late night over pancakes

2012-01-18T22:47:00.000-08:00

It's been snowing and snowing here. So this is what we've done the last few days. Lots of playing cowboy/cowgirl, looking at the snow, and working on our needlepoint. And wearing pink fluffy earmuffs.

The other day, I had a documentary about the building of the Panama Canal playing on the computer. Hazel stopped to take a look and said, "Oh Mom! That's where we live!" Wishful thinking perhaps?

She's very interested in chimneys and points them out wherever we go.

She and Klaas like to play cowboy/cowgirl together and ride their moose and elephant around the house.

2012-01-16T09:02:00.000-08:00

We finally have some snow. I still need to post pictures from our trips to California and Poulsbo, but here are some others for now.

A little bit of unexpected exercise

2012-01-04T17:15:00.000-08:00

You should have seen us. Quite ridiculous.

My sister and I took my mom out for a belated 60th birthday date. We had a yummy dinner out in Edmonds, then went off in search of a Crabtree & Evelyn to get her some new Gardener's Hand Cream. We did not find a Crabtree & Evelyn, but we did find an American Girl store and spent a long time oohing and aahing over all the dolls and and accessories. Well, Anne and I did, not my mom. She was mostly laughing at us.

After dessert, we realized that we needed to hustle to make the ferry back across the Sound to Kingston. So we booked it down to the ferry, getting there at 8:58, trying to get on the 9pm ferry.

My mom and I jumped out of the car and started running. We ran up to the ticket booth, and hastily threw a debit card at the gentleman and asked breathlessly for tickets for the 9 o'clock ferry if we could still make it. He didn't really say anything, so we assumed it might be ok.

Tickets in hand, we started to run up the ramp. The ramp is rather long. It's not a 50 yard sprint. I'm no judge of distance, but it certainly felt like 1/4 of a mile or more. (I'm sure I'm exaggerating.) And all uphill. Especially for a 16 week pregnant lady and my mother. We ran as fast as we could, not wanting to wait another 50 minutes for the next ferry. After a bit, we were both gasping and my mom, behind me, shouted, "I can't! I can't make it!" I yelled, "I'll do it Mom! I'll stop them!!" It was a dramatic situation.

I finally made it to the top of the ramp and around the corner. The lady in the booth at the top radioed ahead to the guys about to lift the gangplank. And they let us on. We were glad. And out of breath. I think I need to take up jogging.

The end of the year

2011-12-15T10:49:00.001-08:00

The end of the year is coming up quickly and soon it will be 2012. At the beginning of 2011, we had a 2 year old and a 5 month old....and now we have a very verbal and opinionated 3 year old and a very busy 16 month old. As well as an almost 14-week old baby in my belly.

And of course at the end of the year, I can't help but think about where we are in our "plans" and where we want to go. In the spring, Jason and I thought that he should go back to school and get his teaching credential. But as the school year loomed closer, he and I kept thinking that maybe that wasn't the path that he should take and it wasn't exactly right. So he started thinking again and un-enrolled at the university.

Now he has something that he's actively researching and trying to find the right option: interning/working at an organic farm next year and eventually starting our own small place. Jason loves working outdoors and since he's interested in good food and healthy farming practices, it seems that this would be a good fit for him. We also want to move back down to California to be closer to his family so the kids can be around their great-grandparents more. We are also looking at options in Oregon and Washington (close to my family) as well, since you need to keep the options open.

Of course this whole idea is proving more difficult than first imagined. We of course knew that switching careers would mean a drop in pay, but it seems that most farms, large or small, think that farm workers can survive on, not kidding, $400 a month and free produce. So we are actively praying for a great situation to come up that pays more than that and would welcome a small family to join their business. Of course we're not expecting much moola, but seriously....$400 a month? Even if he was still a single college student, $400 wouldn't go very far.

Our other option is to just find a job to pay the bills back down in California (hopefully) and then buy our own house with an acre or so and start practicing gardening and small-scale farming/raising chickens and maybe goats. Of course this is also easier said than done since California isn't exactly the promised land when it comes to job openings right now. The good thing is that if we could find a job, houses are rather inexpensive right now due to the recession (!).

And without saying, all of this is a big deal for me (I don't always deal with change gracefully; but I am excited about Jason's ideas and plans). Not completely, mind-blowing scary, since we're from California, but just slightly so since Jason has such a wonderful job right now and doesn't want to give that up for something that may not pan out.

So we're just looking and praying quite a bit. Trying to come up with what we want to do "when we grow up" is taking us a little longer than others, but I think we're getting there.

Happy St. Lucia Day!

2011-12-13T09:50:00.000-08:00

Wintry things

2011-12-10T20:17:00.001-08:00

This week I am 13 weeks along growing our new baby, and just today things have started to turn around. I actually made dinner (!) and then cleaned up (!!!) and had a little project night with Jason and Hazel. We made pomanders. Klaas sadly could not participate since he went to bed early. We're going through the stage of "I will only eat meat and nothing else and scream when you attempt to put vegetables in my mouth." So after a brief battle, which included the technique of tickling to get the little guy to open his mouth for a bite, we sent him to bed.

Jason got Hazel ready for bed, as usual, but tonight he basically was running her around the living room trying to get her wiggles out. She was doing jumping jacks for 5 minutes and wanted to do more when we finally started to wind down. Last night it was jumping on her bed. If it wasn't so cold outside now, we would send her out to do laps after dinner to get the wiggles out. We even spent a good part of the afternoon walking around the mall today, but I guess 3 year olds just have endless supplies of energy.

We finally decorated for the winter season this week. Hazel and I made snowflakes and got out some other decorations, mostly Swedish straw ones for Santa Lucia Day next week. I do want to make some little Lucia figures with her and maybe a little skier like this.

Tomorrow we're excited to have an early Lucia Day party with a few other families (one of which is actually Swedish) who celebrate this holiday. So we have cardamom bread rising and tomorrow morning I'll start the lussekater before church.

If I am feeling very ambitious, we'll also have another family night of baking and make pepparkakor.

Klaas decided to chill on the couch with an apple the other day. I think he was imitating mama.

Making pomanders tonight with mom and dad.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T23:40:00.001-08:00

We had an excellent and wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday with good friends. We started off the day with a fancy breakfast complete with sparkling cider. There was a lot of "cheersing" going on. We unfortunately didn't get a family photo, but we did get lots of pictures of the kids running around in their fancy duds.

And of all the food. We both ate too much and the kids stuck with macaroni and cheese. Which by the way, I will be adding to my list of side dishes whenever we host Thanksgiving again. It's perfect to add to the feast. Let's see, we ate: turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, yams, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, rolls, and I'm sure I'm missing at least two more side dishes.

There was a funny moment when my friend's dad asked why the gravy was so spicy. He had mistaken the salad dressing for gravy.

For dessert, we had pumpkin pie, pecan pie, pecan bars, apple pie, cherry pie, chocolate cake, dinosaur cookies, and homemade pumpkin pop tarts. Oh, and pumpkin ice cream. You could say we had lots of good food. And lots of good talks with friends.

Klaas' birth

2011-11-23T16:58:00.001-08:00

When we were waiting for Klaas to be born, I guess we assumed a couple of things: 1) that his labor would progress as steadily as Hazel's did in a normal way; and 2) that it would be shorter and easier to push him out.

Well, things don't always go as you expect.

I had the exact same due date as Hazel, July 20, but since she was so late we assumed that nothing would happen in July. And we were right.

Finally, on Hazel's 2nd birthday, August 1st, a Sunday, I started feeling contractions. That morning I was so uncomfortable and hot and ready to be done we didn't go to church. My parents came over (they had driven over from Seattle a few days prior since I wanted help chasing Hazel around) for Hazel's birthday breakfast and we had fun celebrating and giving her way too many presents. She was so excited for her new kitchen.

For lunch, we brough a bbq to the park. While there, I was having contractions. They were uncomfortable enough that I didn't want to talk while one was going on, but they were rather irregular (5 minutes, 7 minutes, 10 minutes). That lasted all afternoon.

We went home and while Hazel took her nap, I lay down. Unfortunately, things were so uncomfortable I didn't get much of a nap. I had wanted to get as much rest as I could, knowing Hazel's labor had gone on for a while.

The rest of the evening was spent with my parents and while I kept having contractions, they weren't ever regular enough to make me think that I was really going to go into active labor soon. I was hoping and praying this would happen since I was so overdue and just wanted to get the little guy out.

That night we tried to sleep and my mom and dad knew we probably would be calling them sometime in the middle of the night to come over so we could go to the hospital. I tried taking a Tylenol PM to get some sleep since the contractions were painful, but so irregular. That didn't help at all. I've discovered that when I'm really keyed up, I need something strong to knock me out.

Around 4 in the morning, I decided that I wanted to go to the hospital just to have Klaas checked. For some reason this time around, I was really worried about him and his well-being, that being overdue (just as long as Hazel) wouldn't go as well this time around. So we called my mom and she came over. We said we didn't know if we'd be back or not, but we'd call once we knew what the status was.

At the hospital, they hooked me up to the monitor and yes, Klaas was doing just fine, still wriggling around and having a fine heartbeat. So I was relieved. Then they asked if I wanted to get checked, just to see. I said sure. The nurse went to check and at first she had a strange look on her face. She said, "I really don't want to get you too excited, but I think you're at a 7 or an 8." I said, "No way! Are you serious?" Totally random contractions and I'm already that far?

We decided that we would not really believe it until someone else confirmed it. Around 7, my doctor came in (at least that's when I think she came in, I can't really remember) and she confirmed that yes, I was already dilated to an 8. Woah! So we went ahead and broke my water to try and get things going more and get the little guy delivered.

All morning we walked around trying to get contractions going more, but nothing really. Finally I went to lie down and Jason crashed out since he was tired from being woken up so early. Things started getting more intense and I did a pretty horrible job of relaxing. I think was very tense since all I could think about was what the sequence of events was and how much work it was getting a baby out.

Finally after several hours, around noon, I was fully dilated and ready to push. And I started pushing. And pushing. And then I did some more pushing. Jason was right there and super supportive and encouraging me to try as hard as I could. I think both of us were thinking, "I hope this doesn't take as long as Hazel!"

