"The Birds"

Do you remember the Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds"? It really creeped me out when I was a kid. All those birds, big and little, attacking people, attacking buildings and windows. No one was safe, the birds broke through windows and doors.The creepiest, of course, were the large crows. They just look menacing all on their own, let alone when they start attacking people.

What is one bird, though, that couldn't possibly be seen as a "maniacal people killing" bird? Maybe, one that wouldn't have made it into Hitchcock's movie, because of it relative cuteness and the "springtime and flowers" imagery it evokes? I think that before this last week I would have nominated the lowly Robin for that spot. Times have changed people. My thoughts have changed. Robins are maybe not as sweet and innocent as I had once thought.

For the past week we have been under attack from a group of rebel robins that have taken up residence in our back yard. All day long they ram their bodies into our windows, over and over and over again.

All of our windows look like this:

YES, that is all on the outside, and all from our rogue Robins. 13 of our windows look like this. Some of them even bear prints of wings in flight. I tried to get a picture of those, but there just wasn't the right kind of light for it. They obviously know that the window is there, because none of them have run into a window in full flight. They kind of perch next to it and then look at it and begin their attack. Sometimes they will batter the window for up to 5 minutes at a time.

Here is one during a "surveillance" operation:
He is scoping out the window for his buddies, I know it!
It is kind of creepy.

If you look closely you can see the wing marks on this window as well.

I did some of my own surveillance of the little Robin gang, and gathered together quite a few mug shots of the little devils.
Here is the line up:

They even have a watchman up in the top of one of our trees:

There are six of the fellas. And they are here 24-7. Sometimes they even attack our neighbor's windows that are about 2 feet from our fence.
I was able to actually catch a snapshot of their attack on my neighbor's window:

Here is my attempt to catch one attacking a window on our house:

It has been phenomenal! All day long I hear bumping and battering sounds at my windows. I wonder how long they are going to keep this up. Maybe they all have rabies or something, or maybe they are all just incredibly stupid. I just hope they give it up before one of them breaks their little neck!

After they are bored of this, I am going to have to clean my windows!!
But, not now......who knows.... maybe they really are in a bird rage.....

In that case, I might end up looking like this if I try:

(well, without the snazzy suit, purse, and heels of course!)

The first few days with Remi

Remi, my sister just younger than I, is staying with us until May 8th, for a PA pediatrics rotation. She arrived on April 1st. We have been taking full advantage of our time with her. It has been Fabulous!

The boys adore her and want to be with her constantly. I have promised her that it will wear off, in a few days!! Hopefully she can hold out that long! ;-) (She is surrounded by kids all day at work and then comes home to more!)

Kaelan seems to have formed quite the attachment and will except her willingly as a mommy substitute (well most of the time, anyway)

KK and Remi

Remi's first full day here we went to the OMSI to see the DaVinci exhibit. It was quite amazing. KK lasted for about 30 minutes in the stroller. (A record for him) But then returned to his normal self and became a holy terror to all things DaVinci. He even smacked Mona Lisa's picture (apparently she had no mystic appeal to him) and would climb into and onto DaVinci's inventions before I could get to him. I swear that child has superhuman speed and an insatiable curiosity. A very bad combination.

Fortunately, ahem, I mean unfortunately we had limited time and couldn't see everything. Ansel needed to be picked up for preschool. Phew! I know I couldn't have lasted any longer chasing after KK anyway!

Mona KK

Remi and KK outside of the OMSI.

On Friday we went on a hike to Wahclella Falls. I think that this hike is one of my favorites. We have made it several times. SO beautiful!

One of the first things that you come across on the hike is this beautiful waterfall that cascades down a rock face. The bridge you walk across is attached to this rock face, and the waterfall feels like a slanting wall right next to you. You can reach out and touch it. It is fast flowing, especially in spring! It would be a fun water slide if it weren't for the treacherous landing you would have to face at the end!!

KK was a little intimidated by such a force of nature.
(Notice the crossing of thumb and forefinger,
he does that when he is a little afraid of something)

I watch our neighbor's son, Nathaniel, everyday after school, so he came along. He is such a great kid, and Levi and Calder's best friend. They were really excited that he got to come with us.


Shortly after the 1st waterfall, we decided it would be safer for KK if he was in the backpack.

This is what he thought of that idea:

I thought that this next picture was a nice comparison of little boy and giant tree. The tree was perched on the precipice of the steep cliff that descended down into the gorge. Amazing dynamics! If you look carefully you can see a waterfall on the other side of the gorge and the river below.

There are no leaves on the deciduous trees yet, but they are all green even still.... with moss. Moss loves the wet season and grows all over the trees in wintertime. So, you see.... even with leafless trees we can still have green!


For most of the hike I heard "mom, take a picture of this.... mom take a picture of that....Mom take a picture of ME,ME ME!!"

