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Monday, April 23, 2012

Little affirmations



I've said it before and I'll no doubt say it many times more. It's the little things that seem to have the biggest impacts. This afternoon at lunch, Cat and I were talking about a news article we'd each read in the newspaper (a social commentary from columnist John Rosemond about the importance of fathers and parenting) when my daughter says to us...


Finn: You know what guys? I just love hearing you have conversations.
Me (with a big smile): Why's that, Finn? 
Finn: Because you both just talk back and forth and it's cool. 


Cat and I exchange an emotional glance that says so much in a fraction of a second, things like "gosh we love that kid" and "guess we're doing something right."  For Cat and I, and I imagine many other parents, we often wonder if we're parenting correctly or if the lessons we're trying to teach our children really do sink in. Love those little affirmations that our parenting is having a positive impact on our kids.

Monday, April 2, 2012

A little afternoon canoeing fun

With all the recent rains here in the Willamette Valley, the rivers have really come up, flooding many low-lying areas. And then the rains stopped and the sun came out today! And according to the weather forcast, it's the last sun we'll probably see for the next several days. So we decided to take out canoe out for it's first voyage of 2012 - a little paddle in flooded Willamette Park. We all felt a little shaky at first, dusting off our canoeing smarts, but had a blast. It was so warm Finn wanted to just relax in her seat and take a nap, mums just soaked it all in, and little man was a worry wort the whole time. "I no like it. It's sinking!" he says. "Want to go home. No more boat. Want my boatiak" (that's what he calls our extra stable Zodiac). After the paddle and everything was packed up, he says "Tanks for da ride, Papa. Want to go back out der on da canoe again!" Silly, fickle boy.
Getting ready to offload the canoe at Willamette Park.
Getting ready to launch
On the flooded foot path, near the parking lot bike racks
Me and my girl, post-paddle