Rattails...

Do not underestimate this species!

The Rat Tail is the sacred cousin to the mullet. It is found most commonly among male adolescents.

Within the Rat Tail species, there are two major classifications: The Dumb Bully (on the left) and the Techie Dork(on the right). They have NOTHING in common, yet they still share a unique bond unknowingly...the Ratullet.

P.S. Nice pants, Bully

I'm just saying...

(Click on Fin's picture for a better view of her progress. "Splinter" might be a good nickname...)

baby shower

Tonight some of my girlfriends threw me a great baby shower. I wasn't expecting a shower for our second child but one of them said to me, "...every baby deserves a shower." So nice!!! Yummy food, great company and spoiled with gifts. Is there a better way to spend a Saturday night?! Thanks ladies!
So here are the thoughtful things Tucker received.

(According to the polls I'm going to try out the name Tucker for size... So far so good, I haven't slipped up once and dropped an F-bomb.)

ME OH MY! You mean to tell me this fat lady has another 5 weeks of pregnancy left!

This week I pulled out the pack and play for a friends little girl to nap in. I thought I might as well leave it up since the little guy is soon to be on his way.

Boy did Finley love it!!!

She thought it was her own private little bounce house. She actually refused to get out. I'm a little doubtful she will learn the concept of sharing before her baby brother gets here.

Are we in for some fun times or what!?!

Halloween

...I'm a kid and all I want to eat is candy. Just candy, candy, candy.
And the only really clear thought I have as a kid is get candy.

So this year when I heard the concept of Halloween my brain
could hardly even process the idea.

I was like, "What is this? What did you say?
Someone is giving out candy? Who's giving out candy?
EVERYONE WE KNOW
is just giving out candy?

"I gotta be part of this! Take me with you!
I'll do anything they want. . .

I can wear that.
(adapted from Jerry Seinfelds HALLOWEEN)

Well that's about how it went this year. Trick-or-Treating was a big hit at our house. I didn't really think that she would be that into it. But boy was I wrong. We only went to 5 houses but by the time we were done she was dragging her treat bag on the ground behind her it was so full. Right when we got home she climbed up on the chair and dumped it all out. She was in HEAVEN!
Oh, the joys of childhood.

These are some of her friends that we went with. We met up with a couple more along the way. I wouldn't say she completely understood the concept of trick-or-treating because she loved to put her candy in the other kids treat bags.

Some other fun things we did this week were going to the trunk-or-treat and carving a pumpkin. We LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!!

A couple of Chick farmers and their Chick!

Finley and her friend Zadie

What's in a Name?

Since we're having a tough time naming our soon-to-be-born baby boy we're opening it up to the masses. There's a Poll over to the right with a few names from the short list. However, if you'd like to suggest a name add it to the comments section of this post. For the integrity of this poll please try and vote only once... even if you are pulling for Hank or you think it might be funny if we actually named our kid Tucker just to see how that might morph into something more "creative" on the school playground.

A Day in the Life of our little Apple Picker!

Last Thursday we drove to a darling apple farm down the road from our house and here is the play-by-play of what happened.

Finley loves to "smell" flowers. Glad these weren't poisonous.

She was so excited to see the real-life farm animals like the ones she reads about. Her favorite are the sheep it's one of the only animal sounds she can make... "BAAAA."

This is her looking at the "GIANT" sheep while it was laying in the hay.

This is the sheep coming to get a closer look at Finley.

This is her reaction to the advancing sheep... maybe it's not her favorite animal.

She had the most fun running through the hay maze. She went through it 3 times!
No GIANT sheep in here.

She also loved the wagon ride out to the apple trees, can't you tell.

She only picked the rotten apples to taste test.
What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger... right?!

She was adamant about carrying the apple bag ALL BY HERSELF! They all made it home but not without some serious bruises.

Family Photo Flop...

It's hard enough when taking family pictures to have everyone in the photo smiling, eyes open and looking at the camera. Add to that an uncooperative mother nature and you've got trouble... and one frustrated Mom with unyielding expectations. This weekend we tried to take our yearly family portrait, but it just wasn't happening. I found everyone semi-matching clothes that fit (I realize I'm quickly growing out of everything but my bathrobe, and who wears those out in public). I planned the photo shoot during "happy hour", you know the one hour between lunch and nap time. I thought of a great location and loaded up the car. The only thing I didn't take into account was the sun. I mean come on!!!! How often is the sun out in Portland and BLAZING down it brightest rays? Typical gray skies would have been perfect lighting but no, we might as well have been standing under a fluorescent heat lamp. Also try looking cute after setting an auto timer and running into place while 7 months pregnant. At least Chad's so easy going and in love with the idea of taking family pictures, RIGHT?! Well the proof is in the pudding. This is what we got!

The Pumpkin Patch

Last Saturday we took a hay ride out to the Pumpkin Patch. Finley loved not having to be buckled into her car seat. She found out quickly that pumpkins make perfect little seats and sat on a bunch before we left. She tried to carry her own pumpkin but every couple steps got to distracted, there were so many to choose from.

Home Sweet Home?

If anyone is confused about when and/or where we're moving... take a number. In the last 6 months or so my work has changed their mind 3 times about whether or not we're moving. If you would have asked me two weeks ago if we were moving I would have said, "Yep, 99.9% sure it's a done deal. We're headed to SLC." However, that assurance I got from work has since changed and the new message is that we're staying in Portland. As gorgeous as it is up here I have to admit I was really looking forward to being around family and friends again... plus with a 2nd baby on the way and a couple of teenage nieces I was looking forward to some babysitting a-la-family-discount. When we originally found out we were moving (or so we thought) it looked like we'd be home to see the Utes have yet another schizophrenic season in which they qualify for a bowl game (and win giving us hope of greater things next year) but basically play 500-ball with a couple of big wins but also a few head-scratching losses. Instead now we're lost in Pac-10 country where schools of any consequence are hours away and who can root for a team with uniforms as ugly as Oregon? Or the other possibility is Oregon State who handed the Utes their first loss of the season (plus a few devastating injuries). So if you're looking for us anytime soon you'll find us in Oregon... under an umbrella... with wet socks... walking a dog with muddy paws... wondering if work is going to change their mind again. Oh yeah, one more thing, our house is still for sale. Selling it will make us more nimble (that's something I haven't been called in quite a while).

