chillable

'calendar'

2011-10-09T22:05:00.001-07:00

Two pretty cool collages by Sadie.

rapunzel?

2011-10-02T10:42:00.001-07:00

Entitled, 'Me and My Little Baby Sister'

in the style of mc escher

2011-09-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

Woah. That's a lot of hearts and flowers.

anchors aweigh?

2011-08-14T16:48:00.001-07:00

Some sort of new-school Shirley Temple getup...

children of walmart

2011-08-03T10:27:00.001-07:00

The funny thing is...we actually are at Walmart. Guess she'll fit right in.

whiteboard art

2011-07-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

Note cool skull face at the top.

another fabulous outfit

2011-07-20T16:07:00.001-07:00

Perfect for the farmers market. Two people asked her if she was coming from ballet class.

The shirt is three sizes too big so I had to hold it together in the back with a hairclip. I have officially given up.

i had nothing to do with this

2011-07-19T08:56:00.001-07:00

They're not allowed to wear scarves around their necks at school (safety before fashion, you know), so Sadie has started wearing them around her waist. I'm glad she's going to school today because I sure don't want to be seen in public with her. And to think she doesn't even have the shoes on yet!

hairstyles of the young and sassy

2011-07-12T08:46:00.001-07:00

"Sadie, how do you want your hair today?"
"Like a unicorn!"

This was the best I could come up with.

frameworthy

2011-07-11T11:23:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite paintings ever by Sadie. I love the Rothko-esque color block/fading in the center.

love note

2011-06-09T21:52:00.001-07:00

Just found this on Sadie's art table after she went to bed. How sweet is that? I love all of the little hearts around her name...

may recap

2011-06-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

To say that May was a busy month is the understatement of the century. All told, we were gone nearly 3 out of 4 weeks, and I'm looking forward to a little downtime around the casa.

I celebrated my 40th birthday in Cabo, where we spent 11 glorious hot and sun-filled days for Darren & Christy's wedding. On that trip, Rachel talked me into using Picasa for photo-sharing, which is a million times easier than any other sites/tools I've used and will save me the trouble of reposting all of the pics here. You can find the Cabo pictures here and here. There were so many I had to post them in two groups!

After a few days back in Bend, we packed up our passports again for a trip to the French Riviera with Reid's family. It was a whirlwind 9 days. After landing in Nice we hopped aboard a cruise ship, making stops in Portofino ITL, St. Tropez, and Monaco. Despite all of the picturesque seaside locations, I'm a city girl at heart, and our two days in Nice were the highlight of the trip for me. There was minor disappointment when the Michelin-star restaurant I'd planned to visit was closed (don't visit Nice on a Monday), but that was easily assuaged by an outrageous, delectable bottle of Bordeaux. Pictures can be found here.

It sure has been hard to get back to work.

fish out of water

2011-04-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

That's my little Aquarius for you---as uncomfortable IN the water as most fishies are out of it. Seriously, the kid would not even get her face wet in the bath. But that was 3 weeks ago, before we met Miss Mary.

This woman is nothing short of a miracle worker. She's a tough-love, hard-assed, no-BS drill sergeant of a swim teacher who, by god, WILL TEACH YOUR KID HOW TO SWIM. The first few lessons, there were a lot of tears and a lot of screaming. It was traumatic for everyone involved (except Miss Mary, who apparently sees such behavior on a regular basis and doesn't even bat an eye, just drags your child kicking and shrieking back into the pool). But let me tell you, they respond to this approach. Swim or die. It works.

I wish I had video of the first lesson when Sadie could barely be convinced to get her foot wet. But now, here's what she can do:

Backfloating:

Diving/Crawlstroke:

And diving in the Deep End!

swim lesson

2011-03-30T13:04:00.001-07:00

Hopefully not as traumatic as the last time...

push it

2011-03-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

Wow. Just wow.

more warren miller

2011-03-14T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here's Sadie and Ava rippin' it up on Dilly Dally Alley last Saturday. Check out those banked turns--I think they're ready for the halfpipe.

kitten santa puppy

2011-03-08T18:57:00.001-08:00

Because what could be better, right?

cinderella

2011-03-08T08:42:00.001-08:00

Our new after-breakfast cleanup routine.

recipe confidential

2011-03-07T20:06:00.001-08:00

Although I DO love Anthony Bourdain, he's not the subject of this post. What is--is the amazing dish in the background. On a recent business trip to Seattle I was able to spend my long layover in Vino Volo, a wine bar/bistro that makes airline travel actually worth the hassle. Here, I tasted two things that in the past month I've been unable to forget: Chickpea and Chorizo Chili, with a Tutto Rosso by Brian Carter Cellars.

The 30-plus days that followed have been spent combing the interwebz for the elusive chili recipe, which is really more of a moroccan-inspired stew. I've found countless other blogposts and reviews singing its praises (Vino Volo can be found in several major airports nationwide), but no recipe. That's when it became clear I'd need to replicate it on my own. I found a similar-flavored creation on someone else's foodie/travel blog and modified it best I could. What follows is the end result--and one that did not disappoint, if I do say so myself.

