Are you scared?

I am just a cat who is big.

Christmastime Sorgenstyle

Audrey the Christmas elf.

Making Christmas cookies.

Both girls did an amazing job signing the Christmas cards. Audrey even sort of developed a signature. We did a very limited run of cards this year, sorry if we didn't get you!

Sorry these are out of order, blogger changed without telling me.

Getting the Christmas tree!

Haven and Audrey running around and around the huge Christmas tree installed in downtown Ferndale by Treemendous Plantworks. Last year Audrey was all snuggled into the stroller for this event!

Music box

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

The kids table.

This year we had a 'Friendsgiving.' Thanks for hosting Liz and Russ!

Aunt Becki's Wedding

The happy couple. Thanks for the pictures Wally!

Papa in his dapper suit, with his little ladies.

It was so fun getting dressed up and hair curlied.

Time for a lollipop!

Haven and Mama have a dance together.

Salmonella

A few of my most recent thoughts on food poisoning include: having a few extra pounds on in case of salmonella is a gd good idea. Also, I will never eat a raw egg. No, never.
Poor William has been sick with salmonella for five days now. It started with a fever and joint aches, and mostly it has been frequent trips to the loo and he hasn't been able to eat solid food. After extensive internet research and multiple conversations with my friends in the nursing field (thanks Denise!) we know that there is no need to seek medical attention, he simply needs to wait it out and keep hydrated. So after his vacation in San Francisco for the weekend (where he ate a raw quail egg at a sushi restaurant), William has had a vacation on the couch. Kind of. He is starting to look skinny, and I expect any day for him to wake up and eat a bunch of food and be his normal self. It just hasn't happened yet.

Parent teacher conference

Last night William and I met with Haven's teacher, Mrs. Potter, for our first parent teacher conference. We weren't expecting too much, Haven has only been in school for a few months. Also I have been helping out in her classroom once a week and I have a pretty good idea how hectic it gets in there with 23 kids to one teacher. Mrs. Potter is great though, I dare not underestimate her. Once, when I was filing some kids work into their folders there were three that had no names. When I asked her about them she told me whose they were by sight. And she named three of the four leftover folders. Needless to say, we had a nice chat about Haven. Haven is kind of shy in school, but otherwise a perfect student, according to Mrs. Potter. She tests high in her assessments and so we talked about gifted programs, which don't start until later years. Haven is able to read at a second grade level in her reading assessment, but that's only because that is as far as Mrs. Potter was able to test her. She still needs to bring in some higher level books to see at what level Haven is able to read. This impresses me because I remember being as confused as hell about reading in kindergarten. I caught on quick at an later age, but when I was five reading was scary. I look forward to seeing all Haven is able to achieve in school, so far she is off to a great start!

Watching the 'Dabbie-dahs'

Audrey is the newest and biggest fan of the Doodlebops, thanks to the leftover DVD collection from when Haven was exactly Audrey's age.

Happy Halloween!

Beautiful baby vampire bumblebee

We had our best Halloween party yet! Not too many awesome pictures, but a few are posted on fb.

Pumpkin carving with Papa

Stoneyridge Farm 2011

I came along and helped on Haven's first field trip of the year. It was a fall farm day, and the kids had a great time. My group of kids to watch was Kylie S., Haven, and Hanna, pictured below. There's Leo too!
After getting lost in the corn maze, choosing a pumpkin, eating lunch and playing on the playground, Mrs. Potter's class had a group photo by an old truck.

Sisters

Coloring

Coloring of all kinds happens a lot around here. Our dining room table is always a mess of drawings and crayons.
Yesterday the girls got Halloween cards in the mail from Grandpa Bob. (Thanks Grampa Bob!!!) Haven colored hers and decided to give it as a gift to her teacher.


Audrey also did some coloring.

Such an amazing reader!

Haven read the entire 'Goodnight Moon' book to Audrey, it was both amazing and precious. The only problem was that Haven's arms aren't quite long enough to reach around Audrey and hold the book, and Audrey insists to be on the lap when being read to.

