WARNING! Sunshine = Naked Kids

Sarah's Thoughts: The amount of sunshine streaming through my window prompts me to dress in short sleeves today. Might be a bit optimistic, yesterday was in the low 50's, but glorious spring sunshine makes us Alaskans act seasonably pre-mature. As I was driving home yesterday, someone was walking their dog in a tank top. I would give my blessings to flip flops, but its not time for sleevelessness just yet although that day may be close at hand. I did kill two mosquitos over the weekend.

Luke Update: With the completion of his Math class, Luke is diving head first into spring and summer. After much pricing, shopping, and debating, he purchased a crab and shrimp pot puller for our boat. This is something we've dreamed about for the past 7 years, so we are excited. He had big plans getting off work (at 3:30) and heading out on the boat for the late afternoon/early evening hours. This week, however, he was unexpectedly transfered to a new electrical shop and is now working 10 hour days, so we'll see what that means for extra-curricular activities. He did squeeze in a fishing trip to Yakutat last week. Despite torrential rain, he caught the biggest steelhead of his life. If you know about fly fishing, that's kind of a big deal.

Owen Update: In Owen's mind, sun = squirt gun and swimming pool. Even on the frigid yet sunny winter days, he was begging to play with his beloved water toys. Somehow, the presence of snow didn't clue him in that swimming might not be the most appropriate choice of activities. As May approaches, the water play might not be too far off. On Sunday, Owen's beloved Gabie came over and they played in the water in our neighbor's muddy ditch, Easter clothes and all. That's about as close to paradise as it gets for an almost-4-year-old! I just might condone some squirt gun action this afternoon... I am wearing short sleeves, after all!

Annabelle Update: Little Annabelle is a rolley-polley giggling bundle of smile and drool. She's trying so hard to be mobile. She strains and grunts to grab objects out of reach. Frustrated, she tries to scoot forward and ends up moving backwards. She's just starting to push up onto all fours for brief periods, so I think crawling is still a little ways off. Poor girl has a lot of heft to support! Although we haven't seen any new teeth, I wouldn't be surprised if she sprouts a whole mouth full at any moment. Her newest accomplishment has been waving. Not sure when or how she learned this skill, but every now and then, she'll just bust out a Miss America wave. Our own Little Miss Sunshine.

And now get ready for 3 weeks worth of pictures:

foreshadowing of things to come?

Owen and Mathias eating lunch in the tent.

Annabelle's first experience in a swing. "Hi Mom!"

Last glimpse of Owen before he disappeared into the tunnel slide at Project Playground. Last year, he refused to try these slides! What a difference a year makes!

Sleepy head

Even though its last year's dead grass, Owen discovered

how fun rolling down grassy hills can be, all on his own!

The pack horse on Luke's recent fishing trip. Notice the Pony Keg in the boat.

Those boys had a good time!

the fisherman and the fish

Big Owen and Little Owen

At least she has her sun hat and socks!

Happy Keester!

(Poor Annabelle is going to hate me in 15 years, but just look at those thighs!)

First backyard weenie roast of 2011

Keeping a look out for hummingbirds...

Not sure why being naked helps with that process...

HEEELLLLLPPPP!!! The Giant Octopus has me!

Crime Scene

Big boy bunny and...

...baby bunny

April showers

Sarah’s Thoughts: As I started this entry, I began rambling about making plans for summer days and then realized that I always want to talk about time or weather or seasons here. I wonder why that is. Because they are topics I think about when I feel reflective or because they are light and apply to everyone? Maybe its because thinking about the summer sun seems pretty exciting compared with changing diapers and picking up after kids. There are other topics I could tackle, like the obnoxious amount of cheese we consume or my super human tolerance for listening to the same CD in the car for months on end. But see, maybe you really would rather hear about the weather...

Luke Update: 95% Baby! No more math! I am so proud of my hard-working, husband who faithfully did nothing but work, eat, and math for the past 3 1/2 months. He took his test this weekend and passed with flying colors. As soon as he finished, he pulled out his fly tying bench and started working on some steelhead flies. He’s headed out of town next week for a trip with his buddy, Adam, so finished that math just in time! I feel like I have to work pretty much non-stop to keep up on things around the house so without Luke, I can’t manage much besides the bare essentials. However, now that he’s a free man again, maybe we can tackle some of those projects that have been pushed aside... Or maybe we’ll just go out on the boat instead!

Owen Update: My little guy is really amazing. His memory, his creativity, observing to his little brain at work. I’m sure most people with kids this age feel the same way. He is definitely the biggest talker in our house and can hardly manage much else. Eating, for example, can be really difficult since it requires putting food in your mouth. Most every second of every day involves some sort of pretending game. Lately, he’s been role-playing members of the cat family- Simba and Nala, lions, tigers, cougars... I was brushing his teeth tonight and he was being the “Tawny Scrawny Lion”. As I’m brushing he sputters with foamy mouth, “Mom, you’re uppose to say, ‘Wow Tawny Scrawny! You have sharp teeth!’ I obey.

Annabelle Update: The most rapidly changing member of our family has been pretty mellow for the last few weeks. Although she won't be crawling for awhile yet, our little Annabellie is scooting an awful lot. This afternoon I sat her on the floor in the kitchen, facing the refrigerator. When I looked down at her again a few minutes later, she’d scooted her body 180 degrees, still in the sitting position. Not sure how she managed that! She does the same scooting thing while laying on her tummy, mostly moving backwards and in circles. She gets pretty frustrated, since forward is the only direction that she really wants to head. Keep at it, little girl!

sumo baby

snow free porch!

boy & dog

new hat

sharing a little lunchy

dreaming of dino oatmeal

ewwww!