Sunday, November 10, 2013
And then there were six
A few weeks back we had a reunion playdate at Hannah's house. I met Carmen at school and we met Hannah at prenatal yoga when we were all pregnant with our first boys. Carmen had sweet Jeremy this past Monday and now we are 3 mommas and 6 littles! Here are some pix from the October playdate!
Friday, October 18, 2013
41 in 14
My 14th year was known around my house as my last chance to learn skills for living. Mom would refer to something she felt I needed practice or experience with before leaving the nest and say- We have to _______; it's your 14th year! I think she knew somehow that Once I nestled into high school I wouldn't have much time or interest in many of these things.
Now, in a flash, those numbers have been juxtaposed and I am 41. I have a warm-up period known as late fall to settle into the idea, and then the bulk of the year I will be "41 in (20)14".
Holy cow!
2014 is the year my son will start formal schooling.
It is the year I slated for a trip to Walt Disney and a Disney cruise. (probably not in the works)
I also planned for it to be an ideal time to move to a house with a yard.
I did not foresee:
*paying for two preschool tuitions (a dent even with the brilliant tuition bartering system I worked out by teaching 8 hours of yoga per month at the school)
*working part time
*loving our neighborhood and neighbors (and the accompanying community feel) so much that we are not even close to wanting to move (and come on- we are not home maintenance fans so having our own yard=paying gardeners=not high on the list)
What I know about this season of life:
I need to pay attention and take it slow. My children are adorable and fun and my parents are in good health and living five minutes away. I enjoy the work I do- especially when I focus on the children under my guidance. I appreciate my views of the world and the ways I am learning to interact with it.
Someday soon my children will be bigger than me and have their own agendas.
I wasn't quite ready on the approach to 40. It felt too big, too fast, and too even. I've always been drawn to odd numbers. (esp. 3 and 7) The backside of 40 was just fine- it felt like a runway year; I was gaining speed for my takeoff into middle life. A decade ago I had the requisite "Things to accomplish before I'm 30" list. I accomplished every. single. one. And then I spent a while in limbo. No fresh goals, other than marriage and children.
*30- started dating D. *32 engaged *married *36-O born *38-L born **sidenote: There are WAY too
many even numbers in there.
So, between 38 and 40, I cocooned. I snuggled with my babies, slept (a lot) and worked through some very real anxiety, depression, and (as it turns out) iron-deficiency anemia. During those years I also ate a lot of chocolate chips melted on toast. I was actually proud of eating chocolate for breakfast EVERY DAY! Mid-40, I bit the bullet and joined the local YMCA, buying a family membership and access to a heated pool, classes, cardio and strength training, kids classes and care, and actually a friendly community of like-minded people. Last month, I started formally teaching kids yoga classes again, after 7 years of only incorporating them into my Kindergarten. So here I am at the tail end of 40, in a little bit better shape and FINALLY (hallelujah), with a fresh list of goals to accomplish as I focus on raising my littles. Granted, this list is meant only for THIS YEAR, and will need to be refined and edited as the year unfolds. So, without further ado, 41 in 14!
to be completed between 10-17-13 and 12/31/2014
1.participate in a mud run (Sept. 2014-SEB Castaic)
2.participate in a color run
3.finish a 1/2 marathon (Nov. 2014)
4.start Masters (online poss. human development, brain-based learning, or USD 21st century)
5.publish writing
6.develop kids yoga biz to the next level (YMCA, library)
7.visit CA hot springs
8. increase retirement acct. 5-10 K
9. host a dinner or cocktail party (adults)
10. host bi-monthly family game nights
11.visit SKY HIGH trampoline place (DONE 10/17/2013)
12. teach O to knit, crochet, and/or latch hook
13. treat husband like the treasure he is
14. kayak/moonlight kayak
15.paddleboard/yoga on paddleboard
16.50K Fitlinxx points (4040 in 11/13)
17.set mini financial goals with rewards
18.throw laney 3rd bday princess party (1/11/14)
19.red cowboy boots (DONE 10/17/2013)
20.plant backyard cactus garden
21.vertical garden
22.plant strawberries
23.change bedtime to 10
24.get carpets cleaned
25.get screens replaced
26.select nightstands,lamps, art for master
27. family photo session/family portraits
28. shift to 50% or less hours
29. throw dad 70th birthday party
30. visit Legoland
31.visit flower fields in carlsbad
32.visit poppies in Antelope Valley
33. pick peaches
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
Now, in a flash, those numbers have been juxtaposed and I am 41. I have a warm-up period known as late fall to settle into the idea, and then the bulk of the year I will be "41 in (20)14".
