Weekend in February

Besides the usual skiing lessons, we had a lot of fun things to do with the kids this weekend.  Porter's teacher had selected a piece of artwork of his to hang in the elementary school art show at the mall (such as it is here), and we got to go to a reception there.  Apparently it is totally embarrassing.  Especially when your mom takes a bunch of pictures.

 

Molly had her annual preschool play/fundraising event.  She's a little too young to understand the whole concept of the skit, and she sat patiently in the back almost the whole time just waiting for someone to call her out.  Which they never did.  And then she promptly fell off the back of the stage, where I rescued her screaming upside down body from a pile of old props and electrical cords.  Still, she had fun.

Bryce also built this amazing stool for the silent auction.  That's the Alaska state flag inlaid on the top!

Finally, we got to observe Molly's ballet class.  They are strict about almost everything, and don't let parents watch (or interfere) most of the time.  I took a lot of pictures, but when I went to look at them later, Molly is either blurry from running so fast or looks something like this.

She was so distracted by us being there that I can understand why they don't allow it.  And I could hear the future report card comments.  Talks when should be listening.  Can not keep hands to self.  Oh well.  It was still the cutest thing ever.



Autumn Gene

This post is very late in coming, but I became an Aunt again on February 9th!  Welcome to the world baby Autumn.  We love you and all your hair, and we are so anxious to meet you in March.  I can't promise that Molly won't try to pick you up by your head, but we are so excited to hold you, the last little (planned) baby of the family.

Many congratulations to Caitlin, Graham and big sister Ava.



Farm Animals and Meatballs

Cedar spends her fair share of time on the kitchen floor while I cook or otherwise get things done around the house.  We have a sliding glass door in there that leads out to our deck, and the chickens have taken a shining to hanging out there, looking in.  Most likely because I throw them peanut butter and jelly crusts and leftover scrambled eggs when I'm feeling nice.  But Cedar also enjoys their company, and the whole lot of them like to just sit and stare at each other through the glass.

Yesterday I turned around and Cedar was happily playing peek-a-boo with several attentive chickens (please ignore my dirty window).  My first thought was how adorable it was.  And then I thought it was a little sad, my poor neglected third child, no one to pay attention to her but farm animals.

I'm Cooking: Asian Meatballs with Sesame Lime Dipping Sauce, Roasted Curry Cauliflower and Rice.  These were a new twist on meatballs, and easy to throw together with supplies you have on hand.  I left out the water chestnuts, used one pound ground venison, and added minced garlic and ginger.  My kids were suspicious, but ended up eating them.  Alas, no one in my house likes cauliflower but me, but roasting it is delicious.  Yum.

Update

Molly came out of the bathroom after being in there for way, way too long.  I noticed her lengthy stay, but I just didn't want to know or deal with it.  She told me, don't worry Mom, the sink will drain I promise.

I went to see an old friend the other day, and we were catching up on my kids.  I told him that Porter was in kindergarten and Molly was in preschool now.  He said, "so you're just staying home with the baby?" 

And I feel like that pretty much sums up life right now.  Constant needs from all corners, and no outside evidence that any progress is being made.

But!  There is also a lot of fun.  I having started skiing again, with Porter and taking women only lessons on the weekends.  It is great to do something for myself, and I'm actually finding that I'm enjoying it even more than I used to.  No longer being concerned with my skills or my ability to keep up with buddies has its benefits I guess.

Molly loves her ballet class.  And it turns out (not surprisingly) that preschool ballet is the home of absolutely unbearable cuteness.  I really can't get enough.

Cedar is almost 10 months old, and still does not crawl, let alone walk.  I thought that being the third child would give her a leg up on physical milestones, but what do I know.  She is content to sit and smile and have us bring her all the entertainment.  She really is a delightful, easy baby that charms us every day.

And Porter and Bryce are on a boys-only road trip to the big city of Alaska.  They have traveled in search of a vehicle that will end my constant cursing of a back seat expertly not designed to hold three car seats.  And they have succeeded!  I am grateful for my chance to be totally functional and very uncool.

Finally, if you want to impress your kids, check this out.  A candle from a Clementine!  It works!  My kids were amazed at my skills.  Porter asked me reverently if I learned that in high school.