Five Fifty

Suzanne likes jigsaw puzzles. She had previously completed puzzles with a hundred or maybe a hundred and twenty five pieces. But for her birthday she received a puzzle of 550 pieces.

Five hundred and fifty!

Today, one week after her birthday, it was completed. Suzanne put in the very last piece, but she was assisted in completing the puzzle by many people, mostly Barb and Elizabeth.

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Elizabeth's Stage Debut

After months of memorizing, singing, blocking, and rehearsals, last night Elizabeth finally appeared on stage in Willie Wonka Kids, an abridged version of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. She played three parts: Grandma Georgina, an Oompa-Loompa, and a squirrel (in the book, the squirrels are the means of Veruca Salt's demise; in the movie it's the golden egg sorter).

I was really impressed by the costumes and the sets. Some of the kids were strong performers. Elizabeth had great stage presence, I thought.

Teresa, Aaron & Wendy (and their kids), Aaron's mom, and our friends Mark and Erica all came to the show. That's how much Elizabeth is loved by her community.

It was an entertaining show and a fun evening. Elizabeth even got flowers from some of her admirers!

Elizabeth as Grandma Georgina.

The Oompa-Loompas in this production had great outfits -- rainbow socks, lab coats and steampunk goggles. Sorry for the blurry photo -- theatrical photography is tough.

Look at that cute little squirrel!

Suzanne is Seven!

It was a crazy party, full of balloons, cake, beads, kids climbing up the walls (literally), bead-filled balloons, Hot Potato, Musical Chairs and tons of gifts. Not to mention pizza and juice and a "dark room" where the kids would go to giggle and screech. So fun!

There's something happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear. Oh, wait. It's a game of Hot Potato played with a burping pig stuffed animal (visible in Elizabeth's left hand).

Cheers! Kiera, Suzanne, Anika, and someone else raise a toast to Suzanne Hovey!

Wall Climbers Jasper and Anika. Uncle Mark used to do stuff like this. Maybe he still does!

All the chairs were away from the table for Musical Chairs. Kids don't need chairs.

The Gift Opener, surrounded by supplicants and worshipers.

Suzanne is happy, and that is what counts.

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The Waiting Place

We are waiting for the birthday party to start. As Dr. Seuss observed, no one wants to be in The Waiting Place. It's a slow and dull place to be. But soon we'll be partying!



And for some reason, the girls decided to label their balloons.

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Deschutes River Redux

Back in early June we returned for the second year to a campground near the place where the Deschutes River empties into the mighty Columbia. It's far enough east of Portland to be in the desert, so it's a very different landscape and ecosystem from what we're used to. There are some nice, easy hikes through the hills and, of course, the river itself, which offers opportunities to splash in the cold water or watch birds, of which there are many.

Suzanne celebrating our arrival. We left a Portland shrouded by gloomy clouds to arrive in glorious sunlight.

Suzanne exploring the riverbank.

The Deschutes River.

Sunset. Pretty darn Western, huh?

Beacon Rock

After a camping trip with the Wheeler-Kay-Cohens in June, we stopped at this awesome hiking spot in the Gorge. It is one of the many places near Portland where, when I go there, I think to myself, "Why didn't I come here fifteen years ago!?" It's called Beacon Rock and (according to Elizabeth, who knows more about geology than I) is a basalt column. Some maniacs built a walkway up it in 1918 (or sometime in the hazy past when people drove cars which were more like carriages with engines). God bless those maniacs, because it is a thrilling hike, full of wonderful vistas and giving you access to these micro-forests on the shoulders of this otherwise inaccessible stone.

Ascending.

That's Kai, Aaron, Wendy and Barb climbing the maniac-built walkway.

Pretty good view.

Kai, Lily, Elizabeth and Suzanne taking a breather after the climb.

The friends in front of the rock.

Sleepover

We are in the midst of a double sleepover. That means that Elizabeth hangs out with her coeval, Jane, while Suzanne hangs out with Evelyn, Jane's sister who is Suzanne's age. It's been fun. These girls are full to the bursting of creativity, although the older girls spent an awful lot of time staring at Jane's iPhone...

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