The UPS man commeth

I always get a little excited when the UPS van circles my cul-de-sac. I know I haven't purchased anything, but maybe, just maybe he has a surprise for me. This week he brought gifts.

MIL shipped the kids' xmas gifts up here, she's on top of her holiday shopping. She also gets Natalie an Aflac duck every year (Natalie invests in Aflac) and her new duck arrived a few days ago. I asked her if I can take it to work tomorrow. She hesitated, but gave me permission.

And... what's this? A box addressed to me that isn't toy shaped? I emailed MIL and got permission to open it. She and Cameron got me a new snowglobe for my xmas globe collection. So thoughtful! It's so sweet, it plays one of my favorite Christmas songs (of course I'm a sucker for Christmas songs, so it's hard to pick a true fav) "Up on the Housetop".

I only collect two things: Snowglobes (christmassy ones) and Swarovski Snowflakes. I hate collecting otherwise. But these two collections come out for a month, then they go away again. I'm not a knick-knack kinda girl, and collecting seems to attract knick-knacks. So there's a little tid bit about me for ya. Now go enjoy your day!

The FIG adventure

*I am going to preface this post with this info: I already bought a membership, so I will be dragging my children to the museum from time to time (or making the new babysitter do it). So the following rant is exempt from you giving me shit about future posts about my children's' adventures there.

This weekend the highly anticipated Lightcatcher Museum opened. Bellingham has been without a children's museum for nearly a year now awaiting the building of the new one. We've been visiting the museums in Skagit county and Everett and the excitement for what Bellingham was going to come up with was palpable.

Phhhsss (sound of air rushing out of our balloon). The FIG (Family Interactive Gallery) is just about that. A taupe-colored walled, dimly lit, area for quiet, uninteresting play. No photos are allowed inside of the FIG because it's an actual art gallery (my children's response to some of the art: "What's this?" "Why did they do that?" "How come that is there?") I also had to glug down my fresh mocha because I couldn't be allowed that while my children ran around exploring (which ended up not being a concern, because I had get down and really play with the kids to keep them entertained, rather than sitting back and visiting with another parent while our children explored freely). 2 or 3 of the interactive displays were woods/camping themed (hello, we live in the northwest. I take my kids camping all the time.) some foam blocks and noodles (again, we have that at home to play with) The light walls were cool. There was no art activities for the children to take part in, nor was I certain that there was even an art room.

I took the kids through the rest of the art gallery (you could not call this place a museum) and they seemed to enjoy that at least as much as the part that was actually meant for them to enjoy. But I'll admit that most art leaves me scratching my head (like the film that showed another film being played on someones front tooth as the screen). The photos that would let them call this building a "museum" were some old logging photos (about 6 in all) that were displayed in a narrow catwalk so you had to view them from an angle.

So I guess we will have to resign ourselves to continuing our journeys south for child-friendly entertainment (that isn't McDonald's or the Mall).

My kids awaiting arrest.
Jumping was their only physical outlet here.

Skipping down the sidewalk.

Yes, my children stopped (twice) to "pee" on stuff on the sidewalk. Classy.

The only place I was "allowed" to take a photo.

Jumping makes things better. Would you look at those long legs on my girl?!

A Week in Review

The Friday the 13th hail storm. Notice our street!

The back deck (notice the eerie color of the sky in the corners of the photo?)

Re-reading Twilight (and soon New Moon) in prep of Movie Night with my Lady-Friends (followed by Italian food in honor of New Moon). I also had to pick up this month's Vanity Fair due to the delicious photo shoot (see cover). I also picked up Pioneer Woman's cookbook (a smokin' deal by the way!) and another book for future reading.
Larry took the kids up to Baker today to play in the snow. Natalie is really only interested in eating snow.

Did Indiana Jones ever have to travel to cold climates?

Dead snow-angel.

My angels.

Natalie drew a picture of Christian on this balloon and then instructed to "take a picture of me and my boyfriend."

Natalie charming the pants off Ashi and vice-versa.

The boys zoning out while playing Mario Kart.

The banana bread that I baked, tasted, then wished it wasn't in my house. It disappeared late at night (Larry).

Radish

Natalie and I got stood up today at lunch (didn't help that my phone's battery was dead) so after we had a delicious meal at Little Cheerful, Natalie asked if we could go to Hohl's and look at the critters (something we do regularly when downtown).

We walk in and there in a giant cage is a lonely Guinea Pig with a sign that says "$29.99 Guinea Pig and cage" His cage was a $90 cage plus all his little accessories (someone loved him once) and he put his little paw up on the cage and looked at me with his eyes and I was done. I took him out and he snuggled right into my arms. Natalie named him "Radish" and he was ours.

