Skrivan Scribbles

3rd Annual Gal-entines Day

2012-02-11T22:01:00.000-08:00

A highlight for us all. February is a romantic month, hearts everywhere, special dinners and dates galore. But one date that us gals look forward to, is the weekend closest to Valentines. We get out, do fun things, and pretty much just enjoy each other and leave our kids with our husbands. This year started with only two of us getting pedicures, then off to a local bakery. We gathered a few more and after gorging on pastries (thanks Leslie!) we all met up at the Yellow House, the greatest yarn shop around. Meg even cleared a table set up for us to sit around and knit and drink coffee and enjoy conversation. What a gal. We all <3 this place.

After the pastries had settled it was lunch time! We all piled into the Grey Goose, and headed up to Seattle. We walked through the market and all decided that Beecher's grilled sandwiches and amazing Mac&Cheese was our spot.

Off through the market we walked, the tulips were SO tempting! It's so refreshing to see little bits of spring even on grey February days.

After our bellies were full, our senses excited by the beautiful scenery, and temptation in the Sur la Table kitchen store, and stopping in at another bakery for an afternoon treat, we headed back to our respective homes, and the real world.

The Sun is gone

2012-02-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

Well, not gone, just hidden. It was a fabulous few days of pure sunshine, in February no less. One of my least favorite months. Not because of V-day, just because it's usually so dreary and wintery, and just not my favorite. And it's weird because it doesn't ever have the right amount of days.
The sandman has been heavy handed here in Skrivland, I think we're fighting something. No one has any sort of sign of sickness, just the sleepies. I think most nights we've been in bed by 9:30, and passed out before 10. Yesterday I had to wake Ezra up from nap, because he'd been asleep for almost 4 hours. And it was a day we needed to go get out and see the SUN. I forgot my camera, even though I thought, I should bring my camera. Erg. But it was lovely. We went down to the water, threw rocks into The Sound, and watched the trains go by. We also stopped by a park on the way home. We have a park less than two blocks from our house, but it's kind of designed for big kids, and I have to lift Ezra up onto all the toys, and catch him at the bottoms of the slides, because the sand has worn away and they're approximately 3 feet above ground at the bottom. Anyways, so we don't go very often, sadly. Maybe next year when he can do it himself more. But he had a blast running around and going on size appropriate play structures.
The rain is a little dismal, but I got so much yard work done over the weekend, that it feels okay to finally put away the laundry, and I really gotta get going on the book club book! So rain is probably good for that at least.

Cashew Chicken Pesto Pizza

2012-02-02T07:55:00.000-08:00

There is a small Italian restaurant down the road, and it's not super fancy, in fact I don't think it's super Italian. But they serve pasta and fancy pizza. Every so often, when cooking seems like the worst thing, we would find our way there for dinner. It's not super expensive, and we get seated right away. The waitresses wear t-shirts and jeans so I don't feel guilty when I barely get my hair in a pony. Anyways, they have award winning pizza. One their pizzas has cashews and chicken and their special white sauce with fresh basil on top. It's. Amazing.
A while back, when we decided to kick eating out for budgets sake, I thought to myself, there wasn't a whole lot to that pizza, I bet I could make something pretty close. It also came about when I had just made oogles of pesto for our freezer and had happened to make Artisan Bread in 5-minutes as well.

Here's our version (not at all the same some how but OH so good) of their award winning pizza.

To start you follow whatever pizza dough recipe you like, we use the atrisan bread.

While rolling out/working your dough, cook some chicken in boiling water (save the water for stock!)

Then, you spread with olive oil all the way to the edge of your dough, and sprinkle on garlic salt. This makes the crust more like a pizza place and less floury tasting. On top of the olive oil, spread your pesto, leaving room for a crust.

Chicken should be done, you can now take it and let it cool a little then chop chop. Or shred it, same thing really. While your knife is busy take a handful of cashews and chop roughly. It's easy for them to fall off the pizza, but I like them in bigger chunks.

Since everything should be chopped, spread chicken and cashews evenly around your pie. It's looking super tempting to eat, but I assure you, let it bake first!

Spread a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese over top. We buy the giant Costco bag, it lasts forever.

Then bake! The artisan pizza recipe calls 550 for 10-15 minutes, but I would go off of whatever your dough recipe calls for, because everything you have on the pizza is already cooked, it matters more of what the temp is for your dough. You would hate to ruin dinner!

Anndd, if you're feeling extra luxurious, a new addition to our version, was a balsamic reduction. Which, you really ought to make way ahead of time since it take like 2 hours. But, oh, my, word. I am in love. Not the hubs, he didn't care, and Ezra thinks it's spicy?! All the more for me.

It may not even be award winning, but it sure is in this house.

Finished Project

2012-02-01T16:54:00.000-08:00

By accident forgot to put up the pictures of the finished project in Ezra's room. It is in fact a window bench. And now, it's nearly complete. It has paint, it looks nice, but I inherited some cushions that go on top so that it's a happy place to sit and read, and not a buns numbing place to lose feeling in your toosh. But I have yet to find a fabric that I like (that isn't $50 a yard) that will suit being sat on, piled up and overall in use in a boys room.
Here is the bench finished with no paint.

The left side opens up and is a trunk. Things that are stored in there are things like Mr. Frog the humidifier, we thought about putting toys in it. But the idea of smashed fingers was enough to make me quiver and say, nope!
So that's the final project, and hopefully I find some fabric that works well and that looks good so that we can have a good place to sit and read for hours on end.

Monday Monday

2012-01-30T07:52:00.000-08:00

It's only 0730 and I wish it was bedtime.

Rough morning. First, Ezra woke with a nightmare at 0430, and I am pretty certain he didn't go back to sleep. He joined our bed when Adam's alarm went off...but quickly started the grumps, instead of snuggling and falling back asleep.

After a good 45 minutes of "get back in your bed. No you may not jump up and down like that and scream. You may not say no to Mama. You may not say no to Daddy. I told you to get in your bed." I am exhausted. Even tag teaming with Daddy, which made it easier, still has worn me out.

We have ourselves a very sweet boy, and honestly these sort of events do not happen very often. But our sweetheart has both of our stubborn streak in spades. And sometimes we say things like Adam said this morning after a bit of calming had come over devil-toddler, "I know we shouldn't have, but if we had just given in at first, he would have been so much more cheerful all day." Which was nice of him to worry about me, since he gets to run off to work and not deal with the rest of the crumpled spirit and attitude of our cherub.
But, I am happy to report, when he finally collected his cool, he came out of bed saying "I sorry Mama, I sorry Daddy. I love you." Whoo. Sometimes you wonder as you're disciplining (especially when it's taking nearly an hour!) if it's really worth it. And, clearly manya folk can say it is, but it can be oh so hard! and did I mention exhausting? Will is a hard thing to break.

It is funny to me how in the space of an hour I can have such a completely different child, and yet it's hard for me to change my attitude to the day. He has probably already moved on, in fact, I know he has. He is talking with his toys in the bathtub, and cheerfully explaining to them what color they are and singing songs. I am tired, wishing I could have gotten just a half hour more sleep, and a coffee delivered to me. Thinking I could use a little of my own disciplining! Correcting my heart that this day does not have to be one that it started out as.

I better get the coffee on, and my Bible.
To Monday!

Oh, Baby

2012-01-25T21:41:00.000-08:00

Just came back from what was supposed to be my 16 wk appointment last week. Turns out snow and ice and lack of power close the Dr's office. Thankfully, I was not due last week. I wonder what people who did go into labor did?! Maybe more home births than planned?
Anywho, so everything is looking great, I am even measuring a few days ahead of schedule, which means nothing, but it's nice to know that it isn't my imagination that makes me feel big already. Ha.

The heart-rate is in the 150's, which if I recall is a little more speedy than Ezra. My Mom said her boys had slower hearts than her girls, so maybe a girl? I have an instinct it's a girl, but I did with Ezra too, so, don't base your guess on me. My cravings have been much the same, fruits and veggies all the way, and bagels. Mmm, bagels.
I will be putting up the poll on the right side of the blog. Feel free to guess, it won't give you away if you're a secret reader ;) It's always a fun game to play. And by February 13th, we'll see if we need to invest in some pink, or re-do the blue.

THE Snow, That Will Not Go

2012-01-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

We got some snow, and then we got more. And then I started to wonder if I was ever gonna get out alive. We are not exactly accustomed to snow of any real amount. Sure, every few years we get two inches at the most and try to sled and build pathetic snow men, and then just come inside and watch it melt as the afternoon progresses. But this snow, this snow was out to get us. The news kept saying it would be a record, but I always think when they say things like that, that it's mostly just the foothills and the mountains. I should have listened. Especially since the day we could get out of our driveway I didn't feel like going to the grocery store. Dumb.
The snow started Sunday, and was pretty. Except in the evening when it iced over. Apparently Adam nearly slid himself home and skipped church, but seeing as I was there already for choir, he thought it nice to be able to bring me home. Others I heard did a 180 and didn't even park. Like my Dad and sister. They slid through three stop lights and knew it wasn't gonna get warmer or easier so they skidded themselves home without even pulling into the church parking lot.
Monday and Tuesday the snow wasn't bad, and mostly had gone away around us. Just little patches of mini snowmen or what was left of them. Wednesday, we got the big snow. It didn't stop for hours, fluffy big snow flakes! Sticking to everything.
At first it was fun, I was thankful that Adam didn't have to go to work...I would have worried for him the whole time. Especially after watching the news and the words they kept saying, "treacherous, dangerous roads, accidents everywhere, road closures, trees falling onto highways." Not to mention this was all right after reading Hannah's article about driving! Yikes!
So, we made the best of it, we played Wii, until our bowling arms were aching. We made popcorn, and read stories, we watched movies and knit a little. And then, it seemed we'd done everything and nothing at the same time.
The freezing rain came. Ew. I didn't get very many pictures, because I was tired of getting knee deep in snow (especially since I don't own snow boots) Thursday it looked like a skating rink on top of snow. Ice coating every little thing, the branches so heavy with snow already did not take the ice too well. My willow in front is going to need some serious attention come spring, I am not sure how much will be salvageable. So we were home bound again. Thankfully, my parents are within walking distance, it also helps because Mom feeds us a lot, so we got to have a change of scenery and full tummy's even though we didn't have a car or groceries. I was supposed to work that night, but couldn't get my car out of the driveway, so instead I went in super early on Friday, though I still couldn't get my car out, my Mom's car was able to get out so I took her car and barely made it out of the neighborhood. I was thankful that I was the only vehicle on the road at 2:15 in the morning, otherwise it might have been an ugly version of bumper cars. On the way into work I was just marveling at the trees that looked like someone went chainsaw happy without any direction. Limbs across the road, trees snapped to relieve the ice/snow bearing branches. Later that day it started warming and raining, and so the roads, though wet like little rivers, were very drive-able, and Adam was able to get the car out of the driveway for the first time. We went grocery shopping just in case it wasn't through.
Today we have lots of snow around, the field across the street is still a blanket of snow, most of our yard looks like winter will never leave. I'm just glad that I now can, even if I have nowhere to be, not being able to kinda made me feel a little stir crazy.

Behind the times

2012-01-16T23:13:00.000-08:00

I do think to blog, and then I get wrapped up in playing blocks, or connecting trains together. And to be perfectly honest, I am much better at those things than writing, so in short, you're welcome.

I sometimes struggle with blogging because of all the things that I don't do. I do not create out of thin air adorable little giraffes like my sister. Did you click on it? Do. He's ridiculously cute. My humor is not all that funny. I don't make extravagant meals, mostly because I am pregnant and cooking is like my leastest favorite thing on the planet whilst being so, though I do like eating a great deal. My child isn't a super star, doing amazing feats of pure genius that insist on my bragging his adorableness. Though, everyday I thank the GOOD Lord for such a happy wonderful child and the privilege to raise him. He isn't doing much of new things, like when he was first around every tooth and smile, every new venture of rolling over to crawling was a huge change. But toddlerhood, though he is growing and talking a great deal more and more everyday, doesn't pose the same excitement for blog fodder. Or maybe the new Mom grin is wearing off? And let's be honest, y'all won't be that impressed to know he can now put on his boots himself, and enjoys putting away the laundry, pushing the dryer button, and starting the dishwasher.

Suppose I should clarify that I don't mean to say that I blog for others, because, truly I do not. It is a hobby, however bad at it I may be. It's a somewhat good record of the big things, and a glimpse into what day to day is like. There have been days lately when I have felt like giving this ol' blog up. Who reads it anyways?! Do I even go back and read it? But for now, I'll keep it up, and maybe it'll fall into disrepair and will need to TLC, and maybe that'll be soon. Just not yet. Now I will post every so often and try my best to not get kicked off of Blogger. (not sure you can do that, or that I am that bad about blogging)

Guess this just means don't hold your breath for amazing posts, or adorable photos, or fancy creations, or hilarious kid stories. At least not here. This is just gonna have to be your average everyday life stuff.

Resolutions

2012-01-03T20:21:00.000-08:00

I have never been one for resolutions, I have never ever been able to keep them. And then it feels a lot like letting oneself down for no real reason than you said to yourself you were gonna do it. I suppose I could put one on there I know will happen. Have this baby.
There ya go, that'll be easy. You know what I mean, not easy, but accomplish-able.
Anyways, I do love the start of a new year though. There are so many things of a fresh start, even a fresh month! Sometimes it just makes you feel better to turn the calender. Hey, even a new morning, it's a very good thing the Lord gives us rest, and refreshment. Even if that is just a few short hours of shut eye each night to re-boot the system. Praise Him.
This year, as I mentioned last post, we started off with a heavy list and a can-do attitude, which are very helpful to have at the same time. Ha. And let me tell you, we stayed up late last night watching a movie with my family, and so we didn't exactly spring outta bed. But you know what? My house was still spotless, minus the popcorn on the floor in the basement. Thank you verymuch Ezra. And so, in a way my goal (in general!) of keeping my life organized and being on top of the house, well, it makes a less guilty feeling tired laid back morning.
This year is already shaping up to be pretty spectacular, or dare I say sparkling?

Excuses

2012-01-02T15:34:00.000-08:00

Well, I mean there's the really big one, that's only 3 inches long and life draining. But truly, I am excited about getting fat and not being able to put on my skinny jeans. Crazy how quickly I am getting the bump this time around.
But the real reason for absence is this nugget:

I know! Right?
Well he is a "high needs" baby, which means we all got turns holding and snuggling and trying our bestest to give his Mama a break.
Christmas in a nutshell, was less crazy than usual. Sadly, Adam's sister and her little family weren't able to make it out this year, and so that gave us less tug of war between the two sisters that come from out of town. There is so much pressure to not miss out on the festivities, and yet we can only be in one place at one time. Such is the life of having married someone with family in town. I must say, it is far better than having to travel for Christmas, or any other holiday for that matter, so I am not gonna complain.
New years. Welp, we started with a pre-game get the house in order before we go bonkers on Saturday. And boy howdy did that feel good. People, I even soaked and scrubbed my stove knobs. So, it was productive and fun, and we went to bed EARLY (as in like 11 or 1030 and not midnight) because we're losers and church the next morning at 8am sounded to me like a crab-fest. We heard there was fun had, but I am certain, especially after spending the sabbath with my cousin and her little family that it would have been a bad bad plan.
Today, we're slammin' through the rest of the list, minus the bagel date we had with the Whaley's for lunch.
Got my tiny clothes put up in the attic, and my whale clothes in place for as I need them, truckin' through the laundry pile, and even attacking another closet. AND blogging. Whoo, I think I need a pat on the back over here.

So, I know Adam usually does a year end re-cap, but he's in go mode today, so I'm not even gonna mention it. No interrupting the mojo. Nope nope.
For now, a Happy New year, and may 2012 be filled with joy and hope for you and yours. I'm off to mop, while the napping is still a happenin'!

