First, before we left today, I felt the need to wash the windows of my car. I like a clean car, vacuumed, washed, picked up. We don't have a hose here in the apartment, so my car hasn't had a really good bath in a long time. I have done little spit baths, like today. I get a washcloth out and do the best I can. We were pretty much loaded up ready to rock and roll this morning, and I felt the need to clean off the car. I felt much better.
Second, if I do say so myself...I rock. Here's why: I'm totally getting around this city and I'm feeling pretty comfortable about it. One of my sisters...who shall remain nameless...once kind of made fun of me when I lived in Houston, about how I didn't really know the city very well. I have decided it wasn't me, it was the city. Houston was just confusing, and not very...driver friendly. You had freeways that went in loops, not straight lines. Yesterday, I was chatting with someone in line for the IMax (am I Marleen's daughter or what?) and she was saying how Portland is a "big little city". Yup, I would agree.
Today, we went to the zoo. Great fun! It's such a nice zoo. All my kids and people I talked to (sister and friend) wanted me to compare it to Houston. It's about as nice, just different. It's kind of like the San Diego Zoo (best zoo IN the world) in that it's all about the hills. I went for a run this morning and about half way through the day, I was thinking that was a wasted step. No need. I walked the zoo today. But my goodness, the polar bear is one huge bear. I don't know if I have ever been that close to a polar bear before. They are HUGE! Have you seen Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth? Poor polar bears!
They also had these BIG old black bears in their enclosure, that seemed oh so close. Wasn't there a story somewhere about someone getting mauled by a bear at a zoo? Or am I making that one up? Either way, that bear was very close. There was this deep ditch thing between us, but still. It still doesn't top the time in Houston when we went to Brazos Bend State Park. I think I blogged about it, way back when. But you walk amongst the alligators. No joke. My Mom still marvels that we (specifically her) did that. If you ever get a chance...that's one park worth visiting.
But what I wanted to share with you about the zoo was this. I like how this move has brought my children closer together. They have been hanging out together, playing together, making forts, and well, yes, fighting too. Hayden was getting tired and Hunter put him on his back for a ride. Hope wanted out of the stroller and Hannah took her hand and started walking with her. It's nice too, that they are getting older and can be left alone. Hope pooped at lunch today (sorry, she did) and I needed to change her. It was nice to leave everybody at the table and go change her. NOT having to haul everybody and everything into the small bathroom.
We were all pooped when we got home. I think I might have caught one Oprah since we moved here. I MISS MY DVR! But anyway, the kids were vegging on the couch downstairs, and Hope and I ran upstairs to catch Ops. It was quite the show today, no question there. It was about this man, that is pregnant. It's all over the People magazine, so check it out if you wish. Anyway. I was farting around on the computer and clicked on one of the links on my sister Holly's blog. All Us Christensen's. I so enjoyed her post. She talks about nobody can do "it" all perfectly all the time. She says you either clean your house, make gourmet meals, or you are your child's personnel play date for the day. But you can't do all three. SO true. For the last couple of days, I have been the personnel play date Mom. With burst of clean house Mom. Not enough bursts, mind you, the bathrooms here are not so good. Gourmet meals...no, but I did make a tuna noodle casserole! In fact my 15 minutes of cooking said tuna noodle casserole/blogging are almost up...(Daddy came home and took everybody outside to ride their bikes ahhhh peace) I'm out of here!
6 comments:
i love all your randomness! so glad the move is bringing the peeps together! that's awesome. and that you're enjoying portland. that zoo is awesome, huh?
That is one place I want to visit when we come visit. Any snakes? I don't like snakes.
Sounds like the children are really enjoying their spring break. Won't be long now and they will be in the house and then things will really start happening.
I love the thought that your family is closer since the move -- I really feel that that's where the strength is. Yay for you guys!
The zoo trip sounds fun. So were there gorillas? Houston zoo doesn't have any! And in Houston's defense, the loops make TOTAL sense! YOu have 610 (smaller loop) and 8 (bigger loop) which are intersected by 45 (north and south) and 10 (east and west), 290 and 59 which both run diagonally. It is brilliant! Plus they are trying to shuttle over two million people around, so I guess it gets hectic no matter what! Portland sounds like the size of Ft Worth (around 500,000?). I like that size MUCH better. You have culture and universities, but you can still feel like everyone is part of the same community. I can't wait to visit you and see that area for the first time. I'm proud that you have been fearless about getting around there. That is awesome. I'm excited that your move is coming up!
That sounds like such a great zoo. I am loving hearing about all of your adventures. Your kids are sweeties. I think that is great they are such good friends. We moved quite a bit growing up, and it was nice to have my brothers. Built in friends.
i've said it before, i'll say it again - houston was hard to navigate. and i'm a self proclaimed "expert navigator." i never had a sense of direction there. and it isn't all the grid - cause chicago doesn't have a grid, and i always know where north is. i am proud of you though - getting out there & enjoying the area. live it up heather!
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