July 2009
7.14.2009
7.11.2009
World's Longest Post
Ok, so it's been a long time since I've posted, but it's because we have been busy busy busy around here! All with super fun things, so here is a whirlwind photo tour of July 2009 thus far:
My dad, brother, and husband all rode their motorcycles (or "mm mmm's" as Madelyn calls them) down to Laguna Seca, CA for the annual MotoGP race over the 4th weekend. They look pretty tough, don't they? :) They all had a GREAT time, and most importantly, they were safe the whole way down and back up. Lord willing, I think they plan to do it every year. Kurt brought this little t-shirt back for Madelyn. She adopted the proper "motorcycle mama" stance right away.
Since the guys were going to be gone, us gals decided to plan a little trip of our own to Cannon Beach, OR where our family has been vacationing for decades (since my mom was a little girl). Madelyn has been to the beach before, but not as a bi-ped. She was THRILLED by the ocean and the sand, and we heard a steady mantra of "Maddie, Mommy, Nana play sand" all weekend long. Poor thing. We did play in the sand, but she also learned that at the Oregon coast, the weather is a moody temptress who taunts you with sunny forcasts and springs clouds and chilly mist on you at the last moment. Good thing the coast is gorgeous no matter what :) The sun did stick around long enough for us to attend the little Cannon Beach 4th of July parade. It so reminded us of the town parades we used to attend (and march in) growing up in Naperville, IL. One morning, we hopped over to Seaside to ride the surreys with Madelyn. She was hesitent at first, but within minutes, she was beaming and screaming "yes!" when we'd ask her if she was having fun! And it was quite a workout! Historically, we've ridden the 6-8 seaters with my whole family, so riding around with just my mom and me (and a head wind seemingly both directions...) was hard work! Such a fabulous, relaxing trip, and it was so cool to introduce my child to a place that holds such intense, wonderful childhood memories for both my mom and me.
My garden is awesome. Totally out of control, and I'll do things quite differently next year, but still awesome! Here is my second harvest:
Finally, last night, we went to a Coldplay concert up at the Clark Co. Amphitheater in WA. I've been to some pretty cool concerts in my life, but this show was arguably the best I've seen. Chris Martin, the lead singer, was so polite and gracious and funny--not common for a major rock star! They are incredibly talented musicians who really get how to please a crowd. At two separate occasions during the show, they left the stage and moved into the crowd to play on two mini stages--the last being way out on the lawn where we were sitting! Kelsie, Kris, and I got as close as we could to them--about 40 feet away. So awesome. When they played "Yellow" these gigantic yellow balloons came floating out into the crowd, and when they popped, confetti went everywhere. They played "Fix You," my absolute favorite (and the blueish photo below), and let the audience sing the last chorus, which is always great. They even did a little MJ tribute and sang an acoustic, mandolin version of "Billie Jean." Just a fantastic show, and we're so thankful to both of our parents for providing us with the opportunity!! (My parents treated to the tickets, and Kurt's parents watched Madelyn overnight so our 1:30 a.m. bedtime wouldn't kill us the next day...)
My dad, brother, and husband all rode their motorcycles (or "mm mmm's" as Madelyn calls them) down to Laguna Seca, CA for the annual MotoGP race over the 4th weekend. They look pretty tough, don't they? :) They all had a GREAT time, and most importantly, they were safe the whole way down and back up. Lord willing, I think they plan to do it every year. Kurt brought this little t-shirt back for Madelyn. She adopted the proper "motorcycle mama" stance right away.
Since the guys were going to be gone, us gals decided to plan a little trip of our own to Cannon Beach, OR where our family has been vacationing for decades (since my mom was a little girl). Madelyn has been to the beach before, but not as a bi-ped. She was THRILLED by the ocean and the sand, and we heard a steady mantra of "Maddie, Mommy, Nana play sand" all weekend long. Poor thing. We did play in the sand, but she also learned that at the Oregon coast, the weather is a moody temptress who taunts you with sunny forcasts and springs clouds and chilly mist on you at the last moment. Good thing the coast is gorgeous no matter what :) The sun did stick around long enough for us to attend the little Cannon Beach 4th of July parade. It so reminded us of the town parades we used to attend (and march in) growing up in Naperville, IL. One morning, we hopped over to Seaside to ride the surreys with Madelyn. She was hesitent at first, but within minutes, she was beaming and screaming "yes!" when we'd ask her if she was having fun! And it was quite a workout! Historically, we've ridden the 6-8 seaters with my whole family, so riding around with just my mom and me (and a head wind seemingly both directions...) was hard work! Such a fabulous, relaxing trip, and it was so cool to introduce my child to a place that holds such intense, wonderful childhood memories for both my mom and me.
