A Story in Photos

Alternate Titles: "I Hope You Dance" and "I Think I'm Turning Japanese"

The kids got Japanese clothes for Christmas from their cousins who moved there last summer.

Anyone who knows our kids, knows they rarely miss an opportunity to dance their little hearts out. We immediately started blasting "I think I'm turning Japanese" for them to rock out to.

I love this shot because it is such a true dancer form.

The dance embrace.

Finally, some after-dance cuddling and playing.

I love how Mira is wearing her fabric birthday crown upside-down.

(Mysteriously Calvin's birthday crown went missing- good thing I made 2 for Mira's)

And we're done.

But didn't that story brighten your day a little?

Apple Slices of Love

Look! what my husband made me after I came home from a long night at school and told him I was hungry for apple & peanut butter--

and sweetly begged him to make it for me.

It made me fall in love with him all over again.

Winter Holidays 2010

Thanksgiving:

So much snow in Boise!


A shot down my parents' (and childhood home) street

A zooming cousin- plastic box and skateboard style. Shoom!

Christmas:

A new little lamb for our ward nativity.

A father and daughter (with daughter holding the Nativity baby)

A mother and son (showing his doggy reindeer vest)

The Nativity Layout in all its costume cuteness.

Wedding Gifts Remembered

This post is a tribute first of all to all the fabulous and thoughtful gifts we received from many family and friends at our wedding 8 years ago. We were showered with so much love.

We had no idea then, what things would stick with us and become more treasured over the years. (Actually this post is meant to be a continuation of our 8th anniversary post----but I'm just getting to it now!)

What has really stuck out to me these past 8 years, are the gifts that I didn't quite understand or appreciate at the time.

1. Beautiful crystal vase from good friends and leaders from church. The couple took us under our wing and claim they helped set us up :) I wasn't a bride who thought about crystal at our wedding- I was more concerned if we had dishes and sheets. But over the years- I have treasured one of our few precious objects. Thank you Phil and Diane.
2. This laundry sorter came from friend's of Sean's parents- we use it EVERY DAY- it is basic but it has been awesome! I never would have thought to buy one at the time. Thank you! Another random surprise of a gift we never knew we'd value so much.
3. This last one is my favorite. We got a set of 2 scrapers/spreaders along with I think some bowls. We use these spreaders ALL. THE. TIME. Pb & j sandwiches, loosen bread out the pan, stir sauces-- you name it.

It has almost as many uses as a Pampered chef stoneware scraper. You know what I'm talking about. Those little brown plastic squares?

What I love about this is that it is so cheap and simple- but still looks brand new over all the years and as I stated before is so uberly useful!

Yay for random wedding gifts! Do share yours please.

Playing catch-up...not in order

This is Calvin's first day of preschool with his good friend Cooper. They were both so happy and excited to start school. Too bad it isn't that sunny anymore.

I made a flourless chocolate kitty cake for Mira- including beet powder to dye the yogurt frosting pink!

Then I made a regular chocolate sheet cake for Calvin- with my best remake of a sword outline. He liked it.

A few months ago we said goodbye to our trusty truck that had been with us since Cal was 3 weeks old. And I don't think I've mentioned that we're happy mini-van owners now! Oh ye-ah.

On Calvin's birthday, my awesome grain mill arrived. But the true present was the packing peanuts that came with it. He had so much fun playing in them- but holy cow it was a HUGE mess. I still keep finding the occasional peanut- months later :)

Sean spent many a Saturday morning this spring and early summer fishing with our neighbor and friend. This catch was on their first successful day- we ate many yummy trout that night.

I just like this picture a lot. We have happy kids.

Unfortunately, just like her brother, Mira had her own little forehead gash incident back in August. Luckily hers was less serious and I was more seasoned with this type of ordeal. It happened innocently at a playground, she cried but was also very brave and the doctor's office glued and taped it shut--- way less traumatic than stitches. Phew.

On Mira's birthday- after she got the concept of singing and blowing out candles, she used my leftover avocado to put toothpick candles in as her make shift birthday cake. Then practiced having us sing to her and blowing out the candles several times. :)

This is my favorite picture ever- daddy blowing the nail polish dry on little girl's toes.

I had to include a pic of myself because I am around too- and I love being a busy Primary president/Pre-Dental Hygiene student/Crossfitter/Full-time mom/Wife/Daughter/Sister/ Friend.

I couldn't do all that I do without my family.

My favorite is when Mira sends me off with "Have fun at school!" and then greets me with "How was school Mommy?" She is showing many signs of thoughtfulness and sharp observation.

Love my family.

Missing old friends

This post is a good old shout-out to our good friends Jen and Molly and crew. Everything Mira is wearing was handed down from Molly- it made me smile to see the cuteness repeated. We miss our friends and everything about them- they have left a hole in Oregon that cannot be replaced. Jen- gatherings without you are just not the same! Sniff.

I want to remember this

One morning as I was taking a shower, I left the kids to play nearby. There hadn't been any incidents during my shower, but as I got out and it was completely quiet I became worried.

I peeked in the next room and saw Mira sitting on the floor and reading a Berenstein Bear's book, completely content.

My next step was to find Calvin. It still was quiet. Then I found him in his room, holding Mira's stuffed raccoon, and rocking in the rocking chair. He told me that he was being the raccoon's daddy and helping it go to sleep. Then he wrapped it up in a blanket, told it a quick story and tucked it into bed.

Later he told us we had to be quiet because the raccoon was sleeping. My heart was filled with pride and love. It was a tender moment that I always want to remember.

Clay-mation

One morning, after some quiet self-play, Calvin showed me that he had made a clay Wall-E and Eva! I had been having a hard morning so it literally brightened my mood and made my day. Completely.

He totally captured the essence of both characters. All on his own. Can you see the resemblence?

Scary Tree

No Halloween would be complete without a local neighborhood Halloween extravganza. This one was particularly elaborate and filled our whole month of October with endless entertainment. We drove by it frequently because it is near our house on the main road, and I had multiple requests to see "scary tree" (especially from Mira, and to hear her say her version of 'scary tree' was especially adorable). I wish I had better pics, these were taken from across the street- but there was really no end to the gore. Several decaptiated body parts, wolf head, a carriage with a skeleton in it, gargoyles, scary clown on a swing- it was really quite greusome, but the kids LOVED x10 it. We're thinking about sending them a thank you card so they'll do it again next year. All that remains now is the decapitated hand on the mail box in the tree marked "Air Mail."

Halloween 2010

Mira revived the leopard costume for this year's Halloween and Calvin rescued this Buzz costume from Goodwill. We gave it a wash, taped some wings on and it was good to go.

Isnt' she the cutest, most ferocious leopard ever?

Then Calvin's schoolmate and buddy was an exact replica of Woody- these two made a great pair!