Indulgent Sunday!

We had such a lovely day today!  Jeff and I went to Lake Oswego to walk around Lakeview Bay.  The weather was warm with just a cool breeze to keep things from getting stuffy.  We got a close up view of duckings and goslings.  The ducklings were adorable!  The goslings...well they were going through their awkward teenage stage:-) I want to bring the grandsons very soon, so they too can see the ducklings.  Oh so cute!

We had intended to go to Bridgeport for lunch, so we didn't eat breakfast; this proved to be fortuitous as we happened upon a new favorite brunch place called Manzana's (apples in Spanish).

We had just enough time to look at both the breakfast and lunch menu before the called us for our table.  We were seated outdoor on the patio in perfect weather with a view of the lake.  Our server was available but not intrusive.  I had a great waffle, and then pigged out on a small side of their insanely good breakfast potatoes.  I finished neither one, but was so satisfied!

After brunch, we took a little walk around a lovely park adjacent to the restaurant area and moseyed around the general area finding a delightful Bolangerie we MUST try in the near future.  They had pastries that looked oh, so, decadent!

We then headed over to Bridgeport and took in Angels and Demons.  Good stuff with a surprise twist!

As if all of this weren't enough Jeff and I lounged at Sandoval's and I tried a jalepeno margarita...wonderful!

What a wonderful, relaxing, connecting revitalizing sort of day.  I highly recommend them on occasion!  Today was as indulgent as any sundae out there  but with fewer negative side effects:-)

Of frogs and dogs

We were out walking Finnegan at night and I cam across a frog.  I pointed it out to Jeff who was holding Finn's lead.  Jeff stepped off the curb to get a better look at the frog in the lamplight. Finny of course followed.  Finnegan went for a closer look and when he did the frog jumped on his nose.  Finn jumped back, Jeff jumped and I fell into fits of laughter.  I simply cannot do the scene justice, but you can use your imagination:-)

So in the end, Finn did not kiss the frog but the frog kissed Finn.  Guess that puts an end to the old wives tail of a frog prince.

Ahhhh Syrah

We had an impromptu dinner out with Dave and Connie, which was only mediocre, BUT we finished off with a nightcap of a fabulous bottle of Abacela 2005 Reserve Syrah.  Oh how sweet it was!  I now want to go to the cellar and pick up a few cases!  Good stuff!  

The bottle was given to me as thanks for assistance to a new family. 

We sat outside on the patio with a game  of cards in full swing and a bottle of wine, a cool breeze...who could ask for more?

Last weekend...slow to catch up

Last weekend I spent as much time as possible outside.  We took Ellie, our pet by proxy to the dog park.  She and Finn had such a good time playing.  We finished off with a nice cool down walk.  

Later in the day Jeff played with Ellie, but got a bit freaked out when he heard, just a after this shot was taken a very deep, very low growl in his ear.  I said she was whispering sweet nothings, but in fact believe she was playing in kind with Jeff.

Then, I think to make amends, she wanted to let him know that she didn't mean it which she demonstrated by placing her nose squarely up his bum!  Jeff had to do the watoosey to keep from being bowled over:-)

Mother's Day

Today I was treated to a good old fashioned snooze fest:-) I slept until 10:00! Isn't that what every mother regardless of the age of her kids desires. Ahhh I rarely allow myself the luxury as there are always so many things to be done etc.

Jeff and I walked Finnegan up to Starbucks, had a drink outside, walked around the pond and generally had a lazy day.

In the evening I was showered with flowers and chocolate covered strawberries! Now who could ask for more?

Charissa arrived to pick me up for dinner at our favorite Italian haunt. When she got out of the car she presented me with a bouquet of flowers, a bag and card. Then we headed off to Mingo's. We sat outside with with the heat lamp providing just a tad bit more than Mother Nature offered. We watched other people's children play, we talked without interruption! We ate a wonderful salad and I had grilled asparagus for dinner. Yum! As we sat outside being attended by a not too intrusive but very available server we floated down the lazy river of de Nile as raindrops infringed on our quiet and quaint dinner. We were efficiently moved inside where we continued our meal.

