Rynn's "Flyaway " Ceremony

Last night we celebrated with Rynn her graduation from preschool in what was a beautiful "Flyaway Ceremony." The story of Rynn's year at Chrysalis began last summer as I drove through our future neighborhood, lost, at 10pm one night. Happening upon a jogger, I struck up a conversation only to learn from her that her son's preschool had been looking for a four year old girl. I called the next morning and Rynn was enrolled the following day at Chrysalis Homeschool, an absolutely amazing Montessori style preschool directed and run out of the home of Colleen Strohm for twenty-one years. Each spring Chrysalis celebrates those children moving on to kindergarten in a "Flyaway Ceremony" in which the 'big' kids become butterflies and fly away. As we participated last night I was reminded again how God takes care of His children calling us to trust Him even though we don't know what tomorrow may hold.

Rynn contemplates the event on her favorite swing while holding a gift of lavender from one of her teachers.

Eleanor waits patiently as the ceremony begins. She wanted to wear her own fairy wings to support her sister.The graduates file in to take their seats.


Rynn receives her wings from Colleen.

Rynn examines her diploma sporting her new wings.

Joan sings the goodbye song to the three graduates- Woody Guthrie's "So, long, it's been good to know you..so long..." There were few dry eyes as the parents then formed a tunnel through which the kids walked while we sprinkled rosemary-the herb of remembrance- on their heads.

Jason kayaking at Opal Creek

See a video of jason going off this rock ledge at a rapid appropriately named "Big Fluffy."

Click on the link below. Hit 'Cancel' when it asks you to install Japanese (the guy that filmed this was Japanese).
http://f.flvmaker.com/mc2.php?id=6gxcPpC7XhMULHK_GXIJNlqx2ByJyos47NOmVUY4ikDLFAS1m/lFQs&logoFlg=Y

Pink, Pink, Baby

One of the rite of passages of childhood is that wonderful, sticky, gooey, pink eye known as 'pink eye.' One of the rite of passages of motherhood is that wondeful, sticky, gooey, pink eye also known as 'pink eye.' When Eleanor's eyes begin to glow bright pink last week I began the vigorous hand washing and obsessive counter wiping in my fight against that wonderful bacteria called conjunctivitis (sp?). My valient attempts were in vain, though, as Saturday morning I awoke to eyes pasted shut in crusty goo. Somehow I didn't remember this part of it- that gross glue that seals your eyes shut in slumber and refuses to give way when morning dawns.
So, today is Memorial Day, and I'm feeling blue because it is supposed to be the beginning of summer, and instead it is 48 degrees. So, per the suggestion of my mom, I decided to take the girls to soak in the Kennedy School outdoor pool, have lunch, and then check in to the family matinee for HORTON HEARS A WHO. We had a fun day, and I found out that pink eyes mean more than simply 'pink eye' in Northeast Portland. As I asked a waitress/bartender where to buy the movie tickets (the Kennedy School is a renovated school turned bar/hotel/movie theater/music venue/and any other fun thing you can think of), I received a compassionate look of understanding. "Yeah, I know how it is the day after, "she said smiling. I walked away confused, and then it dawned on me as I sat down to lunch and was greeted with a wry smile from the waiter. "You want a glass or a pint today", he said with a chuckle.
"What is it with these people?, " I wondered. Can't a mom take her kids to lunch on Memorial Day? OHhhhhh...I get it. He thinks I've been smokin' something, drinking something, something-something. "No! Wait!," I want to shout, "It's PINK EYE! You know, that nasty little bacteria you catch from kids?." But, I didn't. I sat back, smiled, and ordered some grilled cheese with tater tots. At least the green goo wasn't running down the corner of my eye. Although, maybe then, I would have gotten a free beer.

98 Degrees? Portland, no way...

Last week- shivering in our winter coats at the playground.

This week- sweating and sitting by fans as Portland temperatures climbed to almost 100 degrees. Who shifted the gears without using a clutch?

This sudden change in weather has brought about an interesting change in the Portland landscape of people. Suddenly, it seems there are a lot more women around. I've been trying to figure out this phenomenon, and it comes down to this. Those raincoats, jeans, and layers, which conform all Portlanders even in their self proclaimed nonconformity, have been traded in for skirts, flowered shirts, sundresses. What happened to this gray city? Transformation!

Along the lines of change, I've been noticing other changes lately in relation to light. Just as we were plunged into darkness this winter we have now been whirled into light as our nights have shrunk to a mere six hours. With the light waking me up sometimes before 5am I've begun to feel like living north of the 45th parallel is a bit like being flung around on the outside seat of a Ferris wheel. It's though where we have landed on the planet is just far enough out there to make us feel a bit more of the centrifugal force of Earth. Maybe I just need more sleep.

Mud Pies and Hop Vines

We all have our hobbies, our special treats, our little gifts to ourselves which help us through those days that just seem to need an extra lift. For me, a hot yoga class, a cup of good tea in my favorite pottery mug and a good book, or a walk alone are little special treats which offer a respite from other responsibilities. For Jason, rejuvenation comes in the form of movement- whether it be down a whitewater river in his kayak or in building something, creating, making, building. So, being that we now live in the microbrew capital of America, it makes sense that it wouldn't be long before Jason built our very own hop vine structure. He built the structure you see below in a couple of hours. By mid-summer it should be covered in a hop vine (which they say can grow up to a foot per day), and then, who knows...maybe our own Little microbrew??

Rynn finds her own relaxation in making chocolate cream pie in the backyard.

And Eleanor helps plant some sunflower seeds she received as a gift for her birthday. Hopefully by mid August we'll have some pictures of eight feet tall sunflowers!

Busy in the Big City

A wild and fun week we've had at the Littles this week. We kicked off May at Lenny and Farooq's house for Maxine's 3rd birthday bash...below, the whole family caught on film. Amazing.

Jason helps the ballon man/clown/fire juggler/unicycler do his stuff.


That evening Meg and John Day arrived at our house from Chattanooga. Meg is seen here with John sporting Tricia Cordell's Hannah Montana hair piece. Who knows what you might do when you come to Portland?


We celebrated the beautiful weather, Meg & John's visit, and Tricia and Kevin Cordell being in town (the couple moving here to help us with the church- yeah and more yeah) by having a backyard barbeque. It got a little crazy.

Bunnies and topless hula dancers stole the show.
We broke in the backyard....a foretaste of summer to come- if it ever will.

And I got a kiss and a dinner out with our out of town, Meg and John, and soon to be in town, Tricia and Kevin, friends.

I think I'm ready for a nap now.

Sunny Days, Sweeping the Clouds Away...

FINALLY! After a month of cold, wintry weather the sun is shining in Portland. As if the city were an anthill that someone's stray sneaker kicked, Portland released its residents. People streamed out of houses, apartments, and lofts to run, bike, walk their dogs, dine on sidewalks, or wear balloon hats, as it may be at our house. I didn't know so many people even lived here! Maybe I'm not the only one who needed a little Vitamin D.