Less is more, and more is more

a recent impromptu picnic on a hike, a time that I remember feeling happy and not stressed!

Things have been incredibly busy around here.  Crazy-busy.  The kind of busy that makes me want to shout, "Stop! I want to get off this ride!"  Our family has been humming along, but I  (we) have felt the effects of too much.  Too much activity, too much stress, too much...of everything.

For the children, I've cut all activities except school (ha!) and swimming.  This swimming session ends in a few weeks, and I'm going to cut swim lessons to 1 time per week.  The children enjoy being active but I can tell that they are tired.  Bode is now 6, and I worry about how life is going to speed up for him, once he hits "real" elementary school. I want to keep things simple for him, for Gianna, and for Nico, for as long as I can.

For me, I am tired of feeling tired.  My most common feeling, and my constant lament, is "I'm so tired."  I'm tired of being such a drag, and feeling like I'm...dragging.  I have yet to make a doctor's appointment for a check-up, but I will soon. I think things are catching up with me, again.  It's difficult to move and go through the motions of moving.  I think I go through the motions because I "have to" and then as a result, 6 months or so later, I crash and the effects of everything hit me. I'm finally starting to feel like we "live" here, and starting to imagine what that means for all of us, and what I want our life to "be" here.  I am also carrying my mother around, dragging her death behind me.  After my mom died, I went to a therapist, carrying baby Nico into the office with me each week. I didn't think I could continue seeing her, the therapist, because of everything else that was going on.  I remember telling her that I had too much going on, both physically and mentally.  I'll never forget her words: "You need to deal with this now, or it's going to come out later, in other ways."  I shrugged it off at the time.  But what she said was so true.  It keeps happening: anger, sadness, etc. Yesterday I was laughing my head off with RWF about something, and an image of my mother's memorial popped into my head, and I started crying uncontrollably.  "Why are you crying?" RWF asked, surprised at my abrupt swing. And I had to tell him that I thought of my mom (I didn't share the image).  Did he understand? Probably not.  I'm not being authentic, not to myself and not to anyone in my family.  I need to deal. Grief is the worst.

  

We (RWF and I) have been under a great deal of stress about our living situation (i.e., the house).  We have been struggling to find a house for our family.  I've been unhappy where we are at, but it might just be the place to stay. This subject's a bore, so I won't go into the details. It's something that we need to resolve.  There are other, more personal stressors involved, too.

That is one, and other, reasons I have not been updating the blog. It is the same (boring) issues and stressors.  Thankfully, the children are doing great, and growing like crazy in all kinds of ways. I need to get back to recording their personalities and funnies.  As far as the 52 project...I have been taking pictures weekly, but I have not been uploading them here. I cringe at the idea of trying to back-date all the photos in order. 

We are making some changes around here.  Hopefully, with the subtraction of some things, and the addition of some other things, life will be a bit more manageable. I hope to be back to recording our lives soon.

Happy weekend to you.
xo

First Day of School!

Well it has begun: a new school year. Same school, and the same classes.  Bode has his old teacher, Teacher Traci. Gianna has a new (boy!) teacher, Mr. Trent.  Some old friends, and some new friends.  It will be a great school year!

You can see from their sleepy, glazed expressions in these photos that school was kind of an abrupt change to their summer routine!  Plus, all the new faces around them in a familiar setting had their attentions.

They both had a really good first day.  They came home in good spirits, and tired! But it will be awhile, I think, before the reality of "school-is-the-new-norm" will sink into their heads.


The second day was just as startling. I had to wake them, and they seemed surprise when I told them to get ready for school.  We got Gianna into a pair of (new) pants. I guess, since she agreed to wear them this morning, that she is conceding that yes, it is indeed chilly in the mornings and we must dress appropriately!  Bode insisted on wearing the same outfit (???) as yesterday.  I washed it last night but we had to do a speed dry this morning.  Ugh, it was all tears and protests until I produced that *&#@ lightening bolt shirt and orange shorts from the dryer! Nico is the only one that is cheerful in the mornings. He loves going to school. Maybe it is because we take a walk through the farm and see chickens and goats after dropping Bode and Gianna! 

