Author: becandkyle

Nan and Pop came for the week. We did many things – like eat donuts

and go to Hola and El Sancho.

We also played laser tag,

tennis,

and went to see Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (and then I made Nan read me ALL the books).

Nan and Pop took Mom to Spork for her birthday dinner.

You know with all the non-stop activities they have to do each day, I need a glass of wine (or bottle) after a day running after them.

Nan and I made a turkey,

but not to eat. For Thanksgiving dinner, we had a grilled, spatchcocked chicken,

roast squash and red onion with a tahini sauce,

lemony brussel sprout salad,

marinated mushrooms,

bread,

and a french apple tart.

I waited until the day after the day after Thanksgiving to become Christmas man and then I pulled out all the stops. I even threw Nan and Pop a Christmas themed going away party – complete with open bar

and soba noodles with seared tuna, baby bok choy, and avocado.

Afterwards, I set to work preparing the sled. What for? To transport the Christmas tree we cut down out of the forest.

I cut the tree down all by myself.

I also decorated it all by myself. What do The Bigs do? Good question. Don’t ask it too loud or the one typing this blog won’t keep doing it :).

I didn’t stop with the tree. I also decorated the mantle,

the hallway,

my room,

the front yard,

and the backyard.

I spent some of my allowance last week on a blanket kit. I had to cut all of the fringe and then tie the two sides together.

I didn’t have school on Friday for Veteran’s Day, so we went to the coast for a long weekend. We stayed at Nye Beach in Newport. This was the view from our balcony:

I enjoyed sitting by the window and sketching the waves:

Friday morning, we walked on the beach. Someone had created a labyrinth in the sand, so we walked it:

Next we headed to the Oregon Coast Aquarium:

I got to pet sea stars, anemones, urchins, sea cucumbers, and more:

There was an underwater tunnel with lots of sharks:

After the aquarium, we headed down the coast to see Thor’s Well, a spouting sea horn:

On Saturday, we went surfing at Otter Rock:

After a good number of spills

I was surfing!

After a couple of hours in the cold surf, we went to see Devil’s Punchbowl:

We ended the day with a trip to the harbor:

Sea lions:

We went to a tapas restaurant for dinner. Butternut squash soup:

Calamari:

Pisto Manchego:

Charred veggies:

And, my favorite, garlic shrimp:

First there was a tin man

Then there was Toto

Next, came The Cowardly Lion

And this year, we had the Scarecrow.

I was one of the very few trick or treaters in the neighborhood, so I got lots of candy from people trying to make sure they weren’t stuck with it when the night was over. One man actually ran out into the road yelling “Candy!” to get me to come and get some from him!

That was not the only costume I wore this week. On the weekend, I watched The Karate Kid with The Bigs, so I dressed like Daniel-san (headband = toilet paper, belt = gauze – The Bigs could learn something from me, I generated an entire costume using things in the bathroom).

Also this week, we got our first snow of the season,

hit balls using the ball machine for the first time,

and we made baked apples stuffed with spiced nuts. We all agreed; they were gross.

Dad got the computer fixed. Phew. I am sure you were all so sad when there was no blog update last week…

Guess what? Nana came to visit! I didn’t have school, so we had lots of time to play. I created very full itineraries for us.

We made Halloween cookies.

Did some decorating.

And, carved some pumpkins.

We also went on some nature walks.

And, of course, went to the Yacht Club.

I threw Nana a going away party, complete with an open bar. The menu included apple cider (hot or cold), hard cider, or wine.

The fun is over and school is back in session, but the weather has been gorgeous and we got out for a bike ride this weekend. After my latest biking class, I am ROCK man.

Up next, Halloween! The Bigs finally finished my costume. Cut it close this year. For those who don’t know what I am going to be…If I only had a brain, I would tell you!

I am feeling better. Not 100% but improved. We went for a hike this weekend near Tumalo Creek.

I tend to go off trail, climbing every good rock I see.

We also went mountain biking. We told Mom we would meet her. She got to our meeting spot and got all set up to take a picture of me riding through the rock garden. BUT Dad and I did not meet her. So she took this guy’s picture instead.

I also spent some time in the kitchen. I made chocolate mint cookies (they had an Andes candy in the center).

I also made Hachimitsudaikon. It’s a tea with daikon radish, honey, and ginger.

We also had asian lettuce wraps this week. Yum.

