Humor

One of our offspring has always had a very "unique" sense of humor. To illustrate my point, I offer the following as evidence (our recent Mother's Day and Father's Day cards) -- can you guess who gave them to us?











Those of you who know our children probably won't have any trouble figuring out which one gave us these. We both got a good laugh out of them!

Pretty in Pink

One day old. Isn't she precious?!!!

Baby Sister Arrives

Baby Girl Dewsnup is finally here. (She doesn't have a name yet, so that's what she is known as right now -- "BG" for short). She was born on June 15th (she'll get to share her birthday with her Uncle Neil). She was born about 10:30 a.m., weighing 7.5 pounds, 19-1/2 inches long.

I know Melissa and Rob will have more (and better) pictures on their blog soon, but for our family and friends who can't wait, here are just a few--I was asked to get some pictures of Danica with the baby, so that's why there aren't any of the baby alone.

Clay and I brought Danica to the hospital so she could be introduced to her new sister. She has been eagerly awaiting this moment for months!

Here she is learning how to hold a baby properly (she seemed a bit nervous).



She's talking to her little sister, but I can't remember what she said.

She wholeheartedly approves of her new sister.

Notice that Danica wore her "Big Sister" shirt to the hospital.

The baby was born at Sacred Heart's Riverbend hospital. The hospital is quite new, beautifully done and very nicely landscaped, and there's a wooded area in back with nice paths to go for a walk (which I guess would be more for the visitors because people in hospitals don't usually go for many walks). Rob wanted to get out for some fresh air, so we explored a little bit. Danica enjoyed checking out the water feature -- a large pond with a waterfall which was very soothing.

We're looking forward to many happy moments with this precious new blessing in our lives!

Urban Hiking

Clay and I both had Memorial Day off, and the weather was gorgeous (which was a pleasant surprise, as it usually rains on these 3-day weekends). We were both up pretty early, so we decided to go for a walk and try to get some nice photos. There is an extensive bike path/jogging trail system in the Eugene-Springfield area, so we don't even have to drive somewhere first before beginning our hike-we can just walk from our house down to the trails along the river. I love Spring; there are tons of beautiful flowers everywhere! Rhododendrons, azaleas, irises, roses, and many more that I don't even know the names of. I saw a lovely "snowball bush" -- I've loved those since I was a child.

We walked 5.15 miles (Clay took his GPS, as I always want to know exactly how far I walked, and I insisted on claiming every last inch!)

At the beginning of our walk, it was early enough that the flowers still had dew on them.




We love trees so much in Eugene that they just build around them rather than remove them.



Even though we were basically surrounded by the city, it still felt like we were out in the country somewhere (except for the noise from the freeway!)


If looks could kill....I don't think this bird liked us invading his territory!




The city is hidden behind the line of trees.

I love the bike paths along the Willamette River. I like looking up at the sun shining down through the tops of the trees.

We were out early enough that we didn't run into very many people on the paths.

We live just off this street -- Garden Way, which is really living up to its name this time of year.

The poppies were beautiful. I know they're not exactly the same as the ones that we usually associate with veterans, but since it was Memorial Day, they did remind me of the poem:

In Flander's Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky,

The larks, still bravely singing, fly,

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago,

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved and now we lie,

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe

To you, from failing hands, we throw,

The torch, be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us, who die,

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,

In Flanders Fields.

Spring Fever

We're having a few days of really lovely weather, which is a nice break from the rain and freezing temperatures (it was snowing for a short while a couple days ago, although it didn't stick of course). I went to work today as usual, but about mid-morning Arlene (my boss) said, "I don't feel like working today," and I said, "Me neither." So she left to enjoy the sunshine, and said I could leave whenever I wanted. I stayed a short while longer to tie up loose ends, then took off. Melissa and Danica and I went to Hendricks Park, which is famous for its rhododendron garden (although there weren't a lot of them in bloom right at the moment). The park is at the top and down the side of a hill, and there are a lot of differrent paths to choose from. Danica enjoyed being our "leader" and choosing which direction we were going to take. She had a great time exploring (or maybe she just liked being the boss for a change).


She climbed all over these rocks after we finally stopped taking her picture.

After walking up and down the hillside, Melissa needed a rest break, so I handed Danica my camera to keep her occupied. She had a blast taking picture after picture. Several of them turned out pretty good, considering she didn't hardly stop moving even while taking them. Here are a few of them.


Self-portrait? Her shadow.





Purple rhodies.



I hate having my picture taken, but this one is a fairly decent one of me.

There are lots of different types of flowers besides the rhododendrons.

Then Melissa was blowing bubbles for Danica to chase. This looks more like she's being attacked by them.

Danica took a turn blowing the bubbles....

But couldn't resist the urge to chase them too. (And ended up spilling them of course).

I usually take lots of pictures of the flowers, but limited myself to just this one today. I was having too much fun just being out in the beautiful sunshine and fresh air.

The rain and cold is supposed to be back by Thursday. Oh well, such is Spring in Oregon.

The Mom Song

I know I'm way past the time in my life when this video really applies to me, but I've run into it a couple of times, and it really makes me laugh. It's comedienne Anita Renfroe's song about what a mom says in a 24-hour day. You'll have to click on the link because I'm not computer-savvy enough to know how to embed it properly. Sorry!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXgoJ0f5EsQ

Now, wasn't that funny?

"It's a Marshmallow World"

This is what we woke up to this morning. This, plus the sounds of the sirens as the emergency vehicles rushed frantically from the scene of one minor accident to the next....to the next....to the next...Well, you get the picture. Idiot drivers who think that just because they have an SUV or 4-wheel drive, that they don't have to slow down for the EXTREMELY ICY roads. I even saw people zipping by talking on their cell phones -- at least until they slide into the curb, or the car ahead of them.



I know this amount of snow is basically nothing to many of our friends and family who deal with this all winter in the area they live, but Western Oregon doesn't "do snow" very well. (All the schools were closed -- except the U. of O.) Those of us who know better take the bus to work, or stay home. Not because we don't think we could handle it out there, but because we know the roads are full of those who can't.

Anyway, isn't it beautiful? But cold -- very cold!



Everything looks fresher and cleaner covered in a blanket of white.



And for those of you who really aren't interested in our pitiful amount of snow, I give you the following random picture to ponder.