Post-Tryptophan Coma

Sarah's Thoughts:  We have had a whirlwind week!  This time last week, it seemed like I was looking down a long stretch of relaxing holidays with no end in sight.  But like any good vacation, it is rapidly coming to a close.  I do feel that my lists served me well and Thanksgiving Day was everything I'd hoped for.  I tried some new recipes and subjected all of my captive guests to Thanksgiving games.  We had a random group of people, but everyone was friendly, gracious and got along well.  The evening was wonderful, but towards the end I was exhausted and couldn't handle cleaning up the rubble of dirty dishes and half eaten casseroles, let alone figure out how to divide up left-overs.  (Why is it that everyone dreams of Thanksgiving left-overs, but no one wants to take food home with them?)  Thankfully, my mom and Kristen dove right in and picked up my slack and I woke up to a completely spotless kitchen!  I confess, I felt a little lost and directionless in the days following Thanksgiving, but I'm quickly recovering. The thought of cooking isn't completely repulsive any more and Christmas isn't really all that far away!  I should start making some lists...

High- Family, delicious food, games, wine.  It was fantastic!

Low-  Knowing the glorious vacation will be over in 2 days. Wah!

Luke Update: Luke has been a wonderful husband (and really, he always is).  He kicked this week off with a deer hunting trip, taking my dad and brother out.  Because we were dealing with a limited window of time, Luke had to organize all the gear, do the shopping, and load the boat so that they could shove off as soon as the jet's wheels hit the runway. My dad has been dreaming of deer hunting since they moved from Juneau, about 5 years ago so they had a great time, even if the only deer they saw was a tiny cocker spaniel-sized one.  It warmed my little heart, knowing that all the boys I love most in this world (over 5 feet tall) were tromping around in the woods together, bonding.  Two days into the trip, I realized that if anything happened to that small but precious hunting party, I'd basically be devastated.  Needless to say, I was quite thankful when they pulled safely into the harbor on Thanksgiving morning.

Owen Update: Owen has been handling all the extra people and increased activity quite well.  I guess it helps that he thoroughly enjoys being the center of attention.  He got over his shyness quickly and soon the cuddling with Yia Yia (Owen's name for my mom, means "Grandma" in Greek), and playing "peak" with Grandpa Roger began.  He's been staying up late, taking extra baths and eating licorice for the first time.  I don't know how he's going to handle life on Tuesday when he wakes up from his afternoon nap and realizes that its just him and daddy...   My parents have pointed out that Owen is not only understanding pretty much everything you say, but also saying words himself.  I guess I need to start listening closer to decipher his seemingly nonsensical babble.  I'll keep you posted...

The Thanksgiving Feast

A little Yia Yia cuddling

Playing with Grandpa Roger

Pony Ride

Playing in the new snow!

Thankful Thoughts

Sarah's Thoughts:  This Thanksgiving, I am feeling so blessed.  I have a good job, great co-workers, a beautiful healthy family, a wonderful house in a gorgeous city in an amazing state in an incredible country.  I have a strong faith in God, a good church, amazing friends and a loving extended family.  We have enough money, clothes, food... and gas prices are slowly going down!  I have so many things to be thankful for, that it sort of scares me, like something really horrible is going to happen to balance it all out.  I have to say, I'm quite proud of the power of my lists.  Last week I made a list of all the chores I needed to do to get ready for company and every evening, I'd cross a few jobs off the list.  Today, my house is mostly clean  and I'm not completely stressed out!  Scoffers, you better recognize the power and release of stress that comes with a good list!  (I feel like this is a braggy blog... sorry!)

High- Knowing I am off work for a whole 10 days with a sparkling clean house!  Does it get any better then this?

Low- Thinking I'd solved a web-design mystery, only to discover, that I hadn't...  Back to the drawing board!

