This morning Paul woke me up at 6am (do you know that it's Saturday?). Why? To go to the REI garage sale. It was worth it! We were about 20th in line and scored some hiking boots, chacos, a backpack and some climbing shoes all for ridiculously low prices. We've decided to make it an annual event. We've been before but never gotten up so early. And yes, in case you are wondering, Dave Duff was about third in line! He always beats us.  

My brother Dan is on a student ministry team that this summer goes around to different camps and helps out with counseling, etc. Someone told me about this picture of Dan on Mt. Gilead's website. If you knew my brother, you would think this was hilarious. Talk about getting out of your comfort zone! WE LOVE YOU DAN!!! 

One time, when I was young, my brother and I were in the same Sunday School class.  It was a small church.  The Sunday School teacher (bless her heart) asked us the inevitable question about what had been going on in our lives. 
My brother liked to tell stories.  Mostly ones that weren't true.  So while him and I were there in front of everyone he made up a story about how his family had gone to Hawaii that week on Alaska Airlines.  Being young and innocent I first thought, "wait a minute, did I miss something..."  Then I thought, "is he really stupid enough to let me catch him lying so I can tell on him".  As much as my brother liked to lie, I liked to tattle. 
Then I realized, "It's fun to lie!"  I felt a camaraderie with him, and even thought about helping him out.  Even as an adult, I sometimes wonder whether I could make up stories and get away with it.  The thought crossed my mind earlier today.  "What if I started a blog that only contained made up stories by me?"  The thought was electrifying!  This is what is so beautiful about blogging. 
 
P.S. I mean lying in the most non-harmful way :)

Titles of some kindergartener-made books:
 
Shrek's Birthday Cake
The Snow Wolf that Could
The Mean Fairy and the Theater that got Bombed Adventure
The Freaking Out Scared Dragon
Mean Butterfly and Scary Mad Tree
 

Kara and Annie picking blueberries on Sauvie Island 

Marionberries 

We love our church here in Portland, Mosaic (we don't yet have a website or I would link you), but this weekend decided to visit a church in Seattle named Mars Hill. We absolutely loved it. It's so refreshing to see churches doing church differently all over the world.

Beans 

Romaine Lettuce 

Lettuce 

Our Garden 

The Emerald City (from Alki Beach) 

My favorite place to eat in Seattle 

At the Ballard Locks 

Our Seattlite friends Sarah and Paul 

On the sailboat before watching the fireworks from Elliot Bay 

Here are some of the pictures from Seattle. You can tell we new digital camera owners because we take sooooo many pictures. I will post more tomorrow.

Happy Independence Day!!! We were in Seattle for the weekend and had TONS of good times with my best friend Sarah and her fiance Paul. I have pictures but the software I use to put them on the blog is not working so you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see them.

These are the apples I told you about a long time ago. Yes, I saved them. Now that I have taken a picture I am going to finally throw them away. 

A man attempted to rob a bank, but wasn't able to get past the front door. Due to a previous holdup, the bank had installed a system to buzz in customers. Suspicious employees refused to unlock the door since the man was wearing a stocking over his face...

This is the reason I am up at 3:23 am. I ordered decaf and I just hate it when this happens. I'm finding that I can be surprisingly efficient early in the morning.  

We sold our car. It wasn't as painful as I thought it was going to be, especially when we started to decide which kind of digital camera we were going to buy with the money. We chose one and so far we love it. Paul figured out how to work it in two minutes.
Below are some pictures of out first day with our camera. We had fun playing around with it. I am really excited to be able to share more of our life through our blog. I know my family especially enjoys reading it and many of our friends as well.

The fun begins 

Paul speed reading the manual for our camera. Isn't he amazing? 

Paul is overjoyed that we have a new camera. 

My favorite Portland fountain 

The Rose Garden 

Bon Voyage to my parents, who this summer are fulfilling a dream of going on a cruise to Alaska! I can just see them waving from the deck of a ship.

We have a car to sell! Anyone need a car with high milage that overheats in the summer sometimes? It's a steal at 800$. The other day I was cleaning out the car and became very emotional as memories of first date, first kiss, honeymoon and vacations came flooding back to me. I can asure you that as the sold car drives away from our house there will be tears in my eyes. I have to remind myself that a sold car means a new digital camera for me and my little blog!

I heard this in passing last night at "Last Thursday" an art/street fair:

"Cool, who did your tatoo?"
"Well a guy started it but then he died..."

So the taste test was a low carb alternative to mashed potatoes and they were surprisingly very, very good. I actually loved them. I am still hungry for dinner though.