After 2 hours, still no baby. Someone commented on the time and I looked at Jason and said, "Really?!? Isn't the second baby supposed to come faster?!?" I got very discouraged and disappointed in myself, not that there was a whole lot I could have done differently. I was all over the place trying different positions and trying to coax the little man out.

That was when the nurse (who was wonderful throughout the whole day) very quietly said to my doctor, "We could try an epidural to get her to relax more." At that my ears perked up. The one who always said, I never want an epidural! I said, "Yes please!"

I looked over at Jason and asked if he thought it was ok. I could tell he wasn't enthusiastic about the idea, but was thinking that maybe it could help.

So the anesthesiologist came down and I got the drugs. At one point right after they put it in, I said my ears were a little fuzzy, so they played around with some things. That was the moment in this delivery that Jason got nervous since any effects in the upper body can be signs of a potential problem, as far as I understand it. Everything was fine, but he was very nervous about the whole procedure.

We got back down to business, and about 30 minutes of pushing later, through much coaxing, pitocin, and extra oxygen, Klaas was born, all 9 pounds, 14 ounces at 3pm on August 2.

He was adorable and we thought he looked just like Hazel. We felt like old pros with him right away and he nursed perfectly. He was definitely well-done as he had longer fingernails and wrinkly skin. But definitely plenty of chub.

Now he's almost 16 months old and such a wonderful and silly part of our family.

2011-11-23T14:06:00.001-08:00

I guess Jason's jug of the cheapo Carlo Rossi wine made an impression on Hazel. Today in the middle of Winco, she announced to everyone that her daddy really loves wine. (Not to worry, he has a glass of red wine with dinner every night, but that's it.)

Hazel asked to listen to the "beard music" this morning. I had no idea what she was talking about until I remembered that we showed her a clip from O Brother Where Art Thou of the Soggy Bottom Boys singing with fake beards.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so today I made a pear and cream tart, cherry pie, and cranberry sauce. Tomorrow we'll saute the green beans before heading over to a friend's house to celebrate God's goodness with all of their extended family. Klaas obviously has no idea about holidays and such, but Hazel's very excited to see her friends (including a newborn baby) and eat lots of food.

We made hand turkeys last week. Of course I forgot to mail them to the grandparents until today, so they won't arrive until after the holiday. So here's a preview of the holiday greetings made by your creative grandchildren.

Because of our friends just having a new baby this week, Hazel has been checking with us to see if possibly, could the baby come out now?

Klaas has been talking more lately and even said a version of "please" yesterday when asking for a snack. And I think we'll have to start doing finger painting again, since whenever Hazel gets out her paints and brushes, Klaas gets rather upset at not being included in the activity. Maybe it's because he likes to try and lick the paint that I put out on the table. When he stops doing that, maybe we'll consider expanding his artistic horizons.

Klaas is also following in his sister's steps and he loves to dance! He has a funny little elbow dance he does, similar to the chicken dance at weddings. He has the moves ladies, watch out.

Hazel's Birth Story

2011-11-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

Since we're expecting our third buckaroo, we've been thinking about the whole pregnancy and birthing process again. And it reminded me that I never have written down Hazel and Klaas' birth stories. I'd like to be able to remember them years from now, but still needed to do the actual writing.

With Hazel, it was a bit of a waiting game. I was due July 20, but it wasn't until the night of July 30 that anything started happening to make me realize that I wasn't going to be pregnant forever. If you've never gone almost two weeks past your due date, let me tell you that no matter how many times you tell yourself that the due date is just an estimate, once that date passes, you wonder what in the world is going on.

On the night of the 30th, just about a month after moving from Moscow to Colfax, Jason and I decided to go into Pullman for some Mexican food and to walk around. It was beautiful out and since we knew the baby had to come any day, whether it was naturally or by induction, we wanted to enjoy one last night just wandering. After dinner, while at the park I started feeling something. Could it be? Contractions? Finally! All that night I was super uncomfortable and had contractions. They were rather random, but strong enough to keep me awake most of the night.

Friday morning, the 31st, I knew that I didn't want Jason to go to work since we had never done this before and I didn't know what to expect. The contractions came consistently all day. We took a walk out in the country, walked around Colfax, ate some bbq, and walked some more. The contractions were painful enough that I had to stop walking when I had one and think about it, of course looking back, I still had quite a ways to go. But I had no idea. First time mom here.

That night we tried to go to bed, after timing them for a while. They were fairly consistent around 7 minutes apart, but we still didn't feel that we should go rushing into the hospital. Jason conked out and I sat up, lay down, anything to get comfortable. The contractions were really pressing on my back, so lying down wasn't really working for me. Nothing worked and I finally tried to lie down on the couch. Around 2 in the morning when I started to get up off our futon in the middle of our half-remodeled living room, my water broke. I was in shock! But also excited/not totally sure that this is what happened. I called our birth center and the nurse I talked to said yes, it sounded like my water broke and that we should come in.

I went and woke Jason up. I don't really remember what his reaction was. Something of a mix between a sleepy, "What? Oh, ok" and an excited, "Let's go!" We got our things together and jumped into our Volvo for the 30 minute drive to Moscow. The car seat was in the back, all ready to go, and we had our bags packed with baby clothes. But it still seemed surreal that we would be meeting our baby girl that day.

We checked into the hospital, they confirmed that yes, my water had indeed broken, and got us all set up and then left us alone. I don't know if they checked me then to see how far I was, but since I wasn't in crazy pain all the time, they could tell that I had a ways to go.

After we got there, the contractions got stronger and stronger, and since Hazel was posterior, my back was still killing me. Jason was wonderful, letting me moan as the pains came, rubbed my back, and got me juice.

Sometime around early morning, I was exhausted from not having slept very well at all the last two nights, so I asked for something to take the edge off and help me sleep. I don't remember what it was that they gave me, but I was warned that usually only one dose of the medicine would work and a second one wouldn't have as much effect. But that one dose let me snooze for a few hours, which was wonderful, for me as well as for Jason.

The rest of the day is a slight blur of lots of contractions, lots of pain, and just trying to focus on staying on top of things. As I was nearing transition, I asked for some more medication, but as they had predicted, it didn't really do anything at all.

Then all of a sudden I felt completely out of control, the contractions were super strong and close together. I remember lying on the bed with Jason right next to me and a nurse helping me breathe, and I was saying something like, "Can I stop? I don't want to do this anymore! This is too hard! I can't do this!" The nurse was so sweet and told me that I was in transition (obviously) and the baby would be coming soon.

At some point my wonderful doctor came and when I felt the urge, I started to push. And push. And push. And then I pushed some more. And then I got some pitocin and oxygen. And then I pushed some more. 2 hours later.....the doctor said the baby was almost out and maybe if she used the vacuum, she could help get the baby out. At that point, I didn't even care anymore and said sure. That was probably the most painful experience of my life, even worse than the actual delivery. It really scared Jason to see me in so much pain. And my poor doctor was still trying to help me deliver the baby. Just a few pushes later though, Hazel was born at 4pm on the dot.

We were amazed and surprised for some reason. You mean our daughter was in there the whole time? She was amazing, beautiful, not a cone head surprisingly enough after all that time in the birth canal, and simply the best little person ever. When she tried to nurse, she latched on right away and had almost no problems at all. I'm especially thankful for that after such a long day's work. We were so happy with our doctor and the labor and delivery nurses. They were supportive for hours on end and really helped us get through a long day.

Almost immediately after she was born, all the pain was gone, and even the stitching up didn't bother me because we had our Hazel Rosemary. It was the best day.

An announcement

2011-11-16T17:08:00.001-08:00

Jason and I are very happy and excited to say that we are expecting Baby Shoe #3 next June! I'm just about 10 weeks along right now and last week we got to see the little guy/girl with Hazel and Klaas. Klaas was not very impressed, but Hazel was rather fascinated. She keeps asking us when the baby gets to come out and play and talk. And then she demonstrates her super awesome baby-holding skills. The Lord is truly blessing us (and challenging us to continue on the straight and narrow in trying to raise up these children in a way that honors and glorifies Him) by adding to our family.

So the past few weeks have mostly consisted of me groaning about how gross I feel and Jason doing the dishes after a long day doing tile or hanging siding. What a man. Hazel and Klaas are slightly less understanding, so I'm still trying to come up with activities for them, especially as the weather has turned very cold around here lately.

So that is our latest and greatest news! Hopefully I'll start feeling better soon and things will start getting back to normal around here. Though tomorrow we are going on a field trip to the fire station - exciting! I will be sure to take some pictures to show off.

2011-11-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

Some recent comments from the kids.

Hazel
Mom, I put some clothes on the ground because you like picking things up!

Mommy, can you please not vacuum right now? I'm trying to listen to The Sound of Music.

Klaas
He now can say "no" fairly clearly and with conviction.
He also shakes his head "no" to most questions.
I guess he's officially a toddler now.

My parents came to visit this weekend and brought the kids some new treats. Hazel has now worn the same dress for 3 days and wears her new red boots everywhere. Klaas doesn't really care about his new clothes.

Hazel and Klaas have also discovered the wonder that is icebox cake. It's just chocolate cookies layered with whipped cream, but oh how yummy.

I think we're on the way out of naps for Hazel, though we are still doing an enforced "lie on the bed and read books" time in the afternoon.

Fallish things

2011-11-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

We've had a busy week or so since I last posted. Hazel's been moving right along through her workbooks and is doing wonderfully at some pre-writing exercises, though we need to work on counting some more (she seems to skip the number 4 and 6 quite a bit). We also need to practice sitting Indian-style/still since when Jason went to pick her up from AWANA last night, she was not sitting nicely like most of the group, but instead was lying on her stomach and occasionally rolling around. While we don't normally condone sheep-like thinking, in classroom instances, it's the best way to go. So we told her, when in doubt, do what everyone else is doing when you're at AWANA.

Here she is helping make some apple cider.

And stringing a leaf garland.

We've been getting together with some friends once a week for crafts. So far we've made apple stamps, woodland creatures, and leaf crowns. Klaas actually wore his for a few minutes.

Refusing to model the crown. But she is wearing a jumper that I wore when I was little.

Klaas and Nigel are buds.

