip = happy campers!

Mimi, Pop, and Aunt Kelly's Visit

From the Coast to the Columbia River Gorge to Voodoo Doughnut, we did it all during their visit!  Thanks to photographer Kell, who took most of these pictures!

The whole gang on the coast in Netarts, Oregon.  Chris, Christian, Nicholas, me, Kelly, Mimi, Pop, Cousin Billy (who also lives in Portland) and his gf, Mina.  

I had never been to Netarts before but it was so beautiful and peaceful and reminded me in some ways of Big Sir, California.

Billy burying Nicholas in the sand.

Bucket heads

Poor Christian had a very cranky weekend at the coast.  Probably the only time he was happy was when he was at the beach.

Having dinner outside at our condo on the coast.

Just another view from our condo, that's all.  Thanks for the awesome shots, Kell!

We had views of some amazing sunsets!

Campfire and s'mores on the beach!

A walk on the beach...

...to the caves.

Octopus Tree!

Back in Portland, waiting in the half hour line at Voodoo Doughnut.

Tourist season in Portland at Voodoo Doughnut

 Kelly enjoying a chocolate oreo w/ peanut butter, Pop enjoying the famous maple bacon doughnut, Nicholas an m&m, and I enjoying a plain old jelly!  Christian in the stroller enjoying a glazed, although, I think that is the last time I can give him a glazed without him asking where the m&m's are (he's getting smart!)

Me and the boys at Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge outside of Portland.

So proud of Nicholas who hiked a steep 1.25 miles to the top of the falls (2.5 round trip!)  Christian also accompanied all of us (on my back.)

 Me and Kelly after the hike with views of the Gorge.

 Tillamook, Oregon

Happy on the tractor!

 Enjoying the sunshine at Jameson Square back in Portland.

 Sis and I on our way out to dinner.

 Nicholas got to accompany the adults to a late dinner at McMenamins Kennedy School.  A very Portland thing to do, McMenamins is a Portland based chain of pubs/restaurants who make their own microbrews and this particular McMenamins, the Kennedy School, is a historic hotel that was an old school house.  Nicholas asked if he could go out with the adults "all of the time?"  What a special treat it was for him while little bro was home sleeping and what a special treat it was to have Mimi, Pop and Aunt Kelly out for a visit!  We missed them instantly.

Every day fun!

 Climbing the rock wall at REI

 Splashing around in the front yard!

Last Weekend's Camping Trip with the Huts!

 So cute, Nicholas grew up with these girls that we've known since NH and lived in three different states with!  This weekend was no exception to the fun we have with the Huts!

Reading in the camp chairs.

Buddys!