MommaTia

Ikea Idea

2013-05-03T21:50:00.002-07:00

Somewhere along the line the girls and I started playing around with these Ikea beads and the next thing you know we'd given birth to earrings. Basically you create a cool design out of beads, then create another one, iron them simultaneously so as to create a uniform sheen and meltedness, poke earring hardware through one of the top beads' centers and VOILA! EARRINGS! We made several pairs of these and they were very fun and easy, the kids really got into it, too. Try it out!

2013-05-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

This is now. Now is,
all there is. Don't wait for Then;
strike the spark, light the fire.

Sit at the Beloved's table,
feast with gusto, drink your fill

then dance
the way branches
of jasmine and cypress
dance in a spring wind.

The green earth
is your cloth;
tailor your robe
with dignity and grace.

–Rumi

National Poem in Your Pocket Day

2013-04-18T16:22:00.001-07:00

Today at the library I saw a little flier by the checkout desk that said:

"Celebrate National Poem In Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 18, 2013.The idea is simple: select a poem you love during National Poetry Month then carry it with you to share with co-workers, family, and friends." I love this!

Here is the poem I have just put in my pocket, a little late, but still.....

You must always keep in mind that a path is only a path.
Each path is only one of a million paths.
If you feel that you must now follow it,
you need not stay with it under any circumstances.
Any path is only a path.

There is no affront to yourself or others in dropping a path
if that is what your heart tells you to do.
But your decision to keep on a path or to leave it
must be free of fear and ambition.

I caution you: look at every path closely and deliberately.
Try it as many times as you think necessary.
Then ask yourself and yourself alone this one question.
Does this path have a heart?

All paths are the same. They lead nowhere.
They are paths going through the brush or into the brush
or under the brush of the Universe.
The only question is: Does this path have a heart?

If it does, then it is a good path.
If it doesn’t, then it is of no use.

–Carlos Castaneda

Eight

2013-04-13T11:05:00.001-07:00

Dear Avery,

It's been awhile since I've written to you on your birthday, all the more reason to update you on who you are now: OLDER, for one thing and also, more and more awesome, if that's possible.

You turned eight yesterday. You knew how you wanted to celebrate your birthday as soon as you got home from your friend Mya's birthday in January: you wanted a slumber party with the same two friends, the same dinner destination (Red Robin!) and the same mousse cups for dessert. Your day was a true celebration, with the aforementioned delights but also nickel games at Wunderland and a viewing of Freaky Friday that night.

Gotta love Skeeball.

A favorite gift this birthday was a label maker, which you have already used and loved, depleting the tape in one whole cartridge. We are all walking around wearing stickers that say "Awesome."

But enough about the WHAT of eight, let's talk about the WHO.

You, my sweet girl, are amazing.

I look at pictures of you and see the many sides to you, all which make you so much more than a beautiful face. You are tender-hearted and empathetic, able to take others' feelings into account. Maybe this is because you yourself feel things (from excitement to disappointment) with gusto.

You are present and notice everything, remembering everything too. You and I have the same habit of finding similarities in people. You often say, "She reminds me of so-and-so" and they really do look alike.

You like school and you get absorbed with playing school. You are a super writer at school and I love your stories. You have written a series about a Bad Cat and I can't wait to see where it's going to go. You also like listening to music and singing. You LOVE LOVE LOVE Kit your American Girl. You have also been working on swimming this year and are oh so close to finishing your last swimming lesson. That's been exciting to watch your improvement in the pool.

Molly dog is another favorite. You are very good at sitting with her and engaging her in some sort of game where she's choosing pick up sticks with large puppy paws. You call her "sweetie" and give her lots of attention.

You are a helper, always there to run and get me things I need. You are connected to me, making a point to kiss me goodbye when I leave the house and giving me sweet notes. As your mom I am so lucky to get to witness your full personality, as you save your quieter side for the public. I love the silly side of you and the side that loves a good laugh. You are funny!

You know what you like, are particular about foods you like to eat. Right now your favorite snacks are seaweed and mango and you prefer to snack more than eat regular meals. You still love hamburgers, chocolate and carrots. Lately you have discovered spaghetti with meat sauce and salad.

You used to get more nervous and scared but you have become more brave. The other day you and your sister got your ears pierced and YOU went first! Your sister is both your best friend and your biggest enemy at times. You play so well together and then will erupt into loud and terrible arguments, and whereas you used to compromise more and let her get her way, these days you are putting up more of a fight about what you want and need, which I'm glad to see.

