Boxing Day

It is has become a family tradition for our Trio to set out on a local adventure in the aftermath of Christmas Madness. Our worthy goal? To wander around and find a new microbrewery. Last year we ended up at Ecliptic Brewery on Mississippi Avenue. This year we made a spontaneous decision to pack up a stroller and ride the MAX downtown to explore and imbibe. It was a glorious afternoon of strolling and discovery!

On the train

                                   

Cool things to see in the Pearl District--

Lovejoy Columns

Column paintings by Greek immigrant, Athanasios Stefopoulos

Another depressing rainy winter day in Portland (:

Digging these hearty planter plants

We made our way to a new brewery called Fatheads. Big bustling place with very good beer. I love that the restaurant loaned Mim an Etch-a-sketch to use while we enjoyed our beverages and nibbles.

Her creation, which she named "Whiffles"

Cute (wet) baby hand

The stout (and Tim's IPA) was very good, as was the giant pretzel with two mustards. Their kids' menu had pierogies with sour cream as an option -- Mim gobbled them up!...proving she may look Irish but she's got Eastern European blood pumping through her veins.

Swinging in a very urban playground 

Elephant in the background

Beer Bonus!: we stopped into Pints, a four barrel microbrewery, before we hopped onto our train to get home. Cute intimate space, brick building, twinkling lights, nice art.

(Is Tim in shock??)

We love that Miriam finds ways to entertain herself; here she is sorting out roasted barley, dark from light.

This description of the IPA is a little overblown; it was good but it didn't "shake Tim's belief in the IPAs he has been enjoying up to now"...

Seismic IPA and a Bourbon aged apple cider (distinctive, dry and tasty)

Miriam getting goofy

We love our new tradition and look forward to wandering, exploring and sipping again next year.

Happy 2015, everybody...

Late Summer...into Autumn

The very tail end of summer found us gallivanting the streets of Vancouver, BC. What a great city! We went for a stellar bike ride, consumed exceptional food and drink, walked the lovely neighborhoods, admired the majestic belugas at the aquarium and cheered on our Portland Timbers as they took on the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

We found an exceptional brewery, called Brassneck Brewery, southeast of downtown Vancouver. Here we drank good beer, ate tasty snacks and made good with the locals.

 Discovered a beautiful community garden during a downtown walk.

For Bonnie's birthday, we ate at an exceptionally yummy "Canadian tapas" spot called Oakwood Canadian Bistro in Kitsilano Beach. 

Start to finish, one of the best meals ever.

They used this mixer/succulent object to divide the communal table, but it didn't stop me from chatting up the friendly Canadians.

 Pack of travelers, in a park in the West End neighborhood, hours before we went to the Timbers-Whitecaps game.
(Tim, Mike, Rick, Juan, Liz, Bonnie, Kathy,
Andrea, Miriam, Aidan)

On our way out of town, we stopped at a random Dutch diner, where Miriam got a pannenkoek (pancake) with bananas. Notice how it's shaped like a wooden shoe!

Miriam started at a Montessori school in early September - she seems to be loving it and evolving each day. Also in early September we were visited by Miriam's Aunt Maureen (Sacramento) and Uncle Dennis (Florida) followed by a visit from Great Uncle Fred (Spokane). We loved our summer...and we are excited to get some rain and colder temperatures.

Uncle Fred, Miriam and Liz in Normandale Park (NE Portland)

We installed a new front door...Miriam turned the old one into her personal slide. (Hours of entertainment.)

Happy Autumn and Falling Leaf Season, everyone!

Changing

Things are changing around here...

Ex-garage is now a beautiful studio with new floors!
(Just a few minor details to wrap up...)

Weather is changing--

Lovely days of sunshine are appearing more often

Miriam's face, body, language and abilities are evolving

Tim continues to rock the County with his bright ideas and smooth moves. He also knows how to make Miriam laugh very hard.

Liz is working a few days per week doing aftercare at a Montessori School and trying to figure out 

next steps regarding her knee injury. Recent diagnosis is torn meniscus and ACL, oof.

Miriam Delirium works on many aspects of development all of the time. She can twirl, kick, boogey and sing; she converses, slides, cooks, mixes, stirs, counts, giggles, and plays. She is a love-bug and a beauty and we feel very fortunate to have her living under our roof.

Snowrific

Yup, we got snow. And it was pretty and white and cold.

 Little Miss Mim enjoyed the snow...somewhat

 Everything is prettier in the snow, including our house

When a family is holed up for a few days 

and need to get outside, what are they to do?

Dim sum Adventure, that's what!

To Wong's King we go...

Miriam loves dim sum; 

she loves it even more now 

that she's tried her first sesame ball

We got to spend an evening with 

Miriam's sweet cousin Aidan...

he brings out the goof in all of us

Current Miriam News:
Top Food - Tapioca pearls with coconut milk and mango

Top Song - Lorde's TEAM

Top Book - Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Top Toy - Winnie the Pooh figurines

Now that we've thawed there are signs of spring everywhere - crocuses, tree buds, birds. Another winter is slowly coming to an end.

Christmas, Ecliptic, Springwater

Happy new year, friends and family!

We had a very merryiam Christmas.

Santa brought Miriam a giant teddy bear...

 ...and some eco-friendly Lincoln Logs...

 ...and Mr. Potato Head!

 Brazilian guru - will you follow him?

A few days after Christmas, a Family Outing to Ecliptic Brewing on Mississippi Ave. Good beer, great food. The brewer here originally worked for Deschutes and invented Mirror Pond.

Sunlit beauty

 Two thumbs up from Mr. P Head, if he had hands

 Beer list

 Enjoyment

 Snuggles and smiles had by all

Tim's Birthday...we took a very long walk on the Springwater Corridor. Chilly start, magnificent ending.

Cold morning, bundled up

 Clever Portlanders

 Cozy in her stroller, just before she fell asleep

 Johnson Creek

 An eagle in the wild!

 We walked and walked and ended up at...

Laurelwood Brewing in Westmoreland

 Happy Miriam with a bowl of soup

 Happy Bloody Birthday, Timbo!