RoyalMom

The weather was wonderful for Isaac's park birthday celebration. He is having such a good day!

Isaac chose Rood Bridge park for his party this year and I'm so glad he did. The giant lawn is gorgeous and the kids seemed to have a good time spreading their play out over the entire area.

I just love this photo of me with all the littles: Lotus, Simon, Xander, my niece Ava and my nephew Icen. I often imagine life when they are all grown and I'm missing the days when they were little, then I flash back to the present and soak them in. I love them so much and relish our beautiful life right now. Not missing a second of it!

Had to cut out the bedhead...yikes! But isn't my new apron super adorable?

My Mother's Day surprise: The kids picked out the fabric and Jason did the sewing. Just the thought of sewing makes me tense but Jason feels the same sense of accomplishment I get from knitting. I love it!

In other news...

We've had this hammock from Honduras (a gift from my brother Aaron and his wife Sam) stored in a closet for the last ten years. I said enough was enough, lets hang the thing right in the living room.

Unfortunately the T-shirt material it is constructed with is waaaaaaay too stretchy. Even the kids take it nearly to the floor, so you can imagine the sadness when Jason or I try and lay in it. The potential for a swinging good time is there and we plan on making it happen somehow-most likely with a different hammock.

It's a real chore to take my camera out these days. Camera depressed?

Four awesome kids.

Lotus makes all the moms in the park nervous when she goes on this big slide.

A friend shared an article about how nasty the new hot dog stuffed pizza crust trend is, so of course I had to try it out. Okay, pizza and a wiener wrap in one sitting *is* a little ridiculous. Plus, I was left wondering if I should have put some mustard on my plate. It was fun to try anyway.

Our bread machine broke after many years of use. Actually it vibrated itself off the counter while kneading and the lid busted. BUT, it has been the best thing! I finally tried making bread myself and it is so much better. Bigger loaves, four at a time that last all week.

Here's my last batch puffing up in its warm bath.

Yummy!

One super high (electric) heating bill lead to a super cold month and a 1/3 reduced bill,

which lead to a new wood stove, a super toasty warm month and a 2/3 reduced electric bill. We love our new wood stove!!!! It heats the entire 1200sf of our main living space and bedrooms. The smell is wonderful and having a fire to look at is cozy too.

Jason seems to really enjoy tending the fire, the look of pride when he gets it roaring is priceless:)

Notice the sweet hearth he tiled for the floor.

The kids help stack the wood. We haven't been very good gardeners so this has been a good activity to get us outside, working together.

Jason built us a small firewood rack for the deck. I love how great it looks from just a few scraps of supplies gathered in the garage. My guy does good work!

We had a wonderful, albeit much too short, CouchSurfing experience with two Japanese guests from Yonezawa, Yamagata, Japan. Mari and her seven year old son Hikaru.

Hikaru doesn't know any English but the boys all bonded immediately over the universal language that is Mario Kart.

Hikaru showing Xander his school work. It's interesting to see what any student my kids age is working on, let alone another culture, since my kids homeschool. Xander and I were both pleased to see familiar levels of math. Whew! I'm keeping up! Too bad we couldn't read the text:)

I do believe a few more months of play and the boys might actually start learning each others language quickly. Xander was already figuring out Google Translator and Hikaru said he wants to start learning English and come back for another visit.

We love taking our guests to the beach. The boys played with sand toys and took turns flying the kite. Poor Isaac was left sick at home, missing all the fun.

Camera timer fail...

Just before we said goodbye. Cheese!

My little Simon had his fifth birthday. The first birthday he was really excited for:)

Lotus and Simon painting. This was Lotus' first time!

"Keep your brush to your own paper" is an agreement Lotus is not ready to make.

Ta-da!

Cleaning up our family's food has been a work in progress over *years*. Here's my start back in 2009 when I eliminated processed foods, for the most part. I cooked a lot at home and made things from scratch. Our freezer has been full of grass-fed local beef, BUT....

...we still ate food saturated with pesticides, hormones, etc. through our produce and dairy.

I looked into organics and raw milk again recently and resources are so much better now! Milk I used to have to drive across town for is now just up the road and organic produce is delivered to my door.

The boxes are a weekly treat for play too...

I'm having to reverse my usual menu planning style from planning and buying to buying and then planning, which is tough! The difference is amazing though because we are trying new things and eating wonderful foods.

Last week the kids devoured the oranges and bananas but didn't want to touch the apples and pears so I had to get creative and turn them into something they would eat. The share of apples turned into pies and the pears turned into cake; problem solved and I increased the shelf life.

Yesterday, I had the collard greens to use up before the new produce came so we made this recipe: Baked Rigatoni with Ricotta and Collard greens. We subbed in elbow macaroni for the pasta and cottage cheese for the ricotta and it was delicious! A very kid friendly dish.

This Cascade 128 superwash wool is so soft and cozy!

Lotus had outgrown all her baby knits and the house is cold so I whipped out a thick sweater. This pattern knits up quickly and the 2-4 size looks like it truly will fit her 1-4 years. Perfect!

I got a sweet smile out of Lotus but she has a terrible cold and feels miserable right now. :(

When I finally took my two knitted market bags to the grocery store I found out just how fantastic they are! They hold so much and feel sturdy.

I figured six bags is a good number to hold all of our groceries and have been knitting away on them over the last several weeks. Number six came off the needles last night. Here they all are!

I used the "girlfriend market bag" pattern with modifications listed here. The most important part being the two smaller handles. They are stronger and don't stretch down when the bag is loaded with heavy items.

When not in use, they all squish neatly into one bags and get left in the car, ready for the next shopping trip. I find bagging the groceries to be quicker and unloading the bags into the house easier with these bags. They just rock!

Now don't ask me to make them for you because my hands are not happy with all the rough cotton knitting. I hope they last a long time!

Paper on the table makes lunch time fun...

Simon uses his own hand for reference before drawing a circle with five lines. hehe! He's so damn adorable! He does a pretty decent job writing his name too.

Xander draws some sweet zombies calling out for "brains!"

Isaac and I are reading two of the Little House books. Yay! He's starting Farmer Boy and I'm starting Little House in the Big Woods. We'll swap books if he ends up liking it.

Xander is braving his first chapter book. At least, I think it's his first. He reads picture books, comics, online, etc very well but has been intimidated by the chapter book. I hope "Stink" helps him over the hump.

We have a lovely couchsurfing family from Canada this weekend. Actually they are from Malaysia and recently moved to Canada. Couchsurfing has been such a fun experience for us, giving us the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.

I finally snapped a pic of our "couch." I wish we had another room for bigger families.

Lotus is having fun playing with her cousin, Icen, today. She's seven weeks older and a full head taller...he's a cute little peanut, isn't he? Jason is "reading" to them. Way to put the smallest amount of energy possible into it, Babe! hahaha!

Our dog friend, Luke, is 12 today!

He's older and a little crotchety at times but he's still our little buddy. Jason and I chose him together before we married and he's been by our side ever since.

It cracks me up remembering how we used to "share custody." Jason and I didn't live together (and lived about a 2.5 hour drive apart) until we married, several months later, so we would take week long turns with our baby. I'm pretty sure speaker-phone-babytalk was involved;)

He's not sure about the new sweater...or me asking him to sit for a picture. "Sit? what does that mean?"

Also, our two week spending freeze is over and it was TOUGH! We did end up grocery shopping a little after the first week (which was really two weeks post-grocery shopping). Who knew I could really use up all the we-don't-have-any-food food. I whittled down to just the dry goods and continued to cook. I used all the flour, all the rice, all the oats, all the pasta, all the split peas and nearly all the beans.

We did good though and continue to make progress toward our 2012 goals. Yea!

Cozy, pajama days spent lazing about and watching the snow coming down (but not sticking). A baked bean recipe is in the crock pot for dinner. The only downside is we have no wood for a fire in the fireplace. Gah!

After the first crazy high, winter heating bill we turned the thermostat way down and layered up on clothing. I'm curious to see what difference it makes on the bill next month.

Look at everyone bundled up...

Isaac seems to appreciate the "gaming mitts" I knit them all for Christmas the most. He wears them every day!

In keeping with our 2012 financial goals, we have a TWO WEEK no spending challenge going on, starting today. It's going to be tough! Some might think two weeks is nothing but this is without any preparation. I'm forcing myself to work with the "we-don't-have-any-food" food.

We are kicking it off with a full tank of gas, 1.5 gallons of milk, leftover homemade pizza and a hearty amount of peasoup prepping in the crockpot. I have several bags of beans, a big container of rice, oats, lentils, masa harina, etc. We should do fine theoretically.

I'll need to get past the lazy, Jason will need to get past the soda addiction and the kids will need to get past the picky eating. SCARY!

In my attempts to be financially fit this year I'm already thinking about Christmas 2012(!!!) and birthdays throughout the year. I saw so many handmade items that would have been wonderful and cost effective had I allowed myself the time.

With our attempts to limit the number of gifts the past few years, it still seems like they get a lot of plastic that gets assembled and set aside. This plastic is what they asked for, of course, but even they agree it is a short lived "high" and maybe they didn't need this or that.

My friend Valerie mentioned a tradition of limiting kids to four gifts:

Something they want, something they need,
something to wear and something to read.

I love it! I did a web search and this practice comes up a lot. How did I miss this until now? What I like about it is the single "want" gift. It will make them think and be more selective in choosing. It will certainly help organize the shopping process.

If you think this seems Scrooge-like, trust me, the kids are not for want;) Christmas is for fun and the element of surprise.

Xander's birthday was on the 7th and we had cake yesterday, on the 9th.

The boy is EIGHT years old!

I would not even have known this clutter was here if I didn't take a picture of it. That is how sloppy our family room has gotten. I'm feeling a major PURGE coming on.

Are you with me?

Lotus sleeping and Simon trying to convince us he is asleep too;)

2012 goals are all about finances. Have I mentioned how much I love finances? I love reading about finances, paying bills, setting goals and stretching our dollar.

Jason and I were motivated by the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover book just after we married and eliminated all non-mortgage debt. We downsized to one car and have been living well on these principals ever since.

However, we did get off track from our long term goal of eliminating mortgage debt and that is what the 2012 focus will be. The smaller mortgage is my first goal and I've already thrown my first "extra to principal" at it. Woot!

It's going to be tough this time because we have four kids sharing our love for weekend trips, movies and dining out. I'm just going to have to be creative with saving money and still keeping the fun.

It was a fantastic year filled with:

First year with Lotus,
new niece and nephew,
lots of hikes and weekend tent and cabin trips,
Couchsurfing guests,
Sewing and (LOTS of) knitting,

and best of all, our EPIC cross-country road trip.

It was a fantastic year, spent savoring the moments with our kids. Life is good!

All of our Christmas photos were taken with Jason's Grandpa Irwin's camera. He let us try it out and it is a nice little camera! It's a Nikon Coolpix P500, basically a really nice point and shoot, with HD video and better-than-average lens.

This is auto mode with no flash. I noticed all of the pics I snapped here overexposed the right side of Xander's face. Ideally, I'd want to be able to leave the flash off most of the time and not worry about manual settings when using a point and shoot, but I'm sure after a little reading and learning the camera settings better this issue wouldn't be an issue.

It would be nice to have a light-weight camera like this and not worry about the lens changes of my heavy SLR or the grainy crap our regular point and shoot puts out. This might be a 2012 purchase!

Same camera...Jason and Xander wind the yarn for a surprise project for a certain friend of mine. A certain friend who has shared so much of her wonderful pottery with us. I hope she likes blue!

After several Christmases with rough, sleepless nights, early wake-ups and an exhausted day, things went differently this year. This evening, right around 7:30 we all piled into the car to go to 7-11 and when we got home all the presents had been delivered!

Yay! We might as well open them now right?

We bought a giant roll of two-sided wrapping paper from Costco in 2006 and have been almost exclusively using it since. After wrapping ALL of this year's gifts we finally finished the roll. That is SEVEN Christmases on the same roll of paper. I confirmed this by looking back at Christmas tree photos on my blog back that far....yep, the same paper every year. Ha!

I hope Costco hasn't gone cheapo with their wrapping paper because we'll buy another for sure.

Ah, the flurry of gift time...

They each got "gaming (texting/podster/fingerless) mitts" hand-knit by mom.

The loot, minus the sibling gifts that were under the downstairs tree waiting to be opened next.

Jason got a fancy gaming keyboard. My gift wasn't finished in time for Christmas but I'm super excited to get it when it is. It's a custom, hand-made knitting needle organizer and matching knitting bag. It's going to be gorgeous!

It never seems like we get them that much stuff but then I see it all on the table like this. Crikey!

Simon is our kid most effected (right now) by commercials. He had to have these Socker Boppers. I love how he really tried to lay into Jason. He's still our little guy:)

What a great Christmas! Now we can enjoy our night, sleep well, relax tomorrow while they play with their toys. I can leisurely make cookies for our dinner with friends. Change is good!

She opened her present...

...and now first birthday activities are completed. Ha! Hey, she's only one and *every* day is awesome in her mind.

We received our package in the mail from a swap I joined. The swap was between knitting moms of babies turning one this month.

Pretty paper!

Yay! The packaged contained chocolates, a book, lip balm, two(TWO!) skeins of awesome yarn, two ornaments and the sweetest knit monster friend.

So sweet the boys wanted dibs...

...but it belongs to Lotus.

Saying hello...

Taste test meets approval...

Off to set it on the couch...

Remember this knitting fail? I ripped out all the yarn and....

...turned it into my first sweater SUCCESS!!!!!!! It fits great and feels like a cozy hug on a chilly day. It's the Heather Hoodie Vest, by Debbie O'neill.

In other news, Lotus has been walking for a few weeks now. It is still impossible to get a photo of her without someone to hold her down. She walks right to me the second I back away to take the pic. What can I say? She loves the mama! I *heart* her too. [soaking in these moments].

In other other news, we have been catching the kids up on writing skills. Simon(4) is learning the alphabet and writing the letters, Xander(7) is learning sentence structure and Isaac(10) is learning cursive. This unschooling-inspired family is looking a lot like a structured homeschooling family on Mondays.

I finished a few things!

The gift wrap romper by Carina Spencer has been a wonderful "coat" for baby's first year in our climate. It's not too hot, wears over clothing and still fits well under the car seat belt.

Jason helped me out with the buttons: hand shaped Primo clay, baked and unglazed.

I made another romper for a knitting swap I joined. I hope they like it!

I attended an open house for a local yarn shop under new ownership: Kathy's Knit Korner, and I won a gorgeous skein of hand painted wool!

I couldn't wait to see how it knit up, so I made Lotus her second vest from the plain vest pattern by Anna & Heidi Pickles. It still needs to be blocked and buttoned but she's wearing it anyway;)

See that gorgeous color!? That's by Stitchjones, the new store owner.

And one knitting fail: the baby-wearing poncho. I took it off the needle to try it on and the baby collar was WAY too low. I would have had to basically start over and it wasn't worth it to me at this point.

So, I've already started something new with the cozy grey yarn. It's going to be a sweater vest-cardi for me and I really, really hope it turns out. My record so far is not great with 0/3 sweaters wearable for myself.

Lotus came across a baby doll at Jenn's house and it was love at first sight. We have cloth dolls at home she doesn't go gaga over, so I assume it's the realistic plastic head?

So we took a trip to Target and, no matter how gender neutral we try to be as parents, there is no denying the sheer look of glee on her face as we rolled through the doll isle. What the....?? Is this woven into our genetic makeup somehow? I have to admit it may be, just a little.

The identical twins, of different age and gender;)

I wanted to capture a pic of her knit-by-me vest and, ya, pretty much impossible at this point. She does a crazy, happy dance to be let down and crawls away.

This is the first and last time she'll wear that shirt, now that I see belly poking out. She's growing like a weed!

ALSO....wish us luck. The box of disposable diapers from the road trip finally ran out and we are back on cloth. We need to shake off the disposable routine and get our poop-spraying, laundry doing, diaper stuffing and folding mojo back. We can do it!

Isaac and Xander had their first concert experience this weekend. We took them with us to see Portishead in Seattle and it was a great concert!

We stayed with our friends Jenn and Tom. Jenn and I have been friends since age 13. She's stuck with me through all that teen angst. Now that's a friend. haha!

We met at a pumpkin patch on the way, so the kids could get all their road trip energy out...

Then off to see their new historical home in the city. I sure don't envy all the construction they are going through but the house is amazing and the location can't be beat. I only have ipod pics this trip, sorry...

Space needle, city lights and lake view out the window.

Jenn and Tom babysat the littles while the rest of us drove 5 minutes (5 minutes!!) to the WAMU theater for the concert.

Isaac did really well, as I expected at 10 years old. Xander, being 7, I wasn't sure. He did really well for most of it until about 30 minutes before the end. At that point he was DONE and wanted to pout us into leaving. I was ready to sacrifice the end of the show, as we should for our little guy, until Jason bought us some time with games on his phone. Whew! Everyone was happy and a good time was had. Successful first concert, I say!

Next, I want to try taking them to a symphony and a ballet. I think they will definitely enjoy it. I think the key is finding the right age to start and then maintaining flexibility to leave early, if need be.

Oh how I wish she would wear cute head-toppers;)

Every season at our house is celebrated with at least one batch of shape cookies.

Look at that cute little coffin! I can't even pick up a ghost cookie without "flying" it and making oooooOOOOOOooooooo sounds. ha!

ooooOOOOOOOOoooooOOOOOoooo!!!!!!! Cutest cookie ever!

This is the results of my vacation knitting. A lot of knitting done but nothing finished...