We went to our church's annual fall carnival on Sunday evening. We brought Encarnacion and Ignacio/Nacho, from Nacho Libre. It's a tale of the unrequited love of a priest/wannabe wrestler and a nun. Well, it's mostly about Nacho, the monk, and his quest to become a luchador. If you haven't seen it, it's hilarious. Very goofy. Hazel thought she was Maria from The Sound of Music though.

Apple Orchard and a Pumpkin Patch, then making applesauce

2011-10-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

2011-10-06T15:28:00.000-07:00

Klaas' great-grandmother sent him a wonderful quilt a little while back. I keep meaning to post pictures of it (and sorry they're a little dark; it's cloudy and rainy here lately). It's embroidered with little scenes of a farmer boy. We love it. It's so special to have something made for our little guy by family.

2011-10-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

Fall has finally come to the northwest. This week it's supposed to get down to the 50s! We have plans to do our annual apple picking and cider pressing adventure this weekend, if things go the way we hope they do. And we've put up a few little decorations around the apartment.

Berries from a bush down the street. I'm not sure which kind they are, though my mother could probably tell me. I'm sure they are poisonous, which is why they are up on the windowsill, away from little hands.

Hazel and I made this felt leaf garland for our picture frames and our front window. She was very helpful in organizing the stacks of colors. I found the inspiration (aka I just copied) the idea from a picture I saw on Pinterest.

The wreath was super easy and was done in about one hour, and that includes the flower making.

The hour did include several breaks to watch Pushing Daisies, so you could probably do the whole thing in 30 minutes if you really wanted to. Tutorial for the flowers was found here and for the rest of it, I just wrapped strips of fabric around a wreath form. By the by, who on earth decided on a lovely purple color for our door? Seriously, it is exactly that color, maybe just slightly grayer in real life. If I were choosing doors for an apartment complex, I would so not pick one like ours. Though it is nice and sturdy.

Anywho...I like the wreath.

And I did love it when Jason and Hazel lit up our little leaf lanterns we made last year. It made our windowsill seem very cozy.

Klaas and his dimple

2011-10-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

Where did my baby go? He seems to have been replaced by a little boy. (Though I'm sure in a year it will seem silly to say this when we see how big he gets.)

My handsome little man

2011-09-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

A new sweater for the little man. Just in time for the weather change around here. I like to plan ahead, so I started this back in.....April or May I think. So just about a 5 month turnaround. (Just in case there are those of you out there who think I am super-fast-knitting-mama. I am not. I usually have 3 or 4 projects going at once and it takes me months to finish larger projects like a sweater.)

I used the Oh, handsome pattern from the wonderful site, Pickles. It turned out very nice, except that I do not like piecing knitted projects together. So that part gets a thumbs down. Other than that, a great pattern and it's very cute on.

It is a little hard to take pictures of a one year old wearing a dark-colored sweater, so we tried bribery with a cookie and sitting on the tricycle. It sort of worked.
He is a lucky little guy because he also will be getting the next project off my needles, a winter hat. We're going fancy and doing cables. I really like the way it's turning out, but I do like mindless knitting without having to consult the pattern every minute or so. So while I was planning on making a matching hat for Hazel, we'll see if I have the patience for that. She might get a simple garter stitch hat with maybe a knitted flower for embellishment. That would be cute and girly.

And then I also want to make Jason a hat that he actually likes and will wear, which hasn't really happened yet. I have high goals for myself: making projects that my family actually likes.

2011-09-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

Last week we did some little alphabet sheets I found via Pinterest (the best thing ever). And we're continuing in her Rod and Staff workbooks, which she loves, and the reading book, which is (as I predicted) a little hard for her. So she and I have slowed down a bit with that and are spending a couple days on each lesson. But Jason and I are so proud of her since she is recognizing letters right and left when we go out and starting to remember her numbers too...

This is what a typical morning looks like around here: Hazel wearing some funny outfit she came up with (I can't wait until that dress actually fits her - it's from my sister-in-law and I love it!) and Klaas was getting frustrated that he couldn't get his feet into the klompen slippers without assistance.
And this is Hazel and me reading last night on the couch. It made me happy because she just climbed up on my lap like that to look at her AWANA book while I was drinking tea and relaxing. And it makes me laugh because this is her attempt at a "real smile" when Jason asked her to look happy. (We're keeping it real with the random diaper, apron, and shirt that are on the couch. This is just what our place looks like on a Sunday night: slightly crazy.)
A project I finally finished. We bought this stepstool when Hazel was a baby and I finally painted it this summer. I can't find a before picture, but it was very beat up and pink. Jason helped me sand away some nasty who-knows-what it was (wait, Jason probably does know) stuff that was on the steps about, oh....3 months ago. I got around to painting it a couple of weeks ago. (I'm keeping it real yet again by showing you the random Lego pieces and my shoes that are on the floor.)

Another little project we did was this. Jason saw something similar on Pinterest (there it is again, the best website ever) and found an old shutter at work somewhere. So I painted it "way too green" in Jason's opinion and we hung it up to hold pictures, cards, and whatever else we want to stick up there.
I also repainted our kitchen table, something I've been talking about doing for about 1 1/2 years. It's now white and I love it. But it's covered in stuff like always, so it's not very photogenic right now. I will try to style a very chic photo shoot later this week.

And just so he's not neglected by not being super-involved with this post, here's Klaas yesterday, lying down in the slide. I guess he wanted to watch the clouds.

2011-09-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

One day it was 95. The next it was 62 and raining. That's just weather in the northwest for you. On Saturday we went to a local fall festival and took a hay ride, saw the Raptor Club from WSU, and learned about butter churning. Then we also went to our local alpaca farm to check out the alpacas. Klaas, true to form, yelled hello to all the animals and Hazel got an ice cream cone painted on her cheek.

Today we went on a little walk, came home in a drizzle, and now we're playing legos, and making breakfast-for-dinner burritos. We also have a good supply of chocolate chip cookies and projects (knitting for me and leather for Jason). I'm working on a hat for Klaas, to be followed by hats for Hazel, Jason, and myself. Jason recently made a cowboy-style wallet for himself and is now working on a design for an iPhone carrying case and a belt for Hazel. I also want him to make us headbands similar to this. We just have an endless list of things to make around here.I also really like my new shoes.

2011-09-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

We went to a superhero party at the beginning of September. Here are a couple of pictures of our Super Hazel and her friends. Because they're cute in capes and masks.

The county fair

2011-09-18T16:48:00.000-07:00

We went. We saw pigs, cows, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, roosters, turkeys, and bunnies. We yelled hello to the pigs (Klaas) and really liked the chickens with "hats" (Hazel). We also got lots of balloons, accidentally let the air out of said balloons, and signed up to win a free iPad (!).
Hazel rode on rides this year for the first time. She and Jason went down the big slide. Just look at the pictures and you can tell whether or not she had a good time (no). But then she went on to drive a little car that went 2 mph around a track and thought that was the bee's knees. So we redeemed ourselves and will not be known as "Mom and Dad who tortured me and made me go down a big scary slide." (Though as a disclaimer, she was very excited climbing up the stairs.)

This is the look of jealousy. We do have a rule in our house: you can ride the rides when you can appreciate them (or be afraid) and you might be able to remember the experience at a later date.
Then we dug around for rocks and artifacts in a sandbox provided by the university's archaeology program and headed home. No deep fried snacks this year. But we did have a yummy and fun dinner out with friends at the alehouse. And that's another year at the county fair. It gets more fun every year as Hazel and Klaas get older.

This week

2011-09-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of our week. Hazel started working on the Rod and Staff 3/4 workbooks. She is now an expert at matching!
We also did some apple stamps. Also a new favorite.
And here's a snapshot of Hazel at AWANA racing around the circle to the finish. She had fun.
And Klaas fished toys out of the kiddie pool to chew on.
He also likes to model his new sweater and tennis shoes. We should post a video of him walking sometime. He's practically running now...

Getting out there

2011-09-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more fascinating to me as a parent than to see my kids in a totally different situation than they are used to....especially if I'm technically not there.

Tonight was Hazel's first night at AWANA at one of our local churches. For those not in the know, it's a preschool - 8th grade (at least at the church we're taking her to) ministry program with games and Bible memorization. She might just be one of the youngest in her class as it is for 3 and 4 year olds and her birthday was just a little over a month ago.

She also is just getting into that preschool activity age of playing semi-organized games with other kids. During the game time tonight, she was the quiet observer, hands in her dress pockets, until it was her turn to run around the circle. Then she was grinning and running (albeit, rather slowly; sorry Hazel - you may inherited my un-athletic ability) and trying to make it around. She isn't very fast, and the leaders had to remind her what her goal was, but she had so much fun playing the game.

It's funny because she can be very quiet in a group, but despite not knowing any of the other kids in her class and being on her own essentially (with me in the hallway) for an hour and a half, she did very well. She tried to say hi to the other kids and introduce herself.

Since she doesn't know the schedule of things at AWANA, she very much stayed near the back and watched a lot. But even then, during singing time, she wanted to be at the front of the group and volunteered to go help lead Jesus Loves the Little Children (a song she doesn't even know).

One other funny moment came when after snack, and all the other kids had finished eating and were splitting up for their handbook time, Hazel was still working on her crackers. She's been going through a slow-eating phase and the workers had to gently move her along to the next event.

She made me smile. She's our own little person that we've known for three years and now she's starting to do things without us right there next to her. And she's (for the most part) being a very sweet and helpful little student, in AWANA and in her new gymnastics class we started last month (which I should take some pictures of and post).

So there you go, all sorts of new things for our very big girl. And now I'm tired. But now I'm going to relax and finish knitting a new sweater for Klaas, who, by the way, did very well riding around on mama's back all night and watching big sister play games. Jason is away for work for a few days, so while normally one of us would have watched Klaas at home, he had to tag along for the night. He really liked watching the big kids play games. I think he wanted to get in on the action.

One other thing, more of a commentary....

Since we were taking her to a church we don't attend, and therefore, don't know any of the adults doing the programs*, we decided that at least for a few weeks/months, one of us would be there the whole time just to watch and see how things go.

Not even so much to get Hazel to go with the program, as she usually doesn't need much encouragement to participate, but just to put our minds at ease about who is watching our daughter. I did think it was strange that there was only one other parent there watching their preschooler.

