it's been a good year

One year ago tonight, we were preparing for the homecoming of my beloved horse, Brownie.  Handy husband broke his toe that night, as well.  It was about this same time, nine o' clock, that we were down to to wire as the horses were scheduled to arrive at one in the morning.  I was six months pregnant with Graham as we were hauling lumber, firewood, and yard machines out of the stalls.  We still had to finish painting the stall doors, install the hardware, hand the doors, and prep the stalls in just five hours time.  My mom arrived at 12:30, just in time to turn on tea water and for handy hubby to crack a beer as the semi arrived.  I still remember the sound of that engine and the euphoric feeling as we went to meet them at the gate.   You know those dreams that just aren't going to happen? Well, this is one of them....to see the horse I have so many great memories with in our own pasture.

It's good to be back with an old friend.

 Complete!  Koby says, "Now who is this joker?"

 Mom and I celebrating.

This was a typical picture on any given weekend in my teen years...me, my mom, and a horse trailer.

Handy husband can't believe we now have horses.  And he just broke his toe for them!

 Hey, old friend.  You look as good as I remember.

Settling down for the night.

A sincere and profound thank you to my friend, Gretchen, for sending these two up here.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her gift to me...or a day that I don't  smile when I see him.

great questions

Asked by Grace in the past two days:

While waiting at the doctors office:

Grace: "My birthday is July 19th"

Me: "Yes, it is"

Grace: "What is "-nth" after the nineteen mean?"

Me: "Um."

Today, as we were passing the prison in Monroe:

Grace: "What building is that?"

Me: "It's called a prison?"

Grace: "What's a prison for?"

Me: "It's for certain people."

Grace: "What is certain people?"

Me: "It's for grown ups that aren't nice to other people"

Grace: "What do they do there?"

Me: "They sit around for a long time."

Grace: "Like a time out?"

A few days ago on our way to Subway for the first time to pick up sandwiches.

Grace: "Where are we going?"

Me: "To Subway."

Gace: "I don't want to ride the train!."

a four year check up

Grace had her four year check up yesterday.  She was most excited to learn that she was bigger than when she was three.  This was the first well child visit that included other "developmental" excercises.  She was asked to hop on one foot, stand on one foot and count to three, identify colors, count as high as she can (20), describe and draw a picture of her choice, and complete an eye test.

She had a few questions for the nurse and doctor herself:

"What are the names of your kids?"

"Why aren't you the doctor?" (asked of the nurse)

"Do you see a lot of kids?"

"Why is this room so big?"

The doctor lifted her up on the table and Gracie quickly answered each of his questions and participated in everything he asked of her without reservation.  He turned his head over his shoulder to me and said, "You have a mature one on your hands."  Yes, I do....too big for her britches, if you ask me.

After her one vaccine, we were on our way.  The kid didn't move a muscle.  Stoic, she is.

Her stats

Vision: 20/20 right & left

Height: 38 3/4"   38 percentile

weight: 35 lbs  50 percentile

a scare

We had to call 911 today as Graham was choking.  He had the obvious and textbook signs.  I am so grateful that I was able to act quickly and turned to the handy dandy child choking procedures-the infamous back blow while handy husband was on the phone with 911.  It managed to force a plastic star out of his throat and flying to the ground.  Goodness....I was scared.  I have only witnessed a person choking once in my life when a patient choked while I was at work.  It's a good thing I had just renewed by CPR certification and added the child CPR/First Aid class-it was a great refresher.

It happened so quickly, I had just sat Graham on the floor for a second when I noticed something was wrong.  The star was left over from Gracie's birthday party...one of the decorations the kids used for decorating their crowns.

The kids managed to score some fireman hats and get a little tour of the medic unit.  We also had a nice chit chat about small things on the floor.

Now I'm celebrating our anniversary feeling like a loser parent that needs to improve her vacuuming skills.

five years

July 22, 2006.  Freestone Inn. Mazama, Washington.  It was a gorgeous day, 106 degrees, in fact.  After a rehearsal dinner aboard horses, a trail ride with our guests, and a barbeque, we were ready to get hitched.   It was then, I vowed to "accept change as we travel through life together".   After an engagement in Mykonos, Greece, backpacking trips in the mountains, and our evenings and weekends to frolic about, I thought this would be a breeze.

The best man.
Happy five years to you too, Koby. 

After the wedding, we headed off to my surprise honeymoon destination, Peter Island.

 We had beaches to ourselves.

 We swung from trees after a few cocktails.

 We took photos for our thank you cards.

