Celebrate! 14 Months!

I decided a few months ago, rather than look at each month LID-Versary with regret and disdain for it continuing on for so long (with no end in sight)- that I should be celebrating them. Therefore....today....14 months from LID, is another day to celebrate. Because even though it doesn't FEEL closer to the end, I do know it's further from the beginning, and that is a reason to celebrate. In honor of 14 months, I made Banana Bread. YUM. Always good to celebrate with something Yummy!

Dumpling Update & Hiking

Okay so this picture has nothing to do with this post. But to be honest as a Blog reader myself, I can appreciate that a post with no pictures is far less interesting than one sporting a cutie little girl such as the one above! It has also been pointed out to me that I have not (ever?) posted a photo of my sister on my blog. Therefore, this is my big Sister Heather, with the adorable (and by now well known) Miss Molly- although she is now 2 1/2 and I was really digging to find a photo of the national forest & I came up with this one instead....I'll be seeing her again in June and you can be certain to be inundated with pics again at that time...recent...up to date...2 1/2 year old pictures...not the 9 month old variety...Okay but I digress...

The update on the lovely little Dumpling is that she has learned that she can twist her Aunt Kelli around her little finger and I give her exactly two weeks before she learns she can do this with all the other Village Aunties as well!! I went to visit Cindy & Dumpling last Wednesday, and after a little initial shyness, she opened up and let me tickle her...what seemed like mere moments later I was flopping down on the couch again exhausted from flying her like a little airplane around the room which made her LAUGH with giddiness!!! I had not brought my camera (Thought I would give her a little break from the Aunt-a-razzi) and wished I had. Cindy had said she had a giggle that lit up her whole face, and boy was she right!

This weekend my new roommate & I went for a hike along the Salmon River in the Mt Hood National forest. Saturday was a little drippy but we gave it a go anyway, and so glad we did! It was amazing! It was about 4 1/2 miles, and a relatively easy trail, and even though it was a bit drippy, there were quite a few people on it! Clearly everyone was very ready to get outdoors after a winter cramped up waiting for the rain to pass. The water was clear & bright and fast, the forest was bright and fresh and new. The dark green of the cedar trees and the Doug firs mixed with the light and bright green leaves of the deciduous trees, just enough bright light coming through to make the whole scene look ethereal. It was a hike I had not done before, and Jim was absolutely amazed at the size of some of the trees. I think by the time we hit the half way point I was as excited as he was, pointing out more things to take photos of and send to his girlfriend! UNFORTUNATELY, since it was so drippy, I had decided it would not be a good idea to bring my camera, so he was snapping "camera phone" pics. Sorry kids, not too blogworthy (even if I did know how to get them from his phone to my computer, which I don't.) But you're just going to have to trust me on this one....the light, the fresh air, the new leaves, the rushing full river, even the sprinkles....all came together to make a pretty fantastic Oregon spring day.

Easter & Sunriver

We all had Easter together at Cindy's house- everyone brought food & Heidi brought the Pink easter bunny cake! So Yummy!

Here we are....the first Village Easter! Mary, Sharon, Dumpling, Cindy & Heidi. (and me taking the photo)

Little Miss Dumpling- she was still quite shy on easter, but let's give the girl a break, she had only been home for 3 days! Last night I went to visit Cindy & Dumpling & she was ALL GIGGLES!! She likes her aunt Kelli!

Last weekend Heidi & I went to Sunriver with Chris & her girls- Ruby & Hazel, to watch the girls while Chris was in a conference there. On Saturday we had rain so the girls dressed up in their rainsuits for a little puddle jumping! I love their boots!

Hazel was having a great time with the umbrella....it was taller than she was!
Hazel learns quick from her big sister...the puddle jumping Pro!We had such a fun time! These girls are fantastic! Heidi is holding the Adorable Miss Hazel, and I am holding the Charming & lovely Miss Ruby!
And Here is Chris with the girls. The Sunday we were there was Ruby's Family day- What a lucky and wonderful family they are!

Dumpling Day!

So after what has felt like an unendingly long wait....Cindy has come home with Dumpling at last. Why Dumpling? We all have nicknames for the little ones: Sprout, Peanut, Ling Ling, Sweet Pea, and finally, this little one, Dumpling. Actually there was no nickname as far as I knew for quite a long time, but the day we all waited for her referral to come was the day we had planned for a few weeks to make Dumplings. As it turned out, the DHL truck broke down, so on Dumpling day, we did not get to see her beautiful face for the first time...but we certainly talked an awful lot about her and she became "Dumpling" from then on. Last thursday was the real Dumpling day- as it's they day they came home at last! Here are a few pics from the airport and the day:
She was 2 in January- and such a smart little girl. Several people who have seen the pictures have commented that she very much has a smart look about her, a bit of an "old soul" as they say.
This is one of my favorites. She was a little nervous of all the aunties (she is slowly warming up to us! We even got a few smiles on Easter!) but she was holding tight to Mama for security.
Turns out she loves her shoes. Here is a girl I can love- one who appreciates a good new clean pair of shoes!!