Trying to be Girly

We hired a photographer to come to the house and take pictures of us.  Ryan and I take great photos of the boys but there are very few great photos of the four of us together, or heck, even of just me and Ryan.  Ryan is photogenic so most all of his pictures turn out great.  Me?  Not so much.  Ryan will take pictures of me but he seems to see me the same whether I'm dressed up or down, with or without make up.  So when I'm looking a bit um, shall we say, rough around the edges, he sees April.  Just April.  While that is sweet and all it makes for some pretty blah photos.

Hence I thought it was time to get some good family photos.  A huge plus will be if I don't look like a haggard mother of two.   I'm hoping to look like a radiant, well rested mother of two.  I went to great lengths to make sure today would go well.  I bought a pretty new sweater that would look great with jeans.  Then I got boots that would look great with the sweater and the jeans.  I made sure my hair was good so I got it trimmed on Friday.  Make up was restocked on Thursday. 

And to make sure the curl was even in my hair and not just a bunch of curls in the back - because you know most photographers take photos of just the back of your head - I braided three sections of hair in the front like I do many nights of the week.

But last night I was a little over zealous in the braiding.  The braids were very tight.  Very.

After applying the toner, serum, moisturizer, foundation, concealer, blush, eye shadow and mascara I was ready to let my hair down and toss my head around like I was in a shampoo commercial.

From 1988.

Oy. 

The curls.  They were not good.  It looked like a crimper attacked my hair. 

So, I did what I do every other day of the year - I put my hair in a pony tail.  After a while I managed to do a half up, half down do. 

Then I was all ready for our candid family shots.  As directed by the photographer when the lighting was just right, after Gavin had been bribed with cookies to do as instructed.

When we look back on these photos years from now will I whitewash my memories to show the boys in cute matching outfits?  Me with my hair perfect acceptable and clothes all cute 'n stuff.  Will I remember Theo screaming because he slept too late for his morning nap and was gearing up for his afternoon nap?  We got just enough laughs out of him in between shots to make it worthwhile.

Of course, we really wanted to do outdoor shots on Alki but the pineapple express working its way through our area put the kibosh on those plans.  The rain did let up enough to allow some outdoor shots at the light rail station and for some on the walk home. 

I'm excited to get the photos back. 

I hope my hair isn't too dorky, there isn't cleavage and my lips don't look like they belong on Caspar the ghost because I forgot lipstick.

Lipstick!  I never wear it so it only makes sense for me to feel at home without it.  Oh, how the Pioneer Woman wouldn't faint at such a declaration.

If you don't know who the Pioneer Woman is... well.  You may just want to keep it that way since you would get sucked into her Black Heels to Tractor Wheels book and if you read her recipes you would gain 10 pounds just reading about all of the butter she uses.

Cria Cuteness

Did you know a baby alpaca is called a cria?  I didn't know either until we googled it on our way to a farm in Mason County to see two new babies.  My MIL's neighbor and great friend is on the board of trustees of some farm that .... shoot.  He told me what they do.  Something to do with salmon so I wasn't quite sure what the alpacas and goats at the farm had to do with salmon.  I didn't ask how they are connected. 

So I have some pictures of baby alpacas.  And from Thanksgiving, our tree cutting, gingerbread house decorating...  In no particular order.

Enjoy!

The spearmint hard candies have been fashioned into a van.  Gavin wasn't as interested in decorating the house as he was in making vans with which to decorate the side yard of the gingerbread house.  It's our hicksville gingerbread house.  We didn't have any candy that I thought could look like blocks to put the vans on. 

Van #2.  The yellow gum drops in the middle are the seats with the little gum drops being the people. 

Van #3.  We were low on materials so this one takes a little more imagination to visualize.

I found the key to a structurally sound gingerbread house lies in reading AND following the directions.  First put the sides together allowing each side to dry for 1 minute before adding the next.  Then letting the whole thing dry for an hour before adding the roof.  Then one more hour cure time before decorating. 

Gavin could only bring himself to put on the big candies as that was the safest way to ensure his fingers didn't have to touch the frosting.  He didn't know what the white glue was - I didn't tell him. 

He wanted to make more vans. 

Theo wasn't into the photo op. in front of our first Christmas tree at Camp Monten (Ryan's mom & step-dad's house).

Turns out Gavin likes the snow when he gets to sit in a sled and be pushed around by dad and chased by the dog.

12 hour old cria (baby alpaca). 

We tried and tried and tried to get a photo with the mama alpaca but she ducked out with each picture. 

This one was my favorite.  I wanted to hug it but settled for scratching her cute cheeks.  I asked her to not spit on me.  She was nice and complied.

