A slice of life-in-Portland pie: Busy week

So quickly I have fallen behind in my blogging duties! Sorry for the delay in posting something new. This past week was busy and by evening I was too tired. Now I have some catching up to do. This past week we went to the zoo with some friends, went downtown and watched the Red Bull Flugtag (which was crazy - people create man-powered flying contraptions and launch them off the end of a runway into the Willamette River - very entertaining as you can imagine!), and spent a gorgeous day at the beach. The beach day trip was an attempt to console two very disappointed girls (and their parents were bummed too) when our trip to Seattle to visit Auntie M and family was postponed due to cousin Nate's 72 hour fever. After a trip to the doctor, it seems that it is just a bug he's dealing with but the weekend wouldn't have been very relaxing for Molly and Sous. We'll look forward to a visit in September.

As school is nearing, I am seeing more and more of a third grader and kindergartener in the girls. Last week we were going to take Lewis for a walk and Julia had the idea of Emma and her pushing their doll strollers along. I agreed and we set off. They were having a great time pretending they were out on an exciting trek with their babies. As we approached the park, Julia noticed a few of her friends from school playing there. She quickly came over to me and said, "Mom, can you push this for me? I really want to walk Lewis." I understood her true motive - "I can't let my friends see me pushing a baby stroller!" It was one of those times when I saw how grown up she is becoming. That along with the, "Mooommmmmmm's" and the gloomy glares.

Emma has been full of 5 -year- old lately. She is very animated and loves to talk with her imaginary prince and princess friends. One afternoon she spent over an hour in the backyard playing, by herself, what appeared to be a quite emotional meeting, parting, and rescuing with the prince and princess. All this while wearing her swimsuit, pink fuzzy dress up shoes, and one knee pad. She has an imagination, that one.......