Cooped Up

I was cooped up yesterday. We are 1 1/2 weeks into Winter vacation and I was restless, and so were the little ones. Miss Greta really misses school. We have been keeping busy but I thought a little exploring would be good for us(me).

A little time at the children's museum, where I wished I could roll them in Purell... I fought the urge.

So off to one of my favorite places, the Portland Art Museum. There were a few exhibits I wanted to see before they move on in January. These two wanted to see an original Norman Rockwell "Santa picture" as they called it.

Burning off some steam in the museums courtyard. I love this...

Hip girl. Hip restaurant. It is fun to take them to fun lunch spots. Then back home. Now where do we go today?

A Trail of Needles

The Christmas decorations are put away.

A few home organization projects are completed.

We have been enjoying a restful week, mostly at home.

This time of year makes me start reflecting over this last year. It has been a "heck" of a year.

Some good, some bad.

As stressful as relocation is, we are happy with the results. It was a good move for us.

It was tough to see miss Greta go off to school. She loves it and it has been a positive experience.

The death of my mom. It is something I deal with everyday and has changed me as a person. I miss her.

All in all, I am ready to say goodbye to 2010 and look forward. It was quite a year.

Here are some pics from a lazy Sunday drive we took. So beautiful. It is time to really begin exploring our new home.

Some Images of Christmas 2010

Cracker Time...and our prize crowns.
Them..5 years and 2 years.

Santa Tracking..late at night.

Their upteenth round of acoustic Christmas Carols. All evening Christmas Eve and early Christmas morning. So cute. Their favorites, Feliz Navidad and Silent Night.

Tired Pudger.... Falling asleep in his soup bowl at lunch on Christmas Day. Spoon and roll in each hand.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that you're ready for a New Year!

Christmas Eve

11:20 p.m.

I hear footsteps upstairs. They belong to the eldest.

Upstairs blinds are cracked open.....searching for a sleigh.

Not sure if Miss Belle will go to sleep tonight.

As for Fieldin, he was apprehensive before bedtime.

" Santa bring me presents in morning? that nice."

"Santa come in doors? (terrified expressions as he asks)"

Before falling asleep in firm loud tone " I...Afraid of Santa"

To all of you out there having a sleepless night... Merry Christmas. :)

ZooLights

This evening we headed to the Zoo to enjoy the lights with the kids. We had a very fun time and had great weather. I saw a shrub with buds and new leaves today. Is it winter or spring?

Snake!!!
On the elephant.

I loved the hippos.

Greta and her special viewing glasses. She also got her pic taken with Rudolph and a dinosaur.

With their favorite bird, the puffin!

We spent the car ride to Portland singing songs. Fieldin has Silent Night and Jingle Bells down. I love hearing them both sing for me. There was also a popcorn fight in the backseat, counting practice, Fieldin saying "zoinks!", Christmas light spotting and lots of giggling. Oh yeah...and a few presents were opened today! early practice.

Scenes Around The Tree

We had one of those joyous days today; we just stayed home. Nowhere to go, nowhere to be. This gave us a whole day of admiring our neglected tree. I got sneeky with my camera and caught some pics of today's tree time.

Rudy the sock monkey got to fulfill his dream of being King Kong, or so it looks. This must have been exciting for Rudy. Since I made him 5 years ago, he usually just hangs out on the sofa around the holidays. This year he has been up to all sorts of mischief thanks to a couple little ones....

All superheros must fly over Christmas trees. Getting the glittery angel at the top is extra bonus points.

Hugs and dancing around the twinkling lights.

And an image I am reminded of from Fieldin's first Christmas here.

And his daily "fixing" of the tree. The tree started sparse and is now covered with ornaments made by the kids. A pretty special tree indeed.

A Quote From Linus

Being the youngest I must agree. Linus your cool. No wonder Fieldin is obsessed with you.

