All About Music

I just finished a very exciting project in my class about music. We learned about different kinds of music and instruments and we visited the symphony, Apple Music, Rhythm Traders, and even wrote and recorded our own song (with the help of my teacher Ariel's dad). You can listen to our song below. It's called "Music".

Music-Original Com...

We also put on a spring concert of all the songs we learned during the music project.

This is me with my whole class. We are performing on the playground across the street from my school in Portland's famous North Park Blocks. This is where we play during recess--rain or shine. In Portland, that means we get wet a lot!

A close up of me. Next to me is my line buddy, Isabelle. We had a play date recently that was really pretty fun.

My awesome friend Monica and I recited the poem "Blossom" written by the class. I was a little nervous, but having Monica with me made me have fun!

This is me and one of my best buddies, Kate. Even though I loved it, Kate hated the music project and is sooo glad it is over! Maybe we'll both love our next project on animals and pets.

Coastin' through Winter

I went to the coast this weekend with my good friend Phoebe and her family and their friends. There were nine kids there (including me) and I was one of the oldest. It has been nice in Portland but it was even more beautiful at the Oregon Coast. My favorite part about this trip was exploring along the beach and seeing a dead jellyfish, seeing otters in the ocean (alive, thank goodness), and finding a secret cave.

Here are some pictures that Phoebe's mom, Sam, sent my mom. This is us in the kids' apartment. We went to bed so late!


This is my friend Phoebe.
Here's Sam reading to us.

Only 364 days 'till my birthday...

This year for my birthday, the theme was Roller Derby!

Kate's sister, Nina, shows off the latest in Roller Derby style, here at the Mt. Scott Community Center skating rink. We had so much fun skating!

Then, we went across the street to our restaurant for food and a big surprise. My cakes were chocolate and raspberry cheesecakes. We also had mini gummy burgers, sparkling apple grape juice, macaroni & cheese, and hot dogs. But I decided I don't like Otto's hot dogs anymore--they're too spicy.

The surprise was Toby Patella, the clown you see here balancing one of our very heavy restaurant chairs on his chin. He also juggled, and made jokes, and blew up balloon animals for us. He was cool and funny.

Even Baby Gage went roller derby with one of the party favors from the fancy gift bags I decorated--his skater wristband! I guess Gage is cool and funny, too.

Happy New Year Everybody!

Christmas Morning 2006

This is me on Christmas morning. My new robe says,"Hot Coco[a]" on it. It's true because when I wear it I really am hotter. Santa came to my house and also to Ariel's and Sammy's.

This is me opening presents with my dad. I really love my new suede vest with fur inside. It makes me "Hot Coco," too.

My Gramma Weezie came to visit me. She took me to see the Moscow Ballet perform Cinderella at the Schnitz. My favorite part was the seasons because I liked their costumes. She also came to my birthday party.

Thanks for friends, and family, and bread

We spent Thanksgiving with the DeVols this year. Emily was there and so was Uncle Jesse. Josh and Jen visited us from L.A., too and we had fun.

This is the challah bread I made.

And crazy "Uncle" Josh with my Dad.

Flowergirl is a very hard job!

This Thanksgiving our good friends Josh and Jen Whitney paid us a visit. We enjoyed a wonderful turkey dinner with the DeVols, kicked it around the Pearl district, including a trip to Powell's and lunch at Pho Van's SILK with Gus Van Sant. Later Mom, Dad, Josh and Jen went to the Schnitz to see George Lopez, stopped of for treats at Higgins and the Alberta St. Oyster Bar and finished the night watching a frat boy pee his pants and fall into a fire at the Doug Fir. The next day Jen and I ate a wonderful lunch at our fabulous restaurant, the Arleta Library Bakery * Cafe. (I get tips there, you know.)

Fortunately, they brought pictures of their wedding in the beautiful David Fulton Vineyards and Winery, which Jen's family owns. Now you can finally see all of the hard work I did as a Flowergirl extraordinaire.

Happy Birthday Piper!

Saturday we went to Piper's third birthday party and saw all of our friends, including the McCoy-Harmons and the DeVols. Coco took these photos (except for the one of Jerry, Peter, and Gage).