Luke Update:  Luke is excited about bullets.  He most recently decided to return to a simpler time, the midle ages, and melt down lead to pour into molds, to then make his own bullets.  His christmas list now consists of various devices to aide in the creation of bullets - lead hardness testers and more molds...  I can appreciate the drive to create the fact that certain tools are needed to do so, but I'm having a hard time mustering up excitement about lead hardness testers...  But then I'm sure he feels the same way about material or computer software.  

Owen Update:  Owen has discovered the wonderful world of Disney.  I'm struggling with bad mother feelings for encouraging T.V. watching, yet elation that something keeps my boy sitting still for more then 2 seconds...  He's been watching a hand-me-down Winnie the Poo VHS tape while I take a shower in the mornings (otherwise he's constantly pulling back the shower curtain and trying to get in with me, clothes and all) but today I introduced Owen and Luke to my favorite, Veggie Tales.  Secretly, I was pretty stoked to have an excuse to watch Veggie Tales, but right after "Silly Songs with Larry",  Owen lost interest and Luke fell asleep, so I think I need to increase their level of Veggie Tales appreciation!

Owen been attending birthday parties lately.  Its really good for him to interact with other kids... and good for me too.  It makes me realize how much work we have to do with "sharing".  We went to a birthday party on Saturday at a gym with all kinds of kid toys to play with.  At first, Owen was very clingy, but before long, he was running all over the place. One of the toys was a plastic castle with a swinging door.  At home, Owen loves to play with doors, closing them most of the way and then burst through into the room! He was playing this door game with the castle, having so much fun...  However, when another little boy wanted to walk through the door, Owen yelled right in his face, like a ferocious barking dog, defending its driveway.  I was a little taken aback at Owen's intensity, but the other boy didn't seem phased and actually yelled right back at him!

Checking out the falling snow

Playing at Mt. Jumbo Gym

Shopping at Freddies.  

He didn't mind being burried in groceries, not one little bit!

We can't forget about Dolly!

Big boy, sitting up at the table. 

He climbed up all by himself.

Approaching the Holidays

Sarah's Thoughts:    Thanksgiving is a week and a half away so I can officially start getting ready. My parents are flying into Juneau next Sunday and I'm quite excited. I'm been working on Thanksgiving lists; guest list, food list, cleaning list, shopping list, craft list...  I really enjoy playing hostess, despite the stress, but I rarely invite people over.  I think its because I don't want them to dread coming and then hate being here.  I'm really not a pessimist, just self-conscious and a procrastinator- not a winning combination.  Anyway, Thanksgiving is a time that I know people like to spend together so I feel confident and justified in having guests over, plus I have a nice big house to entertain in.  I do not, however, have football... I hope that's not going to be a problem....  On second thought, forget it.  I'm cancelling Thanksgiving.  (just kidding)  

I've been secretly singing holiday songs to Owen.  Technically, I'm of the opinion that Christmas starts after Thanksgiving, but if you sing quietly and choose the songs that focus on winter and snow ("Let it Snow", "Winter Wonderland", "Frosty the Snowman") that might be OK....  just don't let me hear it on the radio! Grrrr!

High - Shopping today by myself.  I leisurely browsed through Joanne's AND Fred Meyers and didn't have to deal with someone else pulling things off the shelf or deciding they wanted to go a different direction, or wanting to be held and then wanting down and then wanting to push the cart and then wanting Mama to hold them while they were pushing the cart... 

Low - Trying to clean-up Owen's chaffed, raw behind covered in poo.

Luke Update:  Luke came home from his hunting trip on Tuesday, smelly, hairy and so so happy.  Since then, every free moment has been devoted to taking care of the deer and to sorting through the explosion of gear in the garage.  As of this afternoon, I think the deer meat is all neatly packaged and frozen and the skull is clean...  He's planning on taking my Dad and brother hunting next week, so it will begin again...  Luke didn't get to take our still camera on his hunting trip, but he did take the video camera...  So stay tuned:  As previously promised, for your viewing pleasure, at the bottom of this post you will find a short video clip of the one that didn't get away.

