A Walk in the Park

There is a lovely little park a block away from our house. We go there A LOT. And Owen looks forward to the park for two reasons. First, of course, is the play equipment full of friends. And second is the variety of dogs he encounters along the way. Owen's routine is to greet the dog (every single one), pet the dog, and get the dog to lick his hand.
Well a few days ago Owen wanted to go to the park just before dinner. This time he informed me he'd be walking his dog. Alright, I said. I grabbed our shoes and jackets. Owen grabbed his dog (a.k.a. vintage-style pull toy given to Owen by my parents when he first started walking).
We walked to the park with the loud clickety-clack, clickety-clack of the dog's wheels all along the way. When we reached the play equipment I figured our "doggy" would soon be forgotten. But I was very wrong. Owen went about introducing his pet to all the other dogs and their owners. He showed the dog to all his playground friends. And he made sure I took good care of the dog while he went down the slides and crossed the bridges.
We got all kinds of looks from people; friendly smiles, pity, genuine confusion. I just sat back and let Owen do the talking. Then with a clickety-clack, clickety-clack all along the way, we walked our dog back home again. And I couldn't help but think to myself that maybe it's time to get a real dog. If only it were as easy to take care of as our pull toy variety.

Spring Project: New Carpet

We have never been very attached to the carpet in our place. It is old and worn, holds the smells of renters past, has no padding, and is off-white. Off-white! Kids and light carpet do not a happy combination make. After shopping around a bit, we found a great deal and snagged it. The new carpet was installed a few weeks ago. And it is heavenly!
Somehow, with new-carpet stars in my eyes, I overlooked the fact that we would have to move all our belongings out of the house for this little renovation. It was a painful couple of days. I did what little I could and left the heavy-lifting to Mark (and a few good friends).
In the end? Totally worth it! Not only do we have the new carpet, but I was also able to sneak in a deep spring cleaning of the entire house. We decluttered and donated, spaced out and spruced up. Though my nesting instincts tell me there is more to do, I am feeling pretty satisfied with the changes.
We forgot to take a good "before" pic, so you have a "during" pic instead. It doesn't give a true picture of the improvement. But trust me, it's oh so much better.

Spring Enrichment Night

Whenever there is a serious lack of blogging going on, you can be sure we are busy living our lives. And now that spring has sprung, we are tackling one project after another. The first one I'll post about is our church Enrichment Night Birthday Dinner that took place last week. I only snapped a few photos before the evening got underway, but our theme was "Hats Off to Relief Society".


As you can imagine the decor featured a lot of hats. I tried to stick to a spring color scheme of pinks, yellows, and oranges. Everything looked fresh and springy. On each of the dinner tables sat a white hat. We overturned the hats and used them as vases to hold arrangements of bright flowers. We also hung pink, yellow, and orange rice paper daisy decorations on the walls behind the serving tables. We created a display board that showcased each of the General Relief Society presidents over the past 167 years too. But my favorite feature of the evening had to be a grouping of old-fashioned hats borrowed from Mark's grandma. The hats had been stored away in the most delicate hat box and each was so special. I felt privileged to borrow them for the evening. We served a delicious dinner and held a fashion show of hats. Everything turned out really well. Now I can take a few breaths before I have to start planning the next Enrichment Night!

#2

Our 20-week ultrasound proved successful. The baby looks healthy and as the doctor put it "everything looks grossly normal". That's good, right? Anyway, our little one was not shy about revealing his parts to us. So, it looks like we'll be adding another boy to Team Solomon.

Mark is super excited because he never had a brother growing up. And he didn't want Owen to have to go through all the pain and suffering that comes with only having sisters. Owen is excited...he just doesn't know it yet. And I'm excited too, with a few reservations about the amount of energy it will take to raise two wild things. However, it looks like I'll have to wait to use these (and some other) cute pieces I was setting aside...just in case.
(Our poor second child. This is the big post where he gets announced to the blogger world and I just referred to him as "#2" while posting pictures of girl clothes. Sorry little guy.)

It Sucks!

My new vacuum, that is.

