May 2011

The month's activities: I got to hear legendary midwife Ina May Gaskin give a lecture on the medicalization of birth and a call for the importance of midwifery.  I tried a fun Zumba class, which was a real workout.  I potted plants for a plant sale and worked 2 garage sales as fundraisers for American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.  It was a little much for me and I promptly quit the team before the relay even took place.  Rich and I were invited by his boss-boss to attend a cooking class at Bastyr University, where we speed-cooked several whole foods recipes.  The food was great and it was fun to cook in a professional kitchen, though the pace was pretty stressful and we had to do our own dishes at the end of the night.  I'm pretty sure I'm not cut out to be a chef.  The teacher is the head of this "show" http://www.cookusinterruptus.com/ and wrote the cookbook, "Feeding the Whole Family". 

Together!

Daddy is SO funny. 

 Bedtime stories.

How can he be so pretty?!

Our last visit with Grandpa Ace.  Claire wrote a letter to her great-grandpa.  Coming from her, I'm sure it was as sweet as can be.

On a rough day I took the kids for a drive until they both fell asleep and I found this beautiful view to sit before and read my book.  It was so rejuvenating!

Silly faces.

Flower power.

Check out Gavin's scrunchy nose.  He does that when he's nursing and I love it!  Both my kids liked swings the first few times as babies, but now scream anytime we try.  (As I'm writing this, Claire who's now 4, just today went on the swing and tolerated 2 gentle pushes at a time, so maybe when Gavin is 4 he'll like it again too.)

A little Mommy.

Living room picnics are pretty great.

Claire turns 3

Three years old and her first Friends birthday party.

Pretty decor made in the wee hours of the morning.

Outside string game - following a string weaving through the yard and stopping for tasks like playing ring around the rosy, singing "happy birthday", exercise moves, gathering for a group photo, etc.

Pink, Sprinkles, and a mini-banner made by Mama.

She was shy blowing the candles out, so her friends were happy to help.

The kids gathered around to help her unwrap gifts.

Showing off her necklace I made for her.

Excited to have a rocking chair just her size.  This one was passed down from Rich's family - I think great-grandpa Truman lacquered it.

Another party at Grandpa Don & Grandma Laura's house with a Winnie-the-Pooh cake.

Poor Claire, her cousins were so excited for her, but it was too much attention.  We've had to start letting her open holiday gifts when there's only a few people in the room, so the cousins have to miss out for now.

Daddy got to blow out the candles while Claire looks like she's about to cry.

A lick of frosting should make things better.

Sugar rush!