Thursday, March 31, 2016
feast your eyes
"Make sure you just drop my pants outside the door and look away. Don't feast your eyes when I open the door! Promise?" Teig
Spring Break 2016
Highlights:
We drove south through the redwoods to San Fransisco and then on to a resort "The Majestic" in Yosemite valley, and back home through Bend.
Paul: I thought the kids did amazing in the car. It was great that Grandparents showed up and added a new dynamic right at the right time. I thought Stout Grove and coming into Yosemite Valley were amazing. Tunnel view was awesome.
Eirik: I'll remember that I bought a hatchet kit, and that Grandma and Grandpa gave me a survival knife for my birthday. I saw elk and a coyote up close and a bald eagle. I loved the candy shops like Powell's and seeing Zootopia. I liked the hikes with Grandma and Grandpa and Easter and seeing Alcatraz. It was fun when Jake and I slept in the small room next to each other on the floor and got up for a sunrise hike to the river by ourselves.
Joren: I liked getting Sprite when we stopped at gas stations. I liked being on the ferry boat out around Alcatraz and the hike in the redwoods. I loved Zootopia and riding the trolley. I did not like being sick the whole trip.
Teig: I did not like when dad spanked me. I liked the boat ride and riding the trolley. Easter was fun.
Juni: pink eggs, blue eggs, unicorns, baskets, Easter bunny, lipstick, me. Juni got scared after being in the car for so many hours and started insisting that someone hold her hand or hold her on their lap. I let her get out of her car seat for the slow drives around Yosemite. That was her favorite part of the trip. "Hold my hand, I scared."
Mom: I loved seeing the Golden Gate bridge and the museum next to the Argonaut hotel that tells about the history of San Fransisco. It was very inspiring! I loved celebrating my birthday with my favorite guy in San Fran. I loved the rolling green hills under bright blue skies dotted with trees near Manteca, CA on the way to the breathtaking Yosemite valley. I loved laying in the meadow near swinging bridge, under El Capitan in the sun while the kids played and painted. We all did art in the Yosemite art center for an hour. I loved seeing them bent over their work. Juni did a nice drawing and then somehow found some masking tape and hung her painting on the wall near the other gallery pieces. She was so proud. I was too! I loved the gorgeous lobby of The Majestic. Paul stayed with the kids one night while I sat in the lobby and painted and drew until midnight. The huge ceilings, dark beams, wall sized fireplaces, iron chandeliers and Indian baskets and rugs made it both grand and cozy and exciting. It was a stunning place to be. I loved the night hike with the kids around the resort in the full moon. The kids were delightful and we all grew closer together. It was a great success with loads of good memories.
We drove south through the redwoods to San Fransisco and then on to a resort "The Majestic" in Yosemite valley, and back home through Bend.
Paul: I thought the kids did amazing in the car. It was great that Grandparents showed up and added a new dynamic right at the right time. I thought Stout Grove and coming into Yosemite Valley were amazing. Tunnel view was awesome.
Eirik: I'll remember that I bought a hatchet kit, and that Grandma and Grandpa gave me a survival knife for my birthday. I saw elk and a coyote up close and a bald eagle. I loved the candy shops like Powell's and seeing Zootopia. I liked the hikes with Grandma and Grandpa and Easter and seeing Alcatraz. It was fun when Jake and I slept in the small room next to each other on the floor and got up for a sunrise hike to the river by ourselves.
Joren: I liked getting Sprite when we stopped at gas stations. I liked being on the ferry boat out around Alcatraz and the hike in the redwoods. I loved Zootopia and riding the trolley. I did not like being sick the whole trip.
Teig: I did not like when dad spanked me. I liked the boat ride and riding the trolley. Easter was fun.
Juni: pink eggs, blue eggs, unicorns, baskets, Easter bunny, lipstick, me. Juni got scared after being in the car for so many hours and started insisting that someone hold her hand or hold her on their lap. I let her get out of her car seat for the slow drives around Yosemite. That was her favorite part of the trip. "Hold my hand, I scared."
Mom: I loved seeing the Golden Gate bridge and the museum next to the Argonaut hotel that tells about the history of San Fransisco. It was very inspiring! I loved celebrating my birthday with my favorite guy in San Fran. I loved the rolling green hills under bright blue skies dotted with trees near Manteca, CA on the way to the breathtaking Yosemite valley. I loved laying in the meadow near swinging bridge, under El Capitan in the sun while the kids played and painted. We all did art in the Yosemite art center for an hour. I loved seeing them bent over their work. Juni did a nice drawing and then somehow found some masking tape and hung her painting on the wall near the other gallery pieces. She was so proud. I was too! I loved the gorgeous lobby of The Majestic. Paul stayed with the kids one night while I sat in the lobby and painted and drew until midnight. The huge ceilings, dark beams, wall sized fireplaces, iron chandeliers and Indian baskets and rugs made it both grand and cozy and exciting. It was a stunning place to be. I loved the night hike with the kids around the resort in the full moon. The kids were delightful and we all grew closer together. It was a great success with loads of good memories.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Miss Mess
Juni is a handful! The boys have nicknamed her Master Mess Maker or Miss Mess for short. Eirik did a superhero drawing of her as Miss Mess. She loves to open and dump. Open and dump. I think it's her motto. She truly the cutest thing ever, but I will admit, I love when she sleeps and I can get a break from her mess making. The other morning, I had to lay down by her in the middle of the night when she woke up to get her back to sleep. (Heaven forbid I let her wander in the middle of the night while I sleep. I can only imagine what she might do.) Anyway, I woke in her bed next to her in the morning to the soothing sounds of her saying, "Good Morning, I go make mess."