Maybe the other families all attend the church and know the leaders: if that was our case, I think we would feel more comfortable just dropping her off. I did get a few weird looks (or at least I interpreted them as weird looks...probably just my imagination) for staying the whole night. But I didn't mind since I wanted to make sure of the situation I was putting Hazel in. Anyways, we might be overprotective, or at least considered that way by some of the group leaders. To which I would say, "She's 3. We don't just leave her anywhere without checking it out." But I'm sure it was just my imagination.

*I recognized a few of the other moms helping out from seeing them around town. So that was nice.

Tuesday Thoughts

2011-09-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

Hazel's thought of the day:

"I love honey. Bees make honey. Bees must eat honey. But they can't make peanut butter and honey sandwiches because they don't have hands."

Then I told her bees have very tiny hands and they make very tiny peanut butter and honey sandwiches. She looked amazed.

And Klaas loves to sit in our little red rocking chair and look at books. He likes to pretend he's a big boy. We also just realized that he does have more words than just "da da." He always makes a "zzz" sound. He's trying to say "Hazey" or "sissy." Our big man!

We're starting

2011-09-09T12:26:00.000-07:00

Since Hazel is three and is ready/wants to start doing more "school" type activities, we're slowly starting to try and do "school time" every day. And since I do better at things when I keep a record of what I've done and make lists of things to do, I'm going to start blogging a bit about what we're doing for our little projects.

First of all though, it should be said that I am a person who does much better with outside-enforced organization than self-imposed organization. I figured let's start when she's young and then I can get in the swing of things within a year. That's the plan anyway....

We're doing a reading lesson every day from Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and so far she really likes the time we spend on that. She's probably a little young to do this, but so far she is getting the concepts, so we'll see where we are in a few months.

We're also working on general alphabet recognition and this week and part of next week, we'll be working on the letter A, with a new letter every week. We made this little apple on Wednesday and did a little letter search.
Of course we're also trying to point out "A"s wherever we see them in reading as well. Hazel is funny: she has favorite letters. H (of course), K (of course), W, and Q.
Next week we'll be doing some apple stamps on paper and a tote ba g (for mama).

I've also started following the recommendations in Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready, which is a wonderful book with activities for every week from birth to age 5. This week we're talking about the differences between snakes, frogs, fish, and birds. So right now I'm printing out some coloring pages about snakes and frogs and later we'll look at some pictures of snakes shedding their skin.

Yesterday and today, Klaas and I were learning about "on" and "off" with lids. He's so cute and excited when he learns something new.

Of course we're reading, reading, reading. Some of the books from the library this week include:
Dr. De Soto by William Steig
Food for Thought by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
Rip Van Winkle by Will Moses and Washington Irving
Give the Dog a Bone by Steven Kellogg
Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall

And for Klaas, we got I Touch, which is similar to a book we already have, I Hear. We read a lot during lunch time, so both of the kids are happy eating while they listen. This is especially nice for Klaas, who does like lap time and reading, but can get a little wiggly.

So basically our plan right now is: working on letters (and then moving onto number recognition - she can already count, but doesn't know the number symbols) and letter-related activities, reading, and reading.

One book I would recommend is A Well-Trained Mind. I read it last year, and just purchased a copy to own. Super helpful with curriculum reviews (starting with kindergarten) and a general plan outline for schooling.

So that's where we are right now in September, 2011. Stay tuned for another update next week!

My amazing children

2011-09-08T23:33:00.000-07:00

Look at that concentration.

She is an expert onion chopper. Seriously. She is honestly a better dicer than I am. Her pieces are almost always uniform in size and shape. She has Jason's patience.

And here is Klaas modeling his vintage Peter Rabbit romper.
We like it. It's slightly girly. But I still like it. His new trick is to show us where his head is and to take lids on and off things on command. Genius. He also finally started saying "mama." But only when he wants me to give him more Cheerios, meatloaf, corn, yogurt, you get the idea.

Our tomatoes, new lanterns, and silly little people

2011-08-31T20:11:00.000-07:00

New blog!

2011-08-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

My sister has started a new blog about her little family. And she already posted a yummy-looking recipe!

Check it out.

3 Year Old Conversation

2011-08-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

This morning's breakfast conversation:

Hazel, "I'm eating my eggs. They're going in my tummy. Then a baby will be in my tummy."

Me, "That's not how a baby gets in your tummy. You have to be married to have a baby in your tummy."

Hazel, "If I get married, can I have Klaas in my tummy? Can he be the baby in my tummy?"

Me, "No, when you're older and you have babies, you'll have new babies. Klaas can't go back in someone's tummy. He's too big."

Hazel, "I want Klaas in my tummy!"

And during all this, Klaas was eating his eggs and banana muffin and watched Hazel with his wide blue eyes. I don't think he was very aware that his sister wants to carry him around in her stomach.

Let's go

2011-08-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

We went on an impromptu camping trip this weekend up to Laird Park, just a hop, skip, and a jump up the road from us. We had to try out our new tent in "the wild" and not just our yard. We timed it just right and got one of the few camping spots left. We brought the kids' teepee and they had fun playing in it.
That is until Mom started taking too many pictures and we got a little grumpy.
We went swimming (or rather, lounging in an inner tube) and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. I jumped into the freezing river with Anna and we had sandwiches and chips (Hazel's favorite part) before heading home the next day.
We had a really great 24 hours at the campground, despite Klaas deciding he needed to snuggle with Mom and Dad all night and a 3:30am wakeup call from both kids who had spotted each other in the dark and decided it was time to play the tickle game.

And just so you can see the whole giant thing in all its glory, here is our 8-man, two room, palace of a tent. It's enormous. But I can tell you, not having to stoop over while you change clothes, totally worth it.On our way home, we stopped for Daddy to clamor up a rock wall. Hazel really liked watching him, though I don't know if she'll be doing that any time soon.

Our summer stuff

2011-08-17T20:09:00.000-07:00

Eating one of our cherry tomatoes.

Asleep after a busy day at the Snake River...which is kind of a funny story. It involves lots of bikinis (not mine), college students, beer pong, and picking the wrong day to go down to the Dunes.
A batch of Jason's yogurt.

Watched a beautifully pink sunset.

Rode bikes in a princess dress.

Had fun at the arboretum.

As time goes on...

2011-08-12T22:41:00.001-07:00

...I feel more and more like a mom. It's 10:40pm and I'm cleaning the kitchen, baking some breakfast fruit crisp and cherry bars for a day trip tomorrow, mopping the floor, and doing laundry. I have very clear memories of my mom working hard to clean up after us, to make our house a home, and to plan fun adventures for us. So I am now doing those things too. Tomorrow we're going to "the dunes" on the Snake River with some friends.

And even though while I am picking up toys, folding miniature clothing, and trying to organize my thoughts/discipline my time enough to plan some pre-school shtuff for Miss H, I am being a mom, it still feels strange to say, "my daughter" or "my son." I'm not sure why. Maybe I'll get used to that by the time they're in high school.

I think it also has to do with the fact that being a mom is who I am now; it's an every day fact, whether it's taking Hazel to the bathroom, changing a diaper, playing peek-a-boo or "there's a tiger!" I don't think to myself, "Now I am going to do "the mama thing." It's just what happens when God gives you a little one (or two) to take care of.

We went cherry picking this week and came home with 10 pounds. It was a wonderful day, not too hot, and the kids had fun eating lots of cherries and running around the orchard.

Some of my favorites

2011-08-11T22:54:00.000-07:00

Pokey LaFarge, La La Blues

And this video, of Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

In the Sun by She & Him

1, 2, 3, 4 by Feist on Sesame Street (Hazel loves this one.)

Jimmy Fallon as Neil Young
(I know I'm a bit behind the times in music...but this is what I like. And I wanted to share it. Ta da.)

We're here to tell you

2011-08-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

that you can do everything you want to do...even while living in an apartment.
Think you can't grow a garden? Just take over the front of your building with homemade raised beds and pots and then your garden will be the envy of all your neighbors and quite the conversation piece.

Just bought a new tent that could sleep 8 grown men? Set it up in your "backyard" and have a little party complete with s'mores and stories read by flashlight. (Our very kind landlord even offered to turn off the sprinklers for us so we could sleep out under the stars if we wanted to. We'll probably take him up on that soon...)

The goodness of summer

2011-08-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

This week I've made this breakfast crisp twice: once with apricots and peaches and a second time with apricots, blueberries, and peaches. It's delicious with Jason's homemade yogurt on top. Yum.

This is the recipe I used to make Klaas' apricot cupcakes with brown sugar frosting. I don't know if I loved the cupcakes all that much, but the frosting is delicious with a capital D.

And I also made these delicious turnovers with blueberries and peaches this weekend. I think I'll have to make some more.

And I have a lot of basil that is being made into pesto. We also have three freshly butchered chickens in our freezer that are just waiting to be eaten.

I love summer and all its food.

More birthdays

2011-08-07T20:06:00.000-07:00

We had a little party for Klaas and his "friends" on Saturday. (We use the term loosely because he is one and because he is friends with everyone.) We had apricot cupcakes with brown sugar frosting and opened presents. It was a good time.

And here are a couple more pictures of the kids playing with even more presents: Hazel in her bug dress from Grandma Mary and her new tote bag (courtesy of her Aunt Anne) and the kids in the teepee. I will be working on tweaking the teepee tomorrow so it works a little better. Hazel also got a bird feeder that is now set up outside...hopefully we will see some bird friends come visit.

Carousel and SkyRide

2011-08-07T15:44:00.000-07:00

We did something this week we haven't done before: went on the carousel and SkyRide to see the waterfalls in Spokane! Both were tremendously enjoyed by all. Thanks Grandma Shellie!

Klaas Thijs, at the very wise age of 1

2011-08-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Klaas' first birthday on the 2nd with bbq chicken, corn on the cob, pasta, and of course presents! He now is the proud owner of two, two, dump trucks, Mike Mulligan and other stories, and an awesome striped summer outfit. We also made the kids a teepee, of which we are still figuring out the logistics. They love playing in it, despite it's tendency to slide down the poles. I need to resew the channels for the stakes tonight.

The big 0-3

2011-08-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hazel is now 3. 3. 3!

