Metamorphosis!!!

Almost 2 weeks ago, we found a Monarch Butterfly caterpillar.

We brought it home and put it in a container with a stick and some milkweed.

The next day, it was hanging upside down from the stick and the day after that, it was transformed into a beautiful green and gold chrysalis! So amazing to watch!

This morning, we could see the orange, black and white beauty through the shell of the chrysalis. We were sure it was going to hatch.

After a quick trip to work, the kids and I returned to see the most beautiful butterfly ever!

We were so lucky to find this caterpillar and experience the awesome transformation. And now, we get to do it all again because yesterday we found two more caterpillars. Metamorphosis - pure magic!

Quick, Easy and Fun

I have always known that people make their own play dough, I had just never done it myself. Today, I decided was the perfect day to try. I found a recipe and went for it. The kids were so excited to help and were just thrilled with the final product! I highly suggest trying it too, if you haven't already done so.

Here's what you need:

Play Dough

3 Cups Flour

1 1/2 Cups Salt

3 Cups Water

2 T Vegetable Oil

1 T Cream of Tartar

Add food coloring if you wish or the recipe suggests adding 1 pkg of unsweetened "Kool-Aid". I didn't do the "Kool-Aid", I added a couple tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice and some red and yellow food coloring. Different spices or vanilla/almond extract would also be nice.

Mix all of the ingredients in a large saucepan. Cook over medium low heat, until the dough comes away from the edges of the pan. It will be the consistency of thick mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and cool until it can be handled. Place dough on counter or wax paper and knead 3-4 times and voila you now have a good size batch of play dough!

Enjoy!

As you can see, Hailey thought adding glitter would be nice - such a girl!

Pete wasn't excited about the glitter, he decided to just poke it with the rolling pin instead - such a boy!

Fun Reunion/Baby Shower - warning this might get confusing...

Ok, here's how it goes... I first met Povi and Anne Marie when I moved to Oregon in 5th grade. We were friends all through school and then as life went on - college, boyfriends, changing towns/states, you know, we grew apart a bit.

Anne Marie went to college in Portland and then moved around - Utah, Colorado (she went to law school) and then moved back a little closer to home (only about 1 1/2 hours north). She is a district attorney now.

Povi lived in Ashland and went to SOU. After college, she stuck around for a while and then moved to Maui, where she currently resides, to pursue her dream of working with sea-life. Hmm, I would have to say that her senior picture is a good example of foreshadowing...

Povi's little sister Ezra and I were pregnant with our first children at same time. We were in the same birthing class and her daughter Annabelle was born just 6 days before Hailey (they are both 7 now). When they were babies, we would get them together for little play dates, until they moved to Germany when Annabelle (and Hailey) was 6 months old (Andre her father is German). Too much info. yet??

Ok, so on I will go... Anyways, Ezra (while in Germany) also had a little boy named Diego who is now three years old. Ezra and her family try to make it to the states to visit family/friends once a year (usually in July). It is fun to visit and get the kids together. Hailey and Annabelle love to spend time together! Side note: I think I will have to do an Annabelle-Hailey post.

Povi who has been married to David for a little over a year, is now pregnant with their first child (a girl due in November). And as it turns out, Anne Marie (who is married to a man named Ryan) is also pregnant with her first child (also a girl, but due in October). So Ezra and the fam decided to come for a month long visit in July and Povi decided to come for a week.

Emily (who I first met when she moved here in 6th grade and was my neighbor and I used to give her rides to school after I got my license and is a great friend to this day), Ezra and I decided to throw Povi and Anna Marie a double baby shower. Emily is a massage therapist and is currently in school to get her Masters Degree in Education.

The theme was The Mad Hatter Tea Party, thanks to Emily and her wonderful party planning skills/imagination. Confused yet?? Good, I will continue! We decided to only invite friends from school, along with Povi and Anne Marie's moms.

Mary Lee (who I also first met in 5th grade) came down from Eugene with her daughter Raylee (who is also 7). She has has three kids and is a teacher.

Julie (who I first met in junior high and who I also used to give a ride to school) came down from Newberg and brought her 4 month old son (he is her second son). She is a chiropractor.

Got all that? PHEW - I think that is enough back ground! I'm sure they are going to love me for all the senior pictures I posted... Sorry, couldn't find one of myself (I didn't look too hard for one) :-(

It was so fun to visit with everyone and to catch up. Here are some pictures from the party.

This is Ezra. Sorry I didn't have a high school picture of her...

Emily made the cup cakes and a cake that looked like a mushroom.

Anne Marie, Mary Lee and Povi

Hailey, Annabelle, Raylee and Pete

Me and Pete, Povi, Julie, Anne Marie, Emily and Mary Lee holding Julie's baby

The Outlaw Josie Martin

We have officially had Josie for one week now. I have to say that she is settling in pretty well. Only a few accidents in the house and everyday she is learning to bite the kids less and less. Hailey and Pete were so excited to get a puppy... They didn't realize that puppies don't come pre-trained. We have to keep reminding them that Josie is just a baby and it us up to us to teach her things like not to bite. She is learning more and more everyday and I have already trained her to sit! Not bad for a girl who is not even 9 weeks old yet! She is definitely a sassy girl and no pussycat!

Frog on a Leaf - Doot, Doo, Doo (My pathetic attempt at a song...)

So, I'm no song writter... I thought I got a pretty cool picture though.

Kids + Balloons = Happy Faces (until they pop...)

Pete & his Spiderman on a stick

Hailey and Tinkerbell

Adventures in Northern Oregon

We drove up to the Portland area yesterday, so that we could pick up our puppy in Oregon City at 9:30am this morning. We decided it would be the perfect opportunity to visit with Amy Ruth (my great friend from high school) and her beautiful family in Forest Grove. When we left, I typed Am's address into the GPS and we were off. It took us up I-5 until we were almost to Salem and then, our adventure began. What beautiful countryside - rolling fields, wheat fields, orchards, nurseries, crops, wineries! We saw things we didn't even know were there... I even had Jeff pull over, so that I could get out to investigate some mysterious, tall, thorny, climbing, viney crops that were growing... Hmm, maybe hops? Not sure, maybe I'll Google it... Yep, they were hops. Yeah, for Google and beer!!

Any ways, where was I, oh yes, our great adventure. Well, it eventually led us to the spot that I took the following video. Let me tell you, this whole thing made Pete a bit nervous...

When we finally crossed the river and made our way to Forest Grove, we were greeted by Amy Ruth, her husband Josh, their children - Addy Rae, Josiah, Jeremiah and Amy's mom Sheri. We had a great visit and they fed us a wonderful dinner (complete with fresh, warm blueberry pie for desert).

Before we picked up the puppy this morning, we took a little drive around Oregon City. I didn't know before, but Oregon City is where the Oregon Trail ends, so the city has some very interesting history.

Then, it was time to pick up little Josie. Oh boy, it didn't take us long to fall in love with this little ball of fur! We had a very good ride home. I, of course, was worried about her having accidents in the car... So, we made sure to stop for plenty of potty breaks!

Here are some pictures I took of our baby today.