Theo enjoyed the ride, too, although you would never know by the look on his face in this picture.

Gavin was mildly interested in the alpacas.

Apparently Theo didn't think having his head sniffed by an alpaca was as cute as everyone else. 

My niece Laura.  I can't believe she's 12!



Laura & Matthew.  12 years vs. 6 years.  Matthew's gingerbread house had a seismic activity shortly after this photo was taken.  

He was very proud of his house.



After the roof collapsed he decorated the inside of the house.  He was so proud of his gingerbread tree that wasn't broken.  He's so cute! 

Cousins Laura and Matthew playing with Gavin during their dance party.  Everyone likes to dance when Gavin breaks out his dancing skillz.



My brother got after his kids for jumping on Nana's couch not long after this was taken.  Oops.  I mean, Gavin, get off the couch like that! 

A flood of sprinkles came out.  It was quite a challenge to sweep all of the round sugar balls off the hardwood floors.  

Rabbit Hole in my Brain

Sometimes Ryan will give me a bewildered look in the middle of one of my riveting stories and say, "Where on earth did that come from?"  Apparently he doesn't realize I easily fall down rabbit holes in my head with the slightest verbal, olfactory or auditory stimulation.  Take the following hole I fell down tonight. 

While standing in the checkout line at QFC I scanned the freezer case behind me.  Was there anything on sale?  Anything on sale that I wanted?  No.  But I did see a Stouffer's frozen meal that was on sale.  That made me do a quick look for their frozen mac 'n cheese because their frozen mac 'n cheese is AMAZING. 

No joke. 

I became a frozen food connoisseur during our 6 month period of kitchenless living while we were remodeling our kitchen.  I think I also gained 20 pounds but that is neither here nor there.  

Actually, it is here.  I'm sitting on it.

Anyhoo. 

Seeing the Stouffer's frozen food made me think of a frozen lasagna I bought almost two years ago.  It was really gross and I was mortified that it was so gross because it was the dinner I contributed to a weekend away with another couple to Birch Bay.  To make sure the gross meal was completely gross I also bought a flavorless pre-buttered loaf of french bread.  Both items were purchased at my local teeny tiny grocery store. 

That got me to thinking, "Why did I buy that no name brand of lasagna?"  Then I remembered it was because I didn't have time to go to Costco to buy their ginormous fattening and delicious lasagna and make it to the ferry on time.  Or to QFC to buy a normal size, fattening and delicious Stouffer's frozen lasagna. 

Then I remembered I was pregnant with Theo while we were there.  I think I was getting close to feeling him move inside of me because I remember standing in the yard at the cabin looking at the ocean and rubbing my hands on my belly as I swayed from side to side. 

Then a shocking feeling swept over me:  nostalgia.

Blah!  Nostalgic for pregnancy?  Nooooooo!!!!

Slap me. 

If I told Ryan he might.  Just kidding.  He would never do that. 

Granted, Theo's incubation period was nothing like Gavin's.  It was a cake walk in comparison.  But, still, nothing I want to repeat. 

Now baby cuddles.  Those I would like to repeat. 

Sleepless night?

No thanks. 

Getting peed on?

No thanks.

First smiles?

Yes, please.

Seeing your baby throw his blankie and pacifier to the ground as he shrieks in pure delight and runs to you when you first walk in a room. 

Yes, please. 

Gag Me With a Spoon, Like Totally

I couldn't decide on the title of this post.  The other two titles that tempted me were, "Barf" and "Get a Room".

Who wouldn't want to read about barf?  Or be intrigued by someone needing to get a room?

Ryan was gracious enough (or silly, or naive, or plain ol' dumb) to give me a free pass tonight in what was shaping up to be a rough bedtime with Gavin.  And by rough I mean horrible.  We put Theo in the crib tonight because I realized the mattress in the pack 'n play has a lump in the middle and the poor guy probably wasn't comfortable. 

Theo sleeping in the crib upstairs means we have no other place to park Gavin if (when) he decides he would rather not sleep in his bed but would prefer to waltz out into the living room and join Mom and Dad's evening party.  You know, when the kids go to sleep we eat ice cream, play with trains, dance, sing the coolest songs (Are You Sleeping, Mary Had a Little Lamb, BINGO...); all kids know that the real party begins as soon as their eyes close. 

Gavin wouldn't stay in his bed.  Ryan eventually turned off all of the lights so the house was dark - not pitch black because we have lots of street lights to light up the house - but for us city folk it was pretty darn dark.  Gavin didn't care.  So, Ryan and I just sat there and Gavin just stood there trying to engage us.  He came over to me and kissed my stomach because he couldn't reach my face.  His lips made a very audible kissy sound and he announced, "I kiss Mommy."