It will take awhile for our routine to become...well, routine.   I'll try to take more snaps and report more next week. Hopefully the children will get more sleep and look more rested over the next week!

I do hope that I will be able to blog more with the children in school.  Nico is not quite ready to nap in the mornings. He kind of dropped morning naps over the summer. But I'm hoping that he too will settle into a nap routine so that he can rest while his sibs are at school.  I missed reporting on our summer adventures (we did do a lot off our summer bucket list!) and I missed capturing milestones  and special events (Nico's milestones, and baptisms, in particular).  Hopefully, I'll be back to this blog regularly!

Hope that your back-to-school week has been fun!

xo

George Rogers Park

I guess I got embarrassed, writing about how lazy I've been and how we have not done much of anything this summer.  Realizing that we only have about 3 weeks of summer left, I guess I felt like kicking it into gear. 

Last Friday, we went to a new park to us, George Rogers Park.  I had heard of this park, because there was a "grand opening" and a lot of press written up about it a couple of months ago.  But I had no idea it was so close to us! It is right in our town, maybe 7 minutes away from our house. It's a park that's been on my (mental) list of things to take the children to, but I've never felt like seeking it out. 

I'm so glad that we went to this park.  It is brand-new, and has a lot of things for all of the children to play on and enjoy.

Sometimes, a park isn't geared for a range of ages, so someone (usually the baby) has nothing fun to do except watch his siblings run around having fun.  But this park had bucket swings (a huge plus):

and a slide that Nico thought was the perfect size for him, the little scamp (but I was not happy or comfortable with...so he went down it twice, solo, and then I took him elsewhere):

and a huge sand pit, which, euuuw (thanks, Dawn, for the edification so many years ago!), but they all enjoyed it:

and for the big ones, there were swings, climbing structures and fun things like this seesaw:

I didn't get many pictures of the big children playing on the playground because, quite honestly, I was playing on it with them! You know, just demonstrating how to use it. ;) 

I'm so glad that we checked it out.  We will be back. This week, we're back in the 90s again (ugh).  I need to just 'keep on keeping on'....before summer ends!

Happy Tuesday, friends.

xo

Keeping the summer (standards) bar low

Hello, August!  I can not believe that we are already in August, and that school is a month away!  I find myself pulling back, thinking of all the things I still want to do with the children while they are home.  We made a summer list at the start of the season, and we have only ticked off a couple of items.  Hopefully my summer laziness will end, and I will kick it in high gear so that we can have some fun times before the school routine starts. 

We have had such high temps lately (90s) and with no A/C, I wilt around high Noon.  In the morning, we have a leisurely breakfast, which involves a lot of coloring in between bites.  Then we go out, sometimes for a walk, or to a park but usually to the store for things we need.  Then, the afternoon lazies begin. Gianna has dropped her afternoon naps.  Bode hasn't napped for a couple of years.  So that leaves just 1 child napping in the afternoon.   I have gotten into a really lazy, really horrible habit of turning on the TV and letting Bode and Gianna watch a show every afternoon.  I usually nap beside them, or surf the internet.  It is just a poor excuse of time.  I also find that Bode and Gianna are usually whiney and irritable after watching 2 shows. They whine to watch more shows. "Just one more!" is what I hear as soon as I grab the remote. When the TV goes off, the crying starts.  I don't know what happens but I do know that TV viewing is just not a good thing!  So this week, I resolve: NO MORE TV.   

I did buy a tiny inflatable pool for the children.  They love it.  Bode and Gianna will get in and splash around for hours. (I won't put Nico in there because...I'm paranoid. I don't trust myself not to turn my back for a second. Nothing has ever happened in the bath or otherwise, but I don't want anything to happen..if you know what I mean.) I usually just sit in a lawn chair and watch Bode and Gianna jump in and out of the pool.  I will use the bubble wand for Nico, who just loves chasing bubbles, or squeals with delight when he is surrounded by bubbles.  Nico also loves playing soccer, as he is our most "sporty" child yet.

I have not been very productive this summer. What is my excuse?  I just feel so tired all of the time! That is my only reason. And maybe I am the tiniest bit intimidated with the 3:1 ratio, especially in large spaces, like museums, where one could get lost.

