Family Vacation 2009 - Grand Lake

What a lovely long weekend it was, sharing time with the American family at Grand Lake in Oklahoma. 


The weather was perfect, not to warm and not too cool. We spent our time swimming, boating, skipping rocks, and enjoying every meal outside.  The location was perfect,  for the rental house sat directly on the lake with a flawless view from the patio. Enjoy the pics!

Every meal outside!

Rafa prepping for Smores

How many pancakes does it take to feed a family of 7??










Boater Butts

The fam enjoying the boat

Tenderness...

Lots of activities! Teatherball, skipping rocks, and LOTS of swimming!

And what is the perfect vacation without the sweetest kids of all....

"They are on the right feet!"  Zaid

 

These vacations are wonderful.  It means the world for me to not only spend time with my family, but to create lasting happy memories for the kids.  Memories that they can carry with them forever.   

Another Perfect Summer Evening

 This has been an awesome summer, and while hopefully not over yet, last night proved to us another reason we love living in Portland.  The Oregon Symphony hosts a free outside concert on the Waterfront to kickoff their season. The show starts at 5pm with the Childrens performance, and then at 7pm is the Adult performance.  The concert last about 3 hours and always ends with 1812 Overture with live Canons. During the canons, a huge sailboat puts up an enormous American flag and goes back and forth for the audience to view from land.  Immediately following is a wonderful fireworks display.

This is Rafa and I's 4th year going, and every year we marvel at how nice it must be to watch the show from a boat.  Well this year we did, and it was even that much more incredible!  To be with your family, watch the sunset behind the city, and enjoy the symphony under the warm summer sky among the soft waves beneath you...this is a good life!

Top Photo:Approaching the show
Left Photo: View of the Lawn crowd
Bottom Photos:  Rafa with bridge and Bella hiding from fireworks : )

Turning 32...

I actually don't mind getting older, a few wrinkles here and there, a sunspot or two. It is really ok for me. I get older, I experience more, I learn more, and the smile on my face just continues to grow...



And anyone who knows me, knows I love a great birthday, especially my own! I love my birthday so much, I give myself a full week to celebrate! Rafa wined and dined me every day, gave me cards, brought me flowers. He made me feel very special. We went to dinner at Portland City Grill for the big finale, and you couldn't find a morsel of food left...it was delicious!



And we did a bit of celebrating at the beach with friends:





And Nat had a bday in July so we celebrated with drinks and apps. She insisted it was "our" bday celebration, so I obliged : )



"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many". ~Author Unknown

I do not regret, for I am continuously reminded that I have so much to be thankful of.

Bella Love

Nothing like the sweet kisses of a puppy!

Perfect Summer Evening...

At the Figueira's. It was the first real gathering at our house since we moved in last October. The party was in full effect with great food, drinks flowing, and what turned out to be perfect weather and a summer evening with friends.

Rafa and I:



Happy Rafa:



Girlfriends (Stacey, Me, Olimpia, Marisa, Jenn, and Brooke)



Lots of food, too small of a bbq!



And the dessert that Cori made...yum!



Elliott (Cori and Marty's son) and Kayla (Marisa and Derrick's daughter) feeding each other strawberries : )



And the whole group (minus Cori and her other son Andrew). Peter, Rafa, Stacey, Nataliya, Daniel, Olimpia, Jenn, Mike, Me, Dan, Brooke, Amy, Derrick, Marisa, Kayla, Elliott and Marty. Oh! And Bella made the photo too! Somehow she always knows how to get in the picture, front and center. That's my girl!



Rafa and I (and Daniel) at the end!

Figueira Inner Inca

So Rafa and and I, and Bella of course, have been working on our retaining walls for the backyard. We have a short backyard and it is ALL slope. So the only solution to making it work, is the retaining wall. It has been a lot of work thus far, but so worth it. We are making progress and it feels great. Here are a few pics.

Rafa digging the trench where the blocks will lay:







First sign of progress:



More signs of progress! See the 2nd wall above too??



Much more progress!





We still have to work our way towards the deck, we are about half way done with both walls, then it is on to the front yard for more walls. Definitely bringing out our inner Inca : )

P.S. Just because there are no pics with me, does not mean I am not working. I loaded 2000 pounds of blocks on Sunday (really!) AND taking pictures : )

Deers on 57th!

Much to our surprise, Rafa, Bella and I saw two deers this morning at about 10:15 just a couple doors down from us. Neighbors have told us "legends" about the deers in the neighborhood, but we didn't imagine we would ever get to see them. So now that we have been in our new home for 9 months and 2 weeks, we are officially at home...with the deers : )

(Click on image to see larger view)