Pretty Girl in the Closet

Somersaults

For the past couple weeks, Gerrit and Amparo have been learning how to do a somersault. Gerrit can only get about halfway and then needs a push from mommy or daddy. So what does Gerrit do when mommy and daddy aren't there? - he gives himself a push. Then Amparo (aka "me too!") decides to try.

Money Tree

These little plants are everywhere in Oregon. I'm not sure what they're called - but I remember my grandmother had one on her porch and she used to call it her "money tree" because it grows (seeds? leaves?) that look like big silver dollars. Anywho, they are pretty cool looking.

I did it!

I parallel parked! Picked Brian up from work... no one was around and so I took a crack at it. And if I say so myself, I did a great job.
Maybe one day I'll muster up the guts to do it when some else is around...

* Amparo helping pop in the yard on her birthday

Uh oh -- I forgot my socks!

So I was sitting at the computer and I heard the front door open. I looked to see Gerrit heading outside to get the mail... with no pants (or pull-ups) on. He comes back in and I ask him, "weren't you cold, you have no PANTS on?" He looks down (he had put shoes on before he went out) and says, "uh oh!! I forgot my socks!" That's the least of his worries...

*Amparo at her birthday party in KY

It Happened!!

Gerrit POOPED on the potty. He's been running around like a little nudie since Monday and today there it was! I literally jumped for joy... and then I cried. I just thought it would never happen. Gerrit looked at me like I had gone a bit mad. So for dinner we took him to Shelly's Pizza -- aka Andrew's Pizza. (We were there a few months ago and a girl named Shelly worked there... both kids took to her pretty instantly, now they ask to see Shelly constantly). We didn't see Shelly, but we did eat a yummy pizza and a delicious cookie.

* Gerrit and I before church last Sunday

Skiing?

Brian took a little time away from work yesterday and we headed to Mt. Hood Meadows. Gerrit was going to take a try at skiing. Well, we got there and it was PACKED. We decide to turn back and head for home. So instead we went on nature hike part 2. Gerrit was so excited about his skiing goggles, he didn't want to take them off...

The path

So there's a path that runs right behind our house and goes into town. Yesterday we decided to walk that path and go on a "nature hike". The Hood River runs right below the path and there are a couple of tiny waterfalls and lots of moss. And I couldn't believe it, but Amparo walked the whole path! It's pretty long, but she loved it. And so did Gerrit -- they happily greeted every dog we passed.

A few facts about HR, OR

Hood River is located on the Columbia River directly opposite White Salmon, Washington.

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 5,831 people, 2,429 households, and 1,442 families residing in the city.

Hood River's economy is based on three industries: agriculture, tourism, and sports recreation.

Hood River first experienced a boom in tourism after being discovered as a site for world-class windsurfing, and more recently kiteboarding.

Hood River County also has some of the best kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, and hiking areas in the United States.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), of which 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (28.97%) is water.

Hood River has 2 sister cities

Tsuruta, Japan

Colotlan, Mexico

*all info taken from wikipedia

*Gerrit making cookies with uncle Britton and aunt Kristin (a few days before Christmas)

Daily Happenings

Every time Amparo goes down for bed (nap or night time), she says, in her cutest little voice, "no crying big girl, OK big girl".

Gerrit picks out his clothes every morning.
It's cute to see what he comes up with...

*Gerrit and baby Claire at Christmas

Mt. Hood

Brian and Andrew went skiing on it yesterday. Brian came back with just a few battle marks... pretty good since he hasn't skied in years. It was WINDY and powdery up there, or so they said... I stayed warm and cozy at home, by the fire (which I might add, I'm getting pretty good at building ). Today we can see the mountain from our house and you know what that means... pretty, clear skys!

Speaking of Mount Hood, here's our family Christmas picture...
(ok... so not the best segue -- yep, that's how you spell it -- but here you go...)

*doesn't Gerrit look nice in a suit?

Uncle Andrew's here!

He came in last night...
This morning Andrew and Gerrit built a train track together (and I got to take a shower, in peace!!). They both had such a good time and it was super sweet to watch. Andrew showed Gerrit a bunch of cool new ways to put the tracks together... stuff I hadn't even thought of, and Gerrit LOVED helping and learning. If you need any choo choo train help, ask uncle Andrew...

We checked out story time at the library today. I told Gerrit and Amparo we were headed to Storytime and they asked if Emmy and Bella were going to be there. Then they were sad... and I really think for the first time since we've been in Oregon. They kept asking why and I tried to explain that we're in OR and they're in KY where we used to live. The still don't get it... maybe it is better that we moved while they're still small...
The Story time was great. I still try to look for things that I don't like about this town, but it's tough... really, really tough. The Story time lady was SUPERB. Totally not afraid of being silly... and afterward they had crafts and apple juice.
The kids didn't want to leave -- they now call it the "new story time".
But they're still waiting for Emmy and Bella to come...

Nighty Night

I was doing some wedding talk on the phone and when I finished, I checked on Gerrit and this is what I found...

Sleep sweet baby

Wineries & Swimming Pools

Last night was the 2nd Friday of the month which means Springhouse Cellar Winery opened their doors to kiddos (and their parents) with trikes and scooters. We picked Brian up from work and headed there... it's just one block over. Gerrit had a good time on his trike... ridding it in the big open spaces of the winery and Amparo had fun toddling around.

Before lunch today we went to the pool. I love the set up. The splash pool is completely enclosed -- no babies/ toddlers managing to make their way into the big pool --- which leads to a calmer mama. I can't find my swimsuit so I just photographed and waved. Brian took Gerrit and then Amparo in the 3ft pool for a bit. Amparo was ready to jump in all on her own - definitely didn't get that from me (!) Oh and then there's the locker room... a bit too much nudity.

