Olea loves to ski. She loves to ski with her dad. We put her on skis for the first time when she was about 3 and a half. Since we discovered Alta's Ski free after three, she really looks forward to Saturday ski trips with her dad. She has progressed SO much in the past few years. I don't ski, I don't love it, but I love that they love it, that they have something to share. She really wanted to go on some un-groomed runs today and did really well. Gary was so proud of her. At one point while they were going through powder a couple of young guys on the lift above them yelled down, "Hey, man, your daughter rocks!" Can you just imagine how Gary was beaming with pride?
Olea is really looking forward to going for a whole day and is working very hard to earn it. It makes me a little sad to think we will be moving away from skiing opportunities here shortly, so I really want the two of them to take full advantage of the opportunity they have here. Tonight I told Gary that we need to make sure when we come back and visit family we make sure they get a few good ski days in every winter. Can you see him complain about that? nope.
So for your viewing pleasure: a video of Olea's skiing today.
Gary went with me yesterday to the Midwife. At one point, she commented, "oh he's a comedian!" Most people don't get to see this side of Gary, or I should say certain people don't get to see that side.
I'm going out on a limb here sharing this... especially since I rarely comment on this here blog about Gary and my relationship. There are a few reasons for this... which I won't go into at the moment, needless to say, I like him a lot, obviously I love him, that should go without saying. He makes me laugh all the time. I seriously chose right when I chose him. Life is soooo good.
Anyway, here is one of the funnies that the midwife was privy to.
The midwife was showing us the orientation of the baby and having Gary feel it on my belly, later she was checking me, and she jokingly asked him if he wanted to feel the baby's head. He said, "No, I'll take care of that when we get home." It might be one of those 'you had to be there' things, but I'm glad you weren't.
Later he confessed he was a little scared and thought she was serious. Maybe she was.
Gary is the kind of person who is not afraid to make fun of himself. I have a few classic pictures of this that make me laugh EVERY TIME I look at them.
For your viewing pleasure (because I ran across them tonight and had a good laugh while trying to make a hard back up of the last two or three years of photos): Some of them have some pretty great stories or explanations, but I am just going to keep those to myself for now and enjoy my own giggles. Oh! And lets not forget this!
So after cleaning up breakfast I rounded the corner of the stairs to find Miss Nev, sitting like so... (lucky me I had the camera in hand to bring it upstairs with me cause this was a jem). She's a nude-ster. Thankfully, I still have my sense of humor. There ain't no pants, panties, pull-ups or diaper on her. Oh, this lil gal is so adept at undressing herself. Mind the shoes however, those are necessary.
I have been on bedrest for 3 weeks now. It's been an interesting thing since I have three children. I've had lots of help, but still there are some days that things just don't work out and somethings that only Mom can do. There have been lots of adventures... call it what you will, things that happen just because I'm not active or whatever.
What follows is a picture collection and maybe some explanation of some of things that have transpired as I have sat back, strike that, laid there and watched.
Zurich and Nev play in the jungle next to my bed. This time they were taking a "nap in their jungle bed." The other night as I laid on the couch Zurich started jumping off the other couch... I had the camera and let him have his fun. Olea joined in too. Nev did, but she's not ambitious enough to jump but placed the pillow and then slid down it. While Olea and I worked on homework, Zurich and Nev drew in and ripped up our brand new set of phone books While Gary worked at home next to me in bed, Zurich was awfully quiet... when Gary went to check on him I heard the comment, "oh, Zurich, this is the real stuff..." and I started looking up on the internet how to get fingernail polish out of carpet. For the record, in our case alcohol worked best. I didn't get a picture of the carpet because that is one of the things I jumped out of bed to help Gary with. But here is the little boy who tried to paint his FEET with his sister's blue nail polish. For what he was trying to accomplish it is a miracle that there was as little on the carpet as there was. Blessed. Nev and Zurich are "goin' to school, Mom, Love you bye!" May I have this Dance?
For Christmas the kids each got a mini set of Lincoln Logs in their stockings (or rather boots, since we embrace that aspect of my German heritage). A few days after Christmas my husband and I realized that our children didn't understand the concept and workings of Lincoln Logs. For FHE while I laid on the couch re-stacking Nev's Lincoln Logs to keep her from destroying the lesson in process, Gary attempted to teach the older two the importance of following directions and instructions etc. using the Lincoln Logs as an object lesson. He's always so creative that way. The kids really enjoyed it and quite frankly it made a lot of sense and has been a concept they remember even after the fun. I realized this when Olea and I were talking about being obedient almost a week later and she commented it was like following the instructions, and commandments that Heavenly Father has given us, so we can be happy. I'll count that one as a successful FHE.
Every pregnancy is different. Surprise, surprise Here is something fun I have experienced with my pregnancies: Each child's resulting personality can be connected, attributed, compared with what I craved most often while pregnant with them.
I'll return to that here in a minute, first let me show you what Gary got for me last time he was in Florida. Ya folks, I ain't baking with it. It sits in my fridge and I take a swig of it as needed like a stowaway bottle of whiskey.
So what child is what? If you don't know them personally go ahead and try to figure out the food/ personality connection on your own. It may not make any sense to anyone but me. It's not a scientifically tested theory after all. :) Olea: tortilla chips and salsa Zurich: peanut butter and honey sandwiches Genève: tomato sandwiches And this baby boy: key lime juice
....hmmm what does that mean for his personality?
Who knows really? I'm just trying to make the little bottle I have last till Gary (hopefully) brings home another one from his next trip.
Back in the day... like in November. :) I bought some clay for FHE I tried to teach some basic hand-build techniques Nev tried to eat the clay. some of the work from that evening Then we let it dry for 2 weeks. Bone Dry clay before fire: My hand build is sore out of practice, plus I was trying to teach and keep the younger ones from eating the clay and what not. Fire, we also added a small cup my mom threw at a local art on the lawn thing. Glaze Glazed pieces with some large plates that I did the clear coat on (which is pink) Then Olea helped me Food grade Clear Glaze the pieces Fire one last time.... oooh lala Most of the pieces have a found a purpose Olea's is a q-tip holder in her bathroom Zurich's is a snack cup My cup sits next to the kitchen sink for water. Gary's two dishes hold Tatties downstairs and my keys on the bar. My lil pink dish holds Tatties upstairs.