Merry Christmas~

2011-12-25T23:19:00.000-08:00

As many of you have heard by now, we got the best Christmas gift of all. Though we've known for awhile, we couldn't waste a good holiday to announce. Especially since 3 years ago today was when we informed everyone that "Chuck" aka Ezra was on his way.

One of the best parts was finding out one of my best friends (and cousin) was also adding to their fold. These boys love each other the mostest, I can't wait for them to go through big brotherhood together.
So this Christmas we're looking forward to fireworks, and if this baby is like their brother, two days early will make a national holiday and a big bang of a celebration for a birthday.

21 December

2011-12-21T07:30:00.000-08:00

We have entered the stage of people drawing. This, I think is supposed to be Caillou. Love seeing what he sees, and that he's able to express it!

20 December

2011-12-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

A fun way to talk about the real Reason for the Season.

19 December

2011-12-19T14:19:00.000-08:00

In costume and ready to preform. He stole the show~ no, literally, he did. But in a good way. I'll try and get the video up (or maybe I will get techy hubs to do it)

16, 17 & 18 December

2011-12-19T14:15:00.000-08:00

Saturday, was a FULL day. We rushed out the door with two toddlers; turns out it's much harder when they want to play and not get ready to go...but we headed straight to Sunday School rehearsal. It was nice and quick, and Ezra sang for the last verse after checking everyone out behind him.

After the rehearsal we headed up for our Annual Seattle Skrivan Christmas. It was lots of fun! Of course my feet were done by the end of the day. Ezra got to go on the carousel. He loved it SO much, he kept asking to ride the blue horse again and again.

He also had some of his favorite people with him, especially Zip (what he calls Adam's Dad) they enjoyed hanging out this trip.

And, bonus picture (for being behind) after dinner going to the curiosity shop, we passed a giant otter. Which was fondly called a bear.

This one was my favorite, though there is one of him holding hands, hugging, and gazing fondly up at the "bear." So much fun! What a great tradition, and such a fun day.

15 December

2011-12-19T13:58:00.000-08:00

We had our very first real sleep over on Friday. Little Torsten came to hang out with us while his Mama and Daddy had a Christmas party. The boys were thoroughly enjoying each others company, there is nothing quite like littles cracking each other up, over nothing.

Soo, about that...

2011-12-19T08:08:00.000-08:00

I really didn't mean to stop doing the DPP. And I have every single intention of jumping back in. There is only a week left! I could give you a million reasons why I haven't been good at the whole camera business. But the biggest one, the giant laundry pile that honestly needs more attention than the blog. So, once I get at least most the way through that, I will try and load up the photos.
Hold on to your seats people. And check back by the end of the day~

13 December

2011-12-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

To: Daddy Love, Mama & Ezra

I knew that opening gifts under the tree would be a temptation this year. He gets it, he knows there are good things in those secret wrappings. So, instead of having to deal with the constant "Don't touch" I wrapped a couple in coloring paper, and he is able to decorate to his hearts content.
The kid in a box with all his blankets? That's just a bonus. He is calling it his bed.

12 December

2011-12-12T20:35:00.000-08:00

11 December

2011-12-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

"Hello Ezra,
In this box is a gift for you to hang on your Christmas tree for many years to come.
Merry Christmas!!
Love-
G'ma Rosa"

10 December

2011-12-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

AKA Saturday morning breakfast. Loving having Daddy home.

9 Decemeber

2011-12-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

Helping fold laundry, means sitting on it so Mama doesn't see it.

Clever boy~ Think I'll keep him.

8 December

2011-12-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

Two muffins, one eating the other.

7 December

2011-12-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

We got our Christmas tree, and I thought this little person would be SO excited. Turns out, if you skip a nap...even the excitement of a tree cannot keep you awake at 6pm. So, while we decorated, he stayed passed out, and slept 12 hours. But it was pretty cute to see him see the tree when he woke up this morning.

December 6

2011-12-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

Playing with the new camera (my Christmas gift that is not getting wrapped) It's so fun when the toddler gets all into it to. And nothing wrong with a good neck strangle hug.

DPP 2, 3, 4, 5

2011-12-05T18:03:00.000-08:00

Meeting Santa, but very distracted by the firetruck behind Santa.

Climbing on the Firetruck!

Driving a Firetruck!

Talking to the Police Chief on the Walki-talki.
The most talked about evening for a two year old. A true highlight to the Christmas season.

Reindeer

2011-12-01T19:24:00.000-08:00

December!

2011-12-01T18:28:00.000-08:00

And so it begins

2011-11-30T13:02:00.000-08:00

They say having boys is like signing up for broken bones, stitches, injuries from things that most of us look at and say "why? how? what?" Or in simpler terms, Boys will be boys.
Now, my son has had his share of goofy injuries, like the time he jumped from the back of the couch to the seat of the couch, propelling himself so hard that he did a front flip and thwacked his ankles on the coffee table. I said, "that is why I said no jumping off the back of the couch!" He toughed it out and whataya know, I caught him doing the exact same thing just the other day. Or the everyotherweek head bonk onto who knows what. Or like yesterday afternoon when he thought that jumping from his scooter and his skate board would be loads of fun, and not at all dangerous. And usually when we hear "OWEEE!" followed by massive tears, we try to put two and two together, which doesn't always seem obvious, and usually within a few minutes, and a raised bruise from some appendage we all calm down and make another rule of what we shouldn't be doing to avoid this situation again. But last night...Oh, that one, I think we'll be remembering this one.
It began innocently enough, "take your blankets to your bed." And off he went tugging his blankets behind him and off to his room, and then we heard it. A pretty good thump and screams like never before. Adam jumped up first, "he's bleeding" oh boy, I (with one of the worst headaches ever) slowly got up to examine where and how much, and already Daddy's hands were full. It seems as though on his merry little way, he got tripped up on something or just fumbled, who can really tell. And his little mouth went right into the corner of the built in drawer that I had left slightly ajar (too many table clothes!) After wiping away his bloody hands and face, it looked like just a lip wound, but upon further examination, it looked like his two front teeth were the second culprit. He screamed for a good half hour, without pausing. We tried books, we tried all forms of distraction, nothing worked, he was hurting. After force feeding some ibuprofen in him he quieted down a little, but still winced every time we tried to look at his teeth.
This morning he woke up and a nice fat lip, and his teeth still tender, so I made an emergency appointment to his dentist to just make sure we should be doing something to prevent something bad.
As we were getting ready to go, Ezra got the bathroom stool and started to carry it over to the sink, he loves the water. I told him (from the shower) Ezra, let's not get anymore owies, put the stool back please. He has fallen from that very stool, and I figured one mouth injury is enough. But, as he was trying to put it back up right, he dropped it. Right onto his toe. You know how when cartoon characters writhe on the floor? yeah, he did that. Crying and holding his foot and rolling all over the floor. What in the world! I had him show me his toe and already it was turning purple/black. You know when you slam your finger in the car door and the nail turns all funky? It looks like that. And boy is it touchy. He rubbed his toe against my knee this morning, I didn't even feel it, it was that lightly and he burst into tears.
We went in to our appointment, (after calming down a wee bit and falling asleep with Mama in the Ergo ie lifesaver) apparently all four of his top front teeth are loose and she wants him on a "soft" diet for the next two weeks to heal the teeth properly. Since he doesn't really do smoothies, I am trying to think of other things besides yogurt for this poor guy to be eating! Which doesn't really matter, because he doesn't even want to eat that his mouth hurts too much.
So, this one is in the history books, and though I don't think any bones broke, and doesn't seem like we'll need stitches. It is going to be a long few days, if not weeks. Poor kid is even whimpering in his sleep!
Maybe this will make him think twice before he does anything too crazy, or maybe not.

Turkey'd Out

2011-11-25T14:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Black Friday! Anyone brave it? Me? No, no I was asleep, and happy to be there. What is it about the day of Thanks that makes one SO tired? I know the whole chemical in turkey thing, but I'm not a huge turkey person, so I don't eat all that much and I can tell you, by 4 o'clock I was about to fall into my pumpkin pie!
We had a lovely day, we celebrated with some church family and Adam's family, then braved the pelting rain for a dessert afterparty at the Kvale side...which was hilarious. We tried playing Taboo, which was fun and all, but with that large of a group it was mostly loud. Then Aunt Ev had the great idea to do cherades. Which, was the funniest thing, if only we'd captured it. We used the Taboo cards and so, we got to see Uncle Ken act out "Stool Pigeon." Oh, the tears. Then our game turned to a piano recital which was pretty pathetic...but there were some amazing talents tucked away that some of us had completely forgotten about. Free Willy, Canon in D...and then some of the rounds of first year piano. Hot crossed buns...you name it. Hilarious.
We skipped the Christmas movie, due to littlest not really getting a nap, and like I said, we were doing our best to keep our heads up and eyes awake! I'm pretty sure we were in bed before 10:30, maybe even 10? I didn't even look at the clock, just tucked in and zonked.
What a great year it's been for us, and so many things to be thankful for! The Lord has truly blest our little family, and I hope yours. Happy year of Thanks!

Soup

2011-11-22T17:05:00.000-08:00

If you had to be outside at all today, I hope that there was a hot bath waiting for you when you got home.
Yuck is just not enough of a word to describe the weather. We are having a storm, but it mostly is rain, and more rain, and a few more sprinkles of rain to top that rain off. Thankfully, I didn't have to be anywhere, and I am still in my PJ's. Yup, by the time I thought of taking a shower it was around 2pm, and at that point, I thought...I just might wait for Daddy to come home, and then maybe I'll take a bath without a two year old wanting to join in.
This morning Adam picked up our CSA, so dinner came in a box. I am making soup that has fall veggies and some chicken in it. The house smells fall like. Wish I had thought to make some crusty rustic bread to dip in. If ever there were a day for soup, it is most definitely today.

Inspiration

2011-11-19T20:14:00.000-08:00

Every time I come over to my own blog, I run away and read everyone else's. I am dry when it comes to things to blog about! It shames me that it's been nearly a month since I've been in this dusty space.
We've been surviving.
A few highlights:
Ezra counts to ten.
The "project" needs one more piece and then paint and THEN I'll unveil it.
Thanksgiving is next week?!
It's freezing here...literally. The low today, 22, the high? 39. Brr.
These next two weeks I'm working quite a bit, which is prolly good since it's nearly Christmas- we'll see how I feel about it end of the next few weeks.
In short,
No. idea. What. we have been doing for a month.

Queue

2011-10-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

Directions are a funny thing, so many times they can be interpreted differently than the directer expected.
A two year old is no exception, especially when that two year old is a little on the OCD side of things. And when you give as vague a comment as clean up your toys.
This is what you may end up with.

We laughed, and thought, that was weird. Until he did it again a few days later.

Funny how their little brains work! And how funny that he thought that lining them up was much more cleaned up, than in the basket that they belong.

Yesterday he even separated his tomatoes from his pasta. When should I be worried?! I just may have a mini Monk on my hands. Maybe we should start some pre-detective work to get him ahead in life.

Holiday Treat

2011-10-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. I'm not trying to push Christmas any sooner. In large part because I have not bought a single gift yet, so that makes me already way behind. But also, it's just now Fall here!
BUT.
Yesterday we went to the Holiday Festival at the DOME. It's fun, lots to see, a lot of crafts and things...some a little out-dated. Like the "Oven Dress" dishtowel. Yes, that was there. The Direct TV guys trying to pitch to us a we are happily walking by, and avoiding telling them that we generally find enough time to waste in front of the tube without having 187 channels. The best part though, this year and last, is probably meeting ZuZu. The real in person ZuZu. And though she is no longer a little tiny girl asking to have her flower pasted back together, she is just as sweet now as she is portrayed to be in "It's a Wonderful Life."
She chatted with us a great deal and told us stories, I think we could have all listened to her for ages. And, since this movie will most likely be part of my sons childhood as it was his Daddy's she let us get a picture.

You are welcome to get back to your pumpkin spice latte's, before you get too excited for the holidays!

Finiss

2011-10-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

Imagine I say that in french. K.

So, when I learned to knit two winters ago, my first project was a scarf, the ultimate learning. And it went smoothly, and I can tell you I think there is only one mistake on the whole thing. I thought to myself then, if this is all knitting is, I will knit a sweater. I searched a long and found one that wasn't too complex, and set out to knit me a sweater. Yeah...it was not that easy.
After ripping it out three or four times, I do not know, I finally got a hold of the raglan style sleeve down, which once you get the hang of it...makes sense. I wasn't the experienced knitter I thought I was!
The sweater that took me two years to knit is finally done. Thank goodness. I was tired of seeing it in my bag...now it's on my person. I even found the most perfect buttons at Joann's on Monday with my 50% off sale coupon. Uh huh. Gotta love it!

Feels good to have that one finally off my needles. And maybe I will get a picture of the Ez showing off his coat, finally cool enough to wear it out now!

Treasure Hunt

2011-10-05T07:52:00.000-07:00

After decicedly being lazy yesterday, I actually got a lot accomplished. Finished a few projects, which I'll show you laater. (tired of hearing me say that yet?!) Had a wonderful coffee date with my dear friend Hilary, which was wayy over due, and made pizza, from scratch. Booya.
Today I wanted to show you what I did a few weeks ago when our weather was still pleasant enough to get the yard work done. I decided that my Blueberry bushes were not exactly in the most opportune spot for blueberrying, and so I made a blueberry bog. Which consisted of digging up sod. Whilst I was happily, sweatily burning calories, I came across many-a find.

Spark plugs, the plastic letter F (not pictured), beads, silk flowers, a peanut, metal shavings, and some ribbon. A few things I cannot tell you what exactly they are, a faucet nozzle, and a panel to something. It was quite the exciting dig.
And now I have a Blueberry Bog that will hopefully be pleasantly full of blueberries for years to come.

Sluggin it Tuesday

2011-10-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

Why do Tuesdays always feel like my Monday? Seems every Tuesday comes a hollerin' and I pull the covers up over my face just for a few more minutes.
Today, was no exception.
Adam leaves for Men's group dark and early, I roll over and try to pretend I didn't hear the alarm, or the shower. And without fail, a certain little person, will if hear of any sign of awake life, spring out of bed and start his morning with a million and twelve requests to which I usually say, lay down and snuggle, not yet. Now, some days that lay down and snuggle is very pleasant, playing with my hair, little kisses to my face, and even sometimes a little more snooze for the both of us.
This morning, well, this morning was a pull Mama's little hairs out from the nape of her neck, wipe snot on her pillow, ask for milk sixteen times, help open Mama's eyes, kick Mama in the gut with freezing feet...pretty much not anything like a good snuggled up morning. All this after I'd taken a Tylenol PM last night. That stuff is always hard for me to wake up from.
See, my men folk are sick. Just a cold, but last night was not a good night to be the last one to fall asleep. With Mr. snoring, and littles coughing up a lung down the hall, the only healthy person in the house was wide-O-wake. I do have to pause and say that I am so grateful that the Mr. is not usually a snorer. Thank you dear man, thank you. Also, thank you Tylenol PM's...my Tuesday/Monday morning greatly appreciates rest. Ah. I am sure does the family as well.
My Bestest is coming over the mountains from Couer d'Alene this evening. I'm stoked. I don't usually get to see her much, beings a whole 6 hours away and all. But when we do it's always fun. Not even letting the rain get me down, but keeping the coffee hot! Oh, and folding some of yesterdays gobs of laundry.
Raise your mugs to the sluggish days, and be more productive tomorrow.
I think that's my new Tuesday slogan.