My Grandma - Bonnie 

I am going to take a taste test today at 2:30. I get paid twenty dollars for it. Hey, I would take a taste test even if I didn't get paid for it. I love tasting. Helpful advice from my grandma when I told her about the test: "take big bites Annie, then you won't need dinner." That's why I love her!

We went out for a hike on Saturday and ended up climbing rocks! Also, we went canoeing and saw two beavers. I think canoeing is one of my favorite outdoor things to do. I like laying in the bottom and sleeping.

Photo by Paul 

Well, it's a hot day here in PDX. Yesterday Paul put the air conditioner in our bedroom window. Alas, the poor little machine only cools one room even if we strategically direct the air flow with fans. It doesn't often reach the 90's here.
We have harvested spinach, lettuce and radishes from our garden so far this year. Oh, how I wish I had a digital camera. I would take pictures of all our produce. Paul is such a diligent farmer. The rows are planned perfectly and placed painstakingly. Each vegetable is cottled and harvested at exactly the right time. I'm so proud of my perfectionist husband. He really is reaping the rewards and daily explodes with joy at some new change in the garden.
Well, that's the news here in Portland, Oregon. Where the sun shines brightly, the vegetables grow strong, and the husbands are above average.

This chuckle is being brought to you by our neighbor Jason Johanson, who even told me I could take credit for this one if I put it on my blog:

Student: "Jason, Eric said the 'G' word!!!"

Jason: "What is the 'G' word?"

Student (whispers): "Jerk."

If you are a person who sees Paul pretty often you may notice that up until now he has been wearing a different variation of the same thing for most of his life. Don't get me wrong, I love the look! But, there are only so many combinations of jeans and t-shirt possible. Paul and I decided that new threads were in order. We went shopping today specifically for Paul. He's now a fan of the funky button up shirt! You'll notice next time you see him - a new confidence - a new style. I do have one thing to say though, we did buy an ungodly amount of polo shirts. I guess you can't teach an "old Paul new tricks".

The following pictures are courtesy of Peter and Jessica Stitcher, our new friends across the parking lot who are new here in PDX. It's so great to live near friends. SIX of our neighbors stopped by today at different times including Peter and Jess. SIX!!! I feel so blessed!

Paul, Michael and Peter at the Ape Caves 

Peter, Michael and Paul 

Kindergartener shows me a picture of a rainbow and asks me:

"Is this a shooting star?"

Get a free ipod HERE

Not only do we have pet birds, we now have pet squirrels. We didn't want the squirrels as pets, but ya put food out and who knows what kind of animal you will attract... By the way, we have yet to see a bird take a bath in our bird bath.

If you were praying for me today, thanks. The interview went well.

As I was on my way to the interview, I stopped to get gas at a local gas station. When the attendant (who was a nice, older man) saw that I was dressed up, he asked if I was going to work. I said no, I'm actually on my way to an interview. He looked me straight in the eye and with the kindest, most sincere smile on his face he said, "Oh, I just know you're gonna be great. I'll bet you're just the person they're looking for." It made my day!

Home Sweet Home! (last fall) 

In an effort to attract more pet birds to our house, Paul is putting in a birdbath. I'll let you know how it works out. No luck on the dog issue either. I tried pleading in my most pitiful voice. He's immune. So we can have more birds, but no dog, where's the logic in that!!!

Odd experience of the week:

We bought a book about our new truck (manual type) on Half.com the other day. A few hours later a man shows up at our door with the book and money to reimburse for the shipping we paid. HE LIVED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Of all the places in the world this book could come from, he lived in our NEIGHBORHOOD. It actually wierded me out a little.
For those of you who don't know how half.com works: if you have a book you want to sell you can just post it on this website and people can buy them from you and it's your responsibility to send it to them. Kind of like eBay without the bidding.

(this is my 101st post to my blog!)

Kindergarten:

Student draws many slashes, dashes, and squiggly lines in thier journal.

"Look Mrs. Robinson, I'm writing in Chinese."

For a reward today let the kids watch "The Fox and the Hound". We watched half of it on Friday and half today. I am amazed at how much kids love that movie even though it was made in my childhood. Our family had a record of the soundtrack to the Fox and the Hound and we used to listen to it over and over. I can still hear Big Momma...

Sharing this morning: (kids get to share things that happened to them or are important to them)

Student 1: I got to see Shrek 2 on Sunday...

Student 2: I got to see Shrek 2 on Saturday...

Student 3: I got to see Shrek 2 on Saturday...