Touch Your Toes

Mother's Day Tradition

Every year on Mother's Day, we have a tradition of having a photo shoot in the Lilac Garden at Manito Park. It has been just Holland and me for the last four years, and last year I was pregnant with Dylan. I'm not sure if I was actually suppose to be at the Lilac Garden last year since I was still on strict bedrest, but I refused to miss out on the tradition. I think I made a deal with Jonathan that I would take it super easy, and he reluctantly granted me permission.

I love traditions, and I love how we will capture the growth of our girls through the years. Unfortunately, the lilacs are not in bloom yet since we have had such weird weather these last few months. Hopefully, we will get to have our photo shoot before too long as I am eager to include Dylan into our sweet tradition. I will post some pictures as soon as that happens, but for now here is one picture from each of the previous years.

2007

Holland 3 1/2 years old

2006

Holland 2 1/2 years old

2005

Holland 18 months old

2004

Holland 6 months old

Foto Friday

I went out to a friend's house the other day for a photo shoot, and these are a couple of shots that I ended up with. I went to photograph her and her two boys, but I snuck in a couple of shots of my girls while in the process. They live out in the country, and they have a neighbor who has a couple of antique tractors. She called him up and asked him if we could get some pictures of the kids on them, and he was just tickled to have an excuse to get them out of the garage. It was pretty neat. The shots I took of my friend's son are priceless, but I haven't asked her permission about posting any so I'll need to do that before I can show them off.

In the first picture, Holland is attempting to get up on the tractor but she forgot she had her puse with her. She turned to me and said, "here hold my purse". Then within a few seconds she wanted her purse back. She lost all interest in climbing up in the driver's seat.

That pretty much sums her up - one foot in poopy, tomboy land, and the other foot in princess, fairtale land. Too bad I didn't have one of her princess dresses on hand - now that would have been a priceless shot for sure!

Ten.

1. I am officially a "bloomie"! Jonathan and I ran in "Bloomsday", a 7.5 mile road race in Spokane, this last weekend. We have lived here 8 years and I can't believe that I haven't ever done it (Jonathan has run it 3 times without me). It is a huge race - 50,000 participants. It was so much fun, and I am already ready for next year! I loved seeing how the community comes together on this day - there are individuals, couples, groups, families, corporations, teams, etc. ALL participating at varying levels. There are lots of bands, street musicians, costumes, wigs, matching shirts, and who knows what else all along the way. A total blast!

2. In other bloomie news, Jonathan and I both met our personal goals. He ran about 9.5 minute miles, and I ran about 10.5 minute miles. I'm hoping to better my pace, but I'll take that for now.

3. Dylan has mastered a few new skills - clapping, waving, patty caking, and most recently, as of yesterday, crawling up the stairs! ALL of the stairs. I can't even walk past the stairs with her in my arms without her protesting and reaching for them. She insists on doing it over and over and over!

4. I've done a couple of photo shoots lately for friends and I'm starting to get jazzed. I have so much to learn so I am very appreciative to get to "practice". I have volunteered to put together a calendar of photography of local kids with autism for a charity fundraiser. The proceeds will benefit the Isaac Foundation which is a local non-profit organization that is providing scholarship funds for therapy services for families of children with autism. I am so thrilled to be a part of this. Check out their website here, and if you live here locally and are a family or know of a family that is interested in having a child (with autism) photographed then please leave a comment and I will contact you!

5. One month from tomorrow and we will be heading to Disneyland. Yippee. The countdown has begun.....

6. I forgot to mention earlier that I roped my sister and her husband into running Bloomsday with us. Neither one of them have hardly run a day in their lives except for the weeks leading up to the race. Hopefully, this was the start of a new annual tradition. Good job, guys! I am very proud of you both!

7. Every year on Mother's Day, I have a tradition of getting my picture taken with Holland in the lilac gardens at Manito Park (which is within walking distance of our house). We started this tradition when she was only 6 months old. I can't wait to have both girls in the pictures this year, although the lilacs haven't quite started blooming, yet. Bummer. Bummer. Bummer.

8. I think mine and Dylan's nursing days are coming to an end. I have only been nursing her a couple of times a day anyway, but I was hoping to make it to a year. HOWEVER, the bite-clamp-streeeeetch-twist action isn't quite working for me! Enough said.

9. In case any of you were wondering about the adoption of the "wag more, bark less" philosophy, it is still going wonderfully. I have been trading my barks in left and right for more wags with only a couple of slip ups. Holland is very quick to remind me though so the slip ups that I have had have been very short lived!