"Dint-tisst"

2011-09-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

I saw a news special on children having to have major oral surgery for lack of dental care. I guess the number are climbing, alongside the childhood obesity rate, no doubt. And I know part of that is kids don't eat really great, and though my kid doesn't even like sweets, let alone juice, it scared me enough to schedule him for an appointment ASAP.
The day before we went in we watched a couple YouTube videos on trips to the dentist, even a Berenstein Bears episode about the dentist, practiced opening our mouths and counting our teeth. I felt very strongly about preparing my kiddo, especially since his uncle has many-a story about lifting full grown men off of his 5 year old self and having to be practically knocked out with even the word dentist. I knew that he would be apprehensive, because that is his personality when it comes to anything strange or new. If we did the whole Santa thing, he'd be the kid panicking over the old man's lap.
Once we got there however, he was great. The chair was cool, but he didn't want to sit in it, once we convinced him to sit (with Pup Pup) he did amazing! I was SO proud of him. He even let her floss his teeth! And Mr. Thirsty, the suction thing, was fun to suck on...he wouldn't let her take it out.
I did think of bringing the camera, but then tossed the idea. Our camera is big, and I wasn't sure how much hand holding I was going to have to do. But I did get a few with my phone, so you know...not exactly quality here.

After his check-up he got to squirt the water sprayer all over the room like a squirt gun, as Dr. Jenne called it. He kept aiming for the assistant, poor girl. Dr. Jenne made him a blue balloon dog, school of dentistry and circus tricks?! What a treat going to the dentist was! He also got to pick out a prize, a yellow Jr. Slinky...his new favorite thing.

All in all, I think that our first dental visit was pretty great. I didn't imagine it being this easy, but he was a real trooper, and the staff was AMAZING with him, it wasn't even a children's dentist. Next time I'm scheduling our appointments together, get 'em all done in the same trip.

Soy Sauce

2011-09-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday felt like I couldn't get my brain in order. All Day.
We first had school out at the farm, which went pretty well. Let me just give a small example from school. One of the children was handed to me after music class with a rush "Ms. Erika, please take care of this" while handing me a child. I sat him down on the steps outside the school room and asked him what was going on, was he having a hard time obeying...he looked at me with his big brown eyes and said "my finger is bleeding." "oh! yikes, okay...first aid!" I thought he was in trouble.

I had invited my brother and his wife over for dinner and a game, then looked up a recipe that I'd wanted to try. I had almost all the ingredients, except I didn't. My Mom is out of town, and so I thought she might have a few of the things I needed. She had something, but not what I needed. So we ran to the store to get the extra items on my list. Except the list was in my head...heh.
We got home and I started to go about getting dinner prepped.
And then I realized I didn't have the essential ingredient. Soy sauce. You can't skip soy sauce, you can't even substitute it with something like soy sauce, because there isn't one. Ugh.
Instead of loading Ez back into the car, I asked him if he wanted to take the wagon or the stroller down to Grandma's. He said Stroller. Great. I opened the garage door from my purse, locked the doors and walked outside. As soon as I'd closed the door I realized that Adam keeps the door from the garage to the house locked. And my keys were inside. Ugh. Since I had the garage open, I had access to Adam's tools, tried to pick the lock, tried to take the door knob off...I would make a terrible burglar. All this happening two hours from Adam even coming home. Thank the good Lord it wasn't raining, it was actually sunny!
Instead of wallowing in my stupidity, we walked down to my folks, with the kid on my back since we couldn't get to the stroller. Got to my Mom's and remembered that we had given her a key to our house a long time ago. Only problem was, last year those keys were in her truck when it got stolen, and I couldn't remember if we'd given her another set or if she had gotten it back when they found her car a few months later. So a call to FL where they're enjoying a vacation. My Mother has keys to a lot of places, and she keeps them in a lot of places...so the adventure of finding one that might look like my key was, exciting. So we took the one that she and I thought was most likely mine, stole her stroller and walked back almost forgetting the soy sauce in the process. The whole reason for my locking myself out of the house.
Success! We made it in alive, and just in time to get dinner going. It was a hit, and I think I'll make it again sometime.
Maybe next time I'll actually make a list of what I need, and uh, keep my keys on me.

Sneak Peek: Construction/HomeImprovement

2011-09-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

So I told you awhile ago that we are doing a little project. And I honestly assumed it would be done by now, but we aren't able to get some of the finishing things into our small compact cars...so it's nearly done. I just thought I would show you a few in progress pictures, mostly to prove to you that we are doing stuff 'round here.

Even Ezra is getting his tools in it, which he thinks is a huge help, and we think is funny.

After nailing in a few he says, as he pulls up his safety goggles. "There ya go Mama."

Being a Boy aka Being Two

2011-09-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

You would think that after walking for over a year, that the injuries involving things like walking would slim down dramatically. But, something about jumping and running has entered us into a whole new realm of injuries, that I try to explain, would not happen if he'd just slow down a little.

This one happened while running on the front walk towards the front steps, not exactly sure how it happened. The first thing I checked were his teeth, and the inside of his mouth didn't even bleed! He just took the skin right off his upper lip and a little bit on the underside of his nose. Did I mention it was on a Sunday afternoon?! Nice way to show up to worship with a bloody face. Also known as "the Hitler"

Of course it took a while to heal, since a certain someone liked to lick it...nothing like the taste of an open wound.

Gone Fishing

2011-09-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

For Ezra's birthday he got a real fishing pole from Cliff. As a treat to go with the pole he got to go on his very first "fishing trip." At the end of Summer the local pool lets the chlorine burn up and fill it with trout, and as a fundraiser allow people to come in and catch 3 fish!
He loved to reel, but not so much catch the fish. Them being squirmy grossed him out, as you can tell through the pictures. But I think I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

For dinner we all got to eat a little bit of the days catch. Being trout it wasn't very great, as I am told. I don't do fish. But it was fun!
Ezra really was funny with it all. Once the fish was in the bag he kept wanting to see it. "Mama! It's night night?" Sure, son. The great sleep, goodbye trout.

Home again, home again jiggity jig jig

2011-09-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

I think that's how the rhyme goes.

So, we're back! It was quick, but worth it.
Kinda last second I called one of Ali's dear friends Mary, who just moved this side of the mountains and asked if she would be interested in making a quick stop by in Moscow. She hadn't been back since they moved here early this summer. And, the drive is so much more fun with someone else in the car! She was excited and we threw the two toddlers in the back a trekked our way East. Leaving our hubs to work and fend for themselves.
Besides accidentally buying SUPER gas half way there, the trip went without a hitch. The whole gas thing was my fault, going with the cheaper place means that you are also paying for the lack of good signage...ehem. At least it wasn't diesel or something. And I'm sure the car was grateful for ~~astronomical~~ special gasoline. I'm just thinking of it as the cars Starbucks run.

We arrived to warm dinner, thanks to my Mom. And Ma and I kinda did a tag team. After dinner she headed home, made me feel like the relief pitcher or something! Not that Ali needed me. She's doing SO good, I was totally impressed at how calm and collected she was the whole time, with people in and out, a baby who is still learning the ropes of feeding...I bawled my eyes out the 3rd day of my sons life, and every second he wouldn't latch. But not her! She's a good Mama.
After an evening of cooing over Samuel, we left the new family on their own for the first time. No Mom, no sister...just the Mama, Daddy and Baby. They lived. And I'm certain it was nice to have their house back! Ali's friend Bess graciously opened her home to us, and fed us and was absolutely wonderful. And we were just a few minutes away from the baby.
My best friend Becca came down from Coure'd'Alene to visit us too! It was good to see her, we hadn't seen each other in a few months, and to say the least, was a much needed catch up. It helped that I brought her SIL and niece with me!

So basically my short trip consisted of taking care of my sister, and hanging out with her baby. Visiting some old friends, and walking around my old college grounds. As well as making good time with new friends. Nothing like a baby to bring people together.
My Mother had requested a good picture of her Grandbabies together, so we tried a photoshoot with a two year old and a newborn. It was kinda like a joke. But we did get a couple.

But then I got side tracked....and took like 30 pictures of this handsome face:

We kept trying...

It just wasn't worth the effort. Maybe when one of them has better head control, and the other more sit stillable control?!
The last morning we were there, our host, and some of Ali's friends put together a brunch. It was delicious-o. I didn't even have to stop for lunch on the way home because I was so full from all the treats these ladies put together. And, it counted as Ali's first outing with Samuel all by herself. She was even on time.

There were lots of kids between us!

So, we said our goodbyes and thankyous and hit the road.

Ezra had such a fun time with all the children at brunch that he slept about 4 hours of the drive home. It was quiet in that car!
And now I can't wait for the next time we get to see our new little guy.

Laboring Weekend

2011-09-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

Hello y'all. How was the long weekend for you guys?? Ours was very eventful. First off, we worked. Yes, I know we didn't get to enjoy the whole idea of having 3 days in-a-row off like the rest of America. But, that's okay...who can shout out weekend pay? Yes. I agree, worth it. Besides working, we were on pins and needles the WHOLE day Saturday. You see, we were anticipating the arrival of a very special little guy. Who, defying all predictions was actually little. And he arrived, just 5 hours short of his "due" date. Nice of him 'eh?

I'nt he CUTE! Oh. My. Word. I cannot wait to see him.
Then on Sunday we had a very relaxing day at home, after church of course. It was lovely to hang out as a family. We even got the rest we really needed.
In true Labor day fashion we picked a project and went to town. It isn't finished yet, because we had dinner plans, but I am SO excited for it. Gonna have to keep you waiting, another blog post. We ended the "weekend" at dinner with a co-worker of Adam's all the way up in Renton! It was lots of fun, and now the week to catch up on. Tomorrow I am heading out to go see the new baby. Did I mention how much I cannot wait?!

-Thinking Outside the Lines-

2011-09-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

Today I went through Ezra's room, including his closet. Phew. That only took two years. We got rid of some toys, and some extra clothes, and I moved a dresser into his closet and hid half his toys. It has already helped him play with one thing at a time. Like this evening.

He did puzzles. Concentrated play!

So, you aren't supposed to be able to put this puzzle together any other way. My child, obviously thinks it has a couple ways to go.
Here's to more concentrated play, and keeping his room a little more tamed.

Parenting Lesson #6,407

2011-08-30T18:59:00.000-07:00

Since getting his easel from his best friends for his birthday, we've left it set up in the living room and he's been making art all day long. Unfortunately, not always on the paper of the easel...
Do not leave your laptop near or around the crayons.

I'm assuming it comes off.

Mowing- Ezra Style

2011-08-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

So, we gotta work on straight lines, keeping the mower on the ground and not going into the flowerbeds. Other than that, he cannot wait until he is old enough to play with the real "noisy" as he calls it.

~Hilary Turns a Year Older~

2011-08-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

In true summer fashion we partied outside. Adam and I lit the patio up and set up a long table. We were kinda going for the "Parenthood" style, (it's a TV show, not that amazing, but they have an amazing outdoor eating set up) Anyways- it worked out splendidly and I can't wait to throw another garden party! Hopefully it will be nice enough for Adam's birthday in a few weeks that we can pull off another evening under the stars.
It was so warm out that we stayed out there eating and drinking until 11pm. Thankfully most the kiddos went down for bed without a hitch, even baby Caleb slept soundly in the swing next to us as we laughed and chatted.
Thanks Hil for letting us throw you a party.

Happy Birthday Hilary Grace~ We are all so fortunate to have you as a friend (and cousin!)
And you make an excellent excuse to party all evening long.

Celebrating 2

2011-08-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the birthday party for little E. And it was wonderful. The weather was perfect, even a little warmer than the 78 expected, but not cake melting hot. Thank goodness. I did cupcakes instead anyways, so much easier for an outdoors party, no cake cutting.

Ezra got so many great gifts! He has some awesome friends and family. He loved all of his gifts and has been repeatedly bringing me his new toys "Mama! I got dis!" He's so happy to show me all his cool loot. What a spoiled kid!

Ezra got a fishing pool from Cliff, so he got some practice off the driveway with Grandpa Zip.

The bouncy horse from Grandma G! Mama had one just like it when she was little too.

Baby Caleb~

Practicing some baseball! Mima sure knows what this little boy loves.

Mostly enjoying frosting, with a little cupcake underneath.
We had a great picnic style food setup, and the kids all got to enjoy the new toys as well as the sandbox. The adults soaked up the sun, and drank up the ice tea.

We're ready to go to the pool! Hurry up Mama and Daddy~

It was a very fun day, we even ended up at the pool after naptime...a great cool off for all.

Summah

2011-08-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think as I click through my bloglist, that it should be a rule to take the summer off. SO. Much. Going. On.

I had hoped that last week I was going to work less and therefor garden more. Unfortunately, I have this weakness about saying yes to coming in when they 'need' me. They happened to need me almost everyday.
We did get to be outside and enjoy this lovely weather a little. I know everyone (okay most my FB friends) have been complaining about the "NO Summer" but I cannot complain. I mean, 75 is nice. And waking up to a sunny room? Love it. Even though I am not dying to jump in a lake to cool off, I am enjoying playing outside. It would be nice if my tomatoes would turn red already, but honestly...I don't eat 'em so I guess the only one suffering from orange tomatoes is Adam.
Other than work, we have been having time together as a family. It has been a nice time to regroup. Sometimes our schedule gets so filled that our family fellowship gets strung all over.
Adam and I started the TV series Mad Men. It's been very interesting, and it has brought a lot of conversations about those days, and our days. It's very clearly written with a feminist flare...you are suppose to think of men as dogs a lot. Which a lot of the times they are being. I love the outfits, and how everyone always dressed for the occasion, if only my wardrobe was more fun!
That's been our summer of late. Today was Ezra's two yr check up, he's finally on the weight chart!! Barely, but he is, which he hasn't been since 3 months old. This weekend we are having the party, for his birthday, not the weight gain... both worth celebrating though. So, we are putting that together in our minds, not that it's going to be a big shindig, but lots of people over either way. It's supposed to be 78. I am happy, last year at his party, it was 105. Yes, that's right I said 105. It was miserable. So, this year should be much more enjoyable. That, and the cake hopefully will not melt like last year. Heh.

So now he is 2

2011-08-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marks the birth of our firstborn. I have so many things to say, like "whaaatt?!" "How in the WORLD did that happen so fast?!" "I think it's been forever" "It was just yesterday..."
You know, all those types of things. And they are all true. But mostly I just thank the Lord that we have had such a wonderful experience being the parents to such a sweet boy. Though, his adventurous nature is coming out in full force, he still has such a sweet disposition, that I wouldn't trade for the world. I hope and pray that it isn't just a 'baby' phase, but that he always is sweet and caring. I have many more hopes, sure...but you know. I could go on forever about those.
So, yesterday, we started the day out with opening his first present from Great Grandma Miliziano-he was SO excited to open something, it was hilarious.

Then he got a book from Mama and Daddy, a Lino print book about Noah's Ark (his name, remember) that Mama would if she had the heart cut the pages out of and frame, but I cannot destroy this book, it's too beautiful all put together.

Daddy decided we should have birthday pancakes. So, we did. After my first failed attempt and making a "2" which I did backwards...and burned. We worked out one that mostly looked like it's number origin and ate together with powdered sugar! Daddy had to go off to work, so Ezra and I got going on his special day.

After breakfast while Mama got ready, Ezra got to watch PBS. He would do this all day everyday if allowed. So that was special. Then we read lots of stories, especially the new one from Great G'ma M.

