Free time...

This weekend we were free. Completely and utterly free to do anything we wanted. We have not had a free weekend since January 7th, and our next fully free weekend... Memorial Day... as in the end of May. Seriously. So rather than lay around the house, we decided to head out an a little adventure. Grace really wanted to do the 4T Trail again, so even though we were certain it would be muddy, and even though it had started snowing before we left the house, we loaded up and headed out. 

The first 1/3 of the hike was great. One and a half miles from the Zoo parking lot up to Council Crest. There was scattered snow along the trail, waterfalls and creeks running down each slope, and just enough mud to keep us on our toes. (Because I didn't have a good way to keep my camera dry, I opted to leave it at home. These terrible pictures are from my phone... nothing to be proud of, but they will help us remember our adventure). 

Peaking over the trail to see the water pouring out of a drainage pipe.

Shortcut!

The path to the top of council crest is paved, so Grace made good use of her Elmo "pack-pack" pulling it behind her as she walked. 

Not too much snow, but enough for a few snowballs to throw.

Portland!

The second 1/3 of the hike was a little tougher. It snowed more, we continued to get muddy and wet, and the girls got colder and colder. By the time we made it back up the big hill to the hospital though, the sun broke through the clouds. I felt a little guilty walking through OHSU after tromping through the woods, but I suppose they are somewhat used to it. We made a quick pit stop to use the potties and search for hot chocolate, but we couldn't find any so we just headed to the tram instead. 

**On a side note - it was one year ago (on 2/22) that we last visited Doernbecher with Claire and got the all clear from her hematologist. It was fun to be walking around campus yesterday remembering how grateful we are for her health and for the people who saved her.** 

The final 1/3 of our adventure was pretty quick and relatively easy. We hopped right on the tram and, even though it was pretty crowded, we had a great spot and enjoyed the views on the ride down. There was even a rainbow hovering over the Fremont Bridge. When we got to the bottom a Streetcar (aka Trolley) was waiting for us. We hopped right on and enjoyed the short trip through along the waterfront and parts of SW Portland. Since it was getting late, and since we were all wet, cold, muddy and hungry, we got directly on the MAX and headed back to our car at Washington Park. Once we were back to the car we stripped our shoes, socks (and the girls took their pants off). With the heater blasting, and the snow still falling, we made our way home. 

All-in-all our day out was a success. It created a lot of laundry, but I'd say it was worth it. This was our third time on the 4T and it never disappoints. If you live in the area, you should definitely check it out. 

Moments...

We - as a family - are struggling to keep up our life pace lately. We are always going, always moving, rarely home, and usually behind on everything. The girls struggle to get enough sleep, and that frustrates us because we know that we will pay the price the next day(s). Daily I am faced with the temptation to skip the whole bed time routine and just put them in bed. I can usually rationalize it by saying "we've been reading all afternoon" or "you'll get a bath after swimming lessons tomorrow." I am so thankful though that Merrick never does. As much as I know they need the sleep, and we need the time to relax, I also know that theses days are numbered. Before long Grace will want to be reading by herself and Claire won't want us in her room. As hard as it is for me right now, I am trying to slow down and enjoy these moments... before they are gone.

"One doesn't recognize the really important moments in one's life until it's too late." ~ Agatha Christie

Thoughtful...

Last week I wrote about Claire being done with binkies. We are now two weeks out, and she's doing great. Today we opened the mail box and found a card from baby Cooper (aka Ramie) saying congrats and thanks for "sending" her some binkies. For many reasons we didn't actually send the binkies too Cooper or Charlie - shocking, I know - but Claire doesn't know that. Anyway, I wish I had been able to capture the look on Claire's face when I read the card out loud to her. She was so excited. Totally thrilled. 

Thank you, Ramie, for being so thoughtful. You sure made Claire's day today!

Oranges...

The girls have been eating little oranges - aka "cuties" - like they are going out of style. I don't typically limit their veggie or fruit intake, but oranges tend to cause some issues, so I do have to watch them when the fruit bowl is full of citrus. Even still, a bag only lasts for a day or two in our house.

The other morning I had told Claire she couldn't have any more oranges. After fighting a bit, she resigned herself to the fact that I wasn't going to change my mind, so I was surprised when I heard her stool scooting towards the counter and the familiar clunk of oranges falling off the counter. When I tried to stop her our conversation was quite funny to me... mostly because I ended up just being an eavesdropper on the other side of the conversation. 

Me: Claire, you can't have another orange.

Claire: It's for daddy!

Me: Did you ask daddy if he wants an orange? 

Claire: He's gonna have him five oranges... Daddy, do you want some five oranges? 

Merrick: Yes, I do want some five.

*Claire then pridefully strutted right passed me into the office with a bowl full of oranges for her daddy. 

Claire: Here's your five oranges.

*Merrick happily pretends to eat the oranges. 

Claire: No daddy. Those are for to eat. For IN your mouth.

