Back In Business Soon

Nick has been working, and working and working on the Vanagon - Subaru conversion.  He is now so close I know he can taste it!  The engine and clutch are in, the wiring harness is in place and the final piece is the air system (and repairing the steering pump which does seem to have a leak).

 The van has been started and it is a wonderful, wonderful thing.  We should be back on the road soon (and just in time for Pip Pip to join us) and "back in business' as Gunnar likes to say.  And I am sure, onto the next project is what Nick thinks!

In action:

We'll Miss You Tony!

G and I made our weekly voyage to Goodwill yesterday and hit the jackpot!!  I think what I love about Goodwill is that it is like a garage sale on demand, rain or shine.  Another man's junk right? The local Goodwill is often a gamble as their "pricer" seems to get a little heady sometimes.  I mean yes, that is a great pop up hamper but no, I will not pay $20 for something I can get at the store for $25.  Goodwill is for bargains man!

Yesterday we were on a mission to find a toy hamster.  Long story but believe it or not we actually have accomplished this mission before.  There were not hamsters to G's liking and then...he saw it.....a life size Buss Lightyear doll!  As he will tell the story, there were two boys looking at him but he got it.  Most likely because only his mommy is that much of a sucker!  So scratch the hamster, we have an enormous Buzz doll.  Then to top it off we found a new Buzz Lightyear book to add to our collection and just when it couldn't get any better - a Spiderman tracksuit top and slippers!

The adrenaline rush from all these goodies was almost too much to bear!  Buzz has been shined up and is now a permanent buddy to Gunnar.

Here is G in his track suit (our tribute to James Gandalfini!), with his Spiderman slippers on, sitting next to Buzz watching Toy Story.  The Trifecta!  (plus a visit from the kitty too)

Reaping the Benefits!

Our berry garden is doing great this year!  The couple "hot" streaks we have had mixed with the usual rain to really bring on the berries.  This is also now the second year that the plants have been in their beds so they have gotten a chance to really root.

We thought the biggest obstacle to our berry harvest was the birds, but now we know it is Gunnar!  He was eating three to every one that made its way into the bucket.

 We have figs sprouting:

 The peppers and basil are in:

 As are the tomatoes:

July 5th is usually the beginning of summer here in the Pacific North West and we are thinking SUN!

Three!!!

We really haven't done an all out party for G's birthdays to date so this year I decided to seriously step it up a notch.  With the new baby coming I want him to really enjoy these last few months of being the only child.  He got lots of great gifts:

Even enough to share with Truck:

And then the piece de resistance - the bouncy house!  We rented a spiderman bouncy house and told everyone we know to come on out and JUMP.  It was a huge hit with all the kids and everyone had a great time!

 

 

Gunnar had been to a lot of birthday parties and was just so happy that for once the presents were for him!!

My photographer seems to have missed the cake so I will have to wait for copies of those. 

G has already picked out the bigger and better bouncy house for next birthday!

Let's Dig!

We made it out to Dozer Days again this year.  It was packed, just like last year but G did actually ride a big machine this year.  We had been talking about going for weeks before to try and psyche him up into sitting with the operators in the machines.  Of course the morning we were to go he wakes up with the idea in his head that he needs to ride an orange digger that day.  Orange and only orange will do.  Thankfully we found the one and only orange digger right away and 45 minutes of waiting in line later he got a ride.

Waiting in line.  Note the envy of the kid next to him eying his new Thomas raincoat (thanks Gigi!).

 Digging!

One enormous line was really all we could stand so we rode on the articulated hauler as well and called it good on the rides.

Dozer days is right in the middle of lunch and nap so it made for a super long day but he did have a great time and I am glad we made it out.

Here Fishy Fishy

G has done such a wonderful job with his potty training that he was rewarded with a trip to the Portland Aquarium.  The aquarium is relatively new to the Portland area and it was a real adventure!  It is not quite "in" Portland, it is in a suburb called Milwaukee.  When you get there, it looks exactly like a converted Red Lobster.  The irony was awesome.  The management seems a little odd as when you are in there it is kind of an aquatic free for all.  Awesome for the kids but you gotta wonder about those poor fish with all those kids having their hands in their water.  I mean you can practically touch ANYTHING there. It was awesome!

At the end there is an indoor aviary exhibit complete with climbing jungle structure for the kids.  It was a bit odd - birds in an aquarium.. but G was dying to climb.  That is until he got stuck.  I had to wiggle my very large pregnant body into the play structure and help him out.  I am sure we were added entertainment for many of the other families!

Gotta beat the HEAT

It is so hard to believe how big Gunnar is getting and the same can go for his cat.  Sandy is 9 months now and really a great cat.  She has taken up mousing in the barn so Nick says she is a keeper.  Her love / pester affair with G is unbelievable but here I managed to catch them during one of their "sweet moments".

Ever since leaving the veterinary medical practice I have become what I used to call, one of "those" pet owners.  No my pet's are hardly neglected per se but I have a heck of a time keeping up with their upkeep in a timely fashion.  When did Truck get his last heartworm pill?  Think that was just last month.  Hmm, uh oh found a flea on Truck, must be time to reapply his Frontline.  You know, that kind of stuff.  I really outdid myself with getting Sandy spayed.  I knew it was a ticking time bomb and once again I missed the magic window.  She went into heat twice before I could get her in for her appointment.  UGH!  The military should use cats in heat as a terrorist deterrent.  It was terrible.  She has now been spayed and doing wonderful, but it was rough couple weeks trying to get her in.  Also, a big shout out to my wonderful mother in law for taking Sandy back to the vet for me because of course she would be the kind of cat to immediately remove her own sutures once she got home.

Go Speed Racer

We are very loyal patrons of our local Goodwill and spend many a rainy day perusing for hidden treasure.  Nick hit the jackpot recently and found a Mario brother's race car set!  It takes a bit of practice to learn how to drive fast but not too fast and the guardrails are nearly impossible to assemble (like any great toy) but Gunnar loves it!

PS - In the second pic that is Gunnar's trademark "I'm excited" pose!