Pink Poncho

I was bored one day so decided to stop by Joann's (the local craft store) to see what I could find to do. This is very dangerous for me, because I already have countless craft projects I've started and not finished, or have purchased patterns and material for and not started at all. Well, this day I decided I was going to knit a poncho for Rose. I had a poncho when I was a little girl (I still have the poncho, but it's still to big for Rose) and thought I would knit one for my little girl. Besides, she could where it when it got a little cooler outside, but didn't' need to have a sweater on. So, I picked out a pattern, yarn, knitting needles (as I didn't currently have the correct size needles) and came home and started knitting. Its a great activity to do in front of the TV, as I get to relax, but not feel guilty about not doing anything and wasting time. Also, I can knit in the car on road trips, when Andy is driving, of course. Over the course of a couple weeks, I completed the poncho, even stayed up a little later than usual on a Saturday night to sew it all together so Rose could where it to church on Sunday.

I was so proud the next day. I got Rose all dressed for church and told her I had a surprise for her...a pink poncho. We put it on her...she smiled, ran down the hall and said, "Mommy, I no like it", and took it off. Needless to say I was so sad. After church I had her put it on again to get these pictures. I told her she needed to put on her poncho and take some pictures then she could watch the mouse movie - Ratatouille, it's her favorite movie right now. She obliged me, put the poncho on, I took my pictures, and she promptly took the poncho off. Oh well, I'll keep trying and who knows, maybe someday she will always want to wear the poncho. But I do have to say, I did finish the project.

Rosie Hanging

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Rose learned to hang from the bar in her Wiggle & Giggle class this summer. Here is Rosie putting her new found skill to work in the back yard, hanging from the swing set. Yes, her feet are not touching the ground. She is so proud of herself.

Kevin visiting before heading to Corvallis

Kevin and three of his friends are renting a house this year in Corvallis, instead of living in the dorms. So the end of July Kevin moved into his new place to get a head start are finding a job in the Corvallis area, before all the other college students get back there at the end of August. Anyway, before he headed down south he stopped by our place (he was living at his mom's this summer) to hang out for awhile and go to the neighbors BBQ.

Here are some pics of Kevin during his time here.

Kevin, Ryan, and Rose

Kevin and Rose
Kevin and Rose in Rose's play house

Wiggle & Giggle

This summer Rose has been taking a class at the community center called Wiggle & Giggle. Basically, they have a bunch of different stations for the kids to play on and play music. She loves it and is learning to take turns. At the start of class she would not hang on the bar, but as of last Wednesday she was hanging from the bar, lifting her feet and swinging...and she does that everywhere. I thing her favorite things in class are hanging from the bar and walking on the balance beam, or as Rose would say, "balance bean"

Here are some pictures of her doing some of the other activities, not her favorites.

On the slide

Crawling through the tunnel

Here is a video of Rose on the trampoline in her class. She does love the trampoline.

Now I need to look for classes for the fall....after all, it is back to school time.

Rosie's friend's Birthday Party

One of Rosie's best friends was born exactly 4 weeks after Rosie, and named after a flower too- Daisy. At the end of July, on Sunday afternoon, we headed to the Oregon Coast (where Daisy lives) to celebrate her second birthday. Here are some pics from that day.

Rosie and Daisy playing in the sand

Daisy the birthday girl

Rosie patiently wating for cakeRosie enjoying her chocolate cake

Camping at Diamond Lake

Andy and Ryan wanted to go camping, so I said I would go if there were flush toilets and showers with plumbing (not an solar shower). Andy did a good job finding us a camp site in Diamond Lake, right on the lake. There were many bugs there...gnats in the sun and mosquitoes in the shade. Needless to say, we showered in bug spray.


Rose had a great time camping. She loved to play in the tent, read books, and pick up sticks and rocks. Ryan was very good with Rose, playing in the tent with her, reading her books, and just hanging out.


Here are some pictures of our camping trip.

Ryan and Rose coloring

Ryan and Rose at Diamond Lake

Renee and Rose camping

Rosie playing in the tent

Ryan and Andy playing cards and trying to keep the mosquitoes from biting

Crater Lake 2008

This summer we took our family vacation to South Central Oregon to Crater Lake Oregon. Kevin was not able to join us, due to his work schedule. We missed him. Andy, Ryan, Rose, and myself camped at Diamond Lake and drove up to Crater Lake for a couple of days.

Crater Lake was AMAZING. These pictures don't do the view justice, but its all I can do, as words cannot explain the beauty.

Our first view of Crater lake

Ryan and Rose
Crater Lake
Ryan and Rose in the snow at Crater Lake
Panoramic View

Fishing at Diamond Lake

A day of fishing at Diamond Lake. We woke up at 5:30 am, got ready, drove down to the boat docks, rented the boat, got all our gear ready, and out on the water by 6:40 am. We spent about 3-1/2 hours on the boat, tootling around the lake at a top speed of 10 mph, swatting all the gnats away, and not catching any fish. Rose did love riding in the boat.

Renee, Rosie, and Ryan riding in the boat
Andy driving
Ryan getting ready to set the anchor
Rosie loving the boat ride
Our seat cushion..just in case we needed help