The month of July

So it has been a while since I last blogged, and I can only attribute it to being lazy. I usually do my blogging from my laptop while reclining on my couch, but unfortunately for me, my computer crashed and is being rehabed right now. All of my files and pictures were lost on the computer, but subconsciously I must have known this would happen, because just two months ago I signed up for an online system that backs up your computer for you called Mozy.com (totally recommend it). I almost cancelled it one day, but was like "heck it's only $5 a month, I might as well keep it a bit longer"....and viola! look what happened. I think I would have died if I had lost all my pictures especially my mom's family pictures that I spent a month on converting them all from slides....just the thought.....(shudder)

I don't think I have ever been so freaking hot in my life as I have been today. Okay, Portland?? Not supposed to get to 106 degrees!!! And add the humidity into that, and add the fact that my house is on the second level directly facing the sun. It is now 8 p.m. and still 100 degrees! There was no chance of me cooking, so we went to a lovely air conditioned restaurant, and then walked around the mall for an hour to stay cool. For lunch we went downtown by Dave's building and swam in the fountain. That was nice and refreshing, especially being next to the sweaty hobos taking their monthly bath next to us. One thing about being in a public place like that is you feel so much better about your own body image. Instead of having only one layer of blubber around their midsection, some had five or six. It was like a bunch of sea lions sunbathing around the fountain while lighting up, and taking their meds while chasing it with some kind of cognac. ahhhhh.....Portland....what an interesting place. It has been a very busy month besides going on vacation without Dave, doing apartments stuff, and celebrating Sam's 2nd birthday! Oh my gosh I have a two year old! Although I think that whole terrible two's thing starts early. Okay she's really not that bad, but does have some temper tantrums. It's the whole, throw my head back, open my mouth wide, and fall to the ground dramatically!! Then, peek through my fake tears to make sure mom and dad are looking at me! I'll show them for trying to help me eat my food. I have to do it myself! She is little miss independent, and sometimes it drives me crazy. But she is also very sweet most of the time, and very helpful. Her new favorite thing is to help me with the laundry. Yesterday she went to the bathroom and grabbed her stool (the thing you stand on) and took it to the kitchen where all the dirty laundry was. She then proceeded to sort the laundry and put it in the washing machine. It was funny and sweet. Here is the video if you are so inclined.



For her birthday she was spoiled because she had 2 parties. One on the last night we were in Utah with my family. It was fun being able to celebrate with my family, since I rarely get to do so anymore. We had pizza and cake/cupcakes, and then her cousins very generously helped her open all her presents, and then helped her break them all in by playing with them :) She's good at sharing though.




On Monday on her actual birthday, we had a little party where Dave's siblings were nice to come over and party with us, and she was spoiled some more. It was a fun birthday celebration.
I am so happy and blessed to have a happy, healthy little girl who is lively, and brings so much happiness to Dave and me. The other day I was sitting on the floor and asked Sammy for a kiss but my head was down. She came up close to me, bent down, and grabbed my head in both her hands lifting it up, saying "mom" and gave me a big kiss on the lips...so sweet

Is that Hobo dead or just sleeping??

Another great week spent with more family. This time with my sister Angie and her son Caden.
They drove up here from Utah last Sunday night and stayed the entire week. And the great thing for Angie was she didn't have to take vacation days since she could work at her Intel office up here. That was part of the reason she came up. Weighing decisions to either stay in Utah and get a different job, or stay with Intel and move to Portland. I think we all know what my vote is. Come to Portland!
I tried really hard to make Portland seem impressive to her, but instead freaked her out the first night she was here by getting lost in the middle of downtown Portland until 10:30 p.m.!!! Yeah I know. "Katie haven't you lived there for almost a year now? Don't you know your way around the place yet?" And I say, "no, I really don't!" I can't seem to have anyone up here and show them a good time without getting lost at least once! With my parents, when I picked them up from the airport, we pretty much drove to the Columbia Gorge before we could turn around and take I-84 West instead of East!! oops...
But this time was a bit scarier when we saw some of the people, and the hobos sleeping on the streets. And then we really figured we might be in a pickle when we went under an overpass, where it was dark (I know, stupid) and a cop drove by and when he saw us, his eyes went very wide like "what are these girls doind?" It was probably good he drove by, probably distracting some lurking predator waiting in the bushes.......kidding mom. The funny thing was we kinda freaked out and almost ran past the street really quickly, not noticing until almost an hour later when we passed that street again, that her car was right there at the top of the street!! Bless that angelic car alarm!
It was really a ploy to keep things exciting for Angie. She was at a particular disadvantage as well walking around with stitches halfway across her knee without really being able to bend it, so it made her an even easier target. All I had to do was run faster. Oh my gosh I'm a horrible sister! Okay okay enough morbidity. We were perfectly fine. Plenty of well....lit...streets.
But I digest......back to the rest of the week :)

It was a fun, hot hot week full of swimming, solving crime at the OMSI museum with Caden, Burgerville, riding the streetcar around almost the entire Portland metro area :), Powell's books, Voodoo Donuts, driving to Cannon Beach basking in the sun and flying kites, and spending the night in a hotel in Lincoln City watching fireworks on the beach in the mist of night (very cool), shopping at the Outlets, walking along the beach in the morning seeing cool starfish and mini crabs, going to a parade, and basking once again in the sun on the beach. I think half of Oregon was spending the 4th somewhere on the coast since we had such great weather! The night before Angie left, we were like "is it already Sunday?" The week flew by!
We had a great time and look forward to spending more time with them and the rest of the fam when I get to Utah in a couple of days!! woo hoo

The Gleneden Beach parade on the 4th


Caden eating his ginormous donut from Voodoo, and yes he finished it


Riding the streetcar