Saturday, March 31, 2012

Staycation

Sickness settled over our house like a March Malaise. First Ada got it - something nasty and contagious from pre-school that kept her fevery, up-all-night, and grouchy. We managed to keep her under quarantine for about ten days and then Jude got it. His normal, full-speed ahead activities were severely curtailed. We watched A LOT of television, and did our best to find things to do around the house.

Dad went close to crazy, but managed to pull back from the edge in time. Somewhere in the middle of spring break week we hit our stride. Kids were feeling better, and suddenly our time together didn't seem quite so grim. Here are a few from the highlight reel of our No Plans Spring Break Staycation. It seems like it lasted all month!


My grandmother gave me this giant chart for collecting quarters. I haven't looked at it in 10 years. This was a great one for a rainy day!


Board games with the children? I make up different rules to fit the occasion. Mostly we just snap the brown bear pieces in and out of the cardboard. There is also a lot of singing involved.


The Cornett and Company is getting back to it's roots as a general mercantile and seed delivery outfit. We started a small indoor garden that has grown a little each day. Jude carries the extra seed packets around in his pockets and uses them to make friends.


A big highlight of our week was a visit to Nini's secret fish camp on the banks of the Columbia River.


We hiked in a half mile in the pouring rain and mud, wearing nothing but our snowsuits and cute matching boots. Nini is the one in the background in full commando regalia.


Frank and John are kind of shy, but they are serious about spring fish. If you stumble upon this shelter, it may be too late for you. Just don't touch the lines, the bells, or the poles. They warm right up to blue eyes and pink snowsuits.


My guys eating their snack under a tarp in the pouring rain. We were there two hours and they didn't complain once. Fishing in the rain? Awesome.


We were treated to no less than 4 snowy mornings in the month of March. The last one brought in enough wet snow to build this snowman one morning. I snapped this photo as he starting listing. His head fell off by noon.


Last but not least, a fuzzy snapshot of something my children considered a major accomplishment of spring break. Ahhh, it brings back memories of the spring break year I built a card house 8 stories high. Those were simpler times!
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Would you eat it on your head?

Ada spends a lot of time dancing, singing, and listening to music.  A few weeks ago, she was quite sick and awake for most of several nights running.  The only thing that could keep her happy, other than chocolate milk, was listening to music in her room.  Since then, we've started playing music for her every night as she falls asleep.  "My want Raffi!  Raffi louder! Raffi again!  My like guitar better!"

Here is a selection of Ada singing her favorites, at age 23 months...

1) Veggie Tales
2) Itsy-Bitsy Spider
3) Pitter-Patter
4) Ravioli, Sloppy Ravioli

Monday, March 26, 2012

March Madness

This video is about as close as you can get to living in our house these days...


Ada loves to be all wrapped up in blankets, the sun lighting up her hair...


Jude loves to fish in the couch...


And I am (hopefully) back from my blogging hiatus.  xoxo

Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

March Adventures

It is not yet the Ides of March, but there has been a lot going on with the Cornetts. We're settling in to the rhythms of NEW HOUSE, and the sweet and fickle weather of a Portland spring. Our children are sprouting too, and I thought I owed the world a few photos of recent adventures. 


Ada strikes a pose in the kitchen. Yes, those ARE jammies and a handknit sweater.

Daddy and the guys eat popcorn during a screening of Star Wars, Episode IV, A New Hope.

Playdates continue, and this one included pizza, waffles, a sunny playground on a hot afternoon, and a potty emergency. Good times. 

This is Ada in the morning, a little groggy. "HANDS IN POCKETS, WARM"

Daddy and crew took a day trip to Hood River to make a few last minute searches for hidden treasure in Grandma's house before it is sold. We obviously found some. 
 

I love this picture of Oma's attic. It reminds me of my childhood!

I'll leave you with this beautiful photo of Ada in a play structure on a sunny day. She is a vision.
Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Moving In

 
Roll out the red carpet, we had a very nice moving day IN THE RAIN. Three guys, 8 and 1/4 hours, and I think I took about 3 pictures of the whole event. Below are some photos of our first night in NEW HOUSE. Empty rooms, a few boxes, and friends came over with Champagne!

 

 

 
I tried to be sociable, but the refrigerator needed a thorough scrubbing.

 
I was surprised how disoriented the process of moving can be. We only moved 10 minutes away, but the process of settling in could take months. Just NOT KNOWING simple things like WHERE ARE THE FINGERNAIL CLIPPERS? kind of drove me crazy for a few weeks. 

A month later we are feeling more at home. The kids are sleeping well, I have taken over the kitchen, and we find new things to love here every day. Yesterday Jude had a playdate, and the kids spent an hour playing behind our house while I raked leaves. 

Expect more posts in the future about my growing love for NEW HOUSE. Soon we will have OLD HOUSE on the market. The end of one era is the beginning of another.

Posted by Picasa

Moving Out

A month ago we moved out of our OLD HOUSE and into our NEW HOUSE. The kids packed up their bags for the weekend at Grandma's, and we ran around getting everything together.

 

 
They both look a little nervous to me here.

 
It is amazing how much STUFF fits into your life over the course of our 9 years on Fairview Boulevard. I spent three months packing, and we were still slammed on moving day.

 
Be ye warned, those with a big basement! Sometimes there is such a thing as TOO MUCH STORAGE.

 

 
We got the keys just one night before our moving date, and called on a few friends to lend a hand.

 
This is one last photo of our favorite game in OLD HOUSE. On your mark, get set, GO!

Posted by Picasa