Santa

Third time with this Santa, he's great. Makes me cry every time tho.

Speller

Nom

Turkey leg.

Happy Halloween!

Oompa-Loompa doopity doo...

7th Anniversary

Out to dinner with the girls for our 7th Anniversary.

Ice cream

Coldstone FTW, with sprinkles...

Carwash

Jumpy

Sorry!

It's been a while, I know. We all get busy...give us a call and partake! The fun is not gonna find you!

Jr. Park Ranger

Tadpoles!

Silver lake awesomeness.

Pop

The envelope of progress.

Ninjas

"Whats a ninja?"

I do love her so.

Good Answer

Mandy came home early and Freda literally attacked her, telling how much she missed her all day and wanting a big hug. it was really sweet.

So I asked Freda, "What was the thing you missed most about mommy?"

she looks semi-puzzled.

"What do like doing with mommy the most?"

"Loving." she says.

June 15, 2010

"everywhere" = "alloverwhere"

and yeah they are still "seriously bars"...

"America. Inside city."

"No No poppy. Don't come under here [kitchen table]."

"Why? What are you doing?"

"Making art."

She then explains what each one was. One was an "airport" and one was "rivers" and one was "buildings" and one was "roads" [see pic]...

"Oh yeah? Wow mini, that's really cool! What do you call it?"

"America. Inside City."

I have 2

Freda wrapped a piece of string around her thumb while we were driving around the the day. I noticed and told her to take it off and that she knew not to tie things to her body. "That can really hurt your thumb, in fact, it could fall off!" I said. In the rear view mirror i watched her contemplating her thumb.

"Think of all the things you could never do if you had no thumb" I ponder.

"I could not pick things up." she says.

"Nope. And you would not be able to eat" i say.

"You couldn't fly a kite or tie your shoes or draw..."

After a few minutes of brainstorming, she gets quiet before saying, "It's okay poppy, I have another one!" waving her other thumb in the air.

Tony's Coffee

Carly Visit

Carly Starr was up for a visit and stayed overnight, much to Freda's liking.

Yoda

We were wandering around the Saturday Farmer's Market and we stumbled upon Yoda. Freda asked "Who's that guy?"

BFF Already!

Freda loves this cat. The two of them are so funny. They hjusy hang out and play in Freda's room. I went to check on her yesterday and found this cutness.

She kisses it and calls it "sweetie" and "honeee" and "baby kitty". It's adorable.

Class Picture

Freda graduated into preschool today! More to come...

Blackwoods

Went over to the Blackwoods for a nice evening of shishkabobs and spirits. Great conversation, big backyard and big ol' dogs. The kids were like spinning tops darting around the yard. Too fun, looking forward to the next time.

Freda came wandering out of the house to show us Conner's monster stilts. Parents cringe on maiden voyages like these. In bare feet.

Wonderpets

Whats gonna work? Teamwork!

Tinkerbell

We went through some boxes of old stuff of Mandy's Saturday night. we condensed 5-6 boxes into a couple storage bins. Win. We are converting the guest haus in to a studio for the all the different art we do. We draw, color, paint, build, sticker, cut, glue, fold, play music, etc. We want a place we don't have to worry about spilled things or paint getting tracked around. Just want to focus on creating things. I digress, we had some empty boxes and you know what happen when there are empty boxes and a kid around...

She takes one and a lid and sits inside and hides from everyone. Begging us to find her, then getting upset that the dogs would not join her. Like there was room? So I being an engineer, construct a cardboard spacefort complete with designs like panels and buttons and switches and windows with space vistas and working latched door. So very cool. Well, 10 minuts into it and she is whining and crying because the dogs wont get the the fort with her. I would have gotten inside but my head and one arm barely fit enough to even draw. We try and explain that we can't make the animals do what we want and we need to appreciate the times they do want to play with us.She was not only not buying it, I don't think she was even listening.

Mandy has an idea that she needed maybe a kitten to follow her around and love. We are not getting a kitty we have to litter train. Mandy finds this crazy cat online named Tinkerbell on the NOAH website. A beautiful place in a few different ways.

A philosophy to help "Build a Bond for Life"

Forward thinking and research on how to help "Build a Bond for Life" between pets and their families led the N.O.A.H. Animal Adoption Center's Board of Directors to our overall philosophy.

Tinkerbell had already been adopted so we looked a few other cats. Freda liked one but we wanted to make sure and get one that could take a good tail pull and leg grab as well as deal with our two little dogs and two other cats. Mandy cracked up when i "tested" the cat out. hehe. Then the girl shows back up and tells us the Tinkerbell is actually down in Smoky Point about 20 minutes away at a remote location. Freda was ecstatic to find out this cat is nuts. There were towels over the front of her enclosure because she was distracting the dog training class...She went crazy when we played with her and Freda was just in heaven. So I ask Freda if she liked Tinkerbell enough to take it home and take care of it.