5 things i love about fall

We took this picture last year when we went to the Portland Children's Museum.

Autumn is my favorite season of the year.
Here are some of my fall favorites.

1. window shopping downtown while sipping a starbucks caramel apple cider
2. making pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.
3. picking apples (my favorite are honey crisp) from the apple farm and then making caramel apples
4. taking pictures of the fall leaves
5. hot chocolate and hayrides out to pick pumpkins

Ponytails

Another milestone... today was the first time we tried ponytails and they worked! The "Up Do" only lasted about 30 minutes before she figured it out. Cute while it lasted.

Silent No More

It has recently come to my attention that my husband loves blogging just as much as I do. Up until now he has been a silent blogger. A "Chick" past time no longer Chad has lots to say. So check the source from here on out to eliminate "author confusion". I probably won't be writing about body hair or sports highlights. But you all know who will. Happy Reading!

The Trade Off

Every Saturday for years Chad and I have argued about how to spend our one free day of the week. Chad thinks that Saturday is the day to do all of the housework and errands (When in reality I think by "housework" he means watch 6 hours of sports) . I say NO WAY! Saturdays are for fun and watching sports on TV is not fun! So after years of debate we have decided to compromise and make a couple of Saturdays a month days to get out and live.

One of our favorite spots is a place called Multnomah Falls. Its an incredible 400ft waterfall on the banks of the Columbia River. There is a trail that you can hike up that takes you to the top. If you ever come up to the Northwest we'll take you there! We spent last weekend up there hiking around. It was great to get out into nature and away from all the football games on TV!

Baby Nemo

This house is becoming baby central! Fin just got her first little baby. She LOVES her new little friend.

A Dinnertime Breakthrough

Most dinnertimes around here are disasters. Finley ends up flinging almost her entire meal either across the table, on the floor or all over us. She is a DIFFICULT eater. I told her pediatrician that meal time is one of the most stress-filled times of the day at our house. He reassured me that she would get all of the nutrients she needed if I provided her with options at mealtime and a balanced diet. Some days she can get away with a lick of an orange and a bite of toast, while other days she seems to eat everything I put in front of her.

Saturday was a good night though so I thought I would document it. Not only did she eat most of her food but she also learned to drink out of a cup on her own. Little miss independent. Now if she could only learn how to brush her own teeth and change her own diaper we would be set!

Oh Sundays...

In our house Sundays are quite possibly the most stressful days of the week. We meet for church from 12:30-3:30pm, so nap time is ruined! We take turns spending most of the three hours out in the hall trying to keep Finley occupied. She knocks on all of the doors and loves to jump around on the stairs. Making the most noise possible seems to be her number one priority. Yesterday I pulled Chad out of class and we left 20 min. early. I thought I was going to go into labor if I had to hold onto her for one more minute.

I know most parents go through these years with similar stories. But unfortunately it doesn't make the reality of it any easier to deal with. After church she is more wired then ever. For all we know she is sneeking Red Bull into her sippy cup. These are some pics of her right after dinner. The house is a disaster and she has figured out how to undress herself. She my little energizer bunny. She keeps going and going and going...

Dresing up is fun for Who?

We all know who has the most fun with this activity. Poor Wrigley, this is usually a daily ritual around here. The attention doesn't really seem to bother Wrig much. When she's had enough for one day she'll just get up and walk away.

Good Morning

***Disclaimer: Due to the amateur filming and editing of this video, viewing may be extremely boring and only appeal to grandparents. View at your discretion.

My Little Surfer Girl

Every day is a new adventure with this little girl. She is fearless, crazy, and more reckless than ever. Its a miracle how durable these little creatures really are.

I remember how worried I was with her in the beginning. Every little movement made with care. If only knew what was in store. In one afternoon she hit her lip on the rocker which immediately started to swell and bleed, banged into the corner of the door while she was running at full speed, and touched the oven door while it was open (no serious damage done there thank goodness) when I was taking the french bread out.

Sometimes I swear I witness these accidents in slow motion. Most times I can't seem to move fast enough to help her avert the danger. Bottom line is the kid never sits still!! Do boys really have more energy then this? Some days I don't know how I will keep up with 2 of them.

No Way...I did it!

I feel like I have just finished a marathon. I 've read over 1,700 pages in the past 2 weeks and I have to admit, I loved it! Mind you it wasn't the most stimulating reading ever, but goal accomplished.

I told myself that I was going to FINISH 1 entire book by the end of the summer, and now I have finished 3. This is no small feet by my standards. What next, maybe a little house work, after 2 weeks of slacking it sure could use it. (I'm told that I have to teach myself the concept of moderation.)

If anyone has some great recommendations for a book that they have just loved, send them my way. I may be about 25 years late but I tell you this reading thing has turned into one of my new favorite pastimes.

Family

THE ORVINS

I love that I am part of such a diverse and wonderful family. Which has grown by4 people since this photo was taken. Melinda-Bryce's wife, Stacey-Devin's wife and Sarah and Finley are missing, and 2 babies are on their way. A little boy to the Cannons family and a little girl to the Orivns (Bryce & Melinda) Each person is so unique and talented. I truly admire so many of there great qualities. I love you all so much.