This little girl of ours

Oh, this precious almost-two-year-old Violet of ours!  She is becoming such a little lady and such a personality of her own.  At any given moment, she is an artist, a writer, a singer, a swimmer, a baker, a gardener (or at least garden eater!), a naturalist, a snuggler...and always with 100% of herself put into it.  She doesn't walk- she runs everywhere.  She knows her mind and speaks it well.  She stands up for herself, with "mines" and "me toos" and "Violet's turn now" echoing through the house most days.  I am frequently flattered by her "like Mama" moments...be it that our clothes or hair match, or that we are both cooking or writing or just cleaning the bathroom together.  She is quick to offer hugs and kisses and "rocks" and the "bye-oh baby" song to any doll, animal or toy that is treated just a touch too roughly by her brother.  She can locate and tell you what "Tias" is up to at all times...and watches his every move..she doesn't miss much.  And not a day goes by without at least one giggle fit.  Perhaps our most recent favorite is her offering the words "I love you" completely unprompted.  Melts our hearts!

We are having so much fun with our little Violet and love her more each day!

{this moment}

Matias and Great Grandpa Merwin

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Breakfast at the Beach

This week we tried something new...breakfast at the beach.  Inspired by Amanda Soule's new book The Rhythm of Family, I decided we'd head outside at some different times of the day to see what we might discover.

We threw on some grubby clothes and a hat and packed a basic breakfast.  Turns out that our local beach is empty of people at 7:15 in the morning (imagine), but full of ducks, fish, the beach-smoothing tractor and one big white goose we decided to call Honker, who looked like he'd like nothing better than a nibble on a little finger for his breakfast.

We had our fruit and dry Shredded Wheat out on the dock, and then the kids waded in the water for an early morning dip.  Of course, when you're one and three years old, wading is a full body submersion activity!  We had a nice discussion about dew...and why we only find dew on the grass early in the day.  It was a nice morning that I hope we can repeat throughout the year.  We may also have to head over there for an evening trip soon to see how it compares.

The County Fair

Photo by Matias 

Last weekend we spent some time at the hot, steamy county fair.  We got to take in lots of animals, 4H projects and a rodeo, spend some time on the Midway and, of course, enjoy a corndog.  It was a fun (and tiring) way to spend a morning!

Art in the Tub

We found ourselves with a lot of hours before Daddy got home today, and it was far too hot to be outside.  Time to whip up some bathtub paints.  Equalish parts of shampoo and cornstarch, and a few drops of food coloring.  The kids had a lot of fun.  Had to fill the tub up once to clean off the paint, and again to clean off the kids, but since the paint is made of soap, it comes right off.  We have a clean tub and clean kids again, with some seriously pruny fingers!

:: right now ::

I am...

:: typing oh so quietly, listening to four (4!!) still-sleeping children

:: hoping our friend (and owner of children #3 and 4) makes a quick recovery

:: enjoying our newly-arranged house and new-to-me computer

:: so looking forward to the wedding festivities for my sister this weekend

:: realizing HOW MANY loved ones I will get to see at said wedding- wow!

:: feeling drawn to sew and knit baby clothes- thinking there is some efficiency to knowing if we are having a baby girl or baby boy, but still not willing to find out

:: awed at how humid it can be at 6:45 am

:: debating the merits of being inside the ac, or outside in the sprinkler

:: craving pancakes with some of that fresh cherry jam from our tree

:: savoring that last few minutes of silence for the day...ahhhh

Seattle- Part 2

July 6th, 2011-

The kids slept til 7 this morning- hallelujah!  We decided to do a little tour of the Capitol Hill neighborhood  in the morning.  We began at the Bagel Deli, and enjoyed bagels, juice and of course- more coffee!  Then we walked around a bit and landed in Izilla Toy Store.  What a fabulous place!  It is a big space, with lots of room for the kids to play.  It had a doll house that Violet took a liking to, as well as a train table, spaceship you could go in, and a marble run that Matias and Matt both enjoyed.  There was not a huge selection of toys, but what was there was awesome.  As Matt put it, more of a curated collection than anything...and run by a very nice man.  We spent a lot of time there!  Then we put in a quick appearance at the Elliot Bay Book Company and their reading castle.

We then headed back to Volunteer Park to meet up with the Germans.  We played on their playground and then enjoyed a picnic lunch of egg salad sandwiches (compliments of the Germans' chickens!) and peanut butter (not to be confused with Eloise's baby wipes or butt cream which travel in identical containers).  The kids took another dip in the wading pool while we soaked up some perfect weather.  Sean and Matt headed to the park cafe to procure some of THE BEST cookies ever, and arrived just in time for wading-pool chlorinating time.  We enjoyed the cookies and by the time they were consumed, the kids were able to head back into the pool.  We have yet to see a drop of rain and have been greedily soaking up the 70s and sun!

