From Where I Stand...

 From where I stand... The cat is a hoarder. He had a death grip on this fake palm frond and Fieldin's sunglasses. This may be the most obvious plea for a vacation. It was a bit strange. 

 From Where I stand... I love that she teaches him, except when she sounds JUST like me and then it's a bit creepy. This picture makes my heart happy.

 From where I stand.. This means time for jam. The kids searching for strawberries in the backyard(this ones our first!) and that the strawberry festival is this weekend. 

 From where I stand.. He will always be my superhero in a cape, even when he's old and grey. 

 From where I stand... wait I was laying down for this... From where I lay exhausted... she is growing so fast. Here working on a school project. Shoulders and head hovered over her work.wow. 

 From where I stand... They can never explore and find enough bugs. 

 From where I stand.... Blue=sea= summer= I am all about summer right now

 From where I stand.. I am pretty sure this is heaven

 From where I stand... I can't compete with cat like reflexes and youth. Future air hockey champs. 

 From where I stand... he is the captain of the boat and king of the playground:) 

 From where I stand... ummm, over there on that bridge... I could hike daily. 

From where I stand.. There can never be too many newts in a pond. 

This Girl

This girl is changing before my eyes. 

This girl is sweet and becoming less outgoing and more reserved. 

This girl makes me smile, laugh and occasionally stop to count to ten :) 

This girl has a voice of independence that is growing strong.

This girl loves books, video games, dolls and girly stuff. 

This girl needs lots of sleep. 

This girl eats three breakfasts and two dinners. 

This girl is 4' 4" and growing. 

This girl is one I want to spend much more special time with this summer. 

This girl has my heart. 

This girl is starting to try to figure out life. 

This girl is polite. 

This girl puts together some crazy outfits. 

This girl wears running shoes with dresses instead of dress shoes. 

This girl likes to keep everything. 

This girl has an amazing laugh and eyes full of life. 

This girl likes to sing, draw and get hugs. 

This girl loves her cat. 

This girl is loved.

Photo Dump

 Yawning after nap 

 The kids love popping pea pods lately. They ask for them now.

Working on his bike. He can do this for such a long time. 

 Party frog. One night after bath I started the "party frogs goin to dance tonight party" I really regret it now:)

 He said"mommy take a picture of my watermelon smile"

 Time to take Greta to school. Look at that little guys face... and that grip. 

 beauty parlor

air hockey with chomps chasing the puck. 

Pay Back

 I kept wondering why the cat keeps attacking the paper towel roll, a quick glance at the photo dump answered my question. 

 Absolute passive aggressive payback for this. I am so sorry chomps. 

A Crappy Pioneer Woman

I was driving today, thoughts wandering like usual(as I was responsibly watching my speed and the road..ahem) and thinking what a crappy pioneer woman I would be/been. This realization of myself shocks me a bit. I used to think of myself as a bit rugged. The only thing rugged about me was my overpriced hiking boots..that yuppies wear. I have to shower daily, I don't like bugs much, I get grouchy without lots of water breaks, I get callouses easy. I'm such a chump for ever thinking I could hold my own out of doors. I can't even eat normally. One cannot forage for gluten-free flour and soy cheese in the wild. I would be a laughing stock. Plus I would only be able to consume in season produce! No hothouse stuff.. forget about it. 

The worst part, was realizing how much I would whine. It would be drama diva bad, complaining about lame under garments, itchy clothes, hey where's my dry wick socks? 

Being a pioneer woman would be tough in so many ways and I am not tough. 

So where am I going with this? 

Be happy where you are. I always thought I belonged in another time, but I now know that I am where I am supposed to be. Why? cause I am a bit of a wus. Could I have survived the sugar shortages of WWII? 

Nope. 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day to me. Happy Mother's day to you. I like this day. If only it was two days long.. A day for each child.:) I hope all of you, men and women that love and "mother" your children are enjoying your day. Today also makes me think of my mom and how much I miss her. She loved the beach, and spending the day there today, made me feel a bit closer to her. 

 Me and them. I'm a pretty lucky gal. 

 searching for treasures. 

 "our mom rocks" :)

 dino riding in the backyard. 