CHICKPEA AND CHORIZO CHILI

1 red onion finely diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 carrots, chopped
olive oil for cooking
1 tbsp of Moroccan harissa paste (buy prepared, or make ahead by combining 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp cayenne, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp salt and 1 tbsp olive oil and blending to a paste)
1 tsp fresh minced ginger
2 cans diced tomatoes (no salt added)
1 cup canned tomato puree
2 cups of chicken stock
2 cans of rinsed chickpeas
3-4 chorizo sausages
juice of 1/2 lemon
salt, freshly-ground pepper
cilantro to garnish

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add the carrot, garlic and onion and saute until the mixture becomes translucent.
Add the chorizo with the casings removed, breaking it up into smaller bits with a wooden spoon.
Add the harissa paste and ginger and stir for 5 minutes until aromatic
Add the diced tomatoes, tomato puree, and chicken stock. Season with a LITTLE salt and freshly ground pepper. (the chorizo is already quite salty)
Allow the mixture to come to the boil and then set it on a low heat.
Let it simmer for at least 1.5 hours, allowing the liquid to reduce.
Add the chickpeas in the mixture. Allow them to cook and heat through about 15-30 minutes.
Before serving, stir in the juice of half a lemon. Spoon into bowls and garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve with crusty bread.

The finished product:

Although the recipe was almost spot-on, it will take another trip back to Vino Volo (oh, darn!) to compare my results with the original. I wasn't so lucky on the Brian Carter Cellars sangiovese blend however, which it turns out does not have distribution outside Washington state. The wine rep at Whole Foods swore she'd try to order some, so we'll see. In the meantime I'll be looking to all my Seattle buddies (you know who you are!) to bring some back from their next visit.

Enjoy!

stegasaurus

2011-02-27T11:19:00.001-08:00

schuss

2011-02-26T14:29:00.001-08:00

I think she's ready for the giant slalom.

out of order

2011-02-24T10:22:00.003-08:00

I worked backwards through the photo downloads, so chronologically this page makes no sense. For the most recent posts, scroll to the bottom.

Or come to think of it, maybe it does make sense--if you haven't seen any of these yet. Whatever. Enjoy!

christmas recap

2011-02-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

...including the last-ever documented photo of Sadie sucking her thumb.

the event of the year

2011-02-24T09:18:00.000-08:00

How many no-more-thumbsucking parties have you been to? Well, let me tell you--they are quite an event, at least in this household. After an elaborate series of progressive bribes, beginning with candy at week 1 and toys at weeks 2 and 3, the four weeks of no-thumbsucking culminated in a party at Bouncing Off The Walls, complete with pizza and cookies for all 10 attendees. Not a small deal at all. Unfortunately for us, Sadie decided to stop sucking her thumb exactly a month before her birthday, resulting in TWO parties the same week. Oh well---a bribe is a bribe.

backlog

2011-02-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

When I downloaded pictures from the camera last night, there were 779 of them. It took 2 hours to go through and remove all the blurry/dark/crummy ones, and I still have almost 400 left. Needless to say, I'm not going to attempt to comment on them here. Christmas, beer tasting, no-more-thumbsucking party, birthday, and Valentine's day---whew. Here are some from Sadie's birthday party at the Pottery Lounge.

sledding

2011-02-20T13:41:00.001-08:00

Ok, it's just a drainage ditch, but it's still pretty fun!

ballet class circa 2011

2011-02-16T22:52:00.000-08:00

I can picture the main studio at Civic Ballet Company in every detail: the barre along the third story windows overlooking Penn Avenue, the gray marmoleum flooring that showed years of scuffs from tap shoes, the 30-foot-long wall of mirrors in which we'd critique every tendu and plie. But by far my most distinct memory is the whirr and scratch of a record going round as we waited for the next song to begin. That's right--we danced to classical music on vinyl. On a record player.

Note now Sadie's RAD-trained teacher queuing up music with a remote. To an Ipod. Oh, how times have changed.

I do, however, love everything else traditional about this studio, right down to the required level-specific matching leotards and annual theme performances. This June's recital will be Peter and the Wolf at the Tower Theater, in which the pre-primary ballerinas will be frogs. Ribbit!!

number four

2011-02-13T20:16:00.000-08:00

We celebrated with a small group of girls-only at the Pottery Lounge this year. First time ever that the parents dropped off and left. All in all, a huge success!

petite nordiques

2011-01-15T16:46:00.000-08:00

Here are pictures from one of Sadie and Sophie's many XC ski outings at Meissner last year. A neighbor who we haven't seen in ages took them, and just gave them to us today. My how they've grown!

girl with balloon

2011-01-13T21:24:00.001-08:00

one of my favorite drawings yet...

all cozy

2010-12-30T15:23:00.001-08:00

in her new big girl bed...the hot pink headboard really makes it. Wow!

the preferred mode of transportation

2010-12-25T18:45:00.001-08:00

for Barbies is obviously a unicorn

the end result

2010-12-15T14:59:00.001-08:00

...of, "Get dressed, we're going to Target."

the power of advertising

2010-12-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

(While watching a ProFlowers.com commercial on TV)

Sadie: "Mommy, those flowers stay fresh and beautiful longer!"
Me: "Oh really? Why is that?"
Sadie: "Because the commercial said so."

I'm pretty sure this is the same reason she MUST have a unicorn pillow pet from Santa...

letter to santa

2010-12-09T20:00:00.001-08:00

Gets right to the point, huh?

flower

2010-12-09T07:44:00.001-08:00

A recent favorite by my budding artist.

less than two months ago...

2010-12-01T21:04:00.000-08:00

So yeah, I seem to have a hard time getting pictures off my camera and into cyberspace--it's part of the burden that comes with having a 'nice' camera now: I take way too many pics, half of them practice ones, and each is over 4 MB in size. Everytime I download them there are 300+ to weed through and resize/resample before I can upload them to Flickr or Facebook or here. Long story short, you get a lot of crappy cell phone pics, faithful readers, but not much else.