Holy cow!
2014 is the year my son will start formal schooling.
It is the year I slated for a trip to Walt Disney and a Disney cruise. (probably not in the works)
I also planned for it to be an ideal time to move to a house with a yard.
I did not foresee:
*paying for two preschool tuitions (a dent even with the brilliant tuition bartering system I worked out by teaching 8 hours of yoga per month at the school)
*working part time
*loving our neighborhood and neighbors (and the accompanying community feel) so much that we are not even close to wanting to move (and come on- we are not home maintenance fans so having our own yard=paying gardeners=not high on the list)
What I know about this season of life:
I need to pay attention and take it slow. My children are adorable and fun and my parents are in good health and living five minutes away. I enjoy the work I do- especially when I focus on the children under my guidance. I appreciate my views of the world and the ways I am learning to interact with it.
Someday soon my children will be bigger than me and have their own agendas.
I wasn't quite ready on the approach to 40. It felt too big, too fast, and too even. I've always been drawn to odd numbers. (esp. 3 and 7) The backside of 40 was just fine- it felt like a runway year; I was gaining speed for my takeoff into middle life. A decade ago I had the requisite "Things to accomplish before I'm 30" list. I accomplished every. single. one. And then I spent a while in limbo. No fresh goals, other than marriage and children.
*30- started dating D. *32 engaged *married *36-O born *38-L born **sidenote: There are WAY too
many even numbers in there.
So, between 38 and 40, I cocooned. I snuggled with my babies, slept (a lot) and worked through some very real anxiety, depression, and (as it turns out) iron-deficiency anemia. During those years I also ate a lot of chocolate chips melted on toast. I was actually proud of eating chocolate for breakfast EVERY DAY! Mid-40, I bit the bullet and joined the local YMCA, buying a family membership and access to a heated pool, classes, cardio and strength training, kids classes and care, and actually a friendly community of like-minded people. Last month, I started formally teaching kids yoga classes again, after 7 years of only incorporating them into my Kindergarten. So here I am at the tail end of 40, in a little bit better shape and FINALLY (hallelujah), with a fresh list of goals to accomplish as I focus on raising my littles. Granted, this list is meant only for THIS YEAR, and will need to be refined and edited as the year unfolds. So, without further ado, 41 in 14!
to be completed between 10-17-13 and 12/31/2014
1.participate in a mud run (Sept. 2014-SEB Castaic)
2.participate in a color run
3.finish a 1/2 marathon (Nov. 2014)
4.start Masters (online poss. human development, brain-based learning, or USD 21st century)
5.publish writing
6.develop kids yoga biz to the next level (YMCA, library)
7.visit CA hot springs
8. increase retirement acct. 5-10 K
9. host a dinner or cocktail party (adults)
10. host bi-monthly family game nights
11.visit SKY HIGH trampoline place (DONE 10/17/2013)
12. teach O to knit, crochet, and/or latch hook
13. treat husband like the treasure he is
14. kayak/moonlight kayak
15.paddleboard/yoga on paddleboard
16.50K Fitlinxx points (4040 in 11/13)
17.set mini financial goals with rewards
18.throw laney 3rd bday princess party (1/11/14)
19.red cowboy boots (DONE 10/17/2013)
20.plant backyard cactus garden
21.vertical garden
22.plant strawberries
23.change bedtime to 10
24.get carpets cleaned
25.get screens replaced
26.select nightstands,lamps, art for master
27. family photo session/family portraits
28. shift to 50% or less hours
29. throw dad 70th birthday party
30. visit Legoland
31.visit flower fields in carlsbad
32.visit poppies in Antelope Valley
33. pick peaches
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
Monday, August 26, 2013
A moment to write
Yay! I found one. It's Friday afternoon. Sun streams through the slats of the tilted shutters, I sit crisscross on a dining room chair. I am so thankful for this moment. Time with my littles, neighbors, friends, and family today. A beautiful clear blue sky. A coolish morning. A chance meeting. Now the weekend sits on tap; I feel just like we are next in line for the best ride at the amusement park. (which is currently the log ride at Magic Mountain, which we enjoyed (twice in a row!) with good friends this July. It was the first adult sized ride we enjoyed as a whole family at once.)