She was very adamant and Merrick did eventually eat "some five oranges." I think she so desperately wanted to be eating oranges that she decided the next best thing was to serve oranges to daddy, and then stand close enough so she might just be able to smell them. 

Grace's photo dump...

From February 20:

Grace is still loving her camera and capturing unique views of everyday things. Here's another sampling of her most recent work...

 

Morning coffee...

I really like Saturday mornings. It is one of the only days of the week when we have nothing to do... and that usually means there is time to make breakfast and enjoy a pot of coffee. Whenever I drink coffee (which is usually only once or twice a week), the girls will ask if they can have a sip. They love it. Warm, creamy, totally unsweetened, delicious coffee. They would drink an entire mug if I let them, but this is one of those things when just a "yittle" bit is all they get. They savor the whole tablespoon.

Grace doesn't typically get her own mug, but since I had been eating eggs, I didn't want to share with her. She loves this Beauty and the Beast mug and requests it anytime we are drinking warm beverages.  

Claire just finished up my coffee, but wanted to hold it all by herself. 

Merrick and I each got one of these mugs for Christmas from my mom... they are fantastic. Big, but not too big and they have perfect handles. 

When I walked away to get my camera, I came back just in time to find Claire using her peanut butter and jelly as war paint. 

This is a silly picture because I was trying to just get a shot of Grace's left eye. Merrick accidentally clocked her in the face and it left little marks around her eye, but she wouldn't stop squinting, so her funny wrinkles hide all of the evidence. 

Pictures at the park...

From February 3:

I took these pictures at the beginning of February intending to make Valentine's cards for friends... and then never got around to making anything for the girls' friends. It has just been a busy season around here. Thought I'd share them here at least...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog work...

I've been working on updating my blog - new header, changing things around a bit, etc. I thought it was time to give it a little TLC.

I guess that also means that I should be catching up on the actual posts that are so, so late.
February 17 - Bye-bye binkies
February 16 - Growing Up
February 13 - Can you tell me how to get
February 12 - Pretty in pink
February 11 - More "noonles" please
February 9 - So proud
February 4 - In its own way
February 2 - Photo dump
January 30 - Whoooo are you
January 26 - Big time
January 23 - Boise

Bye-bye binks...

We have been a binky-less house for one week. Last Friday we said our goodbyes, packed them up, and "mailed" the binkies to babies that might need them more than Claire does. It went surprisingly well, all things considered. It wasn't too long ago that we started telling Claire she was almost too big for binkies. We suggested giving them to a friend and she seemed okay with that idea, but would always say, "They will give them right back to me." So last week we started the countdown - and we stuck with it. I wanted to give her time to warm up to the idea, and perhaps ease into it. We started a week out and as we got close would say "Two more nights," or "Last nap with binkies."

On Friday morning she woke up, said she was done, and put them in her little basket. By Friday evening we gathered them from around the house and into a pile. She separated them into ziplock bags - one for baby Cooper and one for baby Charlie. She then wrote each of them a letter explaining how special her binkies are and that she hopes they are well cared for. We put everything into an envelope and then Claire put them on the front step. In the morning, the binkies were gone.

Two times this week she has asked for a binky, but all-in-all things have gone really well. She has not been napping as well, which I knew would happen, but we will get back into a good rhythm and I'm sure the naps will return.

The best part is that she has been telling everyone "I sleeped without my binkies!" We've been really playing up the "now you are a big girl" thing and she's latched on to that. In church on Saturday night she leaned over to me and said, "I big now. I'd like some real gum please." Nice try, kid.

Growing up...

At least we can be thankful that she has grown into her teeth.

Can you tell me how to get...

...to Katie's birthday party!

Our sweet friend, Katie, turned two last week. Her mom used Pintrest to put together an amazing Sesame Street birthday party. Here's a quick peak at some of the great things Kim came up with.

Pretty in pink...

Grace was recently invited to a pink, pink, pink tea party. A friend of Shannon's owns an event coordinating business in Portland that is launching a new line of vintage rentals for tea parties. In order to best market the products they set up a mini-photo shoot with our girls as "models." I don't think Grace even knew there was going to be a photographer present. She kept telling people she was going to a "dancing tea party" because she had to wear a leotard. I dropped Grace off in the Pearl, but didn't stick around for the morning, so I'm not sure exactly what they did, but I do know they four girls had a blast. Shannon was there and snapped these pictures, but we are all pretty excited to see what the photographer ended up getting. 

More "noonles" please...

Nothing like a mid-afternoon spaghetti snack to keep you going strong. This girl loves her "noonles" with sauce. And, as you can see, there is a perfectly logical explanation for the lack of clothing this time!

So proud...

Sometimes when we need to buy a few minutes of happiness, we bust out the teeth. I really think this was more entertaining for Shannon and I, but the girls had fun too. Once Claire woke up she couldn't wait to be part of the fun as well. We're so proud.