Chapin Beach

Today we took a beautiful walk on the beach 

with my dad and Carla.

I always forget to go to the beach

even though we live so close...

I suppose it's that hiking in the woods is always my first thought

but every time I go to the beach

I wonder why I don't do it more often.

So there you go, one of my new year's resolutions:

go to the beach more often.

And in other news: this is it! I have completed 365 days of photos.
They might not have been posted every day (or even close)
but they are there!
I think for 2012 I will do the same thing,
although I will try a bit harder to post every day
(no promises, Andy)
Love you all!
Thanks for checking up on us!

Company on the hill

This weekend Grandpa Jack and Grandma Carla

came to visit.

Orin was so excited to have company

both at his house to show his toys to

and on our walks where he convinced his grandparents

to explore his huge sand hill.

A four egg day

Yeah!

Bog Walk

Hockey Man!

In case you are wondering why I didn't crop this picture,

it is because the red blur in the foreground is the puck.

I love it!

Merry Christmas!

This morning we woke up to Orin
bursting with excitement after seeing that Santa
had not forgotten him.
He got a truly unreasonable number of presents,
the favorites being a fishing pole from Nana,
a helmet, hockey shirt, and knee pads from mom,
and hockey sticks, a puck, a goal, and a soccer ball from dad.
We spent the rest of the day eating way too much
and playing soccer and hockey in the kitchen.
I can't imagine a better Christmas.

13 Eggs!

Apparently the girls have been busy while we were on the road.

Thanks ladies!

Bye Maryland

After a fun-filled week in Maryland,

we are hitting the road again.

Unless we drown in NY traffic,

we should make it home for Christmas Eve.

Last snuggles with Cashew...

Just one more day with our favorite greyhound.

I am just hoping that Paley won't be heartbroken,

she and Cashew have become cuddle buddies as of late.

Chiilin with Alden

Cousin Ardian

Bamboo forest

I have no idea how this got here,

but it is pretty spectacular.

Guitaring

And, yes, Orin has officially made "guitaring" a word.

Here he is practicing on the guitar

Auntie Andy got him for Christmas.

Thanks Auntie!

Go Duke

The cousins getting pumped up before the game.

Chesapeake Bay

Today we visited a beach on the Chesapeake Bay

so I decided we needed a shot of Atlas.

Maryland

Today we drove down to Maryland to spend a week

with my family before Christmas.

We were so excited to meet baby August

who was born just days before we arrived!

Bog RIde

Herb Garden

Got my winter herb garden up and running today!

I am so excited for fresh basil and cilantro all winter long. 

First Eggs!

Who knew we would get eggs in the middle of winter!

And blue ones at that!

Yeah girls!

Holiday blooms

Santa's trail

The mailman has started bringing a lot of boxes lately

that I open in the back room

and then the boxes emerge containing only 

packaging material.

Good thing that empty boxes are good enough

for a three year old

or I would probably be pestered with more questions...

Beach bundle

Shaun to visit

This weekend Shaun came to visit.

Shaun is a chef at a macrobiotic institute

which means, among other things, 

the weekend was filled with delicious food.

These breakfast potatoes were only the beginning.  

Yummy!

Gingerbread

A true work of art.

Christmas Begins!

Today Orin received his first Christmas present:

a vest, shirt, pants, and Duplo camping set from Auntie Katie!

Orin loved his present and immediately put on the whole outfit

and if I had been thinking enough to get some of his legs

in this picture of him running around, 

you would have been able to see the pants too.

Thanks Aunt Katie!

Soccer Camp

Today Orin went to his second day of soccer camp.

Needless to say, he is in love.

Happy Birthday Casey!

Tonight we went out for sushi (Casey's favorite)

Orin decided that he wanted to come with us

even though we told him that it might not be too much fun for kids.

Because he was there, I mistakenly ordered noodles

figuring that they were kid-friendly.

Casey ordered a sample plate of sushi 

and his ended up coming out before mine.