We've had a rather extended birthday celebration with a little friend party last Friday. She had a few friends over, they made a little naturey-craft, and ate strawberry cupcakes.
And then Grandma Shellie came on Sunday and we celebrated her official birthday on the 1st with presents, ice cream, and a trip to the flower farm and going out for breakfast.
Klaas was rather cheerful, but I think Hazel wasn't feeling all that great yesterday afternoon, which is not a fun way to spend your birthday. So she doesn't look happy in a lot of the pictures, but I think she had a good time opening presents and of course, even though she didn't finish her dinner, she had room for ice cream with berries and whipped cream.

Another year has come and gone and she is now entering her fourth year. It's amazing to see her grow and learn. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. She is the sweetest little girl and loves to help out. She and Klaas love to giggle together and be silly. We also, in a way, love her stubborn streak. We are praying for us and her that the Lord uses this to glorify Him as she grows up; that she will be a warrior for the faith and not let anyone turn her to the right or to the left. I think she will be a strong woman when she grows up...if we do our job right. But right now, we are just enjoying her little doodles, sounding out letters, and loving to read Richard Scarry books.

Happy birthday Hazelnut!

Moving On

2011-07-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

This is the summer of friends moving away from Moscow. Off the top of my head, I can think of 4 families that are moving or have moved onto new adventures. Our good friends Keith and Nellie, along with Charlie, are now in Spokane - so just a hop, skip, and a jump away! But our very dear friends, Mark and Corinne left this weekend for Iowa City where Mark will be in school for his doctorate. We're so excited for this opportunity for him, but are beyond sad at seeing them leave.

Jason was roommates with Mark before we were married, Mark was in our wedding, and then he met his wonderful wife Corinne and they were married in 2006 (if I can remember correctly). They have been such good friends to us and so wonderful with Hazel and Klaas. Corinne is so sweet with the kids; Hazel loves going to see Uncle Mark and Aunt Corinne. She knows where they keep the toys in the coffee table and Hazel thinks they are just the best. She's already talking about seeing them on the computer via Skype.

We are praying that their new situation in Iowa is a blessing to them....and we're glad that Corinne is from the west side of Washington so we'll get to coordinate visits to see them semi-often, we're hoping!

Here are some pictures from a little going away party we had last weekend. This was after Mark and Corinne's huge going away party the church threw for them. Then we had another farewell dinner at our local Mexican restaurant last night. Many goodbyes, but since we won't see them for a while, it was good to have so much extra time with them.

2011-07-27T10:01:00.001-07:00

Klaas took 3 steps on Monday, July 25. He has decided that walking is too silly though, and continues to crawl.
Hazel in her kitchen: puts an orange or another item in her pots, clangs them around, throws them up in the air, and exclaims, "Oh shoot!" I wonder who she is imitating here. Surely not I.

She also likes to put her play food in her pots, cook for a few minutes, and then yell, "It's burning!" (I seriously do not do this.)

While thinking of ideas for the kids' birthdays next week, Jason and I both agreed that Klaas would most like to receive a stick. (He's a boy. He likes to wave things around and poke people.) And that Hazel would like to go see animals somewhere around here. Luckily we have the universities and their vet programs....I will be doing internet research later. There is a large cat farm north of us, which might warrant a visit with Grandma Shellie when she comes.

The snuggler

2011-07-26T22:17:00.001-07:00

A tired little person after a day at the pool.

Things and people around the house

2011-07-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

A few things I'm loving of late...

Of course this little man, who is almost one year old! He is super mischevious and goofy. He also loves to pretend to cook with Hazel in their play kitchen. Jason is excited to get him a "man toy" for his birthday...
*I just realized how this sounds. Jason's toy for Klaas is not related to Klaas' love of cooking. We hope that they both become chefs and open a cleverly named restaurant, Shoe's Sushi or something similar...

My new embroidered tablecloth that we got for a decent price at an overpriced "garage sale" (actually a regular antique sale on Bainbridge Island). Jason was also happy with his bargained-down...hmmm...I can't remember what he bought. I think an antique chalkline? My husband does love his old tools.

Red leather Swedish clogs for Hazel....that will fit her in about 3 years. I found them at the thrift store for 99 cents. So I have plenty of time to try and clean the marker marks off the wooden heel. For some reason, children love to write on their footwear.

Flowers from the picking garden.

Our thoughtful girl. She has been saying the most hilarious things lately, most of which I try to write down, but forget quickly thereafter. We do love listening to her prayers at dinner time, which usually consist of thanking God for every item on the table, every family member, both present and distant, that she can remember, and some miscellaneous item (her toothbrush, her coloring book, etc...). She is also obsessed with reading Charlie and Lola books (!) from the library, her new Richard Scarry book about firefighters, pretending to be Maria in The Sound of Music, changing her dolls' diapers, and finding things for her daddy to fix. Today it was a house that we walked past that had had a fire last night. Thankfully everyone is ok, but the roof was caved in and the whole thing looks like it will have to be bulldozed. Hazel commented as we walked past, "Daddy should fix that house!"

Attempting to grow sprouts for the first time. This was the weekly project at the co-op kids craft time. We have mung bean, radish seed, and something else I can't remember. We're on day 3 and they should fill up the jar by the end of the weekend. That's when we hull. More on the results later...

And this space-age looking thing next to our refrigerator? Well, actually I'm not loving this in the living room and I need to carve out a space for it in our closet, but I do love the results of the machine. This is Jason's yogurt incubator he made a couple of weeks ago. In the past he has used our oven with the light on to "cook" the yogurt, but since our current oven doesn't have a light, he came up with this design. But that's just our house for you...you never know what you will find around here.

Visiting Judah

2011-07-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

We jetted, or rather drove slowly with many stops along the way, to Seattle this past weekend to visit our new nephew/cousin, Judah. We had lots of fun and did many west side sort of things: went to the beach, dug for clams (found 2 - jackpot!), ate salmon cakes by Jason, hung around Ballard, watched the rain (it rained most of the weekend), and ate at some yummy restaurants (Portage Bay Cafe). The children also decided to have a rebellion during bathtime....you'll see the pictures, just scroll down.

2011-07-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

He likes to climb into things.

Lake Pend Orielle

2011-07-10T22:07:00.000-07:00

We went to Idaho's largest lake and had a wonderful time, but only saw a tiny portion of the actual lake. We had our annual camping trip with Mark and Corinne and Keith, Nellie, and Charlie. It was fun and it definitely takes more coordination now that there are several small people in tow, but we love seeing these good friends of ours and exploring new places.

Just to give you an idea, the lake is 65 miles long and we only got to see the tiny point at the very bottom of the lake. I think we'll have to go up again and check out more of the area. Especially after I just googled it and saw that some people had seen moose swimming in the lake! We must try to find some moose next time and ask them to take a dip so we can observe.
We had a very busy time checking out the lake, throwing rocks, swimming in the ICY waters (Jason was brave, I was not), playing frisbee golf, checking out the Farragut State Park museum, and eating yummy food in Couer D'Alene. Did you know that Idaho has a naval base? Surprised, right? Where we camped, at Farragut, the campground is where the original naval base was built back in the early 1940s. (There is a current sound research naval facility in the tiny town of Bayview.) The base was used for training during World War II. Also, there were around 750 German prisoners of war kept there as well. You learn something new every day.

We sadly did not get that many great pictures of the lake...more next time I hope.

Happy 4th!

2011-07-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

We went to Dworshak State Park for an overnight camping trip with friends on Monday. It was lots of fun with swimming and bbqing and just relaxing. We're now in recovery mode with laundry and putting away all the camping gear (just to get it out again this weekend for another adventure) and the kids taking extra naps to make up for their running around busyness. It was great fun!

Summer Weekend of Birthday, Anniversary, and Fireworks

2011-07-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

This weekend was my 29th birthday and our 6th wedding anniversary. So it's been a little busy with going out for Japanese food on Friday, and then getting a sitter and dashing out for a movie (Super 8, loved it!) and dinner at Sangria on Saturday.

We went to the park on Friday afternoon. Klaas wanted to show off his messy t-shirt and crooked smile. But we still think he's adorable.

Pretty girl with leftover cantaloupe juice on her face.

Me excited to see what Hazel and Jason picked out for me. A fun new shirt and mini-colander!

My birthday pie, prior to baking. Isn't my husband talented?

Ready to dig in at the park for a pie picnic. I think this is going to have to be a weekly summer tradition. Sunday in the Park with Pie.

We had to force-feed Hazel cherry pie. Yes, you read that right. The child of two pie-loving people decided she didn't need any. Strange little person.
Our two little "angels" waiting so calmly and patiently for dessert. It should be noted that this might be the only time they have sat still for one minute. They were both almost ready for naps. But we still enjoyed the pie and some running around.
And today we set off some fireworks prior to setting off tomorrow for a mini-camping trip with a bunch of friends. Perhaps I oversold the fireworks as a "surprise." Hazel was excited during our little fireworks show, but afterwards, she turned and asked me when we were going to have our "surprise." I guess it didn't make that much of an impression.

What's cookin'?

2011-06-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

Jason's been busy in the kitchen making granola bars. We started out with Alton Brown's granola bar recipe. It was good, but Jason really wanted to pack as much shtuff into the bar as possible. And I'm sure more tweakage will be coming, but this is what we have settled on for now. They're yummy. You should make some today.

Jason's Granola Bars
4 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/8 cup sesame seeds
2 cups mixed nuts (we use almonds, walnuts, peanuts, whatever we have on hand)
1 cup wheat germ
2 cups chopped dried fruit (we use dried cherries, cranberries, and apricots)
1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup honey
1/2 cup date syrup
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup nutella
(we had some on hand and felt the urge to include the deliciousness in the bars, but it is totally optional)
4 Tbsp coconut oil
4 tsp vanilla extract

Oil a 9x13 pan.

Preheat oven to 300.

Spread oats, seeds, nuts, wheat germ, and coconut flakes on dry cookie sheet. Toast for 10-15 minutes, stirring often.

Combine honey, peanut butter, nutella, coconut oil, and vanilla in saucepan. Place over medium heat. Cook until all ingredients are nicely mixed and melted together.

Once the oat mixture is done, take it out of the oven and add to the liquids. Add in dried fruit and stir to combine. Turn mixture out into prepared dish. Smooth out and press down. Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool COMPLETELY. Cut into squares and store for up to a week in an airtight container.

