Old Things

While in Oregon, I had some time to think about a lot of things. One thing I couldn't help but think about was "old things" as the kids and I explored Grammie and Grandpa's house and found many treasures. If you know me, you know I am a minimalist. I tend to lean toward more modern and contemporary, with as little clutter as I can muster in a household with two small children. My kids don't even have very many toys - only enough to fit on one small bookshelf in their room and in a basket in our main living area. But that doesn't mean I don't have some room for a few sentimental pieces, as well.

I found this quilt that my Great-grandmother made for my mother when she was a baby. It is perfect. Just perfect. I have been keeping my eye on quilts that I like - I am not a huge fan of quilts in general - but this one was simply perfect. The right colors. The right mood. Simple. Hand-stitched. Worn, and not too thick. I decided this is the quilt I would like to replicate. Well, someday, anyway...

I also went looking around in my parents huge garage and found this cradle that my Great Uncle Ed made for me when I was a little girl. I loved it then, to cradle my "babies" (who, by the way, were real, and if you called them dolls I would correct you). But now, I love it even more. It reminds me of him, and of my childhood. Of my world.

So, I put two very old, great things made by the handiwork of two great people, together with something rather new - my daughter. I wrapped her in the quilt in the cradle and there she was: perfect.

If I could steal that quilt, I would. If I had a bigger car, I would bring that cradle home. Lucky me, though, I get to have the real baby every day.

I do love old things like these.

What kind of old things do you treasure? Please, drop a note and share :)

PS - Happy 5 months today, Aspen!

Great Friends

Over the weekend, we had some AWESOME visitors stop by...my friends, Brian & Brooke, were in town and on their way to a family reunion and they took the time to stop by and visit with us Sunday afternoon. My heart was so lifted by their visit, I just love these two! We have had so many good times over the years. I was first friends with Brian when he was going to grad school here at UW. He let me borrow his skateboard to get around campus, and my best friends in college were him and his roommates aka. "The Ranch House" guys. I will never forget the Valentine's Day that they all went together and got me flowers. I never really had a boyfriend until Jacob. But those great guys helped me learn that I deserved to be treated well. Funny thing is, Jacob almost moved in with them when he moved to Seattle. I wonder what would've happened if he did! Later, Brooke moved to Seattle for a job. I completely approved when they later started dated and then were married. And these two, even though they were married and moved to Redmond, still made the effort to include this old single (at the time) friend of theirs. We'd meet up for hikes on occasional weekends. Or dinner. In fact, one of my first dates with Jacob was a triple date to the premiere of a new magazine with them and another old Ranch House friend and his wife, thanks to Brooke. I met with these same friends when Jacob broke up with me. And later, they came to our wedding reception in Utah. Whenever we go to Utah, they are the kind of friends who make an effort to see us. I just love them. BBK you are the BEST!!!

Sawyer keeps saying "see Brooke, see Brooke". I think I know why...she introduced him to some funny old muppet clips on YouTube during our time visiting. Or maybe it's just because he knows she's awesome, too.

Thanks, you guys, for taking the time to stop and visit! Hope the reunion is awesome and that maybe you even run into a few vampires when you're out there in Forks!

'Til next time!

A little bit random and a First

I was just finishing organizing my photos from the time we spent in Oregon and these are kinda random but I thought I'd post them anyway. It warms my heart to see my children becoming friends. Siblings. Both, really. It also has amazed me how quickly this has happened - I have almost forgotten what it was like to have just one child. I don't think Sawyer even remembers being an only child, as he was pretty little when Aspen was born. But now he gets the biggest thrill when he gets her to laugh, or sits next to her, or shares his cars with her, or sits across her at the table for any given meal. I love it! I'm sure they will have their ups and downs, as most siblings do, but it is just plain ole' fun to know they have each other. For always.

Also, while in Oregon, I took the kids swimming for the first time this summer. It was Aspen's first time. I kinda wish I had the camera at the pool but didn't want to chance getting it wet, broken, or stolen since I was planning on fully enjoying the experience in the water with them. A big thanks to my sister, Jamie, and her boyfriend, Brandon, for coming along to be my extra hands. I couldn't have done it without them! Oh, she is like a little fishie by the way - she loved it!

She's a little bathing beauty in her little swimsuit and coverup (thanks Grammie!), don'tcha think? I was going to sign both the babies up for swim class again this summer (it's 6 months to 3, so both would've qualified by August!) but I missed the deadline for our favorite outdoor pool, so instead we are going to be going to a bunch of family swim nights! When our Seattle summer finally arrives, we'll start our weekly ritual. I can hardly wait! If you know me well, you know I pretty much live for summer and wear my swimsuit like a uniform in the summer time ;) Bring it on!

