a hike before bed a.k.a. tire them out so they will be asleep by 5pm!

Emmit was the unlikely motivator that got all of our nap deprived selves outside and off on an adventure. Emmit proudly reported that he had packed everything we would need in his back pack and that he would be carrying it the whole way. Two climbing ropes, water bottle, trail mix and I think a flashlight too. We were well prepared. There was a brief voyage into the woods to build shelter since it seemed we were lost and might have to spend the night. Then off to the apple orchard for some serious tree climbing complete with ropes. Even I, the once rather bad ass rock climber, was impressed by what I saw and the knots being tied! It was a nice way to end day two home alone with Mama.

simple mornings

Asher spends Monday and Wednesday with Dennis and Tuesday and Thursdays with me while Emmit is at school from 9-1. It is always the best when we just have our own little "school" time at home and cook or do special projects or clean the house. Yesterday we made play dough with glitter in it and on Tuesday he had a couple friends and their mom's over and we baked bread. Those are my favorite kind of days with him and also the easiest although I have to completely not try to work from home to accomplish this. Dennis is in Seattle give a lecture at the UW and photographing our friend Janet's house as it comes to Orcas via barge! The Discovery Channel will also be filming so it should be an exciting experience. It is back to being in the lovely mid to upper 40's with intermittent rain. Such a welcome relief for all of us after feeling like we were back in Buffalo. We finally have a closing date on our house building and that is Jan. 21st!!! I think we are feeling both excitement and cold feet simultaneously. Emmit is going through a really delightful pre five stage. He momentarily, this fall, stepped away from his state of imagination as his teacher predicted he would and now is back into it in full force. He has fallen in love with the world of knights, dragons, Laura Ingles Wilder, pirates, hunter/trapper and adventurer. Asher is his ever present shadow and imitator. Where Emmit was easy at two and challenging at 3, Asher is the reverse. Asher has a mind of his own and a smile to go with it or a raging tantrum at the drop of a hat. His personality might remind some of you of a certain someone! Asher is an entertainer that keeps us laughing with his choice of words and way of dancing and frolicking wherever he goes or else stumbling like a St. Bernard puppy. He also has a real sensitive side and has, for a long time, a wise way of expressing his emotions. Dennis has all the cameras except my cell phone so that is what I will be posting with until he gets back. Emmit has a friend coming over this morning and they are currently packing their backpacks for the great hike to the top of our hill where our lookout spot is.

the snow has melted and Asher's haircut

Lets just say I don't love the short hair do and am hoping it will grow back to those lovely curls quickly but boy is he a firecracker these days!

click me to see our NYE photos

we do know how to throw a party and we would have had a lot more photos except the photographer was a drunky monkey and drunky monkeys don't always take the best photos!