This week and next are like the twilight time; that purplish magical calm before the long night. This is true for a number of reasons:
*both kids start 3 days per week preschool on Sept. 4.
*August in Kindergarten is very different than any other part of the year. (much more simple and manageable).
*Summer is ending and the darkness of Fall and Winter are upon us.
*It is my last Fall without and elementary aged student.
*My "40th" year is almost over. (though I am relieved to be done with it. Somehow for me, 40 always had a shadowy feel, but 41 feels fancy free!)
I have a gazillion posts and photos to catch up on, but I have renewed motivation because my little guy is finding his baby photo albums on his own and enjoying them.
I get stuck when I try to go back to blogging because I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of photos we have to choose from (on 2 different laptops!) but the motivation is back. just need to narrow down my expectation a bit I guess.
Happy Monday!
This week and next are like the twilight time; that purplish magical calm before the long night. This is true for a number of reasons:
*both kids start 3 days per week preschool on Sept. 4.
*August in Kindergarten is very different than any other part of the year. (much more simple and manageable).
*Summer is ending and the darkness of Fall and Winter are upon us.
*It is my last Fall without and elementary aged student.
*My "40th" year is almost over. (though I am relieved to be done with it. Somehow for me, 40 always had a shadowy feel, but 41 feels fancy free!)
I have a gazillion posts and photos to catch up on, but I have renewed motivation because my little guy is finding his baby photo albums on his own and enjoying them.
I get stuck when I try to go back to blogging because I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of photos we have to choose from (on 2 different laptops!) but the motivation is back. just need to narrow down my expectation a bit I guess.
Happy Monday!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Now you see it, now you don't
Mark roasted
marshmallow after marshmallow
sticky, gooey, yum
He set them on the table
to make s'mores from
Each time he put a
marshmallow
down on the paper plate
it disappeared
and couldn't be found
he didn't know it's fate
until at last he turned around
roasting stick in hand
and saw Dear Belle his
nanny goat
the stickiest in the land
Her mouth could barely
open
far enough to chew
and Mark thought and
thought
and finally he knew
"Dear Belle is eating my
marshmallows,
I know that to be true,
But I guess I should be happy
that she's not munching on my shoe."
So Mark kept roasting marshmallows
over hot and toasty coals
and Belle kept eating one by one
and to this day she isn't done
Sticky gooey Belle.
A spark of love
The knock on the front door startled everyone. It was 7:00 A.M. on the Fourth of July, and the Malone family was not expecting visitors. Six year old Ella raced to answer, followed by her four year old brother Jake. When the door swung open, no one was there. All they could see was a large white box, covered with red, white and blue star stickers and ribbons. 68
"Who is it, Ella?" called Mrs. Malone from the kitchen, where she was packing snacks to eat at the parade.
"No one," answered Ella "Just a giant box that looks like a flag! But there are lots of holes in the top,"
She continued. 110
"A surprise!" yelled Jake, running outside in his firetruck pajamas. "A present, a present, a present!"
"It's nobody's birthday," added Mr. Malone, who had been upstairs getting dressed for the parade.
He was a firefighter, and today Ella and Jake would ride on the pumper truck with him for the first time. 162
"Hmm," he said as he stepped outside where the family was excitedly surveying the big, big box.
"What could be inside?" asked Ella.
"Where did it come from?" asked Mrs. Malone.
"Who is it from?" wondered Mr. Malone. 200
"Let's open it!" shouted Jake, jumping up and down.
All of a sudden they heard a scratching sound from inside the box.
"It's alive!" yelled Jake.
The box began to move. Everyone took a step back. It rocked. It rolled. It tipped over.
Then it burst open like a firecracker and out came a black and white ball of fur. It was wearing a bright red collar with a fire hydrant charm that read "Sparky". 275
"A fire puppy! A fire puppy!" screamed Ella.
"For us?" smiled Jake, reaching out to hug the small dog.
Mr. and Mrs. Malone looked at each other and smiled.
"A Fourth of July surprise! But who could have sent him?" Mr. Malone said.
Just then the telephone rang. "Hello?" answered Mrs. Malone.
"Good morning. Happy Fourth of July Mrs. Malone. This is Fire Chief Frank. Did you receive our delivery this morning?"
"If it was a Dalmatian puppy in a Fourth of July box we did," she replied, smiling.