Then because we were out of eggs, and diapers, we made a quick trip to the Wal-Mart. Ehh. He got to pick out his cake mix (funfetti) and frosting (chocolate with sprinkles.) BUT, instead of just rushing in and rushing out, I decided to let the birthday boy get out of the cart and we walked up and down all the toy aisles. Boy, was that a hit. Yes, I'm a cheap Mom. But hey, the kid has more toys than he knows what to do with, and it was fun getting to ~~lust~~ touch all the things he didn't even know existed. He made sure that every tractor and every truck and every ball got his petting hand on it. It was quite hilarious, "Oh Mama! Look!! Tractor!" "Oh MAN! TUCKT!" I think I could have left the store and come back a few hours later, and he would still be there petting all the toys. He also found the V-Tech aisle....SO many buttons to push, and songs and all of them have a "TRY ME" sticker on them, and to be sure, he did try all of them. He even did a few dances in the middle of the aisle to the songs, which made us laugh. All that to say, I think we have a new birthday tradition. Hang out in the toy aisles. We also played with the balls that are out, bouncing them, watching the lights all go on. Those things are mini seizures. The only hard part was when after 45 minutes, it was coming mighty close to nap time...and we had to say goodbye. Thankfully it wasn't a melt down, I said time to go, and he said "No thank you Mama." Gotta give it to him for the manners.

After lunch and nap we tried a re-create. We live in the same neighborhood that I spent the first 8 years of my life. We know the person who lives in our old house. There is a giant old oak tree that I have my two year old picture in front of, so we thought, of course, how cute, we will do that same thing. This is all I could get. We will try again later....as long as he's still two right?!

We then took Grandma and Aunt Heidi to McDonald's for "the birthday cone!" You may remember last year, he devoured it. And thinking he would love it this year as well, that's what we did! Turns out, when you're two, you don't care about anything if there is a playplace nearby. So, he only licked it a few times, ate my fries and wanting to climb up with the big kids. Thankfully, the playplace is designed for 3 and up, so he wasn't quite tall enough to get all the way up. Meaning I didn't have to climb all the way up after him. I was grateful. He did eat the rest of his cone in the car on the way home, so it wasn't a total waste of money.

And then it was winding down to the end of the day. Ezra got his present from Grandpa, a kick board for the pool, and a little magnadoodle.

As we got home, in true Ezra fashion, he tripped outside on the cement with no shoes. So, he also got two bloody toes for his birthday. And spent the evening tell me all about his owie.

Just before dinner we opened the package from Auntie Ali~ His very own silverware, the real kind, no plastic! He loves them.

I got an Ergo off craigslist too...loving it already. We spent the evening after dinner, Ergo-ed up and singing, and dancing....he was my little backup.
After a birthday bubble bath, he was tuckered out and tucked into bed. Such a full day Mama was exhausted, and so was he, because he was asleep within ten minutes.

So that is the story of the boy who turned two, on August the 9th, 2011.

July in photos

2011-07-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering what we've been up to. And to sum it up in one word: Summer.
And though I have very few pictures to prove it, I will fill up this space with the few that I do have.

We have been gardening, and harvesting!

That is FOUR cups of basil...we made pesto. Of course. I am about ready to do another batch, because I need to pick again. If you would like some basil...PLEASE let me know. We can only eat so much pesto.

We are still collecting peas. And they are a tasty snack. Also, Aubree told me to saute' them in butter for a few...yum! I took a giant bag to Reunion, but we didn't hardly put a dent in, so we are cramming peas into our daily diet.

Yes, those are ALL peas.

My little pea shucking pro.
We went on Family Reunion, and I didn't get my camera out once. Not once. Sad. But we had a splendid time.

We are borrowing Uncle Aaron's Lionel train set. And it's mostly what Daddy and Ezra do together when Daddy gets home from work. When Daddy is home, the basement becomes a train station. It has become part of the bedtime routine, and you can hear from down there the "Whooo whoo" of the Engine whistle. It's a pretty big hit.
When the sun wasn't out as much, we stayed home instead of going to Grandma's to swim (which I don't have pictures of either). We finally caught up on laundry from the vacations, and made cookies.

And eating them like they are going out of style. Yikes.

Did I mention we're harvesting?! Love Summer fruit. Even better to be getting it from our own yard! Next year I suspect we will have enough raspberries to make some jam. But this year we are eating all of them.
I better go get a few things done during nap time, we are planning on taking a walk later. Not too hot out and not too cold, perfect for a little exercise, and fresh air.

The Rug Doctor

2011-07-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

So, thanks for replying to my post last week guys. If I was your teacher that'd be an F. But I will move onward and keep on with Blogger.
On with the program~
When we bought our house the carpet was all new. Which I am extremely grateful for, because as you recall we were due to have a baby in a month. Also, when we first looked at the house, the carpet was SCARY. Who knows what it's life story was, I am sure that I DON'T want to know.
So we had new carpet, and it was lovely. Moving day we ordered pizza and I promtly dropped my piece on the oatmeal carpet....oh AND my coke. So it got seasoned into our life on the very first day we were there, before we even set up our bed.
As the past two years have gone by, the oatmeal was showing signs of dirt and spills and just looking grungy. My Mom and I had talked about renting a carpet cleaner, and getting both our houses done in one day. So I wasn't at all surprised to find a carpet cleaner in my entry-way when I got home from work last Friday.
WOW. That thing is awesome. It made us feel real good too, minus the blisters on my hands. The carpet is clean. Really really actually clean. And we poured out like 6 buckets of dirt water to prove it. Sad what a vacuum misses.
We are trying no shoes if we can avoid it, and see if that helps keep up the cleanliness. But if you come over and don't take your shoes off we won't be hounding on you. And I am most definitely not getting one of those signs by my door...or a door mat that says something about paws. Nope. Just gonna try it for us. Because goodness knows the dirt most likely coming from our very own sandbox, and toddler, and maybe my garden shoes. Maybe.
I know it's a little late for spring cleaning, but if you haven't Dr'd your rugs. I highly recommend it! Trust me you'll feel cleaner.

What about Wordpress??

2011-07-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Sooo, I know a lot of you have switched over to WP. For things like how annoying Blogger can be. I honestly have had little trouble with Blogger, but sometimes it makes my formatting all funny. Especially if I add a picture. Did you even notice? Is that just my husbands OCD creeping into my brain?

So shoot me thoughts. Especially those of you who've used both! And I mean, I am not really a REAL blogger, so it isn't like a hurry up because I am about to lose my domain name or anythings like that.
(though I really hope me asking the whole bloggy world about another blog site doesn't get me kicked off, then I might change my tune on your response speed.)
I am just looking for change 'round here.
That is all.
GO.

I blame The 4th

2011-07-07T15:36:00.000-07:00

Because it took place on one of my laundry days, and now...well, take a look for yourselves.

And I have about as much gumption to get it done as I do to think of something really worth blogging about.
So there.

Out came the SUN

2011-07-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

...and dried up all the rain. But we don't have spiders. Thank goodness.

That's pretty much what we've been doing. Playing OUTSIDE! Gardening, and just soaking it up. The Fourth is supposed to be nice round these parts. And it's been a few years since we can say that. Last year it was just a little overcast, and not very warm. So I am looking forward to our water view, and Ezra is old enough to really enjoy Aunt M's pool (that she fills with water from her Hot water tank) it's the good life y'all.

We have been walking a couple times down by the bay, and it's like my new favorite place. Real power walking opportunity. And then when we want to change it up, we take the walking bridge to the water and throw rocks into the Sound. That's Ezra's favorite part. These pictures are from a few weeks ago, but you can still tell it's a beautiful place.

Just so you can get a taste. If you wanna walk sometime let me know! Also, it's a great place for bikes for kids. TOTALLY smooth and flat, open and goes in a giant circle. We tried the bike one time, and by the end I was not only carrying a toddler but his bike too. So, we just might bring the stroller AND a bike sometime. A Mama can only do so much. I guess it added to my "workout." Bahaha. EhHemm.
Today is getting toasty out there, at least for WA. After little guy wakes up we're going down to my folks to dip in the pool. Ezra already thinks he can swim, which is fun and absolutely terrifying at the same time. At least he loves his life jacket...remember it's all about the accessories with this kid. So get outside, enjoy the air! Oh, and the SUN!

The day for Daddy

2011-06-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

To celebrate we had the whole family over for a BBQ. Hoping the weather wouldn't disappoint us didn't make it so. Though it didn't rain...it was chilly and not worth sitting outside. We crammed the men folk of the Skrivan family (Mom is visiting the newest grand-baby in GA) in with the Gronewold clan. Both my brothers and their ladies came, we missed the girl half of the family! Heidi on a mission trip and Ali living too far away. But that's alright, I don't know that we could have fit another body comfortably in our dining room or uncomfortably for that matter.
I can't say anything particularly exciting about the day, I had Adam's nice Fossil watch fixed, the band had broken and the battery died. He was pretty surprised! And it didn't break our budget. Which is even nicer. Nothing like having no money- getting a gift to show your love and appreciation, as well as keep the cheap junk out of your house can be tricky!
I would like to end on another cheery note, as I washed the dishes tonight I fell in love with my Fiesta ware again! Doesn't this just brighten up your evening? And when you have plenty of washing to do, you may as well enjoy what you're looking at!

Child of the Light

2011-06-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

I was singing to Ezra tonight, in which he joined a long. The song that popped into my head was "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light." And so we were singing, and it almost brought me to tears thinking of him being that. He is very much a child, and very much a child of THE light. There are days when it is hard work to parent, but if everyday I realize and show and treat him as though he is a child of the light, I think it will be that much easier!
Sunday we witnessed the baptism of a young boy that after four years of hoops and rings to jump through his family was able to adopt him from Africa and bring him to his home. And then he was brought into the home of the church, and it was beautiful to hear his little voice answer that he loved Jesus. The week before we got to witness our dear friends second son Caleb join in the covenant. The beauty that baptism is, the life after is so much more important! I think that I will be singing this song to Ezra more often, I would love for him to hum and sing along some day, with his own voice and more importantly his own heart.

I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

I want to walk as a child of the Light
I want to follow Jesus
God set the stars To give light to the world
The Star of my life is Jesus.

Refrain
In Him there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The lamb is the Light of the city of God
Shine in my heart Lord Jesus.

I want to see the Brightness of God
I want to look at Jesus
Clear Son of righteousness shine on my path
And show me the way to the Father.

I'm looking for the coming of Christ
I want to be with Jesus
When we have run, with patience, the race
We shall know the joy of Jesus.

How can you picture a child of light without pictures?

Fat Soul

2011-06-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this post by Wondergirl...it is exactly how I have been feeling this past Month or so, but she has already said it much much better than I could. So read on for a happy and FAT soul.

A walk to the park

2011-06-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

Thursdays are Adam's late night at work, and it's all a Mama can do to keep busy in the later afternoon/evening. Ezra has finally hit the age where it really does matter when he goes to bed, and so he doesn't get to stay up until Daddy gets home, most nights anyways. Otherwise the evening is full of me getting frustrated and him melting...it's a bad combo for us all.
Because Adam isn't home at dinner, it means Ezra and I are filling our time with a puzzle, or yard work, playing in the sand box extra long, or walks to the park. This week we walked to the park and I brought the camera. We also walked the neighborhood and ended up at Grandma's house, of course.

He is getting so big and able to do a lot of the climbing himself. His favorite part is the slides, and I think if they were a little less like climbing a mountain for him, he would do them more...but I guess it's a plus for me, since he wears out quickly! Next time I will prolly not let him wear sandals though, the big toys are in sand, and that means half the time he is saying "owie...sewws!" So we sit and get the little pebbles out between his toes. I do very much love having a park so close to the house though, makes it easy to get out of the house and not have to pack up in the car, or spend money for that matter!

Follow-up

2011-06-09T13:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted, for a few reasons but mainly, how can I, after Adam's wonderful post about Grandpa and the glories that are to come in this Christian life; post about the frivolities of our daily life?! But, I guess we don't want to, nor should we only meditate on the death that is certain, we should and ought to be living our life to God's glory...and as Grandpa George would say "make sure you are walking with the Savior."
It is easy for me to grump and complain on a forum that is nearly entirely mine. In this blog I can say whatever it is I would like! I am thankful that my husband brings this into perspective for me, I am the explosions in this relationship...or as those Hertz commercials. I am for seriously the Gas, and he is by no doubt the Brake. And that is why we work so well together, I get him to do things he wouldn't ever try or dare, and he reins me in but not in an over-controlling baring way. ANYways, all that to say that I will probably mostly talk about the little trivial things of our daily life. And I hope that Adam will add more to the blog, because clearly he is a more thoughtful and purposeful writer than I. Now onto the program.
Lately we have been up to a lot of scheduling, or re-scheduling?! I am not for sure what to call it. Re-grouping! Yes, re-grouping. You see I am finally working less, and that means I have time to actually do housework on a regular basis. I now have set days that I do laundry. Monday and Thursday, if you care. And this makes my life SO happy, because I am not trying to cram as much into my one day off that I possibly can, which also means I am not folding 7 loads of laundry in one day. That is exhausting. I am here to tell you. So, my schedule is working well, and it's also helping me feel on top of the rest of things. Keeping the house clean for about two weeks has made me a whole new person. I think it started with the basement re-vamp/over-haul. Y'all should see the garage sale/donate pile! It makes me excited just thinking about it, but I hate looking at it. It's all I can do to NOT just run it to the donation station everytime I see it, because I just want it gone gone gone. Maybe we will see if we can sell some of it first, make a little mullah then it can be gone gone gone. It's a wonderful feeling purging, getting rid of all of the things around that have nothing to do but make more mess for you, and make more irritation.
Little ham turned 22 months today. I cannot believe it. That means he will be two years old in two months. TWO! My oh my has he been an adventure. His personality is more and more becoming it's own, I love him. He loves me too, which is an amazing feeling. Nothing in the whole wide world like a child's loving kiss and hug, I only wish, because I know it cannot be forever, that I could bottle it up and save it for when he is 12, and smells like a teenage boy, and is not his sweet charming baby faced 22 month self. I guess that is another reason for this blog, so that I can look back and fondly recall his slobber kisses, and his incessant calling "Mama?" whenever I am out of his sight.
He still has few words, but it seems as though he is trying very very hard to mimic. But if all else fails he will just call it a tractor which sounds very much like "twaktur" which still cracks me up. Today three separate times without any prompting when I started doing something he didn't like (tickling or handing him something) he very politely responded "no sank sue" we are making progress! At least he is polite. It's been nice to not hear "NO!" which you know, makes any kid look like a twit even if they aren't.
His favorite accessory is a hat. Even if it's a helmet, we basically can't go or do much without a hat. I had been looking for little boy hats that weren't atrocious, I mean, who wants to put a giant Sponge Bob on there sweet little boys head?! Also, I am not a huge fan of character stuff, I know my kid likes it, and so do most kids, but the more simple the better for me personally, and him too since he can't choose what he wears. Yet. And just when I had nearly given up, Sarah gave us another huge box of clothes with two very adorable hats. They have been worn ever since! Thanks Sarah!!
He is my pride and joy, and my comfort as well. I could not imagine my life without him. With the loss of two babies, he has been my forever baby. And every night that I tuck him into bed, no matter how long and hard the day, or how much I wanted to sell him to the zoo at the time, he is so sweet and mine, and how could I thank God for him enough?! He is my blessing and his time is flying by faster than I can keep track. Two years old y'all! How blessed are we?!
Here are some pictures to celebrate his 22nd month of life...pictures are hard to come by, anytime he is doing anything noteworthy, I get the camera, he jumps up and gets as close to the lens as possible and says "cheese!!" so...that is why I am a horrible picture taker, and that is why they are mostly of just his face! Please notice, he has a hat on in everysingleone.

He had spilled his cheerios in his wagon-scooter, so instead of cleaning them up, he set up his own buffet.

See what I mean? how to photograph a toddler...oh, and yes. I was still wearing pj's.

Catch Mama if you can, oh and make sure the lens is focused!

A style ALL his own.

Fake crying to Daddy, because Mama won't let him touch the camera lens. There was a whole series of these, but this one was the funniest.

So smug, and totally trying to TOUCH THE LENS AGAIN!

Cheese head.