Here is a sampling of the "On Demand" pictures:

A root that the boys thought looked like bigfoot's footprint, and thus requested a picture:

Levi waited here, for who knows how long, for me to come along and take a picture of him!!
Monkeying around:

We also had quite a few mountain goats with us. Levi, Calder and Nathaniel climbed every rocky incline they could, and some they actually couldn't (well couldn't get down from anyway). Ansel was the trailblazer, so he missed out on being in most of the photo's because he was so far ahead.

Here they are climbing up to "shower" under a small waterfall.

The waterfall above their heads:

Reaching their destination:

The result of much climbing up and down wet, muddy rocks:
(look at that muddy backside!!)We had to remove socks and shoes and lay plastic over all the seats before allowing them back into the Enclave at the end of the hike!


A view across the gorge:
(the trail at the bottom is the way back to the car)


A neat tree stump:

Wahclella Falls:


The Boys, after exploring the cave behind them:

Little boys, throwing rocks:

A misting waterfall:

A bridge crossing the river below Wahclella falls:

View from bridge:

A very fantastic hike!! Everytime I make it, I want to go again! It is kind of addicting.



The next day was really beautiful and 75 degrees. Unfortunately we had baseball and soccer strung throughout the day and so we couldn't take off to explore the great outdoors. But we did play outside!


This picture was taken before I saw what they were holding in their hands for me!! Sweet boys and dandelions. They just might become my favorite flower yet.

Calder and Ansel were playing with Pokemon toys outside:
This was another "on demand" picture:

A cute baby, happy to be outside in the warm sunshine!
All in all a great first three days with Remi!

A left over from April Fool's Day?

Do you ever wonder, sometimes.... what goes on in the mind of a grocery store baker?? I have, in fact I frequently read "Cake Wrecks" a fantastic blog on when bakers go awry. On Saturday night we got to experience our own version of "pie" wrecks. We had Jason, Courtney, Jacob and Alycia over for dinner and games. It was great and fun and, you know, just all around FAB. But, I do have to say the best part was the pie. And Not just because pie is yummy, but because these pies were all wrong.

I had Joe pick up some dessert for the night, and he came home with Ice Cream, Apple Pie, and Strawberry Rhubarb pie. Well, at least that is what they said on their respective boxes.

The night went by, we had dinner, played games, and finally got to dessert. Courtney was really excited because she loves apple pie, so, I started with the apple pie. As I cut into the pie a very red jell oozed out of the cut I just made. Hmmmm ...... "I don't think that this is apple pie, guys" I say. I look at the box again....

Sure enough it says it's apple pie, not only on the label....

But it has an "apple" sticker too:
I more closely inspect the slice of pie, I had just cut. It was cherry. Courtney was very disappointed. Like I said... she loves apple pie...... NOT cherry.

The "Apple" pie:

More boos, from all. Who wants cherry pie??! Especially when apple was offered.

I move on to the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. When I open the box, I stare at the pie. It doesn't look right. It is sort of a half and half. Half of the pie was red, the other...a pale yellow. "Anybody know what color Rhubarb is supposed to be???" I ask. No... no one knows. I think that it is supposed to be red, but I am not sure. Maybe when they said "strawberry rhubarb" they didn't mean mixed together. Maybe it is more like a pizza, ... half canadian bacon/pineapple and half pepperoni. You know... made to order and made to please everyone.

I cut into the pale yellow side. It smells like apple. I look more closely... it is apple!! Haha!! What is this?????! A joke?? A left over April Fool's Day Joke?

There is just one last chance for Safeway bakery to redeem itself. The red half of the second pie. This has to be the Strawberry Rhubarb side right?................Wrong! Cherry again!!!
If you look closely, you can see a bit of the apple on the left side of the picture. Sadly no picture was taken of the apple pie side. It was devoured with great relish. Nothing tastes better than an apple pie, that turned out to be cherry, then popped up again masquerading as half of a Strawberry Rhubarb pie!

I almost didn't do it.....

Ansel...... He will go down in the books for the most creative "excuses" or "explanations" of anyone I know. He has a gift. Too bad we haven't yet channeled that creativity into a better past time. But, as it stands now, this gift is used primarily for creative lies and half truths, and yes.... even full truths. The following story is concerned with the latter. A creative way of telling the truth.

Last night the littlest boys were having a snack of grated cheese (don't ask me why this is what they wanted....it just was) and I walked into the room to find Ansel and Kaelan at the little table surrounded by grated cheese..... all over the floor. Ansel had a paper towel in his hand and was attempting to clean it up.

I say: "Oh no! What happened?!"

Ansel: "The cheese spilled.. ..... KK almost did it."

..... A long pause......

Ansel, in a very soft, almost inaudible voice: " But, I actually did it."

*Insert much motherly praise for telling the truth*

Ansel: "Yeah, sometimes I forget [to tell the truth], and just say random things"

(Yes, he actually said "random")


The best part of the this whole story was hearing my sister Remi snort from across the room, and then quickly try to muffle it.

Haha............ "KK almost did it".......

Maybe he should go into politics???