My garden is awesome. Totally out of control, and I'll do things quite differently next year, but still awesome! Here is my second harvest:
Finally, last night, we went to a Coldplay concert up at the Clark Co. Amphitheater in WA. I've been to some pretty cool concerts in my life, but this show was arguably the best I've seen. Chris Martin, the lead singer, was so polite and gracious and funny--not common for a major rock star! They are incredibly talented musicians who really get how to please a crowd. At two separate occasions during the show, they left the stage and moved into the crowd to play on two mini stages--the last being way out on the lawn where we were sitting! Kelsie, Kris, and I got as close as we could to them--about 40 feet away. So awesome. When they played "Yellow" these gigantic yellow balloons came floating out into the crowd, and when they popped, confetti went everywhere. They played "Fix You," my absolute favorite (and the blueish photo below), and let the audience sing the last chorus, which is always great. They even did a little MJ tribute and sang an acoustic, mandolin version of "Billie Jean." Just a fantastic show, and we're so thankful to both of our parents for providing us with the opportunity!! (My parents treated to the tickets, and Kurt's parents watched Madelyn overnight so our 1:30 a.m. bedtime wouldn't kill us the next day...)
6.30.2009
M is for Motorcycle
This clip is pretty much self-explanatory. The only thing that it doesn't show is Kurt's heart swelling beyond his chest with pride.
6.23.2009
6.17.2009
You Know You're Old When...
...your BABY brother graduates from college. Sigh. I changed his diapers. I kissed the soft little spots on his head when his fuzzy hair was just growing in. I was the oft' surprised victim of the patented Kristopher Bickley "Fish Eye." And this past weekend, I watched, with the rest of my family, as my nearly-23-year-old beard-growing man of a baby brother graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Biology. We had a great weekend--time with the fam (including Aunt Sue and Uncle John from Idaho!) was great as always, and the weather in Seattle was just gorgeous. Madelyn had a great time. She had two different hotel lobbeys to explore, two play parks, four restaurants, one Pike Street Market (complete with flying "fwish"), and more "honk honks, beep beeps, toot toots, and city buses" to point out on the streets than a girl from the small town of Portland could hope for. All in all a fabulous weekend. And the graduation ceremony was at Safeco Field where the Mariners play which was super cool. Kris got to sit just to the right of the pitching mound and receive his diploma over 3rd base. Not a bad place to officially enter the real world :) Congrats Uncle Kris!!
5.31.2009
Garden Glory
As I've written previously, I started my very own garden for the first time in my life this spring. My mom had an amazing garden growing up in Illinois (that I've only just recently come to fully appreciate), and many of my friends are avid gardeners. So, with that wealth of experience alongside me, as well as the bottomless pools of information from the folks at Portland Nursery, I have been planting and weeding and watering and watching and getting more and more excited at the miraculous things that are happening outside my window every day. I just pushed the last of my seeds into the ground this morning. If all goes well, this is the crop I will have this year: potatoes (purple and gold), snap peas, pole beans, tomatoes (sun golds and brandywine), carrots, walla walla sweet onions, zucchini, baby watermelons, broccoli, mini bell peppers, tiny white pumpkins, cucumbers, and strawberries. And our Asian pear tree is looking awesome! Anyway, here are some photos from a proud veggie-mama :)
5.26.2009
Memorial Weekend Fun
We took a little hike up the MacLeay trail in Forest Park this past Sunday in an effort to allow Madelyn to frolic amongst the ferns and dirt and streams. As you can see, she walked most of it on her own...which means we hiked a grand total of about 3/4 miles (even though that took us about an hour). Step step stop...look down a hole...admire the water...touch the fern. Step step step stop...turn around and run the other way...point to a doggie...wave to the doggie...chase after the doggie. Step stop...you get the idea :)
This blanket was given to Madelyn by our dear friends the Dekkers. When it transitioned from "blanket" to "Blankie" when Maddie was around 7 months old (and then "Beebee" at around 17 months), we agreed that we'd better find another one if, God forbid, something ever happend to the first one. One of the best decisions we've ever made as parents :) We routinely switch out the blankets so they both get seasoned at the same rate. The extra one lives under my pillow, and about once a week when Maddie comes into our bed in the morning, she finds it and pure joy washes over her face--TWO Beebee's! What could be better than to be physically surrounded with Beebee's?!
This blanket was given to Madelyn by our dear friends the Dekkers. When it transitioned from "blanket" to "Blankie" when Maddie was around 7 months old (and then "Beebee" at around 17 months), we agreed that we'd better find another one if, God forbid, something ever happend to the first one. One of the best decisions we've ever made as parents :) We routinely switch out the blankets so they both get seasoned at the same rate. The extra one lives under my pillow, and about once a week when Maddie comes into our bed in the morning, she finds it and pure joy washes over her face--TWO Beebee's! What could be better than to be physically surrounded with Beebee's?!
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