Oregon Garden

We had a beautiful day at the Oregon Garden today. The sun was shining,

the garden was full of interesting and clever sights,

and beautiful paths leading off into magical little spaces.

We started off with a tram ride hoping to find our friends,

and who should appear at the second stop to board the tram? This was lucky because the place is big and it would have been easy to miss each other. Being there with friends made the day even more fun. A especially is in a place where she would like us to do everything with our friends. When we're back home and her legs are so tired from running around that they are sore, I know it has been a good day. 

The garden is really well done and since today was a special homeschool day they had activity stations set up all over the garden, which were lots of fun. M liked the flower dissecting one best, and A liked the crafty one where you could make a stamp of animal tracks. She made one of animal tracks and then made a second one that said "Caution." A warning for her brother? General advice for the world at large? A self portrait in one word? Anyway, it was definitely worth the drive.

Lost Tooth

Here's M's showing off his (second) lost tooth, and the grown up teeth that are well on their way into the space.

Quilting with Grandma

Check out this beautiful quilt that A made with her grandma! They've been working on it for months, and A is so proud of how it turned out. They original idea was to use it as a picnic blanket, but I don't think we want to get this wonderful piece covered in mud and grass stains and food stains. It is being put to very good use on the couch and our fancy new bean bag chairs, and A takes it upstairs every night to bed with her. This took a lot of work--I'm so impressed with how she stuck with it, and with how pretty and functional it is.

Peer Pressure?

I think of myself as someone who is more-or-less immune from peer pressure when it comes to fads and fashion, but maybe I'm not so immune after all, as evidence by two recent purchases. Did I really need to spend $20 to get a water bottle that won't leach scary chemicals into my water? It is kind of alarming how easily I can justify spending $200 on an iPod (It will help me run farther! I'll be able to use my exercise and commute time so productively! We'll be able to download all sorts of great educational material from iTunes U to listen to in the car!) I got a little extra money because of this extra job I did this summer, and the idea was to put it toward paying off the loan for re-doing our bathroom, but it seems to burning a hole in my pocket...