A part of me wants to keep things simple (walks, bubbles and a wading pool) and then the other part of me screams, "Do more! Get out! Show them the world!" etc.  I think that while they are all little, I think things should stay simple for as long as possible. (Yes?) 

xo

Nico rocks!

Nico is getting so big, sitting in chairs unassisted. Last night, we were getting the children ready for bed, and he sat down in one of the little rocking chairs (gifted by their grandma).  I'm still so in awe whenever he does something new.  I called out to RWF, "Do you have your phone?!!" I wanted this recorded.  We shot a quick video, and I grilled Nico on what sounds different animals make while he rocked. But, because it was (dangerously) close to bedtime, Bode and Gianna were screechy and whiney in the background. It's kind of hard to hear Nico. I might post it anyway.  But for now, here are some pics of the big boy rockin' in the rocking chair.

Nico is now officially 21 months! I need to write a 20/21 months post for Nico! He has made a bunch of leaps over the past month, most notably talking up a storm and being opinionated!

Our summer mornings are spent at the swimming pool for Bode and Gianna's lessons. They are doing so great at swimming.  It makes me excited to think that they just might get the whole swim thing down before summer's end. But I may be getting ahead of myself.  

After swim lessons, we usually run an errand, stop at Starbuck's, and then we are home for naps.  I can never motivate myself to take them anywhere in the afternoons!  I really need to get it together. This summer has been pretty lame so far.

Happy Wednesday.

xo

The Graduates

The morning of graduation

Bode and Gianna's graduation went very well and  was a pretty "dignified" ceremony for such little people (well, almost...).  The ceremony was filled with a lot of spirit and love as well.

The two classes walked to the bridge, Bode's older class taking a longer route, while the younger children in Gianna's class got the shorter, more simple route so that they met up on opposite sides of the bridge. The parents met early and walked over to stand on a hill at the side of the bridge, awaiting the graduates. The two classes met up at just the same time, a feat that the teachers smiled about,  calling over to each other, "Can you believe we met up at the same time?!" and "So unlike last year!"  

The "ceremony" began with Gianna's class singing a song called "We are All the Leaves of One Tree."  Hearing their sweet, baby voices singing the words and using their tiny hands to mime leaves, ocean waves, and stars was almost too much for me to handle.  It was then that I started to cry (silently).  But I held it together, lips clamped together in a smile as I watched the little friends all singing together.

Then the procession began, with the preschool children who were leaving the school walking across first.  Next, Gianna's friends who graduated to Kindergarten.  And last, Gianna (and friends) were supposed to walk across....except...the first boy got scared, ran over to his mother and hid his face in her legs the whole time.  This set the tone for the next graduate, Gianna's friend Kate, who cried out, "Mama!" and then started bawling.  Kate's mother ran over to her and held her. I knew Gianna was next, and I was just willing her to be the strong, fearless girl-child she is and to show her friends how to do it. When Gianna's turn came,  Gianna looked at her teacher, and then turned around and scanned the crowd for me. Finding me, she ran over to me and refused to cross the bridge!  I whispered, "Go on, Gianna, Mr. Trent and Bode are on the other side waiting for you."  But it was too much after her other friends had cried, and she refused to move. ("And they all fall down," I thought.)  Her teacher smiled, turned her attention back to the bridge, and nodded to the Kindergarten teacher, Traci, to start her ceremony.  

So next, the Kindergartners went: those who were leaving the school for new adventures and then those who were graduating (but staying).  When his name was announced, Bode practically skipped over the bridge, a happy smile across his face.

Only I wasn't there to give him a hug. :(   At the start of the Kindergarten ceremony, I had slipped on the muddy embankment, and had fallen -"Boom!" as Nico says - right on my behind.  Two fathers helped me up, each taking one of my arms and lifting me, standing, back to my feet. I was wearing Nico in a backpack and even though we were fine, Nico was startled and was crying loudly.  So I had walked away from the parent group so that everyone could enjoy the ceremony.  I was watching from a distance, but I still feel bad that I wasn't "right there" for Bode when he crossed.  Luckily, I had quieted Nico enough that I could run over to Bode and give him a hug soon after he had crossed over!  

