Sunriver 2012.

We are home from our trip to Oregon, this trip gets better every year. Now that the girls all share the same interests (swimming, lalaloopsy, my little ponies), the days are easy and full from playtime.

 My Littles loved the large fireplace in the Great Hall, I am always in awe of the ceiling. 

 This building was the Officer's Club during World War 2, when the land at Sunriver was a soldier training camp. 

Margaret and her Grand-Girls in front of the Great Hall.

"Wee!" was all I heard from Savannah on the back of my bike.

Smoothies after a fun bike ride.

The Goo, not quite sure about something.

Breakfast at the Lodge on our last day.

Thank you Margaret and Angela. We had a lovely time. We SO missed playing with you this morning when we woke up here at home.

Road Trip.

Hello from Sunriver, Oregon. You wouldn't believe how lovely the sagebrush smells, bringing back happy summer memories. This is a Botting family tradition we hate to miss out on and seeing as The Goo was born during last years trip, it has been 2 long years since we played here. 

 The girl cousies on their way to the pool last night.

 The first order of business on our first full day...pony rides.

Angela and baby Lucas.

Savannah and Blueberry.

Ivy, my little lady.

 Next, visiting Takota in the Main Lodge.

 And finishing off the day in the village at Goodies.

 I've waited 2 years for this treat. 

Sugaring up before bedtime; Addie, Savannah and Ivy Jane.

Sadly, Tim couldn't come with us. My Littles are so homesick for him, especially Ivy who told me last night that she can't stand it here without her Daddy.

On Sunday night Tim told me it had been the perfect weekend. We picnicked with Rebekah and her family, went swimming at my aunt and uncle's and relaxed around our house. It was easy and yes, perfect.

Labor Of Yum.

Yesterday was the most beautiful overcast summer day so The Littles and I made a date with Patrick's.



When we got home, I made nectarine-marionberry bran muffins.

Preheat oven to 375

1/2 c butter, melted

1 1/2 c flour

1 c wheat bran

2 eggs

3/4 c buttermilk

1/2 t vanilla

3/4 c sugar

1 t cinnamon

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

berries (marion, blue, rasp, black, cherries...)

stonefruit (peach, apricot, nectarine, plum)

Mix dry and wet ingredients separately then combine adding fruit last and gently fold. Then spoon batter into buttered muffin tin or baking cups. I sprinkle sugar on tops of the wet batter to make the top sugar crispy once baked. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 15-20 minutes. Makes 12.

I found Goo like this last night.

I couldn't figure out how he pulled the refrigerator door open and got into the berries.

He didn't get into the berries...he got into the markers.

2 Things And A Guest Post.

First, my Dad's surgery went well. No cancer in his lymph nodes either. He is home from the hospital resting comfortably. Deep sigh of relief.

Second (and a preface to my guest post), I spend a lot of time at home or in the small town I live in. I hadn't been to a mall in quite sometime until last Sunday. I admit I stuck out like a sore thumb as I was hurriedly running errands, checking off my To Do list and engaging in conversation with the cashier/sales attendants. It seemed the vast majority of shopper's eyes were downcast, focused only on their smart phones, thumbs twitching and walking like zombies. I was dodging the oncoming cruise-controlled traffic. The mall was eerily quiet except for muted talking, buzzes and beeps (I actually heard the overhead music). This reminded me of a conversation my sister Deanna and I had a few weeks back. She told me she recently reconnected with a childhood friend and after they had coffee a couple times she told him that if they were going to continue to hang out, he should show her the courtesy of not using his phone the duration of their visit and she would return the courtesy. She told me she prefaces every new friendship, acquaintance (she works in politics so she meets a lot of people) in this manner. I admire her for her honesty and frankness. I asked her to guest post about our relationship with technology, here is her post and a photo she took in Whole Foods last night.

Soap Box by Deanna Sattler

Allow me to step up on my soap box to talk about technology. In epidemic proportions, people are committing the faux pas of looking toward their phones rather than at the people around them. Between Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Four Square and many more people are turning their eyes down and missing what is in front of them. How many times have you been sitting with friends over a meal or drinks when your companion's eyes are glued to their phone? I am guilty of falling in love with my newest devise. Our phones, tablets, and laptops have become extensions of ourselves. We are innovative, we are exciting, we are the best and newest out there. But at what cost? Are we sacrificing real life observations to an online presence? Are our relationships paying the price for our online addictions?

 

 

Thanks Deeds! And one more thing...if you do choose to focus on your phone instead of the physical people you are spending time with, please do not read your texts aloud as you are typing them. You sound like an idiot.
  

Got 4 Minutes? 4 More?

Listen to this.

Good right?

Now this.

Need a great summer album?

Buy Some Nights by Fun.

(My favorite track is Stars.)

4 Conversations.

Savannah: (in backseat of the car, chin quivering.) "Mommy, imagine how unhappy Daddy will be when he finds out Grandma treated us to a gift."

Me: "I'm sure Daddy will be fine. He knows that Grandma is in charge when you stay at her house. If she wants to treat you, she can."

Savannah: "But Daddy specifically said that Grandma can't get us any toys and we took my dollar from the Tooth Fairy to the Toys R' Us to see what we could buy and Grandma held my dollar while Ivy and I chose a toy and I love this toy but I am nervous about Daddy being mad."

Me: "Daddy knows that treating is part of being a grandparent."

Savannah: "Will you talk to Daddy so he won't be mad?"

Me: "I will. And Daddy will be fine."

Savannah: "I'm just so nervous..."

 

Me: "...Yes, I got you each a dress."

Ivy: "Eeeeek! Wait, I hope mine doesn't have bows on it because I do NOT like bows."

Me: "You don't like bows? Any kind of bows?"

Ivy: "No. You didn't get me bows, did you Mommy?"

Me (now knowing why she wears 20% of her clothes 80% of the time): "no." 

Me: "Did you eat all your banana?"

Ivy: "Hm mmm. Actually I just magicked it away."

Ivy (sad voice, in bed but calling out to me): "Mommy, I just can't stand it without Grandma here."

 

Today my Dad is in surgery to remove his cancer. Yep, he was diagnosed in March and even though we've known his is curable and he hasn't been sick, nothing makes a person more frightened and anxious than their last remaining parent getting a diagnosis like cancer. So today I am counting my blessings and thankful my Dad's recovery is right around the corner.

A Year Full Of Goo.

Happy 1st Birthday Grady-Goo! These are my favorite photos of you, sweet baby boy.

 

Firsts.

Tomorrow is The Goo's 1st Birthday. To celebrate we had a little play date with Jenny, Jackson and baby Hank. I made the above chocolate cake (my Great Grandma Campbell's recipe) and a little lunch.

Wearing The Birthday Hat,

he grabbed for the candle while we sang "Happy Birthday".

After one of The Little Girls blew out the candle

he just sat there not sure what to do next until...

birthday kisses were generously given. Then he leaned forward and bit the chocolate slice several times until that wasn't productive enough and then...

well, you know...goo.

(I just love how Grady crosses his legs when he is eating. So genteel and polite, my boy is!)