Happy December

Yes, I know.  

It has been a lonnng time since we've checked in. 

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Today is a sunny day... and I'm very thankful for that!

Alex is nearing the 3 and 1/2 year old mark.  Can't believe it!

And Sierra is closing in on 15 months.  

Didn't she just arrive?!?

Sierra is super close to walking... she'll take Steve's hands and cruise with him.  And she has many sounds.  Cracker is called "Daaa  Daaa" not to be confused with Da-da!  And boy does she love to boogie and listen to music.  Other exciting news... her helmet therapy is done.  Look at all her curls!  She also loves to read and snuggle... and loves to mimic her brother.

 Lately, the thing to do is to play in the 'garbage dump' a.k.a. the area behind the gold chair.  Pillows are tossed behind it, and then toys get dumped down in the "incinerator" to "burn".  Classic!

Alex is also loving preschool and has six other students in class with him.  Twice a week he goes to socialize and learn.  I'm thankful he enjoys it.  He's already said he wants to invite his new friends, teachers (and the fireman who visited preschool) to his next birthday party.  After spending so many years living on the 'teaching' side of school, now I'm on the -parent-student' end and I fully realize how much work the folks who volunteered in my classrooms did.  Monday night was the annual Christmas concert.  The kids sang jingle bells and Santa was even there to meet with each child after the show.  It was cute!  We are beyond impressed with the principal.  Amazing lady. 

 I think we'll try to get our tree this weekend?  And we'll keep an eye out to see if an elf will visit us from the North Pole!  Hopefully the little elf will come soon.  I don't blame him for staying away.  It's is loud at our house.  

No, really... it's SUPER loud.  Bang, bang, pound pound, crack, stomp, stomp... We are getting the roof replaced.  Not super thrilled to be doing it this early, but at least we won't have to revisit it until the kids are in college?  Hopefully!

Lately I've also been trying to think about what makes me happy (obviously family).  I'm talking about where else I find joy in life.  Skiing, being outside, and doing things around home.  Being outside- that happens a lot.  And I know that skiing/riding will happen in the next year or two for all of us.  I also have such big plans for this property and am looking forward to starting projects this spring.  When we first moved in, I imagined everything transforming into my dream vision 'overnight'.  Four years/two kids later, we find ourselves just starting that wish list. Now that roof issues are being resolved... the next things on my wish list are:  planting a garden, as well as installing a composite style deck, landscaping, building a retaining wall, re-leveling and graveling the driveway, and planting more fruit trees down below... just to name a few things off the top of my head!  I know the list will continue to grow and will never fully be checked off.  It's fun to daydream about what will happen next!

Doggie wash!

Happy birthday Sierra!!!

 HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!  

We love you!

It is amazing how much you have grown in just 365 days...

  This past weekend, Gramma came down to visit and helped us celebrate your happy birthday a bit early.  It was a fun weekend and very relaxing, and busy at the same time.  We played together, picked blackberries, went shoe shopping, explored and ate crackers with sand on them at the beach, picked dahlias along the river road, and played with blocks on the back deck.  Next year, when Gramma is retired, we will have much more time with her.

 On Saturday night, we had a birthday party for you.  You ate and ate and ate... and then ate a big piece of ice cream cake.  Your brother liked it so much, that this morning he begged for some ice cream cake for breakfast!

Alexander helped wrap presents for you.  He also helped you open your gifts and sang "Happy birthday.  Happy birthday.  Happpppppy birthhhhhday!"  It was darling!

I will post more pictures when Gramma sends them to me... we used her camera this weekend and have a ton of pictures on it to post!

Our little adventurers...

For an early birthday present in July, Alex received a red motorized jeep.  I can't remember if I've already written about him on it.  He's brave and adventurous for sure.  It amazes us how quickly he learned to "drive" and is now on turbo mode.  He drives in/out of the garage (where he parks it and recharges it)... and as soon as he exits the garage, it's on turbo power mode!  Before we switched over to the turbo mode- his wheels would get stuck on the gravel and grass and spin like crazy, with him going nowhere.  Now, turbo power solved that problem and Alexander is quite the driver.  He always wears a helmet 'just in case'.  It's a blast to watch him in action!

