In like a lion, out like a lamb

Sarah's Thoughts: Last weekend my dear friend, Sarah G. came to visit (which is why I didn't publish a post.  very sorry.).  It was so fun for me to have her spend time in my element.  She'd only met Luke at our wedding, hadn't seen Owen since he was 4 1/2 months old, and had never met Dolly.  Needless to say, Sarah charmed them all- Luke with her guacomole, Dolly with  her ear scratching and Owen with her iphone.  Sarah and I have been friends since high school.  Through the years, I've come to realize that ours is a rare and precious friendship.  We are able to instantly reconnect, even when its been a long time, even when we're in very different places in our lives.   Overall, our visit was fairly mellow, as my life mainly consists of story reading and snack fixing these days...  however, it was just good to be in the same room as my friend-  to cook and to drink wine, to reminisce and dream, to remember that we know eachother at the very core of our beings and that will always remain, regardless of the ever changing circumstances of life.   

Low- Owen's recent bout with fever and insomenia.  Last night he was awake yelling "Mama!  Mama!" about 10 minutes after I'd painstakingly sang and rocked him to sleep.  

High- Secretly, I love rocking Owen to sleep.  There's something about holding my peaceful, snoring baby that brings me back to his newborn days, something about it that makes me think, "This is why I became a mother."  Oh yeah, that and a $2560 tax return!  Cha-ching!

Luke Update:  Luke is project-laden.  He has so many ideas that he's excited about, he hardly knows where to start.  He told me today that he's feeling a little anxious that summer will arrive before he knows it and he won't be able to finish all his projects. (I don't share in his anxiety if anyone is wondering...)   He also pointed out that although we are still getting snow, it is melting faster then its accumulating which means that spring really is on its way.  He successfully dug the boat out from its icy barricade this weekend and he's promising Saturday morning trolling excursions before too long.  Luke's laminated wooden fishing net is near completion and he's still making bullets from molten led. Besides all of this, he has about 10 other house projects in the hopper just waiting for a little bit of wood, and some fired-up table saw action.

Owen Update:  I feel like Owen's little personality has exploded in the past two weeks.   He is so verbal lately, its incredible.  He points to an object, I tell him its name and then he tries to repeat it.  He LOVES saying "bye" to anyone within ear-shot in this really high, sweet boy voice.  This week, Owen was introduced to the potty chair and it was love at first site.  Although he has yet to christen it, every time I change Owen's diaper, he runs into the bathroom to sit on his plastic throne.  In another attempt to encourage the big boy world, I added rails to the twin bed in Owen's room.  Once his sleeping routine stabilizes, we might give it a whirl.  Owen was showing his strong-willed tendencies this evening when we took Dolly for a walk. He refused to wear anything except his white dino jammies (even though it wasn't bed time) and then insisted on walking (which can make for exhaustingly slow progression).  We FINALLY managed to make it to our turn-around spot, almost a mile away from the house, when Owen decided to sit down in the middle of a big, icy mud puddle and splash a little bit.  Perfect decision for a boy with a nasty cough who is just recovering from recent feverish, sleepless days.

And now, more pictures to make up for their absence last week...

Even Owen likes cold leftover pizza!

peek!

Taking his popper for a walk.

Moutain Goat on the rocks surrounding Mendenhall Lake.

Sarah G. and Christian

Who doesn't love throwing rocks at the beach?

the joker

Mr. Fix It

Owen in a couch-fort with his friends Samson and Gabby.

There was constant squeels of delight for about 90 minutes.

Covered in snow and paint

Sarah's Thoughts: This weekend, I finally pulled the trigger, bought some paint and am now almost 1/2 way through painting the back guest room.  As I emerged from the fumes, covered in brown splatter, I realized that once this project is complete, I'll have painted every room in the house except the hallway and our laundry room!  That's a lot of walls!  I'm excited to add a touch of homey-ness to our guest room.  Its always been the place that collects things that have no other home.  I don't know if that will change with a coat of paint, but I think my attitude towards the room will.  This sudden push for redecorating is due to the fact that my best friend, Sarah will be in town this weekend.  Sarah has this amazing style that always is comfortable yet rich and bold.  Walking into her house is like a cross between walking into Pottery Barn and Anthropologie.  You love everything you see and wish that you'd could just curl up amidst the delicious candles, the embroidered throws, and the orange and white paisley lamp shades and fall asleep.  All this to say, I had to make an effort, so I'm painting and looking forward to spending some time with my dear friend!

