Saturday, February 28, 2009

January 2009/ Oregon Visit and Miss Ohio

We took a trip to Oregon just after the holidays. Proof to all ye naysayers that the passes can, in fact, be traversed in the winter months. Mary Lu has a new favorite song this month, by Gillian Welch, called "Miss Ohio." Possibly even more entertaining to hear sung by the kids than the Shackleton song. This song has led to dinner time conversation like: Mary Lu: "I'm Miss Ohio. . ." then she jumps down from the table and starts running around in circles, "I'm running around with my rag top down!" To which Juan will jump in with subsequent lyric, "I want to be good, but not right now."




At the Seaside Aquarium with Grandma Jerry














Our seal buddy at the aquarium














The Oregon Coast


















Not to be confused with a beach in San Diego in January












This is a cool photo, it's Juan in a very Juan moment






















Juan and Mary Lu walking by a giant whale skeleton













At the carousel in Seaside.






















There were many, many trips around the carousel on this morning, and we were the only riders.












At Grandma Jerry's
















Juan's favorite place to visit in Oregon is the Oregon Coast Aquarium. The have an awesome exhibit right now that let him pet rays and sharks. Of note, there are some amazing blown glass pieces in with the fish--so, so pretty. Some of the rays felt like sandpaper, and some rubbery like the bat rays in San Diego.












Petting a shark. The were all youngsters. One was a tiger shark, I don't remember what the other two were.














Juan's bear climbs a tree at the aquarium















There was this wacky, crowd-pleasing puffin at the aquarium. It would splash all around and then dive underwater and come up right by the glass and get us all wet.












Juan gives his bear monkey-rides at the aquarium.





































Mary Lu anti-tight campaign started in Oregon. This led to a compromise of pants with skirts. Most socks also really make her made so getting dressed to go out is an adventure right now.



















































































Back at home


















Mary Lu got a skuut for her birthday which she is still too small for. Juan loves it, though. I'm hoping she'll grow into it by the summer for bike-riding.















Juan making tamales with John.




















Juan with our new cat, Jasper. Named for Juan's friend so that, "I can play with Jasper whenever I want to." He's an awesome cat. He hangs out with the kids, he's Leafy's buddy, he rode home with us from Oregon and slept the entire time.




























Mary Lu and Leafy
















I made Mary Lu a doll and some doll clothes for Christmas. The doll can't hold a candle to Baby Dana. Thankfully, the doll clothes fit Baby Dana as well.



















































This is "Alaska" by our house (that's our house in the background).
















Sledding at the park by our house.






























































































































































Mary Lu had a more earnest ski session this year than last year. She still was only into it for about 15 minutes, but she loved sliding along on her skis and after about 2 minutes did not want me to hold her hand. My interpretation of her growing tired of it was that she was getting bored. She wasn't going up the rope tow or anything, so it was mostly just sliding along on the snow and I would walk her up the hill a few paces and let her slide down. Probably a lot of work for her and not a lot of thrill payoff. Also, it really upset her when snow got on the tops of her skis as in this photo. Still, she can't wait to go again. Whenever we talk to Juan about skiing, she says, "me too, me ski too!"














The view from Sitzmark, where we ski
















Juan is loving skiing again this year. He's excited to go up to Mt. Baldy and try the "Magic Carpet" as opposed to the rope tow. He's doing the rope tow solo this year sometimes which he's pretty proud about.














Here he is on the rope tow solo.






























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