Jan 21st-Feb 1st

After a fun birthday weekend we started the week with more birthday celebrations.  Gwenevere received a gift card to build a bear and she was so excited to use it.  After James got home from work we went to the mall.  Gwenevere picked out a build a kitten.  of course.  She used birthday money from all her grandparents.  I think it's a pretty special stuffy she has now.  

Then we wonder to Justice because we could.  Gwenevere got some overalls.  and i'm in love.  

James and Everett found the play area and I found a local toy store in the mall before we went home. 

Tuesday morning cohort was canceled because of Parent teacher conferences.  So we took the kids to conferences and then went and explored Elijah Bristow State park.  We saw horses!  the tails were beautiful as they ran along the river.  We saw a notice of cougar sighting.  the notice was from July but the kids where on high alert for cougars.  

When we where about to leave we noticed a dog park.  This got me all excited.  Hank likes to come with us to cohort but he usually spends 3 hours in the car.  Now Everett and I can take Hank to a dog park because it's just a few minutes away from cohort.  

After a long weekend.  it was nice to have James home for two more days.  (Tuesday-Wednesday) 

I love how everyone looks happy in this pictures.  hahahhaha

On Wednesday James showed Gwenevere had to make a leather leash for her new kitty.

Edgar helped Grace with her math.

Morning facetime selfies while I wake up and feed Edgar.

Thursday we invited our friend over to come play.  We had a brunch tea party and had a lot of fun.  After lunch we took Bea home and then drove to Cottage Grove to visit Amber and Girls.  I didn't take pictures again boo  but I just love Amber so much.  It's nice to have a friend in the area.

tea party time

 Edgar is always watching us eat food with great interest.  So we started introducing him to some of our favorite tastes.  I don't think you'd call it eating solid foods.  But he's loving all the samples we're letting him try.  So far he's tasted Oranges, Avocados, bananas homemade chicken broth, oatmeal, and probably a few other things,  but that's all that I can remember at the moment.  He's a fan of food that's for sure. 

Friday was a great day.  The kids and I went on a school field trip to the Aviation and Space Museum in Mcminnville OR.  wow.  there is so much stuff to learn at the  Aviation and Space Museum I can't wait to go back.

Gwenevere's favorite part was EVERYTHING!  Something she learned was that it takes about 300 days to get to Mars.

Grace's favorite part was the Spruce Goose.  She learned that the spruce Goose isn't made out of spruce wood but out of birch wood.

Everett's favorite part of the space museum was taking pictures for Papa and the first commercial airline plane we got to go inside.

Catlyn and Gwenevere  "We Can Do it"

Saturday we pretended it was another school day and did some more school work.  Everett decided to help Grace with her math and did 2 of Grace's pages in her workbook for her.  What a nice brother. 

James installed a mirror and our wall chart.  We measured all the kiddos since they all had birthdays.  Even Edgar. 

James installed our second nest box on the chicken coop.  We have 4 chickens laying eggs now.  hurray!


Speaking of Chickens.  While we where away on our field trip a couple of chickens jumped the fence.  Sunny, isn't a very smart chicken and she became a chew toy for our neighbor's dog.  BUT she lived.  James and Gwenevere spent a few days doctoring her back to health.  They spilled the medicine on our counter and now we have a purple counter.  I don't mind the color.  I like to story. 

Everett likes to call Edgar "Little Buddy"

I love sleeping with my boys.  

Monday we decided to celebrate James Birthday.  We made homemade brownies and played a board game.  Then James opened his birthday present.  (a leather copy of Tolkien's hobbit and Lord of the Rings).  James found the books when we visited Powell's Bookstore but decided not to get them.  Then the next week I got an coupon in my email and was able to purchase the books with a discount.  WIN!  Papa is reading the Hobbit to the Grace and Everett right now.  Grace is really enjoying it. 

Tuesday we decided to celebrate Papa by going to the guitar store together.  and Wednesday we decided to celebrate again with more brownies and another present.  This time we gave Papa a new pair of overalls.  

Thursday the kids and I took a walk to the park.  It's been warm and sunny.  Hurray.  on our way home we found Kiki our long lost cat.  She followed us home and we're enjoying her company not sure how long she'll stay with us.  

Everett found a four leaf clover just before we found Kiki.  I think it was a lucky four leaf clover.  

James came home from work, and then left for Portland.  He is on his way to visit his Brother Austin in California.  

Gwenevere has been less than helpful with school work lately.  I think it's the mid winter blues, dreaming of summer and vacations.  But she is persisting.  proof that we lived through today's math lesson.  

 

January week 4: Gwenevere's birthday and camping weekend

 Happy Birthday Gwenevere

We started off the birthday celebrations Wednesday night.  We packed up our camping supplies and decorated for the birthday girl.  Papa ran to the store at 10pm just to get birthday balloons for the birthday girl to wake up to.  

