May 2018

Spring is so sweet in Portland! After a dark and wet winter it feels absolutely sublime to be in the sunshine and fresh air. We soaked up as much sunshine as possible in May with plenty of hikes and visits to parks.

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is in full bloom in May! Between the beautiful flowers and the clear water it feels like a little fairy world. We counted dozens of different colors of flowers, ran around the paths, and had fun feeding the ducks and geese. It was still early enough that we saw some ducklings and goslings, though we got hissed at by some mama geese when we got too close to their babes!

Talent Show 2018 

We had our annual homeschool talent show at our church. The girls did a Dance with No Music while Tommy recited all 45 of the presidents of the United States. It's always so enjoyable to get together and see how much the kids have learned and progressed.

Salmon River Hike 

Trackers ended in mid-May, which left us with some free days to spend in the forest. We drove to Mount Hood National Forest and did this little walk along the Salmon River. The kids threw rocks into the river, played in some sand, and ran along the trail.

We turned around when the trail intersected a little stream. We spent about an hour there, which was honestly pure bliss. We played on a log that had fallen across the stream. The kids felt very brave crossing over on top of the log.

They worked on a project where they carried the big rocks to different locations to make dams and reservoirs. The big kids called their business The Best Damn Dam and thought they were hilarious.

I helped Clara cross the stream a few times until she built up her confidence to do it by herself. Once she got the hang of it, I sat back in the sunshine and watched the kids play.

At one point I remember that Clara crossed the river, but she slipped a few times on the rocks. I was praising her for her effort, but she fixated on the fact that she slipped, not that she had finished or accomplished something new on her own. I thought a lot about what a great analogy that is for life. I slip all the time, but instead of focusing on the imperfections and the mistakes, I think God would want me to focus on my diligent effort and what I accomplish in the big picture. If I can focus on that for Clara, how much more would a perfect parent focus the effort of His imperfect children?

Sunshine is the Best Medicine 

We had some truly gorgeous days in May. It's a real party when the sun decides to come out again!

We pulled out the balcony furniture, the bikes, and other outdoor toys. Spring is really the time to enjoy Portland!

Our lives revolved around Little League for Tommy with two practices and at least one game per week. It was kind of a big deal, but I appreciated how much time we all spent outdoors. The girls and I played at the park during his practices, which was really fun and wonderful.


Tommy continues to improve his baseball skills, so much that every time he comes up to bat the crowd starts shouting, "Tommy Time!" He almost always gets a hit. He's a very reliable player who works hard, listens to his coaches, and loves every aspect of the game.

Grammy's Visit 

Grammy graced us with a short visit. It's always a party when Grammy is around. The kids played and played, got spoiled with small toys and candy, and Lily enjoyed lots of early morning snuggles with Grammy before anybody else was awake.

We celebrated the end of our school year with bowling, friends, laser tag, and arcade games. The highlights were Lily hanging with her best friend, Annabelle, Clara bowing after a decent bowl, and me creaming all the kids in a game of laser tag.

One of the best things about Grammy's visit was celebrating Tommy's birthday a few weeks early. We called a Grammy Birthday Party since she was the only one handing out presents. It's always more fun to be there to see the kids open their presents and to see how excited they are.

My favorite thing about this video is how Tommy gives Grammy a big hug, says thank you so sincerely and graciously, and then looks at his present and asks, "Question, what is this?" It's such a testament to Tommy's genuinely thoughtful nature.

Pioneer Woman's Grave Hike 

Since Trackers ended in mid-May I decided that I would continue making Thursdays an outdoor adventure day. We got a few friends together and did the Pioneer Woman's Grave Hike. It was one of Tommy's Cub Scout badges, plus it was super educational and beautiful to boot. We learned a lot about the pioneers crossing on the Barlow Road, which was the last and most treacherous leg of their entire journey across the West.

Even in May it was freezing cold that high up Mount Hood! The kids even found snow! The drive was as beautiful as the hike and I'm glad we got to do it.

Bonus Hike 

It took us almost two hours to drive up to the Pioneer Woman's Grave hike so I wasn't about to just hop in the car and go back home. We stopped in Rhododendron to do a little waterfall hike I had done the year before with some girlfriends on a weekend retreat.

