A little venting...

It has been 13 days since Xander left for his river trip in the Grand Canyon and the boys and I miss him terribly.  

Have I mentioned that I miss him terribly?

He is my rock, my best-friend, my inspiration and he isn't here.  It is a big bummer and it has been really hard with out him.  We haven't been separated for this long in 3 years (his last river trip) and now he has left not only me and Elliot, but Mr. Miles too.  My patience is running super low and the boys feel it.  I am doing my best to keep calm and collected, but then the reality sets in.  

I have 2 wonderful and beautiful boys who have the energy of a group of hummingbirds.  They fly around constantly, buzzing and looking for the next best thing.  They barely stop to take a breath.  Am I exaggerating?  Maybe a little, but not much (at least that is how I am feeling after 2 weeks.)  I am tired and ready for him to be here for support and for my sanity.

On the upside, Xander deserves this trip and is having a wonderful time.  He loves rafting and hasn't been down the Colorado River in  years.  He asked if he could go and I said, "yes" knowing that this was going to be taxing.  But I said, "yes" because I know that this would rejuvenate him, that this trip is a trip of a "life time", that this is one of his passions and b/c I love him.

We have 5 more days until Xander comes HOME.  He returns on July 4th, so the fireworks will mean so much more to me this year. 

Until then I will be counting down the days on Elliot's calendar like we have been doing every night since he left. 

All queens should wear crowns

As Elliot watched the trail of ants marching in and out of our borax/sugar concoction he asked, "Mom, why are the ants eating out of that dish with liquid stuff?" 

Me: "So they can take the food back to their queen and colony. Then they won't come back." 

Elliot: "Does the queen wear a crown?" 

Me: "I hope so!"

So innocent and sweet, "does the queen wear a crown?"  I love it!

Playmobil & Strawberry Fields Forever...

When Xander was young he had an obsession with Playmobils. This inherit gene was past on to Elliot and now Miles.  Miles watches Elliot (& Xander for that matter) with alert eyes and copies their every move.  Miles can make the little figures fly, talk, and hurdle in to one another as if he has been playing with these little guys for years. Amazing this play starts so young.

On another note (yet something the Brown men obsess about) strawberries are in.  Though we have quiet a few in our garden, it is our family tradition to pick our own at Kruger Farms.  We ventured out to Sauvie Island with our baskets, empty stomachs and pails in tow.  

We had a blast, of course, and the kids were in strawberry heaven.  Miles and Elliot were the strawberry czars.  They ate them faster than we could pick so we had to pick up the pace. They sure know how to keep us parents in line.

Playmobils all in a row
howdy folks
Miles picking from one of our strawberry patches
Elliot picking from one of Kruger Farms strawberry patches

yummy
Picking (& sampling) w/Elliot
Check out our score, yo!
So, what will we do w/our 20 pounds of strawberries?  Traditionally we make jam, but that is Xander's department and he left for the canyon today (more posts about that coming soon.)  

So far we have made strawberry and mint juice (served as is our on the rocks w/a splash of rum), smoothies, strawberry and vanilla ice cream yumminess, and these below.  I got the recipe for the crust from Angry Chicken and filled them with our strawberries.  Baked it for 15 minutes and shabang.  These were good warm with ice cream for dessert and yummy a la cart for breakfast in the morning.

A strawberry tart of sorts.

I think a strawberry-rhubarb pie is next!

Early Father's Day Gift

Xander is off on an adventure in a couple of days.  He has the opportunity to guide a white water rafting trip on the Colorado River, in the Grand Canyon, with the company he used to work for.  When he asked me if it was "o.k" for him to go on the trip - I could not say NO, of course.  I have been on a couple of those trips and know how special, breathtaking, life altering and beautiful those trips are.  I am glad he can go.

However, he is now leaving a couple of other people in the family who are very sad and who do not understand why daddy is going away for 3 weeks (oh, yes, this is a 15 day trip with a couple days on both ends.)  Elliot the other day said he was , "canceling the trip" and has been wanting to spend every minute with Xander.

Elliot really wanted to make Xander a gift before he goes.  We went to a local craft store where he picked out a wood frame to paint.  Elliot had a vision and went with it.  I did not help him with any of it and I am so proud of the job he did.  Elliot was focused, patient and meticulous while painting.  I was painting at the same time, but on canvas, so Elliot asked to paint a picture for Xander as well.  His love of blueberries came out with his version of "the blueberry bushes in our backyard, because daddy and I lOVE blueberries."  

Elliot loves his daddy.

Painting the frame
Opening the gifts
                The finished product.  

The framed middle picture is "me and daddy                                                                                                     with our swimming flippers on."
Blueberry bushes on canvas

E & M Videos

It has been a long time since we posted any videos, so here are 2 in a row.  Elliot and Miles love to sing and dance whenever they get a chance - especially if daddy is in the room facilitating such a thing.

Miles is talking up a storm, but we can not understand 98% of what he is talking about.  Can you?

Mr. Miles

Miles's personality is coming out more and more every day.  He is funny, silly, and loves to copy Elliot any chance he gets.  I know I shouldn't compare, but it is hard not too.  Miles knows Elliot is his big brother and...

wants to dress like him
Poses like Elliot

thinks buzz lightyear is cool




and firemen too.
wants to wear a kippah like elliot for shabat

Nana & Baba

Nana and Baba came for a wonderful week long visit and we had a great time. 

We...

... had dinner w/Robinette...
... went out for gelato...
... windy coast trip...
... had a picnic @the rainy/windy coast...
... Beavers baseball game...
... hike at the gorge...
... beautiful waterfall hikes...
... and built a shed ...
... we love & miss you guys.  Thanks for visiting!

A Farmer in the Dell...

Every school year, a local farmer, "Farmer Ann", comes to Elliot's pre-school to plant pumpkin seeds.  In the Spring his class takes a field trip to plant the seeds on her farm.  Then in the fall, the kids go to pick "their" pumpkin.  Being Elliot's last year at pre-school this field trip was extra special.

Tractor Fun
Farmer Miles
Pre-school class of 2011
Picking clover for mommy
Best buds - Elliot and Ronan
Fields of clover