Some of her better messes:
1. chapstick twisted out, squished and smeared all over her carseat and clothes.
2. My make-up all over the back of the leather chair
My make up all over her.
3. Lipstick drawing all over the neighbors white garage door
4. lipstick all over the windows
(noticing a theme)
5. pink marker on walls, doors, window sills, face, arms, hands, clothes .... everywhere
6. Repeated kitty cat face drawings with marker on her face
7. applesauce squeeze pouch squished, (on purpose) all over the floor of the car. When she did this, I asked, "why did you sqeeze that out?" She said, "it make me happy." I said, "does it make you happy to make mommy upset?" She firmly said, "yes."
8. Hair conditioner smeared all over the bathroom
9. pen on the walls at the beach house
10. pink lipstick drawn on her stuffed animals and dolls.
11. I caught her seconds before she decorated the white linen couch with green sharpie.
12. I won't even go into the mealtime messes. Let's just say that there is always food in her cups, she loves to squeeze everything and if it smears, it will be smeared. She's efficient.
I did think that having a girl would perhaps be less messy than having a boy, but that is not true. It's a good thing she is so super cute.
FEARLESS JUNI
One day Eirik was telling the siblings about snowboarding. He said, "It's super dangerous!" Juni immediately said, "I not cared (scared). Member I ride horse. It fun!"
At the bounce house I helped Juni climb up some steep tricky bouncy stairs. At the top Juni flexed her little 2 year old muscles and growled as loud as she could and said, "I mommy dinosaur!"
Juni likes to say, "no thank you. I say NO THANK you!" I wonder where she gets that. She also says, "See, I told you dat."
She has started looking at me with an accusatory scornful face and saying, "MOoom, Youuu!"
It is killer cute when she says, "my name Juneeper Oneroo, what's yours name?"
Some of her better messes:
1. chapstick twisted out, squished and smeared all over her carseat and clothes.
2. My make-up all over the back of the leather chair
My make up all over her.
3. Lipstick drawing all over the neighbors white garage door
4. lipstick all over the windows
(noticing a theme)
5. pink marker on walls, doors, window sills, face, arms, hands, clothes .... everywhere
6. Repeated kitty cat face drawings with marker on her face
7. applesauce squeeze pouch squished, (on purpose) all over the floor of the car. When she did this, I asked, "why did you sqeeze that out?" She said, "it make me happy." I said, "does it make you happy to make mommy upset?" She firmly said, "yes."
8. Hair conditioner smeared all over the bathroom
9. pen on the walls at the beach house
10. pink lipstick drawn on her stuffed animals and dolls.
11. I caught her seconds before she decorated the white linen couch with green sharpie.
12. I won't even go into the mealtime messes. Let's just say that there is always food in her cups, she loves to squeeze everything and if it smears, it will be smeared. She's efficient.
I did think that having a girl would perhaps be less messy than having a boy, but that is not true. It's a good thing she is so super cute.
FEARLESS JUNI
One day Eirik was telling the siblings about snowboarding. He said, "It's super dangerous!" Juni immediately said, "I not cared (scared). Member I ride horse. It fun!"
At the bounce house I helped Juni climb up some steep tricky bouncy stairs. At the top Juni flexed her little 2 year old muscles and growled as loud as she could and said, "I mommy dinosaur!"
Juni likes to say, "no thank you. I say NO THANK you!" I wonder where she gets that. She also says, "See, I told you dat."
She has started looking at me with an accusatory scornful face and saying, "MOoom, Youuu!"
It is killer cute when she says, "my name Juneeper Oneroo, what's yours name?"
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Worst Enemy
"Do you know what my worst enemy is? A blank piece of paper. I can't stand it! If I see one, I instantly want to draw." Joren
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Sleepwalker
One of my kids sleepwalks. One night I woke up to the sounds of water spilling in my closet. I found a very disoriented boy peeing on the back of the door.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Juni at 2 1/2 years old
Oh the sweetness, the sticky sugary adorableness wraps around my
little finger and melts my heart. Juni could charm anyone with her
little voice and huge bright blue eyes and fluffy angel hair. Her itty
bitty body is perfection in it's bubbly cheerful enthusiasm. She is
snuggly, she strokes my face and says, "mommy, i missed you." She says,
"I wove you so much mommy." When I do things for her she says, "of fank
you fank you mommy." When I ask her what the magic word is she says,
"um.. pink." When she says her name, "Jewiper" it is cute beyond
description. She wants to see herself in the mirror and when she does
she says, "Ta Da!" If someone gets hurt or is sad she is the first to be
there with a hug and kiss, especially if it is Teig.
