Homer Days with the Cornman Family

So we like to partake in Homer Davenport Days (the town festival...much like the Paul Bunyan days in St. Maries)...this year, we invited our friends the Cornman's to the festivities. Matt and Jared pulled kids in the wagon from home to the city park. This is Ainsley, who frankly prefers to be in the driver's seat!

This is Rhett (cleverly disguised in Batman face paint), Ainsley, and Mateo checking out Bobbie's house (this is the famous dog who got lost and found his way back to Silverton from the midwest)...

Hey Rhett--is there anything in there?

The kids getting close...once they figured out Bobbie was just a statue, not a real dog.

Hopin' you are enjoying the dog days of summer! Harr, Harr, Harr! Sarah

Summer Fun...Nona's Bounty

Nona has an amazing green thumb! Her flowers always make our pale in comparison...and Mateo loves playing in the big back yard. He runs, and runs, and runs!!

A couple of years ago, Dan and Pamela built Nona some raised beds to garden in...and as you can see, she has the touch! She grows everything from summer squash and zucchini to beans to tomatoes to basil and parsley...all the essential ingredients for a "good Italian cook".

Pamela gave Nona a fig tree last year...and this year it is bearing tons of fruit!

Mateo took eight weeks of swimming lessons at the city pool this summer...he went from Parent/Tot, all the way through Pike...he will be ready for Eel next year. (No idea what that actually means, but he's loving water which is a big improvement since last year!) This photo was actually taken in a friends kiddie pool...thanks for capturing his cute smile Erika!

This picture was actually taken at the NAFA campout (see previous post)...and I loved it, so I asked the NAFA newsletter editor to share it. He is so full of joy and fun to be around!

Loving the last few days of sun in Oregon...Sarah

Hiking at Silver Falls State Park

We live amazingly close to the largest state park in Oregon...Silver Falls...where waterfalls abound. If we haven't taken you there when you have come to visit, shame on us. It's fun to go hiking now that Mateo can mostly walk on his own.

I love watching Matt teach Mateo about things in nature. His personality is so inquisitive, and Matt is so patient, explaining the biology behind what he is asking. I've learned a ton (or re-learned a ton as the case may be) by hanging out with them!

Silver Creek, the one that runs through Silverton, has a prominent position in the state park. After we got all hot and sweaty, Matt and Mateo stuck their feet in the creek to cool off.

Mateo's fascination with butterflies (see previous post) continues...

We had to move over on the trail so a dirt mover/trail builder/really cool machine from Mateo's perspective, could go by...lucky for us there was shade to rest in.

Make sure you ask to see the falls when you are in town...we'd love to show them off to you!

Hugs, Sarah & Matt & Mateo

Hanging out with Tegan

While Matt & Mateo were in Seattle for the Mariner's game, they took opportunity to spend some time with cousin Tegan seeing the kid-friendly, cool, sites in the Space Needle's Hometown...they caught a butterfly exhibit...

Mateo was awestruck to get to be so close to the butterflies! He's been chasing them around ever since...

Tegan took Mateo to the Children's Museum...oh, how Mateo loves to play in the water!

He only wished he could crawl in the water to play like the bathtub!

Mateo's focus is so amazing...it takes him a while to get into things, but once he does...it can take an hour to get him out of things!

Thanks Tegan for making it such a fun visit!

Love, Mateo

Mariner's Game with Papa and NAFA Camp-out

For many years, Papa has been taking Joseph to a Mariner's game. Recently, he has added an invitation to the grandsons and their fathers...so Matt and Mateo made the trek to Seattle to meet Papa for this year's Mariner's game.

Lukas and Mateo had a great time getting autographs from important Mariners...especially Mariner Moose!

We have belonged to an adoptive family support group, called NAFA, for several years. Each year they host a camp-out at Barton Park, where the entire campground is reserved for adoptive families...this year we went, and Mateo had great fun in the Clackamas river looking for pollywogs!

The best part of the camp-out is the group parenting of kids...Mateo was hanging out with our campsite neighbor Jill who was helping him catch pollywogs!

It was like 90+ degrees...so here is a rare shot of me, wilting in the hot, hot sun. It's not rare for me to wilt...just rare to let Matt take a picture of me!

Hugs from Oregon, Sarah