Tinkerbell sat in Freda's lap the entire hour it took us to drive back home. When we drove by Grandma Leslie's town, Freda really wanted to stop by and show her her new cat. She is so excited to have her own cat, "...it's Freda size, not mommy size, not daddy size..."

Cute stuff. When we got home Mandy asked if we made the right choice in getting a new pet..."Beats having another kid..." I say. We both laugh cause there's just no way we would put ourselves through that.

Tricks

Ahhhhhh...the old 'twisted napkin in the nose' trick...unsolicited even! good one mini, good one.

The Olsens

The Olsens are one of our best friends. Ryan got a job in San Francisco and they are moving this weekend. We are very excited for your new lives in California as much as it saddens us not to be so close anymore. Our friendship was solidified by a pregnancy class followed by the births of our children exactly 1 month apart. You guys will be missed, but know you always have a non-family spot to stay when in the area.

The first time the kids wrastled Freda just owned Simon...he's a smart kid and I'm not totally sure he did not let her. lol. This time was so funny because Simon cried 'uncle' after a minute or so of struggling to gain control.

We went out to dinner and Simon enacted his revenge in the form of a big ol' hug and Freda hammed it up for the camera.

"I'm Hidin'"

I love this kid.

Face paint at the flea market.

Ski to Sea

At the parade with balloons and cotton candy and the whole bit.

Freda and I decorated some cookies today afterschool. This morning
when Mandy dropped her off she told her she could decorate and eat one
and the first thing she said when I picked her up tonite was
concerning going home to dercorate that cookie to eat.

Imagine her elation when three cookies appeared. Being dad is pretty
rad.

Dinner with friends

Terri, Joe and Oliver came over for dinner and play on Monday. The kids never stopped. We made falafel and had some drinks, listened to music, poked around in the garden, did some slug recon, rode some bikes...a really nice way to finish off a productive and fun few days. Thanks again guys!

Mad dawg

Three years old and mad doggin' with the best of them already!

Nachoskulls

We have gotten back into painting the mache skulls. Freda loves to paint her own. Her hands are so articulate and her motor skills are very good for her age. she peeled hard boiled eggs for us this weekend. Like a veteran. Apparently, egg salad sandwiches are her favorite?

Swimming lessons!

Joel and Celeste drove up from San Rafael to visit for the weekend. We all picked Freda up from school on Monday and went to dinner. Tuesday, we all went to breakfast and then to watch Freda's swim lessons before they had to get back on the road and head south...miss you guys!

Freda and her buddy Ajax.

Ebb and Flow

For the last week or so it's been baby talk and attitude. Sticking her tongue out? What the...? She told me my plate of food was "yucky" at dinner, again. C'mon girl...

Watching her waffle between being a "big goil" and a baby is something else. Confusing, complicated and frustrating. Just seeing what she can get away with I'm sure.

Mental Video Camera

Yesterday I was working in the yard when the girls came home. Freda ran out to see me as Mandy took some things inside. The sun was shining in my eyes and I was ired from digging up and hauling big rocks for the last couple hours. She runs into my arms babbling about whatever they had been up too. I was not listening to her because I was so...there. I was just soaking up the moment.

I tell her I need help getting this wheelbarrow full of rocks across the yard. She was to scout ahead for anything in the way I might run into. Once there I dumped it much to her excitement and then she was off again. She takes off across the lawn towards the front where Mandy had disappeared into the house yelling "mommy mommy mommy...". I stood there and watched her run out of sight thinking how lucky I am. Woah My daughter just ran across the yard yelling for her mom. I had my own little family moment.

Gotta bookmark that page.

She Grows

These pj's have been missing for a month or so. Her toes were all
scrunched up in the feet when she put them on. She really wanted to
wear them and the rest fit fine. So I grabbed some scissors and as I
started to cut the feet off, she gave me that look. Her mouth turned
down and her eyes got big as she says "but..."

So I compromised and we cut the toes off. It all became really funny.

Oliver!

We spent the evening with Oliver, Terri and Joe, eating, drinking and laughing. They invited us over to share some incredibly delicious food. Spotted prawns, guac, salsa x3, cilantro, etc. Simple and delicious. Oliver and Freda made masa cakes. It was really cute. They worked together and pressed out a dozen+ little cakes. They had so much fun, not only at play but they so love being included at this age.

Flour from head to toe. Great attitude about the mess Terri...Very patient and loving parents for a very intelligent and energetic kid.

