Unconditional Love

I was a little irritated with Beren tonight when he showed up at the bathroom door needing to use the potty a mere two minutes after I had sunk down into a hot bath. "Beren, I grumbled, you knew I was coming in here. Why couldn't you have gone potty then?" "When you first came in here, I didn't feel like I had to go," he patiently explained. "Right!" I snorted. "Mama," he replied. "I love you. Even when you're difficult!"

The Public City Transit Bus

So awhile back Beren got a video called "There Goes a Bus." It is a real-action documentary type show for kids that explains all about how buses operate. To ride one of these buses became Beren's fondest dream. Whenever we would see one he would gaze with longing and sigh deeply and meaningfully from the backseat. So yesterday, we decided to grant his strange little wish. We planned a bus trip into Portland to Powell's Book Store. On the way there Beren explained all the features of the bus to his neophyte parents. Eric has some experience with public transit but I am a complete innocent. Anything Beren couldn't recall from the video he asked our fellow passengers. He was especially delighted with the experience of pulling the cord to let the driver know our stop was coming up and with exiting out of the rear doors on our return journey. After book shopping we all got hot cocoa and cookies at a nearby shop. It was a great day!

Great minds . . .

So check it out. These are the pajamas Holly (my sister) and I picked out for our sons completely independent of each other. We only discovered the similarities when she and Landon came to stay overnight with us last week. Crazy, eh?

Beren's classroom

After trick-or-treating

Pilgrim Problems

Mom: Well, Halloween is over now. What holiday comes next?
Beren: Um ... Christmas?
Mom: No, before that, in November.
Beren: Thanksgiving!
Mom: That's right. And what do we celebrate at Thanksgiving?
Beren:(long pause)... Chicken!

The Age of Accountability for Felines

Beren: (to Mom) "I offered to baptize the cat, but he just looked at me, so I guess that's a no."

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23...

We were doing introductions in Elders Quorum today, so I said I was the instructor that taught on weeks of the month that were prime numbers, except for the 5th Sunday (and then reminded everyone that 1 is not a prime number). Most of them looked at me like I was an alien. Don't they teach math in school anymore?

Beren begins enjoying his Halloween costume. Should I buy some kibble?

Holly and Reid's Birthdays

We had the family who are currently living in Oregon (minus Adam who had to work) over on Sunday to celebrate aging. My camera's setting are screwed up again so some pics are a little washed out, but what can ya do? We also took some video for family members who are living out of state. I love my sibbies!

Peaches! Victory!

The fact that these golden bottles of summer exist is a miracle considering what we went through to get them. There are too many obstacles to list but some of the highlights include crazed, greedy U-pickers and racoon attacks. Nevertheless, we have prevailed. My mom gave me the jars, my mother-in-law provided the equipment and expertise, and behold! I may now rest easy is the halls of my canning crazy ancestors.

The Mowrer Family Visits a Farm and Takes Goofy Pictures

Eric and Beren tackled the corn maze while mom and I determined that the Elberta peaches were too green to pick. We viewed the animals, rode the hay wagon and a cow train, and had some good eats. A nice 3-generational day! The sunflower picture is of us and Eric's parents, Jim and Mary. I couldn't ask for nicer in-laws :).

Beren Before First Day of Kindergarten

Beren After First Day of Kindergarten

Tooth Fairy Where art Thou?

Big day at our house today. Beren couldn't quite make it to the first day of kindergarten before shedding teeth. He lies in bed as I speak, dreaming of the untold wealth accruing beneath his pillow. Earlier today he tried to convince me that said fairy leaves gifts as well as lucre. Nice try buddy! Gotta save something for Santa.

The Rice Crispy Rameumptom

*Warning: If you are not a Mormon, this post will make no sense whatsoever.
So in my youth Sunday School class, we just got to the part about Alma and his bretheren going on a mission to reclaim the apostate Zoramites. When they get there, they discover the people have indeed gone astray and are worshipping by climbing to the the top of a tower (Rameumptom=Holy Stand), reciting a very unhumble "prayer" and then forgetting about God entirely until the following week. This was my idea to help the kids remember the story. Naturally we had to tear down that tower and consume it! One of them even tried to devour the Lego Zoramite, but I restrained him.

What Goes Through The Mind of a Five Year Old?

On the way to church today, we got the following two questions from Beren out of nowhere.

1) Is metal harder than concrete?

2) Is power invisible?

It's like he's secretly building a mad scientist's bunker and had a few things he couldn't work out just yet.

Paul Senior's Got Nothin On Me!

You lookin at me?! Are YOU looking at me??!!!!

Behold . . . the auto!