I have had the same vacuum for the past 8 years. It was given to us as a wedding gift. And that little Dirt Devil has done its job well, or so I thought. Over the past few months when I would take it out to clean I would notice the faint smell of burning rubber. And there’s nothing I like better than a clean house smelling like mechanical malfunctions. I had also noticed that the poor Devil was not picking up all the little fuzzies and crumbs off the carpet. No matter how many back and forths I gave it, there was still a smathering of specks left behind. And when the hose attachment gave out it was the last straw. This was unacceptable, I said. So I began the search for a new vacuum.

After much research and shopping, I finally found a keeper. Last weekend we brought it home and tried it out. You would not believe the excitement that welled up inside me as we unpackaged the box and assembled the new sucker. It was like the best birthday ever…and it wasn’t even my birthday. (Side note: I have a friend whose husband…with the best of intentions…surprised her with a new vacuum on her birthday. She was so devastated by it that she was in tears when I dropped by her house to give her a little gift. At the time I thought he screwed up big time). Turns out I would have been overjoyed to receive such a gift. There is something about cleaning supplies that warms my heart. I could write a whole post about my favorites (later, maybe). I am seriously so excited to pull out my new vacuum and clean the floors. In fact, just to prove how pleased I am with the new product you must see this:


The photo was taken on Mark's iPhone just after we assembled the vacuum and used it on the living room and dining room carpets. That is just two room's worth! What was my old vacuum picking up? Apparently nothing.

So I welcome you, vacuum. Thank you for sucking.

Wicked

This past week we joined the ranks of thousands of others in seeing the ever-popular Wicked. And I have to say it was every bit as good as everyone claimed. It was such a treat to dress in something other than jeans and a hoodie, drive up to San Francisco and have quality conversation with Mark, and attend a musical performance at a theater in the big city. You see, we don't get out much.

We had great seats and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves (thanks Kim and Caleb). I was so happy to just be there that it didn't even phase me when the girl next to me mentioned it was her fourth time seeing the show. She had already seen it in London, Australia, and New York. Yeah, didn't even phase me.

These Boots Were Made For Walking...

And jumping and climbing and riding and lounging and just plain looking cool.
For the past year of Owen's life a certain fondness for these galoshes developed. He insisted on wearing them everywhere, refusing the lesser options in his closet. No matter the weather, no matter the activity, he slipped on those duds and wore them with pride.

But this week we decided it was high time to retire the beloved boots. Now don't get me wrong, I liked them too. Afterall, I bought them in the first place. And they offered an easy solution for getting shoes on and off in a pinch. But I absolutely had to call it quits when the stink took over. Picture sockless feet...in the heat...almost year round. And the poor plastic outers were cracked and scratched and looking pretty tired.

The replacements arrived recently in the mail and so far they are not a favorite. But I think Owen will accept them in time. Plus, they came with patented antimicrobial technology. No stink? I love them already.

Abundance

I felt it over the holidays when I spent a month of Sundays with family and friends. Feeling festive.


I felt it when I bundled up and let loose in the beautiful white Seattle snow with my husband and son. Feeling nostalgic.


I felt it when I returned home to find 74 degree sunshine and these yellow gems on my beloved fruit tree. Feeling renewed.


I feel it when I look at my expanding figure and think of the new life inside of me. Feeling expectant.


I feel it as the new year brings hope and desire, opportunities and possibilities. Feeling it.

On a First-Name Basis

It's the strangest thing when your child starts calling you by your first name.

Owen has recently traded in "Mommy" and "Daddy" for the occasional "Bridgette" and "Mark". I think it's due to the fact that he's been hanging around older cousins who call us by first name, and it works for them. Why not do the same?

Still, it creeps me out when he walks into the room and exclaims, "Hi, Bridgette!"

Expecting

So here's a little piece of information you might be interested in.


And it may also explain my lack of posts lately. I've been super sick this time around. It's all I can do to keep up with the basics in my life such as taking care of my firstborn. Luckily I think I'm turning a corner just in time for Christmas. I have felt pretty good all week and have just reached the beginning of my second trimester. If all goes according to plan, we will have a new addition by 07-08-09.

Mark your calendars, people!

M.I.A.

It's embarrassing really. My poor little blog hasn't had a post in over a month. I'm still here...just barely. The entire month of November was spent crafting. I created over 30 craft projects to sell at a holiday boutique. And by the end of this week the holiday boutique will be over so I can move on with my life. I wish I could say I made some cute projects for family and friends as well, but I've got nothing. I've barely begun Christmas shopping at all. And on top of that, I planned another church Enrichment Night which took place last night. I forget how much work it takes each time I coordinate an event. But the evening was lovely and I can now check it off my list.

