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.