Halleluia! Hosanna! Yee-haw! The great car search is over. Peace can once again reign in Castle Mowrer. Better make that that Hovel Mowrer since we are now financially of the peasant class. Oh well, we can always live in our car :). Long may it transport us thither and yon while watching DVD's, loafing on leather, and coasting along on cruise control. Ahhhhh . . . my Sienna, how I love thee. There ought to be a song . . .

Berenisms: Consumer Reports

It's that time again. Time to replace our tired old cars, or at least one of them. Heather picked up the latest edition of Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide. I kid you not, Beren has read that guide EASILY 10 times more than Heather and I put together. And, since he can actually read, and not just look at the pictures, he takes great pleasure in letting people know how desirable their cars are. We've had several talks about how it is not appropriate to tell Brother Soandso that their Chevy whatever is a terrible car because the 2005 redesign introduced clumsy handling and a harsh ride.. When he discovered that Grandma's car was a Consumer Reports 'best bet', he had to call her that night and share the great news.

He's 5. FIVE. As in one year for every finger on your right hand (based on the average hand, actual finger counts may vary).

What have we gotten ourselves into? I can only hope he'll use his powers for good.

Girls Night Out!

So these chicks are my homies from the Yamhill Ward. We've been through a lot together . . . Sunday school, seminary, high school, and in some cases, college. Amazingly, we were all together in one place and are still so smokin', how could we not get together? Going clockwise from the left this is Sara Walker, Sarah Webster, Mindy Judd, Me, and Rachel Rollins (Rachel made me swear I would post that she is prego in this pic). So is Sarah (Blanchard) Webster., but more newly so.

CRUISE REUNION #3

For those who may not remember, we made a couple of great friends on our first cruise 2 years ago. Since that time, Windy (Washington) and Brian (California) have come to see us annually to rekindle the joy.

We went on the Willamette jetboats this time which was totally fun, if a little damp. Brian graciously yielded his seat on the edge to me for the return trip. Hence my bespeckled teeshirt and hair that took two days to comb through. What a gentleman.




Chilling out at Saturday Market.


Okay, you have to admit, this is some killer photography. Too bad our friends had to suffer for my art.


Eric was so exhilarated when he found out he was getting two board games for his birthday that he transformed into Vishnu and promptly wet himself.

Beren's 5th Birthday!

Beren, on the day he turned five, practicing his French Stewart impression

For his birthday activity, Beren chose to go to the Children's museum. Though I have hope for him to evidence theatrical tendencies, he seems to have inherited a disturbing amount of his father's minimalism. Out of the whole wardrobe room in the theater, all he wanted were the shoes.

His favorite place was the simulated grocery store. You can't tell from the photo, but he was very thorough. He passed every single item over the scanner individually even if the customer had millions of things in his/her cart.



Daddy had fun too. A little too much really.

Beren ponders the all important birthday wish . . . What would my mother want? Should I wish her a new dress, a new car, one full night of restful sleep? I wish I knew.

The Halls Grace us With Their Washingtonian Presence

Don't be fooled by this stoic image. Moments before they were going down the slide and screaming like little girls.

This is their new chunk baby, Blake.

What goes up . . .

. . . Must come down.

Berenisms

Dad: Some day you'll be as tall as I am. I'm done growing taller, but you're still going.

Beren: You're as old as you can get, huh?

Dad: lol. Something like that.

Why Can't Vacations Last Forever?

What happens in Mexico stays in Mexico! Just kidding . . . they're virgin :).

Scuba anyone? We almost didn't think we were gonna be able to do this. It was rather intimidating and felt extremely awkward at first. Fortunatley we persevered and lived.

Eric had this dress made for me for my birthday. Isn't he great? I got to pick the fabric, go to fittings etc. and pick the style.

Four-wheeling in Mazatlan. I could do this all day. Really.

Lunch at Pipis! We discovered the restuarant in 1996 and it became a favorite. Going back was pure nostalgic joy!

Beren Asserts His Independence

All I want is a picture of my little boy practicing his talk for primary . . . smiling. Is that too much to ask?

It's my birfday!

What can I say? Twenty-five never felt so good!

Happy Valentines(ish) Day!

So if you read "Brallierfest" (and you really should)you already know about this, but for those of you who secretly resent Becki for her lightning-quick posting ability (her kids probably went hungry just so she could get hers up first) here is my more leisurely post about the same event. On February 16th we went to a stake dance together. We ate, we danced, we irritated older couples by taking tons of pictures and hiding in the decorative bushes and we played Balderdash in the gameroom (the reason Eric consented to go). They had a cool floor show with "Lion Dancers" (see pic) who shredded some lettuce from the Stake President's hand. We did not eat this symbolic salad, but a good time was had by all.