Best Mother's Day Ever

For the past few Mother's Days, we have headed out to the Gorge to celebrate.  This year the weather was supposed to be nicer on Saturday, so we did our Gorge adventure a day early.  It was about as perfect as it could be.  My friend Kerry was basically our personal event planner for our day and gave me excellent advice about where to go.

First we went to Catherine Creek on the Washington side of the Gorge and went on a "hike."  I use the word hike loosely because it was on a paved trail and it was pretty short, but the views were beautiful and Trey walked mostly on his own, so it was a good start.

(Trey's new thing is to not look at the camera when requested/demanded 

as you will see in several of these photos.) 

Mountain, river, and even wildflowers.

Gorgeous 

I loved how Randy and Trey managed to be twins on our adventure.  

Totally unplanned 

 I envision a lot of shots that look like this in our future.

I think we'll try the hiking backpack a few more times before we give up.
Trey did get in it at the beginning of this hike, but Randy asked him after about 30 seconds if he wanted to walk, so, of course, he wouldn't get back in.

After our hike, we went to Backwoods Brewing Company for some delicious IPA and a decent lunch.  I guess I didn't get any pictures from lunch...

After our "hike" and lunch we went on a drive with the grand master plan of Trey falling asleep  so we could extend our day.  He performed perfectly, and we went to a parking area where Randy could fish for a little bit and I could read.

Our next stop was Acadian Farms and Brewery where Trey could look at and feed animals while Randy and I had more beer.  He woke up just as we pulled up to the farm.  Perfect timing!

 This is about as perfect of a spot to get a beer as I can imagine.

After Acadian, we wanted to stop at Walking Man on the way out of town, but there was some sort of water leak and it was closing for the day.  Thanks to Kerry who gave us an alternate spot at the last minute! We went to Skamania Lodge for a beer and Trey got to run around.  The weather was perfect, the views were gorgeous, and it was a great ending to a stellar day.

What I didn't capture on film was Trey running up and down yelling "I'm so excited!!!!" with his arms straight up in the air. He was cracking everyone up who was sitting around us.

As Trey ventured off across the grass, Randy and I sat and watched him explore.  Once he started to go down the hill on the other side, we looked at each other and said, "You or me?"  Luckily, since it was Mother's Day weekend, I got to sit and relax while Randy chased him down.  Mostly, I think we were both impressed that our cautious and careful boy was going so far away on his own.  Pretty cool to watch.

On Sunday, Randy made a delicious breakfast with French Toast from the cinnamon bread from Great Harvest.  While he took Trey to sports class, I got a pedicure.  Later that day Julie and her family came over for dinner.  Randy and Trey got me a massage at Dosha and a card that Trey picked out at the store.  I was a pretty lucky mama.

Trey's daycare did a Mother's Day program the week before the actual "holiday."  I got there in time to watch the song and dance, but as soon as Trey saw me, he came to sit on my lap and wouldn't budge.  They made some cute gifts and wrote a card.  This is Trey's card to me (the underlined parts are his own ideas):

SUPERMOM

I love you because you play with me.

The funniest thing I remember about Mom is when she gives me a big kiss.

The most special gift I could give my mom would be candy.

My mom loves me best when we're at the store.

My mom looks prettiest when she goes to bed.

Dear Mom, Please play with me mommy.

Summer Tease

We had a few weeks of really fabulous weather, and everyone in Portland was beginning to think that summer was here.  Randy, Trey, and I enjoyed the warm weather to its fullest, and I think it rejuvenated us all until our real summer arrives right on schedule on July 5th.

Dinner al fresco with Adam's girls, Sarah and Kennedy 

Playing at the park with cousin Grady 

Ever since Sesame Street Live, Trey is newly obsessed with the characters.  

It's a nice break from the Yo Gabba guys, don't get me wrong, 

but I'm ready for something new. 

Remember when I said Trey isn't into sports class?  

This is him during his first tennis lesson.   

Nothing better on a warm spring night than your cape, no pants, and a popsicle.

P.S. This short blog post is just for you Shane.  