(It is so hard to be a single parent! I feel for single parents everywhere. I feel so bad, always having to divide my time amongst three needy loves! Luckily, Bode is pretty forgiving. Gianna takes it more personally, or at least, lets me know that she *knows* when I am absent, or less than present.)

After the ceremony, we all walked back together to the school for a picnic lunch.  Of course, all the children ran around and played with each other while the parents exchanged memories, tears, and "Can you believe it's over?" laments.

Gianna dances on stage, Nico contemplates someone else's froggy boot, and the boys play Legos.

We stayed too long. In fact, we were the last ones to leave!  Gianna was over-tired and refused to budge.  Unfortunately (or fortunately), Miss Kelly, her teacher, still had to "work" after graduation, because it was up to Miss Kelly to encourage Gianna to go home. ;)  I already had my hands full with Nico, Bode, last-minute school stuff, and picnic supplies. So it was Miss Kelly who asked Gianna to be a big strong helper (to me) and walk by herself up to the car!

Nico wants to hula like everyone else, but he is too tiny.

And now we are on summer break.  And while I am so happy to put away the lunch boxes and backpacks, I'm wondering what to do with these two school children!

xo

Lately...

I've been searching high and low for a (new) house.  It has been frustrating, disheartening and just plain exhausting.  It takes a lot of time to search houses.  We usually look at listings in the evening, after the children are in bed.  If I find something of interest (and the right price),  I'll drive by and scout out the area the next morning while the children are at school (with Nico riding in the car).  That is usually where the interest ends.     As you probably know, most photos of houses portray their best features.  It isn't until you drive up and see the junkyard across the street, or the broken-down fence attached to the yard. Also, Portland is weird, in that houses are just jammed together. And not only are they jammed together, but you will find houses behind you, in front of you and beside you.  For example, the front of our house faces the back of another house (and the back of our house faces another house...).  So we look into our neighbor's backyard.  It's just weird to me. I have not had much luck finding a mix of a good house and good location (and price).

So the search continues!

Gianna is going through a phase.  My little chickadee is spreading her wings, both metaphorically and physically.  She is more brave, riding her bike down the big hill like her brother. And she is being a bit...sassy.  I think it is because she is on the cusp of turning 4.  She has been talking back to me.  Most of the time, I remember that this is not Gianna, but a phase that she is going through at the moment.  Other times, I lose it and yell right  back at her.  But no matter what, we always have quiet time together where we talk about things, and work things out. 

Kate & Gianna at the May Day celebration

This morning, she woke up and went into my bedroom before 6 AM.  "Is it time to wake up yet?"  she whispered in the loudest voice possible (to "whisper" in).  I pulled back my covers to invite her in, and she jumped in and snuggled up next to me.  Without any preamble, she started telling me about her girl friends at school. They are a threesome, and they are so cute together. Two of her friends, Kate* and Ella, were not liking each other yesterday, and clearly this was something on Gianna's mind.  I got a flash of when she is older, and things like this are happening. I hope that she can always talk to me.  Even though lately she can be hard to handle, she brings me to my knees almost every day by (spontaneously)  declaring, "I'll love you forever!" or "I want to love you forever, Mama!"

I am still planning a birthday party for her. Location, date, and time still TBD.  (ai yi yi!)  The theme, of course, is still "pink princess."

Bode is doing well.  It's funny because he and Gianna have kind of switched places.  Where Gianna is sassy and testing limits, Bode has mellowed and seems self-sufficient right now.  It's been really fun to watch him deal with Gianna during a meltdown. It is almost like he knows what is going on, and tries to talk her through it.  One morning, Gianna wanted to wear a sundress on a cool day, and I said No.  This escalating into tears and yelling through the house.  RWF and I both tried to reason with her, and since that had not worked, we resorted to just telling her "NO."  Bode was the one who stepped in, found another dress in her closet and suggested it as a possibility. He presented it to her, "Here, Gianna, why don't you wear this pretty dress?"  It was so sweet, and also, eye opening...like, "Oh yeah, why didn't we (adults) think of that?"  Bode is now in a good place at school, and seems to enjoy the routine and his friends.  It's disappointing that the school year is about to end.  Most of the boys in Bode's class will not be returning to this school.

