The girls play at the picnic table.

Time for some drawing

Relaxing in the hammock with Lexie's Grammy.

The bat cave.

Jason helps navigate Keara and Lexie

Keara looks for either a CD or the gear shift as Lexie smiles on.

Thelma and Louise?

Waiting for the tide pool spray

Cooling down with the spray

What a beautiful day at the zoo.

Lucas and Lexie head for the bat cave.

Birds of a feaher?

Zoo eagle

In front of the Salmon.

Petting a goat

Both Lexie and Lucas have Robot lizards.

Lexie and Lucas enjoying a Fourth of July popsicle. Simone yawnig on her spot on the monitor.

Lex and Lucas on the train going to the zoo.

Here they are at the zoo.

5k OHSU Tram walk blister. I came in 46 of 46 for my age class. I loved the walk!

My $3.00 hanging fuschia baskets are starting to bloom.

Looks oriental to me.

Fourth of July, Lexie plays with Lucas

Ch ch ch changes....

Ok, I’m refreshed and renewed. I slept from 2:00pm until 6:30pm yesterday. Then woke up for a couple hours to read, then back to bed. I’d been holding in all my emotions over Lexie staying at her dad’s for this whole week, so as not to confuse concern, worry, and upset her. Then Monday morning, I felt physically ill, drained, exhausted. Now I’m better. Part of the tension was due to the news Lexie shared Saturday on the way to the zoo. In the car, she starts telling me that her street Grammy (Betty) hit her Daddy over the head with a frying pan, and that she was mean and that was because she is old. She said street Grammy threw food and her and daddy yelled and yelled until Lexie finally yelled at them to “shut up!” Last night her aunt Patty called to say that Lexie’s throat was closed up. I told her she has been having allergies and snoring. I took the opportunity to tell Patty what Lex told me. Patty confirmed that Betty and Frank did have a fight last time Lexie was there, and I remember them always fighting when we lived closer. I asked Patty to help me keep Lexie’s confidence and not tell them what she had told me, but to please let them know that she is affected very badly by them acting this way and doesn’t want to come over to visit anymore.

Saturday, Lex and I went to the zoo with Tracy and Lucas. It was beautiful weather. We took the train from Sunset Transit center. Sunday we went out to Sherwood for a family dinner. Lexie had a blast playing with Keara and Chris’ cat Isabelle.

Word(s) of the day: PICCOLO

Today I’m grateful for Lexie, Mom and Dad, family, pets, summer, health, sleep/rest, happiness and life.

Happy belated 4th!

Beautiful summer weather and a day off in the middle of the week! Lexie spent the night at Lucas, her first over niter. This weekend we're going to the zoo Saturday and then to Sherwood to visit family. Yikes! Them Monday her Dad will pick her up and I won't see her until the next Sunday. Oooiii. I can already feel the awkwardness. Harumph! At least I hope she will enjoy herself.

Today I'm grateful for Lexie, Mom, Dad, friends, pets, free time, fun, laughter and life.

What a day for a daydream...

Another gorgeous sunny day... I haven't posted anything but pictures lately, busy busy. Lex and I had a great camping trip with Michelle, Mike, Jen, Glenn, et. al... Griffen was well behaved the first day, and then for some reason went back to being the way he was last camp trip. It was Lexie and my first camp trip without her Dad, and I thought it was awesome. Jen gave Lex a Barbie fishing pole and took her fishing, she lost the fish it came with, so Mike carved her another one, she lost that one too. I took her "fishing" a few times, we did a lot more stuff together this time. My favorite part was when she caught a snag, thought she actually caught a fish, and completely freaked out. She screamed, dropped the poll and ran away from it. She was actually terrified that she had caught something. It was incredibly adorable! Lexie's new visitation schedule with her Dad starts this weekend, or we probably would have camped sooner, but we do have another trip scheduled in July at Ft. Stevens with Tracy, Dana, Sierra, and Lucas. Lexie is excited about camping with Lucas! Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure Griff is excited about camping with Marley.

Last weekend we went to the Rose Parade Saturday morning, pics below. Riding the train was fun too. It was great, even though it rained. Lexie did a Happy Feet tap dance for the queens on one of the floats and one threw her a rose. Lexie is incredibly proud of this. It is hanging upside down to dry. It was pretty exciting when the Fred Meyers float caught on fire. By that point we were soaked, and the pause in the parade was our ticket to leave. There was so much excitement, Lex actually fell asleep on the train.

Saturday night, my neighboors threw an awesome party. We got the invitation two weeks ago. It was to celebrate Wendy's son's graduating college and high school. I don't think I've ever been to a better party. Everyone was happy, Lex played with CT's daughter Whitney and swam in the HUGE spa. Great food. Just fun!

I'm going to miss my girl this weekend.

Word(s) of the day: ELECTRIC

Today I'm grateful for Lex, Mom and Dad, weekends, fun, pillows, trees, breezes, and life.

The train trip home, two trians

The Fred Meyer float caught on fire!

Lexie tap danced for a float and one ot the riders through her a rose...

Our neighboor, and Lex the cheeto head

More parade pics