Avery, I am loving watching you grow and change. I am so glad with a capital G to have you as my daughter.

Love,

Mommy

Neice. Nephew.

2013-04-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't yet met Drew here on the right, but look at that smile. I can just smell his baby smell and hear his tiny grunts and see his mini fist doing its mini fist thing. And look at that big sister of his looking on so dearly. SHE is a character, telling her parents "Vamanos" to get them out of the house, and talking on FaceTime to her cousins (chin in hands) about her favorite type of pizza: cheese.

I love these little people, so.

Dawgs and Dawllers

2013-04-03T21:40:00.002-07:00

Oh how having a dog changes everything.

Like going on a trip. When you leave for a week to sunny San Diego for spring break, your dog doesn't get to come with you on the plane. So you check her into a kennel and hope that this time, she isn't labelled shy and timid, and that this time, she dives in headfirst and doesn't come home with kennel cough.

This time, indeed, Molly's report card read: "Friendly" and "Active." This time instead of giving us the trainer's business card for shyness, they gave us the trainer's business card for behavior training, to which I reply, "Come on, she's still just a puppy!" (Despite her large size and weight: 68 pounds).

In the seven months we've owned her, Molly has presented us with the usual puppy challenges. She digs up the yard. Her peeing has ruined our lawn. There's the jumping, the biting, the counter surfing. The floors are covered in her shedding fur. And yet it's only been in the past few months that we've felt more of the strain of being dog owners. If you want to race out and get a full bred puppy of some sort, read on, to discourage yourself.

This morning my alarm came from Molly's crate, the sound of hurling. Usually she laps up her hurl, (I know! Gross!) but this time it was all still there. I cleaned it up and inspected it, and within the contents were the fibers of a half-eaten hand knit washcloth, a sliver of undigested rawhide, and....wait for it.....a rock.

She loves to push her enamel dog dish around aggressively once she's finished eating. It's like a compulsion. Most recently, the effects of this were that the dog dish got RAMMED just right into the corner of our glass oven door, causing it to shatter into a million little shards. Luckily it was safety glass, and it held, but we had to replace the glass in the door to the tune of about $300. Next she got fixed, which was another expense, but pretty seamless in terms of the incision healing, etc. plus it bought us a week of a very calm and sedated dog. Then she had an ear infection in her left ear. Not a week after an ear re-check we took her in because following the pulverizing of a new toy, she kept hacking like she had something stuck in her throat. We had x-rays done only to discover that there was nothing stuck and she instead was coughing because she had kennel cough. Cue her second round of antibiotics. Upon picking her up after our San Diego trip, I noticed her right ear was red and irritated. Today's vet visit corroborated a second ear infection. Thankfully a topical treatment was prescribed, one we already had at home from the last ear infection.

Then, not minutes after we got home from the vet, I was out lint rolling the front seat where she'd sat and when I came in, Avery said, "Mom! What's all this blood everywhere?" Upon surveying the scene, sure enough, tiny fresh blood drops trailed all over the floors, dotted the walls, and were smeared occasionally on doors and trim. What the?

It was a mystery for awhile, but we knew it was coming from the dog. I figured during one of her counter surfs she'd scored a knife, as is her way. Turns out, it was her tail that was all bloody and Julia admitted (with shame) to slamming the bathroom door to keep Molly out, catching her tail accidentally in the door. HELLO! Poor poor dog! I am watching it and worried about it, like I worry about Julia when her asthma acts up. This pet business is about being a parent all over again. Will it mean another vet visit? Will she need a cone to keep her from fussing with a wound that doesn't seem to want to stop bleeding? AAAAAA!

There are bright spots, though, always bright spots. Like yesterday, when I took a gamble and left her inside while I trekked to Costco, in search of a new food to try with her in case her ear infections are being caused by an allergy of some sort. I expected to come home and find our Sheffelia munched, or one of my pillows torn, or SOMETHING. All I found was a sweet dog face greeting me at the window, and a return to her rawhide in the corner once she'd greeted me with lots of wags and happy grunts. She was a CHAMP. I was so proud of her and pumped her full of praise. We never leave her in the house when we go anywhere, so this was a success!