Speaking of school,  I've decided to stay with their current school. Both RWF and I have seen remarkable things with Bode and Gianna, and feel like this has been a good place for them.  So we are staying!  I signed a contract last week and I feel good about this decision.

Nico sez, "Your cracker bribe will no longer work!"

Nico is a happy little camper.  He loves his boots, being outside, and reading!  He has turned a corner on books, and is now obsessed.  He loves to sit and read, and will demand that I "ree" to him all the time.  Every night, I sit in the rocker with him and read three (usually more) books.  It is our special time, and I love it.  I love that he enjoys books right now. And I love that we have something "close" to do together that does not involve nursing.  I was afraid that weaning him meant that our being close was going to end (at least for awhile, because I was afraid of sending him mixed signals).  He is growing, in that he is no longer content to just sit and watch the sidelines.  Bode and Gianna have a few activities that we do during the week.  This means that Nico has to sit tight for an hour.  Well, it's getting harder to contain him.  I try bribing him with snacks and sometimes that works.  But I don't know how I'm going to get through this summer! Bode and Gianna have swim lessons every morning from June through August. They will also have other lessons, most likely gymnastics and ballet. Nico is 'done' with sitting in the stroller.

Speaking of summer, I have to figure out how to fill the hours once Bode and Gianna are out of school.  I have enrolled them in swim lessons, which are every day in the morning, but that leaves the rest of the day.  Camps are kind of out of the question, since I've committed them to swim lessons in the morning. Big "Oops" on my part, once I realized that I had messed that up. I'm still on the hunt for an afternoon camp. It would be great if I could find something for them both to do together, or at least at the same time(s). But I've found that most camps go "all day," or at least, start in the morning and end after lunch.

Everyone is doing well at this almost six-month mark of our move to Portland.  Six months!!!

I just wish that I could find a good house.  I am a bit obsessed, and I have to admit that the housing situation is coloring a lot of everything for me.  I can check the school off my list. Now the house is left.  Wish me luck!

xo

*Random trivia: Gianna's name was almost Kate.  It was number 2 on my list, after Mia (number 1!).  We tried it on her while in the hospital...it was so close that one of my sisters actually congratulated me on the birth of "Kate!" ;)

A good meal

Yesterday afternoon, Bode, Gianna and I were sitting around the kids' table coloring when Bode announced, "Mommy, I want to donate Gianna."  I laughed out loud.  But he was serious.  "I want to know what it's like on my own," he continued. "No you don't!" I protested.  "Yes, I do. I want to donate her to somebody else."  At the second mention of being given away, Gianna started wailing.  "I don't want to be donated!" she cried.  I switched seats so that I could hold her and reassure her that she was not being dumped into some roadside donation bin.  Then I addressed Bode.  "Bode, you don't mean that. You wouldn't last  5 seconds without Gianna."  "I want to know what it's like on my own.  I want to be the only one."  he insisted.

I changed the subject to dinner, and the donation of Gianna was no longer discussed.

We made Ginger Chicken with Asparagus.  I found it in one of my food magazines, and it wasn't even a featured recipe. It was an advertisement for McCormick Ground Ginger (I guess I might as well mention the brand since I tried the recipe?).  I used real ginger. And my two monkeys/sous chefs helped out.  Not only did they help me, but they demonstrated such good will to each other, sharing and talking while they chopped and stirred.  All was well, and dinner was delicious.

Step 1:

Hand the monkeys kid-friendly knives (found on amazon here) and have them chop the asparagus into bite-sized pieces. 

Step 2:
While the monkeys are on veggie detail, chop 4 chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks. Then mince ginger and garlic.

Step 3:

Have the monkeys pour soy sauce, oil, and broth into a measuring cup.  This teaches them pouring skills as well as how to measure ("Fill it to the 2, Gianna.").  Have one monkey add the minced ginger and garlic to the marinade. The monkeys then take a very, very long time taking turns stirring the marinade.  This goes on forever until you realize that the poor neglected chicken breasts are never going to marinate for an hour if you don't rush this bit along.  Tell the older monkey to pour the marinade over the chicken pieces.  Put the chicken in the fridge while it marinates.

