Grand Graham Gathering

- Friday, September 13, 2013

LOVED our time at the Oregon Coast with all of Bjorn's family in August.  This was the first ever Grand Graham Gathering (kind of like a reunion only better).  We stayed at a house in Seaside and traveled up and down the coast each day discovering parks, monuments, boats, cheese factories, lighthouses, trolleys, more beaches.... and spent a day in downtown seaside playing mini golf, bumper cars, and other fold fashioned fun.  Bjorn, Gabe and I went for an early morning run on the promenade one morning quite enjoyed the crisp, quiet beach air.

Other food adventures:

*Each family took turns cooking a meal each night.  They were all very delicious! This family is full of great cooks!  We played games at night and tried to make time for a dip in the hot tub as well.  

* Dundee's donuts in seaside.  Donut holes on a stick- what a genius idea!!

*fresh cherries from a roadside stand.... we just kept the bag in the car with us the whole time!

* Italian sodas at a NW coffee shop.  We really miss these in Utah!


at Shipwreck beach 


Gabe's first time in the sand! He loved it. He was not walking yet but CRAWLED all over the muddy stuff! 


this is how I had to cary him back to the car.... then Bjorn took him into a ghetto bathroom to rinse off and get all the sand off! The baby wipes didn't quite do it (we were missing our bottle of baby powder) 


on top of the Astoria tower. I climbed 167 stairs with Gabe strapped to me like that

lovin' me some TILT a WHIRL 

We took this opportunity of having everyone together a beautiful location to photogrpah family pictures. It was kind of a disaster (as family pictures often are)... but we have a few to share:









the "best" picture we got of all the cousins.  Hard to get little ones to hold still! 


celebrated Gabe's first birthday while we were together. He and Dainen liked having extra toys to play with 

flying a heliclpter with Daddy at some air museum

he didn't make the hike down the cliff to see this beach... but we remembered him anyway 

our "10 minute date" 





12 months of love, laughter, and trouble

- Saturday, August 31, 2013

A whole year has come and gone and Gabriel is now one year old.    I feel I did pretty well posting on  here every month.   I'm just going to skip 11 months, instead of trying to catch up and remember what exactly he was doing at that age.  We're going to live in the present.  Or, at least the recent past.  Speckled with pix from his one-year -old photo shoot at the International Peace Gardens in SLC.


Height:  31 inches
Weight:  23 pounds
Birthday cake flavor: chocolate with chocolate frosting. He loved it! Here is some evidence.  The destructive streak in him made for some grand smashing, happily viewed by all in attendance (physically or electronically) at his 1st b-day party  (p.s. I had so much fun planning a few little decorations and preparing food for the BBQ and we just had a wonderful wonderful day)

Theme song:  "Hey (d)Jude" -Beatles
"I Knew You Were Trouble When you Walked In"- Taylor Swift
                 
How many teeth:  he has 4! The top two and bottom all finally came in a week after he turned 11 months. We waited a long time!  Actually, I am glad my little dude and I didn't have to go through teething earlier than that.

Favorite place to shop:  ummm, Carters?  or Wherever I can find a good sale..... or clothes that say "dude"

Favorite form of transportation: he has tried planes, busses, burley rides behind our bikes, and kayaks. But he still prefers the car.  He is great in his carseat.
favorite outing:  he loves riding the carousel.  We have passess to an arcade near our house with a carousel and Dude has ridden it about 12 times this summer. He also enjoys 7-peaks. But his face really lights up on the carousel.  We made a special trip there on his birthday

Favorite toy: he loves behind pushed around in the little wagon he got for his birthday

Words: he says dada, that's about it for now. sometimes he'll say mama.  


Favorite foods: he loves his bottle! Whole milk now. yum yum. He'll even take it cold.  He also loves yogurt, and most things made of pasta.  A recent treat is Peanut Butter Cap'n crunch!  It was difficult to go back to baby cereal after that bite of mama's breakfast! 