The grey thing-a-mabobber was supposed to be my one goal. But I decided to stop in a Hobby Lobby store, which we don't have locally, and was impressed with the "Hobby Lobby I Love This Wool" yarn. This stuff is not bad at all and CHEAP! So I cast on a little something for Lotus and a little similar something for a 1st birthday swap I joined on Ravelry.

Here is a finished project I don't think I've shared. This is the Two Summer Dress we made before for a birthday gift. We made a second for Lotus. I did the knitting portion and Jason did the sewing. It should fit her well next summer.

See how it looks like Jason is holding her arms lovingly? He's mostly keeping her from ripping her hat off. She's smiling because she wants to rip her hat off;)

The 50's dining table set has been swapped out for this fabulous 60s/70s set.

The green, vinyl swivel chairs are pure awesome. Even Lotus' seat is strapped to one for portable, spinning goodness.

Whatever you'd call the opposite of hoarding (purging?) is what I have. I tend to get surges of spring cleaning during any season and nothing is safe during those times. I've thrown out boxes of photographs. That's how serious I am. ha!

You'd think I'd have more regrets but I don't. The one thing I've been sad we got rid of was this slide before we conceived Lotus. The great thing about Craigslist is: we found another one!

The kids were remembering all the cool things they did with the slide, turing it on its side, etc. They did remember it being a lot bigger;) ha! Now Lotus and Simon are playing on it and having all the same fun Isaac and Xander had (well, and Simon but he can still have fun on it).

Arizona and California and finally back home in Oregon!

It was an amazing five weeks, 8000 miles and 14 states, packed with so many fun things to see and do. Road trip 2011 is a success!

A rest stop in Arizona...

Saguaro National Park...

The kids wanted to see some giant cacti and so we did!

Starting with this beaut...

Ha! Okay here's the biggun's

We had a lovely Couchsurfing experience with a woman in Tucson. She has a lovely home, soup in the crock pot, towel sets laid out for each of us. We are definitely going to have to step up our hosting game. She sets the bar high!

I didn't take any pics of Joan unfortunately but here is Lotus on the bed wondering if a lock might make a good nipple;)

On our way out, early the next morning, my friend Timmi in Phoenix was up for a visit. The kids had a blast playing and it was great to meet a longtime online friend in the flesh. We loved Timmi's house!

I wish you could see how long her gorgeous hair is. Jealous!!!!

California...

We stopped and saw the giant dinosaurs (featured in the Pee Wee's Big Adventure movie).

They are up inside the head of the T-rex here...

It was wonderful and a little odd being back home. It almost felt like we were walking into someone else's home. BUT, we slept great and it is GOOD TO BE HOME!!!!!!!

We're making our way home and finishing up day three of our week long drive.

The first two days didn't include very much sight seeing other than the gorgeous views out the window. We breezed through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and started the long trek through Texas.

We had a wonderful couchsurfing experience in San Antonio with the Lavens. They were the sweetest folks, making us feel right at home. They got the kids cozy on the couch for a movie and popcorn. They know just what kids need to wind down after a long day on the road.

Then they sent us off with one of their CDs. Great music! I wish we could have made it to one of their shows.

Lots-o-photos time...

Isaac says he is unable to sleep in the car, so Jason keeps snapping photos of him "not sleeping." ha!

Big ol' wagon wheel at a Texan rest stop...

And finally Carlsbad(ass) Caverns. It was HUGE and beautiful.

Even more amazing than the caves was that we were told to whisper quietly while in the cave and the kids were actually near silent the entire time we were inside. Yes, Simon was quiet??! !

After the caves we drove to Carlsbad, NM to find a hotel. The town looked dumpy at first but we found a river that is a flanked by playgrounds running up and down both sides....seriously, a different play structure every 200 yards or so. Wonderful parks!

Ha! Weeeeeeh! ;)

This evenings beach photos are brought to you by Clearwater Beach. Only one more day left in Florida!

It wasn't *this* dark yet but exposure was tough against all the white sand, bright sun and reflective water. Nevertheless, you get the idea: It was gorgeous!

Those two tiny dots on the water are Isaac and Simon's heads.

Check out that sheet of rain out there, luckily not on us.

We spent a day at Adventure Island water park...

This cabana had a mini fridge, locker and concierge. Spoiled!!!!

It was fun! The kid areas were awesome.

and the frozen margaritas were great too;)

We got together with our Florida friends again and had a fabulous time.

Having lunch together at their house.

Then we hit the park. A really big one with lots of different sections, laid out in a giant butterfly shape.

I spy with my little eye...a baby grin. Isn't this photo funny? She loves her brothers so much.

Eeeeeeek! Less than two days left here in sunny Florida. As Isaac said, "driving for a week feels more like three weeks. Staying here three feels more like one week." The time went by way too fast. Luckily the drive home looks to be filled with more fun and adventure.

Now off to the beach while we still can...

And soaking up every minute of the sun and surf we can before we have to leave.

The best part about staying here for a full, relaxing three weeks is the extra time we have to chat with the locals and explore places we would have missed otherwise.

A guy on his motorcycle pulled to the side of the road told us we should have lunch at this restaurant where the kids can feed alligators...

While eating our lunch, the waitress told us about a great spray park down the road. So we dropped Jason back home to get back to work and off we went to see the park...

While the kids enjoyed the spray park, I sat on a bench and chatted with another lady. She told me about a nice beach just a little further down the road called Sand Key. So after they played, we headed to the beach.

The walk from the parking lot...

Watching two pelicans fish together and my boys having fun makes me happy!

The water is so clear and with each wave a school of small fish can be seen rushing by.

I begged them to stay on this beach here with me forever but they insisted on going home eventually.

And just because this pic was in the batch I imported off the camera. Lotus having fun pulling out all the plastic. She is getting so close to walking!

The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, FL is just down the road from where we are staying. The staff is completely made up of volunteers and they were so nice!

The grandma at the door gave us a history, the printed guide and a bag of monkey food. Then we were off on our own to look around. The place is quiet. We saw four different volunteers doing the lunch feeding and just one other couple visiting.

The kids are calling "Pongo"...

Here's Pongo, a three year old male orangutan.

This monkey was kind of scary. He threw his slide around the cage and then slammed up against the side, shrieking at us. These are not good pets, people...and why they end up here, unable to live in the wild. A showcase of rip-yo-face-off monkeys.

Quite a few birds have come to live here too.

This is the chimp "Cheetah Mike." He was one of the chimps featured in the Tarzan movies in the 1930s and he is 81 year old.

The grandma also explained the average lifespan in the wild is 12-15 years; in the zoo: 40-50 years and in a sanctuary: much longer because of the lower stress environment. I wonder if he is bored? The couple that used to own this place toured them around as "boxing chimps" in the 50s. Yikes.

Leave those apes in the jungle!

I hope the fuzzier primates we see today are having this much fun...

After so many trips to Florida, I have never been to the zoo. When spending more than a week I guess we have time to see what else is here.

The Zoo here is CRAZY! The center is like a kids amusement park: rides, fountains for playing, jungle gym. We "had" to see the monkeys to get to it but then the kids spent four hours playing. It was so hot we could have left without seeing anymore animals...but that seemed like a TRAVESTY to me. We managed to break the spell and ride the tram thing to see all the animals. Whew! I could go home without the shame of spending $80 (yep) and not seeing any animals at a zoo.

The best part was getting to meet some friends! One of the moms on an online forum, for babies born in May 2001, lives here. We have been a part of this forum for over 10 years and never met in real life until now. Lyanna is an absolute gem and her kids (exact same age as my three boys) are wonderful. They had a great time together and we look forward to meeting in a park once more before our journey home.

Our little fruit bats. Those fruit bats are NOT little, by the way. They looked like cats with wings hanging in their exhibit.

The hog-nosed turtles were fun, coming up for food and petting.

Jason bought us a memory card reader so I can import the pics off our little point and shoot camera. I found some more fun pics from our journey here...

The location of this dinosaur park in Utah could not be any more beautiful, nestled at the base of these mountains.

The museum was cool too. Isaac enjoyed the display of gems and rock types. He was comparing the real thing to the mining he has done in the game Minecraft, "OH! So that's obsidian!" hehe

The herd of deer crossing the road, on our way to the Ames Broher's Pyramid. I wasn't quick enough to get my camera out but Jason caught it. Yay!

We have seen a lot of windmills. Also, had to do a little online detective work to learn what snow drift fencing is. We drove by miles and miles of it, reassuring us we made the right decision to take the north route while it was still summer. :D

We try to split up the driving 50/50 but Jason does more. He enjoys it. I do too, but it makes me sleepy.

I thought I'd take pics of our little home here in Florida. It is exactly how my grandparents left it.

My aunt was so kind to let us stay here. The house is for sale and I will be sad when it is no longer an option to stay here:(

The dishwasher s kinda blurry in this pic but it's there! j/k, Babe.

The thrift stores shopping is fantastic. We picked up this highchair for $15...and we'll be re-donating it before we leave.

A real grandparents home with FOUR recliners and THREE rocking chairs.

Aside from the kids Nintendo DSs, Jason's little laptop is the only source of possible TV watching. He has it sitting close to his office for his Magic Jack phone and an adapter to the TV so we can watch and hear on the TV screen. We watch Netflix in the evening sometimes.

One of the four bedrooms Jason chose for his office. He is working from here the next two weeks.

Kids are getting a lesson on how we used to turn on the TV and change the channel. Times were ROUGH back in our day!

It is a comfortable little home!

DAY FOUR:
We drove from Ogalla, NE to Salina, KS and stayed in a hotel.

Activity:
Prairie Dog Town in Oakley, KS.

This place read like it was going to be an animal freak show. It had a couple unusual animals: two steeds with a fifth leg hanging off their backs, a dwarfed donkey....and that's it. The rest were a hodge podge of sad looking animals in cages. A box of rattle snakes "sizzling" and the grounds littered with prairie dogs popping in and out of their network of tunnels (don't trip on a hole!) proved to be a great break from the road for the boys.

A tiny prairie dog head is peeking out of its burrow. I know, hard to see.

The gift shop was classic.

DAY FIVE:
We drove from Salina, KS to Nashville, TN where we stayed in a city hotel.

Activities:
Bowling in Mt. Vernon, IL.
Watched an episode of Driver, Dine-ins and Dives for Athena's Greek Family Restaurant in Nashville and then ate there for dinner when we pulled into town. It was indeed yummy!

Simon sacked out with Nashville, TN city lights in view. Huge lightning going on.

An addition to Day two activities:
Dinosaur Park in Ogden, UT

DAY THREE:
We drove from Lyman, WY to Ogalla, NE, where we "couchsurfed" at a home in the country. It was wonderful! The loud crickets, wide open corn fields, full moon, lack of city lights; all amazing!

Activity:
Ames Brother's Pyramid in eastern Wyoming

This place was so random and isolated. No people, clicks of locusts hopping, herd of deer crossing the dirt road in front of our car.

The family and I started our cross-country road trip from Oregon to Florida last Saturday the 10th (Jason's birthday!) and it has been so much fun. We will be hitting our destination in Florida, for three weeks of rest and relaxation, tomorrow(!!!).

Since we arrived early to a hotel tonight, I finally have time to sit down and update the blog on our activities the last six days. Bear with me, since I don't have photoshop I'm not doing any cropping or dust spot removal (old camera, badly needing a cleaning).

(each day will be a new post because pics are going in SLOW on this laptop on hotel wireless.)

DAY ONE:

We drove from home to Boise, ID, where we (tent) camped for the night.
Activity: None

DAY TWO:

We drove from Boise, ID to Lyman, WY, where we tent camped at a KOA for the night.
Activity: Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, ID (I almost typed Twin Peaks, ha!)

I appreciate my kids are NOT starting back to school. We are free...free...FREE! They can continue to listen to their own body's needs for sleep, food, running, playing, getting up, sitting down, using the bathroom, socializing, not socializing, going outside, staying inside. FREE!!!!

In three more days we are off on a five week adventure around the US. We are so excited!

Isn't my Lotus the sweetest?! She's speed crawling everywhere now.

The path was started in June (when the grass was still green) and Jason has worked on it over a couple free weekends. It's finally finished!

Clearing the dirt and many, many roots: the hardest part of the job, Jason declared.

Jason "screeding" the sand layer with two pipes and a board.

All done! And enough sand leftover for a small sandbox.

The camping equipment got a good test run before our big road trip next month.

Look! The kids aren't buried in camping gear now that we have the roof rack storage container! Yay!

We hung out with the Beech bunch and it was a great park for kids to run around in: Play structure, pool, arcade and a full size fire truck they were allowed to climb on, in and around. I saw Simon standing on the TOP of the cab to get a basketball into the basket.

Lotus' first time tent camping since we re-homed the RV and she had fun. She woke up in the sea of family with a big grin on her face:D

Set #1 of look-a-likes

Set #2 (and guess who is growing out his hair for now? ha!)

All together now!

After finishing a sweater I sulked a bit because it didn't turn out exactly like I hoped.

In fact, I put my needles away, finished books, read new books and watched TV series' on Netflix. It was a nice break...that lasted, oh...about three days. ha!

I had the itch to knit again but my mojo wasn't 100%. The cure? Dishcloths!

Kitchen cotton is cheap and squares are easy.

...and it turns out they work amazingly well at scrubbing dishes, pots and baby faces. I made five total and chucked the scrub brush into the garbage.

Using the same cotton yarn, I moved up to this "Girlfriend Market Bag" pattern (with a few modifications). I love it! It would be wonderful to have enough for grocery shopping. All of the bags would store nicely inside a single bag in the car.

The bag holds so much. It swallows stuff up and stretches out. Barely stretched to capacity...

...and it's holding 10 skeins of bulky yarn.

The skeins are the velvety soft wool for my next project: The Babywearer. It's a cozy poncho I can wear over myself and Lotus while she's in the carrier. It's going to be wonderful when the chilly weather returns. I can't wait!

Good thing we put the gate up early. Lotus is on the move *and* pulling up!

We bought a big, ugly, grey roof-rack storage container off Craigslist for for a road trip coming up. My sister in law Holly painted the top and my mom came today to work on the sides a bit. It should be the splash of color I was looking for!

We are so excited to be taking the family on an epic cross-country road trip from Oregon to Florida and back in September/October. There will be funky road side attractions, couch surfing, camping and diners along the way. We'll hang out on the beach, catch lizards, go to Busch Gardens and RELAX for three weeks in Florida. We'll enjoy more road side attractions, couch surfing, camping and diners on the way home via a completely different route.

I anticipate it being both wonderful and terrible at the same time with four young children. Ha! But we'll still do it. Yes we will.

I babysat the neph today so, while she painted, baby Icen and I hung out and kept her company. Icen was out like a light. I wooed him with my baby whispering skills;)

...and all my pics of her will be blurry from now until she's about 3.5 years old. ;)

I think she looks so darn cute in her diaper and T-shirt today.

Tasting a leaf...

See ya!!!!!!

So much to look at now that she knows she can get to it. haha!

Such a loving family! :D

His first painting on canvas: A classic fruit bowl.

He got a three pack of 16x20 canvas boards for his birthday back in January and finally got brave enough to lay some color down. Two more blanks, ready for when inspiration hits again.

What a difference three months makes in the first year....

Back in May...

Now...

Hard to believe my own baby is SEVEN months already. dang!

The kids worked together to create this "fort-plex" with two separate forts side by side.

I love the creative play!

...eh, hem...a tiny part of me, still in psycho purge mode, asks myself, "How the hell can they find so many things to bomb the living room with when I have purged so much this year??" hahahaha!

It does clean up fast though: blanket folding, pillows replaced, books back in the basket, card table put away and done:)

I think I'm addicted to getting rid of stuff!

My urge to purge used to come up once a year, which was good for sorting the current from the unused kids clothes and clearing out junk toys and books.

This year, I am getting the itch to get rid of stuff every other month and I'm sure it has to do with sorting through my husband's Grandmas stuff after she died.

We sorted stacks and stacks of papers, cards, old letters, receipts and it made me wonder what the value was in saving these things; packing and relocating these things every time they moved?? What % of our own stuff is exactly like this: very little value but burdening us with the chore of storage, cleaning and maintenance?

Room by room purging is my goal. I look at a room and everything in it and imagine what it would take to pack it all up for a move. Every object in the room gets inspected and if it doesn't get used, it's out!

The blinders are sneaky though! It takes a lot of effort and repeat inspection to see the stuff that needs purging.

The house is coming along nicely but I say the "purging has gotten radical" because I flipped out over too many cups in the dishwasher in a single day and purged almost all the dishes. It wasn't as hard as it seems because we don't have "grown up" dishes. We still have the mish-mash of crap achieved when two people marry and combine their survival stash from college.

I decided to try an experiment of limiting the dishes (and silverware!) to one set per person in our family and place a dish rack on the counter for quick rinsing.

It's only been a couple days and so far, so good! I'm sure this will change a bit but we have been using even fewer dishes than expected, rinsing and re-using from the dish rack. We haven't run the dishwasher at all!

A big hurdle is going to be photographs, paper *and* digital. I'm not so excited about that one. Scared, actually.

After Lotus got a sunburned cheek at the beach, I knit up a cotton sun hat.

Jason had to swoop in a whip out a ridiculously adorable sun hat on the sewing machine in about a quarter of my knitting time.

So now we have two hats!

Brim can flip up or hang down for more shade.

She is good at yanking both hats off....

Jason's creation: full of color and feminine flair and lined with one of his old t-shirts for a soft texture against her head....

Little button from a button collection we got from our neighbor.

Ready for the beach!

