Tulip Festival

Well, it's not the Netherlands, but it's what we have here...the Woodburn Tulip Festival!

And of course, it wouldn't be a festival without all sorts of extra hoopla and attractions. So, aside from the beautiful tulips, there was the rescued reptile tent:

 the gigantic wooden shoes:

the bumpy slide:

And what festival would be complete without a bouncy castle?

More about the beach trip

Our beach trip was a whole week ago, so if I'm going to write about it, I'd better do it now, before it becomes a distant memory. It was fabulous and relaxing and sunny and glorious! We visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium. In addition to seeing all the animals, we got to partake in some earth day activities.

Later, on the beach, both kids got a good dunking in that cold, cold water. And Alexander had an adventure running way way down the beach, trying to keep a kite in the air. Unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures throughout most of this, so you'll have to exercise your imaginations.

The next day, we headed to a wooden boat show then spent a good long time on a sheltered beach, where there were barely any waves and the kids could walk out and out before the water reached their waists. Annabel was deliriously excited about the sand and water, and Alexander immediately went off and made friends with a boy who was building a sand structure.

It is so nice that Annabel is old enough to really appreciate these outings and that Alexander is so good at making friends. I got a sunburn that is still with me. Michiel had a nap.

Crab Feed

We took a trip to the beach this weekend. It was absolutely fabulous! Sunburns all around! But more about that later.

When we were still planning the trip with our good friends, the Traegers, I told Alexander that they were planning on going to a crab feed one night but that we probably wouldn't go. He got all pouty and asked, "Why not?"

"Because Papa's not a big fan of crab, I'm not wild about it either, and I don't think you kids will like it."

"I like crabs! I do!"

"Really? When have you had crab?"

Alexander then put on his saddest face and started crying.

"Why do you want to go so badly?" I asked.

He wailed, "Because I want to feed the crabs!"

Disaster Strikes Small Town

Alexander Carel Nankman: gossip-monger or concerned citizen? You decide.

Last Wednesday morning we had some excitement in downtown Silverton. Firetrucks and other rescue vehicles (Alexander counted at least five) crowded into the intersection of Oak and Water streets. We could see their flashing lights as I was dropping Alexander off at school. For once, we were early. But did Alexander go in and begin his school day as all the other children did?

No, he did not.

He had to find out what was going on. As each new parent arrived with a tidbit of information, we discovered that the popcorn machine in the Palace Theatre had caught fire and burned up the lobby. Did Alexander go into the school then?

No, he did not.

He patrolled the sidewalk to make sure that every student entering the school knew what had happened to the Palace. Finally, once everyone else was in school and there was nothing more he could do, he relinquished his post and joined his classmates, no doubt to speculate on the details of the accident and the number of flashing lights on the rescue vehicles.