Adventures in Whitefish

So much fun and so good to see our friends again! We had a great time in Whitefish Montana visiting the Peppmeiers. The kids got to play, dads got to play, even mom's got a bit of a break and we all got to feel like adults again; if only for one evening. It was overcast for most of the trip and we had a bit of drizzle, rain, hail, and a few moments of sunlight now and again but all in all it the weather didn't matter, the town was so cute and felt really liveable. Doug and Kelly's house is adorable and their view from the front (to the mountain "Big Mountain") and from the back ("Whitefish River") is amazing.

The train ride was totally worth it with this age of kids and we loved eating our breakfast this morning riding through the Gorge. We can't wait to go back again, Nathan can't wait to ski. Here are some photos of the kids playing in the park near Doug & Kelly's house and of Gilbert bundled up on our chilly hike through Glacier.

On to Mon (tana)

Today we leave for our trip to see the Peppmeiers; we're all very excited! We leave this afternoon and get in tomorrow morning. A bit of a problem has come about with the train which we're really bummed about....

So we booked a sleeper car for us thinking that would be the easiest and best for the kids. Last night amtrak called and said the entire car with all the sleepers in it has mechanical problems and won't be there until Spokane, which is 1am in the morning when we arrive there....so we all have to sit in coach w/bags etc. until then..ugh.

We'll let you all know how it goes!

School field trip

The first school field trip for Evelyne was to the pumpkin patch. We went to Lee's Farms in Tualatin, rode the school bus with about 40 kids, teachers, and lots of parents. It was a hoot. We were assigned Kohl as a buddy so the three of us stompped through the mud together looking at pigs, chickens, cows, watched how apple cider was made (and had a sample) rode a hayride and got to pick out pumpkins.

Luckily, the rain stayed away for our time outside. Evelyne loved the beginning of the trip, honestly, I think riding the bus was the highlight. She started to get hungry and wanted a snack, of which I didn't pack any thinking they would have one there with the school as they usually do. So, a bit of whining happened about 1/2 way through the trip. But Kohl, Evelyne and I marched on.

Singing Lady

Evelyne loves to sing, thought i'd write an entry about it. We've been spending a lot of time in and out of the car lately and one thing that keeps the troops happy in the back seat is singing. We sing everything, christmas songs, hymns, nursery rhymes, and lately evelyne has been making up her own songs. They are so cute, always to the same tune, kind of like talking to herself, no real rhythm but boy is she proud of them. Gilbert and i clap when she's done. Here's an example of one of her favorites..."You better watch out you better not cry, i am playing outside and i like to eat lunch, when mom comes and it's time to go; a school day sometimes, rock a bye baby on the tree top and the baby falls and cries, sometimes babies cry and mommies come back...." etc. etc. they never end, its a stream of consciousness style of song.

Cousin sleep over

So, the great thing about living out here in Newberg is that we're closer to cousins for Evelyne and Gilbert. Evelyne loves to play with them and we had a sleep over with cousin Spencer last weekend. We had fun playing in home made forts, riding bikes to downtown for hot chocolate, and doing finger paints which Evelyne and Spencer aptly termed "hand paints"...you'll see from the photos.

News from the new house front; all is going along as planned, still scheduled to move in at the end of November. We're really getting close now. The outside looks like a real house and the inside is all painted, tiled, and waiting for flooring.

Gilbert's First Haircut

Gilbert got his first haircut this week. He did pretty well and was aptly distracted with toys and bubbles. We went to Little Clippers in Lake Oswego, he sat in a red car.









Sister Evelyne got her hair cut, too...it is picture day at school this week, so we had to get cleaned up!









Gilbert is now 11 months old and almost walking, he's standing on his own more and more and loves to walk with his walker toys. Both kids are adjusting fine to all the moving around, at least so far.
Here he is with his haircut!