New York

We're here!
Do I have any pictures?
Yes!
Of items to go on Craigslist for Amy!
Because Jesse is gettin' buzy.  And we like him that way.

I took the kids to the mall so we could check out the Lego store.  FUN!  ("It was like a dream!" says Miriam) Only, now we need to go to the city to the BIG Lego store because it will be even better!

It's free day at the Bronx zoo tomorrow.  And the Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty Cruise ship departs Thursday.  Won't you come with?

Giving Thanks

I don't mean to entirely skip the holiday.  I feel like I've gone straight to Christmas on this blog.  I have wonderful memories of Thanksgiving Day, and there is nothing I would love more than to spend it with family and friends.  But this year, we're doing things a little differently.  We're taking the family on a trip to Nauvoo.  This is my first visit to any church history site, so I'm really excited. 

So forgive my Christmas excitement. I have so little to plan for Thanksgiving, I feel kind of off the hook.

photo from here

101 North

Our trip from Sacramento to Oregon was long. But so beautiful. I loved seeing Suzelle. Loved being by the ocean, the redwoods, the mountains.

Hodgdon Meadow

Santa Cruz

Visiting Chris and Da must be what it's like to come to our house. Minus the good eats. So much fun. Such cute kids.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

Family nite is Dollar nite at the boardwalk. I love me a cotton candy and bumper cars with a little wooden roller coaster thrown in. Thanks for the fun, Chris and Da.

Crater Lake

We drove up to Crater Lake last week on one of our days off. There was a lot of snow left from a wet Spring. This was the first time I ever took the trail down to the lake. G and J jumped off a small cliff. Bryce, Kaylynn, Mim, and I all swam in the coldie lake.

Watson Falls

On our day off, we also hiked to Watson Falls and Toketee Falls. So beautiful. I grew up here, but didn't really appreciate it until I married Jesse. I love exploring my hometown with him because it's such a cooler place than the one I grew up in.

Finally, Some Yosemite

Better late than never. Yosemite was AWESOME!Giant Sequoia.



T-man.

Climbing and hiking.
Beautiful views. Waterfalls and rivers.
A herd of cousins.
Dirty and hot. So many babies. Surprisingly good sleep. Great stories at night. Yummy food. Still thinking about that breakfast sandwich.

Wildlife Safari

I remember going to Wildlife Safari when I was a kid. There are pictures of me feeding the goats when I was Mermaid's age. Usually the animals hang out in the shade far from the car. This time, the weather was cool in the morning so they were walking around or sitting by the road.

Family Reunion

Watch out Oregon! We're all back for the week! The kids are running wild. The parents are staying up late talking. This is going to be an awesome week!(J's here this time, he just took the picture)

A little update

I'm supposed to be helping J cut boards for shelves in my mom's garage. Every year he comes, he takes it upon himself to organize the garage. And every year, he makes it a little bit better. Instead of complaining that he's bored (that's my job), he MAKES work for himself. How can you not love the guy?

The Palmer family reunion to Yosemite was funtastic. I'll try to add some pictures, but I'm scared of my mom's pc. J's laptop died, so we are w/o our own computer until mid-August. Just writing that makes me want to run to the Mac store and buy something.

The kids are in cousin heaven. It is so fun to see them play, interact, negotiate.

And now I'm going to help my husband help my mom. Table saws make me nervous.

Fake FUN Me

I don't know why I feel compelled to be FUN mom, especially when Jesse is away. Honestly, I'm not that fun. I'm much better at keeping us organized, fed, clothed, well functioning than entertained. I rely heavily on Jesse to keep us FUN.

Since he's backpacking this week, I took the kids on some excursions. I think I was too tired and solo parenting for them to be too much fun. The Children's Museum was kind of boring for me(I mean, there was no way I was fitting in that lighthouse). I did enjoy using my mad cash register skilz when I rang up the kids' fake food purchases (campus bookstore. woot! woot!) Of course, we left the museum in a tizzy. Something about getting a head stuck in between the bars of the ship's hold. I wasn't sure of the details, just that Mermaid, Monkey and the little boy they were playing with were all crying.


Mackworth Island could not be deemed a death march as 1.5 flat miles is merely a stroll. Especially w/ swinging benches and regular benches every 15 feet. Not to mention the fairy village in the middle. Monkey did hike the whole time because she knows there is no way I can carry her. So I guess that was good. Mermaid's breakdown at leaving before furnishing her fairy house was not fun. Oh well.
(notice the plethora of fairy houses in the background. It's like the woodstock of fairyville)

Today we took it easy. Went to the toy library, dentist (after flaking once again and rescheduling. hello? brain? are you there?), library, and got LaRoche's seafood for dinner, then gymnastics. LaRoche's does a clam/lobster bake for $15. A lobster, 10-15 clams, red potatoes, and corn. It's all take-out and you order ahead. Love it! Can you say amazing feast for so cheap? Crazy! Mermaid couldn't come close to finishing her meal (Monkey had my corn and pb&j), so I think I'll make a chowder with the leftovers. I feel really, really bad that we didn't do it when Amy was here. Totally flaked on her lobster meal. I'd bring one down, but cold lobster and clams sounds kind of nasty.
So, the kids are smiling in all the photos. Everyone is still mostly happy. Monkey claims to a) miss her daddy (there was a breakdown about missing him 5 minutes after dropping him off) and b) that I don't love her (because I limit computer time and do not cuddle her when she comes in my room at 6 am). Otherwise we are happy as...well, not those clams, but ones still safely in the mud.

Rope Swing on the Nezinscott

So here are Jesse and Ada. Rockin' the ropeswing.

Monday-Kayak

Monday was a kayak trip down the Nezinscott river. Yes, J totally overscheduled us. Yes, our arms were killing us the next day (and the next). And Yes, we had FUN! Thanks for making the trip up north to see the MAIN(e) Palmers!

Sunday on Bailey Island

I love me a baby!

The Lobsterman statue

footsies, lupine (Miss Rumphius' flower)

Bailey Island is not too far from us and makes a beautiful Sunday drive. The kids couldn't stay out of the water, even though it wasn't that warm. Our second stop was the bay and tire swing at Bailey Island. How could we resist?