Part 1: Portland

The week before school started, Mom, the kids and I headed to Portland.

We spent the first couple of days seeing friends and family.

It was so nice to see everyone!

The family we last saw in July, but we haven't seen some of the

friends since we moved away a year ago.

I aplogize for starting with this photo...but this was one reminder of

why we were glad to be out of the wet Pacific Northwest. Look at

the size of this slug compared to Mom's foot.

Disgusting!! :)

I remember going out to get the paper in the morning and having to

shake off the slugs that had gathered on the plastic bag.

Sure don't miss them!

Oh, but here's something we miss!

Mom and I headed out to Boring on Monday morning to set up

our tent and stopped at a berry stand.

These didn't last long!

Emma must have eated 1/2 of her weight in berries that day.

The kids, of course, love to spend time with their cousin.

Ryan and J get in some Wii time, and

Emma's never a foot away from J on our walks.

Monday afternoon, we spent some time with Jenny, Yesmin, Lucas, Diana

and Michael. We haven't seen them for a year, so it was so nice to spend

some time together. It didn't Emma any time at all to get right back into

her playful relationship with Lucas. Ryan, Yemin and Michael jumped

right back in, too.

I love that characteristic in children...the ability to form fast friendships and

renew old ones without any reservations.

Ryan, Michael and Yesmin

Me, Jenny and Diana
Miss these two!!

Mom and Emmalee

Such sweet friends!

I love that their arms are intertwined as they

eat their popcycles.

This is a scene that I remember from

when we lived in Portland.

These two spent so much time

in Jenny's backyard playing with rocks.

Emma, of course, is singing the entire time.

We spent Monday evening at Betty's house. Somehow,

I didn't get any photos of Betty or the boys.

However, I did get one of her spider that's taken up residence up

by the boys' fort and of the morning rain on

her beautiful roses.