Low- Daylight savings time Monday morning when I had to drag myself out of bed and then wake up Owen an hour later.  There's nothing worse then waking up a sleeping baby.  Curse you, Daylight savings!

High- Daylight savings time on Friday when it was JUST getting dark at 7:30.  Once that snow melts, just imagine the places we'll go!  I love you, Daylight savings!

Luke Update:  For those of you that don't know, our house is located within the "Montana Creek Estates".   I'm not currently aware of any neighborhood associations in Juneau that require residents to mow the lawn once a week or plant specified foliage in the front yard, but if there was such a neighborhood, it would be ours.  The very knowledge of this fuels Luke's morbid desire to be the redheaded step-child of the neighborhood.  Some of our neighbors shovel their driveways with 1/2 inch of snow.  Our driveway, however, hasn't been shoveled since President's Day.  On Friday after work, Luke thought it would be a good idea to dig ruts in the 6" of packed snow so that when it warms up and the snow begins to melt, our cars would have an easy path to follow into the garage.  Initially, I didn't think this was the best idea and now I know that I was right.  Creeping ever so slowly down our driveway is like jumping in a bouncy castle, only without the cushioney floor to absorb the jolts.  In other news, Luke has been working hard on his fishing net and counted 12 trips booked already this year (last year at this time, we had 9!).

Owen Update:  In our family, we take walks.  Luke and I enjoyed walks when we were dating, and then we got married and got a dog.  We still really love our walks, but Dolly (our dog) is the reason we faithfully head outside, rain, wind, snow or shine.  All this to say, since day 5 or so, Owen has been going on walks too.  Some days he loves it, some days he falls asleep and some days he protests vehemently. This weekend, for the very first time, Owen walked at least 1/3 of the walk with his own two feet.  Usually when we try this, we make it about 3-4 houses past ours and he's so distracted with rocks, puddles, ditch, what have you, that we have to stop and force his wriggling body into the child carrying device of choice and continue on.  I don't know if its the fact that snow is covering everything in site so there's not much to distract him or if he's just getting bigger, but it sure has been fun.  He's so smily and proud, and my poor back gets a rest- 30 pounds is a lot after awhile!

Owen and his jammies of many colors

Glassy day on the water

Tickle time!

Owen patted the bench next to him with his chubby little hand 

and held up a book.  That boy loves to read!

After dinner treat!  

Besides Spring...

Sarah's Thoughts: There's this book that I've heard a lot about called, "The 5 Love Languages."  The idea is there are 5 different ways people feel loved and in turn show love: acts of service, words of affirmation, physical touch, gifts, and quality time.  The way you show love to others is the way you feel loved.  I determined a long time ago that I feel loved the most from words of affirmation.  For example, if I feel like I need a compliment, I'll ask Luke "Doesn't this shirt looks nice on me?" and he'll say, "Oh yes, Sarah.  You look so nice in that shirt." and I'm happy.  However, this weekend I discovered that I truly appreciate acts of service as well.   On Saturday night, we had some friends come over for dinner.  Nap time is my big chance to work on projects (computer/cleaning/cooking/etc.).  I needed to do a little cleaning, but I also needed to work on this never-ending computer project...  Without being prompted, Luke vacuumed, washed the dishes, gave Dolly a bath, and installed curtain hooks throughout the living room and I felt so loved!  Really, I feel loved through all 5 of the love languages, as I think most people do... but it was nice to be reminded that "acts of service" makes me warm and tingly.  Thanks Luke!

High- Leaving work early (at 3:30) every day last week.  I'm sure my next paycheck will be my "low", but what are you going to do? 

Low- Discovering it was "poop day" in the nursery today at church.  During the service, I changed no less then 3 poopy diapers, none of them Owen's, and for one poor little guy, the poop was literally caked down the full length of his leg- crotch to heel.  

Luke Update:  The much-anticipated Coast Guard license application has been processed. The fine print has been scrutinized, the I's have been dotted, the T's have been crossed, and Captain Luke Woodruff is once again officially authorized by the United States Coast Guard as a Merchant Marine Officer.  Phew!  Now all we have to do is entice America's recession-burdened tourist population to fork over multiple benjamin franklins for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, fly rod in hand, to "humpy heaven" courtesy of Sea Runner Guide Service.  In preparation for the swarms of fish-catching tourists headed his way, Luke has started on a new wood-working project.  The trusty net he's used to retrieve many a fish from the frigid streams of Southeast Alaska broke recently, due to a certain 33" inhabitant of our house who shall remain nameless.  Luke has always wanted to make a wooden net and this week he chose to seize the opportunity.  I have to say I'm a little jealous of his new project, as I am still stuck making revisions to the graphic design project that won't end!