Sierra, our other little adventurer, is in her helmet now.  We've been up to the Hanger office a few times, and now... we think we have a perfect fit.  The issues were when we'd take it off, there were red marks that didn't go away for a few hours and a little rubbing on her neck from crawling.  Tonight, when I removed Sierra's helmet, her head looked pressure point free.  Hooray!  That means we will progress to wearing it for 8 hours on, and one hour off... eventually graduating in three days to hear wearing it 23 hours on and 1 off per day.  She doesn't mind it a bit... that's awesome.

We were originally going to send her helmet to a woman in California who paints for children with cranial helmets.  But, I have been finding super cute stickers at Target... and think I will change them out for the next few months.  By the time I was to send the helmet via overnight, and reship it back, and pay the artist, it would cost over three hundred for the artwork.  I'm not sure I want to pay that yet.  So for now, stickers it will be!  I think they're pretty cute! 

This morning we all went out and ended up picking blackberries along the property lines and in the what was once to be a burn pile (it is now a big blackberry patch with a path running through it that Steve created with the tractor.)

We've been picking berries for at least three weeks... they are huge and tasty!  Every time I go out to the bushes, I think to myself 'there won't be any left'.  HA!  That is not the case at all.  We have barely even made a dent in those patches.  I am religious about gathering them each morning... because that's what makes our little girl 'move'.  She eats a lot of cheese and loves her sweet potatoes... and needs berries to get things going (if you know what I mean.)  We also combined the berries with the plums on our trees to make fruit leather.  Oh so tasty!  Again, I fill one paper grocery bag about 3/4 full... and that made a little dent in the orchard.  So far, we have five one-gallon ziploc bags filled with the plums in our freezer.  Later this week I hope to pick more.  Am just waiting for Uncle Jon to come visit before doing so.

 The deer have left us a few apples and three pears

We have so many plums that the branches 

are hanging low from their weight!

 Alex has a new thing he loves doing... 

getting out and reading the blog books we had printed up.  So precious...

It's also fun to go down the slide backwards!

 Titus is wondering where his Daddy was this afternoon

Titus is such a soulful and sweet dog.  I love him so much!  What an adjustment you've made with having two little ones around.  I promise, as soon as the weather cools, you will be able to join us on more off property adventures.

 Alexander was cracking himself up as he talked about how he is going to spray Gramma with his back deck sprayer (hose and nozzle) when she comes to visit!  
He was hilarious!  You better get ready Gramma!!!!  
Look at his laughter!

 Titus... relaxing

 Steve watched the kids on Saturday morning while I was at a meeting.  I ended up bringing our dear friend and neighbor home from the hospital too.  She was hit by a drunk driver and thankfully is okay and recovering now.  Steve was beyond tired by the time I got home.  This past week, he walked in my shoes during the weekdays as he took a staycation at home.  We loved having quality Daddy time.

 This is what I dream of doing every afternoon, but as of late, it doesn't happen.  Perhaps when Gramma retires she will come visit and I can nap and we can all go play too!  Hmmm.

 And look who likes to play with cars... 
and she loves Alexander's fireman house too!

 

A few pics

Alexander found a frog inside the house.  It was hanging out by the front door... it lives out in hydrangea bush.

 Building a fort!

 Taking out the garbage... country style!

First day of preschool!!!!

Today was the first day of preschool for Alexander!  He has been waking up super early and today we were glad for it... after breakfast, watching Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs (yes, he now has another show he loves!), and getting dressed, Alex kept saying "it's taking a long time" ... meaning, when are we going to school!?  Love it!

After introducing ourselves to some other parents, and meeting their preschoolers, we gave hugs and kisses and headed out into the hallway.  As we left, Alexander said, "have a nice day!".  Classic.  That's what he always says when we say goodbye to people.  Then we met Micki in the hall and she went in to check on him.  All was well, so we headed over to the office of the elementary school and she introduced us to the principal and office staff.  Last night I was doing the math, and realized that Alex will be a student there for 12 years... preschool x 3, kindergarten-8th grade.  I absolutely love love love it!  Community!!!!  Now it's time for Mommy time... as Sierra is napping and Steve's outside with Titus.  

To be continued after preschool pick up this morning... 

Success!  We went to pick up little buddy and he walked out of his classroom and told me he painted an apple.  Definitely looked tired, and said he had fun.  Awesome!