The kids found new bounce in their step and cruised through that hike as well. It was warmer down there, too! Once we were done with that hike I felt satisfied enough to head home. A day out in the woods always feels amazing!

April 2018

We started out April with Easter right on April 1. We called it "Easter Fools" since it shared with Aprils Fool's Day. Our Easter Bunny may or may not have dyed some milk pink and rehid the kids' Easter baskets when they weren't looking.

My favorite part of the morning was watching Clara and Lily do a "Lollipop Dance" while eating bunny-shaped lollipops. We also listened to General Conference and ate our sugary Resurrection Rolls. It was a great day at home with LOTS of candy.
Tommy got glasses! He looks like one handsome dude. Apparently his sight in one eye is pretty bad, but we didn't know because he never complained.

The first time he put on his glasses was pretty magical. He kind of jumped back and said something like, "Wow, I can see!" Now he wears them full time without any complaint because the difference with and without glasses is so stark.

The big kids have been going to Trackers every Thursday. They basically take a bus to the woods and run around like wild monkeys all day. They love it and say it's their favorite day of the week.

This leaves Clara and I one day every week that we get to spend just the two of us. It's really precious time with her. We call Thursdays our Mama Baby Dates and do fun things together like go to McDonald's and play at the park. The picture below is on a Ladybug Walk we did with Portland Parks and Rec. All the kids get a bunch of little tools in a ladybug backpack and we wander around the park together observing nature. She loved the Ladybug Walk and I loved giving her my undivided attention.

The picture below is from another Mama Baby Date when we went to a free day of Tinkergarten. It was raining hard all day, but Clara was prepared in her rain suit and sparkly rain boots. We gathered leaves, fir cones, and rocks from around the park, sang some songs, ate a snack, and marched in some puddles.

Clara absolutely adores puddles.

I think we went to the Waffle Window after this park date and warmed up with some over-the-top waffles.

Sometimes the kids come home from Trackers covered in mud and charcoal. They absolutely love it. In the picture below Tommy is holding a broom he made from a bush called Scotch Broom that apparently grows rampant everywhere.

One of our homeschool group activities in April was visiting a craft fair. After being there onece, I definitely wouldn't take my two-year-old again. There was too much fine pottery and glass that she nearly broke. But learning how to weave and spin yarn and playing with the wet clay was pretty fun and not stressful. So I guess that's a win.

The kids had their annual Interest Fair with our homeschool group. It's like a science fair, but not just for science. This year Lily chose to present her cupcake game that she has been obsessed with since Christmas. She has made up several different games with these little cupcakes and it was fun to watch her teach other kids and parents about the games she invented.

The picture below is just a cute one of the kids in their Easter clothes from Grammy. They are pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

During the school year we spend A TON of time at the science museum. The kids have classes there and we always stay after for a few hours to play. We know every inch of that museum and somehow it still doesn't get old. They build some pretty cool stuff there.

While Ben and Tommy were at a baseball game, I took the girls to the 82nd Avenue Carnival. They had an all-out mini fair with rides and snacks and all the carnival games. Clara was pretty scared of the rides, but Lily enjoyed them. And they both enjoyed the cotton candy, so it was worth the effort to be there.

For one of Tommy's Cub Scout requirements we had to visit a sacred place. We decided to branch out a little and visit The Grotto, a Catholic sanctuary. It was absolutely breathtaking. It's build right up on the side of a cliff so some of the statues are in little caves. We took the elevator up to the top of the cliff that was adorned with gorgeous flowers and so many beautiful statues. It was peaceful and beautiful. I can definitely see myself spending a lot more time there when I have a few minutes to be alone.

Our lives are governed by baseball. Tommy is rocking it and loving every minute he has out on the field. It's a big time commitment, but I love watching him and spending so much time outside. Go Titans!

Phew, last thing! Once a month our homeschool group meets up to play in the gymnasium of an old church. They run around and have fun and are really super loud. Tommy is always a great sport to play with Clara and push her around. They have a very sweet bond.

