The best Christmas ever

Ok so this is really late. I apologize.

This was the best Christmas ever though. One of the first things that made this Christmas great is that my family and doggers were all healthy! Here all three pups are in full holiday gear and happy to have their parents at home finally for a Christmas. I am not sure how many more we will all have together so this was very special.

We also as I have stated before, had the prettiest Christmas tree ever. It was a huge mess to clean up the tree and garland before we left for Hawaii, but brought me tons of joy during the month we had it up.

Above is our family shot I took really quick before heading to our friends house for an xmas eve extravaganza. It was so great to be with friends, have amazing food and to have Ocoee play with the other kids. Now that I have a kid I understand the saying, Christmas is for the kids. Sam tracked Santa on the computer while the girls colored in their new coloring books and we all joyfully popped Christmas crackers and told corny jokes.

Here is the view of the tree Christmas morning. Ocoee came downstairs in her dads arms and said Woa!

Hubby shows Ocoee how to use her new xylophone. We somehow lost the screws to the legs so we had to just place it on her new table and chairs.

Ocoee was pitifully neglected when it came to dolls, we had never bought one. This year she received one from grandma and one from Santa. She loves them the most. One doll, Nelle has clothes and shoes that come off and she loves to take these off. She is such a clothes horse!

Ocoee also received a Wheely Bug from her grandparents. She loves to push it around and has let me push her on it a few times, but is still unsure about riding it by herself.....she will soon though.

Grandma actually did a wonderful job with Christmas, she had a ladybug theme, with a ladybug book, charm bracelet charm, wheely bug and tons of other gifts. Ocoee was very spoiled by her!

 Ocoee also got a table and chairs from Santa. She sat in them so happily on xmas morning but then she got stuck and sorta fell a bit and now has yet to sit in them again.....she will though.

 Above hubby reads Ocoee a new book called MOO.....we must have read it 20 times Christmas morning!

Below I love that I actually caught a look of surprise on Ocoee's face. She said Woa's all morning long. We had so many gifts that we had to take breaks in between opening them. I felt like a kid as I opened my new Ugg Brooks......they are so comfy and nice. They don't look like Uggs, but rather cool boots. They made me go WOA!

This year Ocoee was old enough to open gifts and she really started getting the hang of it. She even unwrapped hubby's handmade soaps from his stocking.

The best thing about Christmas was that the weather warmed and there was fresh snow. Ocoee was able to go sledding for the first time in her new sled. We bundled her up and wrapped her in cozy blankets and headed over to the park. She smiled and smiled as we sent her down the small bump that was located near the big sledding hill in the park. Mike and I both looked at each other and smiled and said, how we felt this was the best Christmas ever. It was just us three and was very relaxing. We sipped tea and coffee while munching on bagels and lox and just soaked it all in. Ocoee being a little over a year and learning new things every minute really made it magical. She also loved the salmon lox....she could eat and eat it!

 Happiness is often not in the big things but in the small things and this Christmas really reminded me of that. The entire season was filled with a special quality this year and I hope we can capture this magic every year.

Cheers
J

Maui 2012-13

 This was our 4th trip to Maui and ocoees second. Last year she clung to her daddy and slept on the plane, this year she crawled all over and played peek a boo with fellow travelers. We had a really low key vacation forgoing a rental car and staying in a condo right next to Sugar Beach, the ocean center and shops and restaurants along the harbor.

It was a really nice way to have a vacation and a little baby because we could walk to the beach and swim in the pool during non peak sun hours. During her naps we could hang on the lanai with boat drinks in hand or take turns snorkeling in the ocean that was steps away.

One nice benefit of the trip is that my good friend and her family were steps away as well at the condo next door. We really didn't plan it that way but ended up both enjoying late night card games while the kiddos slept.

For new years eve we share a sitter and had dinner at The Waterfront restaurant which was pretty bad, then we went out on a cocktail cruise to watch the fireworks and it was ok. It sounds better than It was. Just a bit touristy for our taste. New years always seems like a let down, and we all thought we should have stayed in and played cards. We did drink lots of champagne, which I love, and is the only drink you look better after drinking.

Gone are my suntanning days but with SPF slathered on I did enjoy the sun and left with a nice glow. Ocoee left as white as before which makes me super happy. She will have excellent skin at my age.

Ocoee loved the pool. She liked to swim from hubby to me, not really realizing she couldn't swim. Her wetsuit we bought was awesome, kept her warm, blocked sun and made her buoyant. She would get in and out of the pool steps over and over and make a dash for the hot tub. When we would get in the hot tub she melted in the warmth, true Alaska girl!

We also found a little tide pool that we all swam in and she loved the ocean. She would lick her lips from the salty water.

