mini swap

Asher and Emmit participated in their first ever blog swap with other bloggers kids set up but "http://www.mollycoddleblog.com/mommycoddle/" or click title above. I of course failed to photograph our completed box that we sent off but it was so fun to create and today our box arrived. We were lucky enough to be swapping with the organizer and since I can only post a few on the flicker site, I had to show the unwrapping excitement here. Also notice the very last picture, this is where they decided to put everything back in the box and pretend to open it up again and again and again. Emmit is currently in his room hording almost everything while Asher sleeps. Oh and Katja- he is sleeping with the cow you gave him right now. Thank you so much Mommy Coddle and Family! Oh and by the way this very same family introduced us to the most amazing CD ever which we listen to even when the kids are asleep and Dennis shamelessly admits to singing at work, It's A Big World by Renee & Jeremy. Go get yourself that CD.

Emmit's Art Show and yogurt is good

Emmit has been playing "art show" at great length this weekend. I wonder why? He obsesses and plans for his shows almost as much as Dennis! Of course I think both of my children are breathtakingly beautiful but Asher just loves the camera and has been posing for us since birth. The camera equally loves despite what is covering his face.

there would have been more....

pictures that is, if my phone hadn't run out of batteries. We were outside for hours riding bikes, watching the Catholic H.S. down the street get one of their buildings bulldozed and enjoying time with our good friends who live in the beautiful firehouse down the street from us. As our countdown progresses and we think of what lies ahead and what we will miss....the thing that we will all miss in Buffalo are the amazing, truly amazing friends who have welcomed us so completely and tried to make us feel that this could be our home.

cold and sunny

also check out Dennis's blog for great photos from his show opening last night! dennis******.blogspot.com (fill in the last name to get the blog address)

I don't want to talk about it

we awoke to a disgusting blanketing of white stuff. I was too optimistic.

bonnet season is coming

I was just at my friend "firehouse" Sarah's and saw, hanging from her daughter's bed, the bonnet I made Silvie a year or two ago. It was the first bonnet I ever made and I love it and that it is now worn and shows lots of signs of use. Today it actually rained and it has been sunny more often then not. This morning at our weekly Waldorf "Morningstar Class" we saw new leaves and buds forming on the bare branches and little bulbs pushing forth green shoots and tiny white and purple tightly furled flowers. Something tells me that my bonnet wearing, wooly pants wearing, bright color clad children will feel right at home on Orcas.

how do I pick just one when the whole set depicts the experience?

poor Emmit, his face looks like we have a frisky kitten rather then an adoring little brother.

One last time....

It seems with 49 days until departure that we will now be doing particular WNY outings for one very last time. I wish I could say that with more nostalgia then glee but I can't hide the fact that I am so ready to return "home". We have found a spacious 4 bedroom house walking distance to Eastsound, my work/Emmit and Asher's school and just 3/10 mile to the BEACH!!!!! I am going to be doing a hodge podge of work with a school called The Salmonberry School. I am excited to have this opportunity to be involved with this school which I have been aware of for a long time. Island life will involve a lot of gardening, kayaking, swimming, hiking, reading, artistic endeavors, hanging out with my Mom and App, entertaining all the visitors we hope to have, walking and biking everywhere, weekly Farmer's Market, CSA pickup (hopefully directly from the Farm, there are quite a few CSA's to choose from on Orcas), touring the other Islands, cooking up a storm, canning, baking bread......the list is endless. We really thought we were headed to Portland to work with gDiapers and maybe that will happen in the future. I will continue doing whatever freelance work they send my way. I have such admiration for this company and wish it could have worked out but in the end we had to go with the better offer. Dennis plans on focusing on being a full time artist, continuing work on a three plus year photo project on Orcas and doing some residencies. Sea Kayaking is high on his list of priorities. With App in his 90's, it is also a good year for us to be around to help and spend lots of time hanging out on the mountain with them. I feel like a huge cloud has lifted from our lives and we are all so giddy with excitement and anticipation. So today we said goodbye to the American side of the Niagara Falls and the aquarium there. Emmit ran to every fish and penguin yelling his goodbyes. He would leave tomorrow if he could and I swear every other word out of Asher's mouth is "Nana and App". Oh and huge news on the weaning front thanks to some inspiration from cousin Karishma......Asher is down to only 2 nurses per 24 hours and now goes to sleep at night without it. This is huge progress from my child who when I told him that Karishma was done nursing, he looked me straight in the eye, paused, and said quite firmly "NO!".

good morning Papa, get out of bed

The house is getting a little more packed up everyday and this last week we dismatled our already falling apart IKEA futon/couch. The kids love having a place to jump and do this at great lengths daily. Be warned, he who thinks he can take a cat nap just anywhere! Do you see the countdown chart on the door. It is being crossed off daily in anticipation of both the great move and a birthday. Our move date is May 12th and the birthday is April 6th!!!! Activities for the party will involve: face painting, bubble blowing and bike riding oh and an ice cream cake from Coldstone too.

in an instant

I love how transparent my children are and how their emotions can shift with the passing of a thought. This is the balance we have been striving for.

eavesdropping

moving to Orcas......

more info to come soon but we have a house practically rented, job will be finalized tomorrow, school sorted out for Emmit, inspiration a plenty for Dennis and his itchy camera and family! So happy to have finally figured out where we are going and a destination for all these packed boxes.

Dasha babysat this morning and took the kids to the Science Spot so Anna and I could have a fun breakfast out together, where sentences were completed and there was undivided attention! We arrived at the Science Spot to find the kiddos hanging out with Dasha and five Science Spot folks and not a single other kid. They were loving all that attention and were hard at work cleaning out one of the aquariums. Then we sadly take Anna to the airport and here is a peek at the quilt that was a group effort in order to donate to the upcoming Waldorf Auction. It has a silk backing and was a product of many hands.

guest blogger: Auntie Anna

Hi Claire, EJ, Jodie and Sarah! Here are some pictures of us reading stories before bed time. Erika - do you recognize the scarves? We went out for a walk today with the boys, all bundled up, and it was quite balmy out. There is a lot of slushy snow around, but it appears to be melting, at least today. We have enjoyed lots of nice meals together, and have played "airport", where we load and unload my luggage that I brought, then take off and land. Emmit and Asher have been quite infatuated with my luggage. Emmit pointed out to me, when asking what my friend's names were, that his mama has friends by the same name! (Claire, Erika, Jodie, Sarah) xxoo