We have a "couch surfer" from Pennsylvania staying with us. Her tour of Portland is almost over so we thought it would be good to see the Oregon coast before she leaves.

It was the perfect day for it!

Big rock, little Sirene:)

Can you spot the starfish? (purple and red, center stage)

A gift from grandma.

I hope she likes them out in the sun! For now, she looks like a crazy person trying to grab at something in front of her that's not there. She hasn't figured out they are directly on her face. We'll test them out at the park next time.

My boyfriend and I make good pizza:D

We've been so lucky to avoid allergies up until now. Jason and I have never had any issues with allergies and suddenly TWO of our kids have them.

Xander's eyes were itchy, red and watering. I took him into the doctor fearing pink eye and when I left with orders to start Claritin and eye drops I was wishing it was pink eye!

Lotus has always had issues with a little patch of eczema on her right cheek that gets out of control if I don't medicate it periodically.

We all went outside to get some fresh air today...

Lotus sat on a blanket gnawing on some grass a couple times.

That patch of eczema turned into this: still all on the right side. Ugh!

My poor baby was rubbing it like crazy with her fist:(

We hit the Keller fountain for some fun in the sun.

I set up my chair in the shade for Lotus and myself and after being there for an hour these dudes decided it was also a good area to have a smoke and stay awhile. ::::::::cough, cough:::::::::::

So we moved to the nice shady spot on the other side...

You know how some people say their kids are like fish and LOVE to be in the water? My kids are not those kids. They tire of it quickly. I am certain we would have hung out longer, climbing over the structures, without the water. In fact we have done just that in the winter and they had a blast.

Crazy kids:)

I joined a swap on Ravelry and we got our package today! Maggie from Florida sent us a fabulous collection of goodies!

An Amy Butler kimono (gawd I need to start sewing!), tea, chocolates, a book and notecards with one of Maggie's own illustrations (she's good!!!!).

How cute is this handmade dress?? I love it so much!

I was raving about the plate and spoon set we have loved since our very first baby. Its low profile keep them from wanting to pick it up and chuck it on the floor.

But I should change that slightly to: it keeps them from throwing it onto the floor *until* they are bored with the food;)

My man in his garage doing stuff on his man's (dad's) day. Meow!

He is learning to weld and planning on making us a gorgeous new gate. My brother, Aaron, hooked him up with the tools and gave him a lesson. Now he just needs to practice and figure out what he'll need.

Playing with food is fun!

I finished a sweater for myself. I yanked the yarn from another sweater I made but never wore.

Remember this one?

It now looks like this...

The fit is...meh. The neck hangs too big so when I don't secure it with the top button it hangs sloppily. That is the same problem I had with the other sweater. :( So I'm feeling a little depressed about it. Too big at the top, too little in the middle.

I'm taking a couple weeks off from knitting to sulk about it.

Our happy baby Lotus is approaching six months! I made her this outfit from scraps of yarn leftover from previous projects and it's big enough to last a long time.

In fact, I'm sure the bloomers will fit next year since the only thing holding them up is her giant cloth diaper butt. Ha!

She's just the sweetest thing ever! I've been using the sign for milk and "up" for a while now and she finally gave the milk sign a try today. She doesn't quite know what it means yet but it's a start!

Kristin made this gorgeous mug and many more that fill my cupboard. Every time I sip a hot drink or ladle up some soup, I admire my handmade mugs. If she gets an Etsy store I'll share the link. Seriously...the perfect mug.

The kids and I started our trek to the waterfront "City Fair" at 10:30 in the morning and didn't get home until 9:30 at night. It was a fun day!

Bus stop outside our 'hood.

Stopped off at Finnegan's, the toy store, and then passed the courtyard on our way to Pioneer Place for bathrooms and lunch.

The square...

Action shot next to (flower)England...

Protesters we high-fived. I'm sure the boys are confused. Ha! That's okay...I'm glad you get to blissfully take it for granted;)
'

Ready to hop back on the max to the waterfront...

*love*

Playing with the new toys while we wait for the festival to open...

Simon must have grabbed this street performer's leg a dozen times. Is he real???

Weeeeeeeeeeeee!

Everybody wins!

Jason meets us there. Yay!

Isaac mid-air. Awesome!

By the way, half the animals seem to be on vacation and unavailable for viewing: Rhinos, cheetah, Snake, sea lions, iguana, etc, etc, etc. A lot of no vacancy signs and empty pseudo-homes.

But the commute was fun and the fake animals were cool.

"Does it look like we're holding it up?"

"look scared!"

From yesterday...Icen in the house!

We took the kids to the 53rd street fountain park. The black clouds were already starting to roll in and lightning was cracking in the distance, but we managed to squeeze in a little play time.

This is the park we love to go to at dusk, due to the complete lack of shade. Also the sun reflects off the light concrete and practically blinds us mid-day.

Another bonus to evening play is the fountain lights that make each spray look like a firework. The lights weren't on tonight...I hope they do get turned on soon!

I have been super excited about Couch Surfing since I first heard about it. Share a couch, lend a couch for more personable (and affordable!) travel anywhere in the world.

We are hoping to scrape enough money together to take the family to Europe in a few months (!!) so I finally set up my CSing profile about four days ago. Four days...I was thinking no one would be interested in staying with us in Hillsboro, as much as we would love to host, but we got a request!

A couple and their 18 month old stayed a night with us. Dad, Brook, is walking across America to raise funds for clean water access. He started a few days ago from the coast and will end in North Carolina.

Here is their journey blog. It was wonderful to meet them! They and some of their brothers and sisters are traveling the country and abroad for various reasons. It's such an inspiration and I can't wait for us to be on the other side of the couch surfing relationship as well.

I hope CS'ing continues to introduce us to new people and experiences. So far, two thumbs up from us!

Isaac's small gathering for his 10th birthday. The ice cream cake was delicious!

The Middles and I went out to check out the garden beds and the Brussels sprout plant turned into this gorgeous, yellow bush! A beautiful plant *can* result from neglect. Ha!

Last years carrots that never got bigger than baby fingers, got slightly bigger than baby fingers...

I snapped a pic of Lotus in her nest just before I climbed in for the night. All of our babies started out the first years between me and Jason.

It's definitely going to be bittersweet when Lotus wants her own bed. Yay for sprawling out again after 13 years, but waking up to the sweet baby face and baby hands holding my arm is something I'm going to savor every day until then.

Not on the move yet! She still wants to be held most of the time but a little playtime on the blanket is okay by her...but not *too* long. haha!

I *heart* her!

Double digits time!

Isaac is 10 and loving his Lego Pirates of the Caribbean Xbox game today.

He is my awesome, amazing Isaac, such a great mentor to his younger brothers and wonderful holder and entertainer to Lotus. We couldn't have wished for a better introduction to parenthood. We love you Isaac!!!!!

And, in other news, look who is breaking free from the play mat (although completely unintentional. She was a little upset about it. haha!).

Icen!

Started out with a Simon (we missed that pic) and moved up to an Isaac...

Switched out to a Xander...

Finished with a Lotus cool down...

I tried to climb up but apparently I'm too heavy. What??? Three Isaac's and a Lotus too much for one lift? pshhh.

ps shame on you if you're trying to add that up! ;)

Lots of sewing lately! In fact, we loaned our tiny Singer out and had to buy another just so we could keep sewing. It will be nice to have them both for the different features.

Jason made me some knitting project bags for Mother's day...

I love them! He made me a nice big one for sweater projects as well.

We have a couple kid birthday parties to attend so Jason used the same pattern to make back packs. This one is for Emma. Simon models it for us...

My niece, Noa, will be three. I knit her a bear and then tried my hand at sewing a dress for it. No pattern and it looks pretty crazy, but Xander says it looks great so hopefully Noa will like it too...

All the little cousins are on the outside! Woot! It was a lot of fun sharing the pregnancy experience with my sister and sis-in-law and now we get to enjoy our babies being so close in age.

Icen, Lotus and Ava...

Such a sweetie...

My sister's (and my!) friend Kisten had her baby girl, Ayla Noelle last week.

And, as of yesterday, I have a new niece, Ava. I get to meet her tomorrow! How fun all these new moms get to have their babies just in time for mother's day. I missed it by a week with my first baby. ha! My baby, who will be 10 this month. yay!

My friend Kristin made Lotus this gorgeous sweater and it fits her now! The perfect spring sweater!

Another restaurant copy meal. The kids like the "make a face" meal at IHOP. They were pretty shocked when I surprised them with it at home. The biggest shock was probably that I bought Go-gurt.

Lotus cruises right over the top of her Boppy pillow...

So we borrowed Aundi and Casey's exersaucer. I think she's going to like it:)

Hooray for kids playing outside! They have been riding bikes, playing out back, walking to the nature area in our 'hood. Love, love, loving the warmer weather and looking forward to camping.

(ps, Jason is going to put down a nice paved path down there off the deck stairs and a fire pit off the step to the lower yard. The back two garden beds are going to be strawberries on the right, leaf lettuces on the left. I'm keeping it simple this year.)

A few years ago I wanted to make an effort to eliminate yelling.

I would get frustrated when I had to repeat myself and raise my voice in an effort to get a response. Maybe after 5-6 shouts from across the room I would get a response.

I quickly decided this was not how I wanted to do things. First, the kids get the idea they can ignore us until we get loud and it starts sounding angry and, second, I hate hearing myself yelling. It sounds ugly and not how I want to be.

To change my behavior, I committed to getting up each time I needed to talk to or redirect one of the children, place a hand on him gently to get his attention and then communicate softly on his level. Guess what? It works much better! We have had a much less yelly life since.

BUT....

There was one bit of yelling left and it was not out of frustration but yelling things to the kids downstairs from upstairs. Things like "come up for dinner!...come up for dinner! can anyone hear me??? COME UP FOR DINNER!!!" Or the kids getting too loud downstairs next to Jason's office while he is working and I'm yelling for them to not be so loud. See the problem there?

Well, I found the solution and it is brilliant! An intercom! We now have one and it's working so nicely. The push of a button and I can quietly say "Dinner time, Guys." and they hear me! yay!

(ps Maybe you're thinking why don't I walk my fat butt down there to talk, and yes, I thought that too. In fact, I was doing that some of the time but alas the temptation to yell was too great when holding the baby, working on dinner etc. The intercom takes that temptation away completely.)

And just because no post is complete without a picture, this is one I snapped of our evening activities. Isaac setting up a game of dominoes for us, Lotus propped dangerously on the couch, Simon sound asleep, Luke on his bed. Good times.

Remember those super ugly Cabbage Patch Preemie dolls?

Lotus is sporting the same hairdo, but she's able to pull it off;)

Because preemies are always born with hair like this...

Cousins...the cuteness is almost too much. Ridiculous!

Apparently Lotus gnawed on Icen's fuzzy baby head for a second (while I was off changing out my lens). Can you blame her?

Four months.

Why do photo shoots always end up with the clothes off?

She didn't seem to mind...

Can I go back to sucking my thumb?

Cutest baby ever...seriously!

Hard act to follow but baby Icen is next and I think he can hold his own;)

Once again...went with raw eggs instead of hard boiled. They still dye up beautifully, hide beautifully, seek beautifully and go back into the fridge in its original, versatile, raw form beautifully. And less work for me! (Whenever there is an easier way, I take it! ha!)

I seriously love how the brown eggs dye up. So much richer than the white eggs, don't you think?

white...

Maybe I should have gotten smaller baskets?

They each got a small box of assorted chocolates. Simon got a floor puzzle, Xander got oil pastels and stamps and Isaac got a quill and jar of ink. yep, smaller baskets would have been better. Hmm maybe I can label each thing and tuck them into the same basket?

Its been a long and emotional weekend with Jason sitting at his grandma's side until she passed and now helping his grandpa move.

With only one car, Jason has been the one to go and I stay home with the kids. I thought today was going to be the same but Jason realized he could use his grandpa's van and I could take the kids for a hike.

My sister, Omi and baby Icen came and it was wonderful! Great exercise, wonderful weather and awesome sister time.

You see that little Simon? He's four now...REALLY four, exhaustingly four. I love him:D

Sunday night at midnight (or is that Monday morning?), Jason's Grandma Louise passed away:(

Grandma Louise, 100 years old this past November.

Just a week ago she was still cruising around in her wheel chair. The sweetest, smiliest, most loving grandma ever. She has been feeling ready to go for some time...maybe the arthritis pain or the loneliness that comes with outliving all her family was her motivation. We understand but she will be greatly missed by her hubby and us young-in's.

Jason is extremely sad but helping his grandpa move back from the higher care facility to a studio apartment at the retirement center has been wonderful for them both, I think. A chance for them each to focus on a task but also reflect on the loss.

I hope my kids remember her! She has been such a treasure to us.

A sunny day is here!

We broke out the Oregon Hikes with Kids book to pick out a new trail and Virginia Lake on Sauvie Island was the pick. Close and not too difficult.

Xander wanted to stay home so it was just me, Isaac, Simon, Lotus and our dog Luke. Lotus' first hike!

The clean, fresh air through my nose, Lotus snuggled into my chest looking around.

So many bees by this bridge area, the buzz was an impressive harmony.

Six snakes spotted, symphony of frogs, ducks quacking,

it was a good hike.

Do you see all the stuff I carried for the 2+ miles? I think this counts as a good exercise day;)

duck watching hideout...

Peek-a-boo....gorgeous!

Jason saw a picture of this style of hat and wanted me to make him one. There was definitely some "you never make anything for ME" comments involved.

So, I found the Brimmer pattern and made the necessary tweaks involved to get the basket weave texture he was looking for.

Due to my own haste in reading the pattern, I made it an inch too short (maybe the pattern could have hinted the 5" was in addition to the 1" of cuff for us late night knitters...just sayin') and I ended up having to make another. Luckily I have plenty of smaller heads eager to have a new hat, so it didn't need to be ripped out.

Just because Xander and Simon didn't want to be left out of picture time, they are modeling the same two hats...

The kids thought the Taco Bell theme for lunch was a hoot.

"Pintos & Cheese and Cinnamon Twists"...but all made from scratch at home. mmmmmm!

These babies slide right off the baking sheet and into the bowl, and are quite good!

Simple pie crusty type recipe with a twist.

Remember the lego iPod stand?

Jason and I need bigger ones;) We waited for second generation iPad to release and then we hit "buy." The portability along with easier to browse is fabulous. Facetime is fun too. I wish we had that while I was on my trip.

New docking station...

Jason is a mini master lego builder:)

New game that is fun but too much like World of Warcraft: Dungeon Hunter 2 HD. I guess I really am over that game. haha! or maybe it's because I couldn't choose a female character. girls rule!

We drove north for an impromptu visit with our friend Kelly and mutual friend, Kristin. Three moms and thirteen kids under the age of eleven.

Kristin and her three left and we stayed another night for a get-together with the Seattle moms from our online moms group...five moms and eighteen kids. Kelly's house is so roomy it didn't feel cramped at all! (yes, I was experiencing major house envy).

It is good to be home. Lotus was happy as a clam as long as she was being held. I suppose that's not unusual for her but not having Jason made for one exhausted mom. Jason spoils me rotten at home and I let him know as soon as I got home how much I appreciate it. ha!

The hermit I am, enjoyed the visit but will now need a full week or more of NO activity to recover from all the stimuli....oh crap, it's Bunco week. Okay, Bunco and that's it. Oh, jeez...Xander has sculpture class. Okay those two things and THAT'S IT!!!!!!!!

Nighty night time...

Simon said he wanted his own embroidered shirt and he wanted it to be an egg:)

...by Xander!!!!

It's so true what they say about children learning more by example than what is said. Of course they have their own personalities and interests and I never know what certain thing they might take an interest in.

Xander decided he wanted to try embroidery today and he made something.

Now Simon wants his own Xander-design shirt. ha! I'm still hoping I get at least one or two knitters out of the bunch. Both Isaac and Xander learned how to knit but didn't get to the enjoyment of knitting stage. One day...I hope;)

This sweater for Lotus has been my "in between project." The knitting I pick up between other projects...because I didn't really enjoy knitting it. The garter stitch made it feel like it was taking forever to knit.

But then I remembered I wanted to try embroidered buttons and it gave me the boost I needed to finish up today.

It's the Garter Stitch Cardigan in Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas.

I was pleased with the embroidered button making process and how whimsical they look on the sweater but I wish the actual button didn't feel...how do I describe them?...Cheap? Flimsy? Like they need a little cushion on top instead of the hard, flat, sharp(?) surface they are.

Maybe better product or process is in order.

And after some inspiration...

I had to put a bird on it...

A six month sized sweater and Lotus is only three months, so it's got a lot of growing room. The thickness of the garter stitch makes it a cozy, warm jacket. I'll whip up a hat to match. :)

We love all the fun things to do in Astoria. I took the kids for a day trip a couple years ago. This time Jason came too and we stayed at the KOA with friends.

We didn't feel up to tenting in the rain and the RV is going up for sale (anyone want to buy it??), so we opted for the deluxe cabin...

A nice dry porch swing for knitting.

All the kids wore their mama-made sweaters and kept very warm.

KOAs always have nice amenities for kids: Pool, mini golf, free pancake breakfast...

We climbed the Astoria Column, all 164 steps to the top.

Up and up and up and up...

The Battery Russell is always a hit. A kids fort gets an upgrade from blankets and chairs to this masterpiece...

Toured the museum and lighthouse ship...

The lens I have been wanting for several years is finally in my collection and I love it!

Its a wide angle Sigma 10-20mm, super light and sharp.

Gotta watch out for that close range distortion.

But now I can get the ENTIRE room in one shot, with all the laundry, mess and general life happenings in our house. I love it!