 Mother's day dinner ready for the oven. Courtesy of Jeff. It tasted like childhood. I haven't had salmon that tasted like this since the fish my dad caught when I was young. 

Jumping the whale in the backyard. It was hot here today! Glad we were in a little cooler locale most of the day. 

A thanks to Jeff who made us a great bbq lunch on the beach, Jeff for repotting my palm tree and my massive collection of chicks and hens that will be cascading over the rock wall this time next year(I hope), The kids for their BEAUTIFUL glitter portraits of them and Chomps and the portrait of mom that sweet Greta made for me to frame (so I can talk to my mom whenever I need to). 

Miss you mom.Thank you for the great day you three. 

Saturday

Jeff was spending the day out on the river fishing for salmon... 13 hours to be exact. He brought home a large Chinook salmon. So now we have a happy freezer with fish. My greedy self wouldn't mind having more...ahem.. Jeff. Here's what you missed on the homefront, Jeff. 

 Magic. The little man pulled a rabbit out of a hat for me MANY times. It was amazing...I wonder how he did it. 

 Fifteen minutes later I find him in his underwear surfing on the cat scratcher. Giggling and singing" hey woman.... I wanna go surfing." which is a song we listen to in the car. One of his favs. 

 Greta's last riding lesson. She really enjoyed them. We will wait and see for awhile on future lessons. I have to say I enjoyed watching her lessons and didn't make myself sick with worry:) She was very sad to say goodbye to Quiggly. We are taking the summer off on all lessons. Focusing on fun instead of schedules and I am very excited! 

 It was a "Popsicle day" which is Greta and Fieldin talk for a warm day. I am too cheap to buy Popsicles... a weird quirk of mine, so it is that time of year to keep my stock up in the freezer.

Afternoon reading, snacking and napping in the backyard

  It is officially "eating al fresco" time of year. The kids are on tablecloth duty from here on out. 

Friday

 After dropping Greta off at school. A hot cocoa pick me up. 

 Jeff was home today so was able to join us on a new hike. Fieldin doing his favorite thing in the world "fly pee" He asks to do this in the woods, on airplanes, in dept 

stores...

 Me and Chunk or Un-Chunk as he's become at the top. 

 Scotch pine...I love the colors. 

 A busy day and a new toy.. A very tired boy

 I have been waiting and waiting for my favorite azalea to open

Buzz cut.... Grets swim lesson, catching up on DVR... Good bye Friday.

Another Season Of Life

Fieldin in Florida, 1 year 

I feel like this moment just happened yesterday. Little Fieldin trying to walk.. Greta out of the picture trying to explore and gain more independence. Me hovering,watching and teaching. This is all changing. I now have independent kids and free hands. They have more freedom and so do I. Sometimes it feels strange, but it feels right. As they grow, I am growing with them. They need me in new ways. They keep me running, sliding, batting, reading, laughing, singing, snacking, jumping, finding, exploring in ways I haven't for many years. They make me search in the dusty depths of my cobwebbed brain to answer "why"...if I can't we research it and I learn too. They want to help and be hands on. They want to cook, garden, build and create. They are full of life. My babies aren't babies anymore. I thought this time of life would be hard for me. I thought I may cry at this loss. Instead I smile and laugh everyday with growing kids. I am not sad, I am excited for the years we have to come and growing together. I hope they are up for the task because I have AlOT to learn... and still a little to teach them.

Photo Dump

I was having such a great time documenting our life lately and then my spring allergies hit.. Kleenex became my main accessory instead of a camera. I 'm trying to get back into the swing of it. Somehow I thought I was going to get by allergy free this year but after a weekend spent hiking on new trails and exploring, something got me! 

 Morning art time on the blackboard 

 after soccer class we do grocery shopping. Fieldy can do this without me, which makes me think I need to mix up our meals a bit :) he loves having his own cart. 

 practicing writing the alphabet

 she mastered her bike, scooter and now it's time for the skates

 hazelnut meal pancakes with raspberry sauce

 reading the newspaper

Riding his bike. I just realized he has almost outgrown his bike already! 

 Soaking in some much needed sun at the park.

 Greta's portrait of Beethoven......

I see broccoli!