When I ask her why she did something she says, "because mommy no." Imagine pure angelic innocence and that is Juni, but a while ago she was introduced to a little tempter sitting on her shoulder telling her of her independence. She has decided she will get her way. She will not be told no and she will hold out till the bitter end. Juni wants to wear swimsuits, (pronounced "wissoot:" only. She will refuse any other clothes. This began back in March when we swam for spring break at the pool at the hotel. Since then she has also been obsessed with goggles and often won't leave home without them. If I persuade her or manage to wrangle her into other clothes besides swimsuits, she will hide under the table, take them off and put on her swimsuit- often backwards and inside out. Juni loves to color, but only with markers, and mostly on walls, doors, our wood floor or herself. In one photo here, she is covered in marker, but that is not a one time event. In fact, she will hide anywhere she can if she is able to locate my make-up bag and "do her make-up." I think she uses markers as make up as well. One time she put maskara on pretty well without a mirror! She hates to let me do her hair, but if I finally do get her hair done, she will run around showing everyone her pigtails very proud. Juni does not like crayons except to eat or take the wrappers off of. Without fail, she will locate all the pink and purple markers or crayons and carry them with her until I snag them back and hide them again. Then when she cries to paint or draw I am such a huge sucker for anyone that wants to make art, I'll bend over backward to let her be creative.
One of her favorite ways to be creative is with her food. Granted, because I am not strict enough with her, the problem is worse, but the girl loves to smear, smash, squish and mash everything I give her. I won't tolerate the throwing, but I usually don't reprimand the messes besides to say, "yucky Juni, keep your food on your plate, use your napkin etc. We also wrote a family song called "Don't squeeze the cheese, because it's one of the messiest things she does. She can turn a cheese stick into a painted countertop in 3 minutes. I have said for about a year that she is talented at changing the form of her meal into something unrecognizable while putting absolutely none of it in her mouth. She is hard to feed. Lately she will eat cottage cheese, pizza, quesadillas, mandarin oranges, peaches, raisins chicken nuggets and hot dogs. Pretty much anything else is bound to fail and be everywhere. When I ask her what she wants for breakfast it is always , "hot gog." When I say no, she will refuse anything else and then wait until I'm not looking, open the fridge, grab a hot dog out of the package in the bottom drawer and eat it cold. (GROSS)! She loves cookie dough and actually calls all cookies, cookie dough. This photo is of Teig and Juni sneaking some cookie dough off the counter. Teig and Juni are best little buddies. They miss each other when Teig goes to preschool. They give each other cute little hugs and kisses. Teig is extremely rough with Juni, but Juni is super tough. She doesn't typically fight back but she definitely won't put up with mistreatment and she stands her ground. With three brothers she has learned to stick up for herself and be a strong woman. There is nothing shy about Juni.
She has a wonderful little friend named Lydia. They are so cute together. Last year Lydia's mom, Rachel watched Juni and Teig for me for 4 hours once a week for almost 4 months. It was a huge service to me and I will be grateful forever to her. I got to go to art class during that time, and Juni and Lydia have become great friends. One day last month I was bringing Lydia to our house and she said, "Juni, you say words now??" Juni exclaimed, "Yes!" in the most excited voice. It was adorable.
Juni loves her sunglasses and calls them "gassy". If she experiences ANY sun in her eyes, she is immediately calling for her "gassys". Starting when school started, Juni needed her own backpack to be like her brothers. I love to see what she packs in her backpack. She is seldom without a phone, a swimsuit, a pink stuffed animal of some kind, and her "gassys".
When the boys went to Disneyland they felt bad that Juni stayed home. They picked out an Elsa dress, tiara, wand and gloves for her to wear. When they got home, they all surrounded Juni (including uncle Michael and Uncle Dave) and watched and videotaped a very ceremonious, queenly presentation of the gifts accompanied by the "let it go" soundtrack. Juni was very somber and queenly as she carefully put all the items on and then spun lovely circles around the room showing off her new attire. It was incredible.
We had a rough morning this morning. After refusing breakfast but spilling her fruit drink and making pictures in it with her fingers, she got into the markers and Paul's hair gel before 9 when I accidentally fell asleep on the couch after reading to them. I dressed her a few times, but she undressed each time. I ended up taking her to drop off Teig at preschool in her swimsuit a coat and her boots. She sheds her shoes the minute I fight her into her carseat each time, so this time I insisted that she pick up her boots before I carry her in. She put up a major fight. I decided that since I had time, I would let her know she would not win every time she had a tantrum. I stood my ground and waited until she picked up her boots for me to carry her in. She stood her ground and refused. Finally I sat down to wait, then she sat down to wait and then she fell right asleep. HA, Kids win anyway. I carried her in, asleep without her boots. What a girl.
