In unrelated news, Porter made himself a sandwich for lunch today. He loves doing it so much; I love watching him and hearing the non-stop stream of chatter as he works.
Tuesday, January 29
Finally!
Matilda finally pulled her tooth out today! She did it tonight mid-way through dinner and was so, so excited. I am really glad for her that she finally just got brave enough to pull it herself. I am also glad she will be able to start eating a lot of different things again now that the tooth isn't so precariously dangling in her mouth.
In unrelated news, Porter made himself a sandwich for lunch today. He loves doing it so much; I love watching him and hearing the non-stop stream of chatter as he works.
In unrelated news, Porter made himself a sandwich for lunch today. He loves doing it so much; I love watching him and hearing the non-stop stream of chatter as he works.
Jog-a-thon Fundraiser
Matilda's school had their annual walk/jog-a-thon this morning. Here's her class all tired out after 20 minutes of doing laps.
Here they are showing off their lap cards that get pinned to their back. This was my first year helping out with this event and when I arrived, I thought it was nutty having to mark off the lap number on my 4 kids as they pass by each time. I thought somehow I would just mark a tally sheet as they run by. However, after witnessing the madness it certainly seems like the most efficient way to accurately track them. With so many kids running and having to follow kids you don't necessarily know so well, I can see now how it might be hard to keep up.
Matilda more than doubled her laps effort from last year and was really proud to be raising money for her school.
Monday, January 28
Matilda's Day
I haven't been very good about taking pictures of our daily life lately but I realized at the end of today I had good coverage of Matilda's day and wanted to share.
Here is her Space Needle project that she turned in this morning at school. She was very proud to have used the glue gun all by herself to assemble it. I provided direction on the shape for the three base pieces, but otherwise she did the rest and prepared a presentation for the class.
After school burning off some steam. She's slowly building up her confidence on these slow skates so I can convince her to go to the roller rink. Then watch out Derby Dolls!
Later this afternoon she started a new art class that she loved and came home with a spooky self portrait. Silver eyes!
The art class is up at Barnsdall park so we had a perfect spot to view tonight's spectacular sunset from. I cannot remember the last time I saw a sunset this beautiful.
There is also the matter of this wiggly tooth. If you get squeamish about wiggly teeth, don't scroll down!
It could not be more loose! Her tooth has been this way for more than a week and she seems bent on keeping it for at least another week.
Here is her Space Needle project that she turned in this morning at school. She was very proud to have used the glue gun all by herself to assemble it. I provided direction on the shape for the three base pieces, but otherwise she did the rest and prepared a presentation for the class.
After school burning off some steam. She's slowly building up her confidence on these slow skates so I can convince her to go to the roller rink. Then watch out Derby Dolls!
Later this afternoon she started a new art class that she loved and came home with a spooky self portrait. Silver eyes!
The art class is up at Barnsdall park so we had a perfect spot to view tonight's spectacular sunset from. I cannot remember the last time I saw a sunset this beautiful.
There is also the matter of this wiggly tooth. If you get squeamish about wiggly teeth, don't scroll down!
It could not be more loose! Her tooth has been this way for more than a week and she seems bent on keeping it for at least another week.
Saturday, January 26
Pizza Party NIght
Tonight for some easy, crazy fun we got take out from our favorite pizza place and invited over some folks to help us eat it.
Rafi is delicious looking and adorable. I think Tim wants to steal him.
There was a whoopee cushion involved in this outrageous laughter. Even princesses can see the humor in fart jokes I guess.
The Peacock Dress
Over the years my Great Aunt Mernie gave me a lot of really fun clothes. My favorite was always this dress with a beautiful peacock feather print. She told me she had it custom made when she lived in Italy. To my young, college self this sounded awfully glamorous. I was super excited to discover this photo that was unearthed in her house and included in the memorial service slideshow.
I had not worn the dress in a few years but broke it out for our fancy dinner on the town this week. I was excited to get a bunch of compliments and appreciation for this fun, funky dress. Aunt Mernie's awesomeness lives on!
I had not worn the dress in a few years but broke it out for our fancy dinner on the town this week. I was excited to get a bunch of compliments and appreciation for this fun, funky dress. Aunt Mernie's awesomeness lives on!
Wednesday, January 23
Monday, January 21
Boys vs. Girls
We had a very gender-stereotype kinda day yesterday.
For the gals: a pottery painting birthday party.
Matilda wanted to make me a coffee mug painted with "fire-y colors."
Musical chairs:
For the boys: Wheels, wheels and more wheels at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
Batmobile and Batman!
Chasing a pinewood derby car down the track.
Saturday, January 19
Bee Rock Hike
After a morning of slaving over post-Christmas toy-sorting and culling we headed out to enjoy the day with a picnic lunch and a hike. Tim drank his tea up too fast, but Matilda was generous and shared her big milk.
On our way to the trailhead we stopped to goof in the old zoo cages for a bit.