People warned us about puppies, and full bred dogs. People said, "Don't get a lab. They are spazes for three years. They shed. They stink." We went ahead and did it anyway.

Despite the stresses and strains, cleaning up blood and vomit, paying another vet bill, I can honestly say that I can't imagine life without our Molly dog. One of the best parts of my day was tossing the ball for my retriever again and again in the backyard.

Updated:

After a visit to the vet the next day, we found that our dear Mol had quite the laceration on the tip of her tail. Jump forward a week + and we're on week two of sedation, cone, antibiotics, and pain/inflamation meds so as to help this thing heal. Too bad she's such a WAGGER. It is healing but slated to be bandaged for another 2-3 weeks. It's going to be like not having a dog for awhile, but hopefully she will be back in business. Poor, poor girl. We love her so. Those underwear are to help her from banging it on stuff while it's healing. Luckily she hasn't done any damage to her bandage. Sigh.....

Destination San Diego Spring Break 2013

2013-04-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

This year for spring break we put the dog in the kennel and hopped on a plane to sunny San Diego. Virgin America equips each seat with its own screen, and here the girls are indulging in a whole heck of a lot of tweeny bopper shows on Disney, the ones mom never lets them normally watch.

San Diego was a bit overcast upon arrival. Still, it was different and warmer and the tropical foliage immediately had me sucked in. Check out the view from the condo we rented on VRBO....

Whilst in San Diego, we did a lot. We hit the beach....it felt a lot like Oregon but with cooler shells.

We hit LaJolla. What a pretty spot. From the seals on the beach to the yummy restaurants, to Sprinkles cupcakes, it was a worthwhile stop.

We did Sea World. My favorites were the belugas and the sea turtles and flamingos. They get that color from their diet high in beta.

We did Lego Land, too. Check out these sweet RVs built of Legos.

We LOVED the San Diego zoo. We hopped right onto a shuttle and saw the park and then walked around and saw other highlights. It's such a pretty zoo, tons of beautiful foliage and natural habitats and huge enclosures.

This guy was quite something to get so close to.

It's a big enough zoo that taking a tram from one end to another makes perfect sense.

One afternoon we headed over the bridge to Coronado......

...... a wonderful stop for some shopping and sight seeing. This hotel has been around since the late 1800's. Pretty sweet, I say.

One of the girls' favorite things to do was to hit the pool. They made some friends from Colorado, Greta and Elsa, and inevitably they were able to hang at the pool with them a bit, offering dad poolside chill time and mom time to walk on the beach.....

LOVE YOU SAN DIEGO. Thanks for a great spring break! It was awesome!

Right Now, I'm Loving.......

2013-03-13T22:41:00.000-07:00

The above dog for starters, who is now 7 months, fixed, had her first ear infection, been left for two nights at the dog daycare and deemed shy, and who LOVES herself a Steer Pizzle. She, I LOVE.

These pajama bottoms. I loved them so much I wrote a review about them on the site.

Solitaire, live, with real cards and the forgotten thrill of shuffling. I even taught the girls how to play.

Girls. Though for some (not me) it can be graphic in its R-Rated HBO-ness, it is made up of brilliant writing, characters who are people, dialogues that are full of hilarity. Lena Dunham you're my hero. Season two is even better than season one, in my humble opinion.

These oranges and rice crackers from Trader Joe's. YUM. O.

This entertaining read, which the girls and I are enjoying together. And any picture book written or illustrated by John Klassen.

This bunny, which I ordered two kits to make and now have to get ON to making. Not sure when that will happen but thankfully, my playroom/craft room is clean as of today so there will be an orderly space in which to do the work. (Another good reason to get ON it as that won't last, given the mess makers, aged seven and nine, with whom I live).

Did I ever show you my new craft tables? Might as well now as I'm loving them, too. I got them in green and put them facing each other so the girls can sit at one and I can sit across from them at the other. We can make creative messes there, together.

I am loving (from afar) Andrew Drew Zenor, my new nephew born February 2, the exact day we lost my dad four years ago. (Pictures to come). His sister, now two, is loved, too. Face Time with her is a gas.

And lastly, dear reader, to thank you for showing up yet again, this peppy song.

Missing an Hour of Sleep in Seattle

2013-03-12T16:46:00.001-07:00

Last weekend we went to Seattle for the weekend. It was about a 24 hour trip, but it was super fun and just good to get away and have some time as a family. I've explored the city of Seattle a lot, but not since I've been married with kiddos. It was time.

