Maxdon

Halloween Chaos

2009-11-02T07:38:00.000-08:00

Our house was full of friends and fun on Halloween night. Plus, our neighborhood has truckloads of trick-or-treaters that swarm in for candy. What I'm getting at here is that I never got a good photo of Sarah in her costume, and I'm blaming it on the chaos of the night.

On to the costume...

A few months ago, Sarah found a Snow Princess costume and swore that it was the only costume for her. Her perfect Halloween costume! She paraded around our house in that costume at every opportunity.

Then around the time of her school's Fall Festival a couple of weeks ago, she started mumbling about wanting to be a witch instead. I was having none of that. I made her dress as a Snow Princess for the festival. I paid a hard earned $14.99 for that outfit, and she was going to wear it. Darn it! Reluctantly, she donned the outfit but adamantly refused to pose for a photo.

Last week, somehow, she got her dad into a costume store, and out they came with a witch costume for her and a knight costume for him. Sigh... So much for my $14.99.

On Halloween, Sarah was in full witch gear early in the afternoon buzzing with excitement. Before heading out with her buddies to trick-or-treat, we snapped a quick photo. But that's all the proof I have of her witch-hood. And I never photographed the knight.

But, it doesn't really matter. Those kids had a blast out begging for candy and a ball of fun handing out mounds of treats at our house. A very good night for ghouls and girls.

Pumpkins or Will This Halloween Madness Ever End?

2009-10-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin carving. That's what Sarah's begging pushed me to take on a couple of nights ago.

This is what we started with. (See the mound of dirty dishes in the background. Those are just props. I would never have mounds of dirty dishes in my house. Never. I just wanted to make you feel better about yourself. You're welcome.)

We then cracked open the pumpkins and scraped.

And scooped. (The messy counters in the back, also props. I know my perfection can be intimidating.)

After taking orders from the kid about the exact face that the pumpkins should have, I cut into the fruit.

Here's the final result. (The lights are off, because I didn't want you to see the way that my floors shine without a trace of dog hair. Anywhere.)

But the best part of a pumpkin are the seeds - delicious, roasted and salted seeds! I pluck them with my perfectly manicured nails.

We've Got Spirits, Yes We Do...

2009-10-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

I'm so not the decorate-your-house-with-cutesy-holiday-stuff kind of gal. Oh, but kids. Kids make you do all sorts of ridiculous things that you just normally wouldn't do. Take Halloween for example.

Sarah is pumped about Halloween. And after taking a stroll around our decked-out-for-Halloween neighborhood, she declared that we needed to decorate our house. Pronto! But, she was also adamant that our decorations should not be too scary.

One trip to Target, 24 stuffed ghosts and one mama on a step ladder for a good part of an afternoon later, this was the result.

And this:

And this:

And this:

And so many more ghosts that I'm just too ashamed to show. Ghosts in trees. Ghosts in bushes. Ghosts on rafters. Ghosts, ghosts, ghosts...

So, ghost overkill? The answer to that question, my friend, is yes, only if you aren't a 5 year-old girl.

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-14T07:51:00.000-07:00

We spent Saturday out doing exactly what should be done on a gorgeous fall day - frolicking at a pumpkin patch!

There were so many non-pumpkin related activities at this pumpkin patch. Sarah was loving life, even with a massive head cold. One of the highlights for her were the "pony" rides.

Sarah chose to ride the biggest "pony". She would like one of these in her backyard, please.

Then, Mike and Sarah tried their hand at ball launching:

For some reason, Sarah wanted to wait in line for a cheesy photo. So we did.

There were lots of other fun activities I didn't even document - hay rides, haunted barn, petting zoo, games, scavenger hunt and so on.

Eventually, we had to get down to the main reason for visiting the patch, PUMPKINS!

Lots of potential pumpkins were closely examined.

Finally, our perfect pumpkin was found.

This little fruit was hugged and lugged.

And ultimately displayed proudly.

A successful and fun excursion!

Disc Golf

2009-10-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, I told Mike that I would never play disc golf. To me, it looked like a sport for ultimate frisbee rejects, or the sort of activity that the hacky sack crowd might be drawn to when not polishing their Dungeons & Dragons figurines.

Mike took my statement as a direct challenge. It became his mission to get me on the disc golf course as soon as possible.

Before we drove home to find snow, we were in Portland visiting friends, friends who just happen to live next to not one, but two disc golf courses. Next thing I knew, we were all in a gorgeous park holding plastic. (Important Note: Do not refer to the disc as a frisbee. The correct term is plastic. Also, the sport is not called frisbee golf. Call it disc golf. If you violate either of these rules, you will be mocked, mocked by the hacky sack crowd. You can't get much lower than that.)

None of us had played disc golf before, and we quickly violated all of the above rules and more, many more.

This is where I have to apologize to Mike and the disc golfers of the world. We had so much fun that day. I strongly suspect it had a lot to do with the company that we kept.

But also, disc golf is a funny, funny sport.

And, anything that can get you outside with good friends and make you laugh from deep within your belly can't be that bad.

