The Blog Returns... (aka The Longest Blog Ever)

Well, a mixture of too few hours and no wireless has led me in the direction of a long hiatus from blogging. I assure you I am back! With two little ones running around and giving me the most wonderful material to post, I just must find time to share it with you! Here's a start:

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Our time with the Dalgas family is always sweet, always accented by fresh foods straight from the garden and the best conversation. We love you guys so much!

This particular night, Amy had prepared a pasta with roasted tomato, garlic and basil. So delicious! We had Ben's Mom's pickled green beans and a delicious salad. Yum! The kids had so much fun playing together... and afterwards we went to pick blackberries until the sun went down...

Ray and I shared our 4th anniversary on September 1st. I love that man more every day...

Dad and Roz briefly stopped through Portland on their way to a class reunion. We were lucky enough to share a breakfast with them!

Geocaching with Jeremy and Kyli : What fun! Jeremy chose a trail up the Columbia that climbed up above the Bonnaville Dam. Despite incredible sights and making it to the map cache, the terribly impossible directions caused us to miss finding the final cache. Regardless, FUN time by all!!!

On Saturday, Heather and I threw a bridal shower for Dacia. What a lovely setting, right on the Willamette! It turned out perfectly- so Dacia style- and the sun graced us the entire time...

Our dear friends Jeremy and Kyli had us over for an incredible bbq, followed by brewing a Fat Tire. This was Ray's and my first time brewing, and needless to say, it has hooked Ray. (We currently have 3 different beers brewing in the garage!!!)

Confined sleeping arrangements call for drastic measures: I found Sophie like this when I went in to check on them during nap time. She had torn off her diaper and snuggled up on Sol. Too much... :)

Hanging out with our farmer friends in Eugene...

Reading bedtime books with Papa... and ALWAYS laughing!!

Our little watermelon boy at the splash park in Eugene...

Many days with our good friends Dustin and Roxanne. We love gardening and canning with them. This time around, we harvested purple pole beans to can...

Who doesn't like dark chocolate- especially on a hot day at the river!!

Berries, Baths and Beautiful Days...

Last week Ray and I were able to snag a day away with our dear friend Michelle Garrels and her two little ones, Shepherd and Heron, to pick berries out on Portland's Sauvie Island. To our complete surprise, we pulled up to the farm at the exact same time that Gramma, Aunt Laurie, Aunt Kathy AND cousins Ben and Sam arrived. How fun! Berry picking was so easy... some of the largest and sweetest berries I've ever seen!!

**Michelle and I both seem to regularly have our cameras out. We traded photos so that we could finally get some of ourselves and our kiddos!

I love this berry exchange- sweet little Shepherd studying the crazy two little Schafer critters...

Ray kept the little ones busy with a constant supply of berry goodness, while Michelle and I picked to our heart's content.

The farm had so many different varieties of veggies and berries available for u-pick, plus wagons to pull the kiddos and tractor rides!

Heron braved the prickly vines to help us pick marion berries for a pie...

The following day Ray left east of the mountains to join his guy friends for a couple days. Michelle invited me back over to spend the day and the night with them...

Raspberry jam making!!!

We went to their neighborhood park and played in the splash pad!!

Shepherd seems to know when to smile so sweetly for the camera...

In the evening we headed to dinner at a local place called Pause for some happy hour bites. My long time friend, Chad Witt, was able to join us, and Josh too! The kids enjoyed running around in the open back yard of the restaurant...

Little Sophie and Sheppy are buddies...

Later that night- bath time! Pure fun for the Garrels/Schafer bunch! (plus a little bit of water on the floor...)

Cute morning faces: Shepherd's standard gentle grin; Sol's funny little scowl...

Sharing...

Though our times together are often brief, the times are always sweet. Thank you! I love how our kids love each other... and I love how full and inspired I feel after our time together...

Water Babies...

Well, it's certainly clear by now that I have a couple of water babies. With the weather being nice, each and every day revolves around water for these two. And I can guarantee if water is involved, I have two very content and excited little ones...

Making friends with the cat. He is very gentle with her and always talks in the highest voice when he greets her...

...a little hug...

Sophie is really into books these days. Give her a pot of water and a book- she's good as gold...