"Oh, good! Have your family bring him along to ride on the truck in the parade this morning. Sparky will love it!"
"And so will Ella and Jake," answered Mrs. Malone "Thank you for this Fourth of July surprise Fire Chief Frank. See you at the parade."
"You're welcome," replied the Fire Chief, "See you later!"
"This is the best Fourth of July yet," exclaimed Ella, reaching down to pet Sparky. Sparky wagged his tail in agreement.
"It's ter-woof-ic," smiled Mr. Malone, "Now let's go ride a pumper truck!
"Who is it, Ella?" called Mrs. Malone from the kitchen, where she was packing snacks to eat at the parade.
"No one," answered Ella "Just a giant box that looks like a flag! But there are lots of holes in the top,"
She continued. 110
"A surprise!" yelled Jake, running outside in his firetruck pajamas. "A present, a present, a present!"
"It's nobody's birthday," added Mr. Malone, who had been upstairs getting dressed for the parade.
He was a firefighter, and today Ella and Jake would ride on the pumper truck with him for the first time. 162
"Hmm," he said as he stepped outside where the family was excitedly surveying the big, big box.
"What could be inside?" asked Ella.
"Where did it come from?" asked Mrs. Malone.
"Who is it from?" wondered Mr. Malone. 200
"Let's open it!" shouted Jake, jumping up and down.
All of a sudden they heard a scratching sound from inside the box.
"It's alive!" yelled Jake.
The box began to move. Everyone took a step back. It rocked. It rolled. It tipped over.
Then it burst open like a firecracker and out came a black and white ball of fur. It was wearing a bright red collar with a fire hydrant charm that read "Sparky". 275
"A fire puppy! A fire puppy!" screamed Ella.
"For us?" smiled Jake, reaching out to hug the small dog.
Mr. and Mrs. Malone looked at each other and smiled.
"A Fourth of July surprise! But who could have sent him?" Mr. Malone said.
Just then the telephone rang. "Hello?" answered Mrs. Malone.
"Good morning. Happy Fourth of July Mrs. Malone. This is Fire Chief Frank. Did you receive our delivery this morning?"
"If it was a Dalmatian puppy in a Fourth of July box we did," she replied, smiling.
"Oh, good! Have your family bring him along to ride on the truck in the parade this morning. Sparky will love it!"
"And so will Ella and Jake," answered Mrs. Malone "Thank you for this Fourth of July surprise Fire Chief Frank. See you at the parade."
"You're welcome," replied the Fire Chief, "See you later!"
"This is the best Fourth of July yet," exclaimed Ella, reaching down to pet Sparky. Sparky wagged his tail in agreement.
"It's ter-woof-ic," smiled Mr. Malone, "Now let's go ride a pumper truck!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Owen's fourth birthday questionnaire (6-9-2013)
How old are you? 3 When is your birthday? June 12
Favorite color: green
Favorite game: Hi Ho Cherri-o
Favorite song: Lullaby and Goodnight
Favorite toy: fire truck
Favorite book: pirate
What do you want to be when you grow up? helicopter rescue driver (sic) (pilot)
Favorite TV show: Thomas the Train
Favorite place to go: museum
Favorite dinner: spaghetti
Where in the world would you want to go? outer space
What is your favorite thing to do at school? play in the sand
What is your favorite thing to do at the playground? swings
Favorite dessert: ice cream with chocolate cake on top
Favorite fruit: pineapple
Favorite drink: chocolate/strawberry milk
Favorite breakfast: oatmeal with syrup
Favorite thing to do with the family: go swimming
Favorite chore/household job: cooking (mom adds: also enjoys laundry, vaccuuming, and emptying trash. often sings while doing said chores "I'm cleaning the house today...I'm working in the house today. etc.")
Favorite animal: lion
What I wish/hope to learn while I am 4: how to make a rocket boomer
Favorite vacation: Jeanie's house (we go in 3 weeks)
Favorite restaurant: Saugus Cafe
What is your question for 4 year old Owen?
Owen is Four!
Last week we celebrated Owen's 4th birthday. Three was such a blast, and a time cemented in my memory by a little boy my mom babysat one summer when I was young, that it was harder than I expected to let three move into four. Four seems so...big!
Wednesday I woke up around 2:30 A.M. to decorate his door and breakfast table. He and Laney ate banana chocolate chip pancakes made by daddy with jugo de naranja. Laney gave him some dry erase crayons to try out on the whiteboard.