My hand and some handiwork

2011-06-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

Rolling potatoes/not paying close attention resulted in jumping up and down and saying "Ooh! Ooh!" the other day.

It must be a family thing, because I almost chopped off the tip of my thumb Monday night.

And yes, we've heard all the jokes. One quick run over to urgent care and a dinner of bananas later (for the children, not for Jason), I'll be as good as new in 7-10 days. And our dishes will at some point be all put away, since now it's awkward to wash while keeping my thumb out of the way. Though the nurse kindly gave me a stash of latex gloves to use while keeping up with my domestic duties and changing the little man's diapers.

And here's a new little sampler I made last week. We'll try to ignore the uneven spacing (goedemorgan is one word, not two as it looks on here) and mistakes. It's now hanging in the bathroom and we all like it. Hazel asked if it was just for her (she thinks every new project is just for her to enjoy) and then started to point out some of the letters. I really like this age (well, I like most little kid ages) since she's very into her letters. She loves shouting out, "Look Mom!! A 'W'!" as we walk past signs on the street.

From top to bottom, the languages are French, Dutch, Swedish, Greek (pronounced kalimera), and, obviously, English. Working on a little thing like this is very good for my patience level since I am usually into quick projects. A hip hip hooray for improving my disposition and making a craft at the same time.

Summa summa time

2011-06-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

It's finally warm up here! We can now move on to summer-appropriate activities. Yesterday we spent most of the afternoon playing in the sprinklers at a friend's house. We've been going to the park, wading, going to the public pool, having a picnic, watching the Thursday night shows at the city park (Nez Perce dancers, a comedian, and more to come!), and Klaas is working on perfecting his concentrating face.

So if you've been feeling deprived of photos of the children, you're in luck. Here's a bunch.

Food, yummy food

2011-06-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

We like to make good food* around here on little Hallmark-sanctioned celebrations. (Jason made blueberry blintzes, a spinach and egg bake, peach strawberry cobbler, and mimosas on Mother's Day. At the last minute we invited Mark and Corinne over to share in the abundance of food.) Today we had spicy honey chicken salad, roasted red peppers with goat cheese and baguettes, and homemade pop tarts with Nutella** and cinnamon/brown sugar fillings. Yum***.

We also popped our bottle of Finn River cider that we brought back from our New Year's trip to Seattle.

*All of these recipes are delicious. Try them!

**I now have a tub of Nutella in the house. This is not a good thing. Well, actually it is a very delicious thing, but a dangerous item to have around. I'm starting to put it on everything.

***According to us. Hazel has decided that she doesn't like goat cheese and is always apprehensive whenever we take some out of the fridge. "Are we having goat cheese?" This is always asked in a worried voice. But she is usually still a champ and tries some. This is followed by a sour expression and a confirmation that still no, Hazel doesn't like goat cheese.

Hazel and Klaas are now sponsored by RadioFlyer. Their very generous Grandma Shellie just sent them an awesome wagon and tricycle. Hazel is now the expert peddler and the wagon is great for containing the Klaaster while we're outside.

These are some of the gorgeous flowers that we got at the cutting garden last week. I think we are going to go out there every other week this summer so we can keep our house full of the bounty of the season.

Embroidery, a first

2011-06-15T16:19:00.000-07:00

My first attempt at embroidery. I like the way the "e" and the "h" turned out the best (using a chain stitch and a running stitch). But of course this being my first try at this, one can't expect perfection with french and colonial knots (what I used for the outlines for the "J" and "K").

Overall though, I like it.

Lupines

2011-06-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

We went out the our local u-pick flower farm today with our friends and got an armload of beautiful lupine so many colors. Klaas enjoyed riding on my back while Hazel ran around with "the big kids" and dug in the dirt. Hopefully we didn't disturb too many of the new plantings at the farm.

A Tuesday in June

2011-06-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

We went to Friendship Square, played with some friends and made lots of things: a Father's Day card, spinach and tomato risotto, and funny faces.

My friend Alberta brought me these gorgeous peonies. She's my new favorite person. I sent her home with some cilantro from our wild cilantro plant.

New Baby

2011-06-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

We have another nephew/cousin! Anne and Nate had baby Judah on Saturday night after a long day of trying coax the little guy out. Judah was a little early (10 days), but weighed in at 7 lbs, 5 oz and is eating wonderfully I hear. We're so proud of Anne and Nate and their new little person.

We can't wait to head over to Seattle sometime soon to meet the newest addition to the family!

Paris, anyone?

2011-06-08T13:55:00.001-07:00

One of the blogs I follow, Oh Happy Day, is offering a trip to Paris for one lucky reader. Paris! You can enter by going to the blog and leaving a comment on this post. The winner will be chosen on June 21st. Someone has to win, so why couldn't it be you?

(Image from Oh Happy Day)

The past few days

2011-06-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

Klaas received his first haircut this weekend. And loved it. Jason wanted to trim his mini-mullet. And now my baby no longer has his baby fuzz. Sadness. I of course gathered up the fuzz, placed it in an envelope with the date written on it, and placed this little keepsake in Klaas' baby book....to be found years from now with an exclamation of, "Eww. Mom, why on earth did you save my hair?"
And the "baby" also has about 5 new teeth coming in on top and bottom. At dinner tonight he chomped down chunks of chicken like a champ. Sniff....he's ten months old already.
I made Alton Brown's salted caramels on Saturday. They turned out a little too soft, but delicious nonetheless. And Hazel pressed divots into them.
We went to Mark's birthday party this weekend. It was such a good time and there was oodles of homemade ice cream to boot. Afterwards, we of course took pictures of the children. (Hazel wanted to model her new dress from my mom.)
And the ladies.
Tonight the kids looked adorable after their bath.
I bought some spring garlic at the grower's market this afternoon. I added them to our sauteed green beans and they lent an oriental/stir fry-ey taste. We weren't expecting that, but it was yummy just the same.
And that is the last few days in at our house.

Quilt

2011-06-05T05:35:00.000-07:00

It's finished! I pieced together this quilt top.....this is embarrassing.....two years ago.

This is a memory quilt made from my brother Phillip's plaid shirt collection. Suffice it to say, the man liked plaid shirts.

Now each branch of the Jolley family (my mom and dad, and my sister and brother-in-law, and us) has a quilt similar to this made from pieces we cut up years ago with one of our dear friends (who also has, or will finish at some point, her own version of this quilt).

My mom very nicely offered to put the back on it and quilt it for me. I love it! And our little family loves having something so "Phillip" in a quilt that we can share with our kids when we tell them about him.

Spring is here....sort of

2011-06-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

Today was a wonderfully sunny and warm day. We threw the cheerful, bike-helmet-loving Hazel and the not-so-down-with-the-bike-helmet Klaas into the carrier and rode on the bike trail to The Silo. I love it down there. It's a coffee shop in a complex of apartments and office space, complete with a vegetable and flower garden.
We had some lovely chocolate milkshakes and Hazel slurped down a very hip vanilla soda. Klaas sampled some shortbread.

This was the weekend to enjoy nice weather since the rain and cold is coming back next week.

Elk River Falls

2011-05-31T11:50:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, it was warm enough for this:

But this weekend, despite it being Memorial Day, was not warm. However, we brave northwesterners headed out into the wild despite the rain. We went up to Elk River Falls (on the Clearwater River), a gorgeous and short little hike about an hour and a half east of us. Hazel and Klaas thoroughly enjoyed their sojourn in the woods. And the post-hike huckleberry milkshakes in the town of Elk River.

We had a lot of fun and saw a rainbow at the lower falls. Mark was a hero and toted Hazel back up the hill in the backpack.
When we went into Elk River, the town, we walked around for a bit and stopped in to check out the Elk River Community Bible Church. The buildling had some lovely stained glass windows. And the town has a gorgeous pond by downtown. Also a little airstrip. So if you ever want to fly your little Ultralight into Elk River, Idaho.....

Our family conversations

2011-05-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Most recent naughty/funny conversation.

Jason: Hazel, move your biscuits! (What we call her tush/our encouragement to move a little more quickly.)

Hazel: I don't want to move my biscuits.....anymore.....mister.

Jason: How about you just call me Daddy?

Hazel: Mister Daddy.

She also called Jason, "Mr. Man" tonight, something that I call Klaas quite often.

Today at the Storm Cellar she said, "Mom, I'm going to go look at the shoes, ok?" "Ok Hazel." "Oh Mom, these shoes are so cute!" (Moves to the next pair of shoes and picks them up.) "Mom, these shoes are so cute!" (Moves to the next pair.....you get the idea.)

While I was looking through the shirts on the top rack, she browsed through the blouses on the bottom rack. "Mom! I'm looking at clothes!" And then she proceeds to study each shirt, giving it serious consideration.

I scanned some old pictures while I was at my parents' this weekend. I think Klaas definitely looks like me when I was a baby. But since he looks very similar to Hazel at the same age, I wonder how he'll end up. I need to get some toddler and baby pictures of Jason to compare.

My brother, me, and baby Anne.

My grandmother Mary holding me with my cousin Kayte.

Greenery

2011-05-26T17:44:00.000-07:00

We got outside for a bit today, despite it not being that warm. But that didn't stop Hazel from showing off her hose skills.

One of our bitty rosemary plants.

Some flowers we found on our walk. I know the greenery will wilt tomorrow and just soaks up the water, but it is so pretty I have to leave them all on.

Our little garden out front. This weekend we need to move our tomatoes to big pots since this was just a temporary place for them. There really isn't a ton of room for them to spread out. But we have some nice little leeks and green onions going, radishes (courtesy of Hazel going to the co-op craft day), some super happy cilantro, and bell pepper plants.

What are you looking at?

Autumn Leaves Posh Vest

2011-05-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

I finished Hazel's new sweater, and it is cuuute. (Not to toot my own horn. See previous post.)
But I am proud of how it turned out and I love the way it looks on her. Of course, I think everything looks cute on Miss H. This was a great pattern and while it looks complicated with the "flowery" thingys on the yoke, it's really an easy stitch. So if you are of the knitting persuasion, here's the link. I used the free 2 year old size version, but upped the needle size to a 6 and added quite a bit of length to the body since my daughter takes after me with a long torso.