I had no idea what was in the bag (strawberries) so I indulged in a wonderful dessert of prunes with a rich and decadent cheese flavored with cinnamon and sugar. It was lovely! most of all i enjoyed the time with my daughter without cell phone interruptions!

I felt like a queen:-)

Family afternoon

Today Jeff, and Neil went to see Star Trek, so Charissa and Diz came over to keep us company while the guys saw the movie.  Brandon was already over here having spent the night, but was not permitted to see Star Trek.

Once here we took the kids to the park, and enjoyed the sunshine, such a rare event for Portland, especially on a weekend. 

We ate lunch in the back of the Baja.  The boys played on the play structures.  Charissa and I sat on a bench in the sun and chatted.  Finnegan sat under the bench and groaned.  The we took a walk around the lake and saw about a dozen gosslings...aww!

 

The kids played at playground number two for awhile and then we topped off the afternoon with an ice cream from Cold Stone.

Yum!

Charissa and I sat at the table with a cup of tea while Jordan napped and Brandon played a video game, another rarity at Grandma's.  

The guys came home and we ended up having an impromptu dinner together at Red Robin

 All's good!

Doggie Dash

Jeff, Bean and I participated in the Doggie Dash this year as it was our first year having a dog and while Brandon could have brought Nicky we thought it might be more fun if we still had two arms in our sockets when the day was done:-)

The weather was perfect for the mile and a half loop we chose.  The sky was blue, no rain, just warm enough to be comfortable.  We were  a bit nervous  about doing the 2.5 mile walk with Finnegan just yet as we are still learning his limits. It was really cool in the morning so Finn went along happily greeting, or ignoring other dogs without getting too overworked, overheated, or anything.  He even got a bit of pancake for his efforts. 

When it was time for the walk to start he walked along quite happily and didn't really bother with other dogs.

The was a singing dog contest, doggie kiss contest, we didn't participate:-P and the I ams so ugly I am cute contest as well.  The winner of the ugliest dog contest was a pug mined with a brindle Frenchie maybe??? The runner up was a horrible Chinese crested...how can you love a dog like that!?! 

The day was all in all a great success and as it benefits the Oregon Humane Society we will likely do it again next year, but will register earlier so that we have the opportunity to get sponsors.  We were headed to the OHS when Finnegan graced our lives.

Following the Doggie Dash Finnegan was wiped out!  Jeff looks like he smiling here but I think he is snoring too, at least on the inside:-)

DON'T READ if you have a weak stomach

I laughed until I cried!  Today Finn say our vet for a well doggie visit.  We also had to take Watson in for his shots.  Let me start by saying that the appointment was for 10:00 a.m.  Jeff had a dive trip planned for 4:00 that afternoon.  He was wearing the clothes he intended to wear on the way up.  Finnegan changed everything!  My purpose for telling you the appointment time was to give you a reference.  Finnegan eats once a day in the evenings.

Saturday morning found us on a walk at 7:15.  We walked a mile, got some cleaning done and loaded the mules (animules) in the car.  Finnegan had his head out the window, ears flapping in the wind, standing on Jeff's lap.  Then he turned around to look at my side of car...and without warning, or fanfare promptly barfed his dinner, partly digested from last evening on Jeff's leg, our leather and upholstery seat and worst of all in between the seat and center console.  Unfortunately for Jeff, I didn't even have time to warn Jeff between howls of laughter not to put him hand down on his leg, which of course he did.  Finn went right back to looking out the window.  Jeff too had his head hanging out the window.  I was howling with laughter.  We believe that too much air got mixed in Finn's tummy.  I stopped by Fred Meyer to get Jeff and new pair of jeans.  

Fully intending to clean out the car when I finally got home later this afternoon, we had a freak storm and the power was out.  Now I get to look forward to that task in the morning...I am not laughing quite as hard now.  Still, I have to admit I was giggling as I wrote this just picturing the look of horror on Jeff's face when he set his hand down.  Priceless.

Somehow, no picture would do this story justice:-)