My, they grow up so fast

It's been a little over a month since I posted last. Sorry to keep you all waiting. I've been having a lovely time meeting new people and traveling across the country. We've celebrated some birthdays, and I even got to play in the snow. Here's a little insight into the Hodge household for the past month.

Here is Clara doing her best Ozzy Osborn impression. Yes that is the head of a frog that she's ripped off and can't you just hear the music playing "Open the door, get on the floor, everybody walk the dinosaur..."

We got to meet our 2nd cousin, or was it cousin, or is it 1st cousin once removed... Anyway we met Cole! He came up for a visit with Tom and Niki. We had a blast reading about trucks with Grandpa

Stout found a tennis ball more his size

I'm working a on new look and I've decided too accessorize with dad's shoes. Boy that guy has some big shoes to fill.

I think I look much better in Mom's pumps. So cute in fact I bet you didn't notice Stout's butt in the background?

Clara celebrated her 1st Birthday!!! My kids grow up so fast. I mean it was just last year she wasn't even around and I had to take care of Mom and Dad all by myself. They're much easier to handle with Clara's help.

Here's the happy family! I know it only looks like mom and dad are struggling to hold us, but what's really happening is Clara and I have to keep moving otherwise Mom and Dad my fall asleep... where's the fun in that?

No comment needed here, other than baby Ryan has lots of fun toys.

I've decided I am ready to start pulling a little more weight around here, so I had Uncle Mark show me how to drive the backhoe.

Or maybe I'll drive the roller for some of Poppop's paving projects. (nice mustaches guys)

Oh I really like driving the Dump Truck. Of course that HORN is LOUD!!! HONK!!!!! I prefer the one that goes beep beep

I could always drive the tractors for the hayrides. Here I am showing Mom how it's done. She's a pretty fast learner.

We celebrated Shaye's and Clara's birthdays in Pennsylvania. I have so many cousins here we all are with Mema and Poppop. Aren't we a good looking group? I'm pretty sure we have the best grandparents ever!

Back in Oregon Clara and I took Grandma to see the ZooLights. It was pretty cold but not nearly as cold as last year. I kept Grandma warm on the Train.

Clara was looking after Mom

I took Clara down to the mall to meet Santa. She said she didn't remember meeting him last year. I decided to read a story to Santa, this one was about Reindeer. I think he liked it. It should definitely get me on the Nice list.

I helped Dad pick out the perfect tree. We even put our tree topper on it. I was a lot of help, I made sure that hot coco was hot enough, and I tasted the caramel corn to make sure it was just right. I let dad cut down the tree and drag it out of the woods and load it on the car and set it up again in the house. He really enjoys that kinda stuff.

Of course I had to help Mom decorate the tree. I like the lights!

I have to make sure I'm being nice to Clara. You can't see him, but Thomas (the elf) is watching and he says that if I'm good, Santa is going to bring me everything I want for Christmas. It's a good thing I was able to tell Santa all about the Cow and the Donkey I want. I hope Dad is making room for them in the back yard, he best get that holes in the fence fixed.

Autumntastic

As a Portland girl, all of this rain doesn't bother me one bit. I just throw on my rain boots and my rain coat and Dad, Clara and I go tromping out into cool fall weather. Of course the rain we get is nothing like the rain Mema and Poppop got on Monday. I'm glad to hear they are okay, hopefully they can clean up NYC before I go visit there. I am going to be on Broadway someday after all.

Before the rains hit, we spent some time at the Independence Hop and Heritage Festival. Guess what I found! TRACTORS!!! I think Daddy wanted to take this one home to mow the grass.

While we were in town, we tried to get the rest of the tomatoes off of Grandpa's vines. But their were too many. I sure did my part though, I ate a whole bunch!

And then it was time to shuck the corn for dinner. We had a grand harvest feast, it was also somebody's birthday hmm, I wonder how old Mommy is now... I wouldn't put her a day past 29!!

I found out about these cool places called pumpkin patches. They're like a party, with great rides like these cool big trikes.

And GIGANTIC towers of hay for climbing. We also founds some pumpkins to take home for decoration. Daddy says we should be making some pumpkin pie. I see him drooling every time we pass those huge ones at Costco.

It's starting to get pretty chilly at night, so Clara and I are wearing our nice footie pajamas. They are so warm and cozy. We really like cuddling up with whomever wants to read us a story. Grandma is one of our favorite story tellers.