Later Grandma and Grandpa brought the kids to my class for our summer birthday celebration. We made friendship fruit salad and sang happy birthday. Five of my students had summer birthdays to celebrate along with O. They each got a sticker, pencil, crown, and certificate. The fruit salad included watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, and mango brought by O. So cute.
Next, Owen arrived home to a surprise. Daddy and Uncle Dave took part of the day off and came to spend it with him! They went to the Valencia library to see a wildlife presentation by The Wildlife Station at 2 and then over to Shave It at the mall.
Grandma and Grandpa surprised Owen with a vintage pedal car tow truck complete with a hook and chain.
For dinner we had O's choice of spaghetti, shrimp, garlic bread, and salad, followed by popsicles outside for all the neighborhood kids and a piñata!
Wednesday I woke up around 2:30 A.M. to decorate his door and breakfast table. He and Laney ate banana chocolate chip pancakes made by daddy with jugo de naranja. Laney gave him some dry erase crayons to try out on the whiteboard.
Later Grandma and Grandpa brought the kids to my class for our summer birthday celebration. We made friendship fruit salad and sang happy birthday. Five of my students had summer birthdays to celebrate along with O. They each got a sticker, pencil, crown, and certificate. The fruit salad included watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, and mango brought by O. So cute.
Next, Owen arrived home to a surprise. Daddy and Uncle Dave took part of the day off and came to spend it with him! They went to the Valencia library to see a wildlife presentation by The Wildlife Station at 2 and then over to Shave It at the mall.
Grandma and Grandpa surprised Owen with a vintage pedal car tow truck complete with a hook and chain.
For dinner we had O's choice of spaghetti, shrimp, garlic bread, and salad, followed by popsicles outside for all the neighborhood kids and a piñata!
Friday morning we went to see Dr. Gereb for a well-check. O weighed 36 pounds (but I swear i saw the scale read 37.6) and was 40.5 inches. Hope you have a great year, O!
*Birthday party post separately. We celebrated with neighborhood and preschool friends at a local gym with a superhero/rescue hero themed bash on June 1.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
St. Patrick's Day
We spent an afternoon at David March park with daddy on St. Patrick's Day. The kids enjoyed their green!
the rest of March
The kids spent the majority of March sick in some way, shape, or form. Laney had a sniffly cold, then several days of fever (which turned out to be the UTI), then a piggyback cold with a nasty cough for a week. Owen had a few nights of croupy seal bark and struggled to breathe, then kept the daytime cough for several days. We've had him off milk and dairy for several weeks, and it has seemed to help with his sniffles, but not 100%.
One Friday we met my friend Lillian and her youngest son Andrew at Sky City Bounce House and had some fun! We also ended up running into a couple of Owen's classmates from Little Patch.
When Laney woke up with her fever one weekend, ice skating plans had to be pared down to just Owen, momma, and daddy. We met Oqwe, Justin and Alice to ice skate. Then we went to lunch at Fishtail, yummy! The boys had fun playing around outside after lunch.
Another Friday we hung out at home and watched the garbage trucks, still a favorite tradition!
Later that same day momma went to Pasadena for the first afternoon of the Kindergarten Teachers Conference, always a fun day and a half of workshops, window shopping, and down time with my team from school. After the evening workshops, Julie and I walked down to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. It was her first time ever eating there. We saw the cutest indoor playroom called Baby Polka Dot. I love Pasadena!
The next morning Alina picked me up bright and early (6:45!) to head back for another day of workshops. We decided if we go next year we need to spring for a hotel room and have a K teacher slumber party! A couple K teachers in our district had a booth selling things from their Teachers Pay Teachers site. At lunchtime, we all drove to a cute bakery called Bittersweet Treats. It was opened in December by Danielle Keene, the daughter of our school district office receptionist, who sadly passed away right around the same time as the opening. After my last workshop, Derek and the kids met me and we ate an early dinner at P.F. Chang's.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
tidbits
We had a fun and busy day yesterday. Laney had her first blood draw (our pediatrician likes to check lead and iron at around 2 years of age). She was still and silent the whole time and even said thank you to the nurse. It was sore and bothering her some all day.
For the past two weeks she has moved into the "cause why?" stage, responding to almost everything with the phrase.