"Big Sister's are the crabgrass in the lawn of life"

Storybook Land

We enjoyed Storybook land this week with the kids and some friends. We visited last year; before we moved and were on a visit to find a place to live. The kids loved it and couldn't wait to go again this year(minus visiting Santa for Fieldy this year). Jeff and I really enjoy this too. There are so many fun scenes and the wonderful smell of fresh cut trees...

Fieldin and Frosty..
Fieldin loved the huge tables of running trains. He kept running to chase them.

The kids walking through the final leg.
Fieldy loved seeing Mickey and the gang, stitch, cars, scooby doo, 101 Dalmations and Snoopy. Greta loved all the Disney Princesses, Scooby Doo and the beautiful Victorian town.

The moving Bear displays..

In other news: We have been busy teaching Fieldin to Sing"Call me Dr. Love" and "Ho Ho Ho, where's my cookies? Where's my milk?", Both kids had a great day at soccer practice, low low tides "forced" me to head to the ocean to find sea glass and shells. Mission Completed!!, we are enjoying watching a blank wall fill up with holiday cards, lots of coloring, lots of Snoopy, lots of Winter birds in the backyard, Greta says her second name is Danger Belle and Fieldin's is Trouble Crewe and a fun Christmas party in Gret's class.

7 more days people....Ho, Ho, Ho!!!!

Holiday Art and My Letter To Santa....

The kids reindeer made of feet and hands.. Thank you Darcy for your fridge o' inspiration on this one.
Gret's pic of an angel, Jeff, Fieldin, me putting a hat on a snowman, grandma in heaven and Greta, all under falling snowflakes.

A Reindeer with lots of pink eye shadow and eyelashes that I have to say I am envious of...

Our house with pretty glitter.

and a very special Christmas card that I will cherish for ever.

Dear Santa,

It is time to send my yearly correspondence, asking for my fair share. Hmmm... what do I want? What do I need? Nothing really, just keep my family healthy and happy. My gift's come daily and are never wrapped. They are simple and not purchased. If I can ask for one gift for myself it is to help me remember the moments of this beautiful season of my life. A hug from Fieldin with his adorable smile and his little voice saying" I love you". Greta's hugs and thoughtfulness. I want to remember the sweet faces of my kids and how much I love my Jeff. Memories are a good gift along with a bag of strong coffee beans..and some peanut m&m's...

Thank you for the gift's Santa.

P.S. Tread lightly; Fieldy is still a light sleeper.

Fieldin Was Here-Sunday

I always know where Fieldin is.... he leaves trails.

Little man loves tomatoes. He sneaks them and I find them everywhere.
Peeking over the island on a stool and helping with cookie making.

Every light switch in the house has some sort of stool under it. Lights on..lights off..off..on..off..on.

A practice present under the tree. He waited til' noone was paying attention then all of a sudden we found him in the family room with a toy. "it was devastation" in Greta's own words.

Poor baby. For some reason Fieldin always draws all over it. After this he attacked it with a red marker and it looked like something from a really bad horror movie from the 80's.

Important Mail

Fieldin's Santa letter (Written by Greta)

" Zhu Zhu Pet, Candy, Real Live Penguin"
"Zhu Zhu pet, American Doll, Stuffed Penguin Buddy, Nutcracker Ornament"
Written by Greta, age 5.

Edible Dwelling

This weekend we worked on our yearly ritual of making gingerbread houses. We started on Sunday and finished Monday night.This year, Greta and I did our Haus and then we also did a family one. Many thanks to Michel for sending the kids a kit this year! Starting to build.

Constructing the second house.
The fun part! Decorating and of course eating, and eating, and eating...

The finished results.

And of course, one must always sneak icing during construction....

Mistletoe

This weekend was spent celebrating the holiday. On Friday we made a trip to the Aquarium to see Santa and the lights, an old fashioned Christmas at a lighthouse, a little whale watching, a lighted boat parade, some gingerbread construction and Scooby Doo and a Nutcracker too.

F.Y.I.. Fieldin does not like Santa this year. Nuff said. "I no sit on Santa's lap. I no like!!!!!"

A little mistletoe fun before seeing Santa.

I love this last photo. I got lucky with that sparkle...