And of course it makes me happy that she says it's pretty and she wears it willingly without bribes. That is the best part.

Some encouragement

2011-05-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

I am constantly (from my own love of wasting time) surfing blogs and reading about what other people are doing with their kids, making for dinner, going on vacation, etc... It is so easy for us to become discontent with where we are in life and the path the Lord has given us to walk.

Jason and I really felt convicted and encouraged by two sermons recently at our church. So I thought I would share them with you and I pray that the Lord would use His word to speak to you as well to show us all how to walk more uprightly with Him.

One is entitled The Poison of Sidelong Glances. This really cut me to the quick in my tendency to compare myself to my friends and/or strangers and their lives (rather silly thing to do really). In fact I need to listen to it again this afternoon. Perhaps daily.

The other was called The Principle Thing and is on how we respond to trials in our lives and what the appropriate response should be.

Please give these a listen! They are spot on.

Seattle Weekend

2011-05-24T23:05:00.000-07:00

We went to Seattle this past weekend for my sister's baby shower. She's due in about a month, though I'm placing my bets on the beginning of July instead of the end of June. But I'm hoping that their little guy comes sooner rather than later so we can meet him asap!

Jason couldn't make it because of work, but we still had a fun time. We went to the Olympic Game Farm in Sequim. Super fun and Hazel had such a good time seeing peacocks, llamas, yaks, buffalo, elk, bears, tigers, a lion, wolves, coyotes, and zebras....all just a few feet from the car window. The park is a refuge for animals that had been used in television or movies. It's a driving tour, so you can get really close to all the animals. It was quite exciting being mauled by llamas and yaks, looking for a free handout. And we saw buffalo sparring and baby buffalo nursing. They were adorable.

We also walked around downtown Seattle a bit, sat on Rachel the Pig, saw all the beautiful lilacs and tulips in bloom, went to a great little consignment store and got a few things for the kiddos, and walked around Viking Fest in Poulsbo.

Anne's baby shower was a lot of fun, she got a lot of wonderful presents for her little guy, including lots of wonderful books. I showed off my mama-ness and won the baby food tasting contest (sample the food and guess what flavor it is).

So here are some pictures from the weekend.

2011-05-16T13:51:00.000-07:00

Klaas now has his own "K" mug, to join the rest of the family.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars. Yummy. Sadly, Jason does not appreciate rhubarb. But I made a rhubarb cobbler with a cornmeal crust yesterday. And he agreed that it was "ok." Luckily Hazel likes my baking.

And Hazel had fun this weekend making lemon ice cream with dad. That was also yummy.

This morning we had a little music time, singing and playing instruments. Klaas was getting a little carried away with the maracas, so Hazel had to keep scooching back a few inches to avoid being hit. It was such fun to see them singing (well, not Klaas, but Hazel) along and playing the tambourine and maracas! I need to take a video sometime.

Early morning...

2011-05-10T13:21:00.001-07:00

not the best time for mom to think clearly.

Klaas woke up around 4:30 this morning. While changing his diaper I couldn't find any of his size 3s to put on him. So I grabbed what I thought was one of Hazel's pull-ups. A few hours later, after a lot of fussing from Klaas and a lot of wondering what the problem was by me, I went to get him. "Wow, he's soggy." I thought.

Taking off his pajamas I realize that he's not wearing a pullup, but rather a swim diaper. Which, in case you didn't know, doesn't really catch moisture, but rather just filters it. So the poor guy was sitting in a soggy mess for quite a while today. But he was a good sport about it.

And I'm almost finished with a sweater for Hazel. I'm using Pickles' Autumn Leaves Posh Vest pattern. One might think, "Wow, Hazel has a lot of sweaters right now." And you'd be right, except that I accidentally shrunk this sweater that I made for her. It is important to note when the yarn you are using is actually a bamboo/cotton/wool blend, rather than thinking it is only bamboo/cotton. So now it is in the box of newborn baby clothes, in the hope that the next baby will be able to wear it in they are about 9 pounds.
This one is 100% wool and will only be hand-washed. I'm making a note of this on the blog as well as in my mind, so as to avoid future laundry disasters.

2011-05-08T22:38:00.000-07:00

I keep meaning to share this wonderful present that Shellie, Jason's mom, gave to Hazel a little while ago.
She sent her this adorable plate (along with a matching bowl) for the little miss. Hazel loves it and whenever she uses her bowl she loves to look for "the girl!" as she eats her soup.

And here's the little guy trying on, or rather taking off, Uncle Mark's hat.

I went to MOMA

2011-05-07T23:01:00.000-07:00

Too funny.

See more I went to MOMA...

It's sunny, but not warm

2011-05-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

But we're still outside. Checking out dandelions.

Herbert the Alligator

2011-05-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

Herbert is for a little guy's first birthday this weekend. Though that's just our name for him; I'm sure he'll be re-christened by his new owner. Jason helped me draw out the pattern. And Hazel is sure little N will love it. I think we'll have to make one for Mr. K.

H watching the apartment manager trim the trees. She sat out there for about 15 minutes without moving. Very interesting stuff.

I think he gets cuter and cuter.

And this is what Hazel wore the other day while watching Jason clean up our outdoor area. She's always so stylish. Please note the earmuffs underneath the hat and the owl mask. And her coordinating owl jammy pants. Also, that it is May and she was wearing her winter coat. Let me say again: it is May.

Popeye would be proud

2011-04-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

Last night we had a most delicious dinner, if I do say so myself. And as a person who loathed eating spinach as a kid, I find it funny that I really love the stuff now. And even more hilarious that my daughter ate huge forkfuls of dinner and declared it "delicious" without any prompting. I'm sure I will end up with a child like me at one point: one who sits at the dinner table for a good while refusing to eat their vegetables.

I made Smitten Kitchen's Baked Eggs with Spinach and Mushrooms with her Chive Biscuits (recipe is below the egg recipe on the same page). I did add one more clove of garlic (I still need some of the cooked spinach taste to be masked), but other than that, I would say this is a perfect-as-is recipe. Easy and it would be perfect for brunch after church on Sundays.

We of course had some fresh strawberries as well. Jason ate his dinner with the biscuit split and an egg on each half, while I buttered my biscuits (.....that sounds funny) and ate the eggs and veg separately. Either way, it's good eats.

So even if you are anti-spinach, give this a try.

California

2011-04-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

If you ever want to appreciate a California spring, live in northern Idaho. We had a wonderful week of visiting with family and friends these past few days. Klaas and Hazel were super duper travelers, with barely a fuss in sight. And Jason and I daydreamed about living back down somewhere where it's warm in April and where we can run around in sandals.

Klaas trying out the tricycle.

My friend Melissa's daughter Kate and the mister. And some shots of the girls running around the Davis Commons.

Cousin Mason...checking something out.

We spent several hours at the Railroad Museum in Sacramento. The place where we all went growing up and now our kids love it.

Visiting with the San Leandrans.

First visit to Caswell State Park for the kiddos.

April Weekend

2011-04-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Some snapshots from this weekend. We got Jason a book he's been wanting about Martin Bucer and Hazel picked out this tie, yet to arrive from Lands' End Canvas.

Birthdays can be rather upsetting.

Klaas learned an important lesson about gravity and the front step. And we learned that he is an adventurous child.

Life Update

2011-04-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

It's official. We're starting a new phase of our lives this fall: Jason is going back to school! After a lot of thought and prayer and talking (lots and lots of talking), Jason has decided that he is going to go to school to get his teaching credential.

He's been accepted, is registering on Monday, and is going to start studying for his math placement exam. Right now we're just weighing the pros and cons of different financial aid packages to figure out the money aspect (one of the more important parts of going to college) of this whole shenanigan.

We are really excited about this, even though we know it's going to be slightly crazy around here for a while. He'll still be working as close to full-time as he can, in addition to going to class and doing homework. So we will definitely be needing your prayers as we try to make ends meet and still get all the schoolwork/playing with the kids done.

When Jason graduated from New Saint Andrews in 2007/2008, I did a very big happy dance to have my husband back from the land of "No, I can't hang out because I have homework." Of course I foolishly thought that I would never have to be the understanding wife of a student again. Silly me.

We are very blessed that we have the University of Idaho right here in our town, which makes going to school rather simple in that way. Jason is going for his credential in math and perhaps humanities or history, so he will be taking some extra math courses on top of the educational requirements. And since the credential program here is designed to be integrated into a bachelor's degree (and not a 5th year, like we're used to in California), it will be a two-year process for him.

Even though this does delay our plans for moving, Jason is excited to be working towards this goal. Originally, we were thinking about moving to who-knows-where sometime this year or next year to try out our next adventure (we hadn't decided what exactly that would be) and to see some other churches we are interested in being involved with. So now we have this plan: finish school within the next couple of years and then find a teaching job in Hawaii! (That last part is actually just my idea, but wouldn't that be fun?)

So onto the next great adventure of school!

And today's his birthday. Happy 29 years hon!

Seersucker

2011-04-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

"Suckers?!?" That was Hazel's reaction at the fabric store when I told her what fabric we were getting.

I decided the kids needed some summery clothes, so first on the list were seersucker pants for the gentleman and a top for the lady.

Hazel's shirt is an adapted version of this dress, which I made for her last spring. I just took off the ties, made the back have an opening, and added a snap with a button covering it.

And my darling little girl's hair is now long enough that I had to move it out of the way to take a picture of the button (from Amaanda). Sigh.....

Taking pictures of a toddler willing to pose (for a cookie of course) is much easier than trying to catch this guy in a moment of stillness.
I used the Quick Change Trousers pattern from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings. Love this pattern. Super easy and quick. And the pants are reversible...bonus! The other side of the pants here are a blue woven fabric. Now Klaas just needs some brown sandals and he's all set.

April Showers

2011-04-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted much on here lately...we'll just say that I've been up to the usual shtuff and trying to work on staying inspired to do new things with the kiddos.

Today I made a couple of new things for the kiddaroos, so I will try to take some pictures tomorrow. But for now, I'll leave you with some snapshots from the other day.
Klaas is as busy as ever and eats everything that gets within arms reach. Right now he has a serious diaper rash, but hopefully that will be gone soon. He also is starting to wave (!) and still jumps with happiness when he sees Hazel.

