Swim First, Dress Up Later

After swim lessons, the girls wanted to head to the Lake Grove Swim Park (ie. the lake). Last Friday, Gwynn took the test which allows her to swim in all three of the "pools." The first pool is the shallowest with the second pool getting a little deeper. The last pool is where the diving board is. All last summer, I tried to motivate Gwynn to take the test but she never felt quite confident enough. This summer she was ready and did it. Now I can't get her away from the deepest part of the lake. Today was no different. While Gwynn hung out with some friends, I stayed back with Paige swimming in the first pool. We took breaks every now and then to get some sun or watch Gwynn jump off the dock. Paige especially liked getting her picture taken and taking pictures. I see her enjoying photography in her future.

When we got home from the lake, it was time to shower up and get beautified. Tonight was our annual "Girls Night Out." The first year I came out to Oregon, Auntie Mar, Gwynn, Paige, and I enjoyed a dinner at Newport Bay, a restaurant on the water. Because it was just us girls, Gwynn named it "Girls Night." This has become a yearly tradition. The second summer the girls and I went to Cheesecake Factory and last year we enjoyed dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. This year, the girls really wanted to go back to where it all started. We started the night with drinks and an appetizer. Auntie Mar enjoyed a margarita while I went with a Mai Tai. While the girls enjoyed their clam chowder, Auntie Mar and I dipped into some crab and spinach dip. Our entrees came out shortly after, Paige with Grilled Cheese, Gwynn with Linguini and Cream Sauce, Auntie Mar with Pan Seared Scallops, and me with Herb Crusted Halibut. All was delicious (even though service...well...sucked). We ended with desserts, the girls enjoying their chocolate raspberry cake and a couple "tastings." It was a great end to a fabulous night with the ladies. Thanks Auntie Mar for a lovely meal and wonderful company.

A Dip in the Pool

Tomorrow the girls will start their final week of swim lessons which made me think of all the pictures I have taken at the swim park. Here's a quick slide show of some of the moments caught at the Wilson High School Swimming Pool.

Bring on the All-Stars

Wednesday was a big day for Auntie Mar and I. During the day, we made the trip to PGE Park to participate in rehearsal for the flag ceremony. Last week, an email came around Intel asking for 100 volunteers to participate in the flag ceremony at the AAA All Star Game. These volunteers were asked to hold the large American flag during the singing of the National Anthem. I jumped at the opportunity and after finding play dates for Paige and Gwynn, Auntie Mar joined me.

Who knew we would have to practice several times, walking down the stairs, out onto the field, unrolling the large flag, holding it tight, rolling it back up, and exiting the field. After a very unorganized practice, Auntie Mar and I were dismissed for a couple hours until the game was to begin. We walked from 18th to 23rd Street to enjoy some dinner at Papa Haydn. We each enjoyed a local brew and the warm salmon salad. Delish!

We arrived back at the field just in time to wait some more. Why they had us there at 6:15 when we didn't walk on the field until 6:45 is beyond me. I will say this, it was quite a rush to walk onto the field knowing that everyone was watching, well everyone except the people watching the game on ESPN2. The ceremony went off without a hitch and we made our grand exit from the field only to learn that we missed the ceremonial first pitch thrown out by Mr. Red Sox, Johnny Pesky. Bummer.

A picture of the flag that was published in the local paper, The Oregonian

The game itself was also fun to watch. By participating in the flag event, both Auntie Mar and I were given 2 free tickets each. The girls (and their friend Kelsey) enjoyed the seats with Auntie Mar, while I watched from behind homeplate with Uncle Mark. Every now and then we played musical chairs, with each of us taking a turn at both places. Here's a slide show of some of the highlights from the night.

AAA All Star Players

Adventures of the Famous San Diego Chicken

Fun with Camera

Another fun night at the ball park.

Baseball and Apple Pie

So we weren't entirely sure if we were actually going to get to go today but Uncle Mark pulled some strings and got us an extra ticket to today's festivities. As a season ticket holder, he got two tickets for today's batting practice and autograph session. At the Home Run Derby last night, he scored us another ticket so the girls and I headed to PGE Park today after swim practice.

I think I've said this before but I will say it again...if you know me, you'll know my tendency to get lost. Today was no exception. Even with the help of Sally (or Miss Garmin as some of us know of GPS) I got lost and somehow ended up on I405 going the wrong direction. Somehow we made our way to the ball park but spent another 20 minutes circling town looking for a 3 hour parking spot.

We spent the afternoon watching batting practice and waiting in line to meet players, some we knew who they were, others we had no idea who they were. Either way, we had fun. Who wouldn't want to spend the day with a bunch of ball players.

To help ease the boredom of waiting in line, the girls requested a pretzel. Paige went for the traditional salted but Gwynn went for a more exotic flavor, apple pie. There's nothing more classic Americana than a ball game and apple pie.

Highlights from the players include meeting the Pawtucket Red Sox pitcher Jose Vaquedano and the Portland Beaver players Chad Huffman, outfielder, and Scott Patterson, pitcher. Disappointment of the day, no Clay Buchholz.

The best way to end the day, a picture of me and my cousins. More good memories made. :)

Dipinto a Mano

We started off the day looking at the sky wondering if and when the sun would come out. It was a dreary day for the girls to start their swim lessons at Wilson Pool. Although we visited the pool several times last summer, this would be the girls first experience with swim lessons there. Held every day for 30 minutes, the girls will enjoy getting some water time in during the next two weeks. A benefit to the lessons is that we can stay right afterward for open swim. Unfortunately today was just too cold. Instead, we headed back home for lunch and an afternoon at Dipinto a Mano.

This is another place that we have visited often during my summers here in Lake O. When I first started coming out here, it was know as Kilnmanjaro. I have made picture frames, vases, and plates while the girls stick with knick knacks like little animals or ornamental boxes. Today's visit was no different. The girls both picked out a little chick to decorate while I got a square plate. While the girls got started right away, I had to think about what I wanted to do with my design. I'm not very artistic but I had an idea that I borrowed from someone's art that Ihad seen recently. I decided to go with that, with the intent of getting some plate holders and hanging them up in the hallway back home. Here are some pictures from our hard work.

Paige adding blue detail to the chick's shoes.

Gwynn working on the detail of the chick's beak.

My plate, which I need to finish by painting the back.