March Album: Leo turns 2

It is August.  We have had some amazing weather this spring and summer, and so my computer has been wildly neglected!  Because, really, isn’t blogging for winter?  Also, I confess that for at least a month between February and now, I misplaced my camera.  So I’ve got a bit of catching up to do.  Which means lots of pictures for me to upload, since I honestly don’t remember much of what happens in this fast-paced house of ours unless it is recorded digitally.  And I like to look back and remember from time to time…

So let’s start by appreciating my new album cover for this mini-band that Matthew and I created.  We have written a few songs, such as “Fiona and Dean, it’s time to get clean”, but alas, there’s more work to do…

This month, we celebrated Leo!  We got out the streamers (that stayed up until Mother’s Day, of course!) and Dean made Leo a poster with a train, an elephant, and a butterfly (the things that Leo loves).  I remember the exact contents of the poster, because yes it is August, and in fact, it’s still hanging up in our living room, with Dean’s “happy birthday Leo” written in crayon.  Probably time to take that down, we’ve been saying for months.

   

For Leo’s birthday, I tried making “Tres Leches” cake, since Leo is a lover of all things dairy.  Topped with berries, since Leo is also a fan.  It was a hit.  And quite filling.

    

    

    

Leo received a wooden train set, something that he still gets a kick out of, I am happy to report.  Now we are into building bridges and tunnels and the station for our “Cretaceous time period” (Dinosaur Train reference).  Nothing is cuter than hearing a 2-year old say “Cretaceous time period”. 

Happy birthday, sweet Leo!

    

Also in March: a welcome first sign of spring.  After planting only tulips for years and years, this year I got smart and planted daffodils also, since they bloom much earlier.  Plus I love the yellow.

And Easter arrived, which means cascarones.  The kiddos love dying eggs and cracking them on each other’s heads.  Who wouldn’t love that? 

   

   

Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

February Album: the month that disappeared

I am drawing a blank for what happened last month except for the fact that everyone en la casa was sick.  Leo and I caught the flu.  He got over it in one week, but it took me two weeks or more.  I was probably better for a day or two, and then I caught whatever Matthew was fighting.  There were three weekends in a row that I was at the doctor’s office, alone or with children: only one of those flu-related.  Dean and Fiona caught a stomach bug somewhere in there, Leo split his chin on the wooden stool, and Dean and Leo also both had ear infections.  It was crazy!  Work was starting to amp up at the same time for me, in preparation for some major events in March.  I’m not sure how I got through it.  I don’t have a story to string this random assortment of photos, because I must have been in a daze all month.  Good thing I grabbed the camera every now and then.

  

One thing that must’ve happened this month, according to the photos – Leo is in a toddler bed!  And we are currently in a trial run of all three kids sleeping in one room so that we could convert the other room (Leo’s old room off the kitchen) into a play room.  We’ll see how it goes.  The other factor is that Matthew needs to build a soffit on the ceiling to cover up some new pipes that were installed when we built the second bathroom upstairs.

Dean celebrated his 100th day of kindergarten, and Matthew and I  took a Michoacan cooking class (did we really?!) where I learned to put carrots and potatoes inside of red enchiladas.  (What?!)  So Leo and Fiona and I tried this at home.  My verdict?  Hold the potatoes for papas con huevo.  Carrots are ok.

    

Leo is on wheels! 

   

We somehow managed to take Dean and Fiona to see “Cat in the Hat”. They love this actor – who was also in Peter Pan as Captain Hook. Fiona always wants to be photographed with him after the show. Which is cute, because when she gets in his presence, she pouts and stiffens up. Adorable…

Here’s to better health -

January Album: Appreciate!

The last few weeks of 2012 came with many emotions and lots of reflection…  As our family welcomed in the New Year at the Oregon Coast with friends, it was a time to recalibrate and behold all that I take for granted every day… a slice of those precious gems is recorded below. 

 

Life is fleeting… my one-word-resolution this year is: Appreciate!

 

    

       

Happy New Year!  I appreciate these moments that my children get to be with their grandparents.  They are few and far between.

I appreciate these adorables…

   

and I appreciate sharing this life with mi esposo…  xoxoxoxoxoxo

December Album: highs and lows

Well, mostly highs.  At least, looking through these photos, there were so many good times.  I went photo-crazy with the kiddos – documenting all of their joy as we all looked forward to Christmas.  My mom visited for a week, and she is even more photo-happy than me!  It was nice to catch her in front of the camera too.

   

    

  

And, she braved Pioneer Square with me and the kids to get our photo taken with Santa!  Leo wasn’t convinced that he needed to be on Santa’s lap.  It was classic.

       

Fiona made Mom promise that the next time she came back she’d bring Gramps.  It came sooner than anyone expected.  Right after Mom left, we got some tragic news: Aunt Terri passed away suddenly.    It’s hard for me to write about, and I still can’t believe it happened.  Mom and Dad decided to spend Christmas and New Years in Portland so that they could visit with Uncle Lou. 

We made the best of circumstances and really enjoyed their visit.  Of all the months, December is not Portland’s time to shine.  Literally and figuratively.  I tried to make the ‘rents as comfortable as possible – with an electric blanket, earmuffs, wool socks, flannel pants, clown noses… Hopefully they’ll be back.  I won’t be offended if it’s not during winter. 

   

   

   

We also spent some time with the Matz family.  The kiddos had a great time.  Leo still talks about Katelyn. 

   

   

Aunt Terri, you are so missed.