It's crazy how close I am standing to the table.

I *heart* these little bags.

Isaac has not been interested in much in the home economics department but I think the sewing machine might have caught his attention.

He made a little pillow and is now eyeing up the embroidered plushie doll pattern I printed out.

We bought one of the beginning sewing, or should I say threading, kits during our splurge at the craft store. The kit included a heart and a cat to thread and stuffing...

Xander tried the heart and decided it was a pretty lame activity.

I suggested he try the cat on the machine and it went from lame to super fun! He handled the curvy seam like a pro and now he knows as much about sewing as I do;)

A new project was born from a need for better containment for my knitting notions. Everything stuffed in the inside pocket of my bag has lead to things spilling out the second I throw my bag down many times.

So.....I thought what I needed was a pencil pouch. After searching stores and not finding what I needed, a Google search turned up this adorable zipper pouch sewing pattern, with embroidered applique.

I still have very little patience for sewing. Isn't it sad to want the product but lack the skill?

Jason once again joined me on the project and did most of the machine work while I tackled the embroidery part of the pattern. Embroidery? Who knew it could be so fun?!!! I had so much fun, I'm trying to think what else needs some embroidered flair. ha!

Aside from the little embroidery, this is really a show and tell for Jason. He is getting really good! This might be the first time the old sewing machine has had the zipper foot used. He rocked it out like a pro.

Jason had fun too because he wants to make a money pouch for one of the kids.

The boys are thrilled with the shirt ninja mask we figured out how to make last night. A whole lotta wooop-POW going on here!

So now while I'm innocently chillin' on the couch watching the Phineas & Ferb marathon this morning, I look over to see this face next to me...

Other happenings today...Jason thought today was a good day for green eggs. No reason.

And, I might be breaking out the sewing machine again but *only* because I need something for my knitting. This could get ugly...

Since we ran out of perler beads, a trip to the craft store was DIRE (keeping the craft supplies stocked is important around here;).

Along with the three giant buckets of perler beads, we grabbed a bunch of new crafts to try, including these bead kits...

The middles (that's my new nick name for Xander and Simon...I do love the symmetry of having four children!) had fun making themselves a necklace. Xander says he'll make me one but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Another project that landed in our shopping cart was a blanket we put together.

Aundi and Casey made us a cozy fleece blanket that's blue and red with trucks on it a few years ago. We have been using it for Lotus' "nest" on the couch, where we tuck her in when she's napping. Jason and I made another one in a fun girlie print last night.

Awfully cute blankie for only $13 at the fabric store!

An amazing day! We got all three boys into the cooking class together!

This never happens...getting them all into a class together I mean. Classes always seem to be broken into age groups that just miss including one brother, but not today! We lucked out...with such small class sizes the teacher combined the two age groups and let Simon join.

I took the pocket camera the kids usually use and snapped a picture of the class eating the meal they created...

I'm not sure why the photos are so long and lean. I haven't touched this camera in a long time and I'm not even sure how to change the settings.

Check out the other photos I found, that the kids took.

Lotus sleeping in our big family bed...haha!

Isaac and his DS

One of Xander's creations (I believe this box is what later evolved into "my first studio apartment."

Random kid perspective pics of Lotus

On Isaac...

On me...

An older one, modeling one of the cable hats I made...

This one must have been taken by Simon. Completely out of focus but I love how it shows Xander at the table where he spends much of the day working on his crafts, And Jason popping up from his spot where he uses his computer.

I finished a little sweater for Lotus out of the leftover yarn meant for Isaac's sweater (that turned out small enough for Xander and Simon).

This is supposed to be a 12-18 month size. I think it will still fit next year but I'm not sure. The pattern does seem to run a little small after knitting three of them. They are so cute and cozy though.

Xander made a house out of cardboard and some paper people to go with it.

I'm calling it "My first studio apartment." It just needs a kitchenette that can be hidden by a curtain, a futon and a few pieces of hand-me-down accessory furniture. :D

...and so are nine year olds.

Isaac sharing his passion for gaming with Lotus....

Lotus gives it a try. Jeez, these kids are learning how to work a computer earlier and earlier! ;)

I guess she fits in the Ergo baby carrier now but I'm not sure it's okay for her legs to be out yet. They seem pushed out too much for a little baby.

But, I'm also having trouble fitting her legs inside the Mei Tai carriers. Maybe a side carry is the best for now. I'll have to play around with the carriers and see how a side carry can work.

Picture complete with baby spit shirt.

His little belly button from the side is my fav. Reminds me of a Cabbage Patch doll belly.

Jason and I surprised the kids with some Valentine fun when they woke up.

Just some streamers on the door and handmade valentines but you would think it was Christmas by the sounds of their excitement when they woke up and saw it. haha!

Part of the fun of making these Valentines was having them in the living room "not looking" while we made them. It amps the excitement and shows them the work we put into it because we love them. Just like knitting for them...they get to watch a sweater grow from the yarn they picked out, see all the work I put into it and enjoy the finished product that much more. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!!!!

They might be related, eh?

The bear booties I knit for Lotus forever ago, back when we had no idea what this little person would be like, finally fit. They are so cute:)

Clicky click for extra cuteness...

My two littlest just before heading over to Omi and Aaron's house...

I swaddled Simon and rocked him in the rocking chair. I called his brothers over to see how well he smiles now and soothed him with back pats and baby talk. I tucked him in on the couch next to Lotus and he must have stayed there in cozy bliss for 20 minutes. hahaha!

Xander thought it was pretty dumb at first but after seeing all the babying play out he said, "Me next!" ha! That's right, they are all still my babies.

Finally holding Icen again. So tiny and sweepy...sigh:)

Only eight weeks difference in age and my baby girl is a giant next to him!

Two cousins down, one to go! I'm so excited to have both my sister and sis-in-law having babies so close together.

I like the tag coming off of Icen's head. It says 100% pure baby cuteness.

He makes stuff and tells me to get my camera.

Today's creations...

Xander sports a crown, cape, shield, wrist guard and metal tube weapon.
Simon displays the map. It looks like X marks the treasure. (so that's what the paper box full of paper gold coins was for!)

The first crown was too small so Lotus was made queen . Just like Cinderella but in this story having a small head is the desirable feature;)

Do we look related? hahahaha!!!

Omi and Icen...

Me and Simon, and my mama...

I feel horrible for posting this on the same day as baby Icen's birth but I guess not horrible enough to stop myself from doing it. Ha!

Not wanting to diminish the awesomeness of Icen's arrival AT ALL, I had to document my second sweater completed.

Xander is pleased with his color choice "Purple Mystery."

There was plenty of the "water green" yarn leftover so I'm using it for a tiny sweater for Lotus in size 12 months and some bulky yarn has been ordered for Isaac's sweater. WHew! after all of my babies have cozy pullovers I may need to take a knitting break!

Ooops! The last pic didn't get included for some reason.

Little sweetie face. ****swooon!!****

My sister Omi and her hubby Aaron had their first baby this morning!

Baby boy, Icen, weighing in at 5 pounds, 15 ounces and 20". He is a tiny ball of cuteness.

Fresh out of the oven...

Grandma gets to hold him...

Two Aunties get a hold:)

I am so happy for you guys! He is such a beautiful baby, healthy as can be and taking to nursing so naturally already. <3

...and getting too big to model my newborn hats!

I made some more buttons but this time used shape cutters instead of button molds. Lesson learned: Don't forget to set the holes down in a trough. The thread overwhelms the button after it's sewn on without that little gutter.

The hats the buttons are for. I know, wild and crazy combo:)

Busting out of the hat!

Lotus is such a happy baby. And such a sucker for my baby talk. It doesn't take much to get her to bust out a smile.

We need to start up a website for Xander's creations!

He made a mobile for Lotus out of Tinker toys and paper.

looking up at it...

I think there's a smile in there!

Yes! There is a smile!

Summer 2010 was our first attempt at a garden.

Some bad decisions were made along with some less favorable weather. I was thinking our next garden would be much simpler with various lettuces, some tomatoes and that's it. But, honestly, we're going to go with a Farmers Market year for 2011.

Well into the fall of 2010 I gave up on the garden and figured my tomatoes would never grow, my carrots would never get bigger than tooth pick size, onions never bigger than marbles and the brussel sprouts never produce more than the giant sun blocking leaves.

I was right about everything but the brussel sprouts. They've been busy growing out there all by themselves.

Too bad they look a little over done for eating. But what do I know? Rookie!

You see how they take over my 4x4' garden bed? I'm guessing the space required and the harvest time of seven months may not be ideal for my home garden.

Xander always draws faces on balloons. Does this look a little like Barack Obama? I mean that in the nicest way possible. ;) It's just that he came to mind when I first saw it.

We have wonderful friends for Isaac and Xander and Simon enjoys tagging along but I decided I need to start setting up some playdates just for him.

Today we went to play with Pablo and he had so much fun!

I'm embarrassed to say this was the last time we visited them...

Pablo and Simon

And this was today...

Pablo and Simon

But I am a hermit and they live in Portland;) I'll try and make it over again before 3.5 years have whizzed by.

Unfortunately this was the yarn Isaac picked out and it ended up fitting Xander better. He loves it and it is super cozy! I'll finish the second sweater and he and Simon can fight over them.

It will be back to the drawing board for something for Isaac.

By the way, Xan tried it on straight off the needles and then wore it to the park. ha!

Kristin made Lotus this sweet sweater. It's still a little big but I started putting it on her as an extra cover for outings. Isn't it gorgeous?! I had to snap a pic on our way back into the house.

I can't wait for a photo shoot of her wearing it at six months when she can sit up and it is a perfect fit.

She is also sporting another one of the hats from my favorite baby hat pattern, "the gift wrap bonnet." The same one she wore to the beach. I love it! It stays on and looks adorable.

We were at Target and a baby swing jumped into our cart! We lasted 6 weeks...that's pretty good, right?

I have to sneak in a pic of Isaac since he seems to elude the camera these days, which is the complete opposite of Xander who demands photos be taken of him and his creations, and Simon who just squeezes himself into photos regardless.

Isaac: my 9 year old, still a kid. He loaded pillows and a blanket into a laundry basket so he could watch TV from it. Yep, still a kid:) I love it!

Xander created his own puzzle and I thought it was pretty cool. It only took me a minute or so to complete because I'm awesome like that.

"I have a imaginary frand"

Friend Katy hooked me up with a stash of the next sized clothes for Lotus and included this adorable baby hat. Such a girly girl. ha!

After passing around the sickies for a week, we needed some fresh air and to get out of town for a couple days.

Jason and I took the kids to Canon Beach and stayed at "our" hotel...the hotel we stayed at when Jason took me to the beach for the weekend he proposed to me. It's a great place right on the beach, with a nice pool. We found out this time around that it is also very kid-friendly!

Free movie rentals with popcorn brought to our room and a turn down service that includes treats found on the beds like sand toys and mini beach balls for the pool.

It was very relaxing and just what we needed!

Oh and by the way...it was warm enough for just a fleece and no hat. What can I say? I'm one of *those* moms.

Playing in the sea foam.

The sun was out and we loved lounging on the hotel deck!

The tub was enormous!

We had to get up early to catch haystack rock during low tide. It was foggy goodness!

I was trying to spend a few minutes on the computer. The actual computer and not the iPod, so I could catch up the finances.

Lotus was placed, asleep, down on the floor on a blanket.

Maybe a full minute after, I look over to see this...

15 seconds later she realizes her situation and lets me know it is NOT okay with her!

30 seconds after picking her up she is asleep again.

Babies are so smart! They know where it's cozy. Now if I could just type with one hand.

Back to my iPod...

We hit the one month mark and the baby acne is in full force, along with the start of some random adorable baby smiles.

This is her nest on the couch, made up of two pillows and blankets. We decided to try not buying a single piece of baby equipment and see how it goes. I was curious to see what item we cave and buy first after she's here. So far we haven't bought anything, although a baby swing did slip into my mind momentarily.

It's, of course, exhausting to hold a baby all day and night but between Jason and I (and Isaac too!) and a few winks on the baby nest, we are managing it.

She seems to approve!

We had an amazing turn out of friends and family for our New baby and Xander's birthday celebration! I think our house reached more than maximum capacity. haha!

Simon and Lotus chilling on the couch, waiting for guests to arrive...

My brother and sis-in-law, Aaron and Samantha brought their awesome popcorn popper. It was a huge hit! Not only tasted yummy but fun to watch the fresh popcorn spill out of the popper.

Xander and Lotus were showered with generosity. Look at all the friends! Being the craft man he is, Xander HAD to make himself a party hat for the occasion. Here he is with his hat on, opening gifts...

Cake time! Lotus had a pink cake with flowers (bottom of the pic)...

And Kelly surprised us with one of her amazing creations. We actually ended up with four cakes, much of it eaten!

I tell everyone Kelly makes it look so easy making baby girls, since she has five girls and one boy, and it took us four tries. Here we are with our baby girls, Lotus and Sarah:)...

The products of our last synchronized pregnancies: Hannah and Simon, looking cute as ever!

We had a wonderful time and enjoyed seeing everyone! Thank you all so much for coming. We love you!

Grandma Louise snuggles Lotus. 100 years old and such a blessing to have her in our lives! It gets me all emotional thinking about it.

Grandpa Irwin <3

It has been such a treat having Isaac dote on the baby. He picks her up and keeps her happy when we need a moment to finish something. All the boys love her so much.

I had to snap a pic of the family eating out. No more getting away with the small booth for us!

Look at how cute he is at two...

And still my little cutie bug today, at 7...

Me and my mini-me. I *heart* him so much!

Lotus models the hats for baby Icen, my sister's baby due next month.

Cabled hat...

I think I finally have the one: the gift wrap bonnet...

I made the next size up from the tiny one I made Lotus so it may be slightly roomy for Icen at the start. But, hey, it will last more than a week hopefully. Lotus had a 14.25" head at birth and all her baby hats seemed small. Who knew I was going to have such a robust baby?

Had to throw this pic in. hehe:)

Jason returned to work after three glorious weeks off. I managed to load up all four kids into the car for our weekly playdate with friends and then took Lotus with me to the monthly Bunco night, all in the same day!!!!

Before you get impressed by my awesome achievement, I suppose I should remind you that Jason works from home. He went out and got donuts and coffee for breakfast and held the baby during his lunch hour. Today he made all the kids lunch. Gawd, I am spoiled! I love my Sexypants.

Remember those homemade baby carriers? They are working out perfectly! I have the chic brown one in the car for public use and the other one in the house for hands-free whatever-i-want. Nice!

Knitting projects are piling up since I have all these changing ideas for baby gifts. It took me three tries to get the sizing right on this cabled hat pattern. By the time I finished three, my fingers were so sore I had to take a couple days off!

Now that my hands have recovered, I am thinking a different pattern is the one. <sigh>

She is two weeks old and the day was bright enough for a photo session! Also I was finally feeling good enough for the challenge;)

She has been such a joy and we still can't believe we have a daughter. I still don't think it has really hit me. Most of the newborn stuff my mom got us was boyish and putting it on her felt more normal to me. But, I have managed to break through the weirdness of it all and put some pink on her. Baby steps!

Some have asked for more details on the birth and I think I am ready to divulge;)...

After three, well four (counting a late-ish stillbirth), hospital births and OB monitored pregnancies I was done, DONE, with those shenanigans.

Done with being told what to do,
done with standardized, routine labs and swabs and tests and monitors,
done with the gazillion prenatal appointments that take a doctor's fee to tell me, yes, I am still pregnant,
done with doctors telling me where and how and with what IVs and contraptions to labor and deliver with.

I decided I wanted to have the most perfect pregnancy and birth that was just for me. Just for us. I wanted to reclaim the natural-ness of making a baby. Like a cat. Gestate like a cat. Birth like a cat...in the quiet and rhythm of my own will. So that's what I did! Jason and I excitedly transitioned our canoodling from "benign" to "let's do this!" and a couple months later we quietly beamed over our positive pregnancy test.

I did not call a doctor..nope. I just enjoyed the knowledge all to myself. I bought a doppler and found the heartbeat at 9 weeks, all on my own. Every few weeks I would find the heartbeat and reassure myself the baby was growing well...until I started to feel those first kicks.

Then I was able to put the doppler away and enjoy all the movements telling me every day that baby was growing and thriving well. First trimester, second trimester, third trimester...I enjoyed the pregnancy for what it was. A baby, so natural and amazing, growing inside me.

*Toward the end, I signed a contract with an awesome midwife to be on call for the birth. She also helped us with the birth certificate paperwork (woot!).

When my due date approached I was not worried, only excited for the big day. I still had the imagery of a mother cat seeking out a quiet spot in the house and that is what I wanted to do. I bought no "supplies," no home-birthing kit. I really think all of that stuff is unnecessary and having a baby doesn't need to be so medical...so we just waited for baby to come. All on her own. No induction, no membrane stripping or water breaking. No castor oil or 5 hour walks at the mall. Just waiting.

On her due date, I labored all morning at home. The pain was familiar. I knew what to expect. Jason and I never mentioned a feeling of needing support. We just went with it and it was great!

When it was time to push there was a moment of worry because I didn't have someone to check and tell me I was fully dilated. Memories of nurses and doctors telling me to wait so they can make sure...because swelling can occur!

But then I had to laugh and remind myself birth is natural! My body would not be pushing if it wasn't ready to do so. I told Jason everything was fine and we were doing great! After a few pushes the head was out and I told Jason to go get the kids.

He asked if we had time and I said we did. He ran and called the kids up and they all came in to see the baby's head out. Xander felt a little squeamish and left the room to wait outside but Isaac and Simon stayed to watch the birth.

