Uploading The Camera

I haven't been taking many pictures lately. I need to get back into the groove.

Here is a glimpse of the week.

Sleepy Pudger. Taking a nap after hours in the snow.
Sweet Greta. Working on paintings for her and Fieldin

Snow! A rare sight around here. To everyone's surprise the schools stayed open this day.

It may have been the only day Greta didn't want to go to school!

Sledding on the hill a block from our house. Also called "Exploration Hill" by the neighborhood kids. The hill behind is called " Froggy Mountain".

This is Fieldin after he fell in the ocean twice! It was a rough start. A trek back to the car for fresh clothes made everything better. A passerby on the beach told him" you are supposed to take your clothes off first before you swim" He didn't think it was funny.

What Color Is My Parachute?

First off, we got about 2 1/2 inches of snow here in the banana belt.

Pure craziness, I tell ya! The kids love it.

Fieldin saw it first thing this morning and said" Merry Missmas Everyone" "where my boots? where my shovel?" Much excitement around here today.

In another thought, my mom has been gone now a little over 6 months. I think of her everyday and the kids and I keep her memory alive. Fieldin often asks when we will see her. Greta takes him to the sofa and talks to him about it. She amazes me.

We all miss you mom and the kids still look for your star nightly.

Now about my parachute or lack there of.

I once left a job that was stressful and draining. I felt dead inside. As I left with my box o' belongings from my office( a half dead cactus, a wedding pic and some gum) I met a coworker on my way out. She didn't really understand why I would leave a job and suggested I figure out my parachute. I just assumed the job was making her a little whacky and said my goodbyes. A quick internet search led me to the book" what color is your parachute?" it would give me insight into what I should do in my future career paths.. what would make me happy. I flipped through the book and never read it. I had taken " career" type tests before and they were always a flop. Once in my senior year, I took one of these tests and it came back with model( ahem, what the??? lucky genetics isn't really a skill, or atleast a skill I have), art gallery owner ( I love art but am a horrible salesperson), art instructer ( I remember whining on in my teen years about art being an individual creation, how dare a teacher judge it, needless to say I never did well...Say no to conformity! yadda yadda) and I think those were my options... Great.

Now I am a lucky mom but I don't know if that title constitutes as a real " career parachute" just like being a mom doesn't give me a 401K or free pizza Friday in the break room...ahh I want a breakroom. So far I am happy not knowing my parachute. I am starting to think I may be one of those people that just enjoys hanging out in the plane waiting for my complimentary peanuts. I never really liked heights anyway.

While I was laying in the hallway yesterday being covered by viewmaster reels by the little man..doing my job as resident shelf, pack mule and jungle gym.. I looked up at the ceiling and wondered how we get to where we are..it all happens so fast.

a slight blow to the head with a play grocery cart knocked me back to reality.

I may find my right colored parachute someday but I am very happy right now without it.

I guess time will tell if I find my "parachute" and I guess when it does I will have to embrace it and jump...screaming all the way.

Life Without A Cow- An Update

So I have been living Dairy Free for about a month now.

It has been much easier than anticipated and after going through dairy withdrawals, I find I never have any Pavlov type reactions when I see pizza, ice cream or gooey cheesiness. This is a good thing. By the way did you know Tootsie pops have dairy? they do..

I have added new things to my diet, happy to not have side effects of an allergy and generally feel better.

The hardest part is finding food to eat outside of home. At home I have complete control of what goes in my food and can and do spend hours reading labels. Luckily, we don't eat out much. Alot of times I have food with me for emergencies. It is amazing how restaurants sneak cheese into everything!

Jeff has been making me dairy free baked goods, so I never feel deprived of sweets. I think this is my secret of sustaining...

I sent the hunter/gatherer out for chocolate chips the other night. I was out of dark chocolate to cut up in cookies. He came back after awhile with only one semi sweet option he could find without milk (ghiradelli!) he stocked up for me so we will have them on hand. I go through a lot of dark chocolate and cocoa powder these days!

Jeff and the kids still enjoy dairy but may eat a bit less. They love their yogurt, hot cocoa, cheese and ice cream.

