Where did the weekend go?

I don't even know where to start? The picture above I took today before Caleb's T-ball team photos. We had to hurry to get the photos done so I could get to church in time to teach. Molly had to work the weekend so I had to bring Alia along, which she didn't mind at all. We had a Jamboree/Baseball event yesterday at our local 4 field complex, which I must say is one of the nicest set-ups I've been around. Perfect fields, awesome parking and adjacent to a playground with a super huge park. I didn't even know this place existed... it almost made me like baseball (ha). The event was pretty cool but a little long for T-ballers. They introduced every team/player and coaches for about 20 teams and we had to run from 3rd base to home plate. The kids loved it, even though our team was the last to go. After that we played 2 innings against the Red Dragons (we're the Blue Super Heros) and the kids did pretty well. I pitched to everyone, some underhand and others overhand (Caleb) and everyone did quite well. Caleb played 2nd base and had a couple of grounders controlled and to 1st base for outs. Alia had fun playing with the sister of a boy on our team. Her mother was kind enough to watch them.

After the T-ball we went home and got cleaned up and headed to Eugene for Decker's b-day party. We stopped off and watched some of Logan's baseball game and chatted with Les and Jan. Then everyone went to Chuck E Cheese AGAIN for a wild germ ridden time! It was nice to see Les and Jan. We left Spewgene and got home around 9:00 PM and found Molly fast asleep. The kids were in bed and snoring in less than 5 minutes as well! The weather was so nice today and yesterday. After church the kids went outside and found some (what they called) seeds, and starting planting them everywhere (see photo). They both have plants growing in class, so they're really excited about seeds and plants. They're also really excited for school this week because on Tuesday they get to go to the Zoo for the whole day. Molly is going as a volunteer and I might try to get over and help as well? Caleb and Alia are such good kids and I probably don't tell them that enough....here's for turning over a new leaf!



Oh yeah, Jessica has a one page spread in June's People en Espanol magazine.

Idaho Trip

You've heard of jet lag, but what about car lag? We've just finished a long/quick trip over to Eastern Idaho for a wedding (cousin Ned) and to see our Idaho relatives. Luckily, we broke up our trip spending the night in Boise (Molly really likes) and then to Idaho Falls (Jeremy really likes) for a night and finally to Pocatello. Then back in the car for a 9 hour drive back to Portland!

Here's a quick breakdown of the events/with photos:

* Thursday - We drove from Portland to Boise. We stayed at a new Hampton Inn Suites in old downtown close to the Capital Bldg. Really nice hotel, cool shopping and eating in walking distance. Caleb and I drove to the Cabela's and spent an hour or so. Love that place but had to leave before I drained our savings account! Molly and Alia enjoyed walking to all the stores around the hotel. There was a cool Urban Outfitters which Molly really likes. The hotel had a really cool beach theme pool where the kids and I spent over an hour. The weather was so nice and sunny and Molly said she could live there....me too!



*Friday - Made it to Idaho Falls via Craters of the Moon to visit and stay with my grandma and grandpa Pilkington (above photo). They actually live in Ammon. We had a good time with them and the kids enjoyed their hot tub. It was good to see my grandma, she had a severe heart attack a few months ago and has lost a lot of her memory. She seemed healthy and mostly happy, other than when she couldn't remember things. We miss them.

*Saturday - Left the Pilkington's and headed to Pocatello for Ned's wedding. Rich, Debbie and kids along with mom and dad got there just before us. Good wedding and fun to catch up with some long lost relatives. Had a good time visiting and eating at Rod and Char's and got to go see Matt and Amy's house still in the process of being finished. Very cool house! Cousin Matt is a master builder! Got the kids to the hotel and went swimming.


*Sunday - Driving, driving and more driving. We had a great time though and we're actually thinking about heading out that way this summer. Maybe Yellowstone park? More pictures to follow....blogger is slow today.

Birthday weekend

Well the kids celebrated their sixth birthday this past weekend. Where the six years have gone I don't know. I don't feel any older, but they will always be the physical evidence of our advancing age. I guess I should have thought about that before we had kids. I was telling Jeremy that I feel like I've reached the end of a stage in life. I imagine life as having many stages, my last 31 years being one of them. I finally feel a kind of satisfied peace. I can only hope that the worst is over and can look forward to happier times. Maybe I feel like I've finally matured and realized that my life has been full of unrealistic expectations. Life is what it is; hard, fun, challenging, exciting, surprising, ugly and beautiful come to mind. That's just my view of it at this time and who knows in another 30 years it might look totally different. I'm happy to say that my kids are happy and healthy and I hope they stay that way. I can say I know volumes about what NOT to do, in fact you could call me an expert, if I can pass any of that knowledge on to them I think that they'll be okay.
The kids had their party at Chuck E. Cheese surrounded by their family and friends, to them nothing could be better then that. I think we all had an enjoyable experience. Our guests were my Tia and Anita, our cousins Jenny, Liley, Rainey and Decker, also Caleb and Alia's friends Greta, Shea, Aaliyah, and Maddy. After the party all of the family went over to my Grandma Ortiz's place and had a good visit with her. The kids were all very entertaining to her and the little girls all sang and danced to my sister Jessy's CD. The next day we had Grandma and Grandpa Tovey, Aunt Tamra, Aunt Sarah, Uncle Riley, Kendle and Morgan over for a visit. We were all very happy to see them and had a lovely day. Now we are looking forward to attending cousin Ned's Wedding in Pocatello, Idaho.