Greta's Pictures

Greta has been getting behind the camera lately.
It is way too heavy for her, and we get a lot of pictures of chins and feet, but she LOVES it, and asks to take pictures of us a lot. And I totally need to let her do it more. They are almost always my favorite, as she captures the sweet moments in our day so candidly.
(Meanwhile spilling all of our little secrets. Like how we put Oliver in Greta's old pjs when none of his are clean. Hence the pink kitty pajamas.)
Real life, in real action, are always my favorite pictures*. But I know I lack the fresh perspective of a child's far less critical eye.
So I'm thinking of adding Greta to the blog team, to help me catch the moments I miss, and keeping them here. (Although I'm not sure exactly where yet).
In the meantime here are some of the works of our family's newest little photo journalist.

*Although I will still put them through filters, edits, and generally fuss around with them. I just can't keep my mitts off!

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring everyone!
It is a bright, soggy, warm but slightly nippy, day in our parts.
We couldn't possibly stay inside this morning, so I put on my old gardening boots and took the kids outside to begin reclaiming the yard. 
We made modest victories in the front flower planters, weeding and brushing away the old leaves and withered vines to expose new buds and healthy wormy soil. The ground is so waterlogged after our rains, that pulling weeds was a breeze!
This little victory gave me enough courage that when finished, I even went and tromped around in the backyard for a bit.
Truthfully, I've always been a little bit scared of our backyard. It's just so crazy wild. It's all hills and patchy grass, mulch, and plants put in odd places by the owner 20 years ago.
With the exception of putting in the deck and a play gym, we have never really tried to tame our backyard or make it our own.
So whenever I walk back there, I feel like I should whisper, like I'm trespassing on someone else's property.
It really is the final frontier for us, and I know I say it every year. But this is the year we will make our backyard our own!
Mark my words, change is a coming:)

Greta's World - at 5

One of the best things about watching your kids mature, is seeing how they perceive and react to the world around them. It is so fun and fascinating to watch a brand new thing discover life!
And since it's mostly grandparents reading this blog, I thought it would be fun to sit Greta down for a little impromptu interview.
So here's a quick little peek into the world that newly 5 Greta lives in:

-Hey Greta, what do you want to do when you grow up?
"I want to take care of children, and be a teacher. Well actually there are three things. Oh yeah, and be a ballerina, and a football player."

-What makes you happiest in the world?
"Playing with daddy when he's tickling me."

-What do you not like the most?
"When I don't get to do what I want to do. It's the worst."

-If you could have one superpower what would it be?
"Pixie dust I guess. To change stuff into crafts, paint, teacups, a pillow."

-Hmmm, what's another interesting question?
"Oh, a mountain question."
So, what's a mountain question?
"Oh, like what mountain would I climb, if I could climb a mountain."
Ok, what kind of mountain would you climb, if you could climb a mountain?
"A snowy mountain. Just snowy."

-Tell me about a funny time in your life.
"Playing silly games with Oliver."

-What's the grossest thing you can think of.
"Boogers."

-What does daddy do at his job?
"Work for money. Clicking some buttons on his computer. 
Does he do anything else?
"No, he just clicks buttons on his computer."

-Very last question. What is the very smartest thing you know?
My daddy.

-Parent's Pick!
A few weeks back Greta had a bad dream while sleeping in our closet...don't ask, she likes it.
Whispers... "Mommy...(no answer because I'm obviously sleep desperate)...Mommy....(gives sleepy attention to whispering girl) Mommy I recognize that there are pokey trees in my sleeping grotto."
(she has my attention now, because what the what?)
 "I recognize that there are pokey trees in my sleeping grotto."
As my brain starts to warm up to processing speech, I piece together pokey trees, the familiar nightmare of the week, and sleeping grotto. Oh, the closet she was sleeping in.
But the formality and the unusual string of all of it together made me chuckle. And I spent all the effort I could muster committing it to memory before falling back to sleep like a rock.
That's one for the book*.

*We have a book dedicated to the keeping of these treasures, for our rich entertainment in the future. Our neighbors gave it to us when Greta was small and it's called My Quotable Kid.  
It's a super simple layout, basically just a journal with spaces for the date and who said it. But it is fast becoming one of our most valuable books.

Ps- This all reminds me of this, have you seen it? Ah kids are the best!

The Wild North

This last weekend we packed up everything we owned (which is what's required when we go somewhere for the weekend) and went to visit "Grandpa Pat's Mountain".
My grandpa lives at the tippy top of the state where it's all Mountain, trees, and Water (The strait of Juan de Fuca). And if you are feeling social you can say helloooooo to Canada if you cup your mouth and yell.
So that, and the fact that it requires a ferry boat and a good amount of driving to get there, makes it feel like a very grand adventure. Very Ma and Pa Ingalls, setting off with their family into the wild north. Where the unknown awaits.
Which is why I tend to pack out the front half of our car with at least a weeks worth of food!
Because in my mind, when you venture into The Wild North, it is unknown (to me) whether we will meet elk, or successfully ford the river, or properly navigate the windy mountain roads, while it is known that there are no Trader Joes. So best meet those perils with almonds and apple crushers in hand.
And we had a wonderful time!  Oliver and Greta enjoyed following Boppa-Bot* around his garden and wood shop, and we explored his neck of the woods by day. While there was plenty of spaghetti and visiting by night.
It had been a year since we visited the last time. And we so enjoyed ourselves, I don't think we will be able to wait quite so long before doing it again.

Ps- Interesting piece of family history. My grandpa built his last two houses. The first was in the desert of California back when my dad was a teenager, and he started his second (current) house with my grandma up in Washington when he had retired and was 63!) and do you know how it all started?
He read a book called How to Build a House.
So he says, if you can read, you can build a house. I love that can do attitude!

*Oliver speak for Grandpa Pat

Wog goes to the Barbers.

When Greta got her first pro cut we took her to a little girly-girl salon with rocking horse seats, suckers, and cotton candy hairspray.
But for Oliver, our manly man, we took him to Rudy's Barbershop.
No sweets, just combs, scissors, and tattoos.
He was as still as a mouse*, and came out looking some 3 years older.

Happy Barber Day Big Boy!

*To our great surprise!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!
This morning Greta and Oliver were invited to their very first Tea Party, with genuine tea service! Greta*, our hostess made a lavish spread of heart shaped scones, tiny quiches, and all manner of sweet treats. It was a special morning with hugs all around.
I hope you have a special day!
Xo!

 *Our friend, grown up Greta!

Sochi Olympics

The Olympics start tonight, so good night folks I'll see you in 2 weeks!
I joke, but only kind of.
I love the Olympics with a starving passion, that 2 weeks of constant 24 hr a day viewing cannot even quench. You know that.
I will not be getting enough sleep, because Primetime coverage is the worst and dangles the best events into the late late hours. I will scream, I will cheer, and guaranteed I will cry.
Can't wait!
Let the games begin!