The Polar Express.

3 kids ages 5 and under + 1 mom + 2:15 am train ride. -- "Hey kids, we're going on the Polar Express!" -- I made it fun :)  I bought the kids new pajamas for their special train ride.  But.. instead of the North Pole, we were going to grandma and grandpa's house, I think they preferred their destination over the book's.

The kids and I left a week earlier than Jeff for Christmas break... letting Jeff put in some solid research hours before his break.  So ... on Wednesday at 11:30 PM we made the trek up to the Spokane train station... boarded our train at 2:00 am .... no sleep ... happy excited children ... they really were awesome ... Seth accidently pushed the emergency stop button (all the lights went out and the train stopped for a few minutes) ... lots of cuddling ... arrived in Seattle at 10:00 am ... drove to Oak harbor.  It was a long early morning of traveling.  It was an adventure, experience, and mostly I think it was worth the exhaustion :)

Will work for food.

food for photography.  It's a win, win.

bu-bu-bu-busy

I'm going to make a list of things that I've meant to blog about... and never did (I've been so busy lately):

-Seth's Thanksgiving feast at school
-Seth's craft day at school
I brought Raya and Levi to these school events, and it was fun to share a day at school with Seth and get to know some of his new friends a bit better.

-Took the boys to the WA/ID symphony
-Took Seth to A Christmas Carol
-Boys' first solo day performance at suzuki strings with their real violins :)

-Went to the community tree lighting ceremony (... which they lighted early).  Saw Santa butch, listened to carolers and drank hot cocoa.
-Went to Banyans brunch and saw Santa butch again... Raya was more than terrified. She couldn't even look at him, and would say, "I can't like him."

-Ornament exchange party -- thoughts:  I find myself in between two difference phases -- student life -- grown up "real people" life.  At the party I was the youngest by 10 years (at least) ... a group of talented educated women, immaculate display, decadent food. -- I'm liking this time of life, I get the best of both worlds :)

swim

The boys last swim lesson for the semester was today:

I seriously have cute kids. -- (and they did great in their swim lessons too)

I think my Mondays need to change...

9:00 Levi swim lesson

9:40 Seth swim lesson

12:00 drop Seth off at school

2:30 Levi violin lesson

3:00 Seth violin lesson

4:00 Suzuki class lesson. 

8:42 One tired mom.

boom boom let me hear you say wayo

Sorry, random song in my head... (it may be past my bedtime... or the bedtime that I should have if I ever actually kept one).

ahem... Jeff turned 28!

We watched the Apple Cup for his birthday... which luckily coincided with his parents buying a new 65" tv....  It was a treat for Jeff to actually watch  a game instead of listening it to the radio. (He's a very dedicated fan).  It was a treat for me not having to listen to those idiotic commercial jingles.  (tap tap -- mike check:  ...we're Meyers auto rebuild and towing, where service is no accident! .... everyone knows the place to go Deranleaus appliance, audio... video.)

Lets see I'll just list what's in the pictures: ... football pizza, football cheeseball... apples slices, coug colored chips, cheese cake, I made cougar shirts (go cougs) oh.. and Jeff opening his gift certificate for SKY DIVING.  He said he's never been so surprised.  (I know, I'm a good wife)... (but that's only because he's a good husband) .... Happy birthday Jeff!

The Snowy Day

I don't know why, but it always catches me off guard that my kids have personalities... of well their own, something that Jeff and I didn't pass on to them.  Raya has a flair for acting -- she loves to pretend different emotions or different situations... she was pretending to be sleeping on the sled as I was pulling her towards the snow hill:

 Levi.. with his debonair smile and sparkly blue eyes.  -- He stuck mainly to the bunny hill.

Seth loves the snow, and it gladdens my heart... because I hate the snow.  But having Seth around makes it much more tolerable.

I still can't believe Jeff let Raya go down this steep (steep steep steep) hill... twice.

There goes my baby... I was having serious heart palpitations.

And what does Raya say when all is said and done?  "That was fun!" -- "Mommy, your turn.  C'mone Mommy I'll help you."

