Adventures in PDX---Spring 2015

Being fairly new to the hood and with such a warm spring we decided to really get out in nature and explore. My boys are such troopers that they are always down for any adventure. I am soooo glad we started traveling, road triping, hiking, etc when they were little so that it is really just part of their life. A couple from Port Alexander (who was actually my first public school teachers), once said to us when they were having a baby later in life than most do, that if they were going to do it, the baby had to match their life styles. We have been fortunate enough have children that have adjusted to our life style easily and even when it was tough we roughed through it so that we could still have the life we wanted to as adults. Selfish? Maybe, but also love that we can now adventure as a family!

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge is a nice space but a 

bit overly crowded, but did put Syd into labor!

Japanese Garden, award winning and worth the 

trek up to the west side hills every time!

A new discovery, Mt Talbert, is a gem of a hill! 

A great hike with great green spaces to breath fresh 

air (sometimes much needed).

Other locations we have discovered are: 

Powell Butte (quiet hill with great paths and views to the east)

Leach Botanical Garden (a favorite and at least a

 monthly excursion to this spot for us)
West Moreland Nature Park (amazing outdoor natural play
structures that can entertain many boys for 5 plus hours)

Mom of Two Boys

I knew I would be out numbered but I really had no idea what this would mean as a mom, when the ultra sound tech said we were having a[nother] boy and Olde said with tears in his eyes..."I got my Micheletti boys."

Don't get me wrong I love having boys! BUT I have had to change my outlook on what it meant for me as a parent. Growing up I only had girls in my family, and therefore the increased level of violence/horsing around, words like poop/fart, and interest in penises needed an adjustment in my life. I frequently find my self checking in with Olde to make sure it is normal for them to be doing what they are doing as boys (and that we are not raising psychopaths).
Here are a few of my favorite things that, although I know girls do them too, I feel are more present in my boy world than friends with little girls.

silly faces---will I ever get a simple nice smiling face picture again?

 
swords and fighting (I've even created my own signature move---the mustache move, which is impenetrable)


















Military forts---what is the obsession with these?
On our last excursion to one, there was a moment where another mom, with two boys also, and I made eye contact and had the momentary understanding of "yep there will be lots of these excursions in our life, not our favorite but worth the ohhh's and ahhhh's of the boys.

wrestling is normal and fun...but I've had to learn how to as this was not part of my up bringing...at least not to the level of occurrence that it happens in our household.

poop/farts---it never gets old!

sticks and rocks---who needs toys! We have had a rock. stick pile right outside our front door since the boys could pick one up. And any moment they step outside there is one in their hands.















penises---and pee all over the bathroom. Recently it was discovered that one of our kiddos was not holding it right to pee and when I suggested an aiming technique that I read about on one of my mommy blogs, I was informed by Olde that was not what was needed...in other words but out of the penis world.

I think Eve, from That's My Apple blog, sums it up perfectly with this list:

Grandpa Alaska Love

Aram is particular about who he snuggles with and asks to sit on laps of, usually parents first, then RiRi, then Syd. It takes a while to warm to people, so when I saw this pic it made my heart happy. We don't get to see my dad that often but when we do, it is a highlight for all of us. Even Aram.

Cousins (all of them)

It is so unusual that all the cousins are in one place at one time...AND all looking at the camera and smiling no less!

From left to right: Finn (age 2), Jasper (age 6), Easton (age 1), Lily (age 5), Caden (age 4), and Aram (age 4)

Song and Dance

Aram is really into singing right now. He loves the song Barbara Ann by the Beach Boys and asks to listen to it like 500,000,000,000,000 times a day, and don't even think of going anywhere in the car without having to turn it on. But what really gets me is that he goes around singing it...nothing much cuter. [Ed. this post was started over a year ago, and now his musical selections have changed. He now enjoys music such as Beck, Bill Withers, Quasimoto, and Fela Kuti]

He also is known to through up the W's and chant Wuuuuu-aaaannnngggggg. I have no idea where he got that from...wink wink at you Olde. Well actually, maybe that wink should go to Matt and Mara for the shirts that have been sooooo awesome. First Wutang and now ODB. See Aram keeping it real...












love this musical kid...this may be a glimpse into the high school self of Aram...

Ohhhhhhh, how sleep can make all the difference.

Sleeping...what can I say, I miss sleeping. My mom told me you never really sleep through the night soundly ever again as a parent., and after 6 years of children, I am beginning to believe this. My gauges of a full bar complete for sleep points (sorry video game reference) has had to be adjusted. I feel as though no matter how sound I sleep I never really "fill" my half empty bar. And as a parent you do all kinds of (sometimes crazy) things to try capture sleep.

With our first we were dedicated to following what the books said; bassinet, then crib, then own bed---and he slept great. Then came Aram's sleep habits (and stubbornness). A LOT of it, was me (not Olde) me, and me. I loved snuggling with him at night (and still do), feeling his breath on my neck and I was so tired with two that the thought of going into his room to nurse in the chair sounded impossible. Therefor, he slept with us for way too long (won't even mention how old he was when he moved to his crib out of pure embarrassment). And so, I think this has led us to continue, 4 years later with a struggle to keep him in his own bed at night.

The special educator in me likes star charts, and so does Aram, thankfully. Fingers crossed we have now solved the issue. Took us getting big brother involved also earning stars for treats and toys to help with snuggling his brother in the middle of the night and entertaining him (and keeping him away from our bedroom) at 6:30am on a Saturday...then fade supports.
Phewwwww...sleep. finally. well, sorta.

Sleep has not been kind to Aram either... poor guy has had to learn to sleep when and where he could.
http://thegiftofjune.blogspot.com/2015/01/he-sleeps.html

He wakes up slowly and like the grouch from sesame street. The biggest difference is if he wakes on his own in the morning or from a nap (vs. having to get up for school or to go someplace),  he is a perky happy human, though this does not happen much. There is no faking the happy wake up for him, that is for sure. He frequently down right refuses to get up or hits the person trying to wake him up. On the other hand he will start a conversation with "I love you..." if he wakes on his own. Ohhhhhhh, how sleep can make all the difference.

Syd and Jeff (and now Madison)

Jeff has been a part of Olde's life since middle school days, so it kinda brings tears to my eyes that they now live less than 10 blocks from each other. It is an all American dream really. AND then he married a wonderful (and now one of my best friends) woman. The best part is when we need them to fill in as parents they are always up to the task (even watching the boys for a couple of days so we could get a way for a much needed break). They are our go to for...well really, any life problem solving we need help with as parents, friends, and couples. And they have been there since the begining...peek the photos from Young Olde's blog...
 http://fromoldtoyoung.blogspot.com/2008/11/thursdays-with-green-and-syd.html

at school with Jas on "Special Friends Day"

About 8 weeks ago they welcomed their own little babe and we are so happy to see them grow into the most wonderful parents. Carefully snuggling, caring and slightly coddling (in the way that new parents of a first baby do) their little Lady---Madison: Born 2/22/15 at 9:17 pm weighing 7lbs 15oz.

the new little fam looking AMAZING!

love at first sight!

My boys automatically started calling her cousin Maddy and I can tell they will have a special place in their heart for their new little cousin! (And now the boys keep asking for a baby sister).