My body pushed her out and Jason caught her. It was so sweet the way he announced it was a girl with a teary, surprised look on his face. She was pale with a purple-ish head and took a few seconds to start breathing (it is her first time, after all!). We rubbed her body. When she took her first breaths it sounded a little wet so Jason "suctioned" her with his mouth over her nose and mouth a couple times. She pinked up, and opened her eyes! We wrapped her in blankets, Isaac ran to get us a container from the kitchen (for the placenta) and my body pushed the placenta out.

My sister Omi arrived and she helped hold the baby and placenta bowl while Jason helped me get cleaned up in the shower. Clean clothes, clean sheets, whew! Look what we have done!

About an hour after the birth Jason used a strip of cotton to tie off the cord. He flame-steralized a pair of kitchen scissors and cut the cord. and that was that! We had a baby! We snuggled in bed looking at our new baby. She is perfect. The pregnancy was perfect. The birth was perfect. Everything was perfect!

And now its been two weeks and we are still holding our new baby and staring at her in amazement over how gentle her arrival was. It was just another day in the Bergeman house...but not really. Ha!

Christmas 2010!

The kids woke us up early after we had stayed up until 3am. We were barely awake! I am seriously considering we do it all on Christmas Eve next year.

Of course the baby won't be so new next year so maybe our sleep hours will be better.

The blur of present time...

Simon wanted a "Pillow Pet" and that is what he is about to open...

7/9 kid gifts were LEGO related so Jason had a very busy day assisting the builds...

I didn't think I would be able to concentrate on any detailed knitting with a newborn but...

I whipped out a "10 cabled baby hat" for my sister's little boy due in February. It is so cute!!! And fun to knit. I'm going to make another one slightly bigger since this one turned out a little on the small side.

It started with, "Is it possible to make a helmet out of paper?"

And this costume evolved from there...

I thought he looked like an executioner but he calls it "horn man."

And we are playing dress up! My tie dye diapers apparently need another hot rinse because Lotus woke up with bluish dye on her bum after a wet diaper. It looks like she endured a beating. oops! Luckily it is fading with wipes and we'll just get the diapers washed up better.

In the meantime, she is rocking a neon green Fuzzibunz diaper...

We finally tried the knitted romper and matching hat and it fits! I was worried it would be too small considering her starting weight but it fits well and she looks so cozy in it.

I *love* her!

Baby slept most of today and we just want to poke her so we can play with her. :)

The brother's are in love with their new baby sister...overwhelmingly so! hahaha!

and yes, she does look like a three month old! haha! ROAR!!!!!!!!!!

I absolutely love this sleep sack I made on her. It is so cozy! Too bad it won't last long. And the knitted socks are a hoot. Little gnome feet, just like I imagined.

Started labor at 4:00am this morning on her due date...

Worked through each contraction doing my usual door frame standing push-ups;)

Pushed surprise baby girl out at 1:45pm into Jason's hands! We are thrilled and fighting over who gets to hold her. .I thought it was just going to be Jason and I playing tug-of-war, but there are also three eager brothers pining for a turn.

The first two of Lotus can be clicked to see a larger size...

My usual baby face gobbling and gave her the spiel about how sorry I am she has been born into a couple of cooky parents who will be mauling her with love every day for the rest of her life. Isaac chimed in to confirm its truth from first hand experience. haha!

We did an initial hop on the bathroom scale and subtracted Jason's weight getting a weight we thought was 7 pounds 2 ounces. But later when we got out the baby scale and zeroed it out for the blanket, diaper and clothes we got a whopping:

9 pounds 12 ounces! Jason had to triple check that.
20.5"

39 weeks today...

I am very tired! I take lots of naps and our family has retreated into the coziness of staying home together while we wait for baby to arrive.

We took the boys to the yarn store to pick out their colors for a VERY simple, mindless sweater pattern I have started for them.

Seriously awesome pattern for grabbing up and knitting throughout the day and letting my mind wander without worrying about missing a stitch. No need to look at the pattern every row and I should be able to keep knitting them after baby arrives, no problem. I love it!

Xander picked out "Mystery purple" and it is really pretty! Too bad my purples often photograph blue??

Isaac picked out "Water Green." and you can see my slight OCD here with buttons already sewn on. I like to weave in all my ends and complete my finishing touches as I go, so when I bind off the needles at the end it is DONE, Baby:)

And look at my inventive hubby! He is the official yarn ball winder around here and he created his own swift to make the job easier. Some wood, clamps and the lazy susan from the spice cabinet and voila!

I love the pleased look on his face here...and Xander watching his sweater yarn get wound. How can I love them anymore than I do without nibbling on them? I *heart* my family so much. (totally swooning in pregnancy hormones right now. haha!

The kids actually put it together themselves this year. Jason put the two strands of lights on and then the kids put the ornaments on (mostly in one spot still;).

Xander has already made a "box" out of construction paper and tape to put under the tree and some Santas for the front window. Stockings are up and the shopping is done. We are set!

I should change the name of this blog to "what's going on at our dining table today" since that is the majority of pics I take and post.

Random pic of kids eating their lunch

Simon is really shoving it in...

At this rate we'll have all the Christmas activities done in the first week of December! haha!

The kids did bead ornaments Kristin left for us last night and it was the perfect craft. Very easy, pretty results and good dexterity practice for little hands.

The kids (Xander) wanted me to take a picture of the entire loot of crafts. Can you tell who loves crafts the most?? HAHA! Xander has four finished projects draped off him. I told him he looks like the Christmas tree.

Someone asked for a belly pic so here I am...

Kristin stepped up the playdate activities today with some craft projects. We now have some awesome s'more/snowmen ornaments and wall decorations for Christmas. The kids had fun and so did us grown-ups:D

Aren't they cute?!

Grandma Louise took the mic and spoke about how thankful she is for all the loving, wonderful people in her life and that she "really can't complain about a thing" hehe. She is the sweetest lady and like a mother to Jason.

Jason recalling memories of Louise and Irwin taking him and his brother and sister into their home and care every single weekend as they grew up and the positive influence.

Ten candles...one per decade. She looked like she made a good effort but couldn't blow out a single one. Her wish was that she would be able to blow out the candles. haha! Isaac helped her out.

The best photo album of young Louise. Photos from the 20s of the girls draped over NEW cars (not sure what kind, but you can imagine what was new at that time) were the best and young Louise in a beautiful dress, clutching her McCall's fashion magazine with a huge smile on her face. Still the same face but 80 years ago. Amazing!

Jason's dad, Woody:)

Took a pic of all the cousins and this was the only one semi in focus...and it's not even really in focus:( Ugh! So sad.

Love love love this one!!!!

We enjoyed a great dinner with family at my sister's house and now looking forward to relaxing on the couch and watching a movie. :)

Just stepping out to see the first snow coming down in the dark. Nothing on the ground yet but we are hoping to wake up to a winter wonderland.

...and I love seeing my babies wrapped up in my knitted goods! I printed out a sweater pattern for them and should get the yarn for them soon. :)

We had a fun Saturday! A birthday party...

With clay modeling...

Our friend, Dan returned from Taipei, Taiwan today and brought us some (Japanese) gundam models and some candy.

We made quick work of assembling the models:)

*******

Jason and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary on the 18th. We went out for Thai food and then did the Christmas shopping for the kids. Hey! We know how to take advantage of babysitting hours!

My honey-pants surprised me with a card in the dishwasher. He put it in there, not because I would be doing the dishes (he knows me well!) but because he knew I'd have to venture in there for a clean cereal bowl. Ha!

And he also ran out and bought me this knitting book: At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. I have been laughing my butt off, enjoying this book immensely. If you knit at all go get this book!

Here's to another 10 years, Babe. I love you!!!!!

My friends rock! Sheri and Kristin and Jason all did a part in making these carriers. Kristin stayed until 1am cranking most of it out and they look GORGEOUS!!!!

I am so excited to have my baby snuggled in it! I can't wait!

My sister's carrier...

Omi tries hers on with Mr. Bear. I'm filling mine with Mrs. Belly...

Me and my sister showing off our baby bellies. She is just 10 weeks behind me. I can't wait until we have our little ones! And, yay, I can see I'm getting that pregnancy-homestretch-all-over-puffy-look.

My sister and I bought some fabric for making baby carriers like this one. Neither of us sew and I was having major anxieties over messing up our fabric.

But then I realized I had some ugly curtains in the linen closet and it was all I needed to go crazy on the sewing machine.

My awesome friends are helping me with more accurate sewing, with an actual pattern, with the real fabric BUT today I competed the curtain carrier with no pattern and barely a pin or straight seam. Definitely not measure twice, cut once...but I am pretty pleased with the results!

Definitely not comfortable with Simon in it....

But, it should work fine for the new baby! :)

Realized I am 35 weeks pregnant today on my 35th birthday:) I laid around all day, eating bon bons and watching TV. Life is good!

One of our favorite activities!

Check out the cookie cutter work of Simon!

Icing and sprinkle time...

Guess who?

Baby socks! Free pattern on Ravelry if you are a member there.

and now my fingers are sore from working the double pointed needles. Luckily these knit up fast. :)

They are so tiny!

A lot of loot for one block...

...and not happy:(

I blocked it (dampened and rolled water out in a towel, then let dry flat on the table) and it is huge now. And it doesn't sit up on my shoulders comfortably. It hangs off very sloppy.

The sleeves are supposed to be 3/4 length and they were, straight off the needles. Now they are full length.

I have some leftover yarn. Maybe I can pick up some rows at the neck to at least tighten that up a bit. Sigh...

with a little side of cuteness...

It was a fabulous "me" weekend at a Hood River B&B for a knitting retreat. And I have to say, knitters are a very cool bunch. Such a relaxed, personable group of women.

Not a whole lot to the itinerary, just an open-ended couple of days in a fabulous setting with plenty of cozy sofas for knitting and chatting. Lots of laughter, lots of fun!

The back deck...

The view off the back deck...

I made a little progress on my current sweater project. Hopefully I'll get it finished quick before baby comes because I will NOT be able to focus on this lace pattern with a newborn. I could barely manage some of it while chatting with everyone at the retreat. :)

Remember those cute little bears I made this summer?

Xander wanted me to make him a bear out of a specific yarn in my stash. A BULKY yarn. This is what happens when you knit up the same pattern in a bulky yarn...

It's big! Meet Mr. Bear...

The kids asked about voodoo dolls and how they work. After a conversation on the subject, we thought it might be cool to make some...

One old pillow case, a paper template and some markers...

everyone made their own doll replicant...

I started to sew....thank goodness mine first because I messed up and ripped it nearly in half. (My side is killing me now!)

Jason takes over the sewing because I get frustrated with the machine, and I take over the stuffing:)

Xander had Isaac move his doll's arm up to see if it would control his real arm. Surprisingly, it did not work! oh well...

He then tucked the dolls into a blanket and I asked if he suddenly felt cozy all over. He agreed he did! MAGIC!

UPDATE.....

Apparently we were supposed to place a personal memento of each person within the doll to "charge" it with our energy.

When I told the kids we forgot to include a lock of hair and that was the reason they didn't work, they weren't going to let us half-ass it. They all ran upstairs and I hear them cutting their hair.

Jason ripped back a small opening a stuffed the hair into each doll.

The best part was when they tested it out. Xander, the most superstitious about the whole thing, watched nervously as Jason prepared to poke the seam ripper into the back of his doll. At the moment he poked the doll, he used his other hand to poke Xander in the back. muwahahahahahaha!

Usually we do the maze and leave the pumpkins but this year the kids have shown more interest in the Halloween festivities.

They wanted pumpkins to carve and Xander has decorated the front window with paper crafts:) We have made Pumpkin milkshakes and I'm planning some pumpkin muffins later this week. And, of course, we'll make up a batch of cookie cutter cookies to decorate...always a hit activity with every holiday.

Simon navigates through traffic to return the wagon. There were a lot of people today due to school field trips. Our little Bergeman School field trip was fun!

Xander's bear mask from last week...

His favorite foods, waiting to be glazed next week...

Busy day playing at the park with friends and then our first bowling class!

All three boys really love bowling so this was a fun class! The two older boys are officially in the class and Simon, being too young to sign up for it, bowled his own games in another lane.

Xander very excited about his technique....

Fortunately, Jason was able to come and cheer Isaac and Xander on while I managed Simon's game in the next lane...

Isaac, already asking about how he can get his own ball and shoes...to which we suggested he wait until he stops growing every five minutes;)

Simon, taking turns with his friend Emma.

Tomorrow is Xander's clay class, which he LOVES. I mean counting-down-the-days kind of love.

This is so much fun to find classes they love. I got burned a couple years ago when I signed them up for classes and they wanted to quit all of them after the first class. Classes THEY chose! I decided maybe they just weren't ready for that kind of thing, quit the classes and we let it be for two years.

Easing back in with two classes and so far, so good! yay!!!!

Xander and Simon have been very excited about the paper mask-making the last few days.

Jason hand-sketched a lot of Super Heros but today printed out the complicated Transformer masks on card stock. For now, this is their chosen Halloween costumes. haha!

"I am Robin"

A friend knit up this awesome cape and Xander is using it to channel Batman today. After watching Batman Begins he gathered this costume and built a bat cave fort. Sweetness!

Knit cape by Jennie
Commercially knit hat
Mask by construction paper, markers and yarn scrap
Sword by Tinker Toys
Xander...made by Zoe and Jason;)

My very first adult sweater and it was the perfect pattern to start with. Bulky yarn and fat needles made for fast knitting and I had this thing completely finished in nine days!

The yarn had been stashed in a closet for six years, so a did a search for projects completed with the same yarn and that's how I found the pattern...here.

A little stretched but I still managed to button it over the baby belly to show the detail....

Adorable pockets...

Vine lace detail and buttons...

There is a new amphibian exhibit at the Jackson Bottom Wetlands center so we headed over to check it out today...

Major unfit mother moment here: see how sad Simon looks? Everyone dashed out of our cars and we started to take the picture at the front sign when Kristin asked where Simon was. I ACCIDENTLY LEFT HIM IN THE CAR!!!!! Poor Simon was still buckled in his car seat crying.

....the hell?? How am I going to handle four? I hugged and kissed him and said sorry sorry sorry but it took him about 10 minutes to forgive me. He walked in silence with a solemn face pointed to the ground and then suddenly smiled and gave me a hug...apparently making peace with the atrocious thing I had just done:( My poor Simmy.

Yup, we saw some frogs...

Isaac says, "I see something!!!!!!.....a house."

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a yellow caterpillar.

My first felted bag. I'm not sure I'd buy it if I saw it in a shop but here it is...

(freshly knitted, before felting)

(all finished! Felted and button applied) Maybe I can embellish it when I learn needle felting at the retreat I signed up for next month:)

And.....and!....I started my first grown up sweater. It's a "vine lace cardigan" and knitting up surprisingly quick since it uses bulky yarn and fat needles. This is my progress after only five evenings of knitting. I just need to finish down the body and add the collar.

On the pregnancy front...my usual discomforts are in full force and the water logged legs have started. My sister is graciously letting me borrow back our giant recliner we gave her so that should help a ton. Otherwise, I am enjoying feeling the baby tumble around inside and excited to meet our little him or her in just a quick 12 weeks!

Rain, rain and more rain but it was cozy and relaxing hanging out with family and friends.

Our box for the weekend...

The kids (and Jason!) played a lot of DS multi-player together, while listening to the (loud!) pitter patter of the rain on the RV.

We had a decent sized sitting area under the awning for friends to sit together and socialize. again, lots of DS games and LOTS of knitting. I burned through two balls of yarn starting my very first big girl project: a sweater for me!!!! Woweee!

The homeschooling mom who organized the trip had a potluck and crafts night under a big tent. The kids had a lot of fun...

Simon missed most of it...

While I was tethered to Sleeping Simon, Kristin, Dan and Jason helped with crafts...

It's good to be home now:)

As usual, Xander initiated a trip to the zoo. He seems to get a craving.

I had a health incident the other day when I woke up with a pounding, fast heart rate and high blood pressure. I think I had a reaction to a medication and it slowly resolved over the following 24 hours, as the medication wore off. All checked out okay after an ER visit.

I decided to stay home a relax and let the boys enjoy a day at the zoo without me this time. Better to take it easy the next few days and make sure my b/p is indeed okay now.

Looks like the boys had a fun day!

Great friends and family for Jason's party. We had such a fun day!

...but couldn't quite reach the ceiling before it tumbled.

Sleep sack...

And, my first attempt at the felted bag. I chose this pattern because I liked how it looks and it has cable knitting for the gusset and handle...which I have never done. It is easy peasy but knitting this handle is going to kill me! Long and monotonous knitting.

Sing with me, "This is the <handle> that never ends...it goes on and on, my friends...!"

...the bump.

My other kids who sometimes live across the street ;)

This one didn't run away fast enough:D

The kids have been making lego guns and Jason is trying to make a kick-ass version that really shoots little lego bricks (please don't point that at my face, kids). He got quite a bit done but is missing a few pieces and needs to wait until he can do some shopping.

I printed off this awesome robot skull paper project for the kids but it ended up just Jason and I at our desks cutting and folding like nobody's business.

Jason had to show off his perfectionism by pulling out the exacto knife, while I hacked away with child-sized scissors. Yep, mine is the crumpled one on the right.

Something must be very cool on this computer...

Simon paints with friend Emma, wearing a back-pack and a glove of course...

Finished another romper in newborn size and it is so soft and tiny!

Once again, homemade buttons.