Tossing sand in the air on the beach and leaving the cutest little baby footprints was a highlight. Ocoee also devoured apple bananas in Maui while she never will eat the regular organic ones at home.

In the condo there was a palm tree that the owners started from seed 12 years ago. The planter was filled with rocks and coral that Ocoee would play with endlessly. She put the rocks in the water can and would shake them.

One of the funniest things ever was that I would hang my swimsuits on the lania to dry. Ocoee would grab them and put them on over her head, 2 or 3 at a time and wear them around. I laughed so hard and she would do this for hours!!

Having been to Maui So often allowed us to just relax an focus on being together as a family. We have already done the helicopter tours, paddle boarding and fancy restaurants. This year was swim, chill, relax, drink and soak it all in.  

Below are some iphone shots.....will upload the nice photos soon!

Ocoee playing with her rocks from the plant. 

This picture is so blurry but I adore how tropical she looks so it had to be included.

Loving the soft sand of Sugar Beach.

Swimming with daddy

She wasn't sure about walking on sand or grass for that matter but finally got the hang of it.

At the Ocean Center

On the beach she would just roam and roam, we had the beach to ourselves most of the time. 

Here is Ocoee at 3 months traveling to Hawaii for her first time and first plane trip. She slept the whole time!

Here is Ocoee on the way to Hawaii this year. She only slept a little and is an old pro at flying now with tons of flights under her belt.

15 month update

While on vacation we had some blogger issues....this is a little past date. Will post Ocoee 15 month stats after her Dr. appt.

Also xmas and hawaii pictures to come!


On the 30th you will be 15 months old! Since we will be in Maui, hopefully on the beach playing and relaxing for your 15 month I will blog now.

Your curls are the ultimate in curliness! Your hair has gotten really long but our attempts at barrettes to tame it have not succeeded since you pull them out and Brodie ten chews them up. At daycare the "grandma" in the room brushes your hair which I never do. I just fluff the curls and kiss your head. You grab the brush at home and try to brush my or daddy's hair.

You are also a true Alaskan bambino. Today you had lox for the first time and really shoveled it in. You cried out for more and more each time. Later you had smoked salmon for dinner with some strawberries. You also eat lots of "cheesy puffs" aka pirates booty. Your still drinking your formula and sometimes get a splash of pear juice with water. You are snotty again. This is a reoccurring thing. You are starting to learn to wipe your nose on your sleeve because mama will attack with a cloth if not.

You are now a champion walker and even run a bit when daddy chases you. You can get off the bed, couch and your baby chair all by yourself. At daycare you love to play in the ball crawl and walk around the halls when mommy picks you up.

You are quite loquacious. You say dada dada all the time. You will say, go dog go and other words like ball and me come out in the radio static that is your voice as well.

You are a party girl. At a party at kraigs last night you acted shy for about 20 minutes but after warming up were all over the house and the center of attention. You like exploring new places so I am sure you will love Maui this year.

Mommy zombie is still in full effect where you cry and stagger over to me tugging at my clothes until you are picked up. We try to let you cry it out but often you win the battle. It is just a phase I tell myself.

And oh are you a bookworm. We read books about 30 times a day. They are by far your favorite thing. Mommy and daddy have most of them memorized. You just received an amazing book called this moose belongs to me, from kim and bj and it is fabulous. Sure to be a favorite. You are into books that you can change the pages and that have flaps a lot. We have gotten a few books apps for our phones and iPad for the flight to Hawaii and those are very engrossing for you.

We still limit this screen time and you have not watched tv yet. Books are everywhere in the house so not hard to entertain you.

When mommy or daddy say no, you listen and want to keep us happy. This is a change from a few months ago when you knew we said no but did things anyway.

Well that is enough for now. We love you so much and can't believe 15 months have changed our lives so much.

We are very excited for christmas with you and Hawaii after for new years. Grandma has sent many, many gifts and you are truly a blessed child. And a blessing to us.

First Egg!

 A shot hubby messaged me this morning....our second egg!

 The girls on their resting place when being moved from outside to the garage....the baby gate.

The golden egg...our first egg after a long, long wait!

I can answer the age old question what comes first the chicken or the egg?

Actually what comes first is 235 days of work and hoping. We brought our chickens home when they were one day old. We had them sit in their warm brooder for 6 weeks, feeding and nurturing them to be strong enough to go outside. Since this past winter was the snowiest in history of Anchorage it took forever for the snow to melt and the back yard to be chicken friendly. 

We spent time getting the chicks used to the dogs, baby and us. They were named and fed the best organic food we could find.

They were bought treats and a chicken toy. They moved outside after 8 weeks full time to their McMansion in the back yard, a lovely cap cod style chicken hutch. Hubby soon began improvements with water system and food system that is genius and allows us to feed them through a chimney that will make easy access even when several feet of snow blanket the back yard.

