Scrabble

It has been a long time since the usual suspects got together for a game of Scrabble. Susy and I joined Paul and Nancy (where we left Mali) for awhile after Indian food. Then Alana joined us, Susy took Mali home, and we called Pablo to come over for Scrabble while Nancy watched Bruce Almighty.
Andrew had a night out watching movies at Tiana's with his usual gang (Rian, Tiana, and Eric.)

Impromptu Poker on MLK Eve.

Paul called for a game night, and we ended up with a big Texas Hold'em poker game at our house last night. Players were: Andrew, Mali, Pablo, Paul, Nancy, Zoë, and later Alana sat in for Nancy when she took Hannah home. Susy took a shower and bonded with her book, since she had to work early this morning. Matias couldn't play since he's been ignoring his homework and has band practice for nine hours today.
Kids are home in honor of MLK. Mali has another birthday party to go to at noon, and Andrew has swim practice at 2:30. I am working away - except for right this second as I'm about to drive Mali to her party.

Monopoly

Yesterday, Susy and I disappeared with Pablo and Alana and played golf. On our return, Susy went to bed, and I made dinner for the kids. Then we played Monopoly, where Mali cleaned our clocks. This morning, she's playing against herself, practicing.

Mali's Dinner

Mali's dinner was wonderful! She made Chicken Yakitori skewers from the South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook. I am angry that I didn't get a picture - it was an attractive dinner. She also made delicious walnut brownies for dessert. Pablo joined us, and brought Mali flowers! It was a very nice evening.

Monday

Andrew went to the water park up North of Fife for his friend Eric's birthday with Rian and Calee. Mali wanted to go but was stuck at home with her dear old dad. We went to Michael's and to Webber's Diner for lunch as a consolation prize.
Tonight we went to a dessert party at Dave and Gayle's for John's going away party - turns out he'll be here another two weeks getting his house (nextdoor) ready to sell.

Rembrandt Dinner

After a very hectic day of:
Driving home from Kirkland's Friday Night Poker Game,
Attending Ryan's graduation party,
napping,
driving Mali to Hailey's birthday party (PofC3),
biking with Paul and Pablo,
fighting off allergies,
Hurriedly showering and finding clothes to wear -
I was allowed to attend the Portland Art Museum's Rembrandt Dinner with Susy. It was great fun. Luckily we were only in the 2nd floor room for about 20 minutes, sampling desserts while we waited in line for wine. Susy suggested we try the third floor, which is where all the fun was, including live jazz, happier people, and much shorter drink lines. In addition to wine and beer, this time they also had vodka drinks courtesy of Absolut. We tried them all, and Susy gently guided me home.

Motorcycle Diaries

Pablo came over this afternoon and helped us set up our new surround sound system for the upstairs TV. Then Susy and I watched The Motorcycle Diaries to test it out. We loved the movie. I didn't realize Che Guevara was asthmatic.

Mali's Performance Team Routine

Big day Friday! Susy and I walked up to the school at 2:00 to see Mali and Rachel's performance team routine. They were surprisingly good. Surprising only because I saw their Thursday night rehearsal in our hallway and it was halting and rough. But they pulled it all together for the big show. Another surprise: they got a huge cheer from the audience before they even started. Apparently the girls have some fans.
There are more photos at www.flickr.com/photos/oregondad.


Andrew spent the afternoon at Austin's. The rest of us went to Alana's for a barbecue: Sangria and Pablo's chimichurri. The new expanded list of usual suspects include Alana's horse trainer Janet and her husband Michael, and Deborah.
No Paul, Nancy, Zoë, and Hannah; they are in Seattle this weekend. We are watching Tinkerbelle (Moose's mom!) for them while they're gone. They dropped her off Friday and already she has taught him to bark at people walking by, and to dig in my garden!!!!!

Friday Day Off

Susy and I took today off and picked out new flooring and sinks for the kid's bathroom. Apparently that is going to happen.
Mali had Rachel and Lauren over after school, and they painted the inside of the playhouse. They finished about half of it, and only Rachel ended up with any on her clothes. Mali got in a little trouble later, when Lauren's mom showed up and the girls were no where to be found. They had gone down the cul-de-sac without telling anyone, and without her phone.
Pablo and I went for a nice little bike ride to Garden Home.

Bike ride, etc.

Mali hung out with Zoë all day, and I did get a bike ride in - 20 miles with Pablo, Paul, and Dave. Here's our route: Tile Flat Rd. to Farmington to Hillsboro Hwy to Scholls Ferry to home.

Afterwards we had an incredible roast beef at Paul's (I brought potatos), and Pablo brought homemade vanilla ice cream. Andrew and Susy stayed home, since Susy had already eaten at Pazzo's in Portland with Alana and Debrah. She and Andrew watched Casino Royale, which I saw with David a couple weeks ago.