Addition to the Family: Grandpa Gets Hitched

Yes folks my father married. Not just married...but MARRIED. He is in his 70's and found love. Although we weren't quiet sure what to think about a relationship started online initially, she has turned out to be an amazing sparkle in my dad's life that has made him giggle, talk, and express himself in ways that I never knew my dad had in him. He is constantly sending me videos of the ways in which they have combined their lives together through cooking, caring and having fun with each other. She brought her own kids and so now our holidays are fuller with another grandparent to dote over our children.

HAAAIIIIRRRRR!!!!!

HAAAIIIIRRRRR!!!!! I would have never thought hair would be such a central topic for my life as a parent of two boys...boy, was I misguided and a bit sexist in my thinking. Aram has A-M-A-Z-I-N-G hair and everyone touches and ogles it all the time. He now is at the point were he just rolls his eyes at the hair comments, unless you call him a girl, at which point his stock phrase of "HEY I NOT A SHE, I A HE!' comes screeching your way. My favorite is to watch the older folks that really did mean to give him a compliment, having to back track their statement without further offending, because believe you me, he won't let that happen either.

down and blowing in the wind

up in a Samuri Bun

free flowing, mad dog style

dirty enough to style without gel

braided...not to sure of that one though

Hesher style, in the eyes and in the face

I think the hardest part, though is the tangles...tears happen frequently, as we try to brush out (wet brush has made a big impact in amount of tears though---thank you Ren Ren for this tip) the food, paint, slime, and other remnants of a 3 year old's daily life.

the snarls....

He sleeps.

I lucked out really, as both my boys have *mostly* been good sleepers (more on this later), but what can I say...there is a bit of guilt around the fact that a second child does not always get the "shhhhhhh he's sleeping" privilege, and probably for the better. We are an active family and therefore, Aram had to learn to sleep wherever but boy did he adjust. Literally, he will sleep anywhere...

while reading...

at the playground and in the stroller...

weapon in hand ready to fight...

at restaurants

during beer tastings...

grocery shopping...

 even sitting up...

But mostly his favorite spot is here...

WITH DADDY!

Ears Leaking Fluid

We say Boo! on ear infections!

Surprisingly, we had our first experience with an ear infection for either of our boys this last week. And of course the nurse advice line said that we needed to take him to see the dr. at 4:45 pm on a Friday so off to Kaiser Urgent Care, aka Flu gathering and spreading spot Daddy and Aram went. As you can imagine, Olde was not happy to be spending 3+ hours in this kind of a place on a Friday night. After 12 hours of pain in his ear treated by ibuprofen (Nurse advice told us to do this), it took a turn for the worse with yellow goop leaking from Aram's ear.  It turns out, that it was his ear drum fluid, as it had a tear in it and was leaking....eeeeewwwww, right?  So now we are putting drops in it two times a day (which he hates and cries every time!) and oral antibiotics as well. The bummer part is that we have to postpone his next set of swim lessons, as he can't be submerged in water.

Finger's crossed it was a one time event!

Deamon's Alive: 2nd Birthday Party

For awhile Aram's deamon (His Dark Materials reference---look it up) was a monkey! He would climb on anything that he could swing his leg up on to. Therefore the theme for his second birthday was a Monkey party. We did a hunt for the banana's (make from yellow paper plates from craftinterupted.com) game on the playground. We ate banana bites (banana's with a dollop of peanut butter a with a chocolate chip on top) and wore monkey masks. It was fun had by all!

 

The best part of the party was the banana chocolate chip pancakes with whip cream. When I asked Aram what type of cake he wanted for his birthday, he said, "Pancakes!!!!" with a sparkle in his eye, so of course we have to have them. Be brought the camp stove and daddy flipped fresh made pancakes at the park! We even put two candles in one for his "cake".

For the love of Nana

Their smiles say it all!

My boys love their Nana! She plays, feeds, and gets down to their level in a real way every time she comes for a visit. This past visit we showed her our new favorite spot in the woods.

The G-pas

I think these pictures tell all that is needed to be said about Grandpops and Grandpa Alaska!

Potty Trained (yes that is past tense)

What can I say...we did it! Aram is officially potty trained! No more diapers!

 

Now to get him to do his own wiping too and we will be done with parenting! Ha.

Edible Faces

Olde has mastered what my kids call a picnic lunch. They choose items for their lunch (has to have grains, protein, and veggies or fruit included) and then he makes a face out of the items.

It is a true talent!

 

 

 

G-ma O-O says good bye...for a bit.

Grandma O-O was accepted into the Peace Corps. Now you may conjure up images of muddy swamps or latrine building muck when I say Peace Corps, but no, my mom got the assignment of the island of Dominica in the Caribbean. I think they reserve a few places that are not harsh for those elderly (sorry mom) with bad knees, type of locations that can nurture the soul. Well, this is what it has done for my mom. I was going through Facebook to find some photos of her experience and the one thing I noticed was how much she was smiling with either pride or pure enjoyment in all the photos. On her last visit to the states I noticed her glowing soul, and it dawned on me that she was truly at peace and happy in her life. We are so proud of her to serve the world in this way.

I know it was hard for her leave at a time when a new baby was coming, and grandchildren were growing so fast. But this adventure took her to a tropical paradise (literally).

She has left a serious impact on the lives of many as an elementary school art teacher and community member.

student store she helped to create

Murals painted all over the island

teaching print making

created an understanding of color theory

paper flower making

local historical theater

Independence days

carnival costume making

But what life for the past two years she has lived. Sure she says she misses blueberries and strawberries, but Dominica actually has a mango season that all us US people would die for. And the humidity is a killer, but I am sure she will miss the tropical weather when she has to come back to the arthritis inducing grey mundane days of winter in the Pacific Northwest. The huge nasty bugs, well that she won't miss those! I am excited to have her back on States side (she is finished April 1st with her service) but I know this adventure will have a lasting affect and she will cherish the memories forever!

 

 

 

Here's a toast to more adventures mom! Can't wait to see what's in store for you next.