And we sailed the blue waters of the British Virgin Islands.

Accepting change was soon to become quite the reality.  Five years later, we have three babies, a farm load of animals, and a life that is beyond happy chaos.  It's a good thing I vowed to accept all of this.  You know those books about surviving the first years of marriage?  Well, they have nothing on us.  It's been quite the adjustment with our sweet little ones, one right after the other.   I recently took one of the self tests in a magazine.  It was to determine your chances of divorce during the first five years of marriage based on a number of events during that period.  According to the results, we should be meeting up every other weekend in a gas station parking lot to exchange the kids.   It certainly has not been easy but it has been filled with an amazing amount of memories.  It's been quite the journey, to say the least.   I'm pretty sure my mom should be celebrating with us.  She's the one that has provided consistent help with our pack of raccoons and a few hours, here and there, to ourselves.  Always enough time for me or us to regain our sanity.
The day I woke up and saw a donkey, a sheep, and a pig in my pasture, I figured nothing was in my control anymore.We have quite the bucket list of things we want to do when we have the time and I can't wait.  Our sweet little misters and our little miss are providing boundless adventures in the meantime and we're loving every sleepless minute.

This is what we celebrate.

Happy five years, my love.

Texas Hold 'em

It was a super sunny day.  So sunny, the kids decided to put together puzzles in the front yard.  This certainly looks like a game of "Texas Hold 'em" if you ask me.

I see your bet and raise you by two bunny crackers.

Hmmmm....I wish I could read.

 

Go fish, you old maid!

I think he's bluffing.

I'm all in!

 

birthday day

 July 19...the actual day. For her "real" fourth birthday, we celebrated with family by indulging in another cake, a little champagne, and a few gifts. Gracie and I also went to see "Winnie the Pooh" at the theater-the first time I've taken her to a movie. We cozied up in the same chair with a bag of popcorn.  Apparently, this girl can eat movie popcorn!  Earlier in the day, our dear friend, Sarah, and her two little angels treated us to a cupcake on the Kirkland waterfront after a concert with Caspar Babypants.

 A birthday breakfast.

Listening to the concert.

 This boy loves his boots.

Cupcakes!

 Grace skipped her nap to "help" make her birthday cake.  She actually had the nerve to ask me where the princess was.

 Off to see Pooh.

 Tickets in hand.

 Even the smallest bag looks huge next to a four year old.

 During the credits, Grace wanted to check out the huge screen for herself.

The second cake in two days. I'm just warming up for October!

Gracie....please wish for the sun to shine!

 Chutes and Ladders-princess edition.  Thanks nana and papa!

Her very own kitchen.   Gracie ran to Henry and I and hugged us with a big "thank you".  She is smitten with it.

party like a princess

Our sweet little angel is four.  Have you not heard?  I feel like we've been celebrating this birthday for days.  We partied like a bunch of royalty on Sunday with a princess party. The birthday girl had requested a princess themed party.  I don't think she quite "gets" what a birthday theme is as she first requested a chocolate cake party.  I like this girl.  Grace had her friends and family to celebrate with her along with a visit from Cinderella.  She painted faces and treated the "commoners" to a magic show.  On a selfish note, I'm hoping I've paid my dues with the princess stuff.  Let's hope age five brings horses and fairies for a theme.

A princess party unfolds.

 Waiting for the other princesses to arrive.

 The princess cake that cost me a few hours of sleep and a lot of under eye concealer the day of the party.

 Magical lollipop wands.

 Frog and princess cupcakes.

 "Where did you come from?"

 Grace wondering if she's about to give up her crown

 Hand painting.  Grace wanted nothing to do with painting on the face. 

 Like sister, like brother.

 The birthday girl helping out with the magic show.

 Concentrate really hard.

 "She's dreamy!"

 "Abracadabra!"

 The birthday clan with Cinderella.

 "Hey Cinderella, check out these abs."

 "Mommy, you'll always be my princess!", says Carter to his mommy.

Honorary grandparents, Mike and Penny.  They've never missed a birthday celebration.  In fact, when the left, they said, "see you twice in October for the boys' birthdays".

 Cheese!

 Cousin Adelyn striking a pose.

 Blowing out the candles.

 A princess needs new wheels, right?   Thanks Grandma & Grandpa!

 William, you don't have to ride this girly thing.

 Because you get this!

 Testing the new rides.

 It even plays Disney tunes.

 Waiting for the next crash.

 "I said, it's my turn!".

 Learning to pedal.

Who's enjoying this more?

An hour later and the princess can pedal by herself.