It’s embarrassing that we only have two blog posts about our gerbils. And the only other one was when we first got them from the store. They have been an adorable addition to our family and we love spoiling them.
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Hayden’s 2nd Year
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Adelman Peony Gardens
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A Duo of Dales
We hosted our first sleepover since the beginning of the pandemic with our neighbors this weekend. Our kids wasted no time making up the moments they’ve missed.
We visited Rivendale at the Jenkins Estate, but on the way there, Annabelle highlighted that she enjoyed Hazeldale Elementary School’s playground. So after a brief trip down memory lane at Rivendale, we jumped back into the party wagon and headed off to Hazeldale.
I’m so grateful that playgrounds are moving away from sawdust and using turf. I’ve heard from our homeowner’s association that it’s cheaper to maintain and no more slivers in hands and knees.
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Playing at Bethany Creek Park
I’m always on the lookout for awesome parks in our area. Kadie and I spotted this one on Google Maps earlier this month and were admiring the zipline-swing at Bethany Creek Park. We also visited Orchid Playground for their rope climbing polyhedron.
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How We’re House Hunting
When Kadie didn’t get into the International School of Beaverton, it triggered the beginning of our ongoing house hunt. Our neighborhood middle school and high school have low ratings and a reputation for disengaged students. When we looked at our finances, it didn’t appear that we were able to move immediately, so we chose to home school Kadie for her middle school years.
Which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. A year after, when we started looking at houses again, the pandemic took over, and the other two kids transitioned into distance learning at home. When school started back up in the fall, all three kids were home schooled. Our home started feeling a bit cramped, we were stuck with ourselves, so we decided to try searching for a house again.
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Happy Mother’s Day
We don’t get together as often as my mom would like, so we always try to get a photo when we are all together. 
Celebrating the mothers! 
Jenni, Kadie, and I made a Dove chocolate bouquet for Mother’s Day. 
We visited Gram and played Chinese Checkers with her.
Like last year, we’re still navigating through a pandemic, but with the proper precautions, we were able to leave the kids with Cory and Arianne for one night, then Jenni’s parents for the following night. Thanks to their generosity, we were able to spend our anniversary alone to adventure, dream, and recharge.
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Universally Cinematic Marvels
We did it. We made it through 22 epic movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with the kids. Ever since the first Avengers movie in 2012, I impatiently waited for the right age to share them and hold back all the spoilers. It’s been a long, long time.
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The Game of Names
Naming is hard, but it’s also important. A name is a communication tool that can quickly form a bond of understanding when it’s done well. It might even spark some humor, respect, or admiration if done very well.
A name doesn’t have to be original. Sometimes, making a clever association is a good name. Other times, a play on words is a great name. Here are a few names I’ve come up with that make me smile.