Aaahh...

Peyton was so tired last night, and a little fussy. She finally fell asleep by about 9:30, but I was worried when she was up again at midnight. I was thinking it would be a long night. Then she slept until....are you ready for this?.....7:25! I was wide awake at 7:00 feeling more rested than I have in, well, exactly 4 1/2 months. I can't be totally sure she slept that long, but I don't remember getting up. And the fact that I FEEL rested tells me that we did indeed get all the sleep I think we did. I really love my sleep!

Flat Mason and Flat Audrey

Are you familiar with Flat Stanley? He is a children's book character who is flat enough to mail himself in an envelope all over the world having adventure after adventure. I've never met him. I'm sure he's very nice.

However, the other day when I went to visit my friend Judy, she introduced me to Flat Mason and Flat Audrey. Apparently they'd come in the mail from our friend Debra's house with the intent to travel to New York with Judy and her husband Doug. So I kidnapped them. Not in the scary way, but in the "let's have our own adventure" way. Clearly, New York is a bigger adventure and with Doug and Judy they even encountered a black bear, but here is our adventure none the less.

Here is Flat Mason and Flat Audrey on the world's biggest carnival ride. It seemed very huge to Audrey, and after Mason got off he looked a little green, though he wouldn't admit to feeling at all sick. Peyton was quite bored with it as she goes on the ride everyday. She just slept through the whole thing.

After the carnival ride we visited the wild animal park to be zookeepers for a day. Here we are feeding the wolves. Mason was careful to hold very still while they ate, but Audrey didn't get her hand out of the way in time and ended up with a couple of stiches on her left hand. It's healing nicely.

The wolf was not nearly so vicious after a full meal.

After the wild animal park we decided on some down time. Here are Mason and Audrey snuggled in to watch Dora the Explorer.

Dinner was uneventful as Flat Mason and Flat Audrey do not have stomachs so they could not eat. This was probably best. We were having salad, and Flat Mason "doesn't do salad".

After dinner there was a ballet lesson. Flat Mason complimented Flat Audey on her super cool moves. This was clearly not her first dance lesson.

After ballet we hit Fred Meyer together to see if we could find a crown for Princess Libby's halloween costume. Flat Mason spotted just the one and Libby loved it.

We wrapped up our fun by heading home for a slumber party together. Flat Audrey like riding sideways, but Flat Mason reminded us that it would probably be best in the future if everyone were securely buckled into their seats. We all agreed.

The Princess and the Pea...

Libby has a darling witch costume that she WILL NOT WEAR! So we went a different direction, and I think it turned out great! Libby's costume needs a little "girling up", but at least she'll wear the tutu and we've still got a few days to work out the details.

Goodbye Mullet!

I acted on impulse this morning. I got Libby dressed, fed her breakfast and set her on the bathroom counter. I combed water through her hair and put in her pigtails. Then, I cut them off! Yep, the mullet is no more. While I did love the pig tails, I saved them and I can keep them forever in her baby book. They're even adorned with cute little pink bows. Weird, I know. Surely, her hair will grow fast enough, and before I know it I'll be putting in pigtails again. But for now it's time to let the sides do a little catching up and she has a cute little (though maybe a little shorter than anticipated) bob. Peyton is just happy I didn't bring the scissors her way. :)

I'm Back!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. Shane's been working a lot and the girls and I have been back and forth between home and Bend. Thanks to so many of you who have sent cards, emails and flowers thinking of all of us. Grammy Pearl was so special and we've spent this time talking about our favorite memories of her. There are so many! I feel so blessed that both of my girls met her and shared some really sweet moments with her. Grammy always called them her "doll babies" and ended every phone conversation (often through tears) by asking me to give them a love from her. She always wished she could see more of them.

This was taken in July at Peyton's first meeting with Grammy. I love how Peyton is looking right into Grammy's eyes.


Libby's first haircut. She's got bangs...and a mullet.

Lounging...

Libby's looking cute in stripes.

Shane took Libby and Peyton on a walk to Valerie and Nelson's house early this month. When they came home Libby was SO proud of her beautiful pink nails. She held them out all night like they were drying. What a pretty girl! Thanks Valerie :)

My friend Cadi got married on October 4. Libby loves to dance. LOVES to dance. When it was time to leave she did so kicking and screaming....literally.

We've been to quite a few of the boy's football games this season. Jayden took this opportunity to teach Libby a few pointers on the sideline of Jamison's game.

Peyton won't take a binky, but she loves to suck on her hands.

