OREGON

I guess I have kind of been on blog strike for last 2 months. Partly because I feel like our life has been turned upside down since about May. We went to California and had a very busy and fun and Disney and Sea World vacation. Then a week later we sold our house. So, me being me, got to work. I feverishly worked on finding placements for my girls, sold every large item I could, and spent days boxing and boxing and purging and purging. Did I mention, I rented our house online and picked the area we wanted to live by talking to a few people that I never even met?

Then away we went to Oregon on a very long drive and arrived in the middle of the trees at dusk. Day 1, I got so lost on my way to Costco that I was having a small panic attack. I couldn't find my way out of the woods and finally asked a utility truck to help me out. (For father's day I bought a Tom Tom) Luckily "Lori" now helps we with that problem and we seem to be getting around just fine. And if I don't hear Lori when she tells me to turn, I have 3 kids telling me "Lori said, turn right!"

What do I love about this place, the vegetation is amazing! I planted Romain lettuce on the 4th of July and can already put lettuce on my sandwiches. There are blackberry bushes EVERYWHERE and the people have been so nice. My neighborhood is quiet, but I don't mind because I still feel safe with my kids outside. There walking paths that lead you all over the city and we can even walk to the YMCA. We have never gone on so many walks as a family as we do now. We love all the produce stands and the local farmers market on Saturdays. I love all the little festivals. I took the kids to the Robin Hood festival and they loved the parade. I think it was their first. We had a good time going to watch fireworks on the River on the 4th of July and Will and I were more entertained by the crowd watching. We love going downtown to eat and have had a great time seeing Portland. The kids just love the bridges every time we go to visit their aunt in the city.

We brought a cute calico kitten with us and have named her Lily. The entire street just adores her and is always petting her and giving her attention. We also adopted a sweet dog a few days ago at the local shelter. (Family, we don't want to hear from the peanut gallery) They tell us she was aged by a vet at 2 years old, but Will and I just keep saying she must be drugged or really old because she is so quiet. She never barks and prefers to lay around all day on one of the kids beds while they play in their room. She hates being alone. I really think we lucked out this time. We went back to see her twice before we adopted her because we just kept thinking she was drugged or something. She definitely minds her manners and is more like a house ornament. The shelter named her Gwen. We kept it because the name really fits. Home never home to me without the animals. :) PS Ila calls her Quinn.

Mostly we are just enjoying our life here without a million jobs and a million kids. I think there has been some overall relaxing and winding down here. We are finally starting to enjoy life and do more family activities. I will not say I am not having a hard time here without all my familiars, but I think I can find happiness here with time.