This kind of gives you a sense of our destination, although you can't really see the whole rock formation. It looks like a big hive and is called Bee Rock.
I can't resist a holding hands photo.
The park is so pretty this time of year, all green and lush. It felt amazingly good to be healthy and outdoors in beautiful weather, getting exercise.
Matilda leads the charge up to the top of Bee Rock.
Pretty good views if you can look past the fencing.
Good rock crannies for snacking, too!
We also discovered this huge dirt pile and it proved to be irresistible. The kids went crazy sliding down the pile.
Super fun!
On our way to the trailhead we stopped to goof in the old zoo cages for a bit.
This kind of gives you a sense of our destination, although you can't really see the whole rock formation. It looks like a big hive and is called Bee Rock.
I can't resist a holding hands photo.
The park is so pretty this time of year, all green and lush. It felt amazingly good to be healthy and outdoors in beautiful weather, getting exercise.
Matilda leads the charge up to the top of Bee Rock.
Pretty good views if you can look past the fencing.
Good rock crannies for snacking, too!
We also discovered this huge dirt pile and it proved to be irresistible. The kids went crazy sliding down the pile.
Super fun!
Tuesday, January 15
More Train Travel Fun
Here are some more pictures from our time on the train. This one was taken not long after we left Union Station in LA, somewhere up in the valley. Porter and I were sightseeing, while Matilda had put on the shower cap she found in our train bathroom (party!) and was settled in with a new comic.
Look at this lovely table in the dining car! I think this exact view on our first train ride north is what made Tim and I fall in love with the trip so much, many years ago.
The waitress offered to snap a family shot over dessert.
The kids were giddy about playing on these bunk beds. It was as good as a playground on the train.
This train route is the only one with a parlour car and almost makes me never want to take any other long train ride. The parlour car has great viewing windows, cushy seats for relaxing, a cabinet of games to pass the time, and an attendant to bring you coffees. I am sold. There is also a movie theater downstairs where the kids and I watched Brave while Tim attended the daily wine and cheese tasting. To be fair, he gave me a shot at the wine on our first train afternoon.
At many of the stops we hopped off to stretch our legs, see the scenery and sometimes even throw a snowball!
Porter was a little under the weather on our second day of train riding so we got to nap. It was actually a pretty nice sick-kid experience because the room attendant brought my meals to the room and I got to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery while Porter dozed on and off for most of the day.
More napping and reading.
One meal in the dining car Matilda made a friend and they passed notes to each other all throughout the meal. It was so sweet and made them both really happy. "Do you want to be friends? Circle Yes/No"
Look at this lovely table in the dining car! I think this exact view on our first train ride north is what made Tim and I fall in love with the trip so much, many years ago.
The waitress offered to snap a family shot over dessert.
The kids were giddy about playing on these bunk beds. It was as good as a playground on the train.
This train route is the only one with a parlour car and almost makes me never want to take any other long train ride. The parlour car has great viewing windows, cushy seats for relaxing, a cabinet of games to pass the time, and an attendant to bring you coffees. I am sold. There is also a movie theater downstairs where the kids and I watched Brave while Tim attended the daily wine and cheese tasting. To be fair, he gave me a shot at the wine on our first train afternoon.
At many of the stops we hopped off to stretch our legs, see the scenery and sometimes even throw a snowball!
Porter was a little under the weather on our second day of train riding so we got to nap. It was actually a pretty nice sick-kid experience because the room attendant brought my meals to the room and I got to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery while Porter dozed on and off for most of the day.
More napping and reading.
One meal in the dining car Matilda made a friend and they passed notes to each other all throughout the meal. It was so sweet and made them both really happy. "Do you want to be friends? Circle Yes/No"
Sunday, January 13
Train Scenery
Now that we are all recuperating from the Sick-Fest-2013, I am getting around to looking through our pictures from the train trip up to Seattle. We sure did pass through some gorgeous scenery.
Along the California coast between LA and Santa Barbara.
Pasture countryside in central CA.
The Cascade mountains in northern California.
A picturesque icy wonderland near the border to Oregon. We also saw 3 bald eagles in this area!
Snowy forest.
The train tunnels were a thrill every time.
I've forgotten what river this is but it had beautiful erosion patterns (?) all along the edges.
I love that the train tracks often were winding through really unpopulated areas.
If you want to try out train travel, I highly recommend the Coastal Starlight from LA-Seattle.
Along the California coast between LA and Santa Barbara.
Pasture countryside in central CA.
The Cascade mountains in northern California.
A picturesque icy wonderland near the border to Oregon. We also saw 3 bald eagles in this area!
Snowy forest.
The train tunnels were a thrill every time.
I've forgotten what river this is but it had beautiful erosion patterns (?) all along the edges.
I love that the train tracks often were winding through really unpopulated areas.
If you want to try out train travel, I highly recommend the Coastal Starlight from LA-Seattle.
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