Jason and I are quite a team. He casts on my stitches for me, I knit the project. I mix the Primo clay for the buttons, he made the mold and made the buttons and I finish them off with a glaze and the baking.

Size 6 month bear booties...

And the current project is a 0-3 month sized sleep sack or "baby bag." It has a sweater styled top but then goes on to a gown-like sack that cinches at the bottom.

And now that I've gotten this far in the pattern, I foresee some cardigans in my future. Easy peasy baby sweaters!

Simon and Xander got these blow up hammers at the fair and this is what they do with them...

I think it's a cool that is really going to catch on...

We haven't been to the local fair in YEARS. But I saw the monster truck show advertised and thought the boys would enjoy it. It was fun!

Waiting for our friends...

Xander didn't like the sun in his eyes.

Simon and I enjoyed going through the barns and the craft building. I was really impressed by this tiny knit sweater, with cables and all. The tiny buttons!

The big kids rode the "Sinbad" and had a blast. One of Isaac's first real carnival rides and he didn't look ill when it was over;)

...and it was a good day.

...aren't like those rubber pants my parents used to use:)

A wool soaker and pair of longies I knit up. And, yes, this has turned into a knitting blog lately since that's about all I do these days.

Here's the longies I made (with the same purple-ish/blue yarn) years ago for Simon. The newer ones are Eviepants and the old pattern was Fern & Faerie. Love the Eviepants pattern better.

In action, getting as dirty as can be...

We had a quick visit with Jason's grandparents, Irwin and Louise this evening. I sure got lucky marrying into this family! They are the best!

Grandma Louise is going to be 100 this year!

I started out knitting one bear and the kids were having fun with it and each wanted their own. So now I've gone bear crazy!

Soon we'll have a large bear family and I'm thinking it might be cool to knit up some clothes for them. Yep....bear crazy. Help me!

Finally finished a second "Alien Illusion Scarf" I started six years ago but never finished...

Can you see the aliens?

...so I can start on baby stuff! I made this romper...

...and made my own buttons for it. I think they turned out great!

Xander was very excited to try making some buttons of his own...

...and they definitely needed some BLING in addition to every color Primo we have:D

...got a bump.

Some friends and I have been taking guitar lessons in my living room once a week for the last four weeks and it has been so much fun!

We started out paying for the four weeks and tonight scheduled another four to start in August.

The kids have expressed an interest in taking lessons of their own so we're hoping to set up a few for them as well. I love that it's right here at home and I'm sure the kids will love that too.

We finally have our full driveway back! yay!

Found this dead rat in the backyard, I assume the end result of some late night fun for the cat. After showing it to the kids, letting them poke it with a stick and hearing mumblings of them wanting to dissect it....Jason found this scene. One of our steak knives had been brought out and left by the rat.

I asked who took the knife outside?? "I did!" says Simon. Greeeeeaaaat!!!

This morning I sat down on the couch and immediately had three boys snuggled in. How sweet is that??!! It struck me what an attached family we are and I had to call Jason to come take a picture. We are so so blessed.

This afternoon Xander and Simon decided to break out the perler beads and Xander made this most awesome X.

Simon came to tell me his "eyes" were done and he was ready for it to be ironed. Xander discretely informs me I will not be able to iron it because the beads are too far apart.

This is was his finished project...and look at how proud he is! hehehehe! Jason was able to help him add a few more so it could be ironed. Simon is thrilled with his 5 bead creation.

and the computer room action. We started horde toons and a new horde guild on World of Warcraft with our friends. Its been fun playing with them in the evenings.

My friend Nicole found the cutest knitting pattern online and I just bought it. I must make this! but I feel like I should finish up a few neglected projects first so look forward to some knit show-and-tell soon (I hope!)

After several weeks of rainy days like this...

We broke free for an impromptu night and day of this...

Gales Creek with Sheri and RJ:)

They can really tear the shit up FAST!

Amazingly though, it all cleans up in about 10 minutes because....it's just blankets, pillows and chairs. hahaha!

A five boy pile up and now the herd has run off to play "extreme hide and seek."

Then it was MAJOR fort building...and it really was a fort, complete with jabbing sticks and a stockpile of rolled up socks for weapons. I was innocently walking by when I got pelted by many socks.

Adults vs kids...kids win.

I hear plenty of sound effects coming from behind my chair and turn around to see Simon like this...

Funny guy!

All my boys are turning into quite the comedians lately. Xander announced he was:

1. going upstairs
2. turning on the media center
3. watching the complete Fairly Odd Parents Season 2
4. and 2 hours later he will be getting up from the couch with a crampy butt.

He laughed hysterically and is now executing that very plan. haha!

This is our first year attempting a garden and so far I am very pleased with the progress! We kept it VERY small and it hasn't been the least bit overwhelming...just how I wanted it.

The peas are getting big enough they need a trellis. So Jason built it today.

Then we worked together to introduce the peas to their new climbing place...

The strawberries are doing great! Check out my little berries...

Jason is going to build a mesh cover to keep the birds out.

My baby plum tree is starting to bear a few but it looks to be another sparse year. It's still a tiny tree so I'm not expecting much.

The cherry tree, however, has a TON of cherries but some kind of fly seems to have used the tree as a nursery and have taken over.

Carrots in a bucket...

Xander and Simon planted a couple extra marigolds we had...

My Better Homes and Gardens life...haha!!!!!

I snipped off a bunch of spinach and red leaf lettuce for my smoothie today and it was our first time collecting anything from the garden.

Maybe I should have read up on that before-hand because I wasn't sure how much was safe to cut. I assume some leaves need to be left to keep the plant healthy and growing. So I cut off a few leaves here and there, just enough for my smoothie.

I'm looking forward to a yummy salad next!

Our room door decoration...

The DS funshop. Of course the kids had to attend that one! I can't believe how into it Simon is already...and getting good! Three years old? Blows my mind.

Life is Good unschooling conference is over and I am too pooped to think! Jason typed this up for me:

As we settle back into home, unpack our clothes and generally unwind, another LIG conference comes to a close. It was a glorious four days of staying up late and sleeping in, hanging with friends, meeting new people, funshops, presentations and all-around good stuff.

There were more people this year and more rain too. We spent more time inside than out and that meant next to no time in the pool, nearly the opposite of last year. Regardless, we had a blast and look forward to next year's conference.

Until then, back to our learning life and some new adventures!

Amy Steinberg concert... (click link for video)

Isaac and Xander DS'ing during the concert.

Kimya Dawson performance...absolutely LOVED her. Jason bought me her children's CD and had it signed to me. haha! (click link to listen to her chillin' sounds)

Xander showing off his tambourine and Isaac is in that group of gamers behind him...

Making our family flag...

We learned Geocaching...

And now I can sport some hippie threads along with the rest of the family. hehe!

Xander dyed this one for me....

Isaac did this one...

And I did the next two...

Friend Lisa brought these onsies to dye up and that little bitty newborn one is so cute!!!

Lastly, behold my new stash of 24 newborn diapers!!!! The motherload of awesome color. Each one came out so unique and beautiful.

My forearms and hands are in pain now from ringing the dye out of everything but it was worth it. yay!!!!

Hanging by a nail!

This squirrel has been enjoying the bird feeder that hangs on the front tree. I love watching them out the window and this type of feeder stretches out the enjoyment time because they can't just sweep all the seeds onto the ground. :D

All that soaking and tying and dying and now the 24 hour wait to see the results. I can't wait!

Since the kids already have three shirts each from our last batch, we did four shirts for me and two dozen tiny cloth diapers. They are going to be so adorable!

I had fun hanging with my friends today; working together and making a mess. I can't wait to see all the finished items.

Isaac turned 9 on the 19th and we had his little birthday gathering tonight. Good food, casual company. Just the way we like it!

Turning into quite the little dude...and that comedian Xander back there. hehe! love these guys!

Our two garden beds...

All strawberries; the package tells me they need to be much further spaced but the square foot garden book ASSURES me they can be planted 4 to a square foot. We'll see if they produce!

Peas, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, spinach and lettuce...and marigolds. Something is already nibbling on the cucumber leaves and a cantaloupe plant Xander wanted to include is dead. Three spots waiting for tomatoes to come in a couple weeks.

The kids and I enjoyed lunch in the park today. Some much needed outside time. Isaac has been dedicated to some Wii games for almost two weeks now. He treats it like a full time job...up early, just a few breaks throughout the day and plays late until bed time. He was eager to get back home to it after lunch.

His friend just stopped by, bringing his own game controller. I know he is over the moon to be able and share his game skills and advancements with someone. I have zero knowledge or skills in that department. hehe

A little yard work outside. We now have two raised beds ready for plants, thanks to Jason.

Had a playdate at the park and a friend found this little robin mama sitting on her nest. I went back today and she was turned around, with her tail feathers sticking out.

Can see her face a little from the other side but there are a lot more branches in the way.

Xander combined his love for crafts and food today with a creative snack recipe he found online.

He came to me with the instructions copied onto paper and all of the supplies ready on the table. My knife skills were brought into the project but he took care of the rest.

It's funny he wanted to make an extra for Isaac but forgot about Simon. Typical! Worship the older sibling, forget about the younger. hehe!

Lately, believe it or not, Isaac and Simon are playing video games a lot together in two player mode. Here they are playing lego Batman while Xander watches.

It's funny how it was always Simon and Xander playing together and Isaac and Xander playing together, but not usually ever Isaac and Simon. Now I see one tall kid and one shrimpy kid standing next to each other playing a video game together, paying no attention to the fact that one is three and one is almost nine.

Simon is getting pretty darn good too!

love love love...

A little while ago we found this website with funny egg photos the kids and I got a kick out of. This sweet one is my fav:

Xander was inspired and wanted to draw faces on our eggs. We've had fun adding in some dialogue with each egg as we crack them open for cooking...

Easter egg activities started today (Saturday) with an egg hunt at the pool for Isaac...

And then some egg dying at home. We'll be going to our friends house for egg hunting tomorrow so I didn't even bother to boil these eggs. Have I mentioned how gorgeous I think brown eggs turn out? The colors are so rich.

Xander asked me all day when it was going to be egg dying time. He is happy now.

Time to build and paint that birdhouse Simon got for his birthday.

Check out the DETAILED instructions for how to paint and the TINY brush provided. Jason and I got a laugh out of that. Good thing we had our own paint brushes or the job would never get done.

Okay, maybe some paper to ease the cleanup might be prudent at this point....

Finished!

Isaac showed some mild interest but opted to continue his ds game instead.

Lately I feel like I'm examining his face as we talk and discovering a new person. The shape of his face, his eyebrows, expressions and voice are being rediscovered all of a sudden. Who is this big kid with the angular face and funny conversation?

We are spending extra time together as we've watched nearly all six seasons of Xena the Warrior Princess episodes over the last few weeks, laughing and discussing the stories together. He's growing up a little more and it's amazing. I'm thrilled to be living this lifestyle and spend so much time together; all the time in the world to watch my flowers grow.

Took the boys and RJ to Washington Park for a compromised outing...I get my hiking in and they get to play in a park.

He turned three today!

We did a small party for him tonight....I call it the quick and dirty. hehe! Just us, a little box cake and a few presents.

I completely massacred the cupcakes when I couldn't get them to drop out of the pan. Oh well, chalk this one up to another one of my ugly cakes.

Simon found it easier to eat without hands...

Gift time!

Here's all his loot. He is happy as a clam and he and his brothers are bopping their balloons around, making up games with them. A successful birthday:)

We finally made the furniture switch to accommodate a new bedroom for Simon.

He's been sleeping with us since birth and he slept in his own little bunk at the Great Wolf Lodge for the first time. We wanted to keep the momentum going and hurried to get his bedroom set up last night, even though painting still needs to be done in both rooms.

He is so excited about his new room, he climbed in and shortly after a tuck in he snuggled in and fell asleep.

My little guy is getting so big! He'll be three tomorrow!

Our computer lab is shaping up just how we imagined...

The boys have our good buddy RJ staying a couple nights and couldn't be more pleased. Their first sleepover!

We had an awesome time at the Great Wolf Lodge the past two nights with two other families. Such good friends, we were asked if it was a family reunion at the restaurant.

Here are all the littles lined up. The best of friends.

Table for 17?

Simon's birthday is in two days and Emily's is next week so they got the birthday song and cupcake.

Lots of computer games during the downtime...

$5.00 in the arcade gets burned up in about three minutes. Ask me how I know...

And my ONLY pic from the water park....I am counting on Kristin for some water park shots. Hint hint...

Simon in the kiddie area. The two slides in there were perfect for both Simon and Xander.

Simon and Hannah Haven't seen each other in a awhile. Look how big they have gotten!

...but new to the kids! Xander is excited to see if anything happens.

...with some new art, passed on from my friend Nicole. I love it!

The desk tables came out of their boxes this weekend. Just a little more painting on the book shelves and the computers, lamps and desk chairs can move in.

Isn't it a fun painting? Local artist Irina Beffa..check out her other stuff.

We made the ugliest chocolate covered strawberries ever. The chocolate didn't quite melt in the microwave like I thought and stiffened up. I had to spatula some onto each berry.

The kids gobbled them all up in a about 5 minutes, so I guess they tasted fine.

A little peak at the family room progress...

Simon had just about every program open, an email about to send and some things downloading on my computer.

Here he is working on Xander's computer now.

I'm thinking it's time to set up his own station in the new family room remodel.

...is so sweet with two readers now.

"I'll be right back," Jason says as he heads to the lego bin.

15 seconds later I have a new iPod dock...

I know! Classy, eh? I might have to check out the additional color choices.

The Shut the Box game is keeping the boys busy. Math is fun!

and found this pic from the last time the kids came over. We are wild and crazy like that! :D

We have neglected this downstairs family room for the entire four years we've lived here. Holes in the wall, concrete floor and dungeon lighting and color...ick!

The storage crap piled up and the room has been ignored until recently.

We finally decided the extra living space MUST be made usable. The room will be our new "computer room" and also a corner for TV/Netflix and video game consoles.

and the beginnings of the after...

My friend Sheri inspired me with some design ideas (thank you!) and I have carpet coming on Monday. Jason is working hard repairing the walls, planning the network cable routing and bookshelf builds.

I took the kids swimming tonight and then ice cream cones on the way home. They were so cold but are now tucked in on the giant couch watching Scooby-Doo.

It has been a long time since we've gone to the pool and Xander didn't seem into it at all. Xander has always hated showers, getting his hair washed and now apparently the pool too. His spirit animal must be the cat. ;)

We had our first guild party in honor of one of our WoW guildie friends, Nate and his family, coming into town from Washington for the weekend, on his birthday no less.

Every one of the guildies was present and accounted for and let me tell you, we are just as much fun in real life as we are in virtual life. ha!

The founding four of the Switchblade Symphony guild...

and the fun spread to a few more members...

Party animals, eh?

My nephews and their friend who is our newest guild member...(I love the big boys in the front holding their Magic cards and the little guys in the back playing their DS game).

Kristin and Dan have given up the game but once a guildie, always a guildie.

We settled the wild kids in for a movie...

Little Simon took a cat nap on Andy...

And we ALL squeezed into the computer room for a guild-wide raid. We did a low level one we have never run before so we could see something new, have fun and not require too many skills from a healer who had a few mojitos (aka..me;).

I love little Isaac in there, my two nephews, my hubby...it's a family affair and we have made some great friends.

The party was oh so fun! I hope it's an annual occasion.

The kids dive into any activity that suits their fancy at that moment. I love listening to them negotiate activities together...

"Do you want to _____?"
"Okay! Let's go!"

So painting it was this morning right after the breakfast was finished.

and friends to share it with!

In my 34 years I have never eaten liver. The idea intrigued me so what the heck, why not try it?

The package looks like it holds a giant blood clot. Interesting.

I pulled up a liver recipe with rave reviews and managed to turn this...

...into this:

Doused in butter, bacon and sprinkled with lemon juice and zest.

Plated with green beans.

We all ate it, dipped in BBQ sauce. If it was the liver or starve, I'd eat it and say it was damn delicious. But it's not the liver or starve and it's obvious the cover up ingredients were not enough.

We can all say we tried liver now and I think I may live out the rest of my life on that single taste.

Friend Rachele made this adorable hat for Xander's birthday. Looks like a little yard gnome, eh? I love it.

Feeling the Valentine spirit early. hearts and apples.

Xander is sick today but couldn't pass on cookie decorations.

Friends Lisa and kids came over today. Yay! Check out Lisa's awesome new braids. Very hip!

I love how our kids always bring company into our bed to flip through the Netflix watch now stuff. They look so cozy. hehe

...and yes, more Legos.

The roof is complete on the Lego house! Jason definitely has a brain wired for this stuff. The kids were asking me all day, while jason was working, if I could help them build a roof and I had no clue where to begin. The book I laid on top didn't seem to satisfy them. ;)

Jason finished work and came up with this great roof design, complete with skylight.

Jason built a Lego house and the kids are ecstatic!

Complete with windows, door, bathroom, furniture...

Check out that hinged design for more playing options...

The kids are inspired! Xander is figuring out a roof design and Isaac a family car. All the the minifigs have been moved in and the kids are busy in play. I just can't believe how many useful pieces came in our random 12 pounds of legos we bought off Ebay. no kit, no instructions...just raw imagination.

Xander just ran in to tell me the Spongebob minifig is watching his favorite show and eating a pizza in the new house. Ha!

Xander and Simon wanted me to retake the photos with their newest alterations...

Simon added a hat to his guy...

Xander completely overhauled his ship...