Well, I'm working on the October pictures as we speak. Today's feature: Reid's birthday. I'm not much of a baker but I did make these cupcakes (from a box mix) and they were damn good. I also made pulled pork which is not shown here because quite honestly, photos of stringy meat are not appetizing.

Coming soon--Halloween! Maybe before 2011 if you're lucky!

girls' day out

2010-12-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

When asked where she wanted to go for lunch:
"Either for mac & cheese or sushi."

kitty cat fairy princess

2010-11-22T15:47:00.000-08:00

Photos courtesy of Shawn Linehan

mommy and the incredible vanishing gag reflex

2010-11-18T22:19:00.000-08:00

Let me be the first to say: I have a weak stomach. Not for raw food or strong booze or gory hacker flicks. Nope--for vomit, the sight, sound, and smell of it.

One would be amazed, if in my position, how many movies actually include scenes of people throwing up. Go ahead and start paying attention--it's seriously like 1 in 5, and if not with accompanying visuals then at the very least graphic retching noises. It's gotten to the point where if someone leans over a toilet or behind a dumpster, Reid will reach for the remote to mute the volume because otherwise I'm quaking with nausea. God forbid I'm at your house when your cat forces up a hairball, I'll probably have to leave before the appetizer is served.

Refer now to previous post on darling daughter's Rough Day. Rough Day involved not one, but two, scenes of technicolor bile being sprayed about the house and public places, all whilst I stood steadfastly by catching what I could in various cups and vessels to ensure minimum cleanup. Yet never once did I become the least bit squeamish. It was business as usual.

The first time I experienced this phenomenon was in a security line at Ixtapa International Aiport in Mexico. Ninety-odd degrees, no air conditioning, a hangover, a 2-year old ridden with sand flea bites and a fever---AHHHH...vacation! About 10 people from the front of the line Sadie, who I'm holding, looks at me questioningly before proceeding to barf all over me. I won't go into details about what ensued with the non-English-speaking doctor over the next half hour, but let's just say we luckily all had a change of clothes. Still, despite the heat and tequila fuzz, I barely batted an eye.

I can recount every instance (only 4) this has happened to me, but it amazes me every time. How can I not watch this on TV but it's utterly okay if my offspring spews all over me? I have to think this must be one of the oldest survival instincts known to woman. It's the only explanation.

rough day

2010-11-17T13:41:00.001-08:00

Poor kid has a shiner from getting hit by a swing, and then wakes up with a sore throat before throwing up smoothie at The Crepe Place. No fair.

holy veggies batman

2010-11-02T18:40:00.001-07:00

By request: red peppers, cheesy broccoli, salad, and spaghetti squash. I had to throw in some fish nuggets for protein. Seriously, this kid amazes me sometimes!

still life with undies

2010-10-24T11:58:00.001-07:00

Me: "Sadie, why are you taking your pants off??"
Sadie:"Because I'm drawing underwear and I need to see what they look like."

first tattoo

2010-10-15T15:55:00.001-07:00

I've never seen a 3-year-old look so serious or hold so still for SO long as when Sadie got her henna. At the time I couldn't decide whether temporary body art was acceptable for a girl her age. In retrospect, it was awesome--and lasted a full two weeks!

family portrait

2010-10-02T13:33:00.001-07:00

This cracks me up for a few reasons: Daddy has one leg and no features, Sadie has a piggie nose, and oh yeah...Sophie and Avery are part of the family, of course!

the accidental activist

2010-09-22T14:26:00.000-07:00

I like animals as much as the next person, but I've never fancied myself a save-the-whales kinda girl. My complacency probably had to do something with either not feeling I could make a difference, or the fact that no whales actually wash up beached in my backyard. But when something hits close to home, it makes all the difference.

Those of you on Facebook have probably noticed and wondered about the justification behind my 'No Oregon DMV' profile picture. Well, I didn't get my license revoked, fail a driving test, or have to wait three hours over my lunch break for a renewal sticker. Nope, rather the state has decided they found the perfect new location for their city-wide field office--in our neighborhood. I won't bore you with all the reasons this is a bad idea (but if you're interested you can find them online at change.org by searching 'bend dmv'). Suffice to say the reasons were near and dear enough to my heart to make me want to take a stand.

And take a stand I did: I wrote a petition. I circulated it. I emailed state senators for support. I attended city council meetings. I created a Facebook group. I gave radio and TV interviews. I spent countless time and dollars making copies and burning through printer cartridges. I posted flyers and signs only to have them torn down hours later by our opponents. I met more neighbors in the past three weeks than I have in living 6 years in our neighborhood. I had the privelege of working side-by-side with some incredibly talented, dedicated individuals who were just as devoted to the cause. I spent hours composing a letter to the Governor and compiling an appeal packet, complete with maps, photos, and 765 signatures. And this morning, I mailed it.

It was a little like giving birth, that feeling of being simultaneously relieved and overjoyed, yet knowing the most difficult part is still to come. The burnout is starting to set in, and I hope I can make it to the finish line. We will win or we will lose, that much is certain. But damn if I don't go down in flames trying.

from the cellphone archives

2010-09-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

I have no words for this one.

growth spurt

2010-09-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I asked Sadie what she'd like for breakfast.

"Oh mommy, I'm REALLY hungry today. I want a blueberry waffle. And cheesy eggs. And toast and sausage. And a smoothie."

So what's a mom to do? I mean, if the kid's that hungry, fine--but I didn't want to prepare a bunch of food that would end up in the garbage disposal. So I decided to phase her requests in, like a 4-course breakfast.

