My Anna Lisa

Libby is taking everything in and repeating what she thinks is funny.  Here's proof:  Today I asked her, "Libby, what's daddy doing?"  Her reply?  "Keepin' it real."  Shane and I just cracked up. That's our girl.  I'm so behind on.... well, everything actually.  But our blog is not just for the purpose of keeping in touch with our loved ones.  It also serves as a reminder for us about what we've been doing together.  We've been doing a lot together which has left little time for blogging. Here's what's new with us.....

First of all, my Anna Lisa is leaving me this week.  Yep, moving back to southern California from which she first came to me.  Movers came today and will come again tomorrow and they head south on Wednesday.  I knew this day was coming, but still I'm bummed.  Here's the good news.... We both love our technology.  Cell phones, facebook, email.  We actually see each other digitally more now than in person and that's been true since we had our kids.  The bad news is we can't do these things at the drop of a hat:

Drink too much at Mcmenamins the banks of the Willamette river.

Share looks across the table at staff meetings.

Share perspectives on teaching.

Rehash our teaching days face to face and then go get fast food or ice cream.

Go out to lunch.

Bike the river trail.

Bike Whistler, though I do have plans to do this again with you guys.....

Meet at TCBY for dollar waffle cones.

Eat ice cream and brownies while rehashing the latest celebrity gossip.

Push our strollers on the river trail while the boys skate and the kids play.

Birthday parties!

This is just a short list.

My pony, I will never again hear crickets chirp, or a bike horn without thinking of you.  I'm so glad we found each other.  I'm so happy for you and your family.  We love you guys and your beautiful boys.  See you soon!

I guess that's all I have in me tonight.  I'll post some pictures tomorrow....

Late Summer Fun

Peyton dug my toothbrush and toothpaste out of my travel bag and sat here quietly brushing her teeth for a looooong time.  

Ice cream cones in the backyard....
It takes so little to be so happy.
Peyton was so happy to be sitting at the counter just like her big sister.  She was trying desperately to get up to where Libby was.  Again, it takes so little....
This is Libby's "big girl bed".  I slipcovered both ends and she loves it.  Look for my slipcovers...coming soon to my Etsy site.
Ready to head out.
Libby rode a pony at the Deschutes County Fair.  She tells me now that the pony was running.  It was a bumpy ride so I'm sure it felt as though he was running.  I walked along side.  I can assure you, nobody ran.
We met Anna Lisa, Carter and Cameron at TCBY for $.99 waffle cone Wednesday.  Peyton even got a big one, but it didn't last long.  
My girls and Anna Lisa's boys.  They're getting ready to move back to Mission Viejo (sp?) at the end of the month.  We're going to miss them so much!

Summertime Girls

Summer is such a busy time, but definitely among my favorites.  As I'm sitting here counting down about how many weekends are left of summer Libby and Peyton are in their room for naps. Peyton's sound asleep and I can hear Libby in her general Annie fashion singing, "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow.  You're only a daaaaay aaaaaawaaaaaaay!"  And if I know my girl- she'll finish the song with both arms skyward even if she is singing for an audience of zero from her own bed.  What a ham.  The other day I got up with both girls and Shane slept in.  After taking off Libby's diaper and having her use the potty, I didn't have time to put big girl underwear on her, so I just pulled up her pajama bottoms and told her we'd find some underwear later.  A little while later Shane got up and as he came into the kitchen Libby said, "Hi daddy.  I'm going commando."  That's our girl.  She's starting to retain EVERYTHING we say, and we're needing to be very careful about how we phrase things.  She loves silliness and tells me often that Peyton is such a little monkey.  She knows when her birthday is and loves to talk about having a party. 

It's been a great summer.  At night after the girls are in bed, we'll look at each other and say, "Can you believe those two? They're ours."  It's sometimes so hard to believe.  It's been fun to see Peyton (who's walking, and on the verge of running) respond to her sister.  Both girls love to laugh, and they've really become great friends this summer.  I hope they'll be best friends throughout life.  When I ask Libby who her BFF is she'll usually say daddy.  Sometimes Peytie. At night she wants me to put her down in her bed and check on her often.  Something I relish now, because I fear one day she might have a sign on her door that says, "Libby's room.  Keep out."  For now we're enjoying every minute and still it's going way too fast.

August Already?

This kid is a climber and takes the falls to prove it.  Shane thinks she might have potential as a downhill mountain biker.  I'm thinking snowboarding....  Today she climbed up in her high chair and I was sweeping fabric scraps on the floor under her.  She had a misstep, and just as she hit the floor I put my hand out and caught her head.  It was a proud moment for me.  Like I was in a commercial..a mom so good a multi-tasking that no matter where in the house the fall happens, I'm there to catch her.  Of course it never works out that way, so when I was there today, it felt good.