Owen Update:  I can sum up Owen's week in one word.  Teething.  I know we've been through this before but this time it seems especially draining.  "Oh no, " you might say, "That sweet boy?  Well, he's just an angel.  An angel straight from heaven.  I'm sure it hasn't been THAT bad." Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I'd like to present Exhibit A, photographic proof that it has been no walk in the park.  This is a typical Owen snapshot from this week. His mouth is hurting, which makes him crabby and his poop has been especially frequent and acidic which gives him a nasty diaper rash which makes him crabby, and he hasn't had much of an appetite, which makes him crabby, which makes him demanding and when he doesn't get his way that makes him crabby which makes him tired and that also makes him crabby.    I was afraid that I wouldn't have any pictures to post this week, however, I did get a couple of shots before it all began...   

Exhibit A

Dolly cautiously approaching a newly frozen pond

This is what I came home to after my 

shopping excursion.  Mmmm-mmm, Antler stew.

Mighty hunter.

No matter how crabby he is, 

the bathtub always puts a smile on his face.  

Thank You God!

And now for our feature presentation...

Falling Over

Sarah's Thoughts - I'm totally thrown off.  Luke is gone hunting and I just feel out of balance.  I'm eating meals over the sink, waking up constantly throughout the night, imagining furnace problems, and I'm sure murders are right around the corner.  I'm glad Luke is having a good time but for my mental well-being he needs to come home soon. I'm usually fine when he's gone but this time feels different.  I think its a combination of  the fact that the only person I see all day is a sassy 1 1/2 year old, and you just can't have a good conversation with all that attitude AND the fact that its pitch black by 4pm.  After spending a stir-crazy day in the house listening to suspicious creeks and pops and pacifying a cranky toddler, the furnace stopped working.  I began imagining Owen and I freezing to death in our beds or refuges in someone else's house.  In a panic I called my sweet brother.  He left his friends, got a ride back to his car and came to rescue me.  When he arrived, he took one look at the furnace, flipped a big black switch from "Off" to "On" (Owen Mitchell Woodruff!!!) and that was it!  I'm thankful the solution was so simple, quick and cheap, but mentally, I'm still shook up.  I guess I'm not as tough as think I am.

  

High- Beautiful crisp sunny blue skies and frosty ground! 

Low- 1:45 when the sun disappears.

Luke Update - As previously mentioned, Luke is hunting with two buddies.  He's been gone since Friday and will return on Tuesday.  He was really stressed about the weather before he left.  They were predicting small craft advisories and rain.  However, the morning that they were going to leave, he checked the weather forecast.  Calm seas and no rain in sight. Boo-yeah! He is within cell phone range, so I've talked to him every night.  He shot a nice buck on Saturday and so did his friend, John (deer #4).  They didn't see anything today but are hopeful for tomorrow.

Owen Update- Owen is also off kilter.  He's not taking very good naps and he's not eating much.  He's throwing these big fits when he doesn't get his way, crying fat, hot tears.  He thinks its unfair when I won't let him walk around in the middle of the street, or when I pull him away from the stove...the injustice! In his defense, he does have 2 new teeth working their way out and I think he misses Luke too.  Case in point: a few weeks ago, Luke was editing some hunting footage and added this song as background music.  We heard that song a lot as Luke was working on the movie.  Anyway, today when we were listening to music, Luke's song came on and Owen got really quiet and still.  Sweet little guy! 

On a more positive note, Owen started blowing kisses this week.  Every night after I lay him down in his bed, before I close the door, I say "Mama loves you, Owen," and I blow him a kiss.  Tonight as I was shutting the door, I heard the unmistakable sound of Owen kissing the palm of his hand.  Smack!

Romeo Returns. 

(Romeo is the name of the big black wolf on the left of the picture.  

He hangs out around the glacier in the winter.  