Halfway through the waffle I started scrambling eggs and blending a smoothie. Halfway through the eggs I microwaved the "sausage", but she's already asking for ANOTHER egg. The final tally ended up at one frozen blueberry waffle, 2 eggs with cheese, a soy sausage patty, a glass of soy milk, and a strawberry-banana smoothie. I had to draw the line at toast--there's just no way anyone needs 1000 calories at breakfast, growth spurt or not. When I finally went over to collect her empty plate all I could say was, "Wow Sadie. Wow."

"I thought you'd be impressed." was her reply. Indeed!

small talk

2010-09-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

What do 3-year-olds talk about at preschool? Princesses? Ponies?

Well, according to Sadie, "A friend of mine at Toddles, Kay, said it's going to rain today and tomorrow."

Funny thing is, I checked the weather, and Kay's right. Whadda ya know.

the post I didn't want to write

2010-08-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

The five stages of grief are: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

Though weeks have passed since I first heard the news, and I've occasionally dealt with bouts of anger and depression, I keep coming back to stage one. They're not REALLY leaving. It's just temporary. They'll be back. But with just three days until the U-Haul shows up, I can't put off acceptance any longer: Sibila, Brian, and Sophie are moving to Colorado.

I mean, it could be worse: they could move to Guam, which almost actually happened at one point. At least we have plenty of family and friends in Colorado to warrant frequent plane trips, and they'll still have roots in Bend since they're keeping their house here. We'll plan family vacations together, talk on the phone, and email, but it won't be the same--our best friends are leaving. No more Wednesday just-the-girls play days, spur-of-the-moment happy hours, late nights crashing on their air mattress, all-day-Bloody-Mary-Sundays, weekend camping trips, floating the river, or any of the other spontaneous fun that the Lantzys could always be counted on for. And that's what I'll miss most--having those people in our life that we can drop in on anytime, feel 100 percent welcome with, and turn no plans at all into something special. But what Sadie will miss most...well, she doesn't even realize yet.

I had always imagined Sadie and Sophie growing up as sisters--two only-children who would enjoy the benefit of a constant companion without having to divide their parents' attention or share a bedroom. Now I guess they'll grow up more as cousins, with distance between them but a family-like bond keeping them close. At least I hope that's how it happens. I'll do everything in my power to make it so.

Lantzys, we will miss you so much.

And now I'm signing off before my keyboard gets too wet.

what's that you said?

2010-07-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

(on looking at a cut-out window on the front of her Dora book):

Sadie: "That's an octagon."
Mommy: "Wow, very good baby girl...how did you know that?"
Sadie: "Because it has 8 sides."

Well, duh.

quotes of the week

2010-05-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes I like the yellow part of the coffee cake. Sometimes I like the crumbly part. That's how life lives."

"My special freckle is nocturnal."

"I play dress up at home AND when I go out. My life is like that."

"Go change your clothes before you cuddle me, I don't want to get sweaty."

new look

2010-05-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

My stubborn insistence on continuing to self-publish this as an FTP blog has finally been overridden by the forces that be at Blogger. The upside of being required to use their publishing tool is greater flexibility with font, layout, and images--hence, a cleaner, fresher look. Perfect for spring. Enjoy!

overheard

2010-03-21T11:24:00.001-07:00

While making greeting cards at her art table:
"Congratulations Daddy I love you when you're in my tummy but even when you're sad I love you too."

Now there's a sentiment Hallmark hasn't cashed in on yet.

dental diva

2010-03-04T14:47:00.001-08:00

Nice bling!
A successful first visit, and Sadie even got to use the little suction wand by herself. There was some frowning-upon of the thumb sucking, however!

the puzzle master

2010-02-02T08:55:00.001-08:00

We upped the ante from 12 pieces to 24, but little miss is unfazed. Next up, the 1000 piece Millenium Falcon one...

that's not nice, little girl

2009-12-22T10:13:00.000-08:00

Sadie: "Go brush your teeth."
Me: "Why?"
Sadie: "Because you have coffee breath."

Oh yeah? Well Santa has coffee breath too, darling daughter, so you'd better watch out...

chuck chuck choo

2009-12-04T12:04:00.000-08:00

That's what Sadie calls Tic Tac Toe. I like her version so much better!

sugar high

2009-12-02T13:22:00.001-08:00

like kids in a candy store!

happy family

2009-11-17T09:33:00.000-08:00

Sadie has been drawing 'funny faces' for quite some time, but this is the first they've grown arms AND legs. I love this so much, I may get it tattooed on my back.

now why didn't I think of that?

2009-11-17T09:30:00.001-08:00

"Mommy, I put all my summer clothes in these bags."

did I mention

2009-11-11T23:50:00.001-08:00

...she loves miso?

mini gourmand

2009-11-10T20:53:00.000-08:00

A partial list of things Sadie has eaten for dinner recently:
- Moroccan butternut squash tagine
- Chinese mushroom and water chestnut lettuce wraps
- Sesame udon noodles with snap peas
- Mahi mahi tacos
- Greek shrimp and feta scampi over tomato/onion coulis
- Arugula and baby greens salad in rice wine vinaigrette (pretty much every night)

If I cook it, she eats it. And when I say "eats", I mean "cleans her plate". Now, granted--she still wants mac & cheese most every other night of the week, pizza on the remaining ones, and yogurt with raspberries EVERY morning for breakfast...but all kids are gonna have their food hangups, right?

