Photography 101

Erin figured out how to turn the point-and-shoot camera on and off.

Then she discovered what that big silver button does.

Her second and third attempt got better. 

The Collector

Erin loves to be outside. She's always content there and can always find something to engage her.



p.s. Dear Anna, sorry about your bushes. We owe you two leaves.

Bir-Dey Keek!

After hitting a great taco cart for my birthday last week, we stopped by Petit Provence to pick up a small cake. Erin spent the next few days saying "bir-dey keek!" over and over. Pretty cute.

Wordless Wednesday #10

Uh oh, shoe!

Uh oh, shoe! from Ms. A on Vimeo.

When summer hits PDX

PDX had an amazing weekend of sun, warm weather and clear skies. The McMillerPDX way to celebrate days like these is with a picnic with a bunch of pals and a bucket of ice cream.





And when you're done eating, it makes for great body paint. And when you're done with that it's best to share it with a good pal.

p.s. happy b-day Brian!

Welcome, little Cole!

Cole Andrew M. 

Born yesterday evening, 5/16/9 to Dawn and Garreth.

5lbs 9oz, 20" tall. 

We can't wait to meet you! 

Say it aint so

First this.

Now this.  

What is next? 

Wordless Wednesday #9

Mother's Day is Race Day!

McMillerPDX celebrated Mother's day early this time and Saturday morning, B and E accompanied Ms. A to Champoeg State park where she ran the Hippie Chick Half Marathon.  In 2:00:45 (approximately).  Woot!   Christie, from The Condo, completed the quarter marathon and was cheered on by her own Darren, Henry, and Beauty the Wonder Dog.  The coolest thing (and it was perhaps the coolest race I've ever run) was we got a necklace at the end. And mimosas. 

The weather was phenomenal. Sun, warmth, fields of grasses and flowers.  The company was even better.  900 happy, supportive mellow women all running/walking because it feels good to do so.  And the coolest thing was a surprise: Christie found awesome shirts for the kids proclaiming the proclivities of their respective mothers. 

Of course there were pictures: 

Moving

McMillerPDX is moving.

Sometime after the beginning of July, we'll be heading down to the San Francisco Bay Area. It is heartbreaking to think about the friends we'll move away from and the life we'll leave behind. We love Portland.

However, we couldn't ignore the reality that there is no prospect of a fulfilling career for Ms. A here, being the Future Leader in Cancer Research that she is. Ms. A is a great scientist, and deserves to reach out as far as her abilities will take her.

Also, living here in Portland away from our families is difficult for just the two of us, but we don't feel like it is a choice we can make for Erin. One on hand, staying in Portland Erin would grow up amongst wonderful, loving friends, in an incredible city. This city is just great for kids. But she would miss out on the kind of extended family environment that Ms. A and I felt so lucky to have grown up with, the grandparents, the aunts, the uncles, the cousins.

We're trying to be brave and think positively, but it's pretty terrifying, honestly. We've been here for eleven years, minus a year vacation in San Diego. I seriously thought I would live the rest of my life here.


So, now, given all this, my analogy for our situation is that it's like we're standing on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, and we know, we've analyzed, we've debated, we understand in our gut, that we need to be on the south rim. And all I can see is the giant canyon between these two lives -- the known, great life that we have to leave and the new, unknown, probably great life we'll start. I can't get my mind around the new life, or imagine what it will be like. All I can see is the cost, the effort -- logistically, mentally, emotionally -- that it will take to get to the other side.

So that's that.

On a good note the house is finally done. And I mean done done. Pimpin', actually. You can see pictures of the place by Googling for our address, or just email us for the MLS number.


We're here a few more months, but we already miss you, Portland.

File this under, "Seriously?"

I remember in about 2nd or 3rd grade playing "homework" with my BFF at the time.  Because we didn't have homework.  Or at least none that was what we thought of as homework.  Sure, memorizing words for a spelling test, or reading a book, or bringing in something for show-and-tell, but not real get-graded-and-assessed-on assignments.

Last Sunday's NYT magazine had a short article emphasizing how much has changed:

"A survey of 254 teachers in New York and Los Angeles the group commissioned found that kindergartners spent two to three hours a day being instructed and tested in reading and math. They spent less than 30 minutes playing."

Huh.