Family Bird Watching

I think our Indian Summer may be over. It has cooled down, the skies are overcast and the rains are suppose to arrive tomorrow. I think I am ready for fall.

For Family Night this week we headed down to Chapman School to watch the Vaux Swifts. We went to see them for the first time last fall with our friends the Jensens. Since Tessa had never seen them we thought it would be a fun family night activity. For the last 20 years or so about 30,000 vaux swifts have been stopping off in Portland on their way down to winter in Mexico.

At dusk each evening they all fly into the chimney of a local elementary school to spend the night. They attract quite the crowd each night (100's of people) to watch their show.

We stopped by for a slice of pizza on NW 23rd and then took our chairs and blanket to bird watch.



















It is a pretty amazing sight! Just glad I don't have to clean out that chimney!

Tessa started play practice this week - she has a part in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the high school's childrens musical. She plays the part of Violet's mother. When they lined up all the kids that were auditioning in order of height, she was the third tallest. It's hard to play a kid when you are taller than all the parents so she is a parent! Other than the one acts last year this is her first theatrical experience - she commented after the first day how nice everyone is.

Last night we had fun at a neighborhood BBQ to wish Hannah goodbye as she leaves for college tomorrow. Having Hannah home for this last 3 weeks since Cali has left has been a nice buffer for Tessa. I think the reality of now being the only child at home is going to really hit home. (Call your sister more Cali)


Each fall Jim get soccer withdrawals. He misses those years of coaching and watching our kids playing soccer and when he sees all the neighbor kids heading off to their games each Saturday it gets to him. So today he and I went to watch our cute little 5 year old neighbor Declan play in his soccer game. What a cutie!!

The College Kid Report:

Logan has been busy with work, school and rehearsal. I think he is enjoying the freedom of being "single" again and having some more time to himself. He does have a date tonight (saturday) to the World of Dance - the date is his sister, Cali! I am encouraging him to hang out at the School of Nursing - no more MDT!

Clark is in California for the wedding of his friend and former roommate Tyson. The wedding is today at the LA Temple with the reception in Arcadia. I bet he looks cute in his tux!
Friday they hung out at Venice Beach and had fun playing in the water.

While in the water they got quite far out - beyond the waves when all of a sudden they say rescue vehicles coming down the beach with their lights and sirens on as well as a coast guard or rescue boat pulling up near them. He made it sound like they were in the middle of a scene from Baywatch.

The only thing they didn't realize was that they were coming to rescue them! I guess it looked from the shore as if they may have been in trouble so the rescue squad showed up to save them - even though they didn't need saving. Clark graciously accepted the rescue board when it was thrown to him and allowed them to tow him in. Glad it wasn't for real!!

Cali (even though she rarely calls her mother:) seems to be doing fine except a bad head cold she has come down with. It didn't stop her from enjoying the football game today, going out for Indian food with friends and then to the dance show with her brother fortunately.

Her big news for the week was when she texted me (you could call me too Cali!) to tell me she had just received a calling in her ward - she is Enrichment Leader! She added to the text - and
" I don't even sew or cook! " I am sure there are lots of things you can do for Enrichment that don't include sewing or cooking Cali - you'll be great and oh yeah - call your mother a little more often, she misses you!