 Thursday morning we woke up, ate breakfast, Gwenevere opened up her birthday presents.  A chia pet cat grass plant and 6 more boxcar children books.  Then we loaded up the car and headed out on our adventure.  We stopped by Max and Rebecca's place first to drop off our stuff and to say hi.  Then we went to Powell's bookstore.  The kids where so excited.

Gwenevere got a Cat book, James got an archery book, I got a children's book  (The Book of Mistakes), and Everett got a maze book.  Grace was saving her money for an ikea elephant.

I love listening to her read

 After roaming around Powell's for an hour we headed to Ikea.  The girls and I went inside while James stay in the car with Everett and Edgar.  They took Hank on a walk while they waited.

The girls and I zoomed through the store as fast as we could.  We were on a mission to buy a new dresser for the girls' room.  But we made sure we took full advantage of our blitz shopping and bought a few odds and ends along the way.  Gwenevere bought a toy mouse, Grace bought an elephant, I bought a few more shelves for the house and then we purchased the big dresser.

After Ikea, we stopped by dominos to pick up some dinner.  Then we went back to Max and Rebecca's house for the evening.

Rebecca made Gwenevere some chocolate cookies.  We ate dinner and sang happy birthday.  Then Gwenevere opened up the gift from Max and Rebecca.  She got a notebook and some gel pens.

 After Dinner James and I took off for our first date since Edgar was born.  Rebecca and Max watch all four of our kids plus their three.  It was a party.  Thank you Rebecca and Max.

While the kids played James and I went out to eat.  We where both not hungry so we found a little coffee shop and enjoyed some hot chocolate and tea before we went to the Judge John Hodgman Show.

The show was fantastic.  a little weird, Portland Weird, but fun,

After the show we debated sticking around to meet John Hodgman in person.  But we decided against it.  Instead we took Hank on a walk and talked for over an hour.  Oh how I love uninterrupted time with James.  We talked about plans for the upcoming year.   Dreams for the future and goals for the now.

When we got back to Max and Rebecca's house.  The kids where all asleep.  We visited with Max and Rebecca for about an hour and then we headed off to bed.    Rebecca and Max had a vacant apartment we where able to sleep in.  Max fixed it up with candles and all.  We took the kids over to the apartment with us so they didn't wake up Max and Rebecca during the night.

Photo credit:  Rebecca  Edgar sleeping while we where on our date.

During the night Edgar was sleeping next to Grace on a sleeping pad on the floor.  I fed him at midnight right before going to sleep.

Suddenly I woke up.  It was 6am and Edgar never woken up during the night.  I lean over Grace and gentle touch Edgar's chest.

Nothing.

I started to rub his chest waiting to hear him breath.

Still nothing. 

This is not the first time he's done this.  I took a breath and move my hand to his face.

I touched his cheek, it was cold.  I tried rubbing his face eagerly hoping he'd breath any second.  

Touching his face freaks me out.  I thought to myself,  "Is this real? He feels so cold."

Then I said out loud, "Come on baby, breathe"

I moved my hand back to his chest still rubbing, "Should I do CPR, or should I wake up James?  I still can't believe he hasn't taken a breath yet."

I looked over at James ready to call his name.  He's better at CPR then me.  

Then it happened,  Edgar took a deep breath.  

I let out a huge sigh of relief and then my heart start pounding.  I started to shake, grateful he was breathing again. 

This was by far the scariest of Edgar's sleeping scares.  He's done this two other times to me.  

After thinking about this experience I've come to realize two things.  First,I'm grateful that Edgar still wakes up 2 times a night to nurse.   and Second, I think Edgar is a deep sleeper.  I'm glad he sleeps next to me most nights.  I think he needs my breathing to help him regulate his. 

I did fall back to sleep for a bit but it took me a while to relax again.

When everyone woke up, we packed up our things and headed out for another adventure.

This time to Fat City to eat breakfast.  The place was crowded as usual.  Everett was overwhelmed by the noise but did a great job coping with the experience.  We used ear plugs to help decrease the sound and some redirecting that seemed to work. 

Everett enjoying 2 suckers from Fat City Cafe.

After breakfast we walked over to Thinker Toys.  A toy store Gwenevere had a gift card to from Dumpa from last Christmas.  Gwenevere picked out a charm bracelet and two charms. 


after a few more errands (deseret bookstore for garments and an archery store for arrows) we drove to Lincoln City.

We got a bandana because is supposedly makes him look friendlier.  A great trick for being out in public with a dog.  

The campgrown was wet.  So glad we where staying in a yurt.  The kids had so much fun walking around the the rain puddles.  We where able to check in an hour before check in.  We unpacked and set up house.  Then I ran to the grocery store to pick up groceries for the weekend while James and the kids played. 

