swinging

Thank you Shay! Lucy loves her swing, and the new cover is so pretty. Here she is while I was making dinner last night...with both arms free!

blackberry picking

Our friend Paula came to visit from Austin, where blackberries do not grow on the side of highways and up telephone poles. Milo, Lucy and I took her to the river, near Autzen Footbridge, where blackberries have taken over the riverbank. Even without appropriate footwear (flip flops are not ideal for stepping into thorny blackberry patches, it turns out), or protective gloves, we managed to get a bucketful. And the sweet scent of hot blackberries ripening in the sunshine was worth every scratch.

sweet boys and a girl

Liampalooza

September 7th, 2008 - Liampalooza. Party in the park.




Party in the gymnastics studio.



And a party in the North Star classroom. Chocolate cupcakes and angel food cake all around. Nine years passes so quickly, and he has become such a sweet, self-possessed boy. How did we get so lucky.

6 Weeks

Some of Lucy's new skills, now that she's six weeks old:

• Smiling (still haven't gotten a photo of this phenomenon, but she has got quite a lovely smile).
• Mimicking her brothers when they stick their tongue out at her.
• Gazing at the toys hanging from her play mat.
• Using the pacifier to deal with car rides (a relief for everyone else in the car).

First Day of School

The best part about the first day of school was recess because I got to play with all my friends again. This is a picture of me in circle. -milo

On the first day of school I was in a new classroom. My new teacher's name is Debra. We are learning about Aztecs, Incas and Mayas this fall. This is a picture of me with my friend Oliver, who is in my class. -liam

After school everyone got their ya yas out in the hammock.

Labor Day, Upriver

Lucy's first weekend at the cabin on the McKenzie included knitting and wine drinking (and nursing) on the deck, knitting and wine drinking (and nursing) inside by the fire, two delicious meals of polenta and ratatouille, and a bonfire, thanks to Marquis. Joel, Mark and Nathan biked the MckKenzie River Trail, and Liam and Milo taught Rohanna how to play chess. In all, it was a fabulous and relaxing a way to spend the the last weekend of summertime!

Guess Who?