Grammies Quick Visit

Grammie always gets a four day weekend the third week of October, and this year she took the train out for a quick visit. The girls were so happy to see her (Audrey calls her 'nam-ee-nam') and Mama and Papa got to go out for a fun date. Happy Birthday Grammie, see you again soon!

A ride on the biggest rocking horse ever!!

A fun day with our best friends

Just thought I'd share the funniest picture ever taken of a kid ever

Occupy Bellingham

Yesterday afternoon I took the girls to Occupy Bellingham. Though I have no delusions that our simple marching will change anything (how on earth could you ever get rich people to give up their money or power?)there is great beauty in revolution. Also, growing up where I did, isolated from the rest of the world, I very much appreciate the opportunity to be involved in things like this, and share with my girls the chance to stand up for their future and be a part of history.

Fall Farm Day

We drove our bus to Cloud Mountain Farm yesterday for their yearly fall festival. We had our best turnout yet with 20 riders! It was a great day, fun was had by all.

Kindergarten update

Well, Haven loves kindergarten. She likes riding the bus and eating hot lunch (unless it is tacos or cheeseburgers.) She likes her teacher and her classmates and her favorite part of school is recess.
I was really only a wreck about it for the first two or three days. It is still a little wrenching every time the bus pulls away with her on it. It has been nice having days to spend with Audrey. We get one-on-one time, just like Haven did when she was a baby, which is very satisfying for both of us. I also get a lot of stuff done. Which is great.
I am a little concerned because the work Haven is bringing home from school is stuff she learned when she was three. Haven KNOWS what a circle is. She knows her days of the week. I'm not sure what to do about this. I have signed her up for more dance classes and also for a two hour art workshop every Wednesday, in lieu of the early out.
Haven has also been extremely sensitive since starting school- she cries at the drop of a hat. Other mothers assure me that this is normal for about 6 weeks until they get into the swing of school. I hope so, because Haven is kind of hard to be around when she's like this.
All in all I think this transition is good for our family, and I already find myself looking forward to Audrey starting school, well, a little. I also clutch her a little tighter when I think of it, because I know I will have moments of extreme loneliness with them both gone. I swear I have had empty nest syndrome from the time they were each born.

First day of kindergarten

It is with great sadness that I sent Haven off to her first day of kindergarten.
She, however, was beside herself with excitement.

Waiting for the bus...

Where is that silly bus???

I sure am going to miss you!!

The neighborhood gang.

In her new classroom. Congratulations Haven, you are such a big girl!!!

Beach days in hot September

Enjoying ice cream in Duvall with Uncle Casey

Baby words

Audrey has been talking more and more. Every day she comes up with a new word! Granted, she's not so big on consonant sounds yet, but with a little patience you can usually tell what she means. A few examples:
Ow-ee: This is what she calls cats. She loves Sadie, and snuggles Sadie, and it eventually ends in a bite or scratch, hence the name.
Ah-oh: Apple
Eesh: Shoe(s)
Dee-dee: Sister Haven, or I'm thirsty.
Da-da: Kaia. I think that the word 'puppy' sounds a lot like 'papa' and that's why she calls the dog 'da-da.' Wm thinks she's trying to say 'doggie.' She has very recently, as in the last few days, actually started saying 'papa.'
Bah: This can mean any word that starts with the letter B. Bird, ball, boat, boot and bus to name a few. The appropriate vowel sounds are slowly forming behind the B.
Mama: She is finally starting to articulate between M and N! Which means I am no longer 'nana,' but can officially be called Mama. This could also have something to do with weaning, as 'nana' also meant breastmilk.
She also says 'Ummmmmmm.....' when you ask her a question, or when she's talking on the phone, and also 'ah-uhhhhh' like big sister when she's disappointed that you've told her no about something.

At home with Audrey

Mama and babes camping trip; Lopez Island

Our first night: the sunset was beautiful!

The campsite: right on the beach!

Little buddies.

Evan got buried. Don't let his face fool you, he INSISTED.


Haven and Evan

Feelin' groovy with no clothes on.

The crew!

Waiting to catch the ferry home. Haven always wants to hold the dog, but the idea works out less than fabulously in practice.