Guess who has learned to remove her own diaper?
Here are the girls in their chairs that my friend Becky made them.  They were presents for their first birthdays.  Becky just finished a big move, and I don't know when she found the time, but we love Peyton's chair.  And Peyton does too!
Bebo brought Peyton her chair, and brought Pop Rocks for Libby.  Pop Rocks and Bebo...What's not to love?
Saying goodbye to the excersaucer...
Spaghetti night...

They get so wound up at bedtime.  Julane and I used to do the same thing.
"Uh, where are you going with that?"  
Love for the boys.... Libby will say to me, "Those my cousins?"  Yep, girl.  Those your cousins.
Sharing the sprinkler at Grammy Jane's.
Peyton has some water time while Libby picks raspberries with the boys.
Woah Trigger.
We had dinner with our friends Paul and Patty last Friday night.  Both girls started out fully clothed, and ended the (very hot) evening naked in a bucket of water.  Oh, to feel so free.
The girls are always so happy to play with their toys when we get home.  Libby has recently become a fan of dress up.  Whose kid is she?  Anyway, Peyton got in on the fun too....

A New Blanket...

I'm working on updating my Etsy site and when I do I'll post a link so you can shop right from my blog.  Until then, here is a new little blanket that I'll be selling on Etsy.  The front is cozy cotton chenille, backed with a cotton style/color of your choice.  I can personalize it with coordinating fabric if you'd like, and add a crinkle fabric in one corner that makes noise when you move it.  I can also add tags, or a binky snap. Each blanket measures 16" x 16". They're $35- each.  I made this one for a friend whose baby Sofie is due next month.  

Shasta

We got home from Shasta on Sunday and it's been a week of unpacking, laundry, getting things put away, cleaning the trailer and getting rid of some stuff.  As I'm sitting here typing Peyton has walked over to me and is sitting on my lap pretending to type.  Libby is asleep.  She didn't have her afternoon naps while we were gone, so she's catching up on some much needed sleep. Yesterday afternoon she slept for three and a half hours.  Playing is a lot of work!  

I took a ridiculous amount of pictures of our trip.  Here's the very long version....

We stopped in Medford on the way down and went to Steve and Marybeth's (Shane's aunt and uncle) house for Grandma Betty's birthday party.  The family has grown since we were last together and Libby and Peyton had fun playing with the cousins.  Here's Libby with Shane's cousin Lexi.  Lexi caught lizards and showed them to Libby.  Libby never left her side!

Shasta!  Libby got in some love on Jamison and Jayden while they played cards with friends Eric and Kylie.
Peyton has an Oreo for breakfast....a Shasta tradition.  We don't normally eat them off the ground, but who says Peytie can't make her own mark on this family?
Strapped in and going nowhere.
Happy birthday Jamison!  He celebrated #11 on July 16th.
Morning smiles.
Jayden rocks the wake board.
Are you kidding me?  What's the plan here people?
A family photo op.  Shane couldn't find his regular life jacket so he sported "big orange" all week.  Stylin' huh?
Peyton, our little climber, loved the ladder on the back of grandpa's boat.  Up and down.  Up and down......
Jayden got up on two skis for the first time.  Way to go Jayden!
Okay, never fall asleep in this family.  Jim fell asleep on the tube and the boys untied him and let him float away.  He didn't wake up until he finally hit the shore.
One little mischievous man...
We fed this flock of geese that were clearly accustom to being fed from boats.  Peyton squealed at them from her perch on the bow of the boat.  She loved them!

Jamison, Jayden, Libby and Peyton.  Don't be alarmed.  Aunt Ju Ju is holding Peyton from behind.
Libby and Daddy...
Peyton takes a break from her life jacket.  She HATED her life jacket on the first day and got a little better with it as each day went on.  Still, it's huge, cumbersome and hot. So, the minute we put her in it, we'd have to dunk her in order to keep her cool.
Float time.
Libby and Kylie played together a lot.  Kylie was a great babysitter and Libby loved to be wherever Kylie was.  Kylie made her some braided bracelets, and Libby still has them on.
I love Shasta!
On  the first day Libby had to be in someone's lap while the boat was running.  As the days went on she got a more brave.  Eventually, she wanted to sit in her own seat AND be in charge of the flag.
Crazy kids....all three of them.

Shane jumping the wake.  
Sound asleep.
Getting ready to kneeboard.
Out again...
Libby got brave on the last day and started jumping off the boat.
This is Lily's in Mt. Shasta City.  We always stop for breakfast on our way home.  Jayden took some of his first steps here as a baby, so I wanted to captures Peyton's too.