Arrr! Avast ye Mateys...

It's "Talk like a Pirate Day!"

Pirate Jokes

Q: What's a pirate's favorite letter of the alphabet?

A: Arrrr!

Q: Why did the pirate fail the test?

A: It was too harrrrrrrrrrd!

Q: What is a pirate's favorite African nation?

A: MadagascARRRRRRRR!

Q: Why did the pirate ship look so good?

A: They used varrrrrrrnish!

Q: How much did the pirate pay for his piercings?

A: A buck-an-ear!

Q: Where do pirates go for lunch?
A: To Arrrrby's
Q: What's a pirate's favourite instrument?
A: The guitarrrrrrr!

Q: Where do pirates keep their bathrooms?

A: On the poop deck!

Q: How many pirate jokes are lame?

A: Most of them ARR!

And don't forget about the Portland Pirate Festival this weekend. The Captain Bogg and Salty band will be playing...so bring the kiddos. Yarr!


I'll be updating my Paper Capers blog tonight with photos of what we did for TLAPD! Sadly, all the kids stayed home sick and I am sick as well with a sore throat, so it was a little hard to "Yarrr," but we still had fun!

Avast, me Hearties, I've just updated me Paper Capers blog with pleanty o' fun ideas!

How do you like my hat?

After we got back from camping, I took a much needed nap, then we went out for dinner with Dan's dad for my belated birthday. I was in the mood for Halibut (when am I not in the mood for halibut!?), so we ended up at McGraths Seafood Grill. I had the Parmesan halibut which was really good. Then they came out and served me an ice cream sundae (which I shared) and sang me a birthday song...and let me wear this great hat. It was hard to keep on as it was so heavy and wobbly, but I think it's a good look for me!

The most expensive Jessie Doll Evah!

Here's a little background info: A few Christmases ago Natalie got a Jessie doll, but it didn't come with her trademark red hat. Natalie loved her Jessie doll very much but mentioned that next year all she was going to ask of Santa was a red hat for her Jessie doll. Fast forward to Zander's last birthday when he got the Woody and Jessie set as a gift. Natalie was thrilled because this Jessie had a hat. Needless to say, the hat was a big deal to her.

Okay, so last Sunday when we went out to dinner, Natalie asked if she could bring her Jessie doll. I told her to leave it at home, but for some reason I agreed to let her bring it. Jessie came in to eat with Natalie. We enjoyed our meal, paid and left. It wasn't until we got home that she realized she didn't have the red cowgirl hat. Dan called the restaurant and they didn't have it either.

So I asked Dan if he would put the kids to bed so I could drive back to the parking lot and look for the hat. It was 20 minutes away, but it would save me a lot of anxiety if I knew it was or wasn't sitting there in the parking lot. I quickly zoomed out, driving Dan's car (the Honda). I was driving cautiously because it was dark and I wasn't 100% sure how to get there as Dan drove the first time and I wasn't really paying attention to how he got there. Then to add to my stress, a cop pulls up behind me. I am very aware he is there and hoping he turns soon. Just then his lights go on and I quickly move to the right to let him pass...only he didn't pass, he pulled up behind me!

As it turns out the plates are expired and have been since July! I quickly rummage through the glove box for the registration and proof of insurance. I hand him the registration, but cannot find the insurance card...or at least not a current one. The best I could do was a card that expired in 2005. Embarrassed as all get out I apologized to the officer and explained to him that this was my husband's car. He said other officers would tow my car away, but he would let me off with a citation. A $97 citation...Grrr Grrr Grrr! Needless to say, I was a little miffed at the thought that we have been driving illegally for 2 years...

Anyway I get to the parking lot of the restaurant and look around with only the street lights to help me see in the dark. No hat. It was nowhere to be found. So I drove home. The very next day Zander found the hat in his room. I don't even want to know how it got there!

Airplane Camping!

The Flight to Nahalem Bay:

We're ready for take off!

The kids had fun talking on the headsets.Hayden got to fly the plane with grandpa.

There's the air strip, ready for us to land.

Our crew, safe on the ground.

Our camping site was nestled in the trees, just to the right of the plane on the right.

Setting up camp:

The kids met up with Andy who drove down earlier with some of the big stuff. They got to ride his car, then they popped their heads out...which of course they thought was so cool.

Everyone helped unload and set up camp.

Our first evening:

After everything was all set up we walked to the beach and got there just after the sun had set. The sky had turned beautiful shades of pink and purple.


By the time we came back from our walk it was dark, so I quickly fixed dinner while the guys got the campfire going.

Airplane camping Day 2

The first night I didn't get much sleep because I was so cold. I just sat there in my sleeping bag thinking how cold I was. Then my mind thought of all those hikers that get lost in the woods and aren't found for days...brrrrr!

In the morning we saw a deer who was airplane camping too!

After breakfast we walked to Nahalem Bay. It was still pretty foggy and overcast, but nice just the same.

The kids loved climbing up the big sand dunes...

...and they loved running down even more. Natalie must have climbed up the big hill more than 6 times. I only made it once! On the last time down, everyone swam down to the bottom.

Here we are in our drift wood tee-pee!

Da- Boyz!

Grandpa giving Natalie riding lessons.

More bike riding with Grandpa and Uncle Andy.

Grilling steak, sausages and corn on the cob.

In the morning we packed up and left pretty early because the rain came and the clouds were starting to roll in. Greg navigated down the coast to try and find the clearest way over the mountains. It was a great ride and at only a bit over 30 minutes, it sure beats driving!

Aerial photographs from our airplane camping trip

Incoming Flight: Oregon Coast

There's nothing like the Oregon Coast.

The sun was beginning to set as we were flying over the Pacific Ocean (around 6:15).

Return Flight: Oregon Coast, Willamette Valley

Twin Rocks near Roackaway beach

Some where near Pacific City

An ocean cave.

Flower fields.

A windy river...maybe the Willamette.

The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville where they house the Spruce Goose.

Grandpa Ernst's Hangar. You can see in front of the white building where Grandpa Swanson's sailboat hull is being stored.

Fabulous Food Friday

What's for lunch?

Part II

Here are some parfaits I made this week for the kids to enjoy. Just layer yogurt and cottage cheese, then sprinkle with granola and top with a cherry!

Here is the lunch I prepared for Zander's play date on Wednesday. Ham and cream cheese roll-ups, ants on a log, juice, yogurt parfait and a hot wheels chocolate for good measure. The food was a hit, but the Lighting McQueen toothpicks were best part for the boys...oh, and the chocolate.
Check out this blog, just for lunches!
Now, I thought I was fairly creative in the kitchen, but I just found someone who inspires me to no end. If you have young children, you must check out her blog: Vegan Lunch Box. I am not a vegan, but I will be trying out these ideas real soon! She has more fun packing lunches than I do!



If you think these are fun, wait until you see what I have to show you for next Fabulous Food Friday...