Language Explosion

Zane has decided it's time to get with talking. (That's him Easter morning, dancing with Caspian's Easter Kermit.) He's saying "Mama", "Dada", "hi", "light", and mimicking all sorts of things all of a sudden. It's so cute. He is signing "shoes" all the time. I think because he likes to go outside so much. He also signs "cheese" "milk" and sometimes "more" and "all done." He waves bye bye...usually about 30 seconds after the person leaves. Well, he's getting there. He's very into dancing and loves the "Itsy Bitsy Spider."

~t

Happy Easter!

Not quite from Olympia...but soon!

Our favorite house has an accepted offer. Boo Hoo.

Oh well, the right thing will come.

~t

Houses, Houses, Houses, & Puppy Bucket Hat

We're off to Olympia to house hunt in 5 days. I'm obsessed with houses. I cannot stop thinking about them. I am imagining my crappy furniture in these lovely places. I am imagining my mother's decent-but-not-my-taste furniture alongside my crappy furniture in these places. I am wondering how this is all going to work and if Design on a Dime would ever consider coming to Washington. I am imagining my sons growing up in these places. Being teenagers!!!! in these places. I am imagining them have friends over. I am imagining who might live near there and what the schools might be like and what food places might deliver to these places. I am imagining friends and family from WI and ID and other places visiting us in these places (which makes me think the place should be big, no?)

Well, here are the contenders...

Our current favorite, Ramblewood Lane:

Other contenders:

And then, just for fun, here's Puppy Bucket Head and Wagon Boys. Can you imagine them as teenagers? I can.

~t

Sick, Sick, and More Sick

Well, we've entered Sick Season around here. I can't remember exactly when it began. It was after Zane's birthday (2/27), but before his doctor's appt (3/6). I believe Zane got sick first, then me, then Kevin, then Caspian, then me, then Kevin, then Zane, then Kevin? Oh who knows. I just know I'm sick of it.

The upside to the sick sick sickiness is that it makes for a cuddly baby. See below.



Caspian's behavior tends to fluctuate between angel and devil. A little happy medium might be nice. But I guess, what can you expect from an 8 year old, with two homes, two families, two one-year old siblings that are not siblings themselves, a frustrated artist stay-at-home-dad, and an impending cross country move. I guess I just hope we all live through it. I might try to take him to the Shambhala Meditation Center tomorrow. Apparently, they have programs for children.

I will now paste in the text to an email I sent to my friend Erika tonight. This is how my days have been going...

So, tonight, Zane achieved the ultimate of privileges...

I was changing his diaper and noticed that he had an enlarged lymph node, which I wanted Kevin to feel.

Kevin was downstairs.

I had to wait and wait and wait.

Zane decided to get up from the waiting and stand, diaperless, at his toy basket.

This was all well and good for about 30 seconds until I saw the poo coming out of his bum.

That's right. Zane just shat on the living room rug. Zane Valerian...living the good life.
In his defense, he does have the flu.

It took me a couple of hours, but it eventually made me think of you and all the fond discussions we've had about shitting in the middle of the living room.

Ahhhh, this email is beginning to remind me of Alfred Lunt's reminisces of Helen Hayes. Do you think this email will make it into my biography someday?

t

ps--When Kevin finally came up and felt the node, he said, "Yep. It's swollen." He cleaned it up at least.

Oscar and ZV

No, no, no, Zane was not hanging out with George Clooney and Felicity Huffman. Not THAT Oscar. The REAL Oscar. Oscar the Grouch.

Here they are getting down to "I Love Trash."

~t

Kevin's Home Military School

So, we got an unfavorable note home from Caspian's school. After some other issues, Kevin has decided to go all out with the discipline and now the young lad is having a home military school experience. Let's all hope we stick with it.

Here he is confined to quarters after he could no longer do any more push ups...

His room looks neat, don't it?

~t

"Commeer"

This morning, Caspian decided to be a good big brother and explain something of our language to little Zane.

You could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he matter-of-factly said, "The word 'commeer' actually is from the two words "come here".

~t

ps--Credit to Kristine Claudette for inspiring me to blog this.

Zane is ONE!

We partied hearty at Zane's Mexican Fiesta. It was a small family gathering with food by the wonderful Kevin. Earlier in the day, we visited the domes. Zane enjoyed the greenery, some time with family, presents, and of course, CAKE!

~Proud Mama t

Professional Photos!

(This is so much more fun than what I was doing at this time last year! ahem...labor.)

~t

We had professional photos taken of the kids today!!!

I'm about to go pick them up. (And Zane's CAKE!) Can't wait to see 'em. Will post later.

I think I might blog more now that I have a laptop.

Wow. Sondra Locke is being a hussy on the The Outlaw Josey Wales. Your husband ever put on a tv show or movie and then leave the room?

~t

Our Newest Family Member
Vaiolette Beautiful One came to live with us on Saturday, February 11, 2006. We love her.

Bet you thought this would be about Zane, huh? Well, that will be next. Tomorrow's his birthday. Right now he's whining at me. Gotta go.

~t

Zane's Second Haircut!

Before

During

After

Thanks Cory!!!

~t

Happy New Year!!!

Kevin's Bday, Christmas, & other Milestones

So, my sweet husband turned 35 on 12/9. Oooh my. We are getting old. Oh well. Here's the festivities...

Making a wish

ZV's first cheesecake is off to the side of the plate. :)

Christmas was not without it's share of drama, but I'm glad to say we all pulled through and it was a nice time. My bro was the star with his handmade wooden gifts. Very special!

Kevin poses in front of his feast.

My Dad taking a pic of Caspian taking a pic of my Dad.

Zane-ta Claus

The blocks Uncle Tim made for Zane. Truly an heirloom. The whole family gets involved.

A bizarre standoff at Grandma's.

Caspian in the shirt Kevin made him.

One of the most surreal exchanges of the season.

My mom, "What does 'Cas' stand for?"

CASpian, "Where does it say that?" (on the shirt he was wearing--he thought it was a dragon?!?!)

The obligatory family self portrait. :)

Allrighty, what were the milestones?

Hmmm...we learned that when Zane says "Gheee" which he has been doing forever, he means "Binkie"

Zane clapped today for the first time!

Zane had his first cold. :( I blame the doctor's office. And, for the astrologers in the audience, the transiting north node on my chiron in Aries in the 5th house.

He's walking pretty well.

He's chewing really well.

Begging for our food constantly.

Great at putting blocks in things.

Peek-a-boo master & other jokes.

There, those are some good milestones.

Love and peace to all.

2005 was a great year for us and I am really looking forward to 2006!

~t