the princess diaries

2009-11-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

Truly, that should be the new name of this blog. Because apparently one of the great ironies in life is that: the bigger the tomboy you were, the greater the obsession your daughter will have with all things princess. Try as we might to encourage otherwise, not a day goes by that Sadie doesn't insist on wearing a dress to school and 'farkly' (yes, we're still having trouble with 'sp') shoes. Mind you, sparkly shoes were not a standard wardrobe item until after Halloween. So you can probably see where this is going---'frog', 'dragon', 'ladybug', and even 'butterfly' were not acceptable costume choices this year. I did at least manage to discourage against Cinderella and make the case for the less glamorous, more down-to-earth, forest-dwelling Snow White...and I have to admit, she *does* make a rather lovely one:

whirlwind

2009-11-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

I'm still trying to catch my breath after a business trip, Halloween, vacation, and impending office move, so I'll update with pictures and stories as soon as time permits. Until then, I think this accurately captures how I feel:

STOP THE MADNESS!!!!

blast from the past

2009-10-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

2 years, 2 months ago. Best. Hair. Ever.

a latte and a chocolate milk

2009-10-07T16:47:00.001-07:00

Wednesdays can be tough sometimes. It's the one day I get a taste of what it would be like to be a stay-at-home mom, and it's ten times harder than sitting at a desk for 10 hours, that's for sure. But nothing can compare to our little mommy-daughter outings like this one to the bookstore/coffee shop. Best part of my whole week.

nanook of the northwest

2009-10-05T14:43:00.001-07:00

A bit bundled for October 4th, don't you think?

Incidentally, this is my first MMS post from my phone. Keep your fingers crossed for more frequent, albeit brief, posts!

overheard

2009-10-05T10:48:00.000-07:00

Me: "Sadie, go ahead and pick a bedtime story."
Sadie (examining bookshelf): "Hmmmm.......we just read that one.......that one's too long.......that one's for babies.......that one's too dangerous......."

The inside cover of Dr. Seuss' Fox In Socks

IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it's a start anyway. We'll see if I can't keep up with the most cursory of postings...

Here's a throwback to August and my solo Colorado trip for the Phish shows. It was awesome to see Jenny & Kristin and meet their sweet little girls:

We didn't have the greatest weather at Red Rocks (note K-funk's poncho!) but it rocked anyway:

And just your average summer sunset evening in Bend...

And just because:

Whew...that took a lot outta me! Until next time...

what does your mommy do for you?

2009-05-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

At preschool on Tuesday, each child's answer to this question was written down on a big whiteboard. It said:

Sadie - "She brings me pizza to take to Sophie Lantzy's house."

So, it really is the little things that count. Happy early Mother's Day to all you moms out there!

on a walk

2009-04-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

Sadie: "I want to see the goose."
Mommy: "OK, but we can't get too close---he might not be friendly."
Sadie: "I not friendly."
Mommy: "Whaaaat? Of course you are sweetie, you're friendly!"
Sadie: "NO. I not friendly! I'm Sadie."

do NOT pick your nose

2009-03-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

"Hmmmmm......I wonder if they'll notice THIS....?"

belated birthday pics

2009-03-05T16:39:00.001-08:00

Has it really almost been a month since Sadie's 2nd birthday? I haven't even written thank-you notes yet! Now I finally understand what people are talking about when they say, 'look out---they grow up so fast!'

Per the birthday girl's request, fire engines:

Making carrot cupcakes (well, the cream cheese frosting) for school:

Digging in to the strawberry dip:

Party dress!

Feliz cumpleanos! (birthday dinner with family):

What a BIG girl compared to last year!

Two may have its terrible moments, but you're 99.9% sweetness, baby girl! Happy birthday!!

dinnertime conversation

2009-02-27T10:23:00.000-08:00

Sadie (eating raviolis): "What's that?"
Mommy (putting baked tofu on her plate): "Teriyaki tofu."
Sadie: "I don't want yaki foo."
Mommy: "Try it, you'll like it."
Sadie (considers it for a few minutes): "That hurts my feelings."
Mommy (incredulously, from kitchen): "EXCUUUUSE me?"
Sadie: "That really hurts my feelings, Mommy."

being 2

2009-02-16T23:29:00.000-08:00

Does it get any sweeter than this?

bathtime conversation

2009-02-16T20:40:00.000-08:00

Sadie: "I'm dreaming."
Mommy: "What are you dreaming of?"
Sadie: "Hot dog."
Mommy: "You're dreaming of a hot dog?"
Sadie: "Yes."
Mommy: "Okay, time to get out of the bath."
Sadie: "NO MOMMY!!!!! I'M DREAMING OF A HOT DOG!!!!!"

confession

2008-12-17T13:35:00.000-08:00

Readers, I've been cheating on you. For the past week and a half I've spent all my free cybertime writing comments, posting pictures, and monitoring friends' updates on Facebook instead of keeping the grandparents happy with the latest antics and photos of Sadie Rain. Boo, hiss.

Believe me, I resisted the Facebook fad for as long as humanly possible (especially for someone who sits in front of a computer for 10 hours a day), but once my darling husband joined I knew I'd be quick to succumb. It is painfully addictive---so much so, that chances are you probably already know I'm on there because you are too.

Anyway, let's cut to the chase: there are some anxiously-awaited holiday photos that need sharing!

Eating the first fistful of snow of the season on Thanksgiving night

I'm not sure what to say about this other than...helloooooo 80's!

Taco night (not holiday related but amusing nevertheless)

Sadie, Sophie & Avery awaiting Santa at the Christmas parade

Procuring the tree

Ready to meet Santa Claus...

...and not in the least bit shy:

a christmas classic

2008-12-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Last night we let Sadie stay up an hour past bedtime to watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on CBS. Now, I know we could have just bought or rented the DVD and watched it any old time, but there's something about having to WAIT for it, commercials and all, as a much-anticipated marker of the holiday season. The whole experience was extraordinary: she sat captivated for the entire hour, snuggled between Reid and me, pointing at the TV and saying, "Ooooh, Reindeeh! Reindeeh nose! Reindeeh nose!". Our hearts were so full they were ready to burst.

