Addison's 5th birthday party

We had a major turn in the weather and it was pretty chilly when we went to the farmers market.  I'm not sure if the big Tahoe jacket was necessary, but Serafina wanted to wear it. She looked like an adorable Eskimo child.

It was pretty cold at soccer this morning, so I was better off playing with the kids and moving around than just freezing on the sidelines.  For the first time this season, Leo was assigned to my group.  I was a little worried he would be needy or not participate fully with me right there, but he did great.  He often says he likes soccer better than school, which is huge since he started off the season in tears.

After soccer, he got a haircut and then we got cleaned up and headed to Addison's birthday party.  Her family has moved about 30 minutes north so we don't get to see them as often as we use to.  I made her this little strawberry purse as part of her present.  

The party was at a park near Addison's new house.  Her mom asked that we bring the monkey toss game that I made a long while back.  Leo carried it from the car.

Penny and Leo had fun with this spinning thing.

Serafina was a little over bundled for this situation as well but I'd rather her be nice and toasty warm than catch a chill.

The beautiful birthday girl.

Another spinning thing.

Leo apparently can get all kinds of women to spin him in this thing.  It was adorable little Katie's turn.

My kids always love to eat.

Ready for cake time.

Leo showed that piñata who's boss.

So did Serafina.

All the party guests.

"I Voted"

When I picked up Serafina from school, she had this lovely turkey. She said "bock, bock". I said, "um, that's what the chicken says; the turkey says gobble gobble."

When I picked up Leo from school, he had this "I Voted" sticker.  I asked who he voted for and he said, "the one who wants to be the guy."  I wasn't quite sure what he meant.  

We discussed it more throughout the day and I understood that he "voted" for Mitt Romney.  He asked who I voted for and I explained I voted for Obama and why.  I asked why he voted for Mitt Romney and he said, "well, he hasn't had a turn yet and I thought he should have a chance to do it."  Aww...  I love his dedication to fairness and turn taking.  I'm also very relieved that five-year-olds can't vote.  

I filled out my absentee ballot over the weekend but took it to the local polling place (Raynor Park) to turn it in.  It was a hot day and by the late afternoon it was very pleasant out so we took our bikes to the farm to get our veggies and then went to the park.  On the way and at the park, we saw neighbors, preschool friends and even Serafina's (Leo's former) teacher.  It gave us a great sense of our community.  Leo was so amazed to see Mrs. Hessler out in the world he almost rode his bike into a parked car.  

Here they are outside the park building where we dropped off my ballot wearing their "I Voted" stickers.  

Leo went to bed before Romney conceded the race, but I'll break the news to him in the morning.

Fun with Uncle Mike

We had to say goodbye to Uncle Mike today. Before he left, he got to watch Serafina's dance class and do a little of this game...

Riding bikes with Uncle Mike

I went out to run some errands and when I came home all the people and bikes were gone. I walked to the end of the street to find the Mirriones on their way back from a group bike ride.

Before dinner there was some board game playing.

1000 posts

This is my 1000th post.  Over the past five years, I’ve logged on to my computer and posted pictures, videos and text 1000 times.  That’s kind of amazing to me.  Of course there have been days where I did multiple posts in one sitting to document a trip or separate events.  But for the most part, I’ve blogged an incredible amount of times about important moments, exciting adventures and mundane events. 

            As I look back over the blog, I see the tone has changed.  In the early days when Leo was a newborn, I glossed over the hardship.  I was absolutely freaking miserable in the beginning, struggling with nursing, fighting with Tom, feeling depressed, but very little of that is reflected on the blog.  I’d like to think I’ve become more honest; I’m more willing to discuss just how crappy motherhood is. 

            I think my candid approach comes from the fact that I don’t really think anyone reads this blog.  When I’m writing to no one but myself, there is no reason to gloss over the dismal truths.  I want to remember how bad it can be so I can appreciate it when it’s good.  Plenty of people give up on blogging or ignore a blog for long stretches.  I never have.  That’s because the one reader I do know I have is my mom and if any mom is good at any thing, it’s nagging and she will gently nag me to post.  I know she wishes she could see her grandkids everyday (or close to it), so the blog is the next best thing. 

            As cliché as it sounds, motherhood has been a journey for me.  I went from being pretty clueless and borderline delusional (“a baby won’t keep us from going out and enjoying our lives”) to being a bit of a Pollyanna about the whole thing (“I just love being a mom”) to being the sarcastic, cynical parent I’ve always been deep down inside.  Because, honestly, parenthood is 80% dealing with bodily fluids, 15% pure misery and 5% pure joy, so if you don’t have a sense of humor about it, you won’t survive. 

            I don’t see myself ending this blog any time soon.  As long as there are holidays and vacations and field trips and tantrums, I should have enough to photograph.  I might not always have clever things to say but I’ll still include text (though Tom tells me no one reads the text).  I haven’t made baby books for the kids so this blog is the chronicle of their “firsts” and the memories and milestones we want to remember (and some we’d rather forget).    

            Thank you for reading.  

Hike with Uncle Mike

We headed to a nearby hike where we've been a few times before and we get a nice view of the Silicon Valley.

Here are Tom and Mike on the trail.

This is the first time we have hiked without the carrier for Serafina.  My back can't handle it anymore and I promised my dad I wouldn't carry her anymore.  She was fussy in the beginning but did okay.

A nice person on the trail took this picture for us.

Making their way to the top.

At the top, having a bite to eat.

Heading back down.

It was very close to nap time, so Serafina was tired and Daddy gave her a lift.

I guess it wasn't just Serafina's nap time.  Uncle Mike took a snooze on the way home.

Guess he wasn't quite done.

Apparently he wasn't the only one with a case of the couch sleepies.

School stuff

I helped in Serafina's classroom yesterday. She's kind of a tomboy at home, but as soon as we got to school yesterday she put on a princess dress and high heels. We are getting into the time of year when the kids are coughing, snotty, yucky messes and I get a little skeezed out.

During craft time, she got into this very fluffy tutu and more high heels.

Leo brought home an All About Me poster to fill out and return to school on Monday.  He's one of the last kids in his class to do it and he took it very seriously.  

Here's the self-portrait he made.  He drew himself going "oooo" with his mouth.

I helped him execute it only a little.

Here are his answers for the poster.
My favorite animal is: tiger
My favorite color is: blue
My favorite food is: hot dog with bun, pickle, ketchup, mustard
My favorite place is: Tahoe (Donner Lake)
When I grow up, I want to be a: monster truck driver
My favorite thing to do is: ski
If I had one wish, I'd wish for: presents

And here is a picture of them after bath in hand-me-down robes from the neighbors.

Uncle Mike arrived late last night and the kids could hardly wait to wake him up this morning.  They really enjoy having him around.  We will go on fun outing tomorrow, but we still have to decide where to go.