So, sorry Mike. Sorry disc golfers. Sorry hacky sackers. Sorry D&D enthusiasts and your figurines. May your plastic fly straight and far. Or whatever.

No Joking

2009-10-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

Remember those little snow pellets that I told you about last week?

Weren't they cute and such a novelty for the last days of September? You could debate what to call them - snow or graupel or hail or little adorable ice balls. Or, you could just cuddle them until they melted in your warm paw. Oh, such a sweet teaser of winter.

Well, I don't know what irritation October is dealing with. But, look out! She is angry and out to smother us with a blanket of heavy, heavy snow.

That's right. Snow.

There is no debating what to call the 6 inches of white stuff that we found in our yard this weekend.

That is most definitely snow - large quantities of heavy snow that broke tree limbs, knocked out power and left us all scrambling to find our winter gear.

Hello, winter! Why'd you have to sucker punch us in the face?

First Graupel Snow

2009-09-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

Do you see this?

And this?

This is what was happening around here yesterday afternoon.

Some of our tricky weathermen were calling it graupel. Graupel is just a fancy word for hail-like snow or snow pellets.

You caught that last part, right? The SNOW part. The put on a jacket it's fricken cold outside part.

Well, it didn't get past me. And I don't want to talk about it...

A change of opinion

2009-09-15T08:44:00.001-07:00

Sarah - I got to be in charge of materials today.
Me - Really. What does that mean? What did you do?
Sarah - I had to pass out papers to ALL the kids. And after projects, I got to collect the pencils, papers... that sort of stuff.
Me - Oh.
Sarah - I was very busy.
Me - I bet.
Sarah - It was sooo fun. I LOVE KINDERGARTEN!

Proof By Example

2009-09-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

Statement:

I am not a morning person.

Proof:

Date - 9/14/09
Time - 7:15am
Sarah - Talking, talking, talking...
Me - Squinting, fumbling with kitchen instruments, dazed, possibly drooling.
Mike - Happy, chattering, face forming a smile.

Mike - "Um... Honey?"
Me - "bluugh?"
Mike - "Are your pants inside out?"
Me - "Oh.... Yes. Yes, they are."

Q.E.D

First Day Wrap Up

2009-09-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Sarah: "The bus ride was the best part. School is too long."

All I know is that she smiled and twirled all the way home.

First Day of Kindergarten

2009-09-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." -Elizabeth Stone

Big day today. No HUGE day today. Wait. What's bigger than HUGE? Because that's what it was. Bigger than HUGE!

Sarah started Kindergarten today.

Oh gosh, hand me the Kleenex.

OK. Almost better.

No. Not better. But let's soldier on...

Up at the crack of dawn, that little girl was ready! I had to talk her out of heading to the bus stop immediately.

Yup. The bus stop. Sarah has been insisting for some time that she would ride the bus to school. I've learned long ago not to argue with my strong-willed one's ideas. So, off to the bus we went. All of us.

Grandpa Fife is in town so she asked him to walk to the bus stop with her. And of course she wanted her dad to come along. And she also wanted Lola to come along...

We all waited excitedly, warmed by the morning sun.

And then, just like that. She was gone...

Oh, Kleenex. More please.

June. June! JUNE? Where'd you go?

2009-06-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

STATUS
Camera: broken
Kid: busy
Work: insane, SUPER-insane
Childcare: limited to almost non-existent in the summer months
Me: ragged
Mike: who?
Dogs: oh! that explains the smell...

Snowy Green Lakes

2009-06-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

I did a little spring hike to Green Lakes. Lovely scenes were plentiful.

Had a fantastic adventure picking my path through the snow, but never have I been so accosted by mosquitoes. Funny. I thought the snow would have kept them away.

Freeze or Swim

2009-06-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

For most of the month, we spent chilly mornings at the pool for swim lessons.

Grandma Angie

2009-06-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

Mama! My mama visited for a few days. It was so good.

Of course, my mom was up for anything as usual. Sarah drug her to the park a bazillion times. We took her hiking, played in the snow and admired mountain lakes. The weather did not fully cooperate. It was rainy and cool. But, who cares? I had my mama. That's all that matters. I'll take her in any weather.

Balloon Fest Attempt

2009-06-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

Popped out of bed at dawn and headed out for Balloons over Bend. It was not nearly as cold as last year, but sadly, it was much windier. The balloons never launched.

Still, it was a gorgeous morning to enjoy.

We did it again...

2009-06-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

Raised more butterflies that is. This time they all lived - even the one with a misshapen wing.

Instincts

2009-06-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

I don’t know how to start this story. I’m not even sure I should tell this story. But it’s so surreal; I don’t want to forget it. And also, if Lola is ever found abandoned by the roadside, I want you to know why.

The scene: we’re in the Malheur National Forest on a paved interpretive path. This isn’t on a secluded trail, deep in the forest in a place where I might take my dogs for a run. This is just a simple loop around some ancient trees at a rest stop where we’ve stopped for a potty break.