On Death

2011-06-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

"He Loved the Savior"

A year ago today, at about 8:30 AM, I received the call that I had been expecting for weeks and even months, that my grandfather, George Miliziano, passed away from his relatively short battle with liver cancer.

I somewhat dreaded this day, a year later. I believed that this would reopen a painful wound that had taken me a few months to heal. I worried that I would be ineffective at work, distracted at home, and teary every time I thought of it. I was remarkably close with my grandfather, rekindling a very close relationship that I had when I was younger (more on that later), and I truly felt the loss when he was finally gone. However, today came, and I had an immense peace about the day. I didn't forget (how could I?) and I wasn't trying to be tough. I just had peace.

When I was younger, my grandfather was my best friend. We always looked forward to nights that we would go over to his and my grandmother's house and spend the night. He was funny, but we never questioned when he was being serious. He was as hard-working as anyone I had known, and he expected the same for us, but within our own limits. He would pay us way too much to clean up rocks in his yard or paint his deck, but we knew that what made him excited wasn't that he had a newly painted deck, but that we were earning some money and learning a valuable lesson at the same time. He spent hours with me when I was struggling with my memorization homework and made a personal investment in me to ensure that I did well in all that I set forth.

However, more than anything, he cared about our salvation. He constantly asked us, "Do you love your grandpa?" to which we would promptly say "Yes!" He then asked, "Do you love your Savior?" "Yes!" "Then that's all that I need," he would say. It wasn't something that we had to think about to associate with him, it was just a given that he cared deeply for our souls. This was something that I would take with me through his whole life and beyond.

He and my grandmother moved to Georgia when I was in high school, and our relationship started to drift. He would always be around, and I was busy. I went to college just an hour and a half from my grandparents, but I am ashamed now of how little a priority I made visiting them. I got married, and though we visited a little more than I did before I was married, we moved back to Tacoma without more than a handful of visits. However, one day when I was at work, I received a call from my mother, and the first thing she said was, "Grandma and grandpa were in a car accident. Grandpa's alive." My first thought was, The most you can say is that he's alive? That sounds like he's not much else. It turned out that he had broken his pelvis and was going to be having a series of surgeries, and he would be in rehab for a few weeks (it turned out to be a few months after all). Just weeks before, he had danced over Skype at the announcement that Erika was pregnant with Ezra. He wouldn't dance again.

Over the following weeks and months, he entered a deeper depression than I had ever experienced. As he was utterly alone most of the time, I made it a point to call him every single day. I had never been closer with him. I don't have much to say about this time. Our conversations were almost exactly the same every day, but I prayed for him over the phone, which I know was an immense ministry to him. He told me that he would never forget this for the rest of his life.

When I received the call that the cancer was back (after having fought and won a battle with breast cancer a couple of years before), I was discouraged. When I received the next call that he has six months to live, I was devastated (it ended up being only three). When we flew out to visit him, I was sad. When I went home, I was scared. And, three months later, when I got the call the day after his 82nd birthday that he had died, I was numb. But, why, a year later, was I in utter peace?

The program for his memorial service describes his upbringing in Bronx, NY, his role as an Aeornautical engineer, his involvement with designing the ladder for the lunar landing on Apollo 11, his time in Italy, and his time at Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Gulfstream. However, I know that of all of that, his two accomplishments that he is most proud of were as follows:

George is survived by his sister Angelica Cardillo, brother Sal Miliziano, his wife rosa Miliziano, his two daughters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren...

George Miliziano will be remembered by his family as a man of great wisdom and humility... and most of all, [he] loved the Savior.

He had always told us that he simply wanted his headstone to read "He loved the Savior," and though it looked like this was not going to a possibility at the national cemetery, he did get his wish. And, for more than almost anyone I know, this was true. That is why I am at complete peace today. The reality that he is in heaven is stronger than the reality that he is not here on earth. It is something he longed for, something he always spoke of, and something that he couldn't wait for at the end. I am very excited to see him again in the home he longed for, but I very much wish that I could glimpse how joyful he is now.

Death is not pretty. It wasn't meant to be. If it was, Christ's conquering it would not be so wondrous. Grandpa's death certainly was not glamourous or romantic, but it was tragic, slow, and painful to the end. But the passage to eternal life can only be all that much sweeter for those who suffered on earth and longed so dearly for eternity. There is nothing more true then that the Lord sent His Son to die for us so that we might live, and because of this we may now live in peace.

On my mind...

2011-05-31T16:35:00.000-07:00

I would do a lot of things for a Starbucks right now.

I just bought Weed'N"Feed for my WHOLE yard, and though it was a good price, it makes me feel too guilty buying myself a luxury drink.

Dandelions are the bane of my existence, and I plan on winning the battle, that pricey Weed'N'Feed better work. My fingers are gettin' tired of pulling them out of my lawn...and my fingers perminently smell like dandelion. Ew.

Sometimes, just after putting the kid down for a nap, I want to wake him up because I am bored, and he is more entertaining than daytime TV, or Facebook, or just about anything else I would be doing right now. Instead I will bore you with my randoms, 'cuz he does need his sleep.

Today is the last day of our Costco membership. We aren't renewing. I am excited, and a little afraid. Part of me wants to binge shop and blow the whole budget, what will I do without Costco?!?! I will save money. Truthfully.

I will probably be buying a Costco pizza for dinner, because it's the last time for a long while, and...I have to return the other bag of Weed'N'Feed we bought the other day, it was CHEAPER at the Walmart. That's my excuse.

There is a certain little lady that is 3 days past her due date. I want to meet her. Pray for my SIL...because something tells me she is ready to meet her as well.

This wet spring makes me irritated. But, my yard is looking good and that makes me not as irritated.

Seriously, the kid has been asleep for 3 and half hours, would it be wrong to wake him up?!

I greatly enjoy Christian fellowship, and am glad that I have friends that throw it together. Also that they let me come.

He's awake! I heard him singing in his room...think I'll go and play. Hope I didn't bore you too much!

Anniversary Trip; 5 years and counting...

2011-05-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

I told you I'd tell you what we did. We went to the beach! Now before you get all excited about sun-bathing and margaritas please note, it was the NW beaches, it rained the whole time. But we are not or were not at all discouraged we expected that and it made it that much more cozy in our room with our very own fireplace.
Thursday morning we took the long but lovely drive to the Oregon coastline and stayed at the beautiful Ocean Lodge on Cannon Beach. Let me tell you all it was a lovely lovely place. And we talked of when we could come again, even with a kiddo, it was great.

Our room though, not an ocean front view, was lovely...and clean and comfortable and just feet away from the actual ocean, that was pretty neat. Being so nasty out when we first arrived we settled in with hot coffee, homemade cookies (which were provided all day at the lodge!) and a game of Scrabble, basking in the warmth of our fireplace, not the sun...we don't know him.

Just a side note to this picture, I was able to use the word Jungle on a triple word score, ending in the highest Scrabble game I have ever played...just a little nerd nugget there. Onward to our trip...
We then decided to hit the "town" which was mostly art galleries, kite shops, and a few toy stores. It was cute and quaint, and we found a pub that looked pretty good to eat at.

Beer battered onion rings, this is only half of them, I forgot to take a picture when the heaping pile arrived. But they are making me salivate already and it's not even ten in the morning. SOO good. We also sampled their Blackberry Beauty beer, and it was delicious, we didn't buy more, but right now I'm wishing we had! Yummy.

The next morning after our amazing continental breakfast, there was glimpse of sun, or clear skies, so we took advantage and walked the beach down to Haystack Rock.

It's a huge rock! Notice my NON-bikini attire. But it wasn't that bad at all. I got sand on my toes and it was nice to enjoy a break in the rain.

It was a short but sweet vacation, and very much needed. I am looking forward to many more years. And joyful to be able to look back and celebrate for the five years we've been given.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Rain...AGAIN.

2011-05-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

Even when the rain comes pouring down... some of us still know how to rock it.

So, yeah the sun is on vacation. Again. But have no fear...we too are going. Yup that's right. Tomorrow is our fifth anniversary and we are taking off! Leaving the kiddo behind for the second time ever, and I am sooo ready. It's not Hawaii or anything, but it's still somewhere where I won't feel guilty that there is laundry to do. Aha. I will fill y'all in after our trip. And maybe I'll be good enough to get pictures?! Don't hold your breath.

It's Monday y'all

2011-05-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

Hello! Blog-land. Oh how I've missed you, really. I have thought of all sorts of things to blog about this last week, and of course as I sit here I can't recall a one. I am recovered mostly, and looking forward, which is always the best way to look I s'pose.
Happy Monday, let's start there.
I am having a very productive day here in Skrivland. No thanks to no sunshine. Finally tackled the house since we had guests stay for the wedding. I did seven loads of laundry on Thursday...and just finished putting them away, only because my Mother folded it all. You all know I wasn't going to. So, my house is in shape. Have I told you our recent tragedy? The dishwasher bit the dust...yes, I am hand washing all my dishes, yes, I forgot how much more work it was to do so. And yes, I cannot wait until it gets fixed...but the Hubs, he is going to try and remove the motor and see if he can't take a look at it. I am glad he is handy like that, because I am willing to add it to the credit card and just pay it off. No dish-water hands for me!
Got some grocery shopping done, since we hadn't done that in ages. I am sitting here drinking Dr. Shasta...it is not as good as Dr. Pepper, but it was free with the Winco coupon, and, well I'll drink not as good stuff for free.
On Saturday we finally got a rototiller rented and attacked the garden. And in return the tiller attacked my muscles. Have you ever held back 5 HP's? it hurts, at least the next day it does. And the day after that, I'm telling you from experience. Even little Ezra feels like thousands of pounds because I'm so weak in the shoulders. Speaking of Ezra, finally pushing the last of his eye teeth...and his poor bum....I think we've nearly drained one tube of Butt Paste, it's a sad thing when he cries as much as he does just at a diaper change. Poor buddy. Also his nose turned into a faucet, and we're looking forward to that going away. Thankfully he hasn't been too grumpy, which is a huge help in the whole survival of it all.
In happier news....we're creeping up on our anniversary, and we're looking to get away for a few days. Totally ready and excited. Hoping it all works out. Nothing like looking forward to getting away and not being able to. So, keep praying with me that things work themselves out...and that we can find a lovely place for a good price.
Well, that's Monday...I'm hoping to get to Costco later today...they have Weed and Feed at a good price, and my lawn is crying for it. I don't know if that will kill my ambition, Costco always drains me...I feel like balling my eyes out and cuddling in a corner afterwords. I think it's the amount of money, I know that I'm getting a lot and that it's usually once in awhile things, like a box of Rice milk, and a giant pack of toilet paper....but it still feels bad. Maybe that's just me. At least I'll be coming home to a clean house, that should help keep my mood up.

My little brother has a Mrs.

2011-05-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

So, my brother got married.
And...it was the craziest day of my life, at least that I can recall. You should ask me about it sometime, or send me an e-mail. I'll fill you in.
Anyways, so I didn't bring my camera...but thankfully my sister did. And she's good about capturing stuff with said camera. So these are all thiefed from her. Also...the whole album is on Facebook.

So excited to see Cynthia! We hadn't seen her yet.

Here is the Husband groomsman-ing it up.

And they got married.

And they were SO happy.

Father and sons.

And we tried a family picture...and it's not that easy.

But we eventually got one that worked out. Even though it was nap time and a certain someone was not interested in smiling.
So...that was a run through. And, I didn't want to take ALL the pictures my sister took. If you would like to see the rest, visit her blog or my Facebook page.
Hope your Mother's Day was swell, mine was relaxing. I got the BBC LIFE series...I'm super excited to keep watching that. If you haven't seen it or Planet Earth you're missing out. It's a little irritating the amount they equate all the amazement to evolution. But we all know the truth, so I just watch in amazement at how complex the world is, and the creatures God made in that world. So I for one am going to go to keep it easy these next few days, hang with the family, watch a lot of LIFE and rest.
Happy Monday!

Royals and other Wedding stuff

2011-04-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

Did you watch the "Royal Wedding?" If you didn't stay up all night, you probably saw a re-run or a "special" or something. I have to admit, I do not get it. I mean, I guess it's along the same lines as gossip magazines, and celebrity gaga stuff. I'm just not that interested. I did look up pictures yesterday at work, just to see the hype of the most beautiful dress ever...and it was lovely, I will say that. It was neat to see the whole formality of the royal wedding. So many different "costumes" I wonder what all those tassels and badges and stars mean. And the hats. That's all I am going to say about those, because there are blogs and blogs and FB statuses all about the hats. And if you don't know what I'm talking about just Google it...you're welcome for the belly laugh ahead of time.
This week is wedding week here too. No, we're not wearing hats and gloves, and I doubt we'll be having crumpets. This next Saturday is my baby brothers wedding! I'm very much looking forward to it, especially since that means the whole family will be together again, and that doesn't happen much. It's hard to believe he is already old enough to get married, it wasn't that long ago we (Ali and I) were painting his fingernails and dressing him as our little sister...even though we had a little sister, he always went a long with everything. It's weird to have a brother wedding, and though our family is doing more than just show up, it's still much different than a sister wedding. Let's talk about a dress of a different nature.
So, my sister Ali and I are the only ones in our family that aren't in the wedding, you know as in the wedding party. And I'm totally okay with that, except I had nothing to wear to this event, seriously. I thought that it would be prudent to match the wedding party without you know matching the wedding party. So I started my search the week before Easter thinking it was plenty of time to find something that would work. Also since it is Spring and there should be lots of dress options. Boy...that was an adventure that nearly ended in my despair. At one point I told Adam I wasn't going to go. It was that frustrating. I went on my little dress rant about prom dresses, but little did I know that that's pretty much what's out there for everyone. Yes, everyone. Every single dress I found, if I could find a dress...why can I not find hardly a single dresses the week before Easter?? Target had like 3 total! If it was the right color, it looked street walker on me. Not pretty. And I figure my future sister-in-law would appreciate me not being the gawking stalk at her wedding. And I wasn't exactly wanting to sign up for that position either. Just sayin'. I looked at EVERY store in the ENTIRE mall. AND Target, AND the Dress Barn, AND Ross, AND Marshalls, AND Burlington Coat Factory...and I was nearly in tears. Then, of all places, as a last ditch effort my sister and I hit up the Goodwill, and you know what? I found a dress. And it matches without actually matching. And the best part? I spent $5.99. So, at least I won't be standing out in the wedding, and that makes me happy. And I get to go, now that I have something to wear. And that makes me say, guys have it way too easy.

Easter Weekend Photo Dump

2011-04-25T21:59:00.000-07:00

We had a full weekend, and it was splendid. Saturday we went to an egg hunt/brunch. It was so fun to have the SUN out and enjoy the day as well. Because Adam had that day off as soon as we got home we attacked some outside work. Ezra and I washed the car while Adam finished unloading the trailer of sand, and then we plucked weeds. Great Grandma Skrivan came over with a little Easter basket full of goodies for a very happy little boy, and even joined in on the weeding!
Sunday we had an amazing lamb dinner at Adam's parents, but my parents went too. Ezra got as much attention as he could handle, with all of his favorite people. He even got to find eggs hidden around Mima's living room. Too cute! He now walks around the house pushing his (empty) eggs around in his little walker thing, I think they're something of a prized possession for him. Anyways....we didn't get a family photo or anything good like that. I always forget to do that kinda stuff! We didn't look particularly springy or anything, the weather was drizzly and un-Eastery per WA history.
Hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend!