March 2018

Our schedule picked up in March with the addition of Little League to our regular busy schedule. For a few weeks we juggled ballet, swimming, OMSI class, baseball, art class, Cub Scouts, and Trackers all at the same time. Needless to say, it was a relief when classes started to end!

On top of all of the kids' activities, I got a new calling in Young Women at church. We went from basically having our evenings free to being gone almost every evening until 7:00 or 8:00. It took a lot of concentration and a few breakdowns to adjust to the new schedule and to somehow fit dinner and schoolwork into it!
Oh, and I turned 35 somewhere in all the craziness. I received some new gym clothes and a pizza for dinner, which was exactly what I wanted.

The kids are still cute. They were all dressed in primary colors so we had to take a picture. It's nice that they love each other.

Lily worked on a ballet adaptation of Alice and Wonderland for about three months. On the last day of class we got to watch her perform. She is getting so graceful and intentional about her dancing. It's always a delight to watch, especially since she enjoys it so much.

Clara was a real trooper since she was the one who was getting hauled everywhere without the fun of participating in any of the activities. I decided that Portland rainwater must run in her veins. She doesn't ever seem to be cold or to mind the rain. She'll jump through puddles, large and small, and wears her beanie everywhere she goes. As long as she has her rain boots, she doesn't want a jacket most days. While the rest of us find refuge in the car, she prefers to slop through puddles and welcome the rain.

For the past year or so Tommy has taken sewing lessons. He has really enjoyed making things out of cloth and learning how the sewing machine works. This month all those lessons finally paid off and he sat down to happily mend a pile of our clothes! I trust him more than anyone to repair my clothes since he is so careful and meticulous. Thanks, Buddy!

Grammy came to visit during Spring Break. Ben had a little surgery to prevent the formation of any more baby Chattertons, so it was nice to have Grammy there to help out with the kids while I took care of Ben.

While Grammy watched Clara I enlisted Tommy's and Lily's help to wash the deck in preparation for later staining. They are fantastic workers and scrubbed all the grime out of that deck like pros.

The girls are obsessed with PJ Masks. When Grammy came she brought dress ups for the girls, who flew, climbed, and ran around our house with their special powers. They roped me into the fun, too.

We had our annual homeschool Easter party, which is always so much fun. The kids got to play games, make crafts, and pet real life bunnies, in addition to playing with their cute friends.

That night, we continued our Easter fun at home by dyeing Easter eggs. It was super stressful for me with Clara there, eager to participate. She can be kind of a bull in a China shop. Grammy was Clara's personal assistant, which I am grateful for.

The next morning, we headed to a close-in Portland neighborhood for an Easter egg hunt with friends. We followed a giant bunny on a motorcycle to where the eggs were all hidden. The toddlers got to start a few minutes before the big kids so that they had enough time to gather some eggs.

Once the big kids were released the eggs got found very quickly!

Everyone had fun opening up their eggs to discover the surprise candy inside.

One unfortunate things that happened during Grammy's visit was that her air bed sprung a leak. Once it was clear that we wouldn't be able to repair the leak, we decided to have some fun with it. I filled it up and let the kids jump on it until it lost all the air, then we filled it up again and again. They had a great time! By the time I hauled the bed out to the trash the hole was bigger than my fist!

February 2018

February 2018 was pretty chill. We spent the month getting back into the swing of things after our long road trip for the holidays. The kids started back up with science classes at OMSI, ballet class, and swimming lessons. We got back into a good rhythm with homeschool and generally just enjoyed being together at home.

It snowed a couple of different times during the month. Once was on President's Day and the other time was during the week. The public schools got cancelled so we got to play with our friend, Ezra. We walked over to Mount Tabor to do some laundry basket sledding, which was amazing. By the time we headed home for lunch the snow was melting quickly and the sun was out. The snow didn't last more than a day either time.

Swinging in the snow! So fun!

We spent a lot of time playing at OMSI this month. Clara and I get to have Mama/Baby time while the big kids go to their classes. She usually likes to play in the sand or in the water, but watching her discover the air stream was priceless. Sometimes I can almost see new neurological pathways being formed in her little brain.
Clara loves to play. All the time. While we waited for swimming lessons to start one day she and Tommy got into a "hi" war. I think she won.