My best...

told me she at least wanted to see one picture with every post... good idea, I thought, and since I haven't really taken any photos since we've been here this time, I'll pull from the archives. Since she suggested it, here's one of our kids together at the Cincinnati Children's Museum (we finally made it!)...

Back to Oregon... we haven't really done much here yet. We went to Safeway the other day and we checked out the gymnastics schedule, but that's pretty much it. We're just taking care of things at home and getting comfortable. Maybe we'll venture out next week. Oh and speaking of next week, we're so excited about our vistor coming on Tuesday... uncle Andrew! We've got his room all ready for him and Brian is even brushing up on his skiing (via the Wii). So please come and visit, because apparently, I LOVE visitors!!

We've Moved...

We've taken our Kentucky Tale to Oregon. And I can't think of a better time to resuscitate the blog.
I guess I'll start from right now...

I've always liked flying in airplanes, but flying with kids is a WHOLE other story. I'm constantly on edge... there is no relaxing. But we made it safe to Oregon with really no incident. And we came home to snow! It wasn't falling from the sky, but it is on the ground. The temperature almost feels like a tropical paradise compared to what we left back in KY.

Back to the flight... Gerrit and Amparo colored some and it was the first time I noticed Gerrit trying to stay in the lines.

Make A Mess

Conversation between Brenda and Amparo in the car today:

Amparo -- make a mess!, make a mess!
me -- who's making a mess?
Amparo -- Uncle Britton!

You Smell Something

This happened a couple weeks ago when Brenda and the kids were in Hood River. I wasn't there, but the story goes a little something like this:

Brenda walked upstairs to Gerrit's room where a knock out dirty diaper smell hit her. She looked over at Gerrit and started making a "sniffing" noise. ..Sniff ....Sniff

Gerrit quickly froze, turned and looked at Brenda: "You smell somethin? I don't smell anything...What? You don't smell anything" ...

Gerrit has officially started trying Jedi mind tricks to get out of diaper changes.

Afternoon Hike at Eagle Creek

After a morning of prepping for the family coming to town - I decided
to take an afternoon hike at Eagle Creek. I just wish my co-pilot (aka
Brenda Jo) and little passengers (Gerrit and Amparo) were there to
enjoy the beauty. The fall colors are pretty cool around these parts.

Not Hubers, but...

Today was a gorgeous day... a perfectly lovely fall day. We ate lunch and dinner outside. Gerrit played out in the leaves. Amparo and I picked some pumpkins for decorating. Sure, we picked them at Kroger's, but I think she still had a good time. We just couldn't g to Huber's without Bri. Gerrit didn't want to come, he was having too much fun in the yard...

Cherry Pop Tarts

Just 2 more weeks till Brenda and the kids come to Hood River!! wooop!!!

So Everday after work - I give Brenda a call before the kids go off to
bed. Usually I hear some funny story about what Gerrit and Amparo did
that day. Today was no exception.

Brenda gave Gerrit a pop-tart for being such a good boy and eating all
his breakfast - a couple seconds after recieving his treat

Gerrit : " hey! There's blood in my pop-tart!"
Brenda: "no there's not"
Gerrit: "uh huh ....Theres BLOOD in my pop-tart! Look!"
Brenda "Oh, no Gerrit, that's Jelly"

Pretty Honey

Brenda told me tonight that Gerrit has gotten in the habit of calling
her "pretty honey".

A sample of what Gerrit says : "You're alright pretty honey. You're
alright"

Trail behind our house in Hood River

A couple days ago I did a little exploring around our new house in
Hood River. I found this cool little trail that goes from our backyard
to downtown. Overlooks a cool stream and eventually meets up with Hood
River - Talk about cool commute to work!!

Pee Pee!! (and nope, it wasn't Gerrit)

Amparo wanted to sit on the potty... so I helped her. And she went pee pee!
I don't think she understood at all what she was doing but hey, I'll take what I can get...

good mommie

I took the kids to California Pizza Kitchen today while we waited for our car to get new tires... (which was a bit of a bad experience... but I won't bore you with details). Amparo and I sat next to each other while Gerrit sat across the table. Amparo patted my back and said, "mommie... good mommie"... aw thanks...

Colors

Finger paints!!
Our first time...























































And chalk!
(not our first time, but very fun... see, they have polka dots)

Walking?

I think we can say that Amparo is officially walking (!!). She can usually walk across a room before falling down... I never said she was steady, but she'll get there. And when she does fall, it is with grace...

Gerrit Quotes 2

Gerrit asked Brenda to watch Elmo on the "pupu" (computer). Brenda opened up iTunes and because the hard drive was unattached, she couldn't open the video. So she told Gerrit that she couldn't find it.

Gerrit proceed to pick up the mouse and say " Mama mama mama - I find it" - Looked up at the computer screen and mumbled "lets seee here...."

Gerrit Quotes

Last night after a little cookout in the backyard I watched Finding Nemo with the kids.

After a long dramatic part involving Nemo and his friend escaping a jellyfish swarm - Gerrit looked over at me, took his hand, patted my back and said "Don't worry Dada, it'll be awe-right"

Marbles

So I thought for the past couple of days that I have been losing mine...
We've been arriving to our destination, via the car, and when I stop Gerrit hops right out of his carseat. I'm thinking how in the heck can I forget to buckle him in (?!)... I mean it's like 2nd nature now. So today I buckled him in, made a mental note... so I would remember that I did. We got home and he got out of his carseat. Now I never expected him to be able to unlock his own carseat... ever. New rule... only unlock your carseat when mommie says it's ok.