Author Archives: Nicole

Like Selling Ice to Eskimos?

The Portland weather finally gave us a little break on the weekend. And when I say break, I mean that it stopped raining for the the first time in about nine months. I know, I know, talking about the weather is incredibly boring but, when you live in Portland and really look forward to the fabulous summer through a miserable, dreary winter and IT DOESN’T ARRIVE, I think you’re entitled to a little complaining. It’s either that or move to Vegas.

And besides, I’m sure this makes my family back in dreary Melbourne feel a whole lot better. See? I’m performing a public service.

When I first suggested to Mayumi that we take a trip to the Japanese Garden,  I was a little embarrassed. I mean, isn’t EVERY garden in Japan a Japanese garden? Ha! See what I did there?

Of course not all gardens in Japan are as beautiful as the garden we have here in Portland and ours has views of Mt Hood. So, after Mayumi assured me that she wanted to see it and she had research the garden on the intranet as a place she wanted to visit, we decided to take the whole family.

Visiting a Japanese garden can be a very peaceful affair – water fountains, delicately raked stone gardens, immersion in nature. Of course, visiting with three small children in tow, it is a completely different experience. God thing we had a little scavenger hunt to keep them busy – at least for a while. The person at the garden who thought up that little activity is a genius.

Here’s Samuel checking out the scavenger hunt pictures. He insisted on wearing his Buzz Lightyear hat for most of the morning.

Each time I visit the gardens my goal is take photos that share the beauty of this wonderful place. That’s always my goal but, with kids in tow, it’s a challenge. So I was actually pleasantly surprised when I got home and uploaded my photos from the day. I won’t share them all (because there any MANY) but here are a few of my favourites.

 

The next photo was taken right before Samuel’s meltdown – an event that severely undermined everyone’s Zen. It’s become a daily occurrence – so much so that I may never feel Zen again.

And then to finish our day off in true Japanese fashion, we grabbed a little rotating sushi for lunch. Oishii!

Finally Hot Enough for a Little Water Fun

We had such a wonderful, busy, productive weekend and I have so many photos to share. Of course I need to edit them all first (I’m a little OCD on that front) so, in the meantime, I’ll share a quick photo for this week’s I Heart Faces photo challenge of “Water”.

To be honest, when I saw the challenge subject last week I was a little skeptical that I’d actually be able to take a photo this year that fit the bill. While the rest of the country has been baking, we in the Pacific Northwest have been enjoying an extended spring. What that means is rain, lots of rain. Quite frankly, I’m a little tired of the rain. OK, that’s an understatement.

So, when the sun came out this weekend we did what almost every Portland family does at one time or another, we (actually, I) blow up the wading pool and let the children play while the parents relax on their brand new deck.

May I say again, that the backyard deck is possibly the best invention known to man? We tried it out this weekend and it offered everything we had dreamed about and more (more, meaning a lot of mud thanks to a grassless patch of ground where we set up the wading pool).

Mayumi said it best when I offered her a glass of white wine while we sat and watched the children as the sunlight filled the yard – “I am very happy!” Me too, Mayumi. Me too.

Five Things Friday: A Little Light Entertainment

It’s been a busy week – one that began on Monday and feels as though it should have ended at least a couple of days ago. I took a TON of photographs for work and now have them sitting on my computer ready to edit. Sadly, I have not had the time (or frankly, the weather thanks to the never-ending Portland rain) to take many personal photos but I hope to rectify that over the weekend with a few sightseeing adventures around town.

So, as a lead in to a (hopefully) relaxing weekend, today’s edition of five things Friday shares a few random, whimsical fun websites/articles/blog articles from around the web, including one that literally made me cry with laughter.

1. The top 15 most popular damn you auto complete texts of all time.
Not appropriate for children but will make adults cry with laughter (well, this adult at least).

2. A Popsicle roundup
I’ve been meaning to make Popsicles all summer and this list makes me feel like this might be  the weekend to do it. Now to locate those popsicle thingy’s in the basement…

3.  GINGER & PEARL {TWO LIVES, ONE LOVE – A RETROSPECTIVE}
Would love to create a photo story like this one day. It’s why I have such a passion for photography – sharing stories about real people with amazing images.

4. TESCO virtual supermarket in train station
I could do with one of these in my living room now that New Seasons no longer offers online shopping.

5. Hypothetical Wes Anderson film festival
Love the design elements, right down to the fake movie trailer.

I hope to be back on Monday with  stories and pictures from our upcoming weekend adventures. Until then, I leave you with a group portrait from last weekend taken in a wonderful old window in the Portland Pearl district. Kei wasn’t left out on purpose – he was at home painting our back room which is now ready for furniture (hooray!). Just a few short hours until I park myself on the new deck and settle in for a weekend of fun. Enjoy!

 

He’s Trying to Break Me.

I’m convinced my three-year-old is trying to break me. Underneath that cute exterior is a diabolical mind that is just trying to see how far he can push me until I crack.