Feeling a little snug.

Libby and Becky play together on the structure at Skinner's Butte Park. It was a beautiful crisp fall morning and we went for a walk on the river trail. When we got there, we had the play structure all to ourselves.

A new pair of pajamas make Peyton happy.

We went to the farm to take the girls in the corn maze. We didn't last long. About 25 yards in we realized the serious potential for getting lost and I was hungry before we even started. I really didn't want to be hungry and lost. We bagged it and headed for the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins.


Libby picks a pumpkin for Peyton.

Peyton's happy with Libby's pick.

Here's what happens when you turn your back on a toddler weilding a green marker.

Peyton's happy to be growing some hair.

Knuckles!

Libby often stashes her sippy cups in places where they're forgotten. On this day she came to me with a cup of chunky milk, only after she'd taken a sip. I knew she'd tried it because she promptly spit it out down the front of her shirt. I quickly gave her some strawberry lemonade, which I knew she'd love, to try and dilute any milk that may have gone down.

Corn Maze #2. This is our second, much more successful try at a maze. This one is in Terrebon (sp?) and Libby had Jamison and Jayden to chase. She loved it.

Libby checks out the pumpkin patch with Grammy Jane, Jamison and Jayden.

Libby's new obsession...calculators. She loves to carry these two around at my mom's house.

Jayden and Julane invited us to an afternoon at the High Desert Museum. Libby loved this tank full of fish and turtles. When asked "Libby, can you say fish?" She replies, "Daddy!" You can understand the obvious connection.

A teepee at the High Desert Museum.


Libby loved to run around the deck that borders the mill of the pioneer town. Learning the pioneer ways will come later, I guess.

My little spider

A life size replica of a bald eagle's (I think) nest. Who knew they're that big?

I called my mom after we left the museum and she met us downtown for mexican food. Libby ate rice and beans, and a lemon wedge, peel and all.

We checked out a new playground on the west side. All of the playground equipment spins. We all left a little dizzier than when we came.

Libby shows Peyton her calculators. Grammy Pearl learned to walk using the chair that Libby is sitting in.

Tummy Time

Tummy Time Times Two

Grammy Pearl 1908-2008

Early yesterday morning we said good bye to Grammy Pearl as she finally let go of this life and bravely went on to the next one, something she had been wanting to do for a long time. I always knew I would miss her, and I do. I'll miss her even more in the coming weeks, I'm sure.

It was almost three weeks ago on a Monday that she fell and broke her hip. She was always afraid of a fall and said these words so many times: "You never want to fall and break a hip, because that will be the end of you."

She spent four days in the hospital and a social worker that week suggested involving hospice in her care and we jumped at that opportunity. That Friday she was moved to Hospice House. At the time we were hoping to have her evaluated to see if she could stay in her retirement community, but move to assisted living. That wasn't meant to be as her health began to decline. At first she was alert, but somewhat agitated. She was given medication to help relax her and let her rest. After a few days she was responsive, but tired, and would carry on a conversation without opening her eyes. Then she stopped eating and drinking. Over the next days she would spend most of her time asleep and eventually she stopped responding to us. She was one of the toughest people I've ever known, but she just didn't want to live on this Earth anymore.

The wonderful staff at Hospice House took great care of her and we were so relieved when it was decided that she would stay there and we wouldn't need to move her to a foster or nursing home. They are so good at this kind of care and from the moment Grammy arrived they not only cared for her, but for my family too. They helped us say good bye to Grammy and I believe, helped her leave this world with a peace that she hadn't had in a long time. Yesterday we went back to Hospice House to thank the wonderful nurses, doctors, social workers and minister who cared for her and we all agreed that even though we'd just lost Grammy it was still such a warm feeling to walk through their doors. I loved the clean smell of laundry on the hand made quilts and the smell of fresh baked cookies from the kitchen. Libby loved running around the yard out back, playing on the playground and throwing rocks in the creek. They answered so many questions for us and helped us understand the process of dying so it wasn't so scary.

Today we came home. My mom, Julane and Jim and the boys came too for the Duck game. Tonight Jayden and I were hanging out together cleaning up the guest room and I told him I was going to miss Grammy. He said he would too, but he thought today that she'd probably be busy getting a tour of Heaven. I asked how long he thought that tour would take. His response..."a looooong time".

I'm sure her tour was a good one. I bet my grandpa, and uncles Bill and Jack were with her. I think for the first time in a loooong time, she felt nothing but joy. That does my heart good. Still, I'm going to miss her.

More September Moments...