Like Old Times, But Bigger

We had a skate date with the McCall clan on Friday. It is unbelievable how big those kids are. It seems like 10 minutes ago that I was watching them - Morgan at Remick's age and Sam at Makili's age. They are like mini-adults now. So CUTE!

A little dose of the dude-man

Matty stopped by the other day for a little while with Gina, Rudy, and her friend Rhiannon with her baby Callum. She said to Makili, "Have you met my friend Rhiannon?" Without a breath, Makili replied, "No. But have you met my friend Grammy?"

Anyway, The Dude-man, as Rudy is known, is a big little guy and so cute with those saucer eyes. Gina and Matty are mad at him cause he doesn't walk, and I think that he does it just to piss them off. It's all very entertaining...

Happy in Wool

We put the floor down in our bedroom today, which is exciting. We took a little break to go sledding before the snow turned to rain, but overall it has been a day to cuddle up inside. Both my boys are wearing hand-knit sweaters, Makili's being the newest. It was a gift this week from Tamara, who whipped it out in a week! Cables and all! And Remick's is the sweetest little hoodie that Aunt Suzanne made for Makili as a babe. I think it's supposed to be 6-9 months, but I'm so glad we were able to squeak out another winter. I have knitter envy. I wish I could read those patterns and make such adorable things. But I am so lucky to have such lovely people in my life who share their talents with us.

Vacation

I think today we're finally done timing the tylenol and ibuprofin and on to other things, like stacking wood and getting some house projects done. Yesterday, I waxed our floor tiles with paste wax and then Raph cut them and put them down. Unfortunately I woke this morning with a wicked headache from the fumes. So we've moved onto trying some eco-friendly stuff instead. Why we didn't do that in the first place is a good question. We're going to try to get the barn wood floor down in our bedroom this week too! We even have window trim up in that room! Progress - slow but steadyish.

I found my loves sleeping together at nap time the other day...so cute.And tell me he isn't the cutest little thing ever.
We spent the 40+ degree day today stacking wood. And I have to say I enjoyed it.

Sick House

My boys are both a bit under the weather, so we've been sticking close to home a lot this week. Yesterday the boys discovered the costume bin and have been having a glorious time since then donning all sorts of creative outfits.

Fun with Tim and Tamara

We entertained Tim and Tamara at our house for once! Cause we have room! The kids were pretty genuinely convinced that Tim was there for climbing on and sledding down, and he was a good sport about it, though I'm sure they both went home and let out a big sigh of relief for being free of their crazy energy. We haven't seen them as much lately so it was treat to connect (and talk seeds and spring!) and of course to eat yummy food.

My new favorite community resource

We have passed the sign for the Mackey Skate Park a gazillion times on the way to soccer games, but never really knew what it was about. Well, volunteers offer to flood the ice daily, provide a small building for getting skates on and off, a bonfire pit, and well, an awesome winter-time activity for free! And while we love the Moffat Pond a whole lot, the Mackey Skate Park is also pretty great. Makili found this crate to push around and he was a motor, zooming around the ice so fast and falling just as awesome just for fun. It gave him a lot of confidence to push on the crate, and he was doing all sorts of crazy tricks. I couldn't believe he didn't get tired (I was tired way before he was!) Remick desperately wants to be one of the big guys, which is a really conflict for him since he can't seem to stay standing on the ice with skates on, or even shoes half the time. Anyway, I think it's pretty awesome that someone does this!

A Little Emotional

I just bought the new Wailin' Jenny's album (SO good) and am listening to it while I sort through some photos and finding myself a little choked up. You know, I am so lucky to have this guy. And I meant it when I said that some of my best things were watching him laugh and skate. He is a different person on ice skates, and while most of my winter I spend pining for Hawaii, I would be sad to not get to see him on ice as often as I do. Skating unleashes his total youthful happiness, and he is so graceful and confident and well, attractive. Watching people do something that they are good at is a gift and a unique window into their soul.

I love making valentines.

There is nothing I love more than Raph laughing and Raph skating.



I had to make a race car valentine for Makili and it was totally worth it because he has thanked me for it a half a dozen times tonight since I gave it to him. He LOVES it and I love that something as simple as a homemade valentine makes him so happy.




This little one thought that he might be nice as a decorated valentine which would explain why he is covered in marker. But like I wrote on the back of his valentine, my love for him grows every day.

Not on my A Game

I've been wrestling with a fever today and yesterday, and had to go to work at the restaurant and for CHI anyway. Yesterday before I realized I had a fever, and was just plain exhausted, I felt like a couldn't even keep up with these kids.

I mean look at this mischievous look.Raph took them last night while I was at work and bought them this hockey set, and has now transformed the living room into a hockey rink. Hockey, apparently, is not a quiet sport.
Yesterday, the boys and I had tea together. Their new found interest in drinking tea is such a delight to me. It was seriously like half an hour of calm as we enjoyed our cranberry tea together.
And then there are always craft projects. On Thurs. I needed a "mom" moment and went and got a cup of coffee with the kids. I saw a friend there and the person she was with had a huge bag of these little wooden boxes that she gotten for next to nothing at a garage sale. She gave us a handful, so the kids have been having a fun time decorating them.