When I ask her why she did something she says, "because mommy no." Imagine pure angelic innocence and that is Juni, but a while ago she was introduced to a little tempter sitting on her shoulder telling her of her independence. She has decided she will get her way. She will not be told no and she will hold out till the bitter end. Juni wants to wear swimsuits, (pronounced "wissoot:" only. She will refuse any other clothes. This began back in March when we swam for spring break at the pool at the hotel. Since then she has also been obsessed with goggles and often won't leave home without them. If I persuade her or manage to wrangle her into other clothes besides swimsuits, she will hide under the table, take them off and put on her swimsuit- often backwards and inside out. Juni loves to color, but only with markers, and mostly on walls, doors, our wood floor or herself. In one photo here, she is covered in marker, but that is not a one time event. In fact, she will hide anywhere she can if she is able to locate my make-up bag and "do her make-up." I think she uses markers as make up as well. One time she put maskara on pretty well without a mirror! She hates to let me do her hair, but if I finally do get her hair done, she will run around showing everyone her pigtails very proud. Juni does not like crayons except to eat or take the wrappers off of. Without fail, she will locate all the pink and purple markers or crayons and carry them with her until I snag them back and hide them again. Then when she cries to paint or draw I am such a huge sucker for anyone that wants to make art, I'll bend over backward to let her be creative.
One of her favorite ways to be creative is with her food. Granted, because I am not strict enough with her, the problem is worse, but the girl loves to smear, smash, squish and mash everything I give her. I won't tolerate the throwing, but I usually don't reprimand the messes besides to say, "yucky Juni, keep your food on your plate, use your napkin etc. We also wrote a family song called "Don't squeeze the cheese, because it's one of the messiest things she does. She can turn a cheese stick into a painted countertop in 3 minutes. I have said for about a year that she is talented at changing the form of her meal into something unrecognizable while putting absolutely none of it in her mouth. She is hard to feed. Lately she will eat cottage cheese, pizza, quesadillas, mandarin oranges, peaches, raisins chicken nuggets and hot dogs. Pretty much anything else is bound to fail and be everywhere. When I ask her what she wants for breakfast it is always , "hot gog." When I say no, she will refuse anything else and then wait until I'm not looking, open the fridge, grab a hot dog out of the package in the bottom drawer and eat it cold. (GROSS)! She loves cookie dough and actually calls all cookies, cookie dough. This photo is of Teig and Juni sneaking some cookie dough off the counter. Teig and Juni are best little buddies. They miss each other when Teig goes to preschool. They give each other cute little hugs and kisses. Teig is extremely rough with Juni, but Juni is super tough. She doesn't typically fight back but she definitely won't put up with mistreatment and she stands her ground. With three brothers she has learned to stick up for herself and be a strong woman. There is nothing shy about Juni.
She has a wonderful little friend named Lydia. They are so cute together. Last year Lydia's mom, Rachel watched Juni and Teig for me for 4 hours once a week for almost 4 months. It was a huge service to me and I will be grateful forever to her. I got to go to art class during that time, and Juni and Lydia have become great friends. One day last month I was bringing Lydia to our house and she said, "Juni, you say words now??" Juni exclaimed, "Yes!" in the most excited voice. It was adorable.
Juni loves her sunglasses and calls them "gassy". If she experiences ANY sun in her eyes, she is immediately calling for her "gassys". Starting when school started, Juni needed her own backpack to be like her brothers. I love to see what she packs in her backpack. She is seldom without a phone, a swimsuit, a pink stuffed animal of some kind, and her "gassys".
When the boys went to Disneyland they felt bad that Juni stayed home. They picked out an Elsa dress, tiara, wand and gloves for her to wear. When they got home, they all surrounded Juni (including uncle Michael and Uncle Dave) and watched and videotaped a very ceremonious, queenly presentation of the gifts accompanied by the "let it go" soundtrack. Juni was very somber and queenly as she carefully put all the items on and then spun lovely circles around the room showing off her new attire. It was incredible.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
DISNEYLAND- "KIDS WIN!"
Paul took the boys to Disneyland! He invited Jeanette, Jake and cousin Dave. There were 3 adults and 4 kids so the theme of the trip was, "Kids win!" because whenever there was a vote, adults were outvoted.
Teig was so excited he could ride all the rides except space mtn, splash mtn and matterhorn. Robot yeti - it was awesome. I covered my eyes teh whole time. Space mountain had a ghost theme for Halloween and was pretty scary. Paul was a little worried about how he would like the bigger rides. He would look over at Teig at the end of the ride and ask how he liked it. Teig would slowly lift his little head and in his little 5 year old voice he would yell, "Best ride ever!" (one time he said, "Dad covered my eyes the whole time.")
Paul loved that they left early Thursday morning from Portland and by 11 or 11:30 he was eating a turkey leg in Disneyland. He loved the seamless, stress free travel with the shuttle and close hotel. He loved the snacks left and right and how easy Disneyland makes it to focus on the kids because all the work is done for you. He also loved the all-you-can-eat country western. He said the best part is when it starts to get dark.