Step 4:  

When the two chimps joke about eating the raw asparagus, dare them to eat one.  They will think that they are being funny and daring, eating the raw asparagus. But you know better. You just tricked them into eating a raw vegetable!  

Step 5: 

While they consume half the (raw) asparagus, ask the monkeys if they want white rice or brown rice.  When the eldest monkey states that he wants brown rice, ask him what the difference is between white and brown rice.  Be secretly pleased and think, "He's so smart," when he answers that brown rice is chewier and more grain-y than white rice, and then remember that yes, he is a smart alec when he adds, "Oh, it's also BROWN. And white rice is...WHITE!" Like, duh.  Then start water on stove to make brown rice.  

Step 6:

Realize that the baby chimp has woken up from his nap and has been crying for attention for how long (???) while you were reading recipes and the other monkeys were stirring the marinade (forever).  Run to baby chimp's room and find him like this:

Hug, kiss and pat baby chimp over & over until he ceases to cry.  Then take him out of his sleepy sack,  change his diaper and put him in pants/socks. Bring him out to the kitchen to bond with his other chimp family members.

Step 7:

While chicken continues to marinade, try to ignore the crazy monkey behavior that occurs in the "witching hour" known to all mothers.

Note: baby monkey is fine and not psychologically harmed from crib abandonment

Step 8:

Take chicken out of fridge.  Continue to ignore crazy monkey behavior but direct all monkey behavior out of the kitchen while you heat up oil in large skillet.  Once monkeys have vacated kitchen, sauté  chicken and then asparagus.  Mix asparagus into chicken mixture so that everything is coated in yummy gingery sauce. Plate chicken/asparagus/rice onto divided plastic plates for all monkeys to eat.  Once food has cooled slightly, call monkeys back into kitchen to sit at monkey table and eat dinner.  Enjoy the meal that was prepared as a family (a family that loves each other very much and would never donate one another!).

Happy Friday!

xo

Nico: 17 months

Dear Nico,

You have reached the ripe, old age of 17 months! Congratulations!  You seem oh-so-big sometimes, and other times, you are still my little baby.   You love walking and exploring things, climbing stairs, feeding yourself, and "reading" (turning the pages of) books all by yourself.  You also love running into my and "Dada's" arms, being held, and kissed dramatically by me. 

The past two weeks have been so rough for you, me, and "Dada" because you are teething.  You currently have 4 teeth on top, and two on bottom. I can't tell what teeth are coming in right now, but boy, they are giving you trouble. You are up late in the night with me.  Sometimes you cry so loud that Daddy wakes up and joins us.  We have had many late nights, and it is really starting to affect my well-being.  Yes, Nico, MY well-being!  You get to nap all morning and in the afternoon. But I'm up and on duty for three other people/dog in this household from 6:30 AM onward, no matter what time I get to sleep or how much sleep I get. Mommy and Daddy will be so relieved when this teething spell is over (and so will you, I'm sure!).

When we are up late at night together, you are always happy though.  You just seem to be so relieved that you are in good company, in a well-lit room, instead of in your crib, alone, in the dark.  This is why, when Daddy argues that you need to just "cry it out," I say, "NO!"  I will not leave you, Nico.  I can't do it.  It breaks my heart to hear you cry and I never want you to be sad if I can help it.   I am so worried about your well-being,  and I'm so over-tired (this post really is about you, Nico, even though I seem to be writing a lot about myself) that even when I sleep, I have nightmares about you.  I had one nightmare the other night that has led me to inquire about swim lessons.  So coming up soon, you'll be in the pool, just like your brother and sister! Won't that be fun?  We will be in the pool together. Yes, I love you so much that I am willing to put on a swimsuit (argh) and expose my post-partum body and white legs to all the world. 

You have regular words these days, saying "Mama" (my favorite word), "Dada" (Dada's favorite word), "qwackah" (cracker), "dank do" (thank you), "baaf" (bath), "baba" (for milk), "roar" (for Nico monster), "hi," "bye," and "No," (probably your favorite word, if not, probably your favorite word when you turn 2).

