pictures :)

a few weeks ago a gal from church took some pictures of us.  it was very sweet actually - tim bid on the phono session at a youth group auction for a couples session - something fun for us to do together.  April spent the first bit taking pictures of us and then we took some with the girls.  we had a great time - find April on facebook - April Rose Photography.  props to her for all of these.

in other news we just got back from upland.  bek did a great post in our trip.  we love the mosers and loved spending time with them.  if only we lived closer...

more news to come.  thanks for checking in even though my posts are few and far between :)

kind of like the top of a mountain

sometime - maybe even as i am typing this - in the next few hours tim will be standing at the top of Mt. Baker.  (the mountain which stands just outside of bellingham).  he and Andy will enjoy amazing views (it is again a cloud-less sky!) and feel a strong sense of accomplishment (for waking up at 3 am to ski/hike has got to be worth something).  a part of me wishes i were there.

memories of Memorial weekends of the past fill my mind where tim and i were both in the mountains, usually surrounded by snow (for better or for worse).  these times together outside were/are significant in our relationship and granted a kind of refreshment we can't experience anywhere else.

but i am not on the top of a mountain.  i am sitting in my bedroom while clara jumps happily in the jolly jumper and sam is asleep at my mom's house (with a dear friend joyce and her boys).  last night we had a little get away and now i am waiting for the college gals who have been staying at our house all week to wake up so i can serve them breakfast and say goodbye (they go home today).

these days of mothering are full of these types of moments.  reflecting on what is and what isn't.  there is a type of real sacrifice in it, even amidst the great joy.  for part of me wishes i were with tim on the mountain - taking in the views - experiencing something spectacular together.  and yet i recognize something spectacular is just a few feet away with a huge grin and making delightful sounds.

someday tim and i will again hike together on Memorial day weekend.  today is just not that day.  today i am at home and the sun is shining.  and i have to end the post because someone is getting fussy.  and i am full of thanks to spend the day with my girls.  i get to be with the two little people who i love more than i thought possible.  it is kind of like being on the top of a mountain.

first fruits

wednesday i harvested some spinach from our garden.  the first thing i have harvested.  it felt appropriate that just as i was coming inside to wash and add it to the curry i was making, a friend walked through the door to join us for dinner.  this was a bit of a surprise but a welcome one (tim told me later he knew she was coming but forgot to tell me).  to the Lord go the first fruits and i trust He was honored by our hospitality.  :)

last night we had a salad with our pizza and the lettuce also came from the garden.  that is two dinners now and no one has gotten sick :)  i am pleased.

in preparation for mother's day

if you haven't read this already - i would encourage you to do so now :)

yesterday i opened up our computer to find this - tim had been reading it.  ironically Amy, the author, and I went to Denver Seminary together and did our internships at the same place.  we worked together and had the same supervisor.  i am proud to have known her and walked with her for a season.  she is legit and i have a ton of respect for her.

ok, so if you haven't already - read it.

different day - more Cinderella

tim took these pictures a few days ago of the three of us.  this is at the end of the day and we are smiling - isn't that wonderful :)

seriously though - i feel like the girls and i are in a good stride - having more good days than bad.  we are usually clean, we leave the house and i am even trying some new things.  (like baking bread - please don't be that impressed - it is a simple recipe but i am proud of myself, yeast is involved.  i told tim last night - i would actually give the bread to other people to eat.  the first few loaves were a bit... rough... but i am improving).  

i feel incredibly thankful for these simple days - just me and the girls.  

i had to include this one because clara looks so cute. oh if we could only all be smiling at once - oh well.  yesterday samantha was singing "yo yo, yo yo, a pirate life for me" while wearing her Cinderella dress.  introducing cute clara and pirate sam.

one other funny thing - sam is now in the habit of spontaneously introducing herself to strangers.  it usually happens in the check-out line where she will randomly put her hand on her chest and announce, "i am sam" or "my name is sam."  it is awesome.

Cinderella and some yams

Sam has entered the world of dress up.  Her favorite items currently are her "Ariel Cinderella" dress and black shoes.  There is a picture of Ariel in the middle of the dress but she calls it Cinderella because it is white.  In fact - all ladies in white dresses are Cinderella.  She will point at pictures of Brooke, Danielle and me on our respective wedding days and say, "Oh mama - pretty Cinderella!"  

here is Cinderella all ready to go.  (yes there is one eye missing in her sunglasses but she continues to wear them.  i can't throw them out because she kills me laughing when she wears them).  

 and here is clara - enjoying her dinner of yams.

 she liked them despite evidence to the contrary.

and yes that is the sunshine coming through the window.  we have had fantastic weather the last few days :)

brave big girl

Sam had to have a shot today - catching up on some they require in the states that she missed up in BC.