Joren's favorite rides were California Screamin' and tower of terror. "I went on it and it was so crazy!" he said. He also commented on three days of walking, "I learned a new type of pain.. Foot ache"
Eirik's favorites were 1. space mtn, 2. soarin' over CA, 3. Matterhorn 4. Big Thunder 5. Splash Mountain. He also commented that he will NOT go on California screamin' or Tower of Terror.
Teig loved it all, but his very favorite was swimming with Dad. On the way up to the hotel room, Teig said after riding the Tower of Terror earlier that day, "So this is what a normal elevator feels like."
Dave's favorite thing was the turkey leg which he carried around for a few hours. He took it on splash mountain and pretended to be eating it in the photo.
Dave and Paul got stuck on CA screamin'! They had to be rescued and taken out the back exit. They got two fast passes to Cars out of it though so they said it was worth it.
Teig was so excited he could ride all the rides except space mtn, splash mtn and matterhorn. Robot yeti - it was awesome. I covered my eyes teh whole time. Space mountain had a ghost theme for Halloween and was pretty scary. Paul was a little worried about how he would like the bigger rides. He would look over at Teig at the end of the ride and ask how he liked it. Teig would slowly lift his little head and in his little 5 year old voice he would yell, "Best ride ever!" (one time he said, "Dad covered my eyes the whole time.")
Paul loved that they left early Thursday morning from Portland and by 11 or 11:30 he was eating a turkey leg in Disneyland. He loved the seamless, stress free travel with the shuttle and close hotel. He loved the snacks left and right and how easy Disneyland makes it to focus on the kids because all the work is done for you. He also loved the all-you-can-eat country western. He said the best part is when it starts to get dark.
Joren's favorite rides were California Screamin' and tower of terror. "I went on it and it was so crazy!" he said. He also commented on three days of walking, "I learned a new type of pain.. Foot ache"
Eirik's favorites were 1. space mtn, 2. soarin' over CA, 3. Matterhorn 4. Big Thunder 5. Splash Mountain. He also commented that he will NOT go on California screamin' or Tower of Terror.
Teig loved it all, but his very favorite was swimming with Dad. On the way up to the hotel room, Teig said after riding the Tower of Terror earlier that day, "So this is what a normal elevator feels like."
Dave's favorite thing was the turkey leg which he carried around for a few hours. He took it on splash mountain and pretended to be eating it in the photo.
Dave and Paul got stuck on CA screamin'! They had to be rescued and taken out the back exit. They got two fast passes to Cars out of it though so they said it was worth it.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Early Christmas lists
Joren has given me 4 Christmas
lists so far this year, and it is still before Halloween! I wish I had this kind of imagination.
Wheelees (shoes with wheels like you wanted to buy before)
remote control helicopter
3-DS
stuffed animal tiger
Bearded Dragon
Sword
Glider I can ride on
cauldron for mixing potions
pet owl
pet turtle
potion bottles (18)
ingredients box
replica of an elephant tusk
jigonotosaurus tooth
t-rex tooth
spinosaurus claw
nike fuel band black
candle
great white tooth
replica of a narwhal tusk
spending time with my mom
black candle
sword
pick axe
mountain bike with racing stripes and kick stand
Madagascar or giant day gecko
green fuel band
awesome tennis shoes
racing bike
leather finger-less gloves
The spelling and the drawings really are the best part!
Wheelees (shoes with wheels like you wanted to buy before)
remote control helicopter
3-DS
stuffed animal tiger
Bearded Dragon
Sword
Glider I can ride on
cauldron for mixing potions
pet owl
pet turtle
potion bottles (18)
ingredients box
replica of an elephant tusk
jigonotosaurus tooth
t-rex tooth
spinosaurus claw
nike fuel band black
candle
great white tooth
replica of a narwhal tusk
spending time with my mom
black candle
sword
pick axe
mountain bike with racing stripes and kick stand
Madagascar or giant day gecko
green fuel band
awesome tennis shoes
racing bike
leather finger-less gloves
The spelling and the drawings really are the best part!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Try a Triathalon in Bend!
Saturday- drive to Bend, wade/ swim in river by all the people tubing, hotel, swim in pool, dinner at Jacksons corner This place is incredible!! We all barely talked. We loved the food so much. The setting was super cool. I want to live there. Late night run around hotel, hot chocolate in lobby, AC somehow got unplugged, Dave fixed it at 11:30! Hero of the night! Phew, we finally did get some sleep (even if I did have to share a full size bed with 3 kids! (squish).
Sunday- 6:00 AM guys left for Triathalon. Kids and I got ready and checked out and got ready to be super awesome support family to Dave and Paul. Dave and Paul kicked butt at the triathalon. Rest and nourishment at Jimmy Johns. Kids did an obstacle course at 12, ice cream and medals then to Juniper the water park for a long afternoon of swimming! Joren and I went off the rope swing and I swam my first 400 meter.. Yee haw! Drive home with fun stop in Sisters for dinner at Los Agavas for dinner. Bacon wrapped chilli rellanos. Yum!
