like bees

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Originally uploaded by gregandchristine.

We had a pretty crazy day yesterday. In a big change from our usually weekend of running errands and housework, we attended three community events yesterday. In the morning we went to the Party in the Park/ car show at the park near our house, and then after naptime we headed to the Oregon Brew Festival. We went for a little bit on Friday to get the lay of the land and not miss any of the beers I wanted to try, but met up with a friend on Sat. to drink several more. The crazy thing about OBF is that you can smoke since it is held in a public park, and they have a cigar stand at the event. Next year I need to train for the event by smoking a couple b/c the smoke was pretty overwhelming (maybe John can come help). I had a couple really good beers, and a couple forgettable ones (more on that another time). After resting up and having dinner we headed out to the Washington County Faire. Colin got to pet a cow and had fun pointing at all the animals and making animal noises. We then loaded him up on cotton candy and set him loose on a couple rides. All in all a very fun and busy day. We were going to check out one more thing today, but we were all feeling a bit run down and decided to be responsible and do some chores (and nap). This pic if from the back of a car at the car show, but it pretty much sums up the day.

Great American Distiller's festival

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Originally uploaded by gregandchristine.

This past weekend was the distillers festival hosted by Rogue. We went to the first one last year without realizing yet, and this year was actually a step backwards as far as I am concerned. I was expecting there to be more actual representatives from the distilleries there to talk about their product, and their craft, but the only people with a tent was the bendistillery. I had fun talking to that guy for a bit, mostly about how disappointing the event was. For some reason the OLCC limited the number of samples per person to 3, so of the 22 showcased liquors you had to pick three you wanted to (pay a dollar) to taste. After that, if you wanted to try something you had to purchase it in a mixed drink for six dollars. There was no limit to the number of mixed drinks you could buy... so they obviously weren't worried about you getting drunk. The only possible explanation I heard was that it was a concession born out of last minute planning, and a failure to get the format approved in a timely manner. Whatever the reason it really hurt the event (the 100 degree heat didn't help either). So I tried a couple liquors that sounded good, and headed into the Rogue public house for a couple beers with a new friend from school. We got a tour of the distillery and got to meet the new gin/vodka distiller for Rogue. He claims his gin is totally awesome and that it will blow people away. I am looking forward to trying it, but a little skeptical since he said that he is not a gin drinker and even he likes it (not the best way to sell gin to someone who is a gin drinker). Overall it was a fun afternoon, but next year I would like to see: the silly taster limit removed, more representation from the distilleries, more products from each distillery, less products from distilled resources (which I will talk more about later), allow me to bring my toddler in with me, maybe some sort of forum or presentation on distilling featuring someone local or someone famous... and if it could be 68 degrees outside so the three samples I do get are not from bottles being stored outside in 100 degree weather.

The event has so much potential and there are similar events in town that have been a lot more fun so I know it can be done. Hopefully the liquor control commission will lighten up and let them make this into a better event that really showcases some of the cool stuff happening in the world of craft distilling.

Image from Rogue.com, used without permission.

domain pain

Finally got the domain redirect working. I went back and forth with my former hosting company after they set it up once, and then took it down after I finally got them to cancel my hosting account (after they tried to renew it after notified them twice I wanted to cancel it). I made it clear from the beginning with them what I wanted and they told me they could do it, but eventually admitted they could not. Another company set it up in a few hours, for less money... gotta love the internet. Anyway, hopefully you didn't give up on this blog, as we should be back in business for a while.

Beat the heat

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Originally uploaded by gregandchristine.

We had a terribly hot weekend just like everyone else. We just had 3 of the ten days a year Portlanders wish they had AC. Colin found his preferred way to keep cool. He gets about half way through a popsicle and runs and throws it in the trash and demands a new one.

it was cute the first time.
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like a stick for getting termites

Colin is becoming much more industrious these days. He can finally reach the light switch so now he goes room to room looking for trouble. More worrisome is his discovery of tools. The other day we were in Costco and Colin picked up a Thomas DVD that includes a free wooden train. He usually carries one around and then gets really mad when we don't buy it when we leave. This time he kept trying to reach in my pockets, so I thought he wanted money to buy the DVD. I handed him a dollar and he threw it on the ground and kept digging into my pocket. I pulled out my keys and he grabbed them and sat on the floor with the DVD trying to stab it open to get to the toy. He got really made because I was laughing and I took the keys and DVD away from him. Then we went and played tag in the produce fridge and had some samples which always makes him happy

So much for soccer

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Originally uploaded by gregandchristine.

We signed Colin up for Munchkin soccer... soccer practice fro 2-4 four year olds. They don't actually do anything competitive, just skill drills scaled down for toddlers. Colin is interested for about the first 5 minutes, but then he gets distracted or tired. The class starts jsut before nap time so he is usually tired by the time we get there. This week he wanted nothing to do with soccer, and just wanted to play with the hoops off to the side. It looks like either soccer isn't his sport, or he is going to be the kid stopping to pick flowers instead of going after the ball. I think he is too young to tell just yet, but as long as he is having fun and running around we are happy for him.

ghostly hoop

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Originally uploaded by gregandchristine.

There is a basket ball hoop next to out driveway exactly on the property line between ours and the neighbors house. We figured it was theirs since the previous owner didn't say anything to us about it. About a week ago we went out to the car and the backboard was gone. There was just a big metal pole sticking out of the ground. Last night when we got home the backboard had returned! I am sure it wasn't there when we got home from work and it was still daylight, so someone (or something) came by at 9:00 at night and put it back. Creeeeepy.

Belated Birthday Post

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Originally uploaded by gregandchristine.

So Colin's big number two was spread out a bit over a week so the fun just kept coming. Christine's parents came up the week before so the first cake and round of presents started then. This pic is of him blowing out the candles and getting some spit on the cake. On the actual day of his birthday our friend Amy was in town, but Christine had to work so Amy and I took Colin to the zoo to ride on the train. He liked it for about the first fifteen minutes, but was a little bored the last ten and tried to climb out the side of the train. After his nap we went to the children's museum and played with the trains some more before picking Christine up. Then we went down to the Wilsonville fountain to escape the heat. We had pizza for dinner and let Colin try his hand at the candy crane. I expected Colin to fall asleep on the way home, but he must have known there were more presents to be had. He is swimming in new Thomas stuff, and he hasn't stopped playing with any of it, and he won't let us put any of it away. We saved the second cake for the next day and let him have it for breakfast (shh... don't tell anyone). I think he had a fun birthday and he has another year of fun and growing to look forward to.

One blog to rule them all

Instead of rarely updating 3 blogs I have decided to basically start over with one centralized blog that I plan on updating much more often (I promise!)I plan on doing some template modifications soon and start categorizing posts. Two years ago I signed up for web hosting and my own domain with the intent of updating all the time and posting and archiving everything. Turns out I never had/devoted the necessary time -and using free/cheaper tools I can accomplish most of what I need. I kept the domain and a pointer to this blogger page and I paid for flickr so I can stop worrying about my monthly quota.