We're really excited for Christmas this year because SHE'S excited. Here are some of the other seasonally-appropriate things she can say:

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all way" (note extra stanza)

"I need Kris kuss tree pleeze" (ok, we'll get one this weekend)

"Oh! Kris kuss lights house!" (upon driving past one that's all lit-up)

"Sophie Santuh prade?" (yes baby girl, we're going to the Santa Parade with Sophie on Saturday)

"Brr cold. Mommy puffy jacket. Daddy puffy jacket. Sadie puffy jacket." (it's freezing out, everyone put on your puffy jackets!)

and as of last night:

"Rudof reindeeh games"

Happy holidays, all!

first sushi

2008-11-21T13:58:00.000-08:00

At 10 months, Sadie got a wooden sushi set and training chopsticks.
At a year, she received not one, but two copies of My Little Book of Sushi for her birthday.
I can't believe it's taken this long to get around to introducing the real thing!

Selecting ingredients

Immediately before stuffing a big piece of king crab leg in her mouth

Mommy jumps in to help roll 'em up

Adding the finishing touches

Yum.

Might need a little work on the etiquette.

Kanpai!

puppy tv

2008-11-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

Don't miss a second of the live action:

watch here
(requires flash)

It's better than the evening news or reality programming, at least.

Actually, I guess it *is* reality programming...

big news

2008-11-19T15:22:00.001-08:00

Well, for me anyway.

(No, we're not pregnant.)

I got Lasik! Finally, after 20+ years of glasses, then contacts, then glasses again: FREEDOM. In keeping with the motto of Change, I had surgery the day after election day. New beginnings indeed.

Just now am I able to stand long periods of time in front of the computer, a fact that makes earning a living as a software developer a difficult task. But things are on the mend (aside from a wicked case of dry-eye), and I've jumped from 20/500 to 20/25 vision in two weeks, with things improving daily. It is, in a word, AMAZING.

Reid was able to watch the entire procedure on a 6-ft x 9-ft screen in the viewing area (complete with comfy couches). Here's a pic that he snapped on my cell phone:
Crazy, huh?

beware the candy monster

2008-11-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

We've been coaching Sadie on her trick-or-treating technique for a few weeks now. I expected her to have fun, but I didn't think she'd get the hang of it quite THIS easily:

The child has no fear, especially where candy is involved. She'd knock on one door, say "Trih-treee!", clean out the treat bowl ('Sadie, just ONE, ok?'), and run to the next, seemingly unphased by the creepy spiderwebs and grimacing pumpkins:

'Mommeee can haz more?'

We hit about 10 houses before the Peacock and the Bumblebee were demanding to be carried. (That, and the parents were getting thirsty.)

Note Avery's dainty little treat bag compared to Sadie's, which is bigger than her head. It's no wonder that when we got home, the terrifying and ravenous Frankenpeacock reared her plumage:

"MUST...GET...OPEN..."

Although we didn't have any intention of actually letting her EAT the candy, we didn't see the harm in letting her play with it. Clearly we underestimated the steely jaws of Frankenpeacock:

The candy was removed and a full-scale tantrum ensued, shortly followed by bedtime. Finally, the parents got down to a little trickery of their own!

Battle of The Bands: Guys vs. Girls then commenced...

Good times. The next morning? Not so much.

Happy Halloween!!!

phinally!

2008-10-31T10:31:00.001-07:00

Life's tough being a Philadelphia sports fan. Let's take the Eagles: they've never won a Super Bowl (as my friend Brian, a Steelers fan, never ceases to remind me). Or the Flyers: they haven't won a Stanley cup since the Broadstreet Bullies days circa 1974. Not being a Sixer (or basketball in general) fan, I can't really comment on their past performance or potential, but do I know it's been at least 25 years since a title of any kind came to the city of brotherly love.

But the Phillies did it! They gave a much needed shot in the arm to a diehard, but desperate, sports town.

Now, I don't claim to be much of a baseball fan. In fact, I find it rather boring unless I'm at the park with a beer in one hand and a dog in the other. But as a child, the Phillies were the team I grew up with. I remember clearly my grandpa sitting on the front porch every summer night listening to games on a little transistor radio. I wasn't much interested in the score---just how soon the ice cream truck was coming---but the crackly sound of the announcer's voice is what sticks with me. That, and the Phillies Phanatic, whom every kid loved:

Watching the games this past week, I was glad to see the Phanatic hasn't changed a bit. (It also occurred to me that he was probably the model for the Capitol City Goofball on The Simpsons.)

If there's one thing about Philly sports fans, it's that they're never surprised when their team loses. In fact, we're only surprised when they win. Maybe that all changed this week. It's possible my Dad even knew something the rest of us didn't way back in May when he gave Sadie this cheerleader uniform:

Hooray, Phillies!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Notice something else about this picture? Sadie can now reach the kitchen countertops. And stove knobs. Time to put away the knives!)

hugs & kisses

2008-10-24T15:12:00.001-07:00

There's just no denying how cute Sadie and Sophie are together.

with no further ado

2008-10-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to capture the ABC song on camera for at least a month. Finally...here it is for your listening pleasure:

She used to sing the final verse, too ("now I know my ABCs....") but it has gradually morphed into just one, long, continuous ode to the alphabet, over and over and over....

what up, cuz?