Owen Update: Every evening, around 5:30, my sweet little Owen turns into this demanding, grabby, fussing monster.  If I pick him up, he wriggles to get out of my arms.  If I don't pick him up, he's pulls on the leg of my pants or pushes his stool up to the counter so that he can throw silverware all over the floor.  He's hungry, but he doesn't want to be confined in his chair.  He doesn't want milk from THIS glass, he wants to drink it out of THAT glass... Owen is transformed into Mr. Hyde, regardless of what preceded that day.  On Saturday night, he was fussing at his finest, when our friends who have 2 children came over for dinner.  Instantly and I mean instantly, Owen started to giggle and then babble, and for the rest of the evening, he was happy.  He stayed up an hour and a half past his bedtime, but you wouldn't know it.  He really likes other kids.  He gets so excited to see all of his friends at daycare and in the nursery at church.  He doesn't know how to play with them, but just likes to have them around.

When Owen wakes up, he hands you things 

that he wants to snuggle with.  

It use to only be his cuddle sleeve, but today it was

a pillow, 6 stuffed animals, a silky, his cuddle sleeve 

and a blanket.  I could barely carry all of that, let alone Owen.  

I dumped the whole pile in the recliner.  

Notice the bare feeties. 

Walking on Mendenhall Lake this evening.

My little Emeril

family portrait

jail bird

my boys

On the brink

Sarah's Thoughts:  Its March 1st and we are on the brink of spring, I can feel it.  I'm also on the brink of finishing up a large graphic design project, and just finished the last of my aprons.  New beginnings are what spring is all about and I'm ready to burst out of this winter cocoon rested and energized!  ...only we have 6 inches of packed ice and snow on our driveway and its still 25 degrees outside.  Despite uncooperative Mother Nature, I'm keeping the faith and moving forward!  I think my next project will be sprucing up our guest room with a little paint, and a new bed spread.  It feels so good to be at a point where I've finished one project and can responsibly start something new.  Also, I'm excited for some non-electronic creativity.  March is going to fly by between a visit from my sweet Sarah and 2 weeks of paid vacation at the dental office. Before you know it, April will bring the end of the legislative session and Easter! Phew!  I'm ready!

High- Toss up between skiing on Mendenhall lake with brother, cousin and Kristen AND Saturday night's date night- babysitter and everything!

Low-  Work last week- goof-up after drama after stressful emergency after bad decision after goof-up...  plus I was feeling sort of sick.

Luke Update:  This morning as we were driving to church, Luke told me that he had spring fever in a real bad way.  He said he was going to dig out the boat (which is trapped behind several feet of ice and snow) and we were going cabin camping next weekend.  On our way home from church, he was talking about trolling for kings in the evening after work...  This afternoon during Owen's nap, Luke made a respectable dent in the mound of snow standing between our Durango and carefree outings on the water.  Because we had such a cold and rainy summer last year, I think we are all ready for warm and dry days.  Dig, baby, dig!  This week, Luke booked a few more trips for this summer, renewed his CPR, First Aide certifications for the next 2 years and finished his accounting for last fishing season.  Next stop:  accountant's office.  Yee-haw!

Owen Update:  Apparently, if you're 20 months old, the thing to do is pull the cushions off of the couch.  Then you can climb on it and play, read stories, or just throw things- basically the same things you might do on a couch that has cushions- only better.  I've been noticing several new words lately.  We saw our neighbor, Bob at Safeway and Owen said his name.  He hasn't said "Daddy" (he calls Luke "Mama") but he says "Bob".  I've also recently heard him say "poop", "blue", and "ditch".  On Saturday, while Luke was getting re-certified, Owen had his first experience sitting on the porcelain throne.  He didn't leave any deposits, but he proudly sat there reading his book and only almost fell in once. 

The other day, Luke realized 

we hadn't taken Owen sledding yet.

We unburied Luke's old Red Flyer 

and took off around the neighborhood. 

Luke pulled the sled at a rather quick pace, 

Owen glided along with an enormous smile

and mama, nervously ran parallel to the sled, 

ready to catch a jilted boy at any moment.

Keep your eyes on your driving, 

keep your hands on the wheels.

Serious driver.

Skiing at Mendenhall Lake with Kristen, 

Uncle Christian, and Uncle Jason.

When in doubt, read the manual

Close encounter (with the wolf) on our Saturday morning walk.

Good-looking boys

Owen with my brother, Christian, and cousin Jason.