The Many Faces of Mira

Mira was very well behaved when we went to Chuck E. Cheese on Danica's birthday. She slept part of the time, and was very pleasant the rest of the time. She seemed to like all the lights and noise. (It has been suggested that she is fond of turmoil and commotion, and will create it herself if necessary). It was interesting to just sit and watch her expressions change, and I found myself taking picture after picture. Although I refer to this post as "the many faces of Mira," you'll notice that her crying/screaming/"I'm not happy--fix it now!" face is missing. I never remember to take one of her during those times.

WARNING: EXCESSIVE CUTENESS AHEAD -- VIEW AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Here comes that yawn!

And she's out......

Danica's Birthday

Danica turned 5 years old today. Wow! I can hardly believe it. Time has gone by so fast. She starts school next month.

She had a busy and exciting day today. I have pictures of part of it, but Melissa will have to blog the trip to SkateWorld, as Clay and I passed on that bit of excitement.

Our gift to Danica was a trip to Build-A-Bear. Unfortunately, the "rainbow bear" that she had planned on making was retired last month. So it took her a while to decide on a new friend -- a pink unicorn she named Lyra. (She had really wanted her baby sister to be named Lyra, but that didn't happen. I think it works well for a unicorn, don't you?).

Lyra gets stuffed, and the "magic" goes in too, along with a heart.


Getting Lyra dressed.



Everything but the shoes (which I'm not sure she really needs).



Then off to the other "happiest place on earth" aka Chuck E. Cheese's (but Danica is deathly afraid of Mr. Cheese -- she ran and hid anytime he wandered in her direction).


How high will she go?



Horse racing.



Whack that mole!

Then time for cupcakes and presents (lots of "Littlest Pet Shop" and "My Little Pony" stuff).

Danica with her birthday loot.

I think that's quite enough excitement for one day!

Granddaughters

Baby is nameless no longer! Finally! Now that Melissa has posted her blog on the baby's name, I won't feel like I'm "stealing her thunder" if I go ahead and do my post. Our "new" granddaughter's name is Mira Michelle Dewsnup. She'll be one month old tomorrow.

Here are Clay and "the girls" watching TV together tonight. Well, maybe "watching" doesn't really describe what Mira's doing.


Thinking deep thoughts?

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.