Hazel is very into using her "complete sentence" to ask for things: "Mommy/Daddy, may I please have _____." She also for some reason decided that Jason needed a tie for his birthday this weekend. I think she's been reading "Children's Gifts for Their Father 101" after she goes to bed. She also can now button her sweaters all by herself, but she still needs to start over sometimes.
This afternoon, Hazel went in their room to get out the tunnel, called to Klaas, he crawled over while she set it up, and they went to town playing together. It makes me happy.

It's been springy-ish and rainy lately. And we're gearing up for a big trip down to Californi-aye next week. We're going to be flying standby thanks to a very kind and generous friend of ours. Since it's only two legs from here to there, we're praying there won't be major hangups. And like usual, our short little week back down in the land of warmth is already filling up with planned visits with old friends and family. So excited!

I get to go to the eye doctor next week (!!), so in anticipation I've been shopping for new frames online. One company lets you get up to five frames at a time to try on at home.

That's a good thing.

We're still searching for those special frames that are lovely and wonderful and make me look like a super cool hipster.

8 months

2011-04-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

This guy is very busy. He now is pulling himself up all the time and even can cruise around the coffee table easily. His new thing is to pull himself up to a sitting position to snack on cheerios found on the ground (I swear I keep vacuuming, but he must hide them somewhere). And he still loves to follow Hazel around and try to play with her. In the morning, her very cheerful, "'Morning Brother!" makes him smile his biggest grin for her.

We have a cute little 8-month old little guy here. Hopefully he'll be standing by the summer so that my life at the park and pool will be a little bit easier.

Warm weather

2011-04-01T20:06:00.000-07:00

Guy stuff

2011-03-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

Jason's hamburger from the other day: bacon, ham, sauted onions, and a fried egg with the patty.

Klaas checking out what Hazel does while running around outside.

My little man. So sweet and cheerful.

Outdoors

2011-03-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

We took the kids out today for their first spin in the bike trailer down the Chipman Trail. So much fun! I rode my bike every day practically while I was in college, but since my bike was stolen about a month after I moved to Moscow, I didn't ride until Jason found me a bike at a yard sale last summer. Of course I was enormously pregnant, so it has sat unused until now.

It was a beautiful afternoon and we pedaled several miles through the university and towards Pullman. When I get a little bit more in shape, we're planning on doing the ride all the way to Pullman and back, complete with picnic lunch.

Hazel and Klaas loved it too. Hazel especially loved going "really fast" and liked the idea I put in her head that her dad was like a horse pulling their carriage.

First Klaas fell asleep.

And then Hazel.

Bike helmets are coming next week, so we'll see how they fit in there together with those things on their heads.

This was in the car while Jason pumped up the bike tires. Klaas is such a giggler and thought the noise from the air pump was hilarious. That and Hazel blowing raspberries at him.

This is from a few weeks ago, in February I think. They love playing in the tunnel we got for them as a New Year's present.

Is it spring?

2011-03-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

It's finally spring! Today it was gloriously sunny and at the grocery store, we picked up the fixings for bacon cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries. Also some lovely yellow daffodils for $1.89!

Hazel's been playing outside a lot the past couple of days since it's now in the high 40s and low 50s. And it's so nice to be outside since we've been sick a lot for the past month (hence, no posts of late since we have nothing new to report).

Klaas enjoying the outdoors while Hazel colors with chalk.

Rice cracker snack.

Shrugging.

Clouds.

Enjoying her brother's crackers.

Where I found Hazel's socks this morning...on our headboard.

Walking her dog outside the other day.

Mr. Two Teeth.

Walking the dog more.

A few pictures before our annual St. Patrick's Day feast with the Keyes and Reagans.

I just realized Klaas wears this sweater a lot. Like a lot a lot.

Checking out her coloring book.

Our blondie with the long hair.

He's always climbing on something.

One of those days

2011-03-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Today is one of those days. I would love for it to be 65 degrees so we could get outside. Instead we are home with all three of the stay-at-home people under the weather. We all have colds, runny noses, and the cranks. Hazel is back in her room attempting nap #2 since nap #1 was rather short and resulted in an un-rested little one who had a meltdown after finishing playing with playdough. I think Hazel is like most kids in that when they're sick, sometimes it's harder than usual to convince them to nap.

Klaas is cranky too, crawling around and screaming like a wounded puppy if something falls away from him or he can't reach something. It actually is rather funny (but I also feel bad for him since he is supremely congested).

And of course when the mama doesn't feel great either, she has to work extra hard to be cheerful and try to find activities for everyone to do.

So I'm just praying we get better soon with massive doses of vitamins and eating lots of oranges. And that a miracle happens here on the Palouse and a warm spring comes soon. It is already in the high 40s and low 50s. Around here that means people start wearing sandals (seriously), but it still is rather chilly. But we've just become tough northwesterners and bundle up the children so they can run around outside to try and get rid of the wiggles. Counterproductive I realize to getting over a cold, but when you're 2 and a half and there's no snow outside, the grass just calls to you to kick balls around and sit in the sled you refused to play with earlier in the year.

Now I'm going to go finish the dishes and make chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate cures colds, right?

Morning

2011-03-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

Last night when I went to bed I found Hazel sprawled out across our bed instead of hers, along with all her stuffed animals.

When I moved her, she sleepily asked, "What are you doing Mommy?"

This morning, I woke up to her lying in her bed, chattering away to herself. "There's Dolly. Where's Danny? Oh, there's Mommy's foot. [I had shifted and my foot was sticking out from under the blanket.] I want to tickle Mommy." Thankfully she didn't follow through on that thought.

Then while we were still waking up she was keeping up the running commentary, asking where her turtle was, if she could do a tea party with all her animals, where her toad book was.... She certainly wakes up faster than the two of us. My only response was an occasional, "Uh huh. Sure."

And then our sweet little guy came in to join us. Now he is also chattering away with "Ba ba ba" and giggling at basically everything Hazel does.

Did I mention that he is starting to pull himself up? I wonder if he'll be walking by this summer.

And Hazel seems to be sleeping a little better in our room for some reason. She used to wake up a bit with bad dreams, but hasn't at all the last few days since she's been in our room while we sleep train the boy. So we actually haven't woken up until almost 8 a few times...which hasn't happened in a while. But I am looking forward to getting my room back soon.

Parenting, the only thing you have to give up is....

2011-03-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

any number of things including, and not limited to, privacy, sleep, and your ability to read in bed with the lamp on.

We have finally gotten Klaas to sleep through the night the last 3 nights - with actual minimal crying. Hurrah! All we had to do was put him in Hazel's room and she has slept in our room. We tried that method since she doesn't wake up as easily as he does and she would sleep just fine once we came to bed. And without any crying it out, he slept from 10 until 7.

So now the next step is to introduce Hazel back into the kids' room and hope Klaas still sleeps through until morning.

We can do it. I know we can.

And here's another story for you. Hazel accidentally ate a glob of wasabi last night when we went out to dinner.

Jason and I were both watching Klaas at the time and then all of a sudden, Hazel stood up and started gasping. I couldn't figure out what was going on. She was chewing and crying and gasping. She couldn't talk and say what was happening. It was at that point I looked down and realized she had had an accident....all over the place. So I thought she was just surprised that she had wet her pants.

But then I saw my plate and saw that the wasabi was gone. That was when we really started getting excited. Jason jumped up to try and wipe out her mouth. Then I started giving her rice and chicken to eat. After a few minutes things calmed down a bit and she was ok.

Afterwards we just kept laughing about the whole thing, while being thankful she didn't choke on the giant piece of sushi she was also eating at the time or throw up her entire dinner.

The rest of dinner she asked before each bite whether or not it was spicy.

More snow

2011-03-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

We have about two feet of snow on the ground outside today. We played outside on Sunday afternoon. Hazel rode in the sled around the yard saying, "All done? All done?" the whole time. We're working on this anti-new experience thing she has going on.

I seem to have come down with the kids' cold/cough thing. So we watched some old episodes of Lois and Clark yesterday as I lazed around. And apparently Superman's disguise as Clark Kent is perfectly designed for a two year old. Hazel asked where Superman was when Clark was on screen. I told her he was right there. She looked at me with an "I don't think so" look and said, "No Mommy." So good job Superman. You fooled a toddler.

A very snowy Sunday

2011-02-27T14:07:00.000-08:00

Jason's favorite for breakfast....and lunch today.

A lot of cinnamon roll for one little girl.

Our almost-7 month old little man.

The Haze. Who needed cuddles today and enjoyed having her dad "fix" her with a saw, screwdriver, and hammer. It was mostly her stomach that needed attention with the saw.

Later we are going to venture outside for some snow play as it has been dumping and dumping snow all week, but today is one of the first days that it's not completely freezing. It got down to -12 the other night. I think I've been in Idaho too long...I wasn't all that surprised.

Strange

2011-02-23T21:37:00.001-08:00

That so much has changed in a year and a half. Here's an old video of Hazel giggling in October 2009. It's a strange combination of her insane giggle that she still has now and the baby sounds that Klaas is now doing.

Sweater for H

2011-02-22T16:09:00.000-08:00

I had to bribe Miss H with a stroopwaffle to stand nicely and show everyone her new sweater. Except for a few issues with the collar, I am pleased with how it turned out. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the blue of the sweater looks lovely with her blond hair and bright eyes.

I never thought I would have such a little girl. One who is so silly and sweet and beautiful....and opinionated. Is she really ours? And is she really already two and a half?

Something for the boy

2011-02-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

Klaas now has something homemade other than a hat that I made for him. An olive green cowl neck cardigan. I love it, it turned out so nicely (if you ignore the little mistakes that always show up in my knitting). I still need to block it, but Klaas already has spit up all over the sweater, so it's all ready to get washed and laid out.

Next up is attempt 3 to get the collar correct on Hazel's pullover. First it was too tight, then too loose, and then too tight again. I hope the fourth time is the charm.

Busy Man

2011-02-13T20:03:00.000-08:00

It's official. Klaas, just now at 8:03 on Sunday February 13th, did his first official crawl. Legs and arms working almost totally syncronized. Pardon me while I go babyproof the house.