Since it's raining, we have to find things to keep us entertained. Now Stout, he likes to catch up on sleep pretty much all day. Clara on the other hand thinks it's fun to see how many places she can squeeze her head into. Most of the time she gets stuck. She's a goofball.

This year I got to show Clara what Halloween was all about. We got dressed up in our cool costumes. I was a cow MOOOO!!!! and Clara was a cupcake, which I don't get, that kid is always covered in food anyway, why buy her a costume. Isn't this a great picture of the 3 of us?

Well this is how most of our pictures come out!!! Dad is generally a good blog editor, so you never see these...

Pretty darn cute if I do say so myself

Clara is pretty cute too. Did I mention she's walking now? That kid is all over the place, it's hard to keep up.

Well it was another successful heist, I mean Trick or Treating adventure. I can't wait to see what we'll be next year...

Strong finish to summer

Well it's official, summer is over. Fall started yesterday morning. The nights are longer, the days are shorter. The air has a distinct chill, and Clara and I are still in school. I'm not sure what all the big kids are griping about. School is Cool! Clara and I did manage to make the most of the last few days of summer. Here are so highlights...

Pat, Julia and Baby Ryan came for a visit and we showed them all of Oregon. Mom and I helped make some cheese at the Tillamook factory.

 Then we ate our ice cream, I had pumpkin because it was yellow (ish)

 Clara had some mum mums. I think she tried some ice cream too.

 The next day we went for a hike at Multnomah Falls to work of the ice cream calories

 Then we played at our house. Clara showed Julia her toys

 And then Baby Ryan.

 Mom, Clara, and I took everyone to the beach before they headed of to Seattle. What a beautiful day!

 Clara enjoyed getting her pants dirty. Have I mentioned that kid puts everything in her mouth...

 Ryan and Clara checking out the view from our sweet rental mini-van.

 We got a chance to enjoy daddy's new grass. It was nice and soft.

 Clara and I took mom to the park near the Zoo.

 Then Mima and Poppop came for a visit. We rushed out to the beach because we didn't think the weather was going to be that nice.

 But we were wrong. We had an AWESOME weekend in Manzanita.

 Poppop showed Daddy and I how to build sand castles

 Mima and I rode on the swings.

Then summer came to an end.. and everyone went home :-(

But yesterday we went to the Pumpkin Patch for daddy's work. It was pretty sweet! They had rubber ducky races!

Clara and I decided to decorate the front porch.

That's all for now. Hope to see you soon

Hot times in the great northwest

 HI!!!! My how time flies. What a very busy summer we've had. I haven't had much time to write with all of the fun things we've been doing. I'll mostly let these pictures speak for themselves. But let me make a general plea.... If it looks like we're having a LOT of fun here in Oregon, WE ARE!!!! You should come visit.

Clara and I on our first bike ride with Dad and Mom. It was kinda short, just trying to get the kinks worked out, more to come...

 See some of our visitors get to see the Zoo!

 We went to Seattle for a welcome home party for baby Parker and look who we ran into.

 There is always time to hang out at Grandma's

 No time for sleep though!!!

 Hiking on July 4th in Forrest Park

 Everyone can come, we may even be able to hook you up with a driver.

 Visiting the farm before we pick some berries.

 Picnics in the yard

 SPLASH TIME!!!!

 We have plenty of room in the pool

 Hanging out with Mom on her off days. What a blast that has been to have her home a few days a week. We have so much to teach Clara.

 We can go for a ride on the Tram!

 Or hangout at home and play in the sprinklers. That's our neighbor Cooper, He's cool

 Visits with my tummy mommy up in WA.

 BACK TO THE FARM!!! this time for Cherries

 See YUMMY!!!!

 Just for good measure, we figured we'd take Grandma to the farm too. I like picking berries from Grandma's bowl.

 There could be a plane ride waiting for you too

 Some music in the park.

 And of course ICE CREAM!!!

 Need I say more???

 Remember that trial run of a bike ride? It's a good thing we gave it a go. Riding down the freeway is FAST!!! There are a lot of cool bridges to see in Portland on the Bridge Pedal.

 Clara is doing some pre-planning for fall. Getting her turtle costume ready.

 And last but certainly not least, we have MOUNTAINS!!! Here we are trying to escape the heat at Timberline lodge. It was 100 in Portland on Friday, a nice cool 85 at the lodge....

Can't wait to see you all soon. Who knows where we may end up???