.... and what was my reply? ... lets just say I stuck with the bunny hills with Levi :) (But next time I'll suck it up, seriously, I can't have my two year old braver than me!)

little mo's

Little moments that I've meant to post earlier:

I think I'm not alone when I state that at times (ok, a lot of times) I have feelings of inadequacies -- especially in regards to parenting. Thoughts like:  Did I read enough to them today?  Did I give each child enough individual attention? Diet? -- and then since I'm around them all.the.time. their little less than perfect quirks seem HUGE at times. --  That's why this little moment after the boys swim lesson meant a lot to me after a particularly challenging week.  Their instructor was praising them with such enthusiasm, not only their swimming skills but how well behaved and how well they listened what good examples they were.  Music to my ears, I must be doing something right (right?).


Splash and Dash.  Seth has been wanting to go to this for a year... ever since his friends at Montessori raved to him how cool it is.  Last Friday we dropped the boys off at the swimming pool and Jeff and I went on a "date" with Raya.  I can't express how much fun it was.  Raya loved the attention.  And going from 3 to 1 kids... It reminded me how much work those other two actually are!  Going out for ice cream and then Hastings with Raya... it was so simple and easy.  We went home and Jeff and I took turns reading to Raya and getting JUST Raya ready for bed.  It was so simple and sweet.  It was a good night.  As for the boys, they've asked every day since if they can go to another splash and dash.


Win some you loose some.  These days don't happen too often, but Saturday was just a bad day.  No ones fault, and no on upset... but everything just off.  Went to the bear exhibit, Seth was so excited to see bears in hibernation, he even brought a notebook and was taking notes... we waited in line and went through the mini-presentations about the bears (we had to go in small groups) and just before we were about to see the bears the director informed us that children are not permitted to see them.  Seth was devastated... an hour investment... no bears.  It was annoying.  -- New plan, I wanted to check out the craft fair in Lewiston -- gps leading us astray, kids laying on the gym floor, no check book, no diapers... and Raya needed one.  1 hour 15 min drive... for 30 minutes of a craft fair (bah!)

Last thought.... The boys' "real" violins are shipped!  I'm so excited for this new venture.

bubble-walden-hockey.

Bubble -- ok, I know that I am out of the loop when it comes to most pop culture related stuff... but really, I just found out Michael Jackson died today. I laughed pretty hard at myself... seriously how did I miss that news headline?? -- and it was like forever ago.. I'm hopeless.

Walden -- Meet our new pet: named after the book I'm currently reading. 

Hockey -- Seth did a try-hockey-for-free-day last Saturday.  He was so adorable:

I was amazed at how fast the kids picked it up too!  Too bad for time conflicts or we would sign him up for the league, definitely something to keep in mind for next year though.

Hey Paul.... Paul Bunyan (Paul Bunyan)

He's 64 ax handles high with his feet on the ground and his head in the sky... hey Paul... Paul Bunyan.  

That's what our Halloween sounded like... Three adorable children prancing around singing Paul Bunyan.  You know Halloween might be my favorite holiday :)

"May the Forest be with you."

"Run Forest, Run!" -- Jeff and I were trees if you haven't figured it out...

Raya was the Paul Bunyans trusty Babe the blue ox. --

So for Halloween, we went to the mall, and to a couple of houses.  The boys especially got so many "ohhs and awws"  They were so cute swiping their axes and swaggering with their snow boots.  Levi actually attempted to chop down a real tree at the mall... I love Levi.

Early on Halloween Levi, Raya and I attended Seth's school party.  I made jello worms... they were so gross, they were  great.  The kids got a big kick out of them.

"My handsome man" aka Levi

Levi turned four... he is four.  It's hard for me to wrap my mind around it, that my second child is four years old. He's huge! he's old! It's very strange.

On his birthday, birthday, -- we started the day off with leopard pancakes and a birthday shirt.  Levi loves biking... and he obviously loved his shirt.  It's tradition to get a birthday book too... this year he got "Big Cats" by Seymour Simmons.

I adore the picture of Raya and Levi on the lion.  I should have it framed -- they have become such great friends lately.  They take care of each other.  -- anyways, for his birthday activity we took Levi up to Cat Tales in Spokane.  We got close to large cats like lions and tigers.  Levi got to see his leopards; Seth wants to go to California for his birthday because he read that their is a zoo in California that has cheetahs.... oh Seth.  -- The kids favorite exhibit might have been the gift shop, they love their little tokens they took home with (thanks Grandma and Granpa!)

