Christmas Traditions

This year, because Brad and I have been so busy with our respective jobs and raising two children, I started early and decided that getting or coordinating one present per day was the only way to get everyone taken care of, and it worked nicely! It was fun to focus on one person or family for a whole day and to know I could check something off my list each day as well.
Also, this year, for the first time, Thorvald is old and aware enough to be interested in helping with Christmas preparations, and he and I put up a string of lights on the deck, set out the nativity and nutcrackers and angel chime, and when Brad ended up with a small garland, Thorvald and I got some small decorations and put that up as well. I kind of like the idea of a Christmas garland instead of a tree--why do we need to cut down a whole tree? The garland is size-perfect for our condo and smells and looks lovely. Thorvald and I had a lot of fun and I'm really enjoying teaching him about Christmas and holidays and gift-giving as well. He carefully selected little presents for his most regularly seen friends and has delighted in wrapping and delivering them too.
I'm looking forward to spending a few days with Dad and Mike and others, having our regular sausages-in-orange juice, sweet bread, eggs, and eggnog breakfast, and visiting with family and friends in the next few weeks. Merry Christmas!

Never Boring!

Astrid's first airplane trip was this month from Seattle to Austin, Texas, as we visited the Jacksons for an early Thanksgiving get-together. She did very well! And so did I, as I made both legs of the trip without Brad but with two babies. I brought carefully selected books, cars, toys, snacks, bribes, and motivators for both kids, and carefully coordinated to have Mike travel with us on the way over, and Mike and Dad travel with us on the way home. It was so nice to visit with Rachel, see her lovely home and fantastic children and thoughtful husband. I so wish we lived closer. Mike and Dad were helpful with the kids, and Thorvald is still talking about his trip on an airplane (not his first, but the only one he can remember right now!), how Zane plays the tuba, and the special toy car he got once we got on the plane. I realized that flying with children has one clear benefit in that I was never bored! I also honed my packing skills, fitting presents for six, plus three-days of clothes and gear for three into one carry-on plus a diaper bag!

Halloween

Halloween seemed to be a big, fun deal for everyone this year. Some years holidays like this seem to be muddled through but this year everyone was ready to party! I spent quite a bit of time thinking about, coordinating, and putting together Thorvald's and Astrid's costumes and they turned out quite nicely thanks to my friend Sonya's sewing and assembling talents. I still can't believe there are no brown bunny costumes for purchase (and can't understand why there are so many pink ones available!) but Thorvald looked just great as a little Peter Rabbit (we've had such fun reading those stories together) and Astrid looked delicious enough to eat as a little piece of sushi. Pictures of course in the October album. I'm woefully behind in narrating photos, but hopefully most are self-explanatory. Trick-or-treating (we went to Magnolia's village event on Friday from 4-6pm) was funny--SWARMING with cute costumes and eager parents and kids; Thorvald was so excited with his first piece of candy he spent the next 20 minutes eating it and watching everyone, and then got a second piece and spent the rest of the time eating it and watching everyone. Brad noted he's not a hoarder, but I think he'll catch on by next year! It was a fun fun holiday with these kids. I liked Kristina's idea too though of going to Capitol Hill and just people watching. Hooray for Halloween! (And happy birthday Mom on 1 Nov. She would have been a beautiful 60.)

Progressive Bike Dinner's 5th Year!

The 5th annual Progressive Bike Dinner was again a success! This year's weather was lovely, the food scrumptious, and the company delightful. We started at Kristina's and swapped out Elin and Alicia's house as the 2nd stop for Arminda's, and again had dessert at our apartment (apple crisp and apple pie)--about 14 miles total and quite flat! We had some newcomers this year and such a nice time getting to know everyone. I love this tradition!

All Coming Together

With block parties and law society picnics, bike races and continuing education classes, work lunches and neighbor dinners, dr appointments and dentist appointments, board meetings and church lessons, jet skiing weekends and family road trips, and working and naps, this month everything we strive for comes together and keeps us very busy! The trick is to remember to take the time to enjoy it while you're working so hard on so many fronts.

Beginning Gardener

Turns out, even on the 7th floor of a downtown condo, effective gardening can take place. I've signed up for several Seattle Tilth (free!) classes to show me how. The first, "Fall and Winter Veggie Gardening in Containers," was excellent. I don't remember anyone really walking me through the selection, planting, and nurturing phases of gardening before. I'm looking forward to the upcoming classes too--composting for apartment dwellers, edible flower gardens in containers, container stir-fry gardening, and container salad gardening. I know I'll need to start small, but am so looking forward to even little successes, as well as having Thorvald and Astrid eventually helping and learning about gardening too!

June Favorites

• Yoga--provided on-site by work for a fantastic price. I very much enjoy the practice of yoga, and appreciate how easy work has made it to start exercising again. What a nice way to ease back into both my professional life and my professional clothes! (Especially when I bike there and back!)

• Olga Cafe--a perfect place for a birthday meal with great friends and family. Olga is one of my favorite places on earth, and I'm so glad to also find great food there!

• Great Friends and Family--a Big Thanks to all of you who have been so kind to us despite our failings and the chaos that comes with a growing family. I feel we're in a period where we're taking more than we can give back, but you've all been such good examples of love to us anyway. I look forward to a time when we can return such valuable favors and/or pay love forward. Thank you!

• Skagit County Strawberries--really, truly, I believe there's nothing more delicious to me than these local, fresh, amazing strawberries. They're definitely worth the $. As is raw milk--local, delicious, and worth the $!

• Astrid Smiles--what a treat to see the first smiles from our littlest. We love her so!