2008-10-12T13:42:00.001-07:00

We spent four short but fun-filled days in Charlotte last week visiting my sister, bro-in-law Ted, and new (but already two months old!) nephew Bergen. Considering she now has to share the attention and affections of Malu and the rest of the family, Sadie was as nurturing as could be expected for a toddler. She even cuddled and gave kisses:

"pssst---you're cute and all, kid...but I'm still number one around here."

Timing-wise, the visit couldn't have been more perfect. We got to celebrate Ted's and Greg's (and Reid's, early) birthdays, and hit the legendary Waldhorn restaurant for an authentic-style Oktoberfest.

"Prost, kleinkind!"

And these photos are just the tip of the iceberg...for now, off to the pumpkin patch!

only in philly

2008-10-12T12:32:00.001-07:00

Not once throughout this whole satire of an election year have I been tempted to write about politics here on this blog. All of that changed last night, in what I can easily call my proudest moment as a Philadelphia sports fan:

In case you can't hear it over the deafening chorus of boos, that's VP-nominee-self-proclaimed-hockey-mom-insult-to-women-everywhere Sarah Palin being introduced for the ceremonial puck drop.

GO FLYERS!!!!!

(Read the full article here.)

i didn't fall off the face of the earth

2008-09-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

I've just been super, crazy busy. As in:

- Removed the roof from the bus and restored it (pictures to follow)

- Went on a weekend getaway (baby-free) to Portland

- Had guests in town 2 out of 3 weekends

- Took an 8-hour road trip to the Eagle Cap Wilderness (more pictures to follow!)

Okay, enough excuses. Update coming soon...

photo shoot

2008-08-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

So, perhaps I exaggerated a bit, because apparently the photo shoot wasn't a total disaster. Despite the kicking, screaming, and general crabbiness, the photographer managed to get a fair amount of good pictures of little Miss Sadie Rain.

He captured quite a range of expressions, I think...

Funny that this one ended up being one of our favorites; it was taken right after she flung herself down on the floor, full-on tantrum style:

And this one couldn't be more fitting for our sweet little thumbsucker:

All in all, a good snapshot of Sadie at 18 months...

somewhere in eastern washington...

2008-08-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

... in a time long, long ago...

road trip, the fifth and final installment

2008-08-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

It's been too long. I need to conclude this drawn-out saga before we embark on our next road trip---which just happens to be this Friday---and get buried under an even bigger pile of pictures and stories.

So where were we? The 4th of July, Missoula-style. Let me just say it didn't disappoint. There were meat smokers and wine pulleys, jello shots and monkeyballs, but oddly enough no fireworks. No matter. We had an epic time getting rowdy in Kevin's backyard:

The next day, we packed up our stuff at a comfortable hour and hit the road westward...in Butterball. We were feeling lucky, I guess, especially with Ken & Shawn at our backs. So we set out for Oregon, planning to camp at the best available spot before dark. We found a sparse and surprisingly unpopulated campsite on the banks of the Columbia River, a mere 4 hours from home. We were in the clear! The next day, seemingly invincible to a breakdown, we even found time to visit Stonehenge and a Columbia Valley winery:

Did you know there was an actual-size replica of Stonehenge in Washington, built to the exacting specifications of the original? Yeah, neither did we.

All in all, it was quite a trip---eight days of cavorting and caravaning around the northwest with a great group of peeps. I could have lasted eight more. We were in no hurry to get home, despite the fact that our engine could bust up into a churning mess of metal at any moment. But it never did. Butterball made Bend, albeit noisily. As of this writing, she's in the shop for a rebuild and that four figures worth of work I declined in Montana. Oh well, she earned it.

Next up? The Fuckaroos 5.5 crew (PAWS UP!!) reunites in Joseph, OR this Friday for Labor Day weekend. I'm pretty sure Joseph's not ready for this...

jah, mon

2008-08-20T09:18:00.000-07:00

Reggae baby gots da dub beat:

road trip, part 4

2008-08-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

I realize I left you all hanging, loyal readers. My apologies. But we obviously made it back from Montana, right? The question is: how?

Volkswagens may be a headache from time to time, but damn if they're not persistent. After our whirlwind tour of Glacier, we decided there was nothing to do but drive. We had AAA. We had a car full of friends following us. We had determination and all the time in the world to slowly coax Butterball back to Missoula. And she didn't let us down. That is, until we got the news from the VW mechanic that the problem was not a valve, or something in the drive train, but rather a head or a rod deep, deep within the engine compartment. Meaning: drop the engine. Disassemble. Rebuild. And 5 days and $1500 later, we could return to Bend.

Needless to say, this didn't fit our vacation plans nicely. The mechanic suggested we rent a car and have Butterball towed back to Oregon on a flatbed, so we could deal with the issue on home turf. That didn't sound ideal either. We decided to deliberate the issue over the weekend and enjoy the Fourth of July instead.

Missoula is a great town in that it has an outdoorsy, quaint, small-town feel without the pretentiousness of Boulder or Bend. It's all blue collars, cowboys, and hippies (oh---and Kevin, too). On Thursday, we hit the riverside park for the weekly food & music fest:

... and rode the historic carousel:

... and abandoned shopping carts:

... and even managed to check out the local bars that night while Reid & Ken babysat:

Quite a day, considering we had just left Glacier at 10:00 that morning.

Coming in the next installment: the Chillable flows in abundance on the Fourth!

south sister

2008-08-14T12:07:00.001-07:00

For the past two years, Sibila and I have talked about organizing a girls' South Sister climb. South Sister is one of a group of three volcanoes (the Three Sisters, appropriately) just 20 miles west of Bend. At 10,358', it's the third highest peak in Oregon and, though considered dormant, has recently shown "swelling" in the past few years which geologists speculate is caused by seismic activity at its core. So, we figured we'd better climb it before it erupts, right?