BIG boy bed

2011-04-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

We finally made the switch. I was scared y'all. Honestly, I didn't want to deal with this as a discipline issue, I liked the fact that when I put him to bed, he was in bed, and that was that. And though he isn't heavy, he's getting there. He also cried when he woke, which when I was napping, was just a not so fun way to wake up from my nap.
On Monday night I just got the whim to do it. So, I did it. And Ezra helped, which I think was good because he wasn't totally shocked at what had happened to his bed. So, the first night we had to tell him twice to get into bed, and he cried and was very upset, because I think he thought that this new bed thing meant he could come and go as he pleased. We left the door open, and he laid there and watched us and then dozed off. The true test was nap time. I anticipated it being a huge battle and something that would take us weeks to overcome. The first nap time was rough. Six times, whoa was I feeling overwhelmed, and also like this was something that we went ahead with too early, he wasn't ready! That's what I was thinking that first nap time. That night we stayed out late, so night two went smoother than anticipated. He practically asked to go to bed, and didn't move an inch after we put him down. Nap time two was kinda funny actually. I went in once, and reminded him to get into bed and that it was nap time, and then he was quiet, all of the sudden I heard his activity table singing...yup, someone had realized that they could play! All I did was walk in and he knew he was in trouble, he of course tried his, Mama hold me, I just need one more kiss please. But it didn't win me, I didn't even have to discipline him I just pointed to his bed and within ten minutes he was asleep. And last night we triumphed, night three no trouble, no getting out of bed...asleep in 10 minutes. So as afraid as I was that first nap time, I realize now that it is great. Like this morning when he woke up, he came right into our room and crawled into bed with us, we all slept another 15 or 20 minutes, and that is worth a million dollars or something. Seriously.

And if you're wondering, yes that is a giant yellow duck. Great Grandma Skrivan got that for Ezra on his first Easter last year...it's huge, and he loves it, and insists on it being in his new bed. I think he uses it as a body pillow, he's ahead of the trend, forget pillow pets!

Sand Box

2011-04-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

I told you about the sand box, welp it's done! It's being used, it's part of our play area for little gardener. I'm stoked.
It all started when the littlest tried to help garden, last year he couldn't walk, and so, it mostly meant that green tomatoes got eaten, but mostly dirt. This year, well...this year he can walk, and run and climb and all other little boy activities that hinder garden growth. Because he also has strength to pull and pluck and that just isn't going to be how our garden functions...not until he knows the difference between a dandelion and a daffodil. At least!
The whole sandbox thing was really a combined effort of many people. My Mom's neighbor (whom I've known since I was One) gave my Mom several fiberglass bins. They had legs so to be picked up by a fork lift, and I'm not entirely sure what they were used for originally. My mom turned one of hers into a storage place for all the pool things, including the pool when she takes it down. But the small one we had planned pretty much since Ezra was born to turn into a sandbox. There was chat about leaving it at her house, since it's only down the street and he is there quite a bit, but after this Spring, we realized it would be most used if it was where we were all going to be come Summer, the garden! Then came the location planning. It isn't a pretty box, and so we wanted, especially Adam, to bury it down a little bit, also to make it easier for Ezra to get in and out of all by himself. There were several ideas, and the first one was shot down, because it would have to be stable enough to drive over, being in the second drive area...and the lid just wasn't going to hold up to that. We also wanted it close to the actual gardens so that when we were working it was somewhere where we could see him. On Saturday my Mom and I started digging, and boy...that's hard work. She did most of it of course, because she's in shape and I'm not. But we got down as far as we thought would work, all the while fighting dead roots from old trees, and current roots from the maple tree. Then we needed to get a truck to get some sand, Cliff came to the rescue borrowing a trailer from a friend and Mima (Adam's Mom) funded the sand! Thanks Mima!! So I didn't have to go anywhere, sand delivered right to our sandbox, how fancy is that?

You all know what Ezra said the moment he saw this..."Tactuur!!"

This last one makes my heart glad, this was taken from my kitchen, while I was sweeping and mopping alone, no "help" it was great! I foresee many many hours of entertainment ahead of us with this new toy. And I hope that it also keeps my garden safe! Adam will eventually be building a nice wood frame to go around it so that it isn't so unsightly.
Another huge perk, Target has all their sand toys for $.99, so he got a couple new sand toys for his Easter basket! That made me happy.

Spring Fair and weed finger

2011-04-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a very full day. We started the morning by heading to the Puyallup Spring Fair, which is great fun if you want to do the fair without as many people and free parking. My Dad gave us a few free tickets so I called my sister to see if she'd want to run through with us since Adam worked. Specifically for the fresh spring animals, so tiny and new and adorable. We were on a time crunch because Heidi had to be back home by One-Thirty. So we went straight in to see the chickens, goats and bunnies. Ezra did NOT like the goats, and was not interested in petting them, I tried to make him feel but he pulled away as soon as he touched their rough coarse hair. But the bunny, he loved the bunny. I tried to get a picture, but he didn't really cooperate well, but said "ish nice" while petting the sweet little thing. This picture was taken just after he pet the bunny, so proud!

He also loved the little chicks as they were in their 90 degree incubator. I think everyone was jealous since it was quite a chilly morning, and the barns aren't exactly heated. At least I was!

Babies!
We didn't make it to the cows, but I heard that they were just about the cutest thing. I'm hoping to make it this fall, also skipped over the pigs, but that one I don't mind missing so much. They stink.
After we squeezed in as much as we could in the few hours we were there we headed home to get our chores done. But almost as soon as we pulled in the sun came out and I had a chance to tackle some of the yard. I worked almost entirely in the back yard, and boy howdy did it need it. This year we had intense purple stuff like was everywhere. I'm not sure what it is, the things I've searched for on google weren't exactly what I had and I got tired of searching. Anyways, so Ezra and I played in the dirt, and kept playing and kept playing. We were hard at work! I tilled, by shovel (which is hard work) my small garden plot, which isn't that small as it turns out and I'm waiting to do the bigger patch by rototiller maybe later this week, even if it's harder on the shoulders its much faster! Before I knew it the sun was in the West and we'd been out there for five hours working away. My Dad came and did some weed eating outside the fence, and then my Mom came and helped me get the start of Ezra's sandbox in. I'm really excited about that, but I will wait until it's done so that you can ooh and aww with me at how great it is. I can't wait to have a digging spot for the littlest gardener. The only damage he has done in the real garden thus far is pluck each individual berry off of my grape hyacinths.

Thankfully not all of them, and we have some conversations about how NOT to treat Mama's flowers, but I think he doesn't quite understand why Mama can dig and pull and shovel and he cannot. Sooo, yeah, we're looking forward to a place that he can dig and do as much damage as he pleases. Also a good place to store some of his "tacters" since he has enough in the house.
It felt so great to finally get work done in the yard, the last nice day we had I worked a ten hour shift and didn't even get to pluck two weeds. It bummed me out for certain, especially when a week of rain followed that ONE sunny day. What a huge difference less weeds can do to a girls attitude! I was showing my Mom my finger, how the cracks are "dirty" even though I have scrubbed and soaked and showered, my finger has "weed finger." Our Pastors wife said, "Well why don't you take a picture and put it on your blog!" Welp, here I am. I will spare you the weed finger picture, I'm sure you can imagine what dirt looks like crammed in the cracks and swirls of your finger. I suppose that's what the gardeners life is like, dirty fingers. But I can honestly say, I'm thankful for it and though I may never be a hand model and I may look like I don't know how to use a bar of soap, I'm wearing my weed finger proudly. It means I got work done, and that satisfies my heart, greatly.

Prom

2011-04-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have to admit, I never went to prom. I went to a small Christian school and in place of prom we had banquet, which was just an excuse to dress up and eat a fancy meal. Oh, and NO dancing, haha. But we had guidelines. And even though some of them seemed at the time a little too strict or schoolmarm, I am really quite grateful for them now as I see the Prom attire of this generation. And it makes me want to slap parents across the face with a reality stick.
There were rules that I disagreed with and was annoyed by at 17 years old , you were promptly handed a shawl to wear if your dress was more than the school thought was appropriate, and I know girls who did it too! Granted, it didn't really cover up anything, more because everyone who wore a shawl to help cover their scantily showing shoulders, mostly wore them around their arms as another decoration to their fab outfit. But as I sit today, I am thankful for the rules my school had, and though I didn't have the most fashionable dress certainly, I did look lovely (if I do say so myself) and I can look back at those photos and not cringe at how my Mother or anyone else let me bare it all out for all the world and their brother to see, or especially their brother?
Yesterday I came across a Prom picture...and my jaw dropped.
These young lovely girls had no clothes on. And I tend to be a more modest person, and I realize that it was I'm sure "normal" Prom attire, but they might as well have been wearing sparkly bikini's to a dance with teenage boys. 4 out of the 6 girls dresses were backless. More backless than even an adult should be wearing let a lone a young "innocent" girl. Not to mention the strapless dress that, I honestly cannot see how in the world it was not at her bellybutton. One of the girls had so much cleavage, because the dress was SO low, it almost didn't seem possible it would stay up. That same dress was just below the rear, no bending in either direction for this young lady...nope nope. She was probably using some of that tape stuff...
I am nearly certain they all thought they looked smashing, and as beautiful as they should for their Prom, but for goodness sakes! So much of me was wondering what their Mothers were really thinking as they let their girls out the door. Because all I could think about was how in the world they were going to function without a wardrobe malfunction, as well as how old they were trying to look. I wonder if their Mothers thought, "oh good, she looks like she is trying to be 30-something and show off that she still has the curves in the right places." "Wow, my daughter looks sexy!" "Show it while you've got it." I don't doubt the boys minds were very difficult to focus on anything besides these ladies, and not in the way that we hope our sons to think of ladies at all. As a mother to a boy, it scares the tar out of me that this is something that my sweet brown eyed boy might be faced with when he is only 14 or 15 years old. I'm 26 and a woman and can barely see it without feeling like I should wear some kind of eye protection as I'm looking at some Hollywood actress, whom I might add I do not want my daughters to aspire to be looking like or my sons to be looking for or at, if I'm being totally honest.
Anyways...I know this doesn't really have to do with anything, and there isn't really a solution to the fact that there are dresses made, and children that buy them and parents that take photographic evidence with pride that they've sent their seeds into the world looking exactly like the world. But it makes me wish that I could just tell those I'm sure sweet girls that there is SO much more out there and they can look beautiful without having to bare it all.
Okay, I'll get off my soap box now.

We're Back!

2011-04-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I am sure you have all heard by now that Ting Tong is in fact a BOY contrary to most peoples opinion. I was there I saw it the lady was telling the truth. And Ali and Paul are thrilled. So we had a nice trip out there, and Ezra did great on the long car ride. Mostly because I let him play with the iPod, Adam pulled it out of my bag and said "um, ew." it was sticky and clearly had been loved on for 6 hours. I guess that's what raisin drool will do. It came clean don't worry.
It doesn't seem as though there has been much going on here in Skrivland. I wish I could fill you with amazing updates, but I feel like we're in a stage of life that's just about trucking along. We aren't making any huge changes and or doing much of anything different just kinda keeping steady where we are.
I guess one change that starts this coming week is Adam's work schedule is getting better and better! He will now only be working one late night, and be getting off at 6 every other night of the week. Which is going to improve a great deal of our home life, especially for Ezra. It's always been tough to keep him happy until Daddy gets home since it's SO close to bedtime. Also it means Adam will be able to start helping out with the Jr. High Youth Group again, which he has really missed. This change will be happy and welcomed by all of us. Work for me has been better, less drama, I'm always a fan of less drama. Also, our new schedule looks to have me working only two days a week with a few three in there. I also have a couple one day a weeks on there! I'm really looking forward to that. Let's hope that it doesn't change or anything crazy.
We are still waiting for Spring, though it has gotten a bit warmer it's still pretty gnarly out there. It isn't fair that this is the season of weddings and Honeymoons where people post pictures of their WARM and SUNNY destinations. It makes me want to search for plane tickets, that I can't afford. I think I even dream Summer, I'm so past the whole spring thing. Seriously people, I just turned up the heat in the house.
There really isn't a good way to end a ramble like this, so I guess I should just say that I am thankful that the weekend is nearly here, and that my laundry is already done. What am I going to do with myself?

First Fruits

2011-04-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

Of course I don't have fruit yet! My greenhouse isn't yet in the condition to grow year round. It's one of the many projects that keeps getting pushed back further and further on the "rebuild/remodel" list.
Even though we have had the coldest spring so far, we are already started on our growing. Not because of my gumption! But because I have a Mother who is always beside me ready to get going on the yard and garden. Last year we started planting in February, in her garage. Which gave us a good head start, but her garage isn't completely warm, and things like the basil didn't really like it in there too much. This year, we waited until mid March to get the seeds going, and only a few. Basil and tomatoes. The peas are in the ground outside, but they don't mind the cold as much as everything else. Last year we had to plant those twice due to a very late frost, but this year I think we're okay. So far. Everything else will be alright starting in May or late April (if this weather ever cooperates!) in the greenhouse or ground.
My dining table is a little bit over occupied with our seedlings, but it's an okay sacrifice for us. Adam and I just eat around the dirt like an overwhelming centerpiece. It's working for now, though Adam did ask me the other day when we were going to get our table back. I told him it was pretty much up to the Lord when the weather would warm up, and it should really only be a little longer. But I'm seriously praying about this one, because the forecast has been less than hopeful.
So, I give you the seedlings. As cute and little as they are.

I didn't tell you it was pretty! The plastic wrap is to keep Lucy from nibbling. She likes to eat anything growing and green.

Basil.

Tomatoes.
There you have it folks, it's a start! I am getting super anxious for this spring (the real one with the sun and all) and summer. It's frustrating on days off to just sit and watch the rain and wind blow and not be able to tackle the weeds and flower beds or till the ground and prepare it for more veggies! Maybe it means we'll get an extra long summer?! Here's to hoping.

Fever

2011-04-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

Oh, poor poor boy. Folks, last night he woke up and was HOT. His skin was burning my hands to the touch. He clocked in at 103.7, and then again lost the little amount of pedialite I got in him. So, we're staying home another day...and trying to get healthy.

Bleahhhk

2011-04-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Good morning weekend bloggers. Howya doin'?
Today, I was going to update you on my dining room table. The seedlings are looking great! But, well life took a different course for me. And I am certain I can still tell you about my dining-garden another day. It'll be something for you to look forward to.
Well, last night or I should really say early this morning about 0430, I got up to use the restroom and had one of those "you better check on your kid" feelings.
May I just pause and say, that I hate those feelings?! I mean, they are there for a reason and I'm thankful for them, but sometimes I think the worst, especially when my brain is still in half asleep mode.
Back to the story. So I clumsily fumble into his room and am greeted with the smell that every person hates to smell, but especially the person who is therefor responsible to deal with it. Awh Man! poor kid, cuddled up in his own sickness. As soon as I got near his crib he whined for me and wanted to be picked up, of course I said something along the lines of I love you, but it came out "hold on don't touch Mama, let me clean you first."
So I stripped and cleaned and diaper-whipped. But just in case he wasn't through I brought him to the couch with me and a bucket. I wasn't about to change a crib sheet twice! We slept alright without another accident and I thought to myself as he woke me up at 7 am sharp, maybe it was something he ate? He asked for his milk, but just to be safe I gave him water. 15 minutes later... good thing I brought a bucket.
So, for all the plans I might have had on this Saturday, they're gone. I barely got the sickied laundry started. I am thankful for my ring sling! Also, why does the kid have to be sick on a day when Adam works? Then I can literally get nothing done. Guess it's movie-rama in Skrivland.

Oh, and yes, that's Woolite, Pediasure and a bucket with him, this Mama ain't playing around.

So, this is the scene at our house. How is your Saturday going?

