September 2008 Photos

Siena's friend, Haley, comes to spend each Wednesday morning with us. The girls really enjoy each other's company, and we do some fun projects on that special day together.

At 21 months old, Siena is already fascinated by LEDs like her daddy. I told Michael that he's going to need to install a work station for her in his project room in a couple of years. With a smile he said, "I know."

Siena with her friend, Christian.

Hip-hip-hooray! The beach is so much fun today!!!
Playing in the sand at the North Jetty Beach near Florence, Oregon, when we went to Grandma's & Grandpa's house earlier this month.

Aunt Michelle and Siena dig into that sand!

Siena and her good friend, Haley, really enjoy Siena's new tent from her Grandma and Grandpa Kelsey.Cheryl's sisters, Michelle & Annette, as well as her parents, came to visit us for a few days after our camping trip. Michelle flew in from New Jersey, and Annette came from Washington. It was nice to all be together. We had a lot of fun! Here we are at the Rose Garden in Portland's Washington Park.

At the end of our camping trip with Grandma & Grandpa Braley at Fort Steven's State Park we went to Seaside for lunch and a carousel ride. Much fun!

Siena thoroughly enjoyed the playground at the campground!

We were fortunate to have such beautiful weather on September 2nd, our one full day of being at the camp. We enjoyed some time at the beach, which was just a mile walk away from our campsite.

The shipwreck at the beach. Fort Steven's State Park was really a great place with so much to do. We had a great time!

It is so wonderful not to have to set up a tent...the yurt made camping so easy.

August 2008 Photos

Siena, Michael, and I enjoyed a concert at Millenium Park earlier in the month of August. What a beautiful evening to have a picnic in the park!

Siena and Misty snuggling up on a Saturday morning.

Our playgroup's 2nd Annual Picnic.

Here Siena and I are with all of our mommy and toddler friends.

We meet regularly for playgroup each Monday morning.

Our first camping trip for 2008...we stayed at Ll. Stubb Stewart State Park (Oregon's newest state campground). We enjoyed hiking the many miles of trails in this wooded area near Vernonia. We had a wonderful cabin reserved, which always makes camping easier and more pleasant for us.

Earlier in August we visited Grandma and Grandpa Braley in Florence, Oregon. We spent some time at the beach with Grandma. Siena enjoyed the sand!

Siena got a slide for our backyard this month, and she is quite good at climbing up and sliding down all by herself. (Next year we definitely need more things to keep her occupied in our backyard. Also, we're lucky to have a new city park with a toddler playground opening up just a few blocks away. We're excited for that!)

July 2008 Photos

4th of July in our neighborhood...

Siena with some friends watching fireworks on our street.

The Summit Ridge Neighborhood's 1st Annual 4th of July Parade

was held in the morning at the school at the top of our community. Cheryl helped

to organize it.

Several of our neighbors got together to have a bbq and share fireworks later that evening.

Waiting for the parade to start...
Cheryl's 35th birthday
Our friend (and photographer from our wedding), Keri, came over to our house for dinner. She taught Cheryl how to make salad rolls. Fun! Siena certainly enjoyed her company. Can you tell?! :)
Our friend, Tracy (& her dog), were in town so we had a nice visit with her. It was great having Jackie over, too! Siena loved having a dog around. (But we are perfectly happy with our cat...no dogs in our futures.)

Cheryl & Grandma Duvall at the Duvall Family Reunion. It was so good to see her again, and other family members, too. Grandma looks good for being 91. She's an amazing woman!!!

Our friends, the Woodburns, Jackie, and Steve, came over for a bbq. We're so fortunate to have such wonderful friends in our lives!
Siena likes to help Mommy bake. She's quite the helper! Here we're making a crumb cake for playgroup the next day.
We hosted playgroup at our house the last Monday of July. Each playgroup family generally hosts once every two months. This day we had 3 friends over and their mommies. Here the kids are enjoying the ceiling fan. (The simplest things fascinate them!)
Siena and Mommy met our friends at the Sherwood City Park for one of the concerts in the park. Big band music was playing that evening, and Siena REALLY got into it. Her feet were tapping, her hands were slapping against her legs, and then she found a dance partner in Keaton. So sweet! We had a fabulous time on a perfect summer evening.

What a fun-filled month, eh?!

Selected Photos, May 31-June 25, 2008

The 3 of us went on a hike at Latourelle Falls up the Columbia Gorge on May 31st.

The day started off rainy, but the clouds parted and the sun poured out of the sky by the time we left Vista Point. It turned out to be a lovely day for a hike!

We stopped at Multnomah Falls after our hike. What an expression on Siena's face, eh?!

Siena loves the towers that Daddy builds her. She's just now starting to "get into" the building of them, too. (Not just the destruction of the creations.)

Siena isn't a huge fan of coloring, but occasionally we put them out to explore with. This day she seemed to be enjoying the experience.

Tea with Grandma Braley.

Swinging at Miller Park on our trip down to Florence.

Siena loves to RUN!

Smelling Grandpa's flowers.

Father's Day 2008:

After breakfast, we went downtown Portland to Powell's Bookstore and to go to lunch.

(Daddy's wish for the day.) We had fun together and bought a few books, of course.

Siena and her friend in the pool with yummy popsicles on a warm day.

We went to Oaks Park with friends, Kirstin, Clara, & Ellis, on June 25th. Siena enjoyed the carousel ride!

Siena went on her first ride alone without Mommy or Daddy. Clara took good care of her though! :)