flowers in a field

photo credit

this week is spring break and i am off work and home with the boys today. the weather has been strange--a mix of sun and clouds, rain and wind, even two big rounds of hail! the boys are a little restless and the loud weather made naptime a little difficult (a good excuse anyway). jackson got up from his rest and started working on the computer. the next thing i knew, i had this pretty poem in my lap.

flowers in a field
by jackson wacker

flowers in a field
cows having lunch
nature growing big and strong
rows of color a mile long
flowers in a field

happy tuesday.

zorro + snow = fun day

remember this post? well this is what i was talking about. about 6 weeks ago, after locating a breeder we liked, we adopted a welsh corgi. we named him zorro, the spanish word for 'fox'. he is still with his brothers and sisters but will be coming home to us on april 2nd a we are so excited. we visited him yesterday.


since the breeder is in colfax and we were so close to the snow, we drove up the mountain a little and played in the snow for a bit.

it was a great day.

vintage

i know i am late to the party on this one, but just got around to finding the photoshop action for turning photographs into 'vintage polaroids'. too cool.

get your's here.

favorite moment | salad

One thing I have been trying to do is involve my kids in the daily cooking and making salad is a great way to introduce them to the process. Owen really enjoyed tearing up lettuce—a great task for little hands—and, now that he is old and skilled enough, Jackson loves to use the knives.

Oh, cooperation. I love it.

favorite moment | playing hooky

Sometimes you just need to play hooky from work and take your boys to the beach. On the spur of the moment, Matt and I took the day off and the boys out of school and drove to my favorite place on earth--Pt. Reyes National Seashore. This is Limantour Beach, the perfect beach for long, long walks or just sitting in the sand and soaking up the sun.

There's something about chubby ankles peeking out from underneath rolled up jeans that warms my heart. And the way number one son looks like he is on a mission to do some diggin', with the little one trailing behind trying not to miss out on any important discoveries.

It was the perfect day.

a happy halloween

Prepping for the big day--tombstone making.

O was particularly into it.

And I actually finished a project. I have to say that I am pretty excited about my Happy Halloween banner!

But Halloween is all about the costumes. This photo was taken after the crazy pre-candy begging party festivities ended, so the makeup was a little worn. But he was spooky just the same.

favorite moment | disneyland

click on the image to enlarge

Okay, so some moments are as simple and everyday as a remark made in the car or an expression on someone's face and others are the moments that make memories that will last forever. We took our boys to Disneyland for the first time last week and it was truly magical. I am not the schmaltzy type. I usually don't like things that most people like. I admit it. I am a snob. But there truly is something otherworldly about Disneyland. It is like a right of passage for little kids--and parents too, apparently. I think the pictures speak for themselves.

favorite moment | clouds

"What do you think clouds feel like?" a little voice said from the back seat. Jackson and I were on our way to soccer pictures Saturday afternoon when he asked this. We were just sitting at a stop light listening to the soothing sounds of "KidStuff" on the radio. He can be really loud and crazy in the car but more and more I find that he is quiet and contemplative--especially when it is just the two of us. His question really brought back into focus for me that, although he is a very sharp boy and can sometimes say and do things that are well beyond his six years, he is just a little kid still experiencing the world through a filter of wonder and innocence.

scary movies

Christopher Lee as Dracula

I was waiting for it. The scary movie aftermath. Jackson was very sheepish when I got home from work last night--quiet and slightly withdrawn. I could tell something was up. When it was time to go to bed he said he had to poop but didn't want to (why must my boys hold it?). I thought, "Aha! That's what it is." I said "do whatcha gotta do, kid" and left him to make his own defication decision. He decided against it.

He willingly got on jammies, listened to the story and the lullabies and kissed and hugged me good night. Just as I was shutting the door he said, "Mom, if I think about bad things will I have bad dreams?" I get a lot of last minute questions and comments just before the bedroom door closes at night, so I figured this was just another routine stalling tactic. I told him not to think about bad things, to think about good things and have good dreams.

"Okay, mama..."

Less than ten minutes later the bedroom door creaked open and he stepped into my office where I was doing some work at my desk. Without looking up, I asked him what was wrong.

"Do you know why I can't go to sleep?" he said quietly. And then he burst into sobs.

"Because we watched Goonie's today at summer school and it was really scary. I didn't want to watch it but they made me and there were bad guys and I'M SCARED!" I knew this wasn't a routine diversion. I looked through the streaming tears I could see his beautiful brown eyes with pupils as big as saucers. This wasn't stalling, this was terror. And it all came flooding back.

When I was about seven years old I watched a Dracula movie one cold and sunny Sunday afternoon. I remember sitting on the floor in front of the t.v. but not much else about the situation. I don't remember the plot and I don't remember why I was left alone and allowed to watch it. But I do remember Christopher Lee's terrifying face. That night I could not sleep and I am not sure that I ever did. I do remember lots of calling to my mom and back and forth to her room for comfort. I do remember vividly how scared and was. I could see that in Jackson's face last night and I felt for him. I absolutely HATED being scared. I think he gets that from me. Owen seems to like it, so we may never have to go through this with him.

I told Jackson he could stay up with me and watch The Colbert Report--funny always counteracts scary. He was so relieved. After the show was over I told him I would lay down with him in his bed until he fell asleep. He did in about 3 minutes.

Christopher Lee has been in many, many movies since that scary 70's Dracula camp. Everytime I see him, I always think of that day and night. To me, he will always be Dracula.

jackson's special gift

My brother Mike gave Jackson the most wonderful gift for his birthday...the gift of his time. My nephew Zack and my older brother spent a whole day and night with Jackson doing everything from having breakfast at the airport to riding the kiddy rides at Funderland. You name it, they did it...ice cream, pizza, movies, the whole schbang. My bro sent me these pics midway through the day. I know Jackson had a blast, but it means more than I can say that the two of them did this for him. Memories that will last forever. Thanks, guys. I love you both very much!

Zoo faces.

Jack + Zack on the merry-go-round.

Teacup madness.

Flume smile. (I love this one!)

The dragon.

Ice cream wave.

happy wednesday!

jackson turns 6

Jackson's birthday (a mine, too) was on Thursday, May 29th; he turned six. We had a birthday party for him on Saturday, the first time he had a party with friends. We invited his entire kinder class and got a pretty great turn out. All of the kids and their parents are so nice. He had a great time. I rented an Incredibles jump house and the kids bounced their brains out.

Can't believe he's six...

the buds

Jackson + Owen gettin' their bounce on.

be mine

This is the Valentine's Day card Jackson and I just finished for his class. He did the watercolor, then we scanned it. He chose the border and the colors, and typed all of the words himself (needed a little help spelling "valentine's". He is off to school in a couple of minutes to hand them out to his friends.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

This is the Valentine we got when he got home(: Oof...