Brady is on cloud 9 to meet our new friend and has been bragging "he was only thirty dollars!" and even the phone call to Larry (which I made the kids make) was without event. I married a man who can't say no to a critter.

I've got to do some more snuggling...

I love Guinea Pig lips.

This was the look, plus his little paw reaching out to me.

Welcome home, little buddy.

A girl and her shoes

I love shoes. But as I was wearing my Cowboy boots tonight, I decided that if I had to choose what shoes come with me on a desert island it would be: My black patent leather Mephisto sandals and my cowboy boots (and OK, my running shoes too, but that kinda puts a damper on my desert island plans).

I remember when Birkenstocks first became mainstream. I begged and pleaded for my mom to get me a pair. But she said they weren't sensible for posture and whatnot. I persisted. So she got me a knock-off pair to see if I'd actually wear them or if my obsession would pass before I wore the shoes out. I wore them out until they were nothing but a flap of leather and a couple of buckles. I love cork-sandals. I've grown up a bit and now wear Mephisto sandals (I think I have them in 5 colors). But now that the weather has turned a little too cold to have bare feet (and I've since stopped wearing my sandals with my woolen socks) I have turned to real shoes.

3 years ago while on Cowgirl Weekend in Los Olivos, I had a few hours to myself and wandered aimlessly through the shops, especially Jedlicka's. I found myself a really cool cowboy hat (that my mother-in-law tried to buy first but I scolded her away from it) and then I kept passing the wall of boots. Then I found them. MY boots. I officially fell in love with a real shoe (boot). I love them. I love they way they look and feel. And I love the way I look and feel. Love, love, love them. I can't wait until they are old and worn. Maybe they'll become real. I've actually ridden horses while wearing them, so they are on their way to being real, I think.

And then there is my running shoes. But they change and fall apart and I fall in and out of love with my running shoes so fast it's hard to have a real relationship with them. But it's a wild love affair while it lasts.

The Dangler

For weeks now Brady's front tooth has been clinging to life, dangling and swaying in the breeze. Brady has lost 2 of his 3 teeth while on vacation so I was certain it was going to fall out while I was in Denver. Nope. When I got back it was just dangling a little lower.

Then tonight as he TOOK A DRINK OF MILK, the damn thing fell out! Finally. But now of course I'm home alone with the kids and no fairy supplies! A quick call to Larry at work and everything is in order.

A classmate of Brady's told me she got paid $9 for her tooth yesterday! It must have been lined with gold is what I told her! Sheesh! I know the price of things have gone up, but $9 for a tooth?! How 'bout a pack of gum and a Sacajawea dollar?

Semi-Ah-Moo and Massive Frustration

Last night we headed up north to deliver a fountain my mother-in-law had shipped to our house (it's very nice!) and to do a quick inspection of the house while they're gone for the winter (goal of mine: to become a snowbird).

We got up there just at dusk and ran down to the spit to let the kids run off some energy and fool around with the camera. We saw the resident bald eagle (he is huge) hanging out on his favorite snag. We also saw a giant Loon chilling in the bay (he was camera shy). They have a new sewer treatment plant or something down there and it stinks to high-heaven. I did the classic "Brady, did you do that?!" to which Natalie eagerly replied "NO! It was me!!!" She takes great pride in claiming anything stinky. Strange girl, don't you know you're supposed to blame it on the dog?

As we left the spit, Brady asked "What is that big orange thing behind us?"
The old boat.

A boy and his dog, it's a wonderful thing.

Katie's shoot. You can find her entire portfolio at www.fordlabmodeling.wuf

Gross, Larry was climbing around in it!

An old boat, duh.

The water tower that Brady says that Grandma told them the fish used to shoot up into. His facts may be a little off.

The Cannery building. It smells like an old potato shed I used to play in when we lived in Shafter, CA.

***And in new (OK, old) frustrating news: I apparently have babysitter repellent children. I cannot find a babysitter to save my damn life. And then when I found one for Fridays, Larry's days off change from week to week and his start times change from 12:30 one day to 3:00 the next. How the EFF am I supposed to work with this?! So who wants to work for someone who basically wants to pay them min. wage but also needs them at their beck and call? Nobody, that's who. And then who wants to watch children all day on Saturday? Nobody, that's who. I am thankful that Larry (and I) have stable jobs, but I am so sick of the retail life right now I could just barf. And that concludes my rant, unless you call me, then you might get a whole 'nother ear full. You have been warned.