Peas!

Yesterday was a big day for McKay.  Well besides the obvious of it being Father's Day which was a good day for Daniel we started McKay on vegetables.  I have been avoiding it just on grounds of being cheap but it is time he started so Daniel brought out the peas for McKay.  I think he enjoyed it!

He really was ready and waiting for more peas.

I was having a few issues with nursing last night and again this morning so I took a look in McKay's mouth to find he has a tooth!  It is on the bottom and I think his left side.

I am not sure that I am ready for my baby to be growing up so much!  I am having a difficult time accepting that Kimber is turning two this weekend.  Somebody piped up and said that I wanted her to turn 2 before McKay turns 1 so I guess I will let it happen!

Daniel had a good day yesterday.  Started off with breakfast in bed and trying to talk to his Dad (who is in Paris with bad reception on his cell) and getting showered with presents.  I made him make his own dinner though as I don't like curry and that is what he wanted.  We ended it by playing Skip-Bo and let him win the first round.  It was a nice day though and we have been enjoying having Daniel's Grandparents staying with us.  I know of a few kids that will be sad when Grandma and Grandpa leave!

Introducing Dr. Bateman

Daniel graduated today!  We are so proud of Daniel and all of the hard work he has put into his schooling.  The kids were relatively well behaved.  I had some help with the kids as Daniel's grandparents and my Aunt and Uncle came to help us celebrate.  Here are a few pictures from the day as well as a couple of videos.  Bethany and Julie, I have some videos I need to send on to you but I would love to get copies of the group photos you took!!

Now here is Dr. Daniel.

Brandon and Daniel walking and getting their diploma's.  When they were standing there the Dr turned their hood out to show their colors saying they are now Dr's.

Mike walking and getting his diploma/getting his colors.  So exciting that they are all graduates now.  We missed not having Jeff there graduating with them!  Brandon is all done in the clinic now and Daniel will be finished in a few weeks and Mike not too long after that.  We will all be moved on by September.

Our little family with Summa Cum Laude Dr. Bateman.

Benson practicing for when he comes back here to become a Dr like Daddy.

I think this is one of my favorites.  This morning Kimber went into her closet and started tugging on this dress saying "Dre, dre, dre".  I guess she really wanted to wear this!

McKay wearing Daddy's cap.  He really just wanted to eat the diploma.

Me and Daniel... Kimber snuck in there too!

We had a bbq with the Barnette's and Humpherys' and company this afternoon to celebrate.  It was raining all day so luckily we had a shelter to hide under.  The kids had a great time running around playing with bubbles and getting wet!

Daniel's Grandparents bought us matching UWS hoodies as a grad present.  Daniel also got a t-shirt that says Well Adjusted on it.  We love them!

McKay was great and a big champ today.  He stayed in his seat through most of the bbq and was happy as long as he had his spoon!

Kimber enjoying her dinner.

Congratulations Daniel!  We are so proud of you!  I also want to thank our parents for encouraging and support our decision to come here to school.  Especially to Daniel's parents for raising such an amazing man that strives for his best.  You did an amazing job!

Zoo Day!

We went to the zoo today with my cousin Madeline.  It was great seeing her as the last time was 2 years ago.

Benson was really good and walked the whole day.  He had a lot of fun looking at all the animals.  He climbed up all over everything so he could see the animals!

Kimber loved to see all the animals.  This was her second trip to the zoo.  It was exciting to see her enjoy all the animals.  I love the hat she is wearing!  She actually kept it on most of the day.

McKay got tuckered out quickly but he did really well for his first trip to the zoo.

This picture reminded me of the first time we came to the zoo.  Benson sure has grown up here in Portland!

These two enjoyed looking at what few animals they could see from the stroller.  Kimber got to get out and look at some and play on some of the exhibits.

My Monkey trying to measure up.

Benson and Madeline playing the instruments in the African section of the zoo.

Kimber cried when I pulled her away from driving the African Safari.  She just didn't get that the other kids wanted to drive it too!

Benson enjoyed the ride as Kimber drove the Safari Jeep.

Benson kept moving just as I took the pictures but I love this one that he finally stayed still for.

Benson went into here and said "Chandler, Davey"... made me feel kinda sad!  We miss the Wach's and will miss all our other friends when we move next month.  Look at this post.

The kids were really tired by the time we got home.  Benson actually asked if he could go lay down in his bed for a while.  He didn't actually sleep but he had a small quiet time.

Daniel has made it home safe and sound from Montreal yesterday.  He was a sight for sore eyes to say the least.  He has started his finals week now and we are looking forward to Commencement this weekend.

Mother, I Love You

I have been looking at pictures tonight and I kept thinking, I want to add this one, this one and this one.  Picture overload but I want to share with you my amazing mother!  Tomorrow is my mother's birthday and I want her to know how amazing she is.  It isn't going to be an especially fun birthday because she is getting on an airplane to go on her mission but... 

when she gets off the plane she will be greeted to the beautiful country of Samoa.

My parents on their wedding day.  I always loved looking at their wedding portrait in the living room.  The joy on their faces was something I looked forward to having one day.

I am the last of 5 kids.  Now that I am a mother of 3 I think... how did she do it?  I am grateful that she did though.  I have called my Mom with an 18 month old throwing a tantrum, me bawling my eyes out because I can't help my child and she tells me 'Go to your room, I can't hear you'!  I have also called to share in little joys and triumphs of potty training, and the frustrations of it all.  When something happens I  always think, I need to call Mom to let her know.  Thank you for being my friend, confidant and my go to person!

I don't know how we got talked into sitting in this box Christmas morning but I love having the crazy memories!

I love your sense of humour!  Need I say more?