These two are hilarious together. They act like they have known each other for centuries. They were like little pinballs bouncing from room to room, from discovery to discovery. "YEAHHH ITS A BLOOD SQUIRTIN EYE LIZARDS!!!1!" and "LOOK!LOOK!LOOK!THE BLUE CRABS ARE SQAREIN' OFF!" The two them share an affinity for the nature shows. Oliver had this beautiful ballet of playing with freda, acting like a circus acrobat, discussing the merits of claws with me, and assuring his dad that he's not thirsty; while pausing and starting the movie in unison with this all, flawlessly. My favorite was when he disappeared, falling off the back of the couch onto the the hardwood floor. "Heh. That was painful" he says from behind there. Then bolts out and takes off running never missing a step giggling the whole way. Even ordinary everyday things were renewed and exciting, the mundane was brillinat.

Bonus points for all not being the only ones who sometimes stand and eat dinner. Thanks to the hosts for the evening, we really enjoyed ourselves. Looking forward to plans we made for future get-togethers. Beautiful kitchen!

lol @ foot thing/ear thing...

Workin is Hard Work

Today we moved some new dirt into the garden via wheelbarrow. Even
cooler is Freda gets to ride in the front in the truck and she
absoutley loves it. We own the road.

Cracked me up she was singing a two person poppy/Freda version of the
Wonderpets theme. And she made me "cheers" our rakes every other scoop
haha.

Bathtime is #1

Family Weekend

A long weekend of family. Saturday Freda stayed over at Grandma Leslie's so we could go out for Kaori's birthday. As usual, they must have had a blast as Freda always returns with a Grammaleslie hangover and is all kinds of worn out! She spoke of feeding ducks and parks and movie and the dogs...she sure loves staying over Grandma, thanks. We had a great time as weird as it is to not have mini around.

Sunday we went to my parents house for alder plank salmon.

My Dad's sister Joann is visiting so we all got together to celebrate. Thanks for coming up Joann, we really had a good time visiting and catching up on the last 20+years! We are looking forward to seeing more of you in the coming years. Aunt Jani made a cameo and my brother's family was there. Freda got to run around with her cousins and play tag and raced and made a squirrel restaurant (piles of acorns). Those girls sure know how to have a good time. It's great how her cousins just include her like they do.

Freda crashed and need some major repairs and cousin Sawyer supervised.

On Sunday we drove down to a Schumacher family dinner in Bayview. We barbecued and visited with Grandpa John's sisters who were visiting and of course, his mother Freda. Tyler and Molly showed up with new baby in utero. Cousin on the way for Freda. Welcome to the fold! lol.

We were exhausted and found our way back home only to pass out in front of the idiot tube on the couch after settling everyone down.

Playdate

Freda and I met up with some friends at a park in between drizzles.

Here's Freda and Leona sharing some chips. Harrison was all over the playground and Issac was mobile and on the run.

School is Hard Work

That's a first!

New Style

Hey, the girl likes cupcakes. Pink cupcakes.

Who's gonna argue?

Raising the Bar

Oh yeah, almost forgot, last night she wore no diaper to bed for the first time, and she was successful too!

I was really impressed, but not as much as she was.

Freda and I were sowing some Fava beans we germinated for the garden. Strange spikey weeds had stared coming up through the soil in the garden. 

When I started pulling them out I hear, "Poppy, what are you doing?"

Let me stop here and tell you about the questions. About questions. About questions regarding the original question. Most are inquisitive, others are clarification and some are both. Obviously I am not giving her the right answer so she asks again because she does not have the vocabulary to expand her query. Makes for some funny stuff.

"Poppy, who is that?"

"Thats [Craig]"

"Oh [Craig]?

"Yeah [Craig]"

"Poppy who's [Craig]?"

"That guy."

"Who?"

hahahaha...

I digress, back to the story;

"I'm pulling these weeds..."

"You mean those Horsetails?"

"How did you know that? OH WAIT. Let me guess. Nature walks on Robin Time."

she smiles and says, "I like Robin time."

Robin is a teacher at her school that does 'science class'. Next to Dress Up, she says it's her favorite thing at school.

Tic-tac-toe

We play it.

Alderwood Elementry School

Freda and I went and played at the grade school she will go to. The playground is super fun. Freda said she is excited to have recess there.

A Great Big Square

She made this "giant square" with coins while I made dinner last night.

Here she is documenting her work with her camera in her unders and temp tattoos:

Here's Freda's shot:

Did i mention she missed nap? 

So, this is the part of the story where Freda asked Mama to give her a hand but when she did, Freda fell apart on us. So we brushed and called it a night. Love you biddy!