December 2011

We ended 2011 settling into our new home in New Hampshire.  We are getting to know our new community in Peterborough and having a grand time exploring our neighborhood and farm.  While last year was exciting -- traveling 3,000 miles to visit family amid a big snow storm -- we are glad to be near our families for the holidays!

Cadel and Senja enjoy some outside play time.

Cadel helps pluck brussels sprouts from the stem -- we are enjoying the last of the fall harvest.

Cadel and Senja help with the holiday baking.

Merry Christmas to All! 

November

Stacey, Cadel and Senja filled their last few weeks in Portland visiting local parks and spending time with friends.

Senja solidified her roots as a real Pacific Northwest tree hugger. 

Cadel got in his final cross race of the season and was happy to have a nice muddy course to slog through.

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October

Ah, October.  Lots of fun stories this month.  First, we have been reading "Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys" quite a bit.  It's the first story in the "Curious George" collection.  For those who don't know, Curious George is one of eight monkeys belonging to Mother Pamplemoose.  Stacey has taken to responding to the salutation "Mother Pamplemoose".  And, she uses this to her advantage, finding that Cadel (who prefers to be called "Curious George" most of the time) is a much nicer big brother to Senja when we call her "Baby Ginny" (the youngest offspring of Mother Pamplemoose and therefore George's youngest sibling). 

Senja is a bundle of enthusiasm.  She gets so excited and is just bursting with energy.  Unable to jump, run, or speak English words, she often bends her knees (as if about to jump), then springs up straightening her knees and stretching up her neck (as if she is jumping, but her feet never leave the ground) and making a loud "Urmph" sound.  Quite hilarious, really.

Summary of our month:  Cadel has a grand time as school; Stacey and Senja go to music class (where Senja dances by rocking back and forth and occassionally rocks her head too far to one side so she topples over); Stacey runs the Portland Marathon; Halloween costumes are successfully made by Stacey.  And, we had a splendid visit from Oma and Gimpa (and they survived a snowy trip to Crater Lake -- just a little foreshadowing of the storm they would surrender to in New England upon their return home).  Oh, and we started packing (that minor detail).

A trip to the Oregon coast and the Aquarium inspired our Halloween costumes.  Cadel and Justin at the coast create the starfish pose.

Cadel the Octopus, Senja the Starfish, and Stacey and Justin the Sea Anemones.

 

We thought it would be fun to carve a pumpkin and put Senja in it.  I don't think "fun" would be the word she would have chosen.

September

September brought lots of sunny weather, allowing Cadel and Senja to continue their favorite summer activity of running naked through the sprinkler in the backyard.  Cadel started preschool and is settling in well to a few mornings a week on his own.  Our garden came through with a bumper crop of tomatoes.  It didn't take long for Senja to learn to pick them right off the vine so she spent much of the month covered in tomato juice.

We went camping at Crater Lake and did a few hikes that gave us amazing views of the lake.  It is quite impressive. 

 Senja contemplates her place in the world at the Japanese Garden.

 

Crowder (08/25/2001 - 09/02/2011)

Crowder came to Stacey when he was 8 weeks old to be raised as service dog for Canine Companions for Independence.  For a year and  half Crowder went everywhere with Stacey -- to work every day, to restaurants, on airplanes, to the movies.  Then, Stacey gave him back to CCI, as promised, so he could attend Advanced Training and go on to be service dog.  Crowder decided that was not his future and requested to be returned home (in other words, he failed out of school).  And, hence, their journey resumed.  Many biking and hiking trips in Utah followed, romping around with lots of friends, both human and canine.  

Justin entered Stacey's life, and Crowder highly approved.  His next journey brought him to New England where he lived at the farm in New Hampshire, in Maine at "fun Billy and Katie's house", and in Boston.  Justin and Stacey got married and Crowder escorted them out of the church. 

Shortly thereafter, another family member would arrive.  Crowder has a few questions about this.

He and Cadel became fast friends.  Though Crowder proved to be an unreliable babysitter....
Cadel:  "Listen, I'll give you some ear scratches if you let me go."

 

 Crowder:  "No.  I was told to keep you on the carpet."

 

Cadel:  "Woo-hoo.  I'm free!"

Crowder:  "I crumbled. He promised me ear scratches. I couldn't resist."

 

Crowder enjoyed a great year with us in New Hampshire before we packed up again for an adventure out west.  Good thing he is adaptable, happily following along wherever we go.

And then it was time for another conversation about a new family member.  Cadel and Crowder listen intently.

Crowder, once again, is just fine with the new addition.  In fact, he is honored that she dressed up as a puppy for Halloween.  He's not so sure about the little dragon...

Always up for an adventure, Crowder joins us biking, running, and playing in the Oregon rain. 

On Crowder's last day with us, Senja gave him a pat on the head and Cadel said, "I would like for him to stay here."  So would we.

August

We got back from our trip to New England and the August adventures didn't slow down.  Senja turned 1, we spent a beautiful weekend in Leavenworth, WA at a friend's wedding, Stacey ran the 200 mile Hood to Coast relay, and we fit in a few "Portland-y" events in between time.

The Soap Box Derby at the park near our house is an epic event.  Adult racers zoom down the roads of Mt. Tabor, an extinct volcano.  Cadel got very upset when one of the cars almost went off the road, but managed to stay in the race.  We thought he was scared, but it turned out he was upset that the fence was broken.  Volunteers fixed it and happiness returned. 

We rode in the Bridges Bike Pedal, a bike ride over all the bridges in Portland.  Some 35,000 bikers hit the roads for the ride.  We started with Senja in the seat on the bike and Cadel in the trailer, then switched halfway through.

Hurray Biking!

 Did we lose Senja?  No, she's asleep in the trailer.

 Yes, 35,000 is A LOT of bikers.

Aug 15 (Senja 1st Birthday)

Senja turned one on August 15th.  We celebrated the occasion with a backyard BBQ and a day at the beach down by the river.

It's always fun to compare a little bit.  Here are photos of Senja and Cadel, both taken on their 1st Birthdays.

Senja Anastasia, 8/15/2011

 Cadel Alexander, 06/07/2009

Here we are enjoying a beautiful day at the beach at the confluence of the Columbia River and Willamette River. 

Cadel gives Senja her birthday present.

Happy Birthday Senja!

 

Jul 24-Aug 7(visit to NE)

We spent the last week of July and first week of August visiting family and friends in New England.  We had a grand time in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Boston.

Stacey, Cadel, and Senja spent the first week in Connecticut while Justin worked at his company's office in Peterborough, NH.  We were all able to spend some time in Peterborough and we are getting things in place to make that our next home. 

We had Senja Baptized while we were in Connecticut.  Here she smiles for the camera as Stacey and Godmother Marissa get her dressed.

 Not a single bit of protest as the water is poured thanks to Godmother Marissa and Godfather Niall keeping her entertained.

 After the Baptism with Cadel and cousins Zach, Lindsey, and Travis.

At the Farm Cadel holds cousin Andreas back from the combine. 

 We were happy to time our trip to be at the farm for Chuck's annual birthday gathering.  Here Chuck leads the horses and a wagon full of family and friends for a tour of the farm.

Cadel goes on his first pony ride.  He enjoyed it, although he was eager to get back to the tractor. 

 Cadel and Andreas working hard moving lumber (well, at least Andreas is working hard). 

Although not graceful...

 Senja made it in to the little car!