Ballet Class

For a while now, Bryan and I have been talking about introducing Chloë to some sort of classroom setting.  We want to make sure our kids know how to respect adults that they aren't necessarily related to.  So we considered swimming lessons, or various sports, and finally decided on ballet class.  It was a five day "camp," and an hour every day seemed like a good introduction. 

I had been collecting ballet stuff at garage sales, so last week we were ready.  She was really excited.  I think going to see Swan Lake last Spring might have influenced that excitement.

Her fine, wispy hair was a challenge to keep up. 

Lots of hair clips and hairspray helped.

These pictures are from her third day in class.  She was so eager to learn.

I was so proud of how well she paid attention and listened to instruction.

Of course she's still pretty rough around the edges, but not bad for a kid that turned three last month.

This video is from the second day.  I wish I would have waited until the fifth day, because I was actually pretty impressed with how much she improved in a few short days.  Kids are such sponges.


She was sad when I told her that ballet was all done.  I'm so glad she enjoyed it, and is already looking forward to next time.

New Couches

After almost 7 years of marriage, we bought new couches!  Aside from our bedroom furniture, it's really the only furniture we've ever bought new.  They feel pretty fancy.

We have been talking about buying new couches for a while now.  We liked the ones we had, but we knew having a cream colored couch was just not practical with kids around.  So we did lots and lots of research.  We wanted something that wasn't just plywood and cheap materials, but we really didn't want to spend our life savings on a couple of pieces of living room furniture.

We found Stanton Couches, out of Oregon, and loved the way they built their stuff.  We kept going back to Style 109, but knew we wanted a medium gray.  After looking over hundreds of fabric swatches, we decided on "Expectation Heather."  So we ordered these on faith.  We hadn't seen more than a picture online, so we were praying that we wouldn't be disappointed.  They were delivered a week ago, and we sure do love them.

I love the sleek lines.  I'm hoping they last us a good 10 years.  We'll see how they hold up with kids jumping on them, eating on them, and expelling bodily fluids on them. 

Smith Rock

Our last stop in Oregon was at Smith Rock State Park. We grabbed some picnic stuff at Trader Joes, and had a wonderful late lunch.

Then we went exploring!

Chloë and Josiah threw rocks in the Crooked River.

It was warm.  We got tired.

And then we left and drove back to Idaho.  Thus concludes the extensive posts about our trip to Oregon last month.

Bend

It was so wonderful spending a couple of nights in Bend, and spending some time with my best friend.  Shannon and I have been friends since we were babies, and I am so blessed by her special friendship.

I got to meet her beautiful little Selah.  She looks so much like Shannon's baby pictures.

A lot has changed in 25 years.

Shannon's parents were in Bend too, and it was so good to see them.  Tom and Donna really are like my second set of parents.  Donna and my mom were roommates a while back.

Chloë and Donna were having some great conversations.

We stayed with Shannon's sister Laura, who hosted a big brunch on Father's Day. 

Tom and Selah.  Tom is the man that married Bryan and me almost seven years ago.  He and my dad have been friends since college.

My brother Samuel was still vacationing from Denver.  Elaina loves his tickly whiskers.

Josiah and Chloë are four months apart, and had a lot of fun together.

We tried to get a couple of group pictures.  It's surprisingly difficult with four squirmy children.

Elaina and Selah are 10 months apart.  It's crazy that Shannon and I have been friends since we were this age.

Beautiful.

I sure wish they lived closer.

Oregon Coast Aquarium

While we were in Oregon (a month ago now, I know...), we went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport.  We found a coupon for admission here, and if you know me, you know I love something even more if I got a good deal.  There were so many fun and awesome things to see.

After the aquarium, we went to the old historic bayfront of Newport.  We went to Rogue Ales Public House for dinner, then got some Tillamook ice cream and found the sea lions.  Well, one sea lion, anyway.

Yes, this was the best group shot we got.