Instead of waiting for the noodles, Orin insisted on trying

everything on Case's plate including 6 pieces of raw fish,

roe, and a California roll.

I couldn't believe it.

Like father, like son.

Happy birthday Casey!

Birthday / Work party

Tonight we went to Casey's holiday work party /

 surprise birthday party.

Casey had no idea that his friends

had arranged for a cake and was totally surprised 

when the room went dark and we all started singing

"happy birthday" at the top of our lungs.

It was a great night.

Happy days!

5 Snowy Owls and a Left-over Turkey

Cape Cod Sunset

Christmas Cactus Blooms

Turkey day helper

Here is a picture of Orin's first lesson

on rolling pigs in a blanket.

Already a pro.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Castle building at Baba's

3 and 1/2!

Might as well make a fuss about it.

Exactly the same

Today I took Paley to the vet 

where we weighed her on the big scale in the 

waiting room. Then we weighed Orin. The result:

32.4 pounds of both puppy and boy.

I have a feeling that this will be a fleeting period,

yielding, of course, to the years where Paley will outweigh Orin.

Eventually, however, they will likely weigh the same again

for the short time before Ori passes Paley.

Soaking up the last of fall

Red and Green at the Cranberry Bog

Up, up, up

It's a bird.... it's a plane...

Beans for breakfast

Ever since Candace made me a delicious bean breakfast

in Oregon I have been hooked.

Here is our Sunday breakfast:

eggs, black beans, scallions, yellow squash, and sweet potato.

No more mid-day energy slumps.

Yummy!

The fattest squirrel in the universe

This squirrel takes the concept of storing food for the winter

to a whole new level.

Notice that he is actually wider than our "squirrel-proof" bird feeder.

Where she likes to be

Paley has gotten into the habit of parking herself

right underneath the kitchen sink

every time I am cooking.

Although it is terribly annoying and I end up tripping over

her multiple times per meal prep,

it is cute that she has decided she wants to be near her people,

so I have yet to try to discourage her.

Hidden Egg

The other day we walked past a rhododendron

and Rowan noticed this nest

and perfect egg-shaped rock nestled at the base.

King Tree

First day back home

and we are already up to new adventures.

Today Colleen and I went to see the King Tree,

a 100 year old weeping beech tree in Yarmouth.

I couldn't get close to accurately capturing this tree

in the picture...

its huge branches hang down to the ground 

and then run horizontally

forming a web around you when you stand beneath it. 

The most beautiful day ever

Guess Oregon saved its best for last...

on our hike in the Gorge today

the weather was pristine...

bright sun contrasted with a beautiful blue haze hanging

over the Columbia and an orange sunset.

After the hike we all met up for dinner at Por Que No

(best Mexican food ever)

and then went to Mississippi studios

to see a local band play.

I couldn't have asked for more.

Tomorrow I hop on a plane

and again have to say goodbye to this place I love so much...

goodbye for now.

Oregon City!

Today I went to Oregon City to meet up with the family

over a delicious dinner at Sheree's house.

Of course, I got so caught up in catching up 

that I forgot to take pictures,

so instead here is Candace and I on a hike in the gorge.

It was great to see everyone in Oregon City,

Orin is going to be so happy to get to hang out with his cousin

Dorian in August

who has long left the baby stage and is a ton of fun.

Not to mention I got to see Steven and Sarah 

who recently tied the knot.

Congrats guys!

Ms Jess and the Other Redhead

Today Jess and I met up for an afternoon

of coffee, catch-up, and Cosmos.

(Jess is so obsessed with Cos she would have it no other way)

Despite the fact that he is clearly miserable in this picture

he cheered up quickly and we had a great time.

Wahkeena Waterfalls

Muddy in Ecola State Park

Today we went on a hike on the coast. 

It poured almost the whole time (in typical Oregon fashion)

but it hardly mattered.

With good company and amazing views of the Pacific,

it is not hard to ignore the rain.