Liver Life Walk 2010

Hello!!!! Can you believe that I am actually updating my blog. Goodness it has been a long time!! It has been a busy summer and I can't believe that school is about to start again.

I actually have a selfish reason for updating. I wanted to let you know that I have created Team Rick again this year for the Liver Life Walk. We are super excited to be doing the walk again this year. Samantha is really looking forward to it again as well. It is September 12, so time is really running out for me to get some donations for our team.

You can visit my personal fundraising page by clicking here. I really appreciate donations. Any amount is great as it all adds up.

We had so much fun last year and we are really looking forward to being there again this year. I am very happy to report that Rick's health has been very stable this year. We don't take that fact for granted however. I know it can change in the blink of an eye. Which is why this fundraiser is so important to me.

Thank you in advance for anyone that is able to make a donation. I will post more information as we get closer to the walk.

Until next time,

The Oregon Zoo

We had so much fun at the zoo. It is so neat. We all especially enjoyed the Predators of the Serengeti exhibit. Some, well a lot actually, of my pictures didn't turn out great. It is hard to get pictures of moving animals behind glass windows. Who knew??

Sam enjoyed the Sea Lions and Sea Otters. They were really fun to watch swimming around. The exhibits to see all these animals swimming were so cool. All the windows at different levels made for some great viewing, albeit some not so great photos. Oh well, it's the memories that matter anyway.

Even after a really long walk Sam was still full of energy. She really enjoyed everything and was so excited to see the next exhibit that she practically ran through most of them. I did manage to get her to stand still for a few seconds for some pictures every once in a while.

We really enjoy monkeys and it was so fun to get to see them.

The sea turtles were pretty cool.

But the baby elephant was even cooler. Meet Samudra, Sam for short. What a coincidence.

The amazing painting elephant. This elephants paintings sell for around $900 each.

After the live predatory bird show one of the trainers held a bird (I don't remember what it is, some type of falcon I think) for the kids to see up close. Sam asked some really good questions and was really interested.

The Predators of the Serengeti exhibit was so great. There was live music, and crafts.

Of all the animals in the zoo Sam decided that the Meerkat was her favorite. She even picked out a meerkat stuffed animal.

I liked the Polar Bears and the Zebras. And the Monkeys of course.

The Eagles were pretty amazing too!!

Sam and Daddy in an Eagles nest.

The memories we made during this weekend will last a long time. We had so much fun together. I hope that Sam will remember this time with Mom and Dad as a very special weekend. I am actually getting a little teary just thinking about it. Since we have no idea what the future holds I am holding on to these memories in a very special place. We don't get the opportunity to spend special time like this together, and I hope that we will be able to do the same thing with Megan in a couple years.

Liver Life Walk, we will be back next year. It felt great to do something, and to make special memories.

Until next time,

Jaime

Cannon Beach Part 2

Samantha had so much fun playing on the beach. She immediately started digging in the sand, and I immediately took off my sandals so I could put my toes in the sand. Sam and I went towards the ocean to put our feet in. Brrrrrrr. But it was so worth it!!

Sam had a great time running into the ocean and then running back with the waves. Unfortunately she got too far out, the tide was coming in, and she got swept down. I ran very fast and was able to grab her and get her back on her feet before she went completely under. She was pretty shaken up and kept apologizing. I wrapped her up in a towel and she sat in the sand for a bit. It wasn't too long and she was back to running into the waves. We even had to remind her not to go out so deep.

It was so fun to watch the sheer delight on her face as she ran in the waves. I am so happy that we had this chance to spend some special time together. It was very memorable, and I don't think I will forget the sounds of Sam's delighted screams as she ran around in the ocean.

Tune back in for pictures from the zoo.

Until next time,

Jaime

Cannon Beach Part 1

My favorite place in the world is the beach at the ocean. I love how the sand feels on my feet and the way the salty air smells and feels on my face. I just love it all!!

So it was great when Sam realized how much she loves it too. We were able to spend a couple hours at Cannon Beach during our liver walk weekend. Sam was so excited to finally get a look at the ocean. The last time she saw it was when she was 3, so I am thinking she doesn't really remember much. We also did a little shopping before we had lunch at Mo's. Sam and I got matching pink Cannon Beach hoodies.

So here is the first installment of pictures from our fabulous day.


Stay tuned for the second installment of Cannon Beach fun. There was just too many pictures for one post.

Jaime

Multnomah Falls

We made a few stops along the way to Portland. Sam really enjoyed seeing the wind turbines along the Columbia gorge. And we stopped for lunch. But the best stop along the way was at Multnomah Falls. It is so pretty. Multnomah Falls is one of my favorite spots to stop. I love waterfalls, and this place is just so pretty.

Samantha thought it was beautiful too. She had a great time on the walk up to bridge. I got some great pictures. And some great memories.

I am so glad that Samantha enjoyed Multnomah Falls as much as I did. She didn't want to leave. And she wanted to walk to the top. Ya, that's not happening. I've done it once and that was good enough for me.

Stay tuned for pictures of our day at the beach.

Until next time,

Jaime