I'm certain they are already completely different now...but hey, I did what was asked of me:D

The kids are really into building ships with the Legos lately. Isaac was also wondering if Lego Transformers would be possible and got to work creating his own Lego Transformer that transformed with minimal piece...shall I say "transplants" or "swapping"?

I missed snapping photos of the Transformer but here are a few ships...

Xander build (for Isaac)...

Simon build...

Xander build (for himself)...I like the guy sweeping off the deck.

A much needed outing today. The kid's and I drove down to Salem to check out the A.C. Gilbert's House. It was unbelievably cool! Closing time seemed to creep up on us way too fast so we'll be making another trip soon.

Microscopic look at bug wings.

We needed Jason for this dinosaur build. It was a bit complicated for us!

Checking out Chinese money.

We had a little food, a little cake and a little friend time to celebrate Xander's sixth birthday.

Xander is walking on cloud 9 with all of his Bionicles and Lego Ben 10 stuff. The kids wasted no time assembling them.

If you've followed past birthdays you know how awesome my cake making skills are. This bad boy was three layers high and leaning enough to make me check the fridge several times before its debut. I was sure it was going to fall over and be plastered to the milk jug...but it did manage to stay upright.

The kids played the heck out of the Moonsand...

Did some bead design...

It was a very nice, relaxing evening. I don't mean to brag but we do have the best family and friends:P

Gotta love that dirty face. My friend Lisa just sent me this pic. I love it! thank you!

The kids have been declining haircuts so this is the awesome shagginess we have now. It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out over the year:D

I love this action shot of Xander's mane flying back.

It was recently discovered that Xander (turning six in three days) knows how to read! We have a computer for each of us in our family "computer room" and I could hear Xander reading aloud all of the instructions to create an account for a game.

I sent him a few instant messages to see if he could read it and he did! It just boggles my mind.

Maybe more so because I was just listening to a program on NPR about a school trying to work with their problem with illiteracy amongst the grade school kids. All I could find is this one but it also talks about the problem. It seems the biggest discussion is methodology for teaching.

Actually if I read into that article my kids are learning to read because Jason and I are educated and not poor...hmm.

All I know is we leave them alone to direct their own activities throughout the day, answer questions as they come up and voila(!) they learn to read and write with no teaching at all. No discussion on phonics vs. whole words, no money spent on curriculum and no homework.

The most important thing, I believe, is answering the questions. It sounds simple enough but kids ask a lot of questions.

They seem to know exactly what they need for their own learning. It's amazing!

Simon is beyond thrilled to see snow. He's old enough to know what the heck is going on this year.

A little more of this...

And this today for Xander and Simon,

while Isaac did this ALL DAY LONG. He woke up feeling terrible and hasn't budged from the couch:( Poor guy.

Our friends Sheri and her son RJ came over for a Christmas dinner and it was *wonderful*!

The kids painted and it got a little wild for a few minutes...

But then they settled down to another craft.

Monkey in progress:

Monkey (and "guy with a gun") complete:

Sheri and I left the kids watching G-Force under Jason's care while we went out to see Avatar at the theater. The movie is AWESOME!

Overall I'd say it feels like a "best Christmas ever!" :D

Sporting the new robes...

ready....set...go!

Putting those Snuggies to shame...

Kristin did such an awesome job on these.

Play-doh and Bionicles so early in the day...

Now they are firing up the Wii for the new Super Mario Bros game, a log is crackling in the fireplace and the roast is in the crock pot. Can I go back to bed now? :D

My simple Christmas prep has gone as planned!

The stockings are stuffed with fresh cookies,

Kristin made these absolutely gorgeous blankets and pillow cases for each of them,

and I bought several nice selections of kid friendly music albums off iTunes and burned them to CDs...

We set up my old stereo for them to play with. The CDs are actually wrapped now and sitting on top of the stereo.

Bed time finally!

We had the kids watching a movie downstairs while I ran two kinds of cookies through the oven for stocking stuffers.

It was working wonderfully since the smell of their popcorn was overpowering the cookie smell.

Unfortunately Simon happened...

The cookies were just cooled enough to divide into baggies when Simon pulled a chair up to the counter. Did he take a cookie to eat? nope.

He bit the tips of the Hershey kisses off of half of the batch. Way to go for the best part! Luckily I had plenty left.

I love that kid! hehe

Dazaaaam! Just realized I processed an entire session and blew the highlights! I know I'm out of practice and my iMac is not as calibrated as the Dell monitor was.

To all my photog friends: Feel free to call me out anytime! ;) Raise your hand if you saw that and didn't say anything! hahahaha!

I feel like I just realized I've had toilet paper stuck on my shoe all day.

It was tough! I think Jason did most of the work but the kids enjoyed being close and helping a little. Xander's 'K' in "Motor Bike" got ripped so he left it at motor.

I heard the kids get up before us a shuffle out to the dining room to carry out some secret plans. They were drawing pictures for Jason that illustrate them working on the plane and motorcycle together and completing them. Isn't that the sweetest??

Isaac couldn't wait and gave his picture to Jason right away. Xander's is wrapped up under the tree. shhhhhhhh! hehe

We had a nice dinner and gift exchange at my parents house tonight.

Xander and Isaac showing some love for their little cousins Oakley and Noa.

THIS is what we find them up to at midnight. MIDNIGHT! hehehe. Jason is on vacation and when that happens we all naturally gravitate toward later and later nights. They got a new project type toy at the holiday party and have spread it out for construction.

It proved to be a little tough so they brought in some assistance...

The pieces are coming together with little plastic screws to make a plane, I think.

Do you think there are enough thumb tacks here? Xander must have been making sure it will not blow away in the event of a hurricane. At least if the wall blows away, the print will go with, securely attached. ha!

It tickles me that Xander must have found this picture online, liked it, printed it and gingerly cut it out just so, so that he could hang it up by his desk. Actually, it looks like something he created with one of the many "create your own character" sites he has been enjoying.

"This one is Mommy and this one is Daddy."

I wonder if "Forearms" makes dinner and "Power Ranger Megazord" cleans up after? :P

It was our first try at a cookie making party and it was fun! The kids had a lot of fun balling up the chocolate cookies and dipping them in powdered sugar. Then they piled the shape cookies with icing and sprinkles.

We have more cookies than we know what to do with now but I'm taking our share to my parents Christmas party to hopefully spread the love around. I also saved two balls of dough for the freezer to pull out Christmas eve for stocking stuffing.

Xander started off the day with a small fort...

Beginnings of Isaac's fort...

Complete with nesting...

Evidence of Isaac writing...he created a roster to be signed before entering.

Xander wants a sign too but has to make it his own by calling his fort a tent:)

We swung by the Hillsboro tree lighting, late for everything, and spent 5 minutes looking at this fabulous tree. Isn't it fabulous?? hehehehehe

The plan this year for Christmas involves a lot of hope the kids are still young enough for some reprogramming of expectations.

Most of the gifts are going to be simple and homemade. Aside from a couple video games there will be:

• Fresh (homemade) play-doh
• Commissioned blankets with matching pillow cases (thanks K!)
• Music mixes burned on CDs
• Stockings filled with different kinds of cookies.

Years past they have been so excited over the first gift they needed reminding to open another, so I anticipate an initial freak over the new Mario Wii game, warm fuzzies over the rest and then an afternoon of gaming and cookie eating. How can it go wrong?

I'll let you know how it goes...

Family photo time with the tripod.

We had a nice meal with Jason's family to celebrate his Grandma "Weze's" (pronounced weezy) 99th birthday. She is one of those refreshing oddities that is always positive. Always a big smile and a warm greeting when you see her. An inspiration to me.

....on the flip side she can also be extremely apologetic about us taking time out of our busy lives to visit her, which makes me want to put her in a headlock or maybe threaten a half nelson if she doesn't stop saying things like that. Is 99 too old for a half nelson?

Totally off topic but I just googled half nelson to see if I knew what I was talking about and check out this wikipedia on it. Did you know there is also a full nelson and a three-quarter nelson?

Okay, back on topic...Louise and her family are amazing and I am so blessed to have married into this group of intelligent, artistic people.

jason comes from good stock, I tell ya.

*All images can be clicked for full version so family can have copies. I should have popped the flash on the outside ones as focus is messed up. Sorry! I'm out of practice. hehehe

Our friends hooked us up with this GIANT roll of paper from Costco and the kids are letting the creativity flow.

The funny thing about their drawing is each of them, from early on, have never been about creating a scene or filling in the lines of a coloring book. The drawings have always been about telling a story, except more like a mini movie that starts with the first marks and ends with a complete explosion of color, decimating the page and all the layers of plot underneath.

So what begins as a family of people, spaceship or robots will end up buried under more and more color of natural and unnatural disasters. :P

Pardon Isaac, looking a little emo here. He was fighting with Simon for a chair. We are down to just a couple chairs now after the set of six have been dying off one by one.

But I ordered six new ones...along with three new bar stools! We are going to have seats to spare. Hurray!

Isaac has kept playing WoW off and on and slowly leveled his characters. He now has a level 68 death knight and is running stuff in the game with Jason.

Fun for all of us...and pretty cool for an eight year old I think.

I still play but not so much. Knitting and other projects are calling to me now.

Multiple blogs have been inspiring me with great ideas around the house!

We used chalkboard paint to make labels on my food storage jars.

Just need to repaint the lids on all my big jars.

And also used it on one cupboard to post daily menus or messages. It still needs another coat...

This dressing is so yummy!

My friend Lisa suggested the recipe and it is so awesome I had to share. We've been slathering it on sandwiches and slopping it on salads. I think I can finally let go of the mayo and ranch dressing;)

*found another use. I mixed a little sour cream into some of the dressing for a yummy dip for quesadillas. I'm sure it will be delicious on any mexican dish.

Ultimate Dressing

Ingredients

* 1 bunch fresh parsley
* 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon or basil or dill (I use dry dill)
* 1/2 onion
* 2 ounces almond butter (I used tahini)
* 1/2 avocado (I used a whole avocado)
* 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
* 1 teaspoon tamari
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 1 teaspoon vinegar
* 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
* 1 teaspoon kelp (I used sea salt)
* 4 ounces water

Directions

1. Put everything in the blender and process for a few minutes until the mixture starts to thicken.

I knit up this hat today! It was supposed to be for Xander but I don't think I used heavy enough yarn and it turned out more Simon size.

That's right, I never do a gauge check and it's often a problem. Maybe I should learn from my laziness? hehe

Finally finished this absolute gem of a book after five weeks of library loan (it's tough to read with a two year old these days!).

We had already weaned ourselves off eating out several times a week and have been cooking meals at home regularly. But this book has been just what I needed to move to the next level of healthy eating.

Maybe you've heard the opening line of this book, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

So that has been our motto around here now and we ask ourselves is this "real food" or "pretend food." hehe!

And it is a LOT harder than one would think. I fill up my grocery cart with 100% real food but not without a couple of close calls along the way. Certain things have become so natural in our shopping we forget they are not natural. Bottled lemon juice is one example. I nearly put it in my cart and checked the label quickly to find the preservatives....I felt so silly. Duh! Lemon juice comes from lemons not a bottle. How could I forget this??

And the silliest part is why do I need a bottle in my fridge so I can have it year round when its so easy to grab a couple lemons when I need it.

We have switched to homemade bread. I still need to buy some proper bread pans but in the meantime a single loaf in the bread maker, started first thing in the morning works well.

The only thing that has been really difficult to phase out, since forever ago when we realized hydrogenated oils were no good, has been tortillas.

Xander loves quesadillas and we all love warm, soft burritos on occasion. I tried to make my own and they turned out like pancakes....THICK.

So a proper recipe is in order I think. I'll keep trying!

My sister Omi and her husbands four babies. It's practically as crazy at her house as it is at mine.

yay! snagged these from my sister in law's facebook.

These are my brother Casey and his wife's two babies:) Purdy cute, aren't they?

Jason's sister gave birth to a second son today so we look forward to seeing pics of him soon.

Xander's Pig

We finally gave a homemade playdough recipe a try and it is so easy!

The dough feels nice in your hands and a few drops of extract makes it smell nice too.

We made a blue with vanilla scent and an orange with, yep...orange scent. I threw some cookie cutters, rolling pin, pizza cutter and real knives (gasp!) onto the table and the kids are having a ball with it.

Supposedly this dough can last a couple months in a sealed container.

A friend asked me if I had any recipes to share for a raw food diet she was going to try for a month. I have never done this myself but a quick Google search brought up this guy's blog who not only did the same 30 day raw food challenge but blogged his meals daily, in detail, with photos. I linked his archives and you have to scroll down to January 2008 entries to see the posts.

I was amazed by the simplicity. They aren't really recipes but a big ol' pile of fruits and veggies.

I love my warm soups and sauteed veggies too much to go raw but I was intrigued by the few recipes he did have listed for smoothies and a salad dressing.

Today I tried the green smoothie:

3 bananas
100g baby spinach (by weight)
1 cup water

It tastes pretty good, in fact simon gobbled it up. But I think it will be better with frozen bananas so I broke up thee bananas and tossed them into the freezer in a ziplock for next time.

The nice thing is the simplicity of changing out ingredients. After the foundation of bananas and 1 cup of water, anything can be tossed in from kale to celery to berries to mango.

I guess I'm just blown away that a smoothie does not have to include some kind of dairy or sugars. yep...slow learner;)

I'm looking forward to trying the salad dressing:

1/2 red bell (or grape tomatoes)
raw tahini 46g (I have roasted)
Fresh lemon juice 24g
1/4 cup water

Simon is still very much in the "I do it" phase. As you can see from the photo, Simon's zucchini peeling method is to start on one side and keep peeling until he reaches the other side. :D

The first cup of Ovaltine went so well. I left him drinking it and apparently he decided to go for a second cup.

That is a LOT of Ovaltine.

They really know how to work the web...

Maybe I should start calling our choices for our children's schooling "The Summer Life" since that's really what it is; a summer vacation that never ends. Yes! I like it.

The unschooling label has been on my mind a lot lately. It was so foreign to us when we first discovered its philosophies. It gave us some guidelines to use as a jumping off point. It helped us figure out what was in the way of the gentle parenting style we have always been striving for.

but, BUT...once I subscribed to the label unschooler I started to notice all the things I don't like about religions...err I mean labels. Unschooling magazines filled with articles about how much better unschooled kids are than schooled kids. Conversations amongst parents about who is purely unschooling and who is not. Forums filled with parents looking for support and getting lambasted for not unschooling "the right way."

I don't like rules and we certainly don't follow any set parenting guidelines. We have found our groove and absolutely love our "summer life." After a while I guess I get bored with talking about unschooling, who's doing it "the right way" or why these kids are better than those kids. But, the truth is, its probably more about me questioning some of the "rules" and deciding just maybe I don't like some of them:P

So how is our "Summer Life" going?

GREAT!!!!

Isaac experienced some traditional school work and reading and writing assignments through the online charter kindergarten but Xander is nearly six and our first child to never experience learning that was not on his own terms.

I have not sat him down and gone though the ABCs or numbers at all. It has been completely up to him to figure things out and let us know if he needs anything.

Recently he has been asking us to spell stuff for him a lot. I mean A LOT. He sees words all over and asks what "____" spells. Whatever he asks I answer and leave it at that.

and he is learning to read!!!! He is also writing. Isaac is reading really well now and the kids all teach each other little things all day too. It is so amazing to hear them discussing things together.

They create games and act out imaginary scenarios together, build upon their understanding of math through casual conversation and continue to ask many questions all the time. We love Google! hehe

Whew! much more wordy than I usually get for this blog. Don't worry, that's more than enough and no post is complete without a photo so here is me and my guys.

I love these guys so much!

The kids have been very busy with the printing and cutting out of these Ben Ten alien guys. There was an impressive amount that spanned half the couch last night. Some of them were shared with friends.

They create some fun projects for themselves...nevermind the grumbling coming from Jason about paper and toner use. hehe

...per Xander's request.

Monkey see, monkey do.

I would love to have someone else take some pics of my Xander...all my kids actually. I can never seem to capture the real Xan when he's by himself....or maybe it is the real Xan? hmmm. I guess the real Xander never stops moving or making sounds so when I ask him to stop for a second it looks unnatural for him. hehe!

The candy gathering holiday is serious business!

Whew! the gang is all here and ready to roll.

The kids didn't like my homemade pizza, piled high with bell peppers and zucchini, so I attempted to throw together some corn dogs for their lunch today.

We had a good laugh when they came out of the oven. They did eat them and Isaac actually had two so they couldn't have been that bad.

Xander accidently spelled Isaac's name IAAC....he read it "Ike" which reminded him of "hike" and made him want to go on a hike.

But not too long of a hike where he gets hungry and thirsty before the end.

So off we went to spend a short time at the Jackson Bottom Wetlands.

Isaac didn't want to go so it was just me and the two littlest.

The way they can turn a country experience into such a commercial ruckus amazes me! We survived the Plumper Pumpkin Patch and only spent $12...not bad at all in that respect. But the crowd and the lines...!!!

Let's all agree to go back to Baggenstos Farm next year? They have a beautiful corn maze and we can let the children FREE to run about and not lose them in a crowd.

On the (major) plus side, we shared the day with good friends and decompressed over dinner and conversation at home. Yay!

A little bright out?...

In a black and white mood...

Xander is going crazy with the drawing and presenting me little gifts, folded into envelopes, with "To Zoe" or "To Soe" hehe.

The first time he drew the hearts for me he shoved the finished picture into my hands and said "Just take it!" and walked off quickly, embarrassed....like he sacrificed his boyness to draw hearts for his mom.

He's also learning to read! Very cool.

