Natural Ant Farm

The boys found an ant colony in the backyard today. They went and got Daddy, who dug it out. They were quite excited to report how big and spread out the ants were, including ant eggs. Bayley says we have a twenty percent chance of the ants coming back because he couldn't find the queen. Good to know. How he knows that, I have no idea.

Tennis Champ

Bayley finished tennis classes this week. He loves every minute of it, and immediately decided eh had to take another tennis camp in the summer.

Great-Grandma Evie!

I asked Grandma to come up for a Romance Readers Luncheon I was signing at, and she wasn't sure...until Hayden got on the phone and asked her to come see him! So, she might claim she made the trip for my luncheon...but we all know better.

The boys we so excited to have her here. They had to show her all their toys and explain the intracacies of Thomas The Tank Engine. They discovered they like the same foods -- Krispy Kreme donuts, spaghetti and meatballs, pizza and blueberry muffins!

After the luncheon, Gramma thought she'd lay down for a bit. After not seeing her all morning, Harden couldn't leave her be. He tried to snuggle for a while, and then noticed something. Gramma had toenails! He asked if she wanted the clipper to cut them off. It was HILARIOUS! He's always after me to cut my fingernails, and now he's on her case!

I think everyone had a great weekend. I know I did!

Teacher's Lounge & Another School

These two really didn't thrill them. Perhaps because I am counting them going to one another's schools...or because the Teacher's Lounge was empty...either way...

Bay thinks that the list should include more 'fun stuff' like boat rides, train rides, and construction sites. I'll keep that in mind...

Easter Dinner

We wound up this busy day at Grandma and Grandpa's, multi-tasking by towing along Uncle Dan and Aunt Christina. Due to rain, the egg hunt was moved inside, and the boys had fun searching for the candy and money filled eggs (the Easter Bunny is in a higher tax bracket there), they were most impressed with the Thomas the Tank Engine filled baskets!


After setting up the tracks and testing the engines to make sure the big rabbit got the good stuff, we gorged ourselves on a salmon dinner, topped off with Hayden's rendition of Happy Birthday to Grandpa Bill and a mountain of chocolate ice cream for Bayley.


Think they'll sleep tonight? Or did all the sugar counteract all the activity?

On to the Annual McCauley Easter Brunch

Our boys love McCauley gatherings because until Eddie moved here, Sean was the only cousin they had! He's older, but very sweet and patient with the boys, plus he is all boy like ours so has an amazing collection of Legos and K'Nex.












While everyone else feasted on ham, garlic brussel sprouts, roasted asparagus, and salads, Bayley ate as many crescent rolls as he could jam in his mouth and Hayden had a great time dropping jelly beans in his water cup.

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

Before all our neighborhood friends headed out for their family festivities, we had a great egg hunt! It was the cutest thing. No fighting over eggs or worrying what is in them.

Hayden fit as many eggs in his basket as he could, but Bayley had a bigger basket and therefore more eggs. But, their friend Brandon thought to bring a bucket. Genius kid got the most eggs that way! It helped that he was focused. Hayden and Reid were more interested in opening the eggs than collecting them for a while.

The festivities ended with Hayden finding a snail. Of course he finds all things creepy fascinating. Bayley and Brandon thought the sanil was neat, but didn't care to touch it. Hayden found a kindred spirit in Reid though. He at least touchedthe shell.

Hayden on a horse!

Yes, I know it's not exactly news since Hayden loves horses. BUT, usually he sits on Jammer who nothing fazes. This time he was on Chinook, who is young, but he was absolutely perfect! No wonder this kid loves horses!

Gram-Mo & Pop-Pop to the rescue!

Gram-Mo & Pop-Pop came up to help the boys get the most out of their first Spring Break. They trekked the zoo, explored OMSI, and took in the Forestry Center. McDonald's, Burger King, Chevy's, and Sweet Tomatoes were all on the menu. They all had a great time keeping each other occupied...and knocked two more items of the 101 Before 12 list.

FARM - Woodburn has an enormous tulip farm and hosts a festival every year. The boys seem to have enjoyed the bounce house and rubber duckie gutter racing more than the flowers, but it still counts!

GREENWAY - After going crazy in OMSI, the boys took Gram-Mo & Pop-Pop on a walk along the East Bank Esplanade...otherwise known as a greenway. Must love multi-tasking!

A Cave :: Ape Cave Lava Tubes

In our quest to take our kids 101 cool places before they are 12, we needed to find a cave. We figured we'd work in the Oregon caves into one of our trips south...but then there was a blurb in the paper about the Ape Cave (named after the discoverer. Sadly, no actual apes.) IT IS FANTASTIC.

We had a healthy hike to get to the site because crews were clearing the road of enormous downed trees, and there was still snow on the ground (double bouns for the Burke Brothers, I assure you)...but once we got to the entrance, it was amazing. Definitely worth the trip. But, bring a lantern!

Hayden was such a trouper, with both the hike, the steep stairs to get into the cave, and navigating in pitch darkness. We opened for the lower trail once inside. It's a 3/4 mile hike through the tube. The floor is a bumpy hardened lavaflow scattered with large rocks and mud puddles. Absolute little boy heaven. Bayley so wanted to see a bat, but they must have been in the other trail.

(In case anyone scoffed at my having an indoor playground be our 'superlative place', I'll have you know the Ape Cave is the largest intact lava tube in the continental US!)