I’m sick again/still. So sick that I did not want to do anything this weekend. That’s sick. So, this will be a short blog – with not too many pictures.

Friday was picture day. I take these things very seriously. I was the only sport coat seen in the DSM parking lot Friday morning. And when The Bigs picked me up that evening, I was still rocking the tie.

Mom thinks she probably got a better picture than the actual photographer and The Bigs could have saved their $25.

Mom and I planted sweet potatoes and yellow peppers in May. One. ONE of our peppers finally turned yellow. I won’t even tell you about the sweet potatoes…

We are behind on all things Halloween. My costume, for example. The Bigs really need to kick it up a notch. We also haven’t decorated yet. We swung buy a nursery to get some weird pumpkins on our way home one day, but we still need lots more.

This week I was back in the kitchen. I even followed a recipe! I made pan fried salmon with pine nut salsa.

I also invented a recipe. I food processed dried apricots and figs and added cocoa powder. It made a delicious paste I used to top apples. I then added a little chocolate ice cream to really make it come together.

We went backpacking this weekend. The hike started out in a burn.

But, it quickly became treed and had beautiful views of Mt. Theilsen.

I hiked all eight miles like it was a walk in the park.

Even making a steep climb without a trail over a ridge.

By the end, my feet were sore, but…

when I saw the waterfall that was our destination, I knew it was worth it.

Look, I found a heart stone Nan! I didn’t have room in my backpack to bring it home, but don’t worry, I made Mom carry it.

One of our reasons for going camping this weekend was so I could try out my new ‘man’ sleeping bag. My old bag was 3 lbs 3 oz. My new bag is 1 lb 15 oz. Dad, who has to carry it, was even happier with it than I was.

The hike out was steep.

A little bear crawling and a little grabbing tree branches to keep from slipping and we made it.

We saw lots of mushrooms on our way down.

I am determined to hike South Sister – an 11.5 mile round trip hike with 4900 feet of climbing. The Bigs took me on a training hike. We climbed Mt. Bachelor. Eight miles round trip and 2700 feet of climbing. I did it no problem.

Nan, does this count as a heart stone?

I’m also pretty into tennis these days. I even bought myself a sweatband so I could look like the guys at the US Open.

Dad made New Roots’ “Life Changing Loaf of Bread” this week. Didn’t work – life around here is the same.

I was inspired and made up a bread recipe. It had oats, bananas, walnuts, currents, and cinnamon. It was pretty good!

I had my yearly check up with Dr. Mills. She always asks me if I eat the rainbow, so I took a picture of my dinner to bring to my appointment. Rainbow? Check.

And then, I made this pizza for lunch one day. I used a tortilla, put some cheese, shredded pork, and red onion. Delicious!

I’m still sick. I even stayed home from school one day. It was GREAT. The Bigs let me lounge on the couch and watch movies. Here I am enjoying “Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs”.

This week was The Bigs’ wedding anniversary. They didn’t seem to think it was a big deal, but I did. I started the morning with a card and dinner plans.

We went for a bike ride after school/work and then headed to the Yacht (or yot, as I like to spell it) Club for dinner.

And then I insisted on taking an anniversary portrait. I believe many of you readers have experienced my portrait taking, so you can feel for the Bigs. I decided the best place to take the shot would be in the garage…because I had made a huge Happy Anniversary sign and hung it from my trapeze, of course. I added the stool and framed picture to nicen things up.

This weekend we rode one of the greatest trails in Bend, Mrazek. Only one person fell. She’s not in this picture.

In other news, I have started work on the Colosseum. They figure it took between 7 and 8 years to build the real one, The Bigs reckon it may take as long to build the Lego one.

I’ve also been very busy in the kitchen. Just this morning, I seared pork,

seasoned it, wrapped it in banana leaves, and put it in the crockpot to cook.

I also made salads for all of us for lunch. Like all great cooks, I have someone to clean up after I am finished…

I wrapped up the weekend at Meera’s birthday pool party. They rented a private pool in someone’s backyard for a couple of hours. It was 55 degrees and cloudy, but the pool was 94 degrees and they had a hot tub. It was awesome!

This week we went for a paddleboard at Suttle Lake.

And finished up with a swim.

I also took a tennis lesson. It was so fun!

We hit the courts later in the week so I could practice. I like serving.

It was also my first week of first grade.

School made me tired and I caught a cold, but that didn’t keep me from hitting the pool with Hadley this weekend.