Levi's shirt says, "Levi Loves Leopards" -- that's what he wanted on his shirt and he also wanted a leopard cake.. (I hope this is just a phase)  Happy birthday my sweet boy! We love you.

p-p-p-p-pictures

It's Levi's birthday tomorrow (!!) -- so I thought I better upload pictures to make way for the birthday festivities coming up... I have to admit I was a bit surprised at how many pictures I actually had, a family can do a lot in five days.

Some general cuteness: While Seth was at school I took Raya and Levi to the craft fair -- doesn't Levi look studly?? He took the picture of me below -- and Raya likes to wear her helmet... a lot, and go up the slide the wrong way... I pick and choose my battles.

The long awaited chess club began!!  Seth was so thrilled.  To the right is Seth winning his first game :)

Last Saturday we went to two soccer games and a birthday party... all before 12:00. It was Levi's last practice.. he loved being a goalie, and Seth loved coaching him from behind the goal.

Raya loved stepping on my feet, "Mom, Mom, Mommy!"

... I love it ... she's my little shadow :)

Seth's game: He was team captain and lead the group in stretches.  Seth loves being a goalie... Seth's coach is always telling him he is a natural goalie... and mentioned to me last practice he should play hockey.  -- High pain tolerance and extremely focused.... I guess that does fit the description of a hockey player, but I think we'll stick with soccer.

Ali's Birthday party: Cute kids in cute costumes... the boys were "soccer players" since we came straight from their games.

The boys' first "concert" ! -- It was a neat experience for them to see children playing solos, and joining in at the end with their box violins, practicing their rhythms to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

I think I know what I'm getting Seth for his birthday.... his first time on a skateboard and I think he did pretty well.

I love fall... and this little girls' face.  She loved throwing leaves at me :)

This is what these two do during Seth's soccer practice.  I love that Raya already has a biking buddy.

Halloween party!  My Paul Bunyans and Babe the blue ox:

Seth lost his second tooth!

... I'm pretty sure that was like 12 posts in one... whew!

Insert creative title here.

I uploaded pictures from my camera phone... (I need to take out my real camera more often...)

We went to the WSU organic farm pumpkin patch on Saturday.  We've gone to it for five years now! That's crazy.  Hay ride... "corn maze"... the kids love picking out their own little pumpkins. 

I love that Raya found the tiniest green pumpkin and instantly became attached to it.

Levi named his pumpkin "Sweet Juicy" and is very excited to cut and eat it raw. I hope he doesn't get disappointed when I wont let him eat it... maybe we will toast the seeds?

Raya named her pumpkin "Sweet Juicy too"

Seth named his pumpkin "Cheetah.

-- since I'm on this thread of new namings, Levi named his violin "Leopard," and Seth named his violin (can you guess it?) "Cheetah."

Seth's soccer game... when he was goalie he saved the ball with his head! (He may or may not have meant to... but it was still pretty cool).  His coach said it was the best save of the game.

My sister made Raya the most adorable knit doll for her birthday, seriously.  I'll get more pictures of it later, Raya loves it.

The kids were invited to a superhero themed birthday party -- don't be fooled by Levi's face, they had a great time (I love that picture of Levi.)

Last thought of a rambling mother.... Raya's two year check up yesterday.  

Doctor: "What does a cat say?"

Raya: "C-c-c-c" -- she's making the c sound... because cat starts with the letter c....  

Go Seth!

(... and Go Cougs!) -- Seth lost his first tooth!! It was at the WSU soccer game on Friday.  He looks so old now... (sigh). 

On Wednesday we went to Seth's open house at school.  I loved his excitement -- he took our parent guide sheet and read and showed us everything on the list.  I love this boy, I'm always in awe that I have helped mold this child, seriously how could I?  He is amazing: 

 Last thought on Seth: soccer. -- He is doing INCREDIBLE.  He scored his first goal yesterday.  His skills have grown so much in a few weeks and even better -- he loves playing.  (And I love cheering him on).  Go Seth!

biking, biking, ... a little violin, oh and more biking

The kids (ok... and me..) are addicted to biking.  Levi in particular... he is incorrigible; actually as I'm typing this blog Levi is pleading to go to the skate park....  

This is so cute... I love watching all these little boys (+ Raya) ages 5 and under at the skate park.  They were playing cops and robbers.

Don't you love that Levi is still wearing his biking helmet still? -- I think he would sleep in it.  Anyways, the boys love playing their violin.  Right now they are practicing on box violins.

And more pictures @ the skate park... practicing on the half pipe.