Stop one, was the American Girl store. As much as I struggled with this being a destination, the truth was that the girls were super excited to get something new for their dolls. They'd never actually gotten anything other than the dolls from American Girl, (evidenced in Kit's homemade duds she arrived in) so it was fun for them to pick out an outfit and accessory for their doll. Smiles were wide upon leaving here, paving the way for a happy trip. Kit got glasses and a hiking set, Lainie high tops and a roller skating ensemble. Julia even let me brush Lainie's hair into submission during the trip.

We stayed downtown on the 38th floor of the Westin. What an adventure that was. We could see Lake Union from our windows.

For the "fun" of it, when we left the Westin to go explore, Julia and I decided we would take the stairs down from the 38th floor, prompting Avery and my husband to do it also. We worked up a good sweat on our journey down.

We ventured down the street to Westlake Center where we caught the Monorail to the Space Needle. was a beautiful evening, just turning dark as we arrived at the Space Needle. My husband stood in line while the girls and I found sustenance in the way of small pies from a nearby food stand. If you have a fear of heights, just don't watch as you soar upwards, protected only by glass. At the top we circled the deck. On our way down someone asked what would happen if there was an earthquake while we were in the Space Needle. The reply? It's the safest place to be, built to withstand an earthquake measuring 9 on the rictor scale. Our feet safely on the ground, we listened to a jazz trio, the saxophone sweetening the air.

We later ordered room service. It was daylight savings time so we lost an hour that night. We went swimming the next morning, then trekked down to Pike Place Market for some exploring.

There was a Cupcake Royale on our way back to the motel so of course we had to stop. Julia's lavender cupcake modeled for this shot. Cupcake Royale's cupcakes have the supreme crumb, in my opinion, and are moist, dense, and yet light and fluffy. Their frosting is equally good.

We then ventured to a new area of Seattle to see Archie McPhees for some random trinkets. The girls got very excited about buying tiny pepsi cans and miniature cutlery for their dollhouse. We ate a seafood lunch at Ray's by the water and hit Golden Garden's Park before it was time to venture home.

We know so many great people in Seattle that the next time we go, we'll have to do some visiting, also.
Thanks for a great time, Seattle! Thanks family for the good times! Thanks Molly dog for spending two nights in the kennel so we could play.

2013-02-16T22:10:00.002-08:00

2012-12-20T15:49:00.002-08:00

From our half decorated tree to yours, wishing you merry things and peace, wishing you moments of pure joy, plucked from restful days with loved ones.

the laughing heart

2012-12-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.

be on the watch.
there are ways out.

there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.

be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.

you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.

and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.

know it while you have it.

you are marvelous

the gods wait to delight
in you.

–Charles Bukowski
read by Tom Waits

Molly

2012-11-14T21:17:00.003-08:00

Once upon a time we got a lab.

We'd been talking about it forever, you know, the classic talk that goes on for a year about what kind of dog mostly. Then this fall, I should have known one was coming because my husband said, (the night before he got it) "I don't think we should get a dog."

The next day, he "went hiking" and then "got back really early" and we went about our day with friends only to arrive home late in the day to a darling six week old yellow lab. When he opened the door to reveal him on her arm, he said, "Meet Daisy."

Fast forward to now, we have settled on another name, found a vet, and lived almost two months with a puppy companion in our midst. She has quadrupled in size. She is basically toilet trained. With one swipe of the foot she lets us know via the sliding glass door if she needs to go out. She can sit, lay down, shake, wave, speak, and wait. She sleeps in her crate at night and whines to pee early in the am, about 6am.

She hangs in her "pen" in the garage when we're gone during the day, without too much fuss, though I know she'd rather be with her pack. She LOOOOVES her pack. And the best thing about her? The way she greets me when I come in the room, with such tail wags and tiny love grunts. I feel loved.

She is the best.

Well Well Well

2012-10-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

A lot has changed around these parts. Like for one, the SEASON. This picture was taken during a recent jaunt to Eugene. Another picture of trees, must be me behind the camera. Aren't they lovely? I know someone who took one look at this shot and said, "I know where that is!" It's right beside the elementary school she attended.

