2014 Portland Highland Games

Truth be told, Danny has been in my family's lives for several years now (and for many more to come - the lucky fellow is marrying my beautiful sister!) and I have not once seen him perform at the Portland Highland Games.  Travesty!  

I've seen him perform plenty of other times, but this event is truly something to behold.  Men in skirts...throwing HUGE tree trunks (cabers).  Women and girls gracefully dancing to an arguably inelegant form of music.  Stands selling merchandise like cloaks and swords.  It.was.awesome!  It also happened to occur on an extremely hot day which seemed to make it all the more magical. 

With our beers in hand we cheered on Danny and his band.  Next month they are off to the Highland Games in Scotland - we wish them the best and will be eating haggas and drinking scotch in their honor.  Good luck Portland Metro Pipe Band!  You killed it at the Portland Highland Games, now bring home the gold from Scotland...or whatever it is you get when you win best bagpipe band!  A flock of sheep?

Early Morning Hot Air Balloon Fun

About a month ago I joined my friend and business partner, Erin and her family for a fun photo session.  This one required a very early morning rise (something they are much more accustomed to than I am) and a trip to Tigard, OR for a hot air balloon extravaganza!  Quintin, having grown up thus far with a mother, or a father, or an auntie pointing a camera at his face is quite accustomed to being photographed.  Catch him in the right mood and he is the perfect little model (those sparkling blue eyes and big lips...I mean c'mon!)  And fortunately the thrill of all the colorful balloons (or bah-oons, as Quintin calls them) put him in the best mood!

With great excitement I've watched Erin and her husband Ken grow their family; first with a pup, Sophie - and then with their incredibly sweet and rambunctious son, Quintin.  Over the years I have had the fortunate opportunity to closely experience this families' ups and downs and am impressed by the grace with which they handle it all.  And  I am especially proud to be an honorary auntie to Quintin - a little boy who lights everyone around him and never ceases to amaze with his capacity for true, genuine, unadulterated love.  I continue to learn from them daily.