*note to summer* we are waiting! and getting impatient! please pull out the 70 and 80 degrees I know you have hidden under your sleeve, and a nice big dose of sun to go with it, and I will be your friend forever!

Just Because...

Dear Aspen,

Every now and then, I get you all dressed up (or maybe all dressed down? Your cute little roly-poly bod is perfect as is). Just Because. Just for fun. Just because you are so beautiful and perfect. Inside and out. Just to look at you and recognize the blessing and joy you are to me and our family. And I get the camera out and I take a few pictures to remember a small moment by. These images are from one of those moments. They are some of my favorite to date. I suppose I am obsessed!?! Is that okay? I am your mother, and I love you. Oh. So. Much. I don't think you will ever understand how much until you have a baby girl of your own to look upon. And obsess over. And hope and pray over. And dress up (or down) for no reason at all. Or maybe, for all the reasons in the world. What a great responsibility that the Lord has entrusted you to my care. Thank you for choosing me to be your mother, and your friend.

Love,

Mommy

The Party

Sawyer woke up to this (see above) on his second birthday. It was a glorious morning, warm and sunny. Perfect! We had waffles with fresh strawberries and then let him open the gifts sent from his Grandparents and Gigi before we packed up and headed to Gas Works Park for his party. He was so excited. We actually went in with my parents for the trike, since I try very hard not to give into the urge to buy everything the boy wants. But I am glad family sent a few gifts so he could have the pleasure of ripping some paper - the bike was too hard to wrap :) And his little friends also gave him some gifts - they know him well, as most every gift involved wheels of some sort. That's boys for you!

His party was a RACE theme. I got black and white racing flags to decorate the table and the cupcakes. I tried hard to keep it simple, but fun, too - because isn't the party partially for the mom to have fun putting it all together? The kids really liked the cherries on top. I love that they liked them.

A bunch of boys, and their bikes. What could be better? The weather was absolutely gorgeous, the sun glistening on Union Bay as sailboats and motor boats zoomed by the party. Mostly, we just let the boys play and ride their bikes. But we did have one game: Stop and Go (think Red Light, Green Light). Imagine a bunch of boys ranging in age from 2-4 and you can imagine that not everyone understood when to stop or go - it made it so funny to watch. They just loved it because it was a "race".

Everyone was a winner!

I didn't get as many pictures as I would've liked - we also had "wheelie sandwiches" which were pb&j made with circular bread, and "traffic light fruit kabobs" made of red, yellow, and green (strawberries, pineapple, and kiwi). But my favorite was the custom water bottles Jacob designed for all of our thirsty little bikers. It's a definite bonus to have a husband who is an amazing graphic designer to help with party stuff!

Overall, it was just FUN. And that's what we hoped for. Plain. Good. Ole. FUN with Friends. The best kind of celebration! Thanks to everyone who came for adding to the good time and for celebrating with us as Sawyer turned TWO.

2

Dear Sawyer,

I just want you to know that I think the world of you.

You are the coolest little guy I know. Not to mention the sweetest. You're pretty darn handsome, too. But the most important part is that you are sensitive to those around you and have a heart and personality that care for others and bring a sense of fun and adventure to each day. You easily win people over.

You've won me over, that's for sure!

I love you to pieces! Happy Birthday!

XOXO,

Mommy

He's 2. I can hardly believe it. I have a TWO-year-old! He's starting to crack me up with the faces he's pulling these days. Must be a "two" thing. I took him to the beach/park on his birthday eve., BOB our stroller, baby sister, and HUGE #2 balloon in tow. I was not going to lose this one (remember last year? I got two photos before he let go of the balloon and I almost broke my camera trying to save it...so disappointing! not this year!) People kinda gave us the stare down (CRAZY Momma!) as we walked around the park. Or should I say, as I followed my son around for a good 20 minutes, trying to get some "two year old pics" to remember him by. I kid you not that 2/3 of what I got was the back of his head in some form or another. Here are the winners.

A few quirky things about Sawyer, turning two:

-He speaks in full sentences and wows people with his vocabulary. Right now we think this is adorable but I'm sure shortly we will be wondering how we can ever shut the boy up :)

-LOVES the outdoors. The beach is one of his favorite places (especially if there are train tracks close by).

-Loves to jump and bounce, "like Tigger"

-Does a perfect somersault - can even nail it when he comes at it with a run.

