Lovin' the Local Life

I know I've said this before, but Portland is an awesome place to live.  There's a little bit of everything here, and just enough weirdness to make people like us really happy.

One of our favorite things about Portland is the Saturday Market.  We only make it down there a few times a year (it's much safer on the wallet that way), but yesterday we had some Christmas shopping to do, and finally a Saturday with only one thing on the calendar, so we headed downtown to explore.

I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I would have liked, but it was too cold to take my gloves off.  I did snap a few, though.

The artists at the market are all really friendly, and most of them are comfortable with kids.  Lexi was really interested in this lady's work, so she brought out a piece she was working on and showed how she put it together.  It was pretty amazing, by the way.  I wish I remembered her name so I could recommend her.  Just look for the intricately beaded jewelry.

No visit to the Market is complete without a stop at the Spoonman's booth.  These shots aren't that great, but as you can see, the girls had some run-ins with the kitchen utensils there.

This booth had some really amazing wire art.  There were several pieces I'd love to have in my home, but, alas, I wasn't shopping for myself.

I took a picture of this sign while waiting for Ellie outside the porta-potties.  You may have to click on the picture to enlarge so you can read it, but I promise it's worth it.

And this, my friends, is why we love Portland.  Nothing is too weird to print on a sign.

If you're in town between the last weekend in March and Christmas Eve, be sure to check out the Portland Saturday Market.  And feel secure knowing that you'll be able to pick up a pair of bonus pants, just in case.

Random Thoughts Thursday (late evening edition)

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It's still Thursday!  I bet you all thought I forgot.

There is a boy in Lexi's class with the most awesome hair ever.  It makes me happy.

I'm done with school.  Well, done for the next three weeks.  But tomorrow, I can do whatever I want to need to do without worrying about not getting a lecture watched or homework done.

I took my final tonight.  I didn't have much of a chance to study, so the fact that I wasn't crying when it was over says a lot.  I may even have passed.  I figured out that as long as I get a C on the final, I'll still get an A in the class, so I decided to just let it be what it is.

Vicki and Lexi had checkups today (remind me to never again schedule those on the same day as a final).  Vicki is now, apparently, officially an adolescent.

Adolescent is a scary word.

Ellie has lost almost all her baby ways of saying things.  I will probably never hear "hippobapotamus" again, and it makes me so sad.  But she still says "ableble", as in "I won't be ableble to reach that high", and I will freely admit to making up questions that will require her to use that word in the answer, just so I can hear it.

I'm tired.  Just really, really tired.  I need a vacation.

Good thing I get one soon!

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Your turn!

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Project 365, Take 3!

Two years ago I took on a challenge: to take at least one picture every day, and post it to a blog.  And I did just that (minus four days).

I enjoyed it so much that I decided to do it again for 2011.  But this time around I invited friends to join me.

As of today, Day 343, I have only missed one.  Poor Day 58.

Anyway, I've enjoyed doing this so much that I'm going to continue on for another year.  And I've enjoyed sharing this project so much that I'm inviting you all to join me again!  Anyone who reads this post, whether you know me or not, please feel welcome to click on over to Project 365 Central and join in!

Random Thoughts Thursday

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I hardly ever get really sick.  But, thanks, I think, to my new-found opportunity to volunteer in the kindergarten classroom, I have been laid flat.  I have not felt this horrible in a long, long time.

Also, I may never eat tacos again.

I'm planning on another year of Project 365!  Anyone else want to join me?

I'm in love with my Folk Christmas Pandora Station! I've never thought of this song as a Christmas song before, but why not? I heard it this morning while lying in bed trying not to die, and it made me so happy (I know there's nothing to watch, but just listen):



Ellie told Chris the other day, "If you were President, we could all have our own maids and ninjas."  I would love maids, but ninjas?  Must. Have.

I'm glad I cleaned the downstairs last night before bed, even though I was feeling lousy.  It makes it much easier to just lay on the couch all day long.

Sometimes a forced vacation is nice.

Have I mentioned before how much I love my Village?  Because I do.

Do you think I put enough links in this post?

I'm sleepy.  The kids are due home from school in about two hours.  Think I could get in a nap before then?

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Your turn!

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Ask a Stupid Question...

Me: Who keeps tooting?

Ellie: It's me. I have tooteria.

Random Thoughts Thursday

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Wow.  Life is crazy busy.  Is it really just over three weeks 'til Christmas?

I think we need to have a family meeting about fire safety, and what to do if the house ever does catch on fire.  Because it's great to know about Stop, Drop, and Roll, but knowing when to actually use it would be even better.

Also, we need to talk about how it's not actually a good idea to run around the bedroom screaming "Grab your favorite things!"

You want to know how I know you're faking the tummy ache?  One word: CAKE.

I have a test tonight.  I'm not ready.  Anyone know how to write the balanced equation for the complete combustion of methanol?  Anyone?  Bueller?

I love being part of a book club.  I just wish my classes weren't always at the same time as the meetings.

Online shopping is so easy.  A little too easy, perhaps.

In two weeks I will have made it through my first term of school!

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Your turn!

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Tuesday Morning at My House

Lately my children have been going to sleep later and later.  It seems that no amount of threatening or removal of privileges serves to encourage them to stop talking to each other and go to sleep already.

I guess I should be thankful that they're all getting along, but why does it only seem to happen between 9:00 and 10:00 at night, when at least two of them should already be asleep?

Last night, at about 9:45, I informed them that I didn't care anymore what time they went to sleep.  I was simply going to expect them to get up right when I woke them in the morning, no complaining.  Since I did this in my "Mom's disappointed in you" voice, I think they realized I meant business.

As a general rule, waking them up consists of me shaking them vigorously by whatever body part I can reach at the time (the setup of their beds - all three in one small room - is such that, if they're creative, at times they're not actually accessible to anyone less than a contortionist) and singing really obnoxious wake-up songs in a very chirpy voice, until they get out of bed just to make me stop.

This morning, I smoked them out instead.

 Oh, sourdough toast, how tasty you would have been.
Also, a new toaster is now at the top of my Christmas list.

It was the fastest I've seen them move before 9:00 in the morning.  Ever.  But they were all consequently ready to go on time today.  Possibly emotionally scarred for life, but ready to go on time.

In related news, I can take comfort in the fact that Ellie knows what to do if she ever catches on fire.  The first thing she did when the smoke alarms went off, before any smoke was even visible upstairs, was drop to the floor and start rolling around.