When the opportunity finally presented itself last weekend, our group consisted of merely three: myself, Sibila, and Leah. The weather forecast looked good, and we hit the trail at 6:30 am, planning to summit well before noon. What we encountered at the top could only be described as nasty: windy, cold, and sleeting, with visibility of about 20 yards. This video was taken at the saddle, approximately one hour from the summit. And it just got nastier from there...

Needless to say, we didn't enjoy 360 views or a picnic lunch in the sun once we arrived. Still, it was well worth the effort and felt good to push my physical limits again...it's been 8 years since my last Colorado 14'er. Anyway, here we are at the summit crater, which given the weather may as well have been a frozen lake somewhere in Antarctica:

Had it been a clear day, we would have seen this, instead:

Oh well. Maybe we'll get a view when we climb Middle Sister NEXT summer...

my advice to new parents

2008-08-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

DO NOT, under any circumstances, take an 18-month-old for a "professional" portrait session.

Unless, of course, you would like to wrestle a tantruming toddler for 45 minutes, hoping to get them to stand still for two seconds, three wardrobe changes, and one---just one, please---smile. Yeah, it was THAT fun.

In retrospect, 6 months would have been the ideal age for a photo shoot: they can sit up unassisted, perhaps crawl and roll around a bit but are by no means mobile, and are easily amused by rattles and squeaky toys. Ahh, the good old days!

postcard

2008-08-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Here's one pic I stole from Shawn, taken on the east side of Glacier near St. Mary. More to come soon, hopefully!

road trip, part 3

2008-08-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

In case you were wondering what happened on the rest of our Montana road trip, I'll tell you now: the bus broke down and our camera died.

There, I said it.

I've been debating how to follow up on this part of the story without any pictures to document it, so I'll do my best to recollect from memory...

When we last left our protagonists, they had just settled into comfy digs on the outskirts of Glacier National Park. There was wine to drink and stories to tell, and a general excited anticipation to explore the park in the morning. So we woke at a reasonable hour, ate a substantial breakfast, and piled into our vehicles. We were unsure of how best to fit 5 adults and 1 baby plus a gigantic carseat into either Butterball or a Honda station wagon, so we settled on both. The idea of cruising around Glacier in separate rides was a bit disappointing, so we vowed to stop often and switch up passengers for maximum enjoyment.

For those of you who don't know much about Glacier (and I highly recommend checking it out), the park's main "attraction" is Going-To-The-Sun Road, a 50-mile winding road that courses from the east side to the west side, and every peak in between. The word 'breathtaking' does not even do it justice. Let's just say that the word 'wow' came out of our collective mouths hundreds of times in a few short hours.

We began at West Glacier, and had barely gone a mile when the sight of beautiful Lake McDonald inspired us to stop for a closer look and some photographs.

Well, it's not a great picture of Lake McDonald, but it's the last one you'll see with Butterball in it, because this is officially as far as she made it through Glacier National Park. About half a mile later, we pulled into a rest area to use the facilities and simultaneously relieved her of her duties, too.

What I didn't tell you is where the bus troubles first began, way back on Day 3 in Missoula. At some point on Lolo Pass we had taken a diversion down a washboard dirt road which, apparently, had loosened some bolts in ol' Butterball's gullet. The sounds she was making as we limped into Kevin's driveway could only be classified as "not good". Nevertheless, we proclaimed it to be an innocent "knocking" and hoped some super high octane (barely street legal, it said!) fuel cleaner could sort it out. And we crossed our fingers and drove, and made it to Glacier, and most likely would have made it over Going-To-The-Sun Road and back again if some jerkoff walking by had not said, "woah. that's a valve. you should NOT take that over the pass." So what do you do in that situation? Risk it? You don't want to break down on a 1.5-lane road with no shoulder and 100-foot cliffs on either side. No! You pile into the Honda accord wagon and make your gracious host sit in the trunk for the whole day, that's what you do!

Yes, that's his Cavaliers hat in the background. And yes, he had been to Glacier twice before so we didn't feel as bad giving him the bum view. And yes---in the long run, we couldn't have been happier it turned out that way, because it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun in two cars. (Besides, I think he sort of liked being Trunk Monkey.) And finally: yes, that is the last picture taken in gorgeous, ultra-scenic Glacier National Park before our camera battery died.

On the bright side, if your camera is going to die on an epic journey such as this one, it may as well happen when your good friend the professional photographer is in the car with you. Because Shawn had not one, not two, but THREE cameras with her! So when she gets the thousands of photos from the trip organized, I will be sure to share some of them here. In the meantime, I won't try to describe in words what we saw, other than: we saw a Grizzly with three cubs! and a grey wolf! and a black bear from about 20 yards away, right outside the bar where we were having a beer! Kevin said it was the most wildlife he'd seen in all his years in Montana, and we all agreed it was one hell of a trip.

To be continued...

some pictures i like

2008-07-29T21:34:00.001-07:00

punky brewster

tennis dress

blueberries

in bloom

That pretty much sums up the end of July---just your typical summer goodness!

welcome, bergen

2008-07-29T12:27:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Melissa & Ted, who (FINALLY!) welcomed Bergen Theodore into the world at 2:09 this morning---eight days overdue! I guess I'm not surprised...another laid-back Leo like my sister.

The stats: 21" long, 7 lbs 15 oz, and lots of brown hair. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share soon. In the meantime, stay tuned to Altimus Jones' blog for more details.

Sadie can't wait to meet her new cuz, and me my new nephew!