Portrait Time

While I adore taking photos...one of my least favorite things to do is have professional portraits done. Even when I am not in the pictures, it is a dreaded outing. Needless to say, we do not have many family portraits, and my children definitely do not have their lives documented on professional film. However, I recently ventured to a local studio, really more as a favor to a friend who was in training and needed subjects than out of desire to have pictures taken. (I figured my rowdy crowd would really break her in well!)

To my great surprise...the photos turned out beautiful! (not that I don't think I have beautful children...because, of course, I do...but our studio sessions NEVER turn out great shots...these are an anomoly in our family portraits!) Now, of course, I am sharing them with you :)

This was also a new venture in that I have never had photos taken of just the younger kiddos. Shell always is in the shots, as well, and usually ends up looking like a young, over-whelmed mother :) ha! While it is sad to not see her gorgeous face among the littles...she is actually quite relieved to not have been a part of the chaotic picture session. Besides, we have her senior photos done and I will be posting those beauties very soon :)

Enjoy!

OMSI

Ian and dinosaur.

holding one of them now!

daddy working on a puzzle with Ian and Evie.

ian and evie as dinosaurs.

mommy and gabby as dinosaurs.

It is with great joy that I announce the Gove Family has finally visited OMSI! Not a big deal to non-Pacific Northwesterners...but for those in this area...sheeesh, wowie! It sure took us a long time to go see it! 8 years to be exact!



Shell had actually visited the museum back in 4th grade when we first moved up here, and liked it so much that we considered getting a family pass. How like us...haven't even been there and already considering how we can get in whenever we want :)



Well, last summer, while visiting SoCal, we purchased an annual pass to a science museum down there. Because...the fine print stated that we could use it all year at reciprocal museums--one of those being OMSI. (another is the Evergreen Aviation Museum that I blogged about earlier) The allure of being able to access many museums in our area for free all year was too much, we had to do it! No matter that it took us nearly 6 months to begin using these benefits... ah well.



The traveling exhibit of dinosaur fossils (primarily from China) was awesome. There were even some audio-animatronic dino replicas. They proved too terrifying for Evie, but Ian and Gabby were enchanted.

A Valentine's Tea Party

Such fun!

All ready for our guests to arrive.

plenty of cream and sugar!

An aspect of homeschooling that I do not like is the kiddos missing out on silly school day traditions, like the annual holiday parties.



We certainly do enough around the house and with friends and family on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter...so those ones are not that big of a deal. But what to do about Valentine's Day?



This year, Gabby asked to have a tea party with all her friends. I agreed on a smaller scale. :)Chloe, Lane, Liam and their mommy, Vanessa, joined us for a Valentine's Day Tea Party on Friday, Feb. 15th. We exchanged Valentine's cards and enjoyed a traditional English tea. (with a few pb&j sandwiches thrown in for those less inclined to eat cucumber).

Why My Tissue Box is Ugly

After Evie's adventure in the bathroom, I restuffed the tissue box. Now, the box is not attractive. What used to perch on the back of the toilet offering fresh, crisp wiffs of white wipeyness, now merely sits...rumpled, bearing pieces of mainly torn, some partially used, kleenex.

I should probably just throw the box away. It is certainly not sanitary.

But then again...it's not like tissues are ingested. And it did cost 1.99...

and it will most likely happen again...

Trip to the Air Museum and the "H-4 Hercules"

The gang walking near a rocket parked under the huge plane.

Daddy with the SR-71 Blackbird

I have always loved the many forms of transportation. From boats, to cars, to trains to planes...and all the subways, monorails, helicopters, blimps and bicycles in between...

I am pretty sure the fact that I actually enjoy car shows was one of the reasons my husband married me. :)







So, knowing that the world's largest airplane (or at least the one with the longest wingspan) resided only a couple of hours away, has been nagging at both my hubby and I for a while. Finally, this past Saturday, we took the kids to see the famous "H-4 Hercules". Don't recognize the name? It is better known as it was dubbed by the critics, "The Spruce Goose". Built by Howard Hughs, and most recently immortalized in the movie, "The Aviator", this plane must be seen to be believed.







A bit of trivia for you all: It was actually owned by the Disney Company for 2 years when it was still housed in Long Beach, Califonia. Disney bought both the plane and the ship "The Queen Mary" with the intention of them both become a large commercial venue, but when that idea was dismissed, the Hercules was dismantled and brought up to McMinnville, OR to become a part of the Evergreen Aviation Museum.







It basically fills the entire museum, with the other planes and helicopters resting under and around its wings. Ian had a hard time seeing it at first. He commented that "that big metal is in the way!" That "big metal" was, of course, the plane!

Daddy's Birthday

Make a wish!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday, dear Daddy...

Happy Birthday toooooo Yooooooooou!

2008!

Short post...but wanted to wish everyone a very

Happy New Year!!!!!