The continual update

2011-03-31T03:48:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am constantly on up-date mode. It would probably help if I could get my act together and get this blog rollin'. Also, if I would actually use our camera. But ever since the flash incident I have been less photographery and more annoyed that the camera can't take perfect pictures dispite my wobbly hand and moving child. Now he has to be perfectly still AND it must be mid day so as not to make it look like we live in a cave. So...that's that. I'm thinking when/if we get some spare mullah I might just buy one of those easy point a shoots that doesn't do anything crazy fancy. But, you know to the hubs the camera still "works" it just isn't as convenient...and who knows that I would truly use it more.
This is the last week that I hope to say I've been working a lot. I know I've been saying that for like 5 months now. But really. I think this is it. There has been a lot of work drama, which I won't bore you with, but basically I think I will finally be getting down to one day a week. At least that's what they're telling me. And I have to clarify, I have been able to say "no" but I feel a certain inablility to say that for some reason, and then I kick myself in the shins (right about now as I'm writing this from work at 0330 in the morning.) I also feel a certain "do it now while I can" kinda thing, I am not always going to be a Mama of one who is happily accepted to his Grandma's house. Someday it will be more than in-convenient to drop all (however many that be) of my offspring at my Mom's. So, I feel in part that this is my time to help our little family stablize. And you better believe I am looking very gratefully to the day when I can toss my scrubs and pass the torch and say, I'm a Mama and a wife too, but that is all. It's hard to not be jealous of those who have that. And I know I've talked about that with some of you before, it's hard for me NOT to stay home and make forts all day, bake bread, keep up on the laundry, and have tickles fights. Not that it's impossible to do while working, it's just a little harder and requires a little more effort from me. And I know some of you may be saying "it's a sacrifice, just do it! it will all work itself out!" and I agree with you. And that was our plan, I was only going to work one day a week while Ezra was getting bigger and Adam was getting more established in his job, but then, he lost his job and we had a one month old, and mortgage, and the bills didn't care. It was a blessing I didn't quit as soon as baby Ezra was born. So, as my husband has found a new job and we are ever grateful for it, he is rising in ranks and feels finally "at home" and where he should be. He's been promoted already and only been there 8 months. So, we're working on it. It is a time of trusting in the Lord that has been amazing for our marriage and helpful in our world view. I believe it will be making us happier in the long run than we could be without a trial to climb together in. As well as more dependant on God's plan than our own...because has we had it our way. I think we wouldn't be in our house, and we wouldn't be able to live as comfortable a life as possible. We thank the Lord for those things everyday.

On another note entirely.

The time is coming to think garden, and I'm all over the place. I need to sit down and go through seeds, see what I have, what I want and what I need. Currently there are Herloom tomatoes, Early girl tomatoes and Basil taking over my dining room table. And the peas are in the ground. But we haven't planted anything else...it's still early unlike you Southerners! I'm super jealous about that too. Suppose it's time to pray about that too. I got some jealousy issues. Anyways, once we have a nice weekend or weekday that neither my Mom or I are working we will at least till. The ground is still looking pretty narly from last years leftovers and I'm ready to see clean fresh dirt even if we won't be planting for another month. It will get my vision juices flowing.
You gardeners out there, what are you planting this year? We aren't doing corn, so I am going to have a big space for other things, and I would LOVE ideas.
Welp folks, there you have it, an update. Or a ramble, but hey, ramble is in the title of this blog, you were warned. I hope your Thursday is smashingly wonderful, we might take a trek to the zoo after I get off work with Great Grandma Skrivan, we just might be packing umbrellas.

My little Big boy

2011-03-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

It was LOVELY

2011-03-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

I'm here to tell you how amazing a dose of sunshine does for me. Well, I guess I can't really tell you, more than it just does. It's amazing. It's what I needed for sure.
And I did take the camera out...aren't you lucky!

My yard is full of spring right now, lots of budding friends, so much more than last year, in large part to my Mom giving me bulbs for my Birthday and planting them for me all over in February. So I'm getting to see the pretty coming through, which I'm greatly enjoying seeing something new almost every day!

Little Gardner was just happy to be outside. I think he'd make a good Mail Carrier, because he seriously enjoys being outside no matter the weather or temperature. And cries nearly every time he must come indoors.

Here you can see his "Dermatitis graffitis" (as my brother Joel's pediatrician called it.) from trying to push the lawn mower and instead falling and scrapping his face. The skin condition basically just makes every little bump and bruise look like a HUGE welt or scrap, the skin is raised and amazingly painful looking, but it is pretty much nothing and vanishes within an hour or so. He had fallen a good half hour before this picture. Anywho...that's the ouchie on his face.

I just loved his little grubby dirty hands, I had to borrow my own new garden tools, (Thanks Grandma!!) because Little Gardner thought they were his.

And watch out, he knows how to use it. We have to claim them as outside only "toys" because my coffee table and couch and everything at Little Gardner level was getting clawed or shoveled.
We got SO much done in the yard, it felt wonderful to get another good day of weeding in. I have a feeling that's going to be the story of my life at this house. Always another flower bed to weed, but it was super encouraging to have BOTH my yard bins FULL to the brim with weeds and branches and more weeds.
Yesterday my sister was finally able to mow, which also helped give the yard a fresh look in the glorious sun. Another great thing, while I was weeding my heart out, the park mowers came and kept Little Gardner busy watching the "tactur!" he waved and said "HI" and was absolutely enthralled with them. Sadly they had on ear protection and I don't think he was noticed or acknowledged. But it didn't stop his happiness. Sadly the camera was inside already and I was dirty, so I didn't get a picture of him, hands on the fence oogling over the bright green John Deers. I was grateful for their visit which lasted nearly an hour, because Ezra stood their watching them the entire time they were working. Which in turn meant I got that much more work done.
After the tractors left, I got some help picking weeds but mostly help making dirt angels. There was dirt from his head down into his toes, and even wedged its way into his diaper. But he had fun, and I did too. And we soaked up the Vitamin D that we were seriously lacking.
Today, well it's not sunny, and the rain just started...but it's a different rain, a spring rain. And I'm okay with it. Instead I'm getting my hands dirty in flour and making braided bread while the little dude sleeps. Sleep babe, sleep. Also, I got to use my birthday Starbucks gift card today while at the grocery store, I'm sure it has nothing to do with how great I feel this day is going...nothing at all.

Spring

2011-03-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

So, even though today I got up at 2am, you can find me OUTSIDE! in the garden. Yes, that's right...you heard me.
You will have to excuse me as I soak up the Vitamin D out there...I just might take the camera and show you how lovely it is. If it was raining I was going to blog for you, but I can't resist this urge to be out in that nice-ness.

Phew!

2011-03-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

Survival. Sometimes I just have to remind myself that I will survive it, always have, and always will. No crazy week will kill me. It does however make me a little cranky, poor Adam.
So, not only was this a crazy work week for me with very little sleep (I think 6 hrs was my most) there was scary stuff. My 16 wk pregnant sister was having some "complications" that you can read all about on her blog. Which wasn't helping my crazed feeling. But before I complain about this week, or even better, let's just skip this last week. MmK?

My Birthday was on Wednesday a week and a half ago. I worked at 3am. Bleh. BUT I wasn't pouting in the slightest because the next day we were leaving for the Couples Retreat with our church. Someone had generously (anonymously) donated for us to go at no cost, except food. We weren't going to be able to go do to finances and so it was a huge treat. Also, it was our FIRST time away without our "baby." Who is, yes 19 months old. I know, we'll do it again. Hopefully. Anyways, so that was amazing. A three day two night vacation without being a Mama was very very relaxing. And if you are the one who was the generous person who offered this. THANK YOU. We couldn't say anything else, just thank you. It was amazing.
Okay, so come Saturday we drove home and got to see our kiddo, who didn't even seem to care that we were back, or gone. But that was nice, I did miss him. We got home I changed my clothes and then ran out the door for my sister-in-law to be's family bridal shower...which was lovely and she got some really neat things. Then I got home and crashed.
Skip through the long and tiresome work week.
Here we are. Saturday. AHhhh. feel that? It's the sun, yes, the SUN! Missed that glowing orb. Sadly my husband is off at work making us some bread. I on the other hand finally did the floors in this house. And this is what's on my bed,

and there are three more loads running downstairs...so you know what my afternoon is going to be looking like. I know, be jealous.
Maybe next week I will share some knitting that I got to do over my trip.

When it's over

2011-03-15T17:19:00.000-07:00

As soon as Friday Noon comes a long, and I have my nap. Then we'll talk. Until then, this week needs to run run run, I'm SO tired and mostly tired of working. I miss my only one day a week, and look forward to that being a reality in the very near future. Pray with me that this week scoots a long!

Scheduling

2011-03-07T14:12:00.000-08:00

I wanted to get a little bug out there to talk to y'all about scheduling. As spring is approaching, and the sun is out a little longer, I feel like I need to fill my days with loads and loads of things to do. But I also do not want to let those things that ought to be done be thrown on the way side.
I've been doing really well with keeping up on laundry and the house staying clean, or at least tidy. But sometimes I feel like I have done so little in a day. That I haven't really accomplished much, and spent more than enough time surfing the web etc.
So the question I would ask is how do you schedule your day? Do you only allow yourself to check your e-mail once? Do you schedule a craft with the child(ren) and yourself? Is laundry always on Wednesdays?
I'd like to kinda see what other people are doing, and see if I can't squeeze a little more production out of my day. As well as a little more satisfaction out of what I have done in a day. Come on, fill up the comments. I know lots of you read, so just tell me! It would sure help a girl out.

Greek Taco's

2011-03-03T20:21:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite and go to recipes is greek tacos. Which we found in a magazine oddly enough. It has a lot of things going for it, it's fast easy and the ingredients are things we usually have on hand. You can also substitute things, or leave them
out when you don't have all the ingredients.

First off, brown 1lb ground beef. Drain.
Add:
1 can diced tomatoes (with liquid),

2 tsp. Greek Seasoning (this is kinda a pricey spice, but we've had ours for three years now and I'm just now running low...it goes a long ways. And we make this a lot.)
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. pepper
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 8-10 min. or until thickened. (You will get more flavor if you cover it...and simmer a little longer, but it tastes fine their way.)

Add: 2 cups fresh baby spinach (or more!)

and 1 can olives sliced and drained
cook and stir until spinach is wilted.

Meanwhile, place hard taco shells on baking sheet and heat up until heated through.
Top with feta cheese!

(they also suggest red onion, we've never done that because Adam isn't an onion fan...but I bet it'd be good.)

So, good.

Where've I been?

2011-03-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

Man, I surely am dropping the ball on this whole blogging thing. And not because I don't want to folks, it just hasn't been happening. I guess it's a season or something.
Instead of trying to catch up on everything that happened from then to now, I'll just give you a few highlights with pictures, since I can't really remember much if I don't have a picture to prove it.

I knit a cowl. It was my first, my first knitting in the round project, my first lace project, you can tell if you look too closely... at one point I put it away for like two weeks and got mad at it and scoffed at my knitting bag. And then Kjerste got it mostly fixed (I screwed it up that badly,) enough for me to move past and it looks alright.

Fits, and still not talking so, there was a lot of frustration for both the Ez and the Mama. By the suggestion of our pediatrician we are using sign language for 'please'. It's helped cut down on the whines and he learned it in two days. AND now he does it without even being asked. Life changer.

Baths and sunshine, we had a lovely week or two a while back, it was REALLY cold, but the sun shining in the house was enough to keep you warm. (not really) Also we have been loving baths all times of the day, a real down time activity that doesn't get goldfish smashed in my carpet.

A yucky cold, which made it through the fam and friends. Adam is currently in bed napping, since he just came down with it yesterday. We're hoping he is feeling better soon. Nothing as helpless for a wife than her grown man with the sick. At least my baby wants to be cuddled and held and I can do that. Daddy's just are tired and need alone time and rest.

I love these guys.

My cooking "help" caught olive handed. If only they had more nutrition to offer, 'cuz he can eat them by the handful.

Playing "Night Night" a favorite...which is odd seeing as real night night, is often a sad time, missing out on all the crazy things adults do when children go to bed, like falling asleep watching TV.
And just because it's pretty much adorable. Practicing "cheese" (which is one of his few words) for Mama.

Hello?

2011-02-21T03:53:00.000-08:00

Anyone there?!

Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself over here.

Happy Presidents day! And I hope you enjoy some sales and not getting your mail. That's about all I can think that happens on Presidents day. And even the sales aren't that great. Second hand sales usually are. I hear that Value Village is having a 50% off sale, that sounds worth looking into. But other than that I think it's only Sleep Country that has any good sales on today.
And we don't need a new mattress. Have you been mattress shopping? It's very stressful, what if you pick the wrong one? It's pretty hard to tell in the few seconds that you lay in this bed in the middle of a store in front of a strange sales person, whether or not it's worth your investment. Because we all know your mattress is a HUGE investment. Don't screw it up. I'm just thankful we have a few more years at least before we need to be doing that again.
So this President's day will go by un-eventful for us. Not even mattress shopping over here. I know some of the school chillin's get to have the three day weekend, I am jealous of those days! How 'bout you's out there? Does anyone have a husband home for the day? Any crazy plans?

HOwdy

2011-02-19T16:31:00.000-08:00

So how are you? Good? Hope so.
We've been busy! Not with anything really, or particularly just busy.
The basement is getting its finishing touches, trim and such. Then we just need to paint it, which might take a little long to get to since we have to pull all the furniture out to do it. Oh, and NOT have a toddler helping.
I've been on a cleaning frenzy. Not particularly clean out, but just at the end of the day making sure everything is in its place and not letting it get too out of hand. It all started when I took a week off laundry...which meant I did like 6 loads in two days and then folded that many. And put away that much. So then I felt like I ought not let that happen again, seeing as it was just overwhelming for me. So I've been on top of cleaning the house, even keeping the dishes in the dishwasher and not letting them spend time in the sink. Go ahead and pat me on the back.

Ezra is in a good stage right now, that we're REALLY enjoying. He is a crack up a good majority of the time and loving dancing and singing. It has come with a stubborn streak that can be hard to deal with too, but we're enjoying it none the less. He's also a huge helper, loves to cook and clean. His future wife will be grateful for that I'm sure. As long as it survives through his teenage years.

I've been greatly enjoying friendship of late. It seems that there are definite peaks in friendship as in any relationship and we're, I think, at a high. Also, in our marriage, we have been finding ourselves laughing a lot with each other. It's a good season.

Also, the re-arranging has gone well. The only thing left to do is hang the artwork, the furniture didn't move around so much, but the lamps did and the new side table is in its proper place. I'm very happy with it and it's made me refreshed to be in my living room. We also moved almost all the toys out of the living room and into Ezra's room. Now his main hub for play is in his room which also helps contain the amount of cleanup by the end of the day. It's also helped him be more focused on one toy at a time instead of hundreds to just throw around the room. I need to go through them again and categorize them and put them away.

So, that's been what we're up to. I'm really gonna get some pictures up soon, I promise. It would probably help to bring the camera out of the bag first.

re-Arranging

2011-02-15T16:54:00.000-08:00

So...I've been in the mental process of re-arranging my living room. Ever since I made that book wreath I've been wanting to kinda re-do my artwork and also my arrangement of the furniture. I've done some moving today and really don't like it. So, I'm gonna keep messing around with it.
We moved the couch over so that the other heating vent was able to warm the room more freely. However, it's made for a weird whole spot in the living room. But I got an amazing Husband, and for Valentine's Day I got a side table to fill the spot. And I LOVE <3 it. But our couches are a weird height, and I think that's part of the moving furniture bug. It will help make it fit in where it works best.
Also, I've been looking for picture frames to go on either side of the wreath though I wasn't willing to pay $15 for one let a lone $30 for two frames that weren't THAT great. (that's Wal-Mart prices!) Today I struck gold at Joanne's, I was certain that being a real craft/framing store I wasn't going to find anything in my budget (which is like nothing) but it was worth at least browsing. Turns out I got 3 frames that were originally $39.99 EACH, for $8.97 each. Booya!
All this to tell you that you have an exciting post to look forward to. Because once I find the layout and work of the room that I like and is functional I'll take pictures and you'll all be excited and love it so much. Right? Of course right.

