Hello Spring!

We had such nice weather this weekend - sunny and we even hit 70 degrees, unbelievable! My poor body doesn't know what to think of it, how can I be sweating at 70 degrees!
We did quite a few things, went to the zoo on Saturday morning, where we celebrated Packy's birthday - the eldest male elephant turned 48!
We took lots of trips to the park, I even got a couple walks in by myself! Mark had "guys night" on Saturday, so the kids and I walked up to the Lucky Lab for pizza and a hard cider - much enjoyed by me!! We sat outside in the sun, it was fantastic.
Kids hit the sack when we got back and I caught up on all my girl TV!
Sunday, Mark had a soccer game, we tagged along, the kids played with another little girl (Emma 18 months), Jakob was the best helper for her. I swear that kid could start babysitting already, he is so responsible and so caring.
This afternoon we spent outside at the park, Sarah doing her monkey man business, and building "castles" in the wood chips. Jakob played frisbee and baseball with Mark.
I really noticed tonight how strikingly different Sarah is than Jakob, she was on the tire swing with 2 other girls that she didn't know and was the life of the party, not shy, totally the clown, she was making crazy animal noises and they were laughing hysterically at her - they all got off the swing and played together (and these girls were 3 and 4 years old). I can see a future "class clown" on our hands.

Jakob is so reserved when it comes to finding new friends, he is definitely getting better at it and actually played with the neighbor kids quite a bit this weekend for hours at a time - which is new and wonderful for us! But, they are just so different, I don't know if it's a girl thing to be more social or if it's their personalities, Jakob is really a watch and see and put all the pieces together kind of guy, where as Sarah just jumps right in and tells you all about it - hmm, wonder where she gets that from?!
So, Sarah played awhile with her little buddies, until her attention span ran out, then she proceeded to take her socks leggings, and her shoes off, and played in the wood chips - with bare feet! If anyone has been around Jakob and wood chips, Oh man, you know this is totally the opposite of him!
They are such amazing kids, their quirks make me nuts, but I so LOVE them and enjoy every little moment with them!

Oh, I should mention Sarah's newest thing to do is to ask you if you are ok, like if you are sitting on the couch:
"You ok Mama, your tummy hurting?", "You cold Mama?", "You sad Jabub?", "You need a hug", "You tired Dadda?"
It's the cutes thing!!

And Jakob is really getting into pretend play, he brought his sword to the park today and wore his pirate eye patch to Trader Joe's, had to take it off to see to push his cart around though!

Jakob and Sarah are both loving an old Jack Johnson song, one of my favorites, "Bubble Toes", we've been playing it in the car daily on our ride home, they both totally groove to the part where he says "Move like a jellyfish, rhythm is nothing", they are moving their arms and legs, it is so cute! Jakob says, "Yeah Daddy, I like the part in that song where Jack says - this little girl came and she sat next to me...move like a jellyfish..." He can almost get that whole part! I love it!!

Here they are, celebrating Packy's birthday with their elephant ears!

Oh and there was cake, of course enjoyed by all!

"I'm a real monkey man!"
"Look Mama, I'm so big!"

Overheard the kids saying....

"What did you do at preschool today?"
Sarah: "Ummm, I played Norma. Style and Class, that's Norma says"
Jakob: "I played Scooby Doo with my friends, I was Scooby...we figured out mystery stuff and who was the monster."

Walking to the park last night,
Jakob:" How are seeds made?"
Me: "From the plants that drop them"
Jakob:" No, I mean how did a seed get made, like the first seed?"
Mark: "That's like asking which came first the chicken or the egg."
Me: "Jakob, nobody really knows how the first seed was made...when you become a scientist you can figure that out."
Jakob: "Like a paleontologist, I could find the first seed?"
Me: "Yep"
Jakob: "Oh, ok."

Tonight, Jakob was outside in front playing with the older little girl that lives across from us, I heard him talking to her about music,"Yeah I like rock n roll music, because you can really rock to it, right?"

Sarah helping me make dinner, "I need my apron on, I make dinna for Dada, he like nookles (noodles)"
"I want more spicket (biscuit)"
"No more fruit, make a tummy ache"

"I dub you Mama" - so cute!!