Other items on my list of things-to-do:
1. Clean my house!
2. Attend a bazillion holiday parties (well, three this weekend alone)
3. Host a family of five who are in the midst of moving back to Utah...we are so sad!
4. Find time to Christmas shop
5. Paint our living room
6. Paint my toenails (they are in need of some serious polish)
7. Attempt to put together a family Christmas card (may not happen this year)
8. Eat my weight in holiday goodies

Halloween

Maybe it's his age. Maybe it's his personality. Either way, Owen was firmly against wearing any sort of costume this year. And no amount of coercion or bribery could convince him otherwise. Trick-or-treating went a little like this.

First house...lose the feet
Second house...remove the headpiece
Third house...shed the outfit altogether
Fourth house...relegate the treat tote to Mom

And so it was that he trick-or-treated with no costume and no treat bag. He just couldn't be bothered with anything.

Yet he very much enjoyed trick-or-treating. He paraded around the neighborhood with his best buddy, Trenton (who kept his cowboy costume on the whole time, by the way). He greeted each and every dog or child we came across. He ran. Full on ran, from house to house.

In the end, we stuffed him into his suit just long enough to snap a few photos.

Real Roadtrip

Last week we took our first real roadtrip with Owen. I guess any extended amount of time in the car could qualify as a roadtrip, but in my mind it has to be at least 6 hours. And in this case it was 13. 13 long hours.

The purpose of our trip was two-fold. Work and family. Mark had to travel to Seattle for work, and that just happens to be near my family. So I decided to tag along.

We were skeptical about the long journey considering Owen's opposition to his carseat. He has been known to escape even the tightest of buckles when he wants out. Once he even opened the car door while I was driving. (But that's another blog altogether.) We decided now was as good a time as any for introducing him to the roadtrip.

Amazingly, he did not try to escape once. He was a very good little passenger, except for that one time he puked all over. Then there was the time he puked again. Oh, and after a change of clothes and a wipedown of the seat he puked a third time. So if you discount the faint smell of vomit for the remainder of the trip, it was really not so bad.

The good news? We survived our first family road trip.

The bad news? Every time we get in the car Owen thinks he needs his blanket, pillow, milk, snacks, a fistful of toys, and a show to watch.

Costa Rica

THIS is where we decided to go. And it was amazing!

Before I get begin I must admit I nearly sabotaged our trip by forgetting my passport at home. We made it as far as SLC before we even noticed. There was no way we could leave the country without it. So with the help of Kim and Caleb breaking into our house, retrieving the passport, and shipping it to us, we were saved. Two days late and two hundred dollars later, we were on our merry way to Costa Rica. Honestly, I remembered everything down to the very last detail...except for that teensy weensy blue booklet!



Now for the trip! We traveled with our Oregon friends, Heather and Brad, who created a lovely itinerary for us. You'll find that I don't include them in many of the pictures I'm posting, and that's solely because they are tan and we are not. They make us look bad. And as for the dog Heather is holding...I'll get to him later.



The first part included a stay in the jungle near an active volcano. Literally this is what we saw when we gazed out our cabin window in the morning. We loved watching the lava ooze down the slopes and the steam drift from the summit. Once in awhile the volcano would spew hot steam. Scary? Yes! It felt like we were in Jurassic Park with roaring dinosaurs in our midst.



And the waterfalls, oh, the waterfalls. This was the first of many on the trip. I can't say I did more than dip my feet in. But they were beautiful nonetheless.



This waterfall was the grandest, and the guys couldn't resist climbing around it (even though the posted signs clearly stated "No Pase").



All geared up for a zip line adventure through the jungle. A-MAZ-ING! This was the best day ever.



Can you spot me on the course? We were high, seriously high. And the zip lines were long, the longest stretching a half mile. I was freaking out at the beginning, having flashbacks of my tramatic sixth grade ropes course that triggered an unusual case of shingles. But by the third platform I was sold. One of the best things I've ever done!



Relaxing at a hot springs resort wasn't all that bad either. This place was a garden of Eden. Breathtaking. The water was naturally heated by the magma from the volcano. Does it get any cooler (I mean hotter) than that?



