Baking Brownies

Last week was a brownie week. It was necessary! However it was a "patience" learning experience for Lauren. When we were done mixing, the question started, "Are they ready yet?" I answered no and it was "AWWWWEEE!" So she went to have her nightly bath. I couldn't get her pajamas on fast enough and she was "Ready, yet?" as she went streaking to the oven. When the timer went off it was "READY!!!!!" But then she didn't understand that they would be 350 degrees when they came out and needed to cool. That was the longest 15 minutes ever!

Playgroup

This week we were at Katie's house....or Logan and Ellie's depending on who you ask! The weather was decent so we got out the inflatable jump house! Hours of fun. In fact Lauren had to be packed off kicking and screaming!

Here's Lauren waiting for her turn, they could only do it 3 at a time.....shockingly patient for once!

In between "jumping time" as Lauren called it, they took turns on bikes, scooters and wagons. Lauren trying to pull Brianna and Anna. She did really well, until she fell flat on her back! Notice no shoes....that didn't help. She didn't want to take the time to put the shoes back on after jumping!

Falling down in the bounce house. The action shots are tooooooo blurry!

Love this one of Cassie's hair.

Oregon Beach

Last weekend daddy and mommy went to Chinook Winds for the Oregon Hunters statewide auction. Lauren spent the weekend with Meema and Papa and had a blast. She got to see Benny Beaver, who she can't stop talking about. Here are the only pics I took from the weekend. Us women went for a walk on the beach when the guys went golfing......it was actually a nice morning!!

The mussels, starfish and urchin.

A closer shot....

The rock that Nana was infatuated with! It looked like it would be a cool fabric!

Playing catch-up

I realized I haven't posted for awhile so I thought I'd use this to catch-up. Since getting back from our Oregon trip, we've been busy with projects around the house. We had a swell in the backyard that made the yard not as user friendly. So we had dirt brought in and filled that in....now we just have to wait for the grass to grow. The previous deck hadn't been treated in the 5 years it was there, so we had to replaced the boards and stain it. They weather has finally cooperated to get the second coat of stain on and it should finish curing today with all of the sun! Today and tomorrow are forcasted to reach 70! We decided against a garden since the deer are living in our backyard. They literally are sleeping on our drain field at night.

The weather hasn't been great so we've been stuck inside until now. The book collection was getting redundant. And when Lauren is saying the same sentences as you are reading them....you know you've read the book too many times. We made it to Goodwill and picked up some new ones. Not sure how long those we'll last though! She likes to look through her books and "read" to herself. She was exhausted afterwards.


Lauren's vocabulary is getting better and better. She is also Miss Independent and has started to insist on dressing herself after baths. Some things end up backwards, but oh well. Oh and she has learned how to open the refrigerator and sliding glass door on her own; 2 things I wish she never would have learned. Thank goodness for our alarm system.

Dance Shoes

I thought this was silly. The other morning she got up and put on her shoes and this is what we got:

Dance Shoes Take 1:

And the fabulous pose/dance.....maybe tap classes are in our future???

Take 3:

Easter outfits!

Nana Julie came up with a super cute dress this year. Cousin Sydney's was coordinating...and Cousin Sam color coordinated.

Cousin Sydney found one of the golden eggs and walked away with this Easter basket full of goodies. Lauren was so excited for her and said "Wow Izzy, Egg!" When Lauren says "Sydney" it sounds like "Izzy!" She patted her on the back and gave her a "good job!" Super Cute. Cousin Sam wasn't as happy for his sister (good old fashioned sibling rivalry) and he refused to smile for the picture. So instead of having a pouty face in the picture, Auntie E put her foot down and told her that he didn't need to be in the picture if he couldn't smile. I know, so mean, right? So unfortunately, we don't have a picture of all 3 in their matching outfits.....again!

After dinner, Lauren had a wardrobe change into this little dress. I made it for her for Easter last year. However....it was way too big. But it fit this year! I think it turned out pretty good for being only my third garmet. It says "Happy Easter" all over it, so it's only good for one day out of the year!

Myrtle Point trip for Easter

Last weekend was a busy holiday. We headed down to Myrtle Point from Mema and Papa's on Saturday morning. Once there, we celebrated early birthdays for Samuel and Sydney. They are both in May, but we aren't going to see them....so I thought "why not?!" Lauren liked to help!

I had made Sydney an apron for her and a matching one for her American Girl doll. There were some other goodies in her box as well.

Samuel got a couple Hunter Dan things and Uncle Jake went and picked him up some Star Wars Legos....which much to Auntie E's surprise were a hit!

Then they got a couple of games to share.

Easter morning came early. Papa said that the kids aren't up that early on Christmas! It was 6:30 a.m. and I'm sure that Lauren had a lot to do with it! The Easter Bunny brought Lauren a new Bunny Sing-a-Ma-Jig......weird little creature.

And a butterfly net....or as Lauren calls them "flutterflies".

Then it was off to the Elks Club for brunch and the Easter Egg Hunt. Getting ready outside on the golf course.

It was just about nap time and she was having a hard time restraining herself but once the other kids were off, she got into it.

They were mostly in the deep grass.

I asked her stop and give me a smile....this is what I got! On a mission.

Her basket with som of the eggs in it. She ended up with a few hardboiled eggs, 2 with candy and 1 special one that was slipped in from a special lady with $10 in it!

Looking for more eggs. You can see the other older kids way down the fairway. The area was pretty picked over but she wasn't giving up!

And low and behold there were more!

Each year she always finds one that color coordinates with her outfit!

Showing Daddy "More Egg!"

Still searching for the infamous golden egg.

Oh well, maybe next year!

Reading with Gram Gram

Last weekend we visited Oregon. Gram Gram was staying at Mema and Papa's while we were there. So Lauren and her got to spend some quality time together. Gram Gram read her Clifford the Big Red Dog, a favorite of Lauren's!

Benny Beaver!

Last weekend Lauren attended another Beaver baseball game on Friday. This time she sat with daddy and mommy behind the dugout...yes, the netting covers our seats now. She is always concerned where Benny Beaver is. "Where's Benny?" is what is asked all game long. I mean who really cares about the game at that point! And then pretty soon she answers herself and says "There he is!"

It was warm to start out with. And yes, we applied sunscreen this time. But it was an evening game and she already had her nap for the day! But Benny was out, so we had to say hi. First she went in for the "five".

Then it was time for a hug. But she wouldn't stand there long enough for a pic!

During the ninth inning....the best part of the game...Lauren decided she'd had enough sitting. The game was approaching 2 hours. So Lauren and mommy went outside to stretch the legs. Much to our surprise, Benny was outside too!! Another "five"....

And this time we stood next to Benny for a pic but with hesitation....never taking her eyes off him!

We were standing next to the bullpen when the winning run was scored. Lauren started whooping with the boys as they ran onto the field. It was a good night to be a Beaver!

Playgroup fun!

These are some fun pics from playgroup a couple weeks ago. Lauren and her friend Breanna were having a blast in the ball pit. Breanna is that greets everyone on arrival and the one that when it's time to go, hugs everyone. Well, now Lauren has added kissing....gotta love her heart! Their static cling hair was cracking us all up. The pics don't show it well, but it was WAY out there!