After the lab tests the three of us stopped at a nearby Starbucks for some breakfast. The kids picked apple juice boxes and a protein plate to share (hard-boiled egg, grapes, apple, and pita bread) and I had a gigantic coffee and an egg salad sandwich. More like brunch. We set up camp in some comfy chairs by the picture window looking onto the drive thru. Owen was enjoying watching the cars come through so I commented, "Maybe when you're older you can work in a drive thru," He replied, "No, momma, when I grow up I'm going to be Superman!" His voice was so matter of fact. Love it.
After breakfast we headed to Sky City Bounce House to meet my friend Lillian and her son Andrew, who just turned three. They have "5 dollar Fridays" which is a good deal, so we spent almost three hours there. Both kids had a blast and wore themselves out. We also ran into two of Owen's classmates Kai and Shane, so he got a kick out of that.
When we got in the car Owen asked to go to Grandma and Grandpa's to play, so he called to ask them.
His voice was so scratchy from running around so much. He said to grandma, "My voice is undid from the bounce house, so I'm going to drink a lot of water today." So cute! The plan was I would take Laney home for lunch and nap, and then we would head back over to the apartment. She slept for over THREE hours! Owen slept not a wink at G and G's.
Momma got a lot done during the three hours and then we went over to G and G's to visit/play for 45 min. or so before meeting daddy at the mall for dinner.
Owen fell asleep on the way home and Laney was up til about 9. We had big plans to go to Tumbletots at a new gymnastics place this morning at 8 for a trial class and then to go sledding one last time this winter but Laney woke up with a low grade fever of 99.9. She felt so hot. And Owen has been sneezing and had a croupy cough all night so we canceled and will lay low at home today. Maybe we will even finish prepping Owen's room to paint. Someday I will add pictures to the blog again.
Cute things Laney says: "hoffice" instead of office
For the past two weeks she has moved into the "cause why?" stage, responding to almost everything with the phrase.
After the lab tests the three of us stopped at a nearby Starbucks for some breakfast. The kids picked apple juice boxes and a protein plate to share (hard-boiled egg, grapes, apple, and pita bread) and I had a gigantic coffee and an egg salad sandwich. More like brunch. We set up camp in some comfy chairs by the picture window looking onto the drive thru. Owen was enjoying watching the cars come through so I commented, "Maybe when you're older you can work in a drive thru," He replied, "No, momma, when I grow up I'm going to be Superman!" His voice was so matter of fact. Love it.
After breakfast we headed to Sky City Bounce House to meet my friend Lillian and her son Andrew, who just turned three. They have "5 dollar Fridays" which is a good deal, so we spent almost three hours there. Both kids had a blast and wore themselves out. We also ran into two of Owen's classmates Kai and Shane, so he got a kick out of that.
When we got in the car Owen asked to go to Grandma and Grandpa's to play, so he called to ask them.
His voice was so scratchy from running around so much. He said to grandma, "My voice is undid from the bounce house, so I'm going to drink a lot of water today." So cute! The plan was I would take Laney home for lunch and nap, and then we would head back over to the apartment. She slept for over THREE hours! Owen slept not a wink at G and G's.
Momma got a lot done during the three hours and then we went over to G and G's to visit/play for 45 min. or so before meeting daddy at the mall for dinner.
Owen fell asleep on the way home and Laney was up til about 9. We had big plans to go to Tumbletots at a new gymnastics place this morning at 8 for a trial class and then to go sledding one last time this winter but Laney woke up with a low grade fever of 99.9. She felt so hot. And Owen has been sneezing and had a croupy cough all night so we canceled and will lay low at home today. Maybe we will even finish prepping Owen's room to paint. Someday I will add pictures to the blog again.
Cute things Laney says: "hoffice" instead of office
Monday, February 25, 2013
Ch-ch-ch-changes
Spring has been teasing us a bit these days; crocuses and trees in bloom, warm (almost hot) days and windy nights. And at the Richard house, it is all about change.
As of this past Friday, Delaney exits her crib easily and silently and explores the house on her own. She uses the potty several times a day but not exclusively. She decided to "get dressed all by myself" on Friday also. She likes to play that she's going to work or to the "hoffice" as she calls it. She loves to have her daily vitamin and calls all meals dinner. She enjoys snacks and often asks for cheese, oranges, or "pepperina"(pepperoni).