We saw him on our walk today.  This was the first time 

we've seen him this winter, so it was sort of a surprise.  

He was whining, wanting to play with the dog 

on the right side of the picture.)

Icy stream.

(Also from our walk today.  It was cold!)

Owen riding in the Ergobaby carrier on Perseverance trail.  

I'm sure it won't be long before Owen will be holding a real dead duck.

My little Ewok!

Blue eyes, red cheeks.  So cute!

Traditions

Sarah's Thoughts:
Being a wife and a mom suddenly makes me responsible for celebrating holidays and carrying out traditions on those holidays. If I don't do it, no one will and as Owen gets older, I'm sure all of that will become more important. There are some holidays that I sort of have a feel for, and others that I've pretty much ignored, namely Halloween. For Halloween, my co-workers order these elaborate costumes from internet superstores. They dress their kids up as vampires and gorey monsters- the bloodier the better. To me, this seems a little overboard. Growing up, we'd scrounge a costume out of dress-up box right before we went trick-or-treating. The one I remember is "Jogging Grandma" which consisted of curlers, a shower cap, a pair of glasses, make-up and pantyhose (the best part) and a little white sweater. We stopped celebrating Halloween when I was in 5th grade because my mom decided we would celebrate "All Saints Day's Eve" instead. This meant we'd watch movies and hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters that came to our door. So what are the Woodruffs going to do? I don't' know. I don't think Owen is going to grow up celebrating All Saint's Day's Eve but I can't ever see dressing him up as Freddie Krueger either. I do enjoy the fun costumes, carving jack-o-lanterns and bobbing for apples. Aye! All these decisions to make! Luckily, I've dodged the bullet this year. Next year, however, I'd better be a little more prepared....

High- The comments from our trick-or-treaters: "Trick Or Treat! I'm Thing One and She's Thing Two, but you can't tell because she got cold and had to put on her coat. Ohhhhhhh! What kind of dog do you have? A black lab? We use to have a black lab but she got ran over. Her name was Riley. Happy Halloween!"

Low- A toss up between the broken keyboard on my Mac and the $2400 bill to rebuild the transmission on our Durango.

Luke Update:
On Saturdays, Luke has a standing date with the forest. He suits up in his wool pants, gaiters, and blaze orange hat and hits the trees in search of the elusive Sitka Blacktail Deer. This week there was a small craft advisory on the high seas so the boat stayed parked in the driveway and he stuck closer to home. No deer, but he did see a porcupine on a log that was so big, for a split second he thought it was a deer. Luke's getting ready for a 5-day deer hunt this coming weekend with a few buddies. Exciting stuff. He's got the wall tent ready to roll with the wood stove, a cot, waffles for breakfast. Its going to be rough. I promised him that I'd post a picture of his deer on the blog, so you are forewarned.

Owen Update:

I know that having a kid that climbs isn't really something every parent hopes for, however, it seems like something every little boy should love to do. Lela tells stories of finding her 1 year old on top of the toilet and I admit, I've felt a little twang of jealousy because Owen has not been a climber. He's always been very cautious. Maybe because he's such a big, solid boy, he hasn't had the strength to haul himself around or maybe its just his nature to be cautious. Either way, I'm proud to announce that Owen has officially discovered climbing. He's conquered the chairs in the kitchen, the coffee table in the living room, the spare twin bed in his room, and is trying his darnedest summit his changing table, but I think that might take some time. The look of pride on his little face when he makes it to the top, melts my heart. I know I shouldn't encourage the climbing, but it makes him so happy and I think its might be part of developing those large motor skills?

Shopping at Costco. Owen went right to the bikini undies.
I'm not really sure what that means...

Smiling in the shower.

Halloween Tigger. So stinking cute!

Owen got caught with his book under the bottom sheet
as we were making up the bed. He thought it was
the greatest thing in the world and wouldn't come out.

After his escapade under the sheets,
Owen decided to take a little reading break.