When I returned home we ate dinner and then James took the girls shopping for a raincoat for Grace.  They went searching for a simple rain poncho but couldn't find one.  They ended up an gymboree and found a really cute yellow raincoat that is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. 

Finally it was time for bed.  Rebecca and Max arrived around 8pm we where party poopers and went to bed without a campfire.  It was pretty rainy all night anyway. 


I woke up to silence.  All my babies still fast asleep.  It's a rare thing for me to wake up before my kids.  I layed in bed just enjoying the peace.  Finally James got up, he too was awake just enjoying the quiet morning. 

Gwenevere slept all night in her hammock 

 Rebecca spoiled us with a dutch oven breakfast.   While we waited for Breakfast to cook the kids roasted marshmallows, made marshmallow men and burnt toast.  I love seeing my kids play with fire. 

Charlie is a great chief

I'm not sure what it is either.  hahahhaa  It once was a marshmallow man

Photo credit:  Rebecca

Photo credit:  Rebecca

I can't get over how cute this kid is.  Shout out to Primary.com  They have very comfortable clothes for my sensory sensitive kid.  He loves the bold colors just as much as i do.  Plus no logos.  

We also took walks to the lake, waded through water puddles, and enjoyed lots of warm tea and hot chocolate. 

Grace rocking the dock. I love this picture.  She looks a little wild and free
Photo credit:  Rebecca

Soon Grandma Sharolee and Grandpa Don arrived.  We  sang happy birthday and Gwenevere opened up her birthday gift.  Gwenevere and James had made dutch oven brownies that went along with the birthday celebrations. 

Gwenevere received a nook (digital book thing) and a gift card to build a bear.  She was so excited.  And has already started reading The Little Prince.  Such a great story.  Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Cox.    While iIm mentioning gifts.  Gwenevere also received some money from Grandma and Grandpa Thomas and some cash from Red Grandma.  She used all her gift money to get the herself her dream build a bear pet.  It was a very special birthday for her. Thank you all. 

After lunch Rebecca and Max packed up camp and then we headed to Neskowin beach. 

All morning it hadn't rained and our good luck continued throughout the afternoon as we played at the beach.  Chasing waves.  Climbing rocks.  Digging in the sand and exploring the ghost forest  2,000 year-old Sitka spruce stumps, the remnants of what used to be a forest of 200-foot trees. At low tide the remains are scattered in the sands on the southern reaches of the beach. This “Ghost Forest” made its debut after violent storms hit the coast between 1997 and 1998. The stumps are believed to have been buried and preserved by the same event that destroyed the trees – likely an earthquake or tsunami.)https://www.outdoorproject.com/adventures/oregon/beaches/neskowin-beach-state-recreation-site

Photo credit:  Rebecca

Photo credit:  Rebecca

Photo credit:  Rebecca

Just a girl in her raincoat with a lighter.  

I spy a cat  (aka Gwenevere)

Rebecca and her awesome skills at work

Playing in the waves

I love my new rain boats and my warm dry toes as a chase waves with my kids

Grandma holding Edgar so I can play

 After playing at the beach we drove up to Tillamook.  We had first planned to attend a cousin's baptism but weren't able to make it so instead we took our cousins out for ice cream at the tillamook factory.  We bumped into Red Grandma, Aunt Val and Deanna and Callie.  It was fun seeing everyone. 

Edgar tasting the ice cream.

After ice cream.  We said goodbye to cousins.  Grandma and Grandpa Cox went back to Longview, Rebecca and Max drove to Portland, Brittany and her boys went home and our little family drove back to Lincoln City for another night.  

Once again we arrived home tired.  James built a fire and we roasted bratts over the fire while he read to us from The Hobbit.  Grace whittled on a stick while she listened to the story.   

Everett and Edgar where too tired to roast bratts so they went to bed without dinner.   

The next morning James made breakfast,  then we went back to Gymboree to pick up another raincoat since they were on sale.  The sale they had on Sunday wasn't as good as the friday sale so we didn't get the raincoat.  instead we got the boys matching Christmas sweaters, Gwenevere a dress and Grace a penguin necklace.  

Everett wearing his new sweater and hat

I just love that he's wearing a sweater.  it's a dream come true.  

 once again the tide was in. after shopping, we drove to the beach and watched the waves.  It was beautiful. 

Our Friend Seagull.  With a hurt foot.  

After watching the waves,  We went back to camp.  Packed up and started our drive home.  We stopped a few times to look at the views.  We debating visiting a museum in New Port,  but in the end we decided just to go home.  We had a lot of fun exploring and we where ready to be home.

We came home, unpacked.  Played Uno and went to bed.

It was the best Birthday Weekend Celebration EVER!

Thank you family for celebrating Gwenevere with us.  

Thank you Max and Rebecca for watching our kids while we went to see Judge John Hodgman.