At the grocery store:

Xander: That word says food.
Me: You're becoming a reader Xan. That's great!
Xander: I think its because of all the words I asked how to spell while playing Scribblenauts.
Me: cool.

The kids gravitate to whatever Jason does in play. It's like magic...get down on the floor, dump out some blocks (or whatever you have) and start playing. Next thing you know you'll have all the kids very excited to come see what you're up to and join in.

Try it! The kids will beam.

In Lincoln City, Oregon.

We stormed the campground with 200 of our friends...okay maybe just three other families, but with all the kids it feels like a lot.

It rained most of Saturday but the park was nice enough to have a tree conveniently located by our campfire to keep us dry. Such hospitality! We were able to enjoy conversation and VERY close raccoon watching around the campfire after all.

Simon gave us a heart attack barreling his bike down this dock at full speed.

It's a bonus during any adventure to find a dead animal. right? Conversations about the washed up jellyfish from a past beach trip may now be replaced with the dead bird finding of this weekend. Woot!

This is what 1/4 cow looks like. Grass fed...should be yummy.

Ground beef on the top shelf, roasts on the bottom. Steaks and stew meat and "miscellaneous" on the middle racks.

I have no idea what a "T-round" is and never heard of a "neck roast."

If my parents hadn't raised me vegetarian maybe it wouldn't have had to come to this! hahahahaha!!!!

The plan was to go an extra week without buying groceries or getting take out.

Its been a complete fail...

Considering this is how our day STARTED, I think we'll be grocery shopping as soon as possible today.

We cleared out a shit load very large amount of toys this past summer and simplified things. It was becoming a bunch of clutter that never got used. With the kids input, we kept the giant bin of legos, some blocks and the costumes...select books and that's about it.

Suddenly the legos were noticed *and* they had the room to really play with them.

You can find second hand legos on Ebay sold by the pound and they are fabulous! 12 pounds of legos with all kinds of pieces and minifigs, random windshields and wheels. Its great for open-ended play. The kids use their imaginations and come up with the coolest things.

Isaac thinks this could probably be sold as a kit at the stores for $4.99. hehe the guy without the head is not a mistake. He is an undead. hmm.

Xander is perfecting a sword...

He said it was falling apart too easily until he added the bracing, noted closer to the tip.

He still plays with the costumes a lot too.

He wanted me to take a picture of him with a book over his face. Without that pesky human face getting in the way you can appreciate a complete pterodactyl transformation!

And because Simon has no idea what the rationale behind this is but must still do everything his big brothers do, he had to get his photo op too...

...of those American Girl dolls.

You know how hard it is to get these costumes on him? He brings me one after another, from the seemingly endless stash in the kids closet. I have to sorta shake him down in like putting a pillow case on a pillow...then roll up the sleeves and pant legs.

He gets everything just so,

only to come back to me 5 minutes later with a new costume.

I had a hankering for a big, soft pretzel and we've made these before. Lots of fun to make and so yummy.

Again....I made sure Simon's creations were clearly identified on the baking sheet. I think I had to pull off a few stray pieces of fuzz during the journey from his hands to the tray. The oven sanitizes, no?

The recipe is from my Eat Healthy for $50 a Week book by Rhonda Barfield, but she credits the recipe as an adaption from a recipe in Cheap Eating by Pat Edwards.

Combine in a small bowl:

1 package (or 2.5 tsp) yeast
1 1/3 cups warm water

Stir until dissolved. Add:

3 cups white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar

Knead, adding flour as necessary, to form easy-to-handle dough. Leave the dough to rise until doubled.

Break into 12 pieces and tie each piece into your pretzel shape. Brush with:

1 egg, beaten

Sprinkle on:

Course salt and/ or onion flakes.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees, until golden brown.

You can use all white flour (like I did here) but the whole wheat is really good too.

Isaac and his "shadow" zoom around the park path together.

We found an abandoned frisbee in the park...

The finder's keepers rule didn't feel exactly legit...but when Simon carried it with us to the car, we didn't object. If you happen to stumble across this blog and you lost a frisbee at the Rood Bridge park, send me a message and we'll return it asap. :D

Isaac and Xander are really into making and watching videos of themselves with Photo Booth. I didn't realize you could record videos with it?? Saweeet!

I came to realize my About page was dreadfully outdated. It is all up to date now with all of our children accounted for and current philosophies described.

The cloth diaper and book review pages are no more. I had forgotten all about them and was actually embarrassed to see me rave about that Thomas Jefferson Ed book so long ago...ack!

It's funny the range of parenting and education books I/we had to weed through to get to where we are today. They were all necessary and helpful to the cause, but thumbing through some of them today would make me cringe and certainly not something I want to recommend to others.

And Jason finally resolved my ongoing complaint of photos having to be posted so small. He widened the page! Such a simple solution. It only took us six years to figure that out. Six years. My little blog is growing up.

...is a few box cake mixes. Its so easy and something fun for the kids to do when I don't want to have to break out every ingredient to make it from scratch.

Ideally the kids will be able to do everything from the mixing to the pouring, from the baking to the decorating but we're still a little ways from that.

I did have to make the frosting from scratch, which only took a few minutes but that might be another thing to keep in the cupboard. ha!

Anyway, you can rest assured I did NOT sample from Simon's finished cupcakes. The slobbery fingers were poking those chocolate chips in DEEP.

PS...Annemarie needs to tell me where she got these plates the kids decorated because Simon needs his own. please!

...to test out the new bike and Simon cruised all the way there. He likes it so much we have to wheel it right into the house for continued fun.

The bike is also apparently useful for reaching things. Simon tossed it under the drinking fountain to use as a step stool.

With his new bike....

Here's the brand: Strider. These balance bikes are good from 18 months to 5yrs. The awesome mom who sells these has sales playdates in the park.

Hopefully we'll avoid the fear of two-wheelers this time around. My poor Xander fell down one time and that was that.

This was right after we bought it. If you wanna see it in action with his sweet helmet on check the next post after we cruised it to the neighborhood park.

Photo session with my new neph Oakley.

Raise your hand if you are the cutest baby ever!

Eliciting stillness in a toddler...futile.

Look at this baby perfection!!! I can't wait to see him in person.

It's funny how similar our family's babies look.

COMPARED TO....BUT NOT THE SAME BABY...Simon:

I remember this pic and how ghostly the red baby made his older brothers look. haha!

We finally replaced our broken waffle iron and the new one is so much nicer than the old one. It actually lets us know when the waffle is done and eliminates all the minute watching and mixed results we had before.

The "Basic Waffle" recipe that comes in the user's manual is simple and tastes good.

It's a Cuisinart...and an old model on sale, but still works well enough for us...ANYWAY,

We fired it up for the second time this morning and I asked Isaac to read the recipe to me while I assembled, to save time. Wanting to double the recipe, I started making the adjustments out loud after he announced the ingredients. After the first few ingredients he figured out what I was doing and started doubling the amounts for me.

Reading a recipe, doubling the amounts, and then cooking up half the batter for us. Reading, math, home ec and then PE at the fountain;) Ha!

All that to say it does strike me at times how naturally and easily life skills come.

Drove out to the city to play in the fountains and found out my little Xander is sick:(

Can you spot them all?

Snapped a pic of Lisa and her Akasha, and meant to get one of Jessica but I thought we had lots of time! Xander went from happy to miserable in an instant and we had to pack up and head home.

My new nephew is about to arrive and I'm thinking I won't be able to see him if I have the sickies at my house. waaaaah!

Gorgeous flowers in my farm share this week! I love it!

Four board games and a puzzle all taken from the game closet and place in a circle around himself, Simon removes the lids and contemplates his next move....

....meanwhile Mom cringes and wonders if she should protest, slam the lids back on and find a new (higher!) place to store them.

Then she remembers that the games are covered in dust and unused.

He actually wants to play with them.

Why do I care if he is not following the game rules or playing with so many at once?

He had an idea!

He is happy. He is playing.

First two puzzle pieces are talking to each other and now the chess pieces are stuck on the tips of his fingers.

The games are being used and bringing joy! yay!

...apparently too late.

The .20 box of crayons are surprisingly decent for off-brand so we grabbed a couple boxes of those but not a single box of markers to be had. A bottle of glue and a few notebooks of paper and that was that.

I'm trying to figure out all the settings on this new camera...

Jason's birthday is today and our friend's son has his birthday today too...neither of us had plans so we got together at Out of This World for pizza and cake.

The kids were very excited to pick out this "hilarious" shirt for daddy. hahahaha!

Our friend Sheri is quite the trend setter. He liked her point and shoot camera, the Olympus Stylus Tough (water proof too!) so he got one for his birthday.

This big seven year old! The dinosaur cake was very cool.

Took a long breather from the photography biz and honestly I am still not putting myself out there. But I got a call for a High School senior session and it was fun...hmm, maybe I'll get the bug again.

We went back to our favorite hike from our adventures in "all trails Oregon" last year (when the kids and I were crossing off the trails listed in a book).

Wahclella Falls.

I highly recommend it for kids, or anyone. There is major eye candy in the form of waterfalls, bridges, caves and river all along the way. and of course slugs, spiders...and even a small frog this time.

Isaac took this next photo and told me even before he snapped the pic that it shall be called "X marks the spot."

This spider was cruising through his web design!

A bonus treat is the fish hatchery off the same exit. The entire campus is beautiful and very relaxing to stroll through. Now is the time of year they start processing the adult salmon...this might be only M-F 9-5 kinda thing though. Since it was a holiday we missed the salmon processing this round.

Isaac is really sweet to Simon and reads to him now. yay! I love it when I see Isaac reading and Simon and Xander are snuggled in on either side.

This time of year I start seeing first day of school pics posted everywhere...it makes me want to post some too!

I couldn't exactly get the kids lined up by the front door with their new outfits and lunch sacks, so I'll just document a little bit of our morning.

About 10:45ish Simon wakes up and pulls me by the hand directly to the fridge and demands a popsicle.

We peek on the big brothers...

It's okay, Isaac...just taking a picture. Go back to sleep:)

Shall we make pancakes, Simon?

yes!

He insists he can pour the second cup of milk in.

spill number 1/many for the day.

Xander strolls out at 11:20 eager for pancakes.

And then directly to the couch to make some more progress on Pokemon. They finally discovered the game yesterday. Simon imitates.

Isaac finally wakes up and announces he is not hungry yet but will have some OJ.

Xander is so glad Isaac is up because he needs Isaac to help with a tough part in his game.

Big sticks in the back yard...

And just because its so pretty, our farm share bounty...

The melon barely makes it out of the bag...

They really crack me up! Xander is so gentle with Simon, even though he plays tough with the "Get off me ya little freak!" haha!

The faces of Simon!

He is getting so big...and such a funny guy. wants to do *everything* his older brothers do.

He's my snuggle baby.

He has to have a foot or something touching me while we sleep. If I get up before him in the morning that lack of contact lets him know it's time to wake up.

He will often think food is inedible when presented on his own plate...but in my bowl it suddenly looks delicious and *must* be split 50/50. ha!

He loves chocolate milk and cheese.

He loves watching Caillou.

His older brothers each had a passion...or obsession by this age. Isaac loved Hot Wheels and Transformers and Xander loved bats and balls...

...I don't know if it's a third child thing but he doesn't really have a specific focus like that.

He's happy and open to everything fun that comes his way.

I love that:)

Got this in the weekly farm share and looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me with little return. do you know what it is? I'm such a produce ignoramous...thank goodness we get an emailed list of what everything is.

This is their super excited faces!

Produce answer: garbonzo beans! think I'll get a full cup?

We escaped the heat by camping at Gales Creek Campground for four nights. It is a short drive from home and fabulous! Our friend Sheri told us about it and I'm so glad she did because it is perfect! It was nice and cool in the woods and the creek is endless entertainment for the kids.

I was impressed we were able to appreciate all the conveniences of the motorhome without electrical hook-up. The bathroom, the lights, the water...everything but the air conditioner.

The boys with Sher's son RJ. Good buds.

Throwing rocks...and more rocks.

Xander's pet "Slimy."

We watched this raccoon sleeping in the tree by our campsite all day Saturday.

There is a very cool hiking trail. We passed a lot of bicycles on this path. They must have some serious leg strength because it was steep and narrow in some places.

Xander was thrilled to have spotted a brown snake in the middle of the trail. We all got a good look before watching it slither away.

Isaac has finally learned how to ride a bike and we can cruise around the 'hood together.

I've been anxious for this day because three kids do not fit in the bike trailer. A five year old and a two year old give me quite a work out as it is. Xander is not interested in learning yet...but the bike is ready when he is;)

no idea...must have caught him at an odd moment because he wasn't upset. lol

it's kinda freaky to see the two year old climb up here but he seems to know what he can handle on his own. After attempting the top rung he asked to be helped down instead.

We really do have the best luck! This motorhome came on the market just when we started looking and I was excited about the perfect size and perfect price. Not *too*old and everything works! Woot!

Jason drove it the bulk of the way home from Gresham and then I took the wheel from Cornelius Pass. Driving it is a blast. You sit up high and feel like the captain. haha!

Its going to be great for adventures. Perfect size for our little family.

It takes up our entire driveway right now. We need to make some adjustments with the basketball hoop to get it moved over a bit.

He does not like me to take his picture.

He is second born, just like me.

He looks like me, he acts like me. he is shy like me.

He is funny

He is smart

He is funny and smart together when he says stuff like, "That sounds complicated and I don't even know what complicated means!"

He laughs loudly at his own jokes.

He has awesome freckles (not like me).

He loves pancakes and quesadillas and popsicles.

He hates my pea soup.

He loves online flash games and playing his DS games with Isaac.

He adores Isaac.

He takes a long time to decide.

He will change his mind after he decides...

...often at inconvenient times like after food is ordered or we are already at the check stand with items.

He draws me a picture and we are all wearing capes.

He is awesome.

He wants me to add: when he wants food he wants it NOW.

This is true, he asks for food frequently throughout the day. He takes the frequent, small meal approach so it seems like he is hungry ALL THE TIME.

the outtake with his happy smile... he moves constantly.

It was such a subtle transition I almost neglected to notice! Simon is sleeping through the night!!!!

Two years and three months into our journey of parenting three and I am starting to remember what life can be like with a decent night's sleep. It rocks!

He wakes up with a smile and finds all kinds of adventures around the house.

Here he is in our above-ground pool this evening.

Now that I feel like he's sleeping more at night, I'm itching to get out for some more adventures! A motor-home may be in our near future (fingers crossed!).

I'd like to pour over a road atlas with the kids and see what kind of places we'd like to see. After our trip to Gold Beach, I'm reminded there are so many adventures right in our own state. So many places I've never been.

Jason had the week off from work, in addition to his long holiday weekend. We lazed about for most of it but decided to get out for a short adventure for a couple nights.

I booked a condo in Gold Beach, a small beach town in Oregon, (way) south on the 101, and reserved some seats on the 65 mile hydro-jet boat tour on the Rogue river.

We also made several stops along the way!

Not even an hour from home, we made our first stop at the Enchanted Forest. It's filled with nursery rhymes and related activities. Isaac was very pleased to be able to read us the rhymes along the way.

Just before they disappeared down the rabbit hole...

We finally made it to the hotel. It was a very nice two level condo with a huge bedroom upstairs...

The view was definitely beach...unfortunately a little far away.

...and this carnival was directly to the right of our view, churning out a constant motor/generator sound that drowned out any possible ocean sounds:( Luckily we didn't hear anything with the slider doors shut.

On to the boat ride!

We managed to get front row seats of this FIVE HOUR TOUR. I knew it was going to be a bit too long for the kids but it was worth it. We saw a lot of critters, especially birds. Lots of different kinds of birds. deer, an otter...

They dropped us off at a resort for dinner and we ate outside on a deck overlooking the Rogue.

Back down by the docks, waiting for the boat to pick us up again...

The ride back was quicker, thank goodness!

Isaac finding reasons to read all over the place...

Xander, "I am so seasick!"

Simon slept on the ride in but on the way back he gave Jason a work out keeping him in the boat. He loved sticking his head in the wind...

We stopped at the beach on our way back to the hotel...

Jason gives his boys a rock skipping demonstration...

After a LONG day we finally get back to the hotel and saw the sunset outside our window.

Simon is OUT!

Day three! We checked out of the hotel and started our journey home up the 101, along the coast.

There are so many damn things to stop and see I think we could spend a month on the Oregon coast alone!

There is a life-sized dinosaur park, Xander decided was his favorite stop of the entire trip.

Next we stopped at a "Big Game wildlife park"

and finally, our last stop before we cruised home was the sea lion caves. I thought this was awesome!!!! So many sea lions! I used my big camera so you can click these to see detail.

The barking noise out here was incredible! I asked Xander if he could hear it and he said "No, all I hear is a bunch of planes." haha! the noise did sound a bit like plane engines.

My mom is hosting dinner for the fam a couple Sundays a month and its been reeeeeaaaly nice! Get to hang out with our bigger family and don't have to worry about dinner that night.

We, of course, paraded in with our tie-dye awesomeness and Aundi was there to take a pic for me.

I shot a few of Aundi, Casey and baby Noa. (you guys can just click for full version download).

And we had an extra guest...Julius. His mom is crazy and never uses computers so I'll have to print these out for her. Hopefully my parents WILL NOT print off crappy copies from their home computer and give them to her. Do you hear that? I forbid you!!!

And I am thrilled with the results!

I learned you cannot go overboard with the dye. The shirts I worried would come out muddy because of the kids sloshing on the dye like crazy actually came out the best.

These are the three basic ties: mirror image, stripes and spiral.