10. Off to edit some photos from a photo shoot today. Maybe I'll share some this week if I get permission!

Happy Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by!

No Babies Allowed

beyond this tape

ballerina girl

A Dog's Life: Part 2

I was driving to a friend's house today and I couldn't believe this sign that I saw:

(look familiar, Melissa?)

Hmmmmm. Is someone trying to tell me something?

I think adopting this dog's life philosophy might just work for me.

And my family.

We have had a pretty barkless week.

I am happy to report that personally, I have had a "bark free" week, and it has been absolutely amazing. The sweet, sweet behavior that we are getting from Holland as a result of it makes me wish I had stopped barking a long time ago. She is really catching onto the motto, too, and her barks have been few and far between this week, as well.

We are one, big, barkless, tail waggin' family!

Anyone else out there barking less and wagging more? Please do tell.....

Just Like Grandpa

A Dog's Life

Jonathan and I were driving downtown Seattle the other evening, heading back to my mom's after a wonderful date, when I saw this bumpersticker that caught my attention. It said,

WAG MORE, BARK LESS.

I immediately giggled. I thought it was so cute. I wasn't prepared to think much more about it, however, after a few minutes went by I just couldn't stop thinking about it! What a great motto to live by - silly as it may be - it says a lot! And truth be told, I have been barking way, way to much lately. Barking at my husband, barking at my daughters, barking at my mom. Not just ordinary doggie barks either, but big, scary, growling, guard dog, barks. Not fun.

So having said that, I have decided that I am going to adopt this motto and work on wagging more and barking less. Way less.

And if I see you and get excited, I will do my best to not lick your face and leave a puddle.

Seattle Bound

Forgot to report that we were headed to Seattle for a few days. Sorry for the lack of posts. I will be back up and running once we return!

XXXOOO

This Week's Ten.

I am constantly amazed at the range of stuff that comes out of Holland's mouth. Verbal stuff. Thought processes. You know - those four-year-old, random streams of consciousness. Questions. Insights. Etc. I love to jot the things down that she says, and I go through phases of being really, really good about this and then phases of being very, very lame at this. But for this "ten" post, I thought I would share some of her recent ramblings, quotes, and such. Beware- they range from princess obsession to curiosity about resurrection! Here goes....

1. "Mom, did you know that dinosaurs are nice except for the egg stealers and the sharp tooth? The egg stealers are mean because they steal eggs, and the sharp tooth will eat ya."

2. "Mom, I have a problem here....." (usually followed by some sort of dilemma involving a princess figurine who is unable to get her skinny, little arm into her "enchanted ballroom gown").

3. "Mommy, when you die, will you raise from the dead like Jesus did?"

4. "Babies don't get cool princess stuff and they can't have cinnamon either."

5. Then the other day, I was repeating something to Holland over and over again (probably telling her to put something away or to come here so I could comb her hair), and she said very sternly, "Mom, if you say that one more time, I am going to scream to bloody mercers!"

6. "Mommy, I don't ever want you to get sick or die."

7. Grandma, Dylan FINALLY said "ga-ga"! (she has been waiting for Dylan to say "ga-ga" since the day we brought her home from the hospital).

8. The other night at bedtime, she was telling me a story about her friend at school who got his finger closed in the door. I responded, "yeah, I know", and then she said, "did you see it on the news or something?"

9. "Love means that people are friends together, and they love, love, love each other, and God made us love. It means that you love everyone in the whole wide world and that's all."

10. And one of my most favorite things she has said of late....
"Mom, you are the bestest mom that I have ever had in the whole wide world!"

Happy, Happy Tuesday!

a spring time jig!

love thursday

Another post inspired by the wonderful shutter sisters.

I adore this picture. It captures the love that my daughter has for her Grandpa in such a way that it melts my heart every time I look at it. I grew up without knowing my Grandparents so the relationship that my daughter has with her Grandparents and her Mimi is very special to me. She is incredibly blessed to be so close to them all.

Happy LOVE Thursday!