Great Weekend!! Let's do it again next year!
Sunday- 6:00 AM guys left for Triathalon. Kids and I got ready and checked out and got ready to be super awesome support family to Dave and Paul. Dave and Paul kicked butt at the triathalon. Rest and nourishment at Jimmy Johns. Kids did an obstacle course at 12, ice cream and medals then to Juniper the water park for a long afternoon of swimming! Joren and I went off the rope swing and I swam my first 400 meter.. Yee haw! Drive home with fun stop in Sisters for dinner at Los Agavas for dinner. Bacon wrapped chilli rellanos. Yum!
Great Weekend!! Let's do it again next year!
Friday, July 10, 2015
Friend levels
"Daniel just unlocked a new level on my friend list. And so did Juni because of her cuteness. Juni, you're the best. I'll share Scratchclaw with you."
(Scratchclaw is Teig's invisible raptor friend.)
Teig
(Scratchclaw is Teig's invisible raptor friend.)
4th of July!
An absolutely perfect day. We were all superheroes in the Rockaway parade then spent hours and hours on the beach building sand castles. Hot dogs and s'mores on the beach and then 5 million fireworks and glow sticks and singing around the fire. We ended the day with baths and pizza and movies for the adults. A day I did not want to see end.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Family Renuion 2015
Family Reunion highlights
Melody's top 10
1. Ben and Paul stage fighting dressed as superheros in the Rockaway Beach 4th of July parade.
2. Juni in her wonder woman costume
3. building sandcastles for hours and hours with all the cousins in perfect weather
4. decorating the float
5. making feathers for our beach house craft
6. Zach and Arinn's amazing tacos.
7. Fireworks and ukulele playing on the beach around the campfire
8. Letting off lanterns into the sky at night
9. At the fireworks on the beach, Joren took Juni's hand and helped her sit down next to him in the sand to watch. I was behind and got to watch him put his arm around her and tell her about the fireworks while he shared his blanket. Later that night I took Teig and Juni up to the house before the end of the fireworks to go to bed. They carried their new flashlights and glowsticks with them. I bathed them to get off all the sand and we laughed and sang songs. I tucked them in bed next to each other and kissed them goodnight. I stood outside the door and listened for a minute to see if they would go right to sleep. Teig took his flashlight and shined it around the room. Then he said, "Juni, I know it looks scary, but see; just a normal lamp, see; nothing on the ceiling. We're safe and I'm here to protect you. You can sleep. Goodnight Juni." I don't think I've ever been so in love with my little boys.
10. I almost totally botched our dinner night and then everyone came to the rescue and saved the day. Everyone was so nice and quick to help. No one was critical (except me.. of myself) but because of their kindness.. I was able to forgive myself for being inept and keep smiling. Dinner was fine.
Joren:
1. Throwing out candy at the parade!
2. Cricket eating contest
3. Surfing with Uncle Zach and Daddy and Jake and Abe, Oly, and Elsie
4. Telling about my dragons at the talent show
Teig:
Paul:
1. Seeing everyone in the parade
2. Campfires
3. Getting help at dinnertime when electricity wouldn't work at the second house
4. There's no drama
5. The weather was perfect
6. Surfing
7. Superhero day
8. 4th of July and fireworks on the beach
Melody's top 10
1. Ben and Paul stage fighting dressed as superheros in the Rockaway Beach 4th of July parade.
2. Juni in her wonder woman costume
3. building sandcastles for hours and hours with all the cousins in perfect weather
4. decorating the float
5. making feathers for our beach house craft
6. Zach and Arinn's amazing tacos.
7. Fireworks and ukulele playing on the beach around the campfire
8. Letting off lanterns into the sky at night
9. At the fireworks on the beach, Joren took Juni's hand and helped her sit down next to him in the sand to watch. I was behind and got to watch him put his arm around her and tell her about the fireworks while he shared his blanket. Later that night I took Teig and Juni up to the house before the end of the fireworks to go to bed. They carried their new flashlights and glowsticks with them. I bathed them to get off all the sand and we laughed and sang songs. I tucked them in bed next to each other and kissed them goodnight. I stood outside the door and listened for a minute to see if they would go right to sleep. Teig took his flashlight and shined it around the room. Then he said, "Juni, I know it looks scary, but see; just a normal lamp, see; nothing on the ceiling. We're safe and I'm here to protect you. You can sleep. Goodnight Juni." I don't think I've ever been so in love with my little boys.
10. I almost totally botched our dinner night and then everyone came to the rescue and saved the day. Everyone was so nice and quick to help. No one was critical (except me.. of myself) but because of their kindness.. I was able to forgive myself for being inept and keep smiling. Dinner was fine.