Counting down to summer

Last I left off, Trey had just transitioned to a regular "big boy" bed.  It's been almost a month now, and we are very impressed with the outcome.  Trey was up a bunch the first night, rolled out the second and third nights, but has been great ever since (knock on wood).  We didn't have the experience of him popping out of bed several times at bedtime like I thought we would.  The only challenge we have had is his finding his way into our room some time between 3-5am and wanting to climb into bed with us.  This morning it wasn't until 6:15 which is a late wake up no matter what, so we were pretty pleased.  While Randy and I both don't want him sleeping in our bed, there is something sweet and special about having him next to me in the early hours of the morning.  One morning it was about 3am (yikes) and Trey said in his cute little voice, "Mama, can we snuggle now?"  Melted my heart.

Trey is doing really well in preschool.  I still really miss our old daycare and daycare providers, and I don't feel the same level of comfort when I leave him at his new place as I did before, but, all in all, it has been a good transition.  The teachers are really nice, the owner/director is awesome, and the kids seem okay.  It just isn't as warm and fuzzy as his old place.  Mind you, his old place was a home with a husband and wife taking care of him, and it really was like leaving him at home.  This is much more business-like (even though it's in a house) and not nearly as nurturing.  Nevertheless, Trey has been learning a lot there and he shocked me the other night with his knowledge of letters and sounds.

Here he is practicing his letters.  Now, I want to make the disclaimer that I only made these posters because he wanted me to and likes to play teacher.  I bought the real letter one because the drawings I made on my ABC poster are terrible, but he still likes it better.

We have had a fun run of weekends over the past month.  In the middle of April I went away for the night with two of my best friends, Sarah and Sarah, for a girls' weekend.  We went wine tasting and then stayed at a bed and breakfast outside of Dundee.  

Alexana Vineyards: delicious wine, expensive tasting fee 

 At a private tasting at Sokol Blosser

Friends since 1992 

On our tour of Sokol Blosser 

The view out the front porch from our B&B 

Pre-dinner cocktails at Thistle in McMinnville 

The cows saying good morning 

Breakfast served to us like queens.   We could get used to this.

I came home that afternoon and got ready to host Julie's birthday party.  I made goat cheese stuffed dates wrapped with bacon as my appetizer and we had a wine tasting party (my dates were gone in just a few minutes - a total hit!).  My poor sister was feeling really sick that day, so she didn't get to have as much fun as she should have, but it was still nice to get people together.  I promised her I wouldn't publish the picture I took of her at the end of the night with Case in her arms, but believe me when I say she looked terrible.

Trey and Grandpa Gerts

Trey was too busy eating strawberries to smile. 

Grandma Teresa and Case 

The kids' table 

Grandpa Gerts playing farm with his grandsons 

Grandpa Jim and Bailey getting to know each other

Remember when Randy wouldn't hold a baby?

Now he's as happy as ever to hold a baby, 

and the baby's as happy as ever to be held by Randy... 

Well, it got better. 

Keeping Grady happy is a little bit easier.  

Just pull out your smart phone and he's set.

A few weekends ago we met Kris and John for brunch after music class and then I took Randy to Base Camp Brewery.  It is one of my new favorite places where I have been going with Kerry before class on Thursdays.  They have a great outdoor seating area, fire pits, and delicious beer.  I highly recommend.

Trey filling his pockets with rocks. 

He was happy as a clam running around in the gravel, lining his rocks up, and counting them. 

Taster tray by a fire on a Saturday afternoon?

Doesn't get much better than that!

Sunday morning I took Trey to sports class since Randy was fishing.  They were playing soccer and doing some "drills" during class.  The whole reason we signed Trey up for this class was to build his motor skills since they aren't his strongest suit.  Going to class and realizing all the things he can't do (hop, skip, balance, not to mention the assortment of soccer type things the other kids were doing) made me glad we signed him up.  On the flip side, watching all the things he can't do doesn't really motivate me to take him tomorrow when it's supposed to be really nice out and we could go to the zoo instead.

Future athlete?  

Or maybe a musician?

Later that weekend Trey and I went to Mindy's house for dinner with her, Bill, and Camille.  It is so much fun to see the kids playing together.  And the chicken wasn't bad either!