Ten on Tuesday

1. We went to Kennewick this last weekend so we could go on a date for our anniversary and have the grandparents keep the girls. We had a great evening. Dinner and wine tasting at an upscale winery, a movie, followed by a fun, little photo shoot in an old timey photo booth!
2. We went out again last night since it was the acutal day of our anniversary, however, we had both girls in tow. I don't think Jonathan and I said more than 5 words to each other. No romance there.
3. I forgot to report that a couple of weeks ago while waiting in the lobby of my hair salon (spa paradiso which is in the uppity Davenport Hotel), I made eye contact and got a big smile from this guy as he was pulling up his hood on his black hoodie as he was departing. I think he was trying to be incognito, but that smile would be recognizable anywhere! What a smile it was!
4. Jonathan and I both are actively training for our bloomsday race. I think he is on target to zip right past me leaving me in the dust. Not feeling too happy about this - I am attributing it to his stride though. His legs are a lot longer than mine. That matters, right?
5. I'm missing Grey's Anatomy and House - does anyone know when they are suppose to resume?
6. Holland is very into wearing multiple hair accessories these days and also styling her own hair. She has a morning routine of "washing her hair, blow drying it, and then flat ironing it" (all with her pink and purple plastic electronics!). I'm just going with it! Why not? It's just another preschool girly phase that may not be around for too much longer, and besides I'm not too good at the hair thing so this takes the pressure off! : )
7. Our front and back yards are nothing but rotten, mushy grass. Too much snow for too long. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.
8. I'm trying to wait patiently for spring to officially arrive, but it is just about killing me. If I knew this meant that our summer and fall would be extended then maybe it wouldn't be soooo bad.
9. We are headed to Seattle next weekend. We won some ballet tickets at a charity auction so we are gonna make a long weekend out of it! Yippee!
10. I just heard a loud crashing sound of something falling to the ground followed by a quick, "Dylan did it Mommy, Dylan did it!". Sure enough - she did (this time, anyway).

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Happy Girl Lucky - that's me!

I am such a happy, lucky girl! Today is mine and Jonathan's ninth wedding anniversary and I just couldn't be any happier (or luckier!). Every year, without fail, he writes me a beautiful poem for our anniversary and he always incorporates symbols from what each year's gift is suppose to be (e.g., first year - paper, etc). This year's gift is willow, and the poem that he has written is so beautiful. I think it will rank up there as one of my favorites! You can click here to read this year's poem and there are also links to each previous year's poems!

Thank you, sweetheart! I am so incredibly blessed. I love you.

playing around photographically

whattayathink??

At 10 months old

dylan loves:

to smile, to laugh, to giggle

to crawl all over the place

pull herself up, especially in her crib

skirt around the coffee table - (very cautiously)

to squeal uncontrollably with holland

laugh hysterically with holland

to eat big people food - (she is offended by baby food)

attempt to dress herself by putting clothes on her head

empty out and fill up any container

to be chased

to give open mouth kisses, especially on chins

to streeeeetch her socks until they are pulled all the way off

to play with balls

to babble, babble, babble

say "mamamamama" when in distress

to be tickled

to play peek-a-boo

looking in the mirror

to explore all things shiny in holland's room

(actually just to explore all things holland!)

to bang pots and pans from holland's play kitchen

play giddy-up horsey

bounce and swing and be turned upside down

swipe her hands across her tray clearing it completely from any remaining breakfast, lunch, or dinner morsels

scattering DVD containers all across the floor

drinking from a sippy cup or better yet, an open cup

to hear you say "hooray" while you're throwing your hands up in the air

climbing, climbing, climbing

tearing pages out of catalogs

listening to music

to mouth anything that she finds

play in her crib once she wakes up

compose music with her feet on the piano

pump her leg up & down aerobically

bury her head in your chest if she gets excited or shy

to smile, to laugh, to giggle

March Madness

I'm not sure which is worse -
the Zags losing in the first round or snow on March 30th.

Both are quite maddening!

love thursday

another entry into the shutter sister's love thursday segment.... go check out all the entries - there are some pretty amazing photographs and inspiring words!

i love how dylan's little arms are stretched so far not quite making it all the way around her daddy! such sweetness!



happy love thursday!

Just Me & My Girls

This Week's "Ten"

1. We just spent four days at a Benedictine Monastery to celebrate Easter. This has been an annual tradition for us for the last 5 years with the exception of last year's hiatus due to bedrest. It is such a wonderful experience to partake in the liturgies of the hours (prayers through out the day), however this year I was on mommy duty so I wasn't able to participate as much as I would have liked to.

2. I managed to keep up my bloomsday training while out of town for a week. I love that I have rekindled my love for running, and that I am maintaining my discipline. Such a good feeling!

3. I am taking an online photography class from one of my favorite photographers starting in April. I am so excited! There are definite areas that I am wanting to improve in, and the class description hit on all of those areas! Can't wait to show off what I learn!

4. It's official - we are headed to Disneyland in June. We are taking my niece who is graduating from high school and who has never been! Jonathan and I are going to have to take turns hanging out in the princess la-la land while the other one actually rides some fun rides! Mary, are you still considering a birthday trip??!!