Favorite activities:
making a HUGE mess on the high chair and kitchen floor everytime we try  to eat a meal
playing peek-aboo by pulling a blanket over his head.... or just pulling a blanket over his head and walking around the room blindly until he runs into something.  Quite comical for the parents.
riding on daddy's shoulders
riding on mommy's back
playing with the hose in the backyard
taking lids off of things and putting other random objects in "appropriate" containers
helping mommy unload the dishwasher
being chased
putting things in the toilet  (at least, once it was the toilet brush.  can I pretend that was intentional?)
ripping the flaps off "lift the flap" books
dancing with mommy
bathtime with daddy
WE LOVE YOU GABRIEL JAMES! 

Cla-Fa-Wa-Hoo!

- Sunday, July 28, 2013

Every-Other-Annual Clawson Family reunion was held in my backyard this year. Well, my "hometown" backyard.  Actually just down the street from where we had our wedding reception.  Let's use quick stats to sum up this awesome week:


Location:  Cornet Bay, at Deception Pass State park.  wonderful scenery, perfectly sized gathering hall for everyone.  An economy kitchen and dishwasher to boot- finally a perfect food making spot for our crew.  The only drawback is  the cabins.  A bit dull, dark, damp, musty... okay I also think my mom gave her kids the worst ones, the rest of the family seemed to be okay. The teens loved being together in one big bunk house. And at least we all got our own place!

In Attendence:  12 adults, 6 "marrieds" with 2 babies, and 40(ish) single cousins ages 6-24.  Most of which are teenagers these days. 


Old traditions:
Talent show-  Eight  Hilarious lip synches to some oldies songs.   Already love watching the video. Go fam. Especially because the choreography and costumes were all made up the morning of.  It was so good I vote we do a flash mob next year.   I'm already planning it. 

Dance party-  older teenagers who knew some moves, and we actually had space to boogie.  definite bonus.
Glow sticks-   used at dance party.   Spectular fun. 

Bu's Butique-  Gabriel liked the shelves full of candy right at his level. I had quite a few girls helping me manage the store this year.  Our business seems to be growing!  In case you didn't know, the items from Grandma Bu's store come from Oriental Trading or the Dollar Store, and the Currency used in the store this year was sticks.  (a stick the length of Bronwen's hand to be exact). 

Everyone arriving and departing at different times four days before and four days after the official reunion dates.  Always a party.  My mom is amazing for keeping track of all this. 

Crafting:  we made sailboats out of sticks, driftwood, triangles cut out of muslin, a drill and bit of hot glue. They are beautiful and unique! 

Family History- fun and games style.  This year we focused on getting to know the Aunts and Uncles via games like Operation, Jeopardy, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Gabriel's first kayak ride. Thanks Uncle Michael! 

New Traditions
Hike to Deception pass bridge at sunset

Exploring tide pools at Rosario  (have you ever done with 50 people? It's not easy. Good thing there is plenty of room.)   Gabe was a trooper in the Boba wrap.


Ferry ride to Friday Harbor!    We saw seals in the harbor, loved the lavender shop, and were treated to an ice cream by the generous Bu. Actually, after she paid for us all the ice cream shop gave us the last one free because we bought so many!     Gabe did great in the jogging stroller the whole time.  


Salmon bake. YUM! 

Sailing!  My Dad rented a big boat and took 2 crews out each day. Heavenly bliss! The only thing better than sailing is sailing with your family! 

Best quote:   
"Which is better, EFY or Family reunion?"- me
"Family reunion hands down!"- 16 year old anonymous male cousin

I started a "quote board" (ya know, like your college days) this year, which turned into 3 quote boards.... They are still hanging up at Grandma Bu's as I write.  
Others I can remember at the moment:

"This place is beautiful and I haven't left the airport!"

"Did you just pick a living thing off the ground?!"  "yeah"



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