What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?

Up until last night the strangest thing I'd eaten was alligator...

However, that changed when we were invited to dinner by our friends the Mickle's, who were celebrating their 10 year anniversary. We ate at the Riverview restaurant in Troudale, which is owned by Mr. Yoshida, a local entrepreneur, famous four his delicious gourmet sauces.



The Riverview is a newer restaurant, so I was excited to try it out. Debbie and I checked out the menu ahead of time and noticed a few unusual items along with all the other mouthwatering selections...Wanna guess...

Okay, I'll give you a hint..."Outback Fillet." Still guessing? So, what is an Outback fillet exactly?
It hops around on it's tail and carries it's young in a pouch...If you guessed Kangaroo...you are correct!

Actually, we started with an appetizer of Wine Cured Ostrich which was sliced thin and wrapped around Gouda cheese (as seen top right) and was quite good. Then for the main course, Scott ordered the Kangaroo and we all got to try it (pictured bottom right). I thought it was similar to steak (no, not chicken). Actually I thought it was better than a steak, but I don't really like steak all that much. I ordered the Seafood Tower (pictured bottom left) which came with a yummy coconut curry sauce. Debbie got the Thai Curry Linguine and Dan ordered a steak. Every thing was really good. We had so much fun!

Hayden's First Hair Cut...finally!

Hayden has needed a hair cut for a couple months now...but before we cut his golden locks off, we had a little fun...

"The Hayden"

"The Donald"

"The Kramer"

"The Godzilla"

"The Squiggy"

"The Pebbles"

"The Ed Grimley"/"Jack Jack"/ "Mary"

Hayden didn't want to sit still, so after I cut his first lock of hair, I held him while Dan buzzed the rest of his hair off.

"The New Hayden"
Hayden looks so cute with his shorter hair...just in time for his second birthday! Doesn't he look like Zander? I think the reason I waited so long to cut his hair was because I knew it would move him from my "baby" to my little boy in the blink of an eye. I remember how dramatic it was when Zander got his first hair cut. It seems like he hit the fast forward button and aged about 6 months. I was also a little nervous about how to cut his hair. He has two cowlicks in front and a few longer areas of growth in the back...the hair clippers solved that problem...now it's all one length.

Swim lessons

For the past few summers I had been meaning to sign our kids up for swim lessons and it just never happened. Watching all our our kids' friends advancing in their swimming skills was staring to bring out the mommy guilt, so earlier this summer I marched myself down and registered Natalie and Zander for swim lessons...just in time too cause the only classes left for the beginner level were in August. I thought this would be fine since it was an outdoor pool, the chances of cool rainy weather would be minimal. But, wouldn't you know it, this week is grey and seasonably cool. Oh well. They are both doing great. After her first lesson, Natalie said she couldn't wait to go back the next day. Both kids are both getting more comfortable with their face in the water and are responding without hesitation to the instructors.

Hayden likes playing in the kiddie pool while his brother and sister are having their lessons and I get to chat with my friends whose kids are taking lessons too.

Blast from the past

As kids we didn't really eat out much, especially fast food restaurants, but I do remember going to Arctic Circle. They had the best ice cream cones for only a quarter (does this make me old?). Then in college, all the local Arctic Circle restaurants started disappearing. I remember my friend Bekki and I stocked up on their packets of fry sauce so we wouldn't go through withdrawls.

Then last week my brother told me that a new Arctic Circle just opened up on 162nd and Division!!! So last night I took the kids out for dinner and free ice cream cones. They had fun wearing their Incredibles masks and eating with their cousins. It was just like I remembered...only now they sell their fry sauce so you don't have to leave with a pocket full of packets!

Aloha...our downsized Luau

For the past few years we have thrown a pretty large Luau during the end of July to celebrate my birthday as well as Dan's whose birthday is in June. Last year we had over 40 friends and family over and other than the cooler temperature, it was one of funnest parties so far.

However, with that large of a group it became difficult to mingle with everyone. This year we discussed it and decided to just invite friends. We get to see our family for various occasions throughout the year and thought this might be a good time to catch up with friends. Little did we know that the date we chose would also be a popular one for several of our friends to go out of town...or have brand-new babies to take care of (congrats Kyle and Melissa and Wes and Bekki!). So our group was a cozy one and it was nice to be able to hang out more rather than jumping from one table to the next.

The Tiki Lounge

Pina Colada fountain

My little Hula Girl

The kids loved being able to serve themselves.

Natalie and her friend Sarah

The kids had fun making tropical crafts...our friend Angel enjoyed showing off his manly coconut bra...(where's the shirt that says "real men wear pink water wings.")

After his nap, Hayden joined us for lunch, then he and Isaac had a shoot-out with the Nerf guns. Anne gets to relax in the shade with Matthew (almost 4 mo. old)

It wasn't long before the water battles started.









Chris launched a very soggy Nerf ball across the pool, then used his stealth moves to shoot Angel in mid-air while he plunged off the diving board. Once the water balloons were brought out it was every man/child for himself.












The parachute was also a big hit with the kids.