He then heated the water system, raised the level of the hutch so that we could do a deep litter which eliminates all smells. I brought home hay to use for Ocoee's birthday party and then we used it to insulate the house and make a soft place for the girls to rest. Chickens love hay.

I spent all summer trying to keep the chickens off my deck, out of my garden and away from my flowers and lettuce. I failed lots. I yelled more.

Still after all this work....no eggs.

It has been winter for a long time already in Anchorage. We have had weeks of below zero weather. We have plan B for the girls which involves a huge dog kennel in the garage for the really cold nights. Anything below zero and they are inside the garage. 

The girls even learned to walk in the snow.....which they thought was really crazy the first few inches but are now legitimate Alaskan chickens and wade through with no issues.

Hubby would take them fresh water each day since theirs froze and even prepare them a hot water bottle to warm them up. We installed a thermostat we could monitor the temperature of the coop from inside.

And we waited.

Dates we predicted past. 

We made new predictions. These too passed. I considered a light. Hubby was firm that a light was unneeded stress on these poor, poor chickens.

I sighed.

And then Sunday we found our first egg. We are sure it was Eli that laid it since she is the biggest and bossiest. The first girl to show signs of broodiness (chicken speak for hormonal).

And this morning there was another golden egg.

We ate the first one last night on our weekly egg night. A simple meal of homemade caesar salad, egg sandwiches and roasted potatoes was made celebratory by our first egg and a nice bottle of Pinot Noir. The egg had the oranges yolk and tasted divine.

We joked that these are very expensive eggs, and it will take years to make this hobby/project/experiment pay for itself. The girls are part of our odd little family now and I am thrilled they are laying eggs. They have passed the dogs in rank of productiveness.

Cheers!

J

We need change! NOW!

As a teacher and parent I am grieving for the families in Connecticut today. I took my students on a field trip today for a performance of dance by a high school. We were surrounded by Elementary students who also were attending. I sat choked up, crying, seeing the joy of these young innocent kids.

Why?

I have no answers. This has happened too often.

I remember Von Maur and the feelings of that day flood back. People I worked with and knew died at the hands of another crazy gunman.

It has to stop. We need change.

I hope our government can be strong enough to change gun control laws and that the people of this country can see the wisdom in more control of these deadly weapons.

I can't wait for school to be over and have my baby in my arms, so I can finally breathe.

Advent calendar for toddlers

For Christmas this year I have been very aware of the traditions we are forming now we have Ocoee in our lives. We have some from our childhood and some that are unique to just us.

One that we just started was an advent calendar. Since Ocoee is too young for treats or small toys (she would eat them!) I decided on an ornament a day idea.

These are not normal ornaments. These are handmade felt ornaments that she places on her very own felt christmas tree. I saw the idea on pininterest and loved it. I went to the fabric store, bought my material and got to work.

Well let's just stay my stunning lack of craft skills are shining in this project. The tree is crooked and strange looking and the best I could do for ornaments were roundish ornaments and an odd candy came in red only. Stripes are beyond me. My snowflake looks like Swiss cheese.

Other than the ugliness factor it is a hit! She says tree, tree. Well I think that is what she is saying anyway and we pick her new ornament from her advent calendar each day. The tree is stapled to the hall wall so it is hidden from offending visitors but is perfect for her to play with. She likes to pat the wall over and over. The best part is ripping all the ornaments off.

We are missing a few ornaments that I think our dog Brodie might have eaten. Otherwise Ocoee could care less that my crafting skills are a hot mess.

I may redo next year with really sharp scissors and some patterns, maybe a glue gun and less wine. Or maybe I will reuse this one because one thing about tradition is that it doesn't have to be pretty to be special.

Also about 8 inches of fresh snow and our chickens have even begun to get used to it and wade through!

Cheer
J

Some things are special

So I haven't blogged lately and I wanted to put this out there in the blog world.....I keep some things special, for just Ocoee. A good friend gave me a notebook when Ocoee was born. In this notebook I write letters to Ocoee.

These are special letters. Thoughts for only her eyes to read. I will give it to her one day when she is older and I hope it is special, meaningful and important to her. As much as I love documenting online for the world, friends and family to read, I also need this special outlet for my secret mommy thoughts, feeling, fears and hopes.

Since I currently know 11 people who are pregnant and expecting in the next few months, maybe this will make a good present to other moms....a special place to write....often or occasionally.... special mother words.

My mom has passed away and I know that I would love to see her handwriting and feel her words.

Also if you are thinking of gifts, there is a great website called Spoonflower, where you can turn handwritten recipes into tea towels. In this day of amazing technologies how cool is it to use the technology to see an old fashioned thing like handwriting. And those famous family recipes would be easily available and honored in a unique way, instead of tucked away for no one to see.

Cheers
J