Owen is so self-sufficient and helpful. Friday he brought in both the big garbage can and recycling can from the driveway and put them away. He gets dressed on his own every day (before anyone else) and his favorite outfit is basketball shorts and top. He also picks flip flops or boots over sneakers most of the time. He loves exploring in the kitchen and making recipes (both real and creative) Last night he helped me make garbanzo bean/yogurt dip and also made and ate his own dinner of pb and j on squaw bread. He is sniffly all the time (6 months or more) so we think he has allergies. We suspect our cat Luna but are systematically taking other allergens away one at a time (like peanut butter and dairy products) to see if that helps.
Also we wipe Luna with dander wipes more often and try to keep her off Owen's bed.
We are in the process of transitioning Owen into his own bedroom (the studio/office). It is taking us several months to clear the room, set up Derek's workspace in the loft, and decorate, but it is very exciting.
The kids aren't the only ones experiencing change. Daddy got a promotion at work and is now VP of Production. We are very proud of him. He recently repainted the master bedroom and we picked out new furniture and decor. We still need nightstands, lamps, art, and curtains, but it is a restful, modern space now.
Momma cut off all her hair and started doing Zumba workouts on youtube in the living room. And there you go. ch-ch-ch-changes at the Richard house.
As of this past Friday, Delaney exits her crib easily and silently and explores the house on her own. She uses the potty several times a day but not exclusively. She decided to "get dressed all by myself" on Friday also. She likes to play that she's going to work or to the "hoffice" as she calls it. She loves to have her daily vitamin and calls all meals dinner. She enjoys snacks and often asks for cheese, oranges, or "pepperina"(pepperoni).
Owen is so self-sufficient and helpful. Friday he brought in both the big garbage can and recycling can from the driveway and put them away. He gets dressed on his own every day (before anyone else) and his favorite outfit is basketball shorts and top. He also picks flip flops or boots over sneakers most of the time. He loves exploring in the kitchen and making recipes (both real and creative) Last night he helped me make garbanzo bean/yogurt dip and also made and ate his own dinner of pb and j on squaw bread. He is sniffly all the time (6 months or more) so we think he has allergies. We suspect our cat Luna but are systematically taking other allergens away one at a time (like peanut butter and dairy products) to see if that helps.
Also we wipe Luna with dander wipes more often and try to keep her off Owen's bed.
We are in the process of transitioning Owen into his own bedroom (the studio/office). It is taking us several months to clear the room, set up Derek's workspace in the loft, and decorate, but it is very exciting.
The kids aren't the only ones experiencing change. Daddy got a promotion at work and is now VP of Production. We are very proud of him. He recently repainted the master bedroom and we picked out new furniture and decor. We still need nightstands, lamps, art, and curtains, but it is a restful, modern space now.
Momma cut off all her hair and started doing Zumba workouts on youtube in the living room. And there you go. ch-ch-ch-changes at the Richard house.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
A day or two with daddy/catalyst
A fresh haircut
A pizza lunch
An afternoon outing to Vazquez Rocks
(aka- the filming spot for lots of planetary landings on Star Trek)
and baby boy has shifted
He zips, he buckles, he pours cereal and milk
He toilets, washes, dresses, and feeds himself.
Now my role is shifting with him too.
hmmm.
A pizza lunch
An afternoon outing to Vazquez Rocks
(aka- the filming spot for lots of planetary landings on Star Trek)
and baby boy has shifted
He zips, he buckles, he pours cereal and milk
He toilets, washes, dresses, and feeds himself.
Now my role is shifting with him too.
hmmm.
On the threshold of boyhood
He wants to taste my coffee; he wants to make my coffee
He unloads the dry clothes; "I can do it," he reassures in that deeper edgy "man-voice"
He changes from superhero to superhero over a span of thirty minutes; red cape, green lantern t-shirt,a buckled belt and a hooked zipper, all on his own
And then,
last night at a new pizza joint with friends,
he wouldn't go in the ladies room.
Pointing at the skirted silhouette on the wall, "That's not for me," he insisted.
And all of a sudden, over a week's time, he was a boy.
He unloads the dry clothes; "I can do it," he reassures in that deeper edgy "man-voice"
He changes from superhero to superhero over a span of thirty minutes; red cape, green lantern t-shirt,a buckled belt and a hooked zipper, all on his own
And then,
last night at a new pizza joint with friends,
he wouldn't go in the ladies room.
Pointing at the skirted silhouette on the wall, "That's not for me," he insisted.
And all of a sudden, over a week's time, he was a boy.
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