Joren:
1. Throwing out candy at the parade!
2. Cricket eating contest
3. Surfing with Uncle Zach and Daddy and Jake and Abe, Oly, and Elsie
4. Telling about my dragons at the talent show
Teig:
Paul:
1. Seeing everyone in the parade
2. Campfires
3. Getting help at dinnertime when electricity wouldn't work at the second house
4. There's no drama
5. The weather was perfect
6. Surfing
7. Superhero day
8. 4th of July and fireworks on the beach
Friday, May 1, 2015
Juni at 25 months
Juni is growing up so fast. I decided to take down the crib yesterday since she does not like to sleep in it anymore and the thought made me really sad. I couldn't do it. It's still up. The queen size guest bed is in the same room as Juni's crib and for the past 5 months or so, Juni has preferred sleeping in the big bed over the crib. I have still used the crib for times when I want her to stay in bed, but she rarely gets down off the big bed by herself anyway. I think she likes the big bed because I put her in the middle with large pillows stacked on either side of her and she looks like a princess all bundled up in a giant bed. She always pats the pillow next to her bed and says "Mommy pillow," indicating that she would like me to sleep by her. She is must have her purple blanket which she calls, "wenget" and she does the baby sign for blanket when she says it. Juni's comprehension has really taken off lately. She is very smart. She can point to many things in books and follow directions. She is quick to obey most of the time. She does not have the rebellious streak that most of my boys have had. Instead she is gentle and wants to please. She is always looking to help. She stays with me while I do the dishes and puts things in the dishwasher for me. She goes to get the small broom while I sweep. She tries to sort laundry with me. She likes to imitate when I garden and cook. She is very adamant about helping cook. She can climb up on the barstool by herself and then she gets on the island to look in the pot on the stove to see what is cooking. If a knife is anywhere near her she will go for it and try to chop vegetables. Her speaking is coming along as well. Her first word was for sure "Shoes" followed by "mom" and "Dad." She soon learned "baaoo" for bottle, "I-ik" for Eirik, "Noren" for Joren, "Teik" for Teig and "Noo-ee" for Juni. She loves hot dogs which she calls, "ha gog" and pizza, which she can say. For a while she lived on milk, grapes, cheese sticks and raisins alone. Now she likes ham and hot dogs and milk and that's about it. She is incredible at taking any food I give her and spreading it into the most messy possible form. She eats yogurt with her hand and spreads it in her hair. Tonight she chewed and systematically spit out an entire carrot all over the kitchen. I don't think she swallowed any of it. She insists on always dumping her drink in her food. She uses her shirt as her napkin at every meal. I honestly think the only think besides milk and deserts that disappear off her plate are pizza and hot dogs.
With three older brothers she has become very tough. She hardly cries at anything. She always gets in the rumble with the big boys without a worry. She is learning to hit back, unfortunately. She defends herself which sort of makes me proud. She won't be a pushover even though she seems to have my mild, non-confrontational personality.
Over spring break we took the family to a hotel swimming pool. Juni had such a good time. Juni has had her swimming suit with her every minute for 3 weeks since then. She calls it her "im oose" and she has to have her "goggle". At Easter she started carrying around an Easter basket and filling it with her favorite things. In it was always her swimsuit, her goggles, some panties, a plastic lipstick, and an old phone. She won't leave the table or go to bed or get in the car without her basket.
She loves to play on my phone. She has gotten wise lately and knows that if she can ever snag it when I'm not looking she will turn off the sound and hide somewhere and play until I find her. She loves the coloring and doodle apps on my phone. She also loves endless alphabet and Zoola animals. She's learned a lot of animal sounds from that one. She calls a phone an "oaf". In fact, most words she tries to say have the first consonant placed at the end of the word. Many of our conversations in the past month have been about her explaining what things belong to whom in the family. She very concerned that Teig's things are given to him. When she asked me to get the goggles down for her, she had to have Teig's goggles too and she took them to him. She started carrying his underwear and swimsuit around for him as well. (I think she thinks his underwear are his swimsuit.)
While walking around Target one day, Juni started pointing to everything with Anna and Elsa on it. I had never shown her the movie, but Paul had shown her clips on his phone. She was so excited. She started singing, "Let it Go."! I could not believe she remembered that song. This was probably when she was 18 months old! Disneys is pretty clever! She loves the song and we've had some pretty special full belt duets together since then. I also got her a "Frozen" sippy cup which has been a pretty good help at getting her to drink a green drink in the morning sometimes. (maybe there's a little nutrition in her.) On a different Target trip, around Easter time, we passed a display of large eggs. The boys joked that they were Quetsocoatlus eggs and Juni got her mind set that she had to have one. She insisted on getting out of the cart. I did not know at this point what her fit was about, but I finally let her get down and chased her back 3 or 4 isles to the eggs. She was absolutly infatuated with a big blue egg. I had to buy it because she wouldn't let it out of her grip. She and Teig fought over it the entire way home. At home, the boys all thought it was really funny to tease her by taking it away from her. She lost it, until I came to the rescue and found her a nest for her egg. She loved and cared for her egg. I took a cute picture of her kissing her egg. I honestly think she thought the egg was going to hatch because a few days after she brought it home, she stopped needed it next to her in bed. She loves saying the word egg too. Easter was really fun for how excited she got about eggs!