And then there was the beach. Our final destination. The water was warm, but the beaches weren't as pristine as imagined with it being rainy season and all.



Pura Vida, baby! This was at our resort by the beach. It doesn't get much better than chicken nachos and tropical drinks while lounging at the pool bar. Swim a little, eat a little, swim a little...



This is Freddy Acuna. We discovered him on the roadside near the town of La Fortuna selling his wood carvings. He was so nice and kept telling us (in broken English) to check him out on YouTube. "My history," he said, "My history." You're curious aren't you? Check him out here.



We bought this super cool wood carving from Freddy Acuna to bring home to Owen. It is a coati; an animal we saw a lot in Costa Rica and part of the raccoon family.



We also picked up some Costa Rican hot chocolate. Britt is actually well-known for their coffees, but since we don't drink the stuff we were delighted to settle on chocolate instead.



Even though we brought home some pretty sweet stuff from the trip, I think Brad and Heather's souvenir trumps ours. Meet Tico. Heather found him at the beginning of their stay and instantly fell in love. Nevermind that he was dirty, malnourished, full of ticks, and missing teeth. He was a homeless dog like dozens of others we saw throughout the country, and he needed help. She saw to it that he was fed, cleaned up, and tick-free in no time. Now I'm no dog lover, but he is seriously cute and very well-behaved. You'll be happy to know that he now resides in a loving home in Oregon. That's one less homeless dog in Costa Rica.

Just for the Record

Number of days Mark has been OUT of town so far this year: 70
Number of days I have been OUT of town (without Owen) this year: 5
Number of days we have been IN town hosting visitors: 30
Number of days Mark and I have had "quality time together" this year: virtually nil

Are you getting the picture?

Mark and I have spent roughly one quarter of the year apart, have hosted visitors another 10% of the time (no offense to our visitors-we love you!), and have never left little O alone. So we decided it was high time to get away.

Where did we go?

Check back and see.

Night Walk

It was the perfect evening for a night walk. So Owen and I put on our jackets and made our way outside.


First we had to gather the necessary supplies for the excursion.
Flashlight...check. Cup of milk...check. Mini pancake...check.


On the lookout for lizards. None tonight.


A trail of ants? You bet.


Mail from the postman? Not at this hour.


A fortuitous airplane sighting. Does it get any better?


Anything lurking in the pool? Not unless you count that drowned bee.


Was our night walk a success? Oh yes.

Enrichment Night

So I know I have been slacking on posts lately, but there is a very good reason. I have been up to my eyebrows in crafting and decorating for the past few weeks. Serving as the Enrichment Leader at church, I was in charge of putting together the annual craft night. Now that it is said and done, I think the evening turned out pretty well. Aside from the organizing of classes and gathering of supplies, I prepared a demo on "setting a holiday table" (as if I'm an expert on the subject...please!). Anyway I showed how to create six different holiday tables using one set of dishes. I really wish I had pictures of the finished products, place settings and all. But I only managed to take a few pics during the planning process. Mark is SO glad the planning process is over, by the way. Now we can use our dining room table again and he doesn't have to watch Owen every night while I make a trip to the store to buy "just one more thing, honey!"


These paper lanterns were used as the centerpieces on the dinner tables. They rested on a pretty piece of autumn paper layered with burlap.


For this Thanksgiving centerpiece I used metallic paints to give the gourds a lustrous look.


I love the pop of colors in this centerpiece. Fall fruits and vegetables sound so yummy right now.


This is for a kids' table. I just love the tiny pilgrim hats on candy sticks (thanks, Kim, for helping to glue all those little pieces together!)


Peppermints! It would be fun to incorporate other classic Christmas treats with this.


I used my cupcake stand as a holiday tree by placing shiny ornaments on it. Super easy!

Guess you know what I'll be using on my Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables.

Brett

My brother graced us with his presence a couple weekends ago. So I will grace you with some pictures of his presence.

We spent a day up in San Francisco seeing the sights. What's not to love about the Golden Gate?


I have never been to the bridge on a more beautiful day. Perfectly visible. Perfectly warm.

We also visited the Oakland Temple grounds where Owen found a friend.


And a girlfriend.


And a pet.


And we made a trip to the beach where the boys skimboarded their little hearts out.