Over all it is working out well and I appreciate Jeff and the kiddos for being so supportive.

I will keep you updated on my progress!

A Little About Fieldin 2 years 4 mths

His favorite thing right now..painting. He paints throughout the day.
With flowers at the Farmer's Market

What I know about Fieldin, right now:
Today he wants to be called "cake" but not "beef cake".
He loooves soccer. "I go soccer, I love soccer, where my hat?"
Things he says: "I not chubby, I Fieldin. Birds are chubby. Not Fieldin"
He likes to point his finger and say"Don't mess with me" "Put em up!"
He calls Greta "pooptrout"
He sings: Lollipop, Rockin Robin, Mr. Sandman, Feliz navidad, Silent Night, Twinkle Little star, Head and shoulders, wheels on the bus and a few of my favorite songs.
My favorite quotes from the week: "I not trouble, I fieldin", "I want salt", " I Fieldin, I two, I Batman", "Night Night ladies", "wow, that awesome!""you get my jammies, I tired and ready to sleep"
My least favorite phrase.. " I do it! I do it!!! I do it myself!!!" :)
Favorite animals: dogs and giraffes
loves to draw, especially circles and faces.
He tells me about dogs driving cars and breaks out in hysterics.
He has a great imagination, likes dress up, likes being a robot, loves art, loves chase, likes to bowl, puts away laundry, helps change sheets, likes to "clean" and try to dress himself, likes speeding around on his motorcycle and trike, loves playdough, likes to stand on a "stage" and sing, likes digging in sand, rocks and water, is a good dancer, prefers soymilk over cows milk, has a gigantic sweet tooth, he's a gentleman to little ladies, likes to watch popcorn pop and then watch The Backyardigans and Wow Wow Wubzy with Greta, loves fish, he's a very fast runner, he likes to sleep on Jeff's pillow, he brushes his own teeth, he likes to get his own snacks, he loves babies, he is very affectionate, he hates strollers and carts unless he gets to push them, likes playing guitar and "his" organ.
Main topics of conversation these days: food, soccer, going to the beach, going to visit grandpa, more food, playdoh, and playing Batman.
That's just a little about the little man right now. Love you lots buddy..or I mean cake.

Quiet

I have been very quiet these past weeks.

Days are flying by, tulip bulbs are peaking out of the ground, Spring activities are beginning and I need to get back in the habit of writing!

It's not often that I am speechless.

More posts to come. :)

This Last Week and Happy Heart Day!

First off, Happy Valentine's Day or Happy $18.6 billion boost to the economy Day. .....Which ever way you see it, I hope you have a good one!

We were lucky enough to have friends visiting this last week for 5 days which is why the blog has been a bit quiet. Here's a quick update of this last week.

Kindergarten Valentine's Party. My little girl loooves this day.
Another lost tooth for the toothless wonder. She lost her second bottom tooth Friday night. Exactly a month after she lost her first tooth.

The perfect slope of darn cute kids. They had a great time together.
Hope you have a wonderful Heart Day!

A Week In Pictures

Finally amongst the living again!

I will say that flu really, really sucked. I'll leave it at that.

I've been getting my energy back these past couple days. So here is some of our week in pictures.

heart found in moss. I heart Oregon!
Hiking fairly close to our house.

One of the beautiful waterfalls at McDowell Creek. A little Sunday hike.

The bluebirds are all over the backyard these days and we love them.

The kids ended a session of soccer. Which means our Saturdays open up once again! Saturday they received awards and said goodbye to their coaches. Fieldin will continue on for the next session. Greta enjoys soccer but wants to take more swim lessons this spring instead.

Goal!

Miss Greta read this WHOLE book by herself. We are proud of you sweetie! over 60 pages. She wanted to read it before bed and was yawning but she didn't want to stop til she was done. Her reward for her accomplishment?? frozen yogurt with fresh blackberries, sprinkles, animal cookies and a dollop of marshmallow cream...:)

Silly little man getting cozy in his recliner. He is singing ALL the time these days. It warms my heart.
Taking pictures with his "camera" then he becomes "birdwatcher"

One only eats a really good pie this way. It was good. Marionberry and white white hair are not the best combination though.