I slapped my hand over my mouth to help me keep it together.  In the pale moon street light I could see Ryan with his hand over his mouth also trying to keep it together.  It was so hard to not burst out laughing.  Of course, it killed me that I couldn't give him a big fat hug and kiss, either. 

At this point we had already taken away his work bench for the next day, warm milk (he has a problem with the warm moo juice) and his train set.  Oy.  Tomorrow is going to suck.  Hopefully he gets it. 

After a few minutes Ryan told me I could go to Trader Joe's if I wanted to - it was my plan after all, to shop after the kids were asleep. 

So, it was at Trader Joe's that I witnessed the encounter that was straight out of a movie. 

Even though I don't need coffee, tea or hot chocolate I looked at their selection like I always do.  Don't ask me why I look at products I don't need - maybe it's like looking at cookies and ice cream.  I really like them, I don't always buy them but I most certainly will look. 

I swung my cart around from the meat section and turned my gaze to the coffee section when my eyes landed on a woman who was dressed really nice for a shopping trip.  Not Desperate Housewives nice or anything but still, nice.  She immediately caught my attention, not because of her attire but because of her eyes.  They were smoldering. 

She leaned in close, and she was already close, to a guy facing her and said, "I love you."  She was oozing wanton desire for this man.  Oozing it I tell you. 

Since I didn't actually hear her and just read her lips she could have said, "Olive juice" but based on his reaction (which wasn't to point her to the olive section) she was proclaiming her love for him.  Then they cut whatever distance was between them til it was none and kissed. 

And it wasn't just any kiss.  It was a Desperate Housewives kiss.  Really.  Her eyes went all dreamy and she may as well have sighed and put her hand on her forehead as she kissed her lover.

And I do mean lover. 

Yeah, yeah, I know.  Gag me with a spoon, like totally. 

Who knew a couple having their coffee beans ground at Trader Joe's could be so steamy? 

At that point I turned my attention to the display of fancy breads right next to me. 

Lest you think I stood there staring at their over the top display of affection whilst I chowed on popcorn like it was a scene from a movie (it was like a scene from a movie, though), their whole encounter lasted about 2 seconds. 

Two seconds more than I cared to see, though.  We aren't in Europe, people! 
Save your bedroom eyes for... the bedroom.  Really. 

What really shocked me was what I saw at the checkout.  Dreamy Smooching couple was in front of me at the checkout.  Mr. Dreamy Smooching, also dressed nicely, had a cool looking ring on his ring finger on his left hand.  "Hmm," I thought, "could they be married?"

Ms. Dreamy Smooching took her hand out of her coat pocket after what felt like ages so I could see if she had a ring on her left ring finger.  Sure enough, she did.  And it looked like it may have gone with Mr. Dreamy Smooching's ring so my only conclusion was that they were married - and married to each other.

Then I felt bad.

Look at them in that stage of love. 

Ryan would keel over if I planted one on him at the grocery store. 

Then he would grab me by the shoulders and say, "Woman!  Who are you?  Where's my wife?"

You might say neither of us are big on pda. 

For you younger folks, that means public display of affection and for you older folks it can also mean personal data assistant.  I wonder if, since personal data assistants lasted for a nanosecond before phones got all smart 'n stuff, pda again means public display of affection?

Urban Delights

Here are some photos from Ikea (in Renton, so it's not that urban but it is very delightful), the park overlooking the city and a shot of the city on our way home from the park.  Of course, the most delightful parts of this post are my adorable boys.  Adorable!

So goofy.  So cute.

 

Gavin hates to get messy but he will make an exception for ice cream.

 

Tired of my slow pace of shoveling ice cream into his face he swiped the spoon.

A frequent sight in our neck of the woods. 

Gavin loooves the slide.

He really wanted to climb this.

He wanted the sunglasses and mittens on.  It was just as well since it was c-c-c-cold and bright outside.

Theo has a hard time reaching the snack tray (on my to do list:  get a snack tray for Theo's side) so Gavin was handing them to his beloved little brother.  It was SO sweet.  

Watching in complete admiration as big brother prepares to come down the slide.

He tried to climb up the slide.  Don't worry, I didn't let him get more than 3/4 of the way up. 

The only thing this photo doesn't capture is the delighted shrieking sound he's making.



A man on a mission.

Peak-a-boo!



I love to see the city's skyline when we are just in the neighborhood haning out.

Hand in mouth.

Mitten in mouth, hand is free.

Mitten is long gone. 

Sun setting over the Olympic Mountains was a good signal that we should head for home.

Look at that happy boy!  He was running in circles.

Almost home.  I love living in the city.