The Devil Inside

Trick or treat
Smell my feet
Give me something good to eat.

If you won't
I don't care
I'll pull down your underwear.


(That's Coco's teacher, Ariel, in the pirate ship with devil girl. She's our neighbor. How cool is that?)

Plumper Pumpkin Patch

I went to the pumpkin patch with Sammy. It was fun. Sammy and I went through a maze. A big maze. And a small maze. Sammy and I got little tiny pumpkins. He was so crazy. And I got an apple but Sammy didn't want one.

My New Restaurant

My parents have been working all summer on our restaurant. It takes a lot of time and I have to sit around a lot. But today all my waiting paid off when we opened our restaurant for the first time. I help by washing dishes, making doughs, and staying out of trouble.

First Day of School 2006

We managed to snap a quick shot the morning of the first day of school before our camera breathed its last breath, sputtered, and died.

Coco is very excited about school this year. Her teacher, Ariel, seems very talented and sweet and we're looking forward to getting to know her. Some of Coco's favorite things so far this year have been seeing her friends from last year, getting to know her new teacher, and singing songs with the kindergarten class next door. I'll TRY to post the weekly newsletter so our family near and far can stay abreast of what's allegedly happening at school. Here's this week's letter (PDF: 47k). If I get a little lax (maybe I should say "when"), please email me, and I'll happily forward the letter for you.

If Mama looks a little tired, it's because we've been working overtime getting ready to open our restaurant. A few more inspections and we'll be a bona fide independently owned business. It's funny playing capitalist in my anarchist sweatshirt!

Once I figure out which digital camera we're going to buy, I'll post some pictures of the place!

Ole Virginny

Coco is having a blast on trip to Gramma Weezie's house near Richmond, VA. Here are some photos that my sister, Laura, posted on Cousin Abby's webpage: (click back through the pages there for more...)

Big Shot First Grader

Coco finished kindergarten with flying colors. She went in a puny kid just past toddlerdom and emerged a reader, writer, mathematician, dramatist, scientist and ballet dancer. We're very proud of her accomplishments. Her teacher Marcia shared with us that, although Coco's very bright academically, her most amazing trait is the level of consideration she shows her peers and her citizenship in the community--caring for their shared spaces and interests. Way to go Coco!

TRIP TEASER: The Space Mountain Photos

There are many photos from the trips NI and Coco took this Spring to Los Angeles and Philadelphia. I'll try to post them in the coming weeks. Here are a few to keep you coming back for more:


Their favorite ride at Disneyland was obviously Space Mountain. Although Nick's blase demeanor suggests that perhaps 46 times on the ride in three days was a few too many...

Catching Up: The HUMAN Project

It's been a long few months around our house. Nick is working furiously to get his restaurant open sometime this summer. I am working furiously to get my PhD sometime this century. And Coco is working furiously to get anything she wants as soon as she can.

The following photos are from the open house her class held in April to demonstrate their learning from this project cycle.

The HUMAN Project--Where People Live. The students made models of houses from around the globe. Coco and Adia made a model of the houses people in Mexico traditionally live in.


The HUMAN Project--Our Bodies. Coco's section was the respiratory system. Notice the pink clay lungs on the cafeteria tray to the right. Scary.

Slice of Pie on Jerry-Built

Jer took the kids to a play and captured a beautiful shot of Coco eating a NY-sized slice of pizza. Check out this (and the other gorgeous photos he's been taking lately) at Jerry-Built

Goodbye, Tigger

Alice and Gert's brother Tigger passed away recently. His family--Brent, Janet, Soda and Baby--miss him terribly. We're posting these pics of the girls bidding their kin "adieu."

I love eggs!

Eggs are one of my favorite foods. Here is a song that shows you how I feel about eggs. Love, Colette aka Coco
THE EGG SONG [Requires Flash]

MaCoco Blahnik?

Hi everybody. I made homemade shoes from scratch. My dad helped a lot. He got me some tape. These blue things are from a different kind of shoe, but they helped make another shoe. These are sandals, and sometimes they go a little crazy but I don't care; I just fix them.