Snippets of Life

I really am committed to doing better at posting these photos and stories.  I realized this morning as I let the boys peruse my past posts what a treasure this blog is!  They both LOVED seeing their baby photos, toddler photos, and current photos.  Since they don't have baby books, this will be their baby books I guess!

Speaking of baby books, John started WALKING last weekend during the Seahawks game :)  He was probably trying to pull our attention off the screen, and it totally worked!  He's (obviously) quite wobbly, and much better barefoot than with shoes, but his little Frankenstein walk is adorable.  I can't seem to catch it on video... since it's only like 5 steps at a time, but I will eventually!

Forest took this picture for me... I love it even though it's a little fuzzy!

A few weekends ago we were able to borrow a friend's VW van which they have all set up for camping... it was fun.  First thing - we drove it over Rainy Pass for a nice Sunday drive!  Then we camped by the river and explored a bit.  Here's a few photos from that adventure :)

Yesterday after Olaf's soccer game we hit up the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival. The highlight of the festival was "Reptile Man" on the main stage, but we enjoyed a few other "fishy" activities as well :)

Then we joined the Cohen and the Rientjes families for a little dinner in Dryden.  Long day!

All conked out about 5 minutes into our drive home.

Firsts

First Day of 2nd grade, 2015.

Oly and Ingrid

Who put these three sitting next to each other??? 

Here's to having a teacher who embraces the craziness that comes along with 7 year old boys, and give them room to be a little nuts sometimes :)

... and now for something a bit more serious... 

Kimmie!!

First day of Pre-K, 2015

 First time play soccer - "Most Fun Player" award!

First time turning FIVE YEARS OLD!!!  He had a nice party complete with lots of friends and a piñata and a Batman cake :)

First time being 11 months old.
That's all I could think of as a first :)
He's standing, climbing, and tentatively taking steps with our hands.
No walking yet, but I'm sure that will get here soon enough!

Climbed up here by myself, yes I did.  Note the wrestling brothers in the background, and the smoky skies.

Pick me upppp!!!!!

Why yes he did climb on here by himself.

Naked tractor pushing, always fun.

And....  first time in a LONG time, breaking away for a trail run with Jaimi Joelle!!

John B

I mentioned it earlier, but this little buddy is such a joy to our family.  The only time he seems to be upset is when he is hungry or tired, both of which are easily solved.  Or... has a tummy or toothache at night... which aren't easily solved, but moms don't sleep, right?

Summertime Fun Photo Dump

The calendar just switched over to August.  Johnny is now 10 months old, and Forest is about to turn 5!  This is crazy, just crazy.  Early in June Johnny started scooting/crawling along (~8 mos) and now he's a little speed demon on four limbs.  I think he's actually pretty close to walking!  A few weeks he started taking steps if you hold both his hands, and he stands on his own quite often.  He is seriously such a little joy!  He now says "Dadadada" for Steve and "Mamamama" for me... Daddy was the first word, little stinker.

In June school ended for Olaf.  He ended the year with a great field trip with his school to Orcas Island, a school play, and then a family trip to a Mariners game!  Wow it was packed.  THEN my birthday, and his birthday...  Oh, then Family Camp at Tall Timber.  Oh, then we moved to my mom's house.  Yeah...  all in about 20 days or so!

July wasn't so crazy.  Play dates for the boys, water play, softball for me, and lots of work for both Steve and I.

And now, a giant photo dump...  I may have to do this in a few posts.

These are all from Olaf's birthday party - it was a big one!  He was lucky enough to have most of his cousins, and four of his best friends from school there with him. We played, had a treasure hunt (hershey bars as the prizes - they definitely melted), ate "how to train your dragon" cake, opened gifts, and had an epic water fight.  Fun times had by all!

living life

Our February chugged along.  And now March is steaming along too!

February was full of school (Olaf), cross-country ski team practice (Olaf + Coach Steve!), school activities (Olaf-Do you see a theme?), working in Wenatchee for Jenn, trying to figure out small business taxes (yikes), work for Steve here in Plain, and Fire Department this and that.  We were all so sad when football season was over :(  Not sure what to do with our Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays!  But Olaf still wears his jersey at least one day a week which totally makes me happy!  

Forest seems to have turned a corner at his daycare/preschool and is no longer smacking the other kids and throwing fits.  At least not very often anyway :)  He still has his days (this week even) where he is a total pill and I wonder what I am doing wrong as a parent.  But I am just so happy he no longer takes out his frustration on his little friends!  I am so thankful for a preschool director, Traci, would is always quick to encourage me as a parent when he has a hard day.  Hearing someone with a ton of experience say that his behavior is normal for a kid of his age, and it is a stage we will get through, is comforting when I feel like I am totally screwing up as a parent.  She always stresses that we have a game plan, together, to help his behavior that we can both reinforce the same way until it improves.  And in the end his behavior seems to be improving.  Yay for consistency!  Aside from school, he's been enjoying annoying his older brother, playing with his younger brother, and snuggling me whenever he has a chance.  He is still so passionately sweet that I can barely get out the door without 14 kisses and hugs.  He's also my only child to tell me that he loves me un-prompted, at random moments throughout the day :)

Purchased with his own allowance money and part of a gift card!

Like I mentioned above, Olaf's schedule has started driving ours, which seems crazy for a 1st grader but perhaps is completely normal for the oldest child?  He had a chance to join the cross country ski team through Plain Hardware this winter.  The hardware store provided all the equipment and groomed trails for FREE!  They even picked the kids up from school and fed them a snack and cocoa.  And Steve had the chance to hang out and coach Olaf and 3-4 other kids at the same time.  I think they both enjoyed it, but were glad it was over.  Both have agreed that next year they would rather spend their afternoons up at Stevens Pass though... so sounds like nordic skiing will be a hobby but not main event for Olaf.  Contrary to what his name may imply :)

Also a gift card/allowance/bday money purchase!

This tooth came out when his sled collided with a wood pile... It wasn't loose yet, but I guess it was bound to come out eventually!  He pulled out the tooth next to it the next day, sho he taksh wish a little lishp right now, so cute.

I had the chance to try skate skiing myself and I LOVED IT.  If only I had the equipment (and time) to really pursue it as a winter sport!  Perhaps once the kids are older I will get into it.  Somehow it seemed to come pretty naturally to me, and I loved how fast I could go!  So fun.  However I do still enjoy classic skiing, which I can do right out my back door, on my own equipment.  So there's that.

Taking our kids sledding at Lake Wenatchee.

I love this view when he sleeps on my arm...

John has recently mastered the art of rolling from back to front.  He is always reaching for things, and immediately putting them in his mouth.  The days of allowing lego pieces to be all over the floor are numbered...  He's also trying to sit up unassisted, but is just not quite there yet even with pillows.  Usually he starts folding forwards (led my his massive cranium) and then he falls right or left depending on where he is reaching.  He also started rolling on to his side to sleep and night, and seems to be more content that way.  I am of course always nervous about SIDS, so I am constantly rolling him back on his back :)  Luckily he sleeps like the rest of my boys, including Steve... like a ROCK.  

We are looking forward to getting outside more this spring and enjoying the sunshine.  It's almost time to start gardening!