mini-me.

Today at school there was an end of the year party.  The kids dressed up as what they want to be when they grow up.  Claire had a hard time deciding.  She vetoed her original idea of being a dentist or a farmer.  In the end, my girl dressed as a mommy.  She packed a baby on her back and a thoughtfully loaded diaper bag.  She wore my big pink beaded necklace and a turquoise flower pinned to her Hello Kitty shirt.  

She told her dad being a mom sounds fun because you get to be the tooth fairy and plan the fun stuff that your kids get to do.  May I remember this when I can't see my way out of the laundry pile and Ingrid's on her third clothing change of the day and Everett wants to pour his own milk...

She wants to be like me.

siri, take our picture.

We skipped church a few weeks ago and hit the beach.  I really, really wanted a family picture.  I wanted to remember this day watching them making castles and running in the frigid water and eating sand and just being together.  This is the best shot we got, the rest of them involved a squirming baby with a goatee of sand.

I read a blog in which a woman said that her husband was so beautiful it sometimes hurt to look at him.  I love my husband, but I can't say that I relate.  And I'm going to guess that Nate manages to look at me just fine.  But these three?  This life.  Holy cow.  Such beauty.  Sometimes I look at my life I can't believe that I ended up here.  Everett frequently tells me that he wants to stay little.  I always tell him that's fine with me.

1 + 6.

This week we got to spend some time with sweet little Weston E.  Littlest brother of Everett's bff.  Two years ago, we took 3 kids and went for coffee and a walk.  I meant to find a best friend for my boy.  What a wondrous surprise to find one for myself as well.  Thanks for sharing your baby with us, Des.

hunca munca by the sea.

It occurred to me today that this will be my last summer wearing a baby at the beach.  Here she is, before she attempted to fit the entire Oregon Coast into her mouth.  It was a perfect day, spent with my favorite people.  

Her adorable vintage coat was mine.  I found it in the attic when Claire was about 2 and still attempted to squeeze her into because I love it so much.  This time, I was prepared.  Also: I kind of love that my second girl had something of mine that is just hers.

and the world spins madly on.

Friday night my world started spinning.  I dreamt of oceans and waves and China.
(I wonder if I will forever associate China with nausea?)

It spun on Saturday when Nate and I had perfect morning date: coffee, the scrap metal yard (thank you Jesus for providing for our family that is uniquely ours), garage sales and lunch.

It spun on Sunday when we took scones and coffee to one grandma and then visited the other grandma for church and lunch.

It spun Monday when my Rachel Dratch-alike new doctor told me that that I didn't have an ear infection but VERTIGO.  I wanted a neat little cure.  She told me to "wait it out."

It spun while I cried and grumbled and said over and over that I just want to feel normal.

And then it stopped.  Rest, a visit to the non-Rachel Dratchish chiropractor and an obscene amount of help from the Oma made yesterday work and today, my world has stopped spinning.

And those who depend on this mama to make an upside down world feel safe and good are grateful.

mothers day makeover

Today I was treated to a mother's day makeover at Claire's school.  She was thrilled provide me with a hand massage, lipstick, eye make up (one eye got blue eye shadow, one gold), bronzer (for one cheek) and hot pink fingernails reminiscent of Heath Ledger's Joker.  Also, 4 plastic flower barrettes at the base of my neck and a gigantic hot pink paper flower bracelet.

And I left it all in.  Then we went out to lunch.  Because I am her mama.

yesterday.

"Our son pulled Eli's glasses off of his face and threw them in the apple tree.  I can't find them.  Please advise."

And we searched and searched.  It was like you had found a magic black hole in our backyard for the glasses.  They are still missing.

There is so much sweetness in you.  You love a good tea party.  You honestly believe that you make kisses and hugs while you sleep and that you're out of them at bedtime.  Then you'll slyly ask if I'm going to steal a kiss and I can see that you're hoping I will.

You made up a song, "My daddy was a farmer when he was born and he toots and he puffs all day long." You're clearly a poet.

You are more than my wild boy.  You call your baby sister Missy and Roofie and you kiss her constantly. You are able to be gentle.  Yet, when the big boys come around you puff up your chest and pull glasses from faces, thinking that is what it is to be big.  I have so much to teach you but I don't know the first thing about being a man.  I am ill equipped and still searching for glasses.

legume love

My beloved paleo cookbook does not include legumes.  I'm still obsessed with the recipes in there, but this week, we did a little peanut butter baking. Exhibit A: these babies. Holy cow. They were good. (And so simple!)  We also made peanut butter muffins. I made the muffins without chocolate chips and they were gone in a day.

Peanut butter, I can't quit you.