The girls are growing up fast, as Julia reminds me every day with actual statements like, "Mom, I'm growing up!" I think most recently she said this in response to a no I'd just uttered (as though growing up means nothing but yeses and freedoms). She is in fourth grade and suddenly cares more about being stylish and listening to certain songs and being on the phone. She is WAAAAY more likely than before to make a decision based on what her best friend is doing. She actually asked me if she could dye her hair green for Ducks/Beavers day. Tired of her dismay with each no I throw at her, I haven't given her an immediate answer. I'm learning.

Avery is in second grade. She is doing gymnastics for fun and loving that a lot. She is reading tougher books and loves math. She is WILD about school, especially because she has her first grade teacher for second grade too. She is known to jet up to her room after school to play school. I appreciate Avery for the stage she's in, still a girl being a kid, though her sister influences her a great deal. I'm happy that she's running out the door to school, coming home with lively stories, and constantly finding the humor in life. Tonight we laughed sitting before the photo booth feature on the computer.

Shoot, there's a lot to laugh about.

Back

2012-09-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

This business we have of sending our precious people back into the world each fall deserves documentation. If you're anything like me, the whole process makes us a little raw; we want them to go and we don't want them to go. We are excited to take them on their first day, and when we walk away alone it's with a heavier step. Lending them to the world for molding and affecting makes me revel then choke up.

They, on the other hand, do nothing but cheer. Luckily I have two girls that like school and are glad to be back with friends learning every day.

I, too, am going back. Just today I spent one hour and fifteen minutes of my morning in a third grade class, a black composition notebook to write in, a sea of faces looking my way when, red faced, I introduced myself, (Finally, I get to be Ms. Tia). I have my official badge and the title in the school handbook totes me as a Reading Specialist. I love it because I am unburdened by my own classroom. I have a new perspective: that this is important, but this isn't EVERYTHING. This is one thing I get to enjoy and work at, then there's home and my family. This job is adding great balance to my life. It's also giving me an identity outside home. I really like my co-workers, too.

In the first grade today their teacher was taking roll. Instead of saying, "Here," she taught them to answer her with the phrase, "I can do anything."

The year ahead of me is going to be great.

Delicious

2012-08-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

This summer has been really really something, and it's not even over yet.

Most recently of note, I turned forty. A new decade awaits. It's very exciting. I feel undaunted and am excited to make some goals for my older self.

Where we live, the Air Show hits every summer and loud jets fly fast overhead, in a display that can be both thrilling and kind of scary. The air show loomed large over a weekend that was the best kind of warm and completely free so we took an impromptu trip up to the cabin and had the BEST TIME.

I got to get away with one of my oldest and truest friends for a weekend. We went to a bit of an unlikely destination: quiet small town Silverton.

We went to the Washington county fair. Next year we really want to PUT UP something and enter it.

Avery learned to ride her bike.

We made freezer jam.

I applied for several teaching jobs, and still don't know what the fall holds. There's a part of me that doesn't want to work, but I'm in lazy summer mode and don't even want to unload my dishwasher.

We've been reading some good stuff. Thornbirds.(Me) The Penderwicks, (Me to girls), The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, (Me to girls and even better than the first), Thimble Summer, (Me to girls) Ivy and Bean,(Avery) Harry Potter Five.(Julia)

I got a copy of season one of Downton Abbey. The funny thing is, when I was watching it, I kept getting interrupted by my talkative seven year old and everything in that show happens in little snippets of conversation so if you miss a conversation, you miss something crucial to the plot. I

went back and read the episode synopsis just to make sure I got it all and I did. I enjoy the way Elizabeth McGovern simpers.

The weather has been AMAZING!

Julia did a fencing camp and then a ceramics camp. I bet you can guess which camp she loved and which camp she hated. She has all sorts of treasures to show for the one she loved.

I got a new computer, which allows me to blog out in the front yard.

We still haven't bought a dog, but we still haven't settled on a breed yet either. I want a springer spaniel I can name Sylvie, and I just don't think it's going to happen.

Regarding Gaps

2012-07-16T10:06:00.002-07:00

"Thomas Merton wrote, "there is always a temptation to diddle around in the contemplative life, making itsy-bitsy statues." There is always an enormous temptation in all of life to diddle around making itsy-bitsy friends and meals and journeys for itsy-bitsy years on end. It is so self-conscious, so apparently moral, simply to step aside from the gaps where the creeks and winds pour down, saying, I never merited this grace, quite rightly, and then to sulk along the rest of your days on the edge of rage.