Take this morning for example:

I walk into to the bedroom and open the blinds. Child greets me with a big smile and then puts his head back on pillow. I leave room to get dressed. 5 minutes late, same child is in a mess of tears and whining calling for me to come back. I walk back into the room and following conversation take place:

Mummy (M): I’ll get your clothes
Samuel (S): NO! DON’T GET MY CLOTHES!
M: Ok – then you get your clothes. I’m going to get dressed (leave room).
S: MUMMY! I NEED YOU TO GET MY CLOTHES!
M: (grabbing clothes from closet)
S: NO! NOT THOSE CLOTHES!
M: OK – how about these clothes?
S: I WANT BLUE SOCKS! I DON’T WANT YOU IN MY ROOM!
(scene continues for about 10 minutes while I go back and forth between my room and his. Child is finally carried down the stairs to breakfast.)
S: Mummy – may I have a banana for my breakfast please? And some cereal? I love you Mummy.
M: Thank you for asking so nicely. I’ll also get you a spoon (consciously grabbing the spoon with the blue handle).
S: NO! I WANT THE ALL-BLUE SPOON, NOT THAT BLUE SPOON!

I won’t bore you with the rest, but let me assure you that this continued for another 30 or so minutes before I was able to leave the house. Of course when we got to school he refused to go in and after we eventually made it to the classroom, I had to peel him off  my leg so I could leave. The whole way down the hall I could hear him screaming “I WANT YOU MUMMY!”.

On the one hand, it broke my heart to leave him in such a mess. On the other, I was grateful that I had this option for both our sakes. I wish this was a one-time event but, sadly, it was the continuation of a rough weekend.

I know he’s going through a lot right now – becoming the middle child overnight must be tough – but where do you draw the line between pandering to a three year old in an attempt to be compassionate and keep the peace, and finally deciding that enough is enough?

And it rained all weekend in Portland. I need a vacation.

Today – I’ll be taking a bunch of pictures and video for work (a good thing) and, apparently, working on my attitude so I can make it toFriday. Wish me luck.

Five Things Friday: The Happy Edition

The sun’s out, the weekend is about to commence – it truly is a happy Friday. Here are five things that made me smile today – including one that should be preceded by a chorus of Angels.

1. Boys who insist on wearing one gumboot and one sneaker to school – and Mums who let them because it’s truly not worth arguing about and, hey, it’s cute. (P.S. Socks are mismatched too)

2. Pixar characters in real life (seen on the way to school)

3. Cuteness that comes in pairs

4. Buskers that literally make you want to dance in the street (I think they were called The Glue Horses but I can’t find them online. Fantastic bluegrass-style. Please leave a comment if you know who they are).

AND, FINALLY (this is where the choir of angels comes in)…

5. A finished deck that’s just inviting me to come and take a seat with a nice glass of wine. (still waiting for the elves to come and finish painting our back room).

Plans for the weekend include more sightseeing around Portland with our Japanese guests – The weather will decide whether we make it to Powell’s or the Japanese gardens – or maybe we’ll be adventurous and try both.

Hope your Friday is as happy as mine.

Socially Acceptable Behaviour…

…for a three year old.

You can only get away with mowing the lawn in your underwear for a few short years before someone calls the cops so you might as well enjoy it while you can.

 

 

Crowds, Music and Ice Cream: The Mississippi Street Fair

I love going back to work on a Monday knowing that you made the most of your weekend. We had a great time living it up in the Sunshine. Favorite moments:

  • Group bike ride down to Mississippi ave for the street fair, including Mayumi’s first time on a bicycle in 10 years (and she stayed on!).
  • Catching the Star Wars Lego windows and Thomas being unable to cotain his excitedment.
  • Braving the crowds to make it down to Por Que No! (Spelling?) for lunch – and then finding a quieter table in the shade when the live music became just a little too loud (but the band was great).
  • Buying matching fairy wings for Samuel and Karin (blue for him and pick for her).
  • Ice Cream!
  • Sitting with my husband on our NEW DECK on a balmy Saturday evening, sipping beer and catching up. (Note: finishing touches still be made to deck but should be done this week)
  • FUN photo shoot with a family who won a session in an Auction fundraiser for Thomas’ school. Adorable kids and incredibly friendly parents.
  • Grocery shopping with Mayumi – she has now conquered her fear of New Seasons. (last week she went by herself and felt so overwhelmed that she left with only a bottle of Orange Juice).
  • Friendly people at the grocery store who remember Mayumi and Karin from their previous visit.
  • Playdate/birthday party at the park for one of Thomas’ school friends which included a gathering of parents who speak Japanese.

Of course, I also managed to take a few photographs of the festival, although the logistics of managing three kids (even with three adults) amidst an incredibly crowded street fair made it difficult. Next year I might have to find a little time to go by myself. So many wonderful photo opps that I missed.