Happy Day of Green

Happy St. Paddy's Day- apparently, we like green around here. I think it's the season, everything's pretty brown this time of year, so any splash of color is quite refreshing. We couldn't escape the grocery store without the green carnations (thanks Ry!) & the corned beef (thanks me!). I suppose we have a smidgen of Irish in us, but really we use the holiday like most- a little bit of pinching, some beers & food, good food! Hope you have a good one~

11 Months Old

The 30-day countdown is on. EllaGrace is 11-months old. She's walking- well-balanced on those little legs of hers. She's talking- saying mommmmm, da (dad) & ho (hot). She's pointing like crazy & reaching her arms out, to get picked up. It all seems to be happening way too fast (yes, cliche, but yes, true!)...& in one more month, she'll be one.

A Saturday Stroll

The kids & I walked to the store today. It's a small convenience store, minutes from the house, filled with overpriced groceries. We've always appropriately called it "The Little Store." It was a good walk, with a sweet feeling of Spring. There were also reports of a bear in the neighborhood, a not-so-sweet sign of Spring. The fresh air, the blue sky, a hint of sun & the remains of our last snowfall melting away. It could easily feel like December in just a few days, but for now, we're soaking it up.

26 Fridays: Week 5

The theme this week: look up/look down. I intended to photograph with my camera pointed upwards, then downwards. I wanted some birds- we stopped by the beach a couple times, but they just flew away from me, fast. So I played around with some ideas with the kids. I wanted something meaningful. I thought a self-portrait of sorts- one of them looking up at me, me looking down at them. Sort of a play on our height differences. Then last night, when we we're minutes from losing all natural light, my idea sprung on me out of nowhere. EllaGrace looking up, me looking down, while she nursed. This is an around-the-clock view at our house right now; it's one I treasure & one I know will pass too quick.

Be sure to head over to Linda Prows' blog, to see her view & continue through our circle.

Sometimes You Dance in the Snow

This winter has lacked snow, which of course is strange because we live in Alaska. Stereotypes aside, we're actually on an island with a maritime climate. While one day we may be 20 degrees, blue skies, sunny & covered in a pristine blanket of snow, the next day it could be 40, foggy, windy & wet. You just never know. Last winter was abnormally normal. Very cold, very long & lots of snow. The consistency was actually nice, but getting snow in May (on Mother's Day) is not one of my fondest memories. The boys' have been asking to snowboard, snowshoe, sled, etc., but it hasn't worked out too well, without the snow. So we welcomed our weekend blizzard. The blanket is beautiful & the boys have been playing in it, a lot. The other night we went outside, just before dinner. We're light after six now, which is an exciting transition (in November/December, it gets dark in the 4:00-ish range). The boys' ran, they jumped, they played, they danced. There was an eerie silence that accompanied us. As well as one mischievous three-year old who thought he owned the road.