July 7, 2011-
This morning we saw a touch of rain while we took the bus downtown and then hopped onto the monorail.  What a fun way to travel- we even got to sit right up front!

After a stop for coffee (this is an at-least twice daily occurrence.  When in Seattle...), we went to the Children's Museum of Seattle.  It was a neat museum- not as big or fancy as Chicago's museum, but well-enjoyed by the kids.  Violet's favorite was by FAR the time she spent in their open art room- painting, coloring, gluing sand, doing clay.  She could "art" all day long. 

We came home for a long family nap, and when we woke up it was dinner time!  At Emily's fine suggestion, we hit Pagliacci's Pizza, which was really tasty.  Violet loved eating her pizza whole- "I did it myself!"  Then we strollered over to the public library for a while and did some puzzles and read some books.  After the kids were in bed, the Germans came over and we chatted and watched the movie "Fantastic Mr Fox."  





July 8, 2011-
This morning we gathered around Matt's laptop to watch the last NASA shuttle launch.  Matias was fascinated by the fuel tanks and how they fell off when they were used up.  It then seemed only appropriate to go to the Museum of Flight (but not before another stop for coffee and donuts, of course).  


The museum was fantastic.  We walked over to their airfield, where we were able to climb into real airplanes- including the Concorde, and the Air Force One plane from the Kennedy era.

They had a kid area as well with a helicopter, small plane, hot air balloon and a hang-gliding simulator for the kids to ride in.  Violet especially loved the airplane.

Another neat part of the museum was the air traffic control tower.  It actually overlooks a runway (of Boeing's test flights and other private aircraft), and had real radar screens showing where all the planes in the US were.  There were binoculars to look through and you could see the planes taxiing and taking off right there.  Definitely the closest to real operating planes that you can get these days!

photo by Matias

We finished off the evening by being absolutely creamed at Spades by Sean and Emily.  Good thing their baby is so cute! 

July 9, 2011-
Today we got up and headed over to Mercer Island for their Summer Festival and Parade.  Yes, another parade...of course enjoyed with coffee!  They had lots of dogs and local groups in the parade- though only about 3 members from the Lion's Club.  Then we explored the fair area and craft booths.  We bought a little piece of art that caught our eye.  There was a Renaissance theme, and there were Knights jousting on horseback.  

After the festival, we headed over to Kirkland to (finally) meet up with a friend that I met online back when I was expecting Matias in 2007.  Sarah has two boys- John is exactly Matias' age, and Zach is a newborn.  We met them at Marina Park and let the kids play in the water while we visited.  It was fun to connect with them!

 

 

The kids napped in the car on the way home and then we headed over to Sean and Emily's chicken coop (a few blocks from their house) for a chicken coop open house and BBQ with their friends Jake and Emma.  The kids had fun playing in the chicken coop (the poor traumatized birds may or may not ever lay again?!), and we enjoyed great food.  Sadly, the elevation changes and concrete steps did not agree with tired and newly taller Violet.  She fell (3, maybe 4 separate times) and skinned herself up quite well...nose, cheek, chin, knees, elbows.  It was not her day...but overall we had a lot of fun.

July 10, 2011-

note the skinned up face!

How quickly we have come to the end of our Seattle vacation!  This morning we played donut and coffee delivery service and stopped at Top Pot to get breakfast for us, Sean, Emily and Emily's Mom, Kathy.  Yum!  I must also record that we had an epic hour long show-down with Mr Matias, who refused to put his shoes on, or let us help.  Ah, three.

Then we went to the Fremont Sunday Market, a huge farmer's market and craft fair.  Lots of things to look at, and yummy raspberries to eat!  Eloise made the big purchase of the day- a stuffed toy that may or may not be a hedgehog?!

After much-needed naps, we met up with the Germans at a park on Capitol Hill, which had another wading pool.  We enjoyed a taco dinner at the park, before making the most important stop of the day- Molly Moon's Ice Cream Shop.  Matias has a sweatshirt from Molly Moon's, so it was fun to see the actual place.  They boast flavors like Theo Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Basalmic Strawberry and Brown Sugar Buttermilk.  YUM.  We decided we could probably fit most of Eloise into one of their waffle cones.

After ice cream, everyone came back to the apartment, and the adults played Carcassone while the kiddos went to bed.  We got in our last few Eloise snuggles...at least until we see them again, hopefully around Thanksgiving.

What a trip!