What to Wear?!

2011-02-09T09:31:00.000-08:00

Hey there!
So, any of you locals going to the Madrigal Feast?! If so, what are you planning on wearing? Is this a little black dress event? Is it Sunday attire? I'm kinda confused, because it wasn't really announced, and I'm NOT wearing a madrigal outfit. No thanks. I put in my years of wearing that hot heavy dress.
I don't want to over do it.... or under do it for that matter, so tell me what you're wearing!

Evening Ritual

2011-02-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

I am sure that every family has their routine when it comes to the evening. Ours doesn't seem to have a real schedule, only because of weird things in our life right now. Adam works late, and so we don't eat as a family. Honestly, sometimes I even give Ezra his left over lunch and call it good. Sometimes we go have dinner with my family, and sometimes with friends.
The end of the day routine is the longest for us, seeing as after dinner there are still about 3-4 hours before Adam gets home. Usually the time is filled with a very very long bath time, not for me...for the littlest. I didn't used to be a fan of the bath time routine. It was work, scrubbing a wiggly wet babe and trying not to get totally wet myself. But now? Now that he is able to play and pour this water into that cup and back into the first, it's been a huge help to me in times of "I'm at the end and your Daddy is still not coming anytime soon to rescue me."
But tonight as I sit here, at my bathroom "vanity" it's a different evening routine. Daddy is home, and we ate a home cooked meal together. My little one is happily playing in the bath.

My Hubs is working on finally getting the trim done in the Man Cave.

And me? I'm rocking this out, because I have had the worst headache all day.

But I'm also getting ready to go on a date with Adam, which we haven't done alone in I don't even know how long. Seriously I can't remember. We did go on a double date with Alicia and Nathaniel when they were in town for the holidays, but a just the two of us with a glass of wine and an amazing desert? No idea. Which clearly means it's about time.
So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go make sure my husband removes the saw dust out of his hair, and I'm gonna change my stained fleece out for a cute sweater.

Groundhog's Day

2011-02-02T09:46:00.000-08:00

Groundhogs day! And the little Phil said it was going to be an early spring, but the news told me today that he's only been right 39% of the time. So, I'm not holding me breath. I am reveling in this sunshine though! SO wonderful. soak it up folks, it's supposed to rain tomorrow. So don't put off anything you want to get done out of doors...today is the day, even if we do get an early spring it's likely to be rainy so, take advantage. I'm just sayin'.
I hope that if you don't have plans this evening you'll be watching the movie...how often do you get to have a movie suited to one random day of the year? It's not really a holiday or anything it's just like flag day or something, but you don't see any flag day movies. Also, our tradition here is to have Sweet Vermouth with a twist on Groundhogs day, because if you recall it's her favorite drink...it's not my favorite drink, but it isn't horrible. And why not. It only comes once a year.
So, cheers for early spring, or better yet, a pointless, random "holiday!"

All before Noon

2011-02-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

Today has already had it's full. I went to work at 0345, getting home just in time for Adam to leave for Bible study at 0630. I went back to bed, and awoke to a clean house, dishwasher unloaded and loaded and this.

Isn't he the best?! If I so say so myself. And what a beautiful day here! Sunshine!! though it's rather chilly...no where near the crazy storms around the rest of the country. I can definitely say I am not the least bit jealous this time...nope, y'all can keep your snow.

'Cuz I get to look at these buets all morning and hold my hot cup of coffee, and then go walking down by the river with a friend, in the SUNSHINE! We may even hit up Starbucks at the trail end.
Also, if you like chocolate, I mean real stuff not the Hersey's stuff, you really ought to try this chili chocolate! It's my favorite. The Hubs, he's good...he knows me. I had also mentioned to him that there was a new one out the one with Sea Salt, I haven't tried it yet, but I'm really excited to. These bars last me a while because I savor each little square I break off for a long time. That and Adam is good about letting me keep it all to myself, and doesn't make me share.
I think surprise flowers are on the top ten things that can make my day...maybe even top five. Think I'll be keepin' him.

Preventing the Blow Up

2011-01-31T13:56:00.000-08:00

Remember that time I told you about how the car would overheat and we just kinda ignored it? Well, it wasn't as if it overheated daily, it was just once in a great while, as in months and months. But lately it had been on the weird side more than ever, and after a day of running around town, my Mom said something like "it's hissing, it should not be hissing." I went through an Uggghh moment, than got over it. We gotta do what we gotta do. My brother looked under the hood to see if it was just a hose or something he could fix, but he said it looked like the hoses were great, but that the actual radiator itself was the culprit leaking fluid. I asked him what would happen if we just ignored it some more and added coolant every few days. "Well, it will blow up. And I'm not exaggerating, it really will catch on fire and blow up."

Now, I'm not a car mechanic, but that didn't sound good and I do know that radiators are a lot more expensive than hoses...so I was a little bummed that it was going to be a "big" fix. But who wants their car to blow up? I mean, that would be pretty inconvenient.
So off to Steve the Mormon mechanic. (that isn't the name of his shop, but it should be...honest guy does work for a very fair price...and it would say it all in his name!) He was able to fix it for just under $300, which wasn't exactly in the budget, but again...neither was a totally blown up car or a new one to replace it. And I think that would have been more expensive. The good news out of the whole thing, Steve the Mormon mechanic said that this car was the cleanest he'd ever seen for how old it was and all that. Something a long the lines of "I hope you're planning on keeping this car, because it's going to last a very long time."
There go my dreams of a mini-van in the near future. And yes, I'm excited about a mini-van, those things can hold a ton! But I guess I will have to wait until we outgrow a compact.
As much of an adventure as it would have been to have an under the hood bon fire, I'm pretty excited that we don't really need to worry about this car. I'm sure we will still have exciting stories to tell, but I'll refrain from keeping marshmallows in the trunk, at least for now.

Week Re-cap

2011-01-30T23:07:00.000-08:00

So, my sister Ali is in town, and whenever that happens, I tend to practically live at my parents house, 'cuz I don't want to miss out on any of the happenings. You know. Which is also why I don't blog when she is here. She came in on Sunday night and announced the expectation of a new One (or two we don't know yet) come September, in which we all rejoiced. I was glad she didn't wait to tell because she told me a few days before she came, and it was one of the hardest things to not blurb out to my Mom, or even friends! it was killing me. But that is beside the point....I'm sorta excited about that.
Then I had kinda a crazy week with work, I have been covering morning shifts (kinda unexpectedly) working 5am-11am, so that Adam can leave for work by 1130 and I can crash back into bed. It makes for a long week, but I am grateful to be able to help out.
BIG NEWS! I wish I could add some flashing lights or something to make that stand out more, but the more I think about it, those blogs or websites that have those flashing things always remind me more of an internet scam, or rip off or something I definitely won't be clicking on but thanks for giving me a Grand mal seizure. Eh Hem. Where was I? Oh yes.
Adam had an interview for a promotion on Tuesday, one that we have been waiting for, and praying for. He felt great about it, and we kept on praying. He found out Wednesday that he got the job/promotion. This is big news for him (us!!) since he has only been with the company for 6 months, and they told him when he started that it takes at least a year before most people even are looked at for promotions. So, yes I'm proud of him, and SO grateful for this opportunity for him. It will be much more in-line with his personality and it does a heart good to see others noticing your Hubs' ability and potential and of course moving up is always a good sign that you're in the right place, which also does our hearts good since we know what it's like to feel not in the right place.
Thursday was a new adventure that I hope we can keep up with. Kjerste is jumping in with a friends co-op doing a Kindermusik thing. Since it was the first one she wanted some moral support, and since my kid loves anything musical I thought it was be a great outlet for him (and me lets be honest.)Click on Kjerste's name for cute pics of the class! So, that was fun and we had a great time, though it's a little hard to expect an 18 month old to sit on a mat...he did pretty well and maybe if we can make it out to the farm again we will get in more practice.
On Friday I worked all day, but as soon as I got home we attacked our basement. In a good way. It had become the catch all since we re-modeled the other side of the basement, and then when Adam built the fence we used it as his shop, and we never really did clean up some of the saw dust...it was high time to say the least. Anyways, we got a good chunk done, the Goodwill pile is growing, which made me feel really good, and I cleaned my washer and dryer. Have you done that? It's one of those things that you don't think about, but a handful of Clorox wipes can make your cleaning appliances look like they should be doing just that, and not being hauled out for scrap metal. One of those projects that requires the two of us, so we can vote on what gets "tossed" as well as figure out what in the world that cord really goes to anyways. It was a great evening.
Saturday was a wedding, and it was lovely. You don't usually get to go to winter weddings, so it was a fun wintery theme. The flower girls tossed little snowflakes all over, it was cute. Being an afternoon wedding gave us the evening to celebrate. We got together with friends to celebrate Adam's achievement as well as to get together because it had been a long time, with the holidays and then the crazy cold that would never end and the flu...and it's still January! Maybe we're getting all the icky sickys out of the way for the rest of the year to be awesome. A girl can dream. Stop laughing.
See? You didn't need a blog post every day...these re-cap ones are so much better, though lacking in pictures, no pressure to make interesting the day to day. Happy end of January y'all, cannot believe it, can you?
Stay tuned for Grey Goose Adventures....I know you're on the edge of your chair.

"I cannot tell a lie, I did cut it with my hatchet"

2011-01-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

I hope many of you other North Westerners got good use out of the weather yesterday. Sunshine and temperatures NOT in the 30's made it ideal to tackle some of the things that have been glaring at me from the other side of the window.
Before you get all in arms about getting rid of fruit trees that have probably been here since the house was built 50 years ago, let me make my defense.
1. It was a crab apple tree, have you ever eaten a crab apple?! Ew.
2. Because it was not fruit we picked, the critters of the neighborhood would come, and while they were at it, also would check out what was in the garden that we did want to harvest.
3. It was ugly, and had a rusting metal pole in the ground holding it up.
4. It allowed said critters ample access to our roof, and that's just not something you want.
5. It was ugly, oh, yeah, said that...but it was, really.

I think I've given you enough defense, I rest my case.

So, another bonus to yesterday, my whole family had the day off and was able to come help in the yard attack and tree removal. My Dad first took the reciprocal saw to it. Being sure not to let parts of it hit the house or windows.

My child, was happy to swing while the saw was going, out of trouble and away from "helping" Grandpa.

Then my Mom trimmed it up so that when we barrow a truck this next week we can just throw it in with ease, or easier anyways. We spared parts of the trunk for my FIL who has a lathe and makes amazing things, I should show you sometime.

After it was left to a stump my youngest brother came and used his ax to get it down to nothing but a lump in the ground. Maybe if it's nice next week we can see if he can dig it out. I did not get a picture of that, because there were little chunks of tree flying, and I think everyone nearby should have been wearing eye protection. I wasn't about to get up close. That and swinging axes are scary, and I was keeping my distance.

No more apple tree. And look how big my yard looks now?! I mean, it is big, but it's open feeling, which will be nice if we ever get a swing-set or something like that, this would be about where it would go.

Winter is such an ugly time for the yard, even though we have bulbs below the ground, and leaves will soon fill the trees, it's barren out there. The weeds seem not to know a season, for they even with the snow and freezing temps we've had, have not stopped growing.
Lest you think that my family did all the work. I did a LOT of weeding...I mean, we filled two of these.

Not all with weeds, but also sticks and rose bush pruning, and ivy trimmings, and another little tree that was growing out the back of the green house/in the fence. It was a busy day. I would have taken more before and after pictures, but they wouldn't capture what all we did and how big a difference the whole yard looks. Just take my word for it. MmmK?
I'm excited for spring, and not as overwhelmed. I think it was a good sneak approach for the warmer days. I'm really looking forward to spring also, because my Mom brought me a bag full of early birthday bulbs...hundreds of blooms due to arrive this spring, a yard full of color! I can't wait to see them all come to life.

Cowboy Up

2011-01-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

Or Not.

Creation vs. Evolutionism

2011-01-20T07:28:00.000-08:00

Oh, don't worry. I'm not going all theological on you. That just happened to be the title of the book Adam was so kind to let me ~~tear apart~~ make into an art project.
This was an art project I had seen on blogs past, and thought that someday if I was bored I would give it a whirl...but then it got into that file of things I someday want to do and quickly got displaced in the shuffle of the other three thousand things I am someday going to ~~never~~ do. But then an hour before craft night, Kjerste called me up and told me I should find a book, and go to Joann's on the way over and pick up a styrofoam wreath and do it with her. AND she even reminded me to check my recycling for the %50 off coupon (how does she know me so well to know that it was in the recycling already?! It was the fourth thing down, under the newspaper, and a cereal box) I sprung up the stairs and pulled out my hot glue gun and threw it all in my knitting bag. My husband was a dear and let me have the books, or rather pamphlets, not really sure...and I headed out.
Apparently, you're supposed to watch this paper folding video, but it wouldn't work on Kjerste's iPad, so we just assumed, it could always be ripped off. I had a hard time starting, trying to figure out how to make it look "right" but once I got going it went pretty smoothly. Only a few glue gun burns on my finger tips. The project took all of craft night, it was so fun watching it come together. Unfortunately I wasn't thinking blog post, and we didn't get a single in progress picture. You'll have to be happy with the end product instead.

The current location is not ideal, so I'm thinking I might need to do some re-grouping with my large living room wall to include this beut. It was really simple! And it only cost me a total of $3.26. (thanks to Kj, because otherwise I wouldn't have dug through my recycling to get the %50 coupon.)

Minus 11

2011-01-19T19:21:00.000-08:00

I forgot to post this last week...but after Ezra was sick I was ready for it to be gone. My child loves hair, but when he is sick, in a way it becomes his security blanket, and I get little tiny tangles all through out and then there is the pulling.

Sure he looks all cute here, but this was a brief cheese, while being sick.
I asked my youngest sister, who is the future beauty school-er if she was brave enough to tackle my cowlics and curls....which I have plenty of. (Because my hairdresser moved away, and though she visits frequently and does house calls, her brother was in a horrible car accident, and their whole family has been living in the ICU for a month. Seemed bad timing to ask for a hair cut.)
My sister said yes, and we went to chopping. Usually I donate, but my sister was feeling scared having to put it in a ponytail first, so this time I didn't.

It was actually a pretty frightening experience...she has great style, but my hair can be hard to manage...and she did give me a long bang that doesn't really play nice...but that's about all I can really complain about. Far better than many of the cheap-o Super-cuts I've gotten in the past.
The thing I love about it is I can wear it curly or straight. For years every time I got my hair cut short I spent LOTS of time making it straight, fighting against it. But I didn't know I could work with my hair, until a few years ago my youngest sister was playing with my hair and said, "you know you have curls? Just scrunch it." So, that is usually the only way I wear it now-a-days, scrunched with a little bit of product, and my life has been a TON easier not fighting my hair but working with it. And I look a lot more put together and a little less careless, at least I like to think so. Ahem.
Here are the ways I wear it: the curl picture isn't very curled because it was still wet, but imagine it a little more full.

A new hair cut is like a breath of fresh air...I love the change! Now, it's time to start growing it long again so I can chop it all off. Again.

Disclaimer Post

2011-01-16T21:01:00.000-08:00

It has been brought to my attention of a few things on my previous post. The post was NOT a result of something one of you said, or did. It was just one of those days where I felt the burden of discontentment and thought I would share especially how I deal with it.
Also, my husband is in full awareness of this struggle in me, and ha, poor guy must deal with it more than any of you poor people! I did not in any way intend to sound as if I am dissatisfied with his hard work and ability to provide for us as much as he does. He is my hero, my light at the end of the tunnel, or in the tunnel?! Anywhossal. So, please keep that in mind, that I am not pinning any of my struggling mood on you or anyone for that matter. Feel relieved that you aren't the cause of my sin, I was born with it.