Your brother and sister still love playing "the Nico monster" game around you and you love to be a part of it, running around behind them as they shriek in mock terror.  At night, you join in the book reading session by settling down on the floor with us, and turning the pages of a board book, "reading" to yourself while Mommy reads a book to Bode and Gianna. Sometimes while I'm reading, you'll decide that you'd rather have the book that I am reading, and our book reading session will be put on hold while we sort out who is reading what.  Gianna has become great at giving you substitutes for things that she wants (a trick that Bode learned quickly when she was a baby, too!). 

Eating is a good experience but still tricky.   You drink Lactaid and water.  You can't eat things that contain a lot of eggs and milk (? or maybe wheat?), or you become so splotchy and itchy (again, breaking my  heart when I inadvertently give you something not good for you).  I can't decide if we need to get allergy testing done or if we should wait it out and see if you grow out of it.  You like eating peas, waffles (gluten-free), crackers (plain Goldfish), sweet potato, rice, broccoli, avocado, mango, blueberries, oatmeal and pasta.  You are not big on meat at this time. I have tried all different kinds of meat, cooked all different ways, and no matter what I try to give you, you leave it. 

You are so physical.  You love hugs and kisses and long tickle sessions, as well as the "Grand Ol' Duke of York" (you stand before me with a quizzical look and ask, "dude dor??" and I know that it is time for you to ride on my knees). You enjoy kicking the soccer ball around the yard. You love going on walks with your family, and surprise us by walking so far. You love being outside and of course, don't mind the rain or wind or whatever element. You're just happy to be out and about. You love going "bye-bye" and will bring me  your shoes and jacket, as if to seize the opportunity before I forget or leave you (never!). 

Just for grins, here is what your big sister was like at 17 months.  I see some similarities!
Now, let's put those toofys to bed and get some sleep!

Love,

Mommy

xo

The long weekend, and a long(er) week

Everyone enjoyed a three day weekend.  I really enjoyed having RWF home with us for an extra day, and I think he needed an extra day "off" too!  Our weekend was simple, but relaxing: the boys went skiing, we went on a family hike where Nico walked most of the way (!), and we also went to OMSI.  Bode is still obsessed with space, so this was the perfect place for him. We saw a film in the planetarium while there but it was "kinda scary" for everyone, as Bode remarked (dizziness - even though we stayed and watched it). 

This week, the kiddos are on break.  We don't have a lot of plans. Today, we were going to visit the zoo with some school friends. But it's a very cold, rainy day and I didn't feel comfortable with Nico being out in it. So we went to OMSI again, and had so much fun exploring. We discovered a "water" room where the kids get to play in fountains, and splash and throw balls...it was absolutely perfect for Nico, who loves balls and water right now. Bode and Gianna enjoyed it, too. They also enjoyed a Tony Hawk skateboard exhibit, where they got to jump on a trampoline,  spin around, and walk and slide on a skateboard ramp (among other things).  It was hard to get the monkeys to leave but we had to get to swim lessons. 

I am exhausted! I am going to have to pace myself if I am to make it the rest of the week! 

The  babies love this window that looks out our front yard.  We decorated it for Valentine's (thanks to Aunt Dawnie).  Bode likes to climb on the ledge, so I have to be vigilant about watching him and telling him to "get down!"

Nico loves playing with the balloons ("boons" as he says) that I set out for Valentine's surprises.

This little monkey got up so early on Saturday morning (5:30 AM) and then while I tried to snooze, tricked her Daddy into letting her wear her Easter dress!  (I have been telling her that she has to wait until Easter before she can wear it.)

RWF has been traveling a lot.  He was home for the long weekend, and I think the monkeys really enjoyed having their "Dada" home.

It is nothing but rain, rain, rain here this week.  I need to figure out how I'm going to entertain these monkeys while they are out of school.  Of course, after today's successful visit, I think they'd be happy to go to the OMSI every day. Hopefully I can get the energy and motivation to explore a bit more. We have so much to see in our new city. I need to take advantage of our "big city" living while we are here!

Happy Tuesday.

xo