Scandinavian Festival

The Scandinavian Festival is something I look forward to every year because I like running into people, I love little kiosks that sell gemstone art, I get a kick out of accordion music…and there’s the food. I enjoy a cream puff once a year and I take that time very seriously. Ammon’s grandfather Otto came here from Sweden so he’s rather obliging of my yearly cream puff ritual that somehow circles around a moment to celebrate our Scandinavian heritage.

Look they have Vikings at my Cream Puff Festival!!

That is disgusting...someone should tell his mother...

Great Grandma & Grandpa Miller

We were fortunate to have a visit from Great Grandma & Grandpa Miller the first week of August. They came with us to swim lessons and cheered the kids on as they blew bubbles and practiced their big kicks and big arms. Gavin & Emilia invited Grandma and Grandpa over to our house to play. Grandma and Grandpa were great sports getting down on the floor and blasting the castles with fiery balls from the cannons of the pirate ship. We all went and picked blueberries, Grandpa went through and found all of the biggest blueberries and managed to fill his basket up first. Gavin & Emilia of course munched through the activity. We went to the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon where they need larger obstructions to keep toddlers from priceless exhibits. In the Status & Authority of Imperial China exhibit Miss Emilia Rae made some serious progress towards a Qing Dynasty throne that made her mommy’s tummy somersault. We were more at peace with the modern art bench we were allowed to sit on & in the beautiful courtyard where wiggles & touching were more welcomed. Grandma sang with my kids which just touches my heart because one of my favorite parts about seeing my Grandma is always hearing her sing and feeling in awe of the vast collection of songs she seems to effortlessly keep in her repertoire. Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star & ABC’s never sounded so sweet. We love you Grandma and Grandpa! Thanks for coming over to play.

Henrikson Family Reunion 2009

We brought Laser Tag to the Henrikson Family Reunion this year which went surprisingly well for a gathering with that many competitive types. You had to hear them discussing strategy-these guys know how to plan a battle. Long after the kids were in bed, we were visiting around the campfire and it got pretty dark, we could hear rustling and footsteps of something approaching. Flashlights filled the air and landed accusingly on the silhouette of Gavin suited up in Laser Tag gear, blaster in hand, tiptoeing outside of our cabin. He was on his way to do battle with “bad guys and bears.” Someone was having fun camping with his family.

3 cousins and 1 uncle ='s a 4 story masterpiece.

Swampthing!!! or SKYLAR!!!

Subway Caves.

River Festival

July 24th, 2009 we went to the city's River Festival. Great activities and excellent people watching. The most interesting moment happened as we were walking in. There was a group of rough characters hanging out around the perimeter of the festivities, Ammon gave me a 2 second heads up "Gavin is going to approach THAT guy." Before me was a man who had spent quite a bit of effort to look like the kind of man your mother did not want you hanging out with. He had large tattoos covering his body, piercings in odd places, long hair, long beard, funny mustache and a bandana covering the top of his head. This man had lost his left arm in a motorcycle accident…so my son walks right on up to him and starts up a conversation “Hi Captain Hook! I’m Gavin.” Yes, there in place of his left hand was a rather large hook. Clearly this man did not realize how cool this would make him with the three year olds. Gavin proceeded to ask him of the whereabouts of Peter Pan & Tinkerbell. You could just hear this man’s thoughts “I am one scary guy, what the heck are you two thinking?” As he looks confusedly from the overly confident toddler to the rather idiotic parents who don’t know how to graciously exit the situation without offending an opposing gang. Captain Hook laughed, shook “hands” with Gavin and announced to his band of surrounding “pirates” that Gavin was one tough little dude. Gavin told Captain Hook he’d see him later in Neverland… I did not get a picture because I was too scared to think that 4th dimensionally.

Ammon & Gavin suiting up to ride kayaks at the River Festival.

My boys taking the river by storm!

Emi did not like the look of where this was going.

Maybe next year she'll be able to see over her lifevest.