With three older brothers she has become very tough. She hardly cries at anything. She always gets in the rumble with the big boys without a worry. She is learning to hit back, unfortunately. She defends herself which sort of makes me proud. She won't be a pushover even though she seems to have my mild, non-confrontational personality.
Over spring break we took the family to a hotel swimming pool. Juni had such a good time. Juni has had her swimming suit with her every minute for 3 weeks since then. She calls it her "im oose" and she has to have her "goggle". At Easter she started carrying around an Easter basket and filling it with her favorite things. In it was always her swimsuit, her goggles, some panties, a plastic lipstick, and an old phone. She won't leave the table or go to bed or get in the car without her basket.
She loves to play on my phone. She has gotten wise lately and knows that if she can ever snag it when I'm not looking she will turn off the sound and hide somewhere and play until I find her. She loves the coloring and doodle apps on my phone. She also loves endless alphabet and Zoola animals. She's learned a lot of animal sounds from that one. She calls a phone an "oaf". In fact, most words she tries to say have the first consonant placed at the end of the word. Many of our conversations in the past month have been about her explaining what things belong to whom in the family. She very concerned that Teig's things are given to him. When she asked me to get the goggles down for her, she had to have Teig's goggles too and she took them to him. She started carrying his underwear and swimsuit around for him as well. (I think she thinks his underwear are his swimsuit.)
While walking around Target one day, Juni started pointing to everything with Anna and Elsa on it. I had never shown her the movie, but Paul had shown her clips on his phone. She was so excited. She started singing, "Let it Go."! I could not believe she remembered that song. This was probably when she was 18 months old! Disneys is pretty clever! She loves the song and we've had some pretty special full belt duets together since then. I also got her a "Frozen" sippy cup which has been a pretty good help at getting her to drink a green drink in the morning sometimes. (maybe there's a little nutrition in her.) On a different Target trip, around Easter time, we passed a display of large eggs. The boys joked that they were Quetsocoatlus eggs and Juni got her mind set that she had to have one. She insisted on getting out of the cart. I did not know at this point what her fit was about, but I finally let her get down and chased her back 3 or 4 isles to the eggs. She was absolutly infatuated with a big blue egg. I had to buy it because she wouldn't let it out of her grip. She and Teig fought over it the entire way home. At home, the boys all thought it was really funny to tease her by taking it away from her. She lost it, until I came to the rescue and found her a nest for her egg. She loved and cared for her egg. I took a cute picture of her kissing her egg. I honestly think she thought the egg was going to hatch because a few days after she brought it home, she stopped needed it next to her in bed. She loves saying the word egg too. Easter was really fun for how excited she got about eggs!
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Imagine if he took that to school!
I took my three boys on a date to the musical Shrek this weekend at the high school. We had such a good time. Since then we've been quoting our favorite line that Lord Farquad's father says to him: "Left you in the woods a child? You were 27 and living in my basement!"
I bought Juni a microphone that plays the song "let it go" from frozen for her birthday. The boys act like they hate it and use it as a secret weapon against each other. This morning Joren was using it against Teig right before school. We said goodbye and he began to walk to school. A few minutes later he opened the door with a disgusted look on his face, threw the microphone and said, "I can't believe I was still holding that!"
Monday, March 16, 2015
TMJ
I've been ignoring the clicking in my jaw for years. I have known I have TMJ but never taken the time to read about it or research treatments, until now. Now that I can't chew anything without discomfort, now that my jaw is locked and will no longer click to a full open, now that biting into a pizza or a sandwich is nearly impossible. I didn't think I would need to get treatment until it was giving me real problems. And now today is the day and I have learned that once a disk has slipped out of place, recapturing that disk is sometimes nearly impossible. I face the possibility of not ever being able to fully open my mouth again. Now that I've read up on TMJ and all of the symptoms that can develop from it, I am pretty mad at myself for not taking more action sooner. I had no idea I could make a difference early on. I thought I would have to do what my mom and sister did and get braces. Two orthodontists have told me they can't help me so now I am going to physical therapy and a specialist. I have to hope that the specialist will be able to help.
I don't know why but some days I feel like I'm in a fog and that I'm trying to wade through a million thoughts that never get to a place where I can take action on them. It's like they are a sea of me but the things that are supposed to come to the surface just don't when the time is right. I just have to hope that when I'm resurrected and in a perfect state, I will be a very deep ocean full of wonder. what I'm saying is that I'm storing it up hoping that the scriptures are true when they say that we will have a perfect recollection of our sins (and hopefully everything else!). If I seem shallow now, it's because my memory is about 30 minutes long, if that.
I don't know why but some days I feel like I'm in a fog and that I'm trying to wade through a million thoughts that never get to a place where I can take action on them. It's like they are a sea of me but the things that are supposed to come to the surface just don't when the time is right. I just have to hope that when I'm resurrected and in a perfect state, I will be a very deep ocean full of wonder. what I'm saying is that I'm storing it up hoping that the scriptures are true when they say that we will have a perfect recollection of our sins (and hopefully everything else!). If I seem shallow now, it's because my memory is about 30 minutes long, if that.
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