-Is the only toddler we know who requests to read the Encyclopedia as bedtime stories.

-Gets a kick out of riding his bike, FAST, around our little "driveway" and announces when we are "goin' uphill", "goin' downhill" or need to stop "red is for stop!" or go "green is for go!".

-He has learned to count without us even trying to teach him. Must be all the reading of the encyclopedias or something.

-He is OBSESSED with anything with wheels. Cars, trucks, trains, motorcycles. And he does a pretty awesome "Va Vroooom!" He also stole a line from a movie our neighbor let us borrow which brings sly gazes to outbursts of laughter when people hear him declare: "Crazy Woman Driver!" (anyone guess the movie? Hint: the woman he is talking about loves furs)

-He still believes his parents are the best thing in the world.

********************************************

(party pics soon to follow)

Farewell...

Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again.

~Richard Bach~

It was a beautiful service. There were smiles and laughs amidst the tears. And there was plenty of entertainment if you let your eyes wander (as in a just-turned-two-year-old-boy running around the cemetery with his parents chasing after him. Grassy, wide-open spaces mean 'run and play' in a toddlers mind...not sit quietly. But that's okay. Grandma would've wanted him there, running around and all).

Appropriately, there were Iris flowers in the flower arrangements. Purple was her favorite color. She never really liked her name all that much, but how can you not be beautiful and breathtaking when you are called "Iris"?

Farewell, Grandma, for now. You are loved by many and will be greatly missed.

*If any of my family or family friends would like me to send them these photos, just ask. You can "steal" these from my blog - you have my permission, but just so you know they are low-resolution.

I Love You, a Bushel and a Peck

I'm finally home. Been MIA for a bit over a week. That's because during Sawyer's Birthday Party we got a phone call to get home as quick as we could, as my Grandmother was in the hospital and not doing well. So, we packed up the party, went home, threw some things together (literally) and started driving. We got to my family's home at about 2am, crashed for a few hours, and then headed to the hospital to see our dear Grandma Iris (Gigi to the great-grandbabies) Sunday morning.

I hesitated about bringing the camera into the hospital, but now I am so glad I did. For my siblings and family members who didn't get a chance to come say good-bye in person, this is for them. And for me, for my memory bank, and for my children. This is my beautiful Grandmother two days before she died. She was as beautiful as ever. I hope to look half as good as she did at 91. More importantly, I hope to be half the woman she was during my little dash here on Earth.

To my sister Rachel - here she is talking to you on the phone. She was surrounded by family and those that couldn't be there, she really did feel your love through your thoughts, prayers, and phone calls.

The two youngest members of our family were able to bring smiles to her face. Above, she is smiling at the handsome face of my brother's baby, Zack.

She was waiting to meet Aspen. We were originally going to go spend the 4th of July with her. But she couldn't wait for the fireworks. Her celebration was of a different variety. Quiet, sweet, kisses from Great-grandmother to Great-granddaughter. I don't recall if my heart melted or exploded at this point, but I am so happy they got to meet, and that Aspen got kisses from my sweet Grandma Iris.

Monday was the second anniversary of her husband's death. In accordance to her wishes, we had any life support turned off at a certain point. We had a very special and peaceful experience as we gathered around her and had a family prayer...we were her "send off" party and there was a big celebration being prepared to welcome her on the other side. I can only imagine the reunion she had with her husband of 65 years, her parents, her 8 siblings, her Grandparents, and other friends and relatives who have gone before her. She held on for a little while, and then passed away the following evening.

Still, it was bittersweet. It is hard to say good-bye to someone you love so much. It was hard when Sawyer picked up the phone the next day, as I have done at least weekly, and said "callin' Gigi", knowing we could never again during this life pick up the phone to call her and hear her voice answer. But I have been surprised at the measure of comfort and peace that has settled over our family during this time of her departure from this life.

As a child, Grandma would often sing this Doris Day song, "I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck..."

I was pleased to be able to whisper those same words to her before she went. She sat up just a little bit in bed, leaned toward me with bright eyes, and said "I love you."

But she didn't have to say it. She said it every day without words. I have always been secure in the knowledge of her love for me, and for all of us. I already miss her, but I know she is in a better place. A place of peace and rest. And I know that when my time comes, she will be waiting to welcome me, too.

I love you, Grandma. A Bushel and a Peck...

*I will do some catching up posts soon, as well as post about her funeral in the coming week or so...for those who wanted to be there but couldn't. And of course I will need to catch up on Sawyer's big event, too - he's TWO now!