Visit with the cousins!!

Sam and Ben (and their awesome parents) came to visit us for their spring break - which included Easter and Ben's 5th Birthday! It was quite the week! I had to work so Auntie Ang was on duty for most of the week - and she kept those kids busy! Hiking, roller skating, trips to the library, treasure hunting (geocaching - which Jakob LOVES), swimming, OMSI, the Children's museum (she did this by herself with all 4 kids - she's a miracle worker!) and many other activities! I know that Jakob and Sarah had a blast with Sam and Ben, Jakob was crying when they left, and Sarah still asks where they are everytime she gets out of bed! We are so lucky to have such a fun family who is willing to fly up to Portland in spring - talk about rainy weather!!

Not sure when this was taken, but I had to put it in, Sarah is a hot mess here, not sure where she is coming from or where she is going, but she's ready with dress shoes and her cell phone!
Dying Easter eggs! Sarah managed to crush a few and get her hands dyed some horrific looking pink color that stayed for days, but a good time was had by all!
Ben working hard on his blue egg! He was very patient.
Serious work with Auntie Ang!
Hiking boys!
Sarah, crazy girl, dancing with her 3 D glasses on! Why wouldn't you do this?!
Ben's 5th birthday!
Look at those cutie pie lips!
3 musketeers!
An attempt at a group photo!! Of course the 2 year old is on the move!
A visit to the park, Sarah is showing off her, "I'm a real monkey man ," move, where she hangs on anything she can!
The whole gang!!!

Fun times

Enjoying brownie mix!

A quick (long awaited) visit with the Schroeder family! A longer visit to come in May, can't wait!

Baby Wes - 8 months, he is a LADY KILLER!!
Sweet girls!
The whole gang!

Spring Break 2010

Our 1 week of spring break just flew by! Things we did, not in any particular order:
played in the park, lots of hide and seek
went swimming
rode bikes

played in the dirt

made peanut butter cookies - cooked them a bit long but the kids enjoyed making them!
went skiing
visited the zoo
splashed in puddles - quite a few today without our boots - oops!
stayed up past our bedtimes
slept in - well until 7 am
listened to some live music in a coffee shop (kids music - Mr. Ben - highly recommend him at Posies cafe).
traded in some of the kids' treasures for some different treasures - at the resale shop
and that's about it, I think!

Jakob and Sarah at the Mr. Ben show - Sarah is trying to get Jakob to dance with her!
Sarah in a puddle at the park by the Hillsboro library
Sarah having fun in the walking tunnel - loved the echo!

Jakob, riding around the pond, he's a real pro on his 2 wheels now!
"It's too sunny to look at you!" I wish he would understand how lucky we are to have this sun during our break!! It snowed 3 years ago during spring break!
I should mention - Sarah dressed herself today!

2nd ski trip, this time with Mommy!

It's spring break and we actually are having spring weather, sunny and 70 today in Portland, about 60 at Mt. Hood today!

Jakob and I took a trip to Mt. Hood Meadows with his buddy Ian and his Mom, Julie.

Jakob worked on his turning and stopping skills, he is really sure of himself, I was quite the proud Mama!!
Julie and Ian (snowboard) and Jakob up ahead.

The Mt. Hood Meadows bunny hill conquerers!

Sugar and Spice...

Here she is, new Hello Kitty toothbrush and, in her "piggy tails PEEEAASSSSSEEEE, like dorfy, wifard oth, MOMMMEEEE!" (Dorothy from Wizard of Oz). Yes we watched The Wizard of Oz, and both the kids loved it- fast forwarded thru scarier scenes. Sarah loves Dorothy, the Lion and Toto. Of course she loves her little red dress up shoes even more now!


Yes, sugar and spice, attacking her brother. I actually had to tell her to get off of him and she said, "NO I wrestle!" What are we going to do with this girl!

Here she is taking a "break" aka a time out, at a restaurant on Sunday night. Doesn't she seem like an angel! If only I had captured her entire outfit, she had her dress shoes on and her purse with her, it was hysterical. Her dress shoes are too big so she shuffles like an old lady, people in the restaurant were giggling, it was great! She is a character!