Back together again

Jonny drove here last Friday, so our family is once again back together. We are still staying with my folks, so that is difficult on all. The boys are doing fairly well but I think once we have our own place they will feel more settled and less whiney. And that will be good for mommy. We are very seriously and thoroughly looking for a home to rent. It seems every time we find something in a somewhat decent neighborhood they either don't take our dog or there is already a pending application. The rental market here in this area is turning out to be quite difficult to get into and find the right place.

Other than scouring through rental ads these days I have also made a new friend. She is actually the wife of an old friend of my husband's and mine. He married a woman from Germany quite a few years ago, so we have met her a few times before but never had a chance to really get to know her. So she is here in the states for a 3 month visit and her and I just decided to start taking our kids out together to go do fun things. We went to a fun park by the zoo, and we also visited a fun park downtown Portland that has a fun water feature for kids to play in, and just yesterday we went hiking up at Hoyt Arboretum. So far these have all been free things to do. We plan to go on several other "field trips" as well. It has really brought much joy to my life to hang out with a friend who has children sort of close to my kids ages. Below are a few picture's of our adventures.

Jacob, Josiah and Greta at Portland Rose Garden... Mt Hood in background

Isaac, Josiah, Greta and Lauren by Magnolia tree in Hoyt Arboretum

I couldn't resist this one... can you say awwww.... Josiah and Greta

I am usually quite good with flowers names, but we saw this at Hoyt Arboretum yesterday, and I cannot think of the name of it. Anybody know? Isn't it gorgeous!?

My dad took Josiah on his first fishing trip last friday and they caught 4 fish. It was just the 2 of them... Josiah and his "Papa." Jonny and I were sad that we could not be with him to catch his first fish but this is a special memory that him and his papa will always have. This picture was taken after they got home and Josiah had taken a little nap in the truck on the way home so he's a bit grouchy. But catching the fish is all he talked about for 2 days, so we know he had a good time, you just can't tell from this picture. It's still cute though. I am also told that my son caught the biggest fish that day too. Now getting him to eat this fish was rather difficult... especially since mommy let it slip that Papa cleaned the fish by taking their guts out and cutting off their heads. Well, at that point, there was no turning back, he was not going to eat a fish that Grandpa killed.

Thanks for hanging in there with me during this last month's absence. Blessings to all.