I will forever cherish the memories of our trip in Australia.  Thank you for seeing my needs and helping me make them possible.  You do this time and time again.  I can think of three right off the top of my head right now.  This trip being one of them.  I really missed you while you were in Japan and I needed my Mom time!  Second one that I thought of was when you took me to Utah to live in high school.  Now as a mother I have a greater respect for the courage, sacrifice and love that that took to let me go live there.  Thank you.  That was the best part of high school for me and shaped my future in a lot of ways that are so important now.  Third would be just this past March when I was at your house and you had the Girls Pow-Wow aka Chelsea's Intervention.  I am still a work in progress and need to get back on the Pow-Wow Wagon but I appreciate you seeing a need and stepping in to help me fix it.

You are a seasoned traveler!  I loved listening to your stories of backpacking through Europe and hoped I could do something like that.  Now I look forward to maybe following in you tracks of travelling with Dad.  Teaching in Japan, I think Daniel would love to go back, and really living in a culture to let it become a part of you is amazing.  I like that Ed is the background of this... made me laugh when I first saw it.

I love this picture of you learning the proper way of picking strawberries.

You waited so long to have grandkids and made do with loving your friends grandkids.

Now you have many of your own that jump for joy to talk to Nana on the computer or to have to come visit.  I have a lot to learn from you in loving children and nurturing them.

Four generations of Innis women.

I love to watch you with the kids.  You get so joyful with them around.  Even when they color on your carpet, or break your starfish, or poop on you or... you get the idea.

We are a bit of an interesting family.

I don't know if we don't take normal pictures

Or if I just don't get copies of the normal ones but I am glad that we have so much fun together.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday despite having to travel.  Good luck on your mission!  We will miss you so much but we a grateful for the great example you are to us.  Hopefully will be able to come visit this time around in Samoa.

Seattle

So I don't have any pictures for this one but trust me it was tons of fun and beautiful!

Thanks to Bethany we had a girls weekend last week up in Seattle.  Julie, McKay and I went with Bethany and spent the night at Bethany's Aunt's house and then we went out on the town the next day.  Yes McKay came with us.  Daniel offered to keep him here for me but that would have been more work than it would have been worth... especially since McKay has never had a bottle!

Yes, I just took this off the web... I couldn't NOT share a picture.... it was too fun!

We had a great time chatting and playing games on Friday night.  Saturday was B-E-A-utiful though!  The sun was shining, a light breeze and we were in Pike Place Market.

One of the highlights was McKay's special friend!  Julie told me was taking McKay's picture so I looked over my shoulder and saw someone walking away with their small camera on.  Creepy!  Then Julie said it again and I looked the other way to start walking and their was a lady right in front of me with a big SLR camera taking pictures.  I had him in a Bjorn facing out so his blue eyes were staring out at everybody.  About 5 minutes later after Bethany and Julie tried to lead us away and me finally just holding McKay's head so he was looking at the camera we made our escape!  Wish I had copies of the pictures though!

I saw a shirt I wanted to get for Daniel but I could easily make one.  "Trust Me, I'm A Doctor", how fitting?

We then made our way to Kerry Park that looks over the water and downtown to have a picnic.  It was beautiful and it felt so great to soak in that sun after our dreary, sunless winter!  McKay and I got a little sunburned!  I forgot to bring sunscreen for us but I tried to keep McKay in the shade as much as I could.

The rest of the day was shopping and dinner.  It was great... I also realized that I have a hard time spending money on things for me now though.  I can easily think of reasons to buy clothes and stuff for the kids but when it comes to me I can't justify spending the money.  I think Daniel was happy I didn't buy anything.

Speaking of Daniel, he is in Montreal right now taking the last of his Canadian Board exams.  He flew out yesterday and yes he slept in the airport as something is going on there making hotels way expensive.  Tonight and tomorrow he is sharing a hotel with some classmates.  He is taking the first of his exams right now.

This coming week is going to be busy!  Daniel gets home on Monday just in time to take a final.  Tuesday holds and OSCE (I don't know if that is actually how it is spelt) test for a grad requirement.  The rest of the week is finals.  Thursday Daniel's grandparents are coming into town as Daniel's commencement ceremony is next Saturday.  To end it all on a great note it will be Father's Day.

My week consists of McKay's shots Monday morning and trying to make it to playgroup plus picking Daniel up from the airport.  Tuesday I meeting up with my cousin at the zoo.   Then preparing for company and graduation.

We are looking forward to our break though!  We will be celebrating Kimber's birthday while Daniel works a sports event down in Salem.  We also will be taking "our" piano back to my Aunt and Uncles... I am sad to be parting ways with having a piano in my home.  One day I will have one again!  We will also be packing and getting things ready for our move.

Well I think that about covers it all for now.  That was long and wordy, sorry!  Hope you are all having a great weekend and if you aren't just think of me alone with three kids for four days!  Adult conversation is welcome!  Maybe that is why I just keep on writing things.  Well, adios!

Voodoo

2 weeks ago we ventured out to enjoy Portland's famous Voodoo Doughnuts.  As our time here is quickly (yes just over 6 week left) coming to an end we have a little bit more motivation to go and do the things we kept meaning to do in the past 3 years!

We got up and out of the house by 8:30 (that is quite the feat with 3 kids!) to beat the lines.  Good thing too when we got there there were tons of parking spots and a short line.  When we left there was a huge line and NO parking!  We enjoyed our Voodoo dozen.  They choose an assortment for you which is nice for the first time as we had no idea what we wanted to try.  Brooke we are going to take you here while you are here... maybe you could try the Canadian Maple, a maple bar with bacon on top.  Yum?

Yes I have kept the box so I could take a picture of it.  Now I can finally get rid of it!