After starting a blog on the topics of being gluten free and a mom on blogger and my husband starting a blog on blogger, I've really decided I like it better.  That, and there are only a couple of you left on xanga--I have several friends who've already made the switch.  So, I've moved.  I still plan on keeping the xanga account open so that I can continue to keep up with my friends who are here, but you can find me at http://calledandblessed.blogspot.com.

So, here's the new family blog list.

This blog: Called and Blessed

The gluten-free mommy blog: Gluten Free Motherhood

And Ryan's blog, which is really worth a read, if I do say so myself: Puzzled but not Surprised

We'll hope to see you all there!

A friend over at Dying to Live by the Spirit of Adoption is having a giveaway for what sounds like a wonderful book entitled "The One Factor".  Head on over an enter--it's so easy!  Instructions for entering and more about the book are here.

When we moved back to the west side we wanted to take a trip to the beach before the weather turned sour.  We typically go to the Tillamook area because that is where I spent most of my growing up years.  However, there is so much to see in the Warrenton/Astoria area, and Ryan had never been, so we decided to head further north up the coast on this trip.  We were only able to get to Ft. Clatsop (a replica of where Lewis and Clark wintered when they made it to the end of their journey) and Peter Iredale beach.  Hopefully we'll make it to Ft. Stevens and the Astor column among other things in the not-too-far-off future, too.

Ft. Clatsop proveded lots of opportunity for climbing, trying out small seats, and walking.  A toddler's paradise!

Mercy, ever the perfectionistic first-born, liked the beach, but had a hard time figuring out how to truly enjoy it without getting dirty.  She eventually relaxed some and enjoyed squatting while digging with her little tools, but refused to sit in the sand.  Learning that it was okay to wipe her sandy hands on her pants was quite the experience for her as well.  Gilead spent his time alternately sleeping and crying in the Ergo carrier.  It was VERY windy, and the poor guy couldn't breathe unless I kept the hood up over him.

All in all, a good day.  I took Ryan by the house I lived in from the ages of 2 to 6, and we stopped in on some friends who still live around the block from there.  We're looking forward to taking more beach trips in the future now that we are so close!