we prepped her for it by telling her she was going to get a small owie in her leg at the doctor's office.  tim took her.  :)  apparently she sat perfectly still and took it like a champ - no tears.  she was thrilled with the prize she chose - a small plastic motorcycle with an attached rider.  that little thing went everywhere with her today.

it is the little things in life.  it is hard to believe she is getting so big.  we love her so much!!

now a picture here would be appropriate but i am too tired.  clara's teeth are killing both of us.

almost 6 months?!

yes - clara is almost 6 months old. a few words to describe her: joyful, sweet, mama's girl, people watcher, quick to smile, and long and lean. although clara would rather be held me all day if she had her way - her dada can make her giggle quicker than anyone and sam always has her attention.

you can see her two new teeth in the bottom photo.  they are unfortunately waking her up at night - so she is awake more than normal, which is a bummer for her and me.  she is beginning the world of solid food.  when the doctor asks i may neglect to mention her very first taste of food was pasta from her dada's plate on uncle jacob's 27th birthday...  she likes pears, mum-mums, cherrios and bananas.  she tolerates apple sauce and sweet potatoes.  up next: avocados.  she hated rice cereal....

sweet clara louise you are a gift from God and we love you so!

my garden

Motivated by many I love who garden and greatly assisted by a husband who builds me things - I am diving head first into gardening.  Here are some pictures to capture what things look like at the beginning of the spring.  

I planted bulbs last fall and am very happy with my choices.  This smaller box was here before we moved in:

(I wish we would have taken a picture of what the backyard looked like before we started because it was an ugly mess!!)

Below is the incredible garden box tim and kurtis built me last summer out of recycled wood.  my dad and tim then filled it with dirt a few weeks later.  i am so lucky!!

most of what you see here are starts from a local garden/produce shop that i love! i have my own things from seeds inside still.

 the bigger picture.

 the potato box - also made by tim out of recycled wood.  as the potato plants grow you cover them with dirt and add additional boards up the sides and magically the plants make more potatoes.  i know - mind blowing.

tim told me the other night i am a gardener nerd because i took pictures of my garden.  aren't you all glad i am a nerd and can share it with you? :)

egg hunt

egg hunting is very serious business. . .

Clara in her easter dress

This girl is getting so big and we are loving her more and more each day - if that is possible.  

she has a great smile - 

 and a very strong neck

 and lots of drool - little did we know she was working on a tooth.

 "look mom - no hands!"

thanks auntie brooke for my cute dress.  :)

time away

a few weeks ago we went away with my family.  it was fantastic to get away some place warm and to be all together.  here are some of my favorite pictures from my camera - defense was much better about taking pictures of other people besides sam and clara - me, not so much...  

the first few moments in the "water" - sam spent every moment possible at the pool!

 papa - one of clara's most favorite people

 clara is in there - promise.  everyone but sam and nana went out to an incredible canyon to hike and check out the views.

 time at the beach just the four of us - sam was really into the sticks!

 "dada - splash me please!"

 sam cheering for the other children as they went down the waterslide.  she was happy to cheer from the top all day but only made it down twice.

and i just realized i mainly chose pictures with sam in them - so here is one more of clara

first tooth

how is it even possible that Clara is getting her first tooth?!!

but sure enough yesterday as she was playing with my hands she bit down and i felt something sharp.  after a bit more investigation i saw the beginning of a tooth.  crazy.  how is she old enough to have teeth?!

thankfully it doesn't seem to be bothering her too much.

in other news - i have found a new hobby and i love it - gardening!!  we have food growing in our backyard, which is awesome.  it will feel even better after we eat it.  tim and kurtis built me a huge box last summer.  tim and my dad filled it with dirt a month or so later.  and now there are things actually growing in it.  it blows my mind.  when it gets looking good i will take a picture and post it.  i guess i didn't have very high expectations because every day when i look back and see that things are still there and green i am filled with joy!

enjoying each other

hugs

 "clay-la, clap your hands!"

 teaching basic dance techniques

 "clay-la walk"

 (we are growing out sams bangs - not denying her a haircut...  most days she keeps the clips in but this was not one of those days).

 another day - more sister love

bad dream

sam woke up from her nap a few days ago crying.  when i asked her what was wrong she said she had a bad dream.  and then said:

"i fell off the bus"

you fell off the bus?

"yes - off the bus.  didn't go on the airplane."

you fell off the bus and couldn't make it to the airplane?

"yes and no find mama.  scared...  crying..."

since then she has recounted the dream a few times.  poor thing.  this is the first time she has been able to describe her bad dreams.  and this one isn't too far from what happened.  as we just returned from vacation and had to take a bus from the hotel to the airport.  praying sweet dreams for her before she sleeps has been given a whole new light.