I won't have it. The world is wilder than that in all directions, more dangerous and bitter, more extravagant and bright. We are making hay when we should be making whoopee; we are raising tomatoes when we should be raising Cain, or Lazarus.

Go up into the gaps. If you can find them; they shift and vanish too. Stalk the gaps. Squeak into a gap in the soil, turn, and unlock - more than a maple - a universe. This is how you spend this afternoon, and tomorrow morning, and tomorrow afternoon. Spend the afternoon. You can’t take it with you.

–Annie Dillard
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

The Montana Leg

2012-07-16T09:47:00.001-07:00

After trekking to the cabin we pressed on to a new state: Montana!

To break up the journey, we spent the night in Spokane. What a sweet city! There, we explored Riverfront Park. We had shave ice, took a ride in a Ferris Wheel, swam in the motel pool and ordered room service. It was really warm and a lovely evening. There was even a wedding going on as we walked along the river path.

And then, the next day, many hours later, we arrived in Montana. Montana is just plain beautiful and it smells really good. We thought of this part of it, (we stayed on Flathead Lake near Kalispell), as an extension of the northwest.
Check out our adorable home away from home....

The view from the screened porch was quite lovely, especially at twilight.

The girls scooped mini fish right out of the lake. We finally took the plunge and swam in the lake at the end of the week. It was VERY COLD but refreshing in such warm wonderful weather.

We had some precious down time....

We enjoyed some tasty ice cream treats at Norm's News. Their butterscotch shake was TASTY!

The hammock got a bit of action, the hot tub, a lot. Books were finished. I read The Penderwicks to the girls.

And Glacier National Park! Oh, the beauty. It was truly worth visiting, and we took several great hikes there the two days that we visited the park.We hiked into Avalanche Lake. What a reward met us at the top.

Hidden Creek atop Logan Pass rewarded us with this stunning vista.....

and a view of these tame mountain goats....

We checked out MacDonald Lodge.

I love the oldie time busses they shuttle tourists around in, but we saw Going to the Sun Road in our own vehicle, thank you very much.

We kayaked on Flathead Lake, too, which was super fun.

Our two week summer trip did not disappoint this year. Sitting down to document it leaves me feeling lucky. Very.

The Annual 4th of July Cabin Trip

2012-07-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

The sight of this trail is good for my soul. We spent a week at the cabin over 4th of July and had the best time.

The weather got GORGEOUS about halfway in. One could do worse than to wake up to sunshine and water every day. This is one of my happy places, and it was made all the happier by the people who got to share it with us: our friends The Rimbeys from Eugene, and then my mom and brother.

The critter-catching alone kept the kids happy and occupied, and ironically, began when we adults saw some super cool diverse fluttery moths the night before and caught them for the kids. They were literally fighting over who got to put this moth, ("Momoth" because of his mohawk) on their face.

The next night we caught Momoth's twin, Jomoth. About the only thing you find yourself missing at the cabin is GOOGLE, and hence a few nature encyclopedias were purchased at the local Goodwill to supply us with important information such as, the difference between moths and butterlies. One difference is that when moths land, they keep their wings spread, and when butterflies land, they fold their wings up. Thank you very much, nature encyclopedias.

There were also frogs.........Oh how glad I am that frogs still take center stage, even when attitudes and smirks take center stage for my now nine year old!

Lots of poliwogs this summer, too.

and Swallowtail butterflies.

This year we made friendship bracelets.

We took many a trip into Yelm for trips to the meat market, Waly-mart, and we checked out Yelm's awesome library.

There were also trips into Rainier for cookies....(they frost snickerdoodles here, people!)

We hit the pool, something I truly hadn't done since the late 80's. It looked exactly the same.

We met our first homemade Dutch Baby.

There were canoe rides, hikes, and hammock time. BB guns made an appearance. Nobody worked. Everybody danced. We hula-hooped.

We made more t-shirts,this one for my husband a tribute to a favorite childhood treat.

I had some quality time with my brother Ryan.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, for the cabin, we are all very very lucky. To another great summer adventure there!

Lighting a Life

2012-06-27T14:30:00.001-07:00

Last weekend Julia and I went to L.A. to visit my brother and his sweet little family.