5. In the car the other night, Holland asked me, "Mommy, why did God make animals like grizzly bears when they can eat people?" (I passed that one right on the Jono!) Click here to read the rest of the commentary on Jonathan's blog.

6. I bought this soundtrack and this one, too. Love them both! If you haven't seen either of the movies, I highly recommend both of them.

7. It was rainy, cold, and very windy where we were on Easter so we didn't even get our Easter egg hunt done! I still have a bag full of stuffed Easter eggs for Holland and Dylan. I told Holland that the Easter bunny probably left them at our house since we were out of town, but then I forgot to hide them. Oops. Can we have a belated Easter egg hunt? Is that totally lame?!

8. Dylan is offended by baby food these days! All she wants is what's on our plates, and she protests anything that resembles baby food. Sometimes I can trick her if I use a grown-up spoon though!

9. This is kind of a boring "ten" post so I'm gonna stop at nine so I won't bore you further!

Ten Recent Entries From Our Thankfulness Journal

1. Mommy, I'm thankful for you, and I'm thankful that when I turn five, you are going to buy me a dog. (Holland)

2. I'm thankful that Dylan took a long nap today. (Ashley)

3. I'm thankful that Holland helped Dylan take a bath tonight. (Jonathan)

4. I'm thankful for the sledding hill outside. (Holland)

5. I'm thankful that you have such a cool daddy that would build you a sledding hill in our backyard. (Ashley)

6. I'm thankful for my princess dresses and my tiaras. (Holland)

7. I'm thankful that I got big hugs and lots of smiles and exuberance from Holland when I came home from work today. (Jonathan)

8. I'm thankful for myself. (Holland)

9. mamamamamama - translated: "I'm thankful for mama". (Dylan)

10. I'm thankful that y'all are so thankful for so many things. (Jonathan)

9.5 Months

Picking My Battles & Embracing Preschool Ensembles

"Fashion Friday"

Okay, here's the story: I decided on this particular Friday morning that I really didn't want to have a full on "battle-of-the-wills-fest" with my four year old. She is very enthusiastic about dressing herself, and she is so proud of the ensembles that she comes up with - complete with a "golden", beaded hair clip for the finishing touches! At a quick glance, this particular ensemble doesn't look as "flavorful" as most of the ones she comes up with. If you look closely though, you will notice the shirt is a summery, long- sleeve shirt with surf boards and glittery Hawaiian flowers, the skirt is corduroy with embroidered hearts, the hair clip is a golden beaded flower that the hair dresser gave to her when she got her hair cut, the shoes are black leather, the tights are polka dotted, and all of the pinks are varying shades! (just didn't quite do it for me). However, how could I dampen that sweet spirit and stifle her fashion creativity? Not to mention trampling all over her self esteem, confidence, and sense of individuality?! (All for the sake of my own pride and embarrassment issues).

I have visited this whole idea of letting her have a little more fashion freedom before, and it is quite a challenge for me. The truth of the matter is though that if you walk into any preschool classroom full of girls, you will find very similar fashion trends. Lots of tights, sparkly hair accessories, mix-matched patterns, anything princess, flowy skirts and dresses, shiny jewelry if they can sneak it in, and if it were allowed - each of their sweet, little heads would be adorned with glittery, jeweled princess tiaras! (the gaudier the better)

I have realized recently that one of my favorite things to do when I drop Holland off for school, is to glance around the room and check out all of the girls and their individual styles. I'm not sure if I am more impressed with their moms who were able to "let go" and allow their daughters to be free, or the daughters themselves who were able to pull off an obscene amount of fashion fauxpas and still manage to look so stinkin' adorable!

I think there are lessons to be learned from both mom and daughter - the main one being "No worries". I want to be that mom who has no worries. I want to be that mom who is able to embrace this fun phase of life (that isn't going to last forever), and just roll with it. I just want to let her open up her drawers and closet and toss each article of clothing on the floor until she finds that perfect piece that she has envisioned completing her outfit! I want her to paint her fashion canvas of life with glittery, sparkly socks, shimmery necklaces and flowery shirts paired with striped pants.

Because that is something I would be too fearful to do. Too fearful to have "no worries".

I'm working on it though..... so for now stay tuned for more "fashion friday" posts, and see how I am taking small steps to have less worries!

Happy Saturday, Friends!

Love Thursday

I have recently been turned onto the shutter sisters blog, and they host a "love thursday" segment each week.

I submitted this picture to their blog this week because it depicts an every day love occurrence in our house these days - big sister peaking into the car seat and violently shaking it as baby sister laughs her head off. (Hence the out of focus-ness!) This is actually a calmer moment than those frequent occasions that require parental intervention!