I wonder if this is where Trey got the idea that picking a bunch of 

my parsley off the plant was a good idea. 

I love how they watch each other. 

Sweet kids...they just melt us.

I took off the morning from work one day to stay home with Julie.   Maternity leave with two kids under two has kind of been kicking her ass, and when you throw in a baby who won't sleep out of your arms and a toddler who is going through the whiny stage, it's a miracle that she functions at all.  I got to sit and hold Case for three hours while Julie slept upstairs.  I'll take that kind of break from work any time!  (Especially when I can give the baby back and go home to my almost-3-year-old!)

Case at almost 3 months 

I don't know what Julie is talking about when she says this kid never sleeps.

(Just kidding, Julie) 

To be honest, I forgot how boring this stage of motherhood is.  

But he sure is cute!

There are many things I like about our new house and our move, but at the top of the list right now is our backyard.  It is way more kid friendly and so much better for Trey than our old backyard.  We have been having a lot of fun outside and eating on the deck.  The garden is growing, Trey loves playing basketball (well....watching Randy play basketball), and Bailey spends most of his time outside.  It's awesome.

Last weekend,  Randy was at my disposal on Saturday because he was getting ready to leave for two nights.  I dragged him to music class in the morning (which he loooooooooovvvvves), then we went to the park, and then we met Adam and Jenny for lunch.  Later that day we went to Dave's mom's house for a dinner to see him, his mom, and the ladies who we traveled with in China in 2008.  Dave was gearing up to go to Seattle to throw out the first pitch for the Mariners' game (Randy's boys' weekend).  It was so fun to see everyone and have them meet Trey for the almost first time (meeting him at 6 weeks old doesn't really count because he's just a little different now).

Randy and Trey at music class 

Me with DJ Lance Rock at the park 

Throwing pine cones in the pond 

again and again and again...

Trey, Randy, Dave's coach John, and Dave partying in the street 

Practicing his first pitch

Here's the official footage of Dave's First Pitch.  So cool!

On a book note, I am reading a really good book called The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe (I know, I know, I'm often drawn to mothers-dying-of-cancer books.  I can't help it.).  What I really love about this book is the discussions of the books they are having and how it makes me want to read a whole list of books I've never even heard of before.  One part I really liked is when he talks about why he doesn't like e-books.  

This is what he says:

One of the many things I love about bound books is their sheer physicality.  Electronic books live out of sight and out of mind.  But printed books have body, presence.  Sure, sometimes they'll elude you by hiding in improbable places: in a box full of old picture frames, say, or in the laundry basket wrapped in a sweatshirt.  But at other times they'll confront you, and you'll literally stumble over some tomes you hadn't thought about in weeks or years.  I often seek electronic books, but they never come after me.  They may make me feel, but I can't feel them.  They are all soul with no flesh, no texture, and no weight.  They can get in your head but can't whack you upside it.  

So, so true.  I know a lot of people love their e-readers and I honestly don't judge for that.  I just know that I am not ready for one and I can't see myself being ready for a long, long time.   I am also listening to the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson.  I find it fascinating.  Right now I'm in the section where Apple is just getting started in the mid-70's.  So amazing to think about time pre-computer, pre-internet, pre-smartphone.  Our kids are growing up in a different world, that's for certain.  

Today was Sesame Street Live and Trey was so excited.  He's really into these live performances after going to Yo Gabba Live and he watches Yo Gabba live, Sesame live, Mickey Mouse live, and Max and Ruby live on YouTube on the iPad.  He also loves to perform as DJ Lance Rock doing the intro to Yo Gabba Live and runs all around the room doing his routine.  Every time I try to get video of him, he stops.  I'll get him some day.  

Today has been a great Saturday.  Trey slept until 6:15, Randy made breakfast, he went to music class with us AGAIN, we went to Sesame Street Live, and now we are getting ready for Adam and his girls to come over for dinner.  I love sunny Saturdays.  

The school year is winding down, although it doesn't feel that way with my current workload and my class at PSU.  The weeks are going by way too quickly, but that means summer is just around the corner. I can't wait to spend summer with my boy who is going to turn THREE next month.  I can hardly believe it.