We were on our way home from an evening adventure and we spotted this tree all lit up with interestingly shaped chandeliers hanging in its branches. I had barely one glance at it, but the rest of the way home I felt this compulsive urge to hike over the hill and try to photograph it to capture how cool it was.

Alas, I have the internets to thank as I found a picture of it there instead, and a very lovely picture at that. Seems a funny and insignificant detail of a trip to share, but it is actually quite a fitting image to share in that the trip was a light and an inspiration, as trips to see my brother always are.
image via Le Modern Trinket

Letting the Rain

2012-05-25T22:00:00.002-07:00

Sometimes in the midst of a busy life you have to document a regular day, that ends kind of magically.

It was a Friday. The girls got home from school and we had nothing on the calendar.They snacked, played, and after awhile
we watched a movie snuggled up together in my bed.

After that we came downstairs and I made french toast and cut up a cantalope. As I was cooking, it started to rain. The way the sun was shining on our backyard, the drops of rain looked huge.

Thunder demanded our attention next. We paused to listen. Then the rain fell harder, like movie rain, sheets of it falling on our thirsty grass. The sky had darkened, the clouds changing the light. As the girls ate, the wind tossed tree branches.

The sound of the rain was suddenly amplified. We were pulled away from whatever we were doing to stand at the screen door and watch. The raindrops turned to hail.

The girls found rain boots, umbrellas, coats and dashed out front to collect the hail with their sand toys of all things. The neighbor kids were out, doing the same. The dark blanketed the sky, there was a greenish hue to the clouds that had already passed. A dramatic flash of lightning lit in the distance as I chatted with neighbor moms. Somehow our conversation turned to being in labor.

I love a good storm and what it does to everything, shakes it loose, commands our attention, reminds of us nature's force and beauty. We always get rain, but a rain like this, passes through rarely, an entertainment almost better than a movie.

I Love This

2012-05-11T15:36:00.001-07:00

via Brave Girls Club Subscribe to Brave Girls Club's Daily Truths here.

2012-05-01T16:52:00.001-07:00

Last month my husband and I were lucky to get a midweek date night in to see Esparanza Spalding at the Crystal Ballroom . Though we wished we were SITTING during the show, we were pretty distracted by the amazing music! She is a phenomenal singer and bass player with a great stage presense. She played all the songs from her newest album, Radio Music Society, none of which I had heard before, so that was fun to be treated to a bunch of new stuff. She's from Portland, so it was fun to see her here in Portand. She even ended with a song about The City of Roses. Her cover of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help it" was probably my favorite song.

Images of Easter

2012-04-09T16:42:00.001-07:00

The egg makers

Julia did faces on hers and gave the eggs names like Stripey, Splotch, and
Wonder Woman.
This is Wonder Woman, in case you were curious about her...

I tried a decoupage method this year using origami paper.For some reason I'm always really into pale purple in the spring.

Mmmmm, malted milk eggs are deeelish and serve as great lipstick-makers.

The day was PURE sunshine. What a delight to be outside. The girls were busy creating blankets for rocks out of baloons.

Look at my beautiful flowering quince!

2012-04-09T16:06:00.004-07:00

It was spring
and finally I heard him
among the first leaves—
then I saw him clutching the limb

in an island of shade
with his red-brown feathers
all trim and neat for the new year.
First, I stood still

and thought of nothing.
Then I began to listen.
Then I was filled with gladness—
and that’s when it happened,

when I seemed to float,
to be, myself, a wing or a tree—
and I began to understand
what the bird was saying,

and the sands in the glass
stopped
for a pure white moment
while gravity sprinkled upward

like rain, rising,
and in fact
it became difficult to tell just what it was that was singing—
it was the thrush for sure, but it seemed

not a single thrush, but himself, and all his brothers,
and also the trees around them,
as well as the gliding, long-tailed clouds
in the perfectly blue sky— all, all of them

were singing.
And, of course, yes, so it seemed,
so was I.
Such soft and solemn and perfect music doesn’t last

for more than a few moments.
It’s one of those magical places wise people
like to talk about.
One of the things they say about it, that is true,

is that, once you’ve been there,
you’re there forever.
Listen, everyone has a chance.
Is it spring, is it morning?

Are there trees near you,
and does your own soul need comforting?
Quick, then— open the door and fly on your heavy feet; the song
may already be drifting away.

–Mary Oliver