This & That

Back when I was a good little blogger, some of these pictures might've warranted their own posts. But two kids and waaaay too many random iphone photos later, I'm choosing to post this medley of February pictures. It's what we've been up to this February...

Rocking the police car at the grocery store

Pulling little bro around in a laundry basket

And then filling the basket with toys, of course

Pushing Mr. Calebo at the park, one of Clara's
favorite things to do 

Bringing the strider out of hibernation

Family walk in Coeur d' Alene

Caleb enjoying some fresh air with Grammy

The forced close-up :)

Building towers with daddy - and playing hours of games!

A breakfast shot sent to daddy, who leave for work at 5 am each day

But then we get breakfast together on daddy's day off. Hurrah!

Another favorite activity, how many bows can we fit on our heads?

Mr. Handsome

A little park time on a sunny afternoon

Caleb is finally big enough to join in on the fun!

February has been good to us, really. Last year, we kept our pediatrician in business. This year, we haven't even stepped foot in the place (hurrah!). Although we've had plenty of snow this month, we've also had lots of sunshine. Who knows what March & April, much less May or June will bring, but we've been thankful for little slices of warmth and the chance to be outside. Spring forward is around the bend and I can hardly wait :).

1st Haircut for Mr. Bugs

Before

The first haircut for our little man probably should've happened months ago. I'm fairly certain that I will look back at pictures and wonder why I waited so long. His hair has been resembling a mullet since the first of the year, at least. Yet I've been putting it off. Maybe it's because I had a girl first and girls don't require much hair intervention, so I was caught of guard. Or it could be that his hair is so blonde and I was afraid that I'd cut all the blonde away (which thankfully, didn't happen). Or it's probably just because haircuts are for little boys and Caleb is still a baby in my mind. Whatever the reason for my reluctance, I finally went for it this past weekend. I started the cutting of the mullet and then my mom finished off the trim.

I'm still undecided when it comes to little boy hair. I love little boys with shag and I love a short crew cut too. I suppose we can try all kind of things over the next few years. For now, here he is. He's looking like such a big boy, I can hardly stand it. 

Red Mountain

Last weekend marked our third trip to Red Mountain in February. I've spent a bit of time remembering last year and all the crazy adventures (like taking a wrong turn on the road and entering Canada via the wrong border crossing - oh yes, and Clara pooping in the hot tub). That's not even mentioning the fact that it was our very first trip as a family of four and we were smack dab in the midst of Newborn Land. Going back to the year before that brings about a whole new set of memories. I remember it being a wonderful weekend, but I also remember Jonathan's dad's major heart surgery a few days before. And I remember a few families having to leave early with the flu. Oh yes, and I was still in this mournful/hoping stage of grieving the baby we'd lost and hoping desperately to get pregnant again. There is something about an annual event that encourages reflection, I guess. 

And so in the spirit of documentation, and remembering the joys and trails, I want to document 2013. We are so blessed always, but this exact moment in time is full of many special joys. The first is the age of our kiddos. Clara is full of life and eager to experience any and everything that comes her way. Caleb is such a delight as well. He laughs easily, plays well independently, and mostly adores his big sister. I am not nursing nor am I pregnant, so I am in this lovely little stage of having my body back. Oh yes, and we are getting much much more sleep than this time last year. So life is good. We are blessed and thankful.

This year the Dordal fam joined our crew and they were a lovely addition. I haven't documented this via blog yet, but my little girl has her first crush folks: Elijah Dordal. Nevermind that he's three years older and a big first grader. Clara is totally smitten. I've tried to tame her a bit because it really freaks me out, but she still asks a few times a week if I can record her singing a song so I can text it to his mom. Usually I just record it and "pretend" to send it to Christa. Sheesh. Although the parenting a daughter thing really scares me at times, I am at least happy with her choice of affection. You can't get much better than Elijah Dordal. Who knows? Maybe her little crush will continue for the next fifteen years and, like her mama, she can somehow make it through middle and high school with her sights on someone a bit out of her league (three years older is as much as a decade when you're fifteen, right?). Then she can miss that dating scene entirely and meet a good quality guy, much like Elijah, when the time is right. Okay, maybe I'm just wanting for her what worked for me. But I'm mostly joking here. Getting married at age twenty was slightly crazy, even if it was the best decision of my life. ;)

Enough already. What does any of this really have to do with Red Mountain, right? Here are a whole lot of pictures...

Clara and her bud Livi

This is the only picture of Caleb I took all weekend.
Neglect, folks!

Preparing to ski. It took a long time to get out the door each
time, but was well worth it.

Hanging out on the bunny hill

First time up the magic carpet!

Mason & Elijah ride it too

Daddy doing what he does best

Erik & Elijah

Pep talks were needed on occasion, for every one of the kiddos

Ella even takes a run!

Morning #2: breakfast before skiing
(yes I realize my daughter is in a swimsuit. I got
to sleep in and daddy allowed it before I could regulate)

We packed it in (8 adults, 12 kids)

Pre-skiing board games

A little coloring, also before hitting the slopes

Day #2: Gorgeous

And all of the sudden she can ski alone!!!

Quick pic before heading up on the chair lift

Oh sunshine on snow, my favorite kind of day.

And some post-skiing shenanigans

A blurry ladies shot

And Jono's attempted night capture.

This year is officially the year Clara learned to ski. Last year Jono skied backwards in front of her and she repeatedly crashed into his arms. Day one of this trip was identical to last year. That is why I was in shock when I walked to the bunny hill on the second day and she was going up the magic carpet by herself and skiing around cones. I know, I couldn't believe it. She was far from having her skis parallel, and she wasn't going fast, but she could stop by herself. I literally thought I was seeing things. But I'm not kidding. I got to end the day with my daughter and husband, taking the lift up the mountain and skiing down a green together. It was kind of magical.

And so I will soak up that magical. I'll be thankful for this place in life we find ourselves which is, of course, far from perfect, but full of God's blessings. A beautiful mountain in gorgeous BC certainly helps, but I want to see, name and count the blessings each and every day, even if I only get around to blogging about the big moments these days.

V Day

This past week we've gotten into the Valentines spirit with a fun little party with friends, some homemade Valentine making, and a celebration breakfast. My Ina Garten beef short rib recipe & Mel's kitchen dessert will be made next week, apparently, as last-minute afternoon plans gave way to take & bake pizza + the journey to the center of cookie goodness (Trader Joes, for the win). So much for my fancy valentines dinner in tradition, which I believe was started last year. Or maybe I was going to start this year. Next year is the year, folks. 

Here are a few pictures of all the V Day happenings...

Party at Jess's house: guess whose child ate her cookies the fastest?

After decorating the mailboxes, they were stuffed with valentines

The kiddos, friends since 1 year old co-op preschool

Mamas (sorry Sharon, Clara chopped off part of your face)

The flower pop valentines

Her presents from daddy, her valentine: balloon & new book!

Pink & red pancake breakfast

This is a hot husband consuming pancakes

The V Day loot

Despite my colossal failure in the dinner category, we had a great valentines day. It was Jono's day off, after all. I am thankful for my love and our first date (the LC Valentines dance in 2000). Who knew that what started with a Couer d' Alene dinner date, dancing, and Shari's pie could, thirteen years later, "create" two little darlings?!