Sarah and I are walking the loop. She needs to get some energy out. The dogs are walking ahead of us. They need to get some energy out. Mike is in the car reading the map.

As we walk, I notice lots of droppings. At first, I think they must be of the horse variety. As I look closer, I realize they are much too big and spread out. They must be elk poop. Big deal. I just try to keep Sarah from stomping in it.

So we’re walking and gabbing. When suddenly, a horrible scream shoots out from the trees. The scream is followed by Lola, Lola in full pursuit. We freeze. My brain is trying to puzzle together what I’m seeing.

Source of the screaming: an animal, an animal larger than Lola. This animal is spotted, could be a deer. Wait. It is not a deer. This is an elk. A baby elk. Quick! Where is mama elk? Mama elk is retreating into the trees. OK. Must stop Lola. Yell at Lola. Does not work. Must grab Lola. Not easy. She’s too fast.

The next few minutes are a blur. With one side of my brain, I’m keeping an eye out for mama elk: she’s hiding deep in the trees. The other side of my brain keeps tabs on Sarah: she’s safe on the trail with Sancho far away from the action. With my entire body, I’m attempting to wrestle Lola to the ground - Lola who has gone into Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom takedown and kill mode.

Baby elk runs in circles but is not very strong yet. Must be only hours old? A couple of days old? Uncertain. The fur is dry.

Lola displays all sorts of primitive hunting instincts. I’m horrified. She keeps breaking free of my grip. Damn dog! I secretly wish mama elk would come out of the woods and teach her a lesson. Insanity!

There is no way to adequately describe this situation. Baby elk screaming. Lola crazed. Sancho and Sarah staring, just staring. Mama elk hiding in the woods. Not sure how long this goes on. Too long.

Finally, I wrestle Lola to the ground and grab her tightly by the collar. Then, the weirdest or an even weirder thing happens. The stunned baby elk walks to Sarah. Sarah reaches out a hand and pets the calf. I stop her. I don’t want our scent on the baby.

From here, I gather Sarah and begin dragging Lola back to the car. A backward glance shows a dazed, exhausted but seemingly uninjured calf standing on the trail. We break into a run. Mosquitoes have shown up suddenly.

Oddest afternoon of my life. Hands down.

Bad, bad dog with most intense hunting drive:

Bike Rider

2009-06-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

I was sent a note this morning that read something like: No. NO! You are not on hiatus!

And when this person ~~talks~~ notes, I ~~listen~~ read. So, I guess I'm not on hiatus - today.

I tried to think of the biggest thing that has happened around here recently. It was a no-brainer.

Way back in April, Mike took Sarah out to the park, he set her loose on a grassy field and she learned how to do this:

That's right. Sarah can now ride a bike! And boy is she thrilled. That's all she wants to do.

And boy am I glad Mike was brave enough to take her out and teach her. I didn't have the stomach to watch her first rides. Had it been left up to me, she'd have training wheels for life. Truth is, I still get lightheaded as she rides down the path. ALL BY HERSELF! Oh gosh, I need to get some air...

Hiatus?

2009-05-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

Hiatus? Let me check. Yes. Yes! I am on hiatus.

I'll post again when the mood strikes or when I have an important deadline to avoid. Probably the latter.

In the meantime, here are a couple of photos of Sarah on her last day of preschool - like a month ago...

Go play in the sun!

Snowy May, A Very Wrong Title

2009-05-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well, apparently, I am running with ski goggles in May.

It's snowing this morning - this morning, Sunday, May 3rd. I can't even get worked up about this anymore. Just let it snow. What are you going to do about it?

Snowflake In The Eye

2009-04-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

I got a snowflake in my eye.

While running.

While running yesterday.

Yesterday.

April 29th, yesterday.

Why are there snowflakes in my eye on April 29th?

Why?

I'm not running with ski goggles in May.

I'm not.

Schnee, nieve, neige...

2009-04-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

Snow, snow, snow...

Rooftops and yards were white this morning. Now, thanks to a warmer mix of rain and flakes, only pockets of slush remain.

But the snow is battling the rain drops. I must find my hat and gloves. Foolishly, I'd stashed them away.

Kindergarten Orientation

2009-04-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

Thursday was a big day. I mean a BIG DAY! Sarah had kindergarten orientation.

She and her best friend held each other's hands tightly. Giddy with a touch of terrified, they strolled through the halls giggling, chattering, wondering about this fantastic new world waiting to reveal its secrets. With little hands stuck tight, this new world wasn't so overwhelming. With little hands stuck tight, this world took the faint shape of the familiar. With little hands stuck tight, they heard the whispers of its secrets.

A pack of parents followed, giddy with a touch of terrified...

Birthday UGGs

2009-04-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

After that last snowstorm, Mother Nature has redeemed herself by giving us record setting heat. Oh, so happy!

Since it was gorgeous outside and it was Mike's birthday, we dined alfresco last night.

The birthday boy seemed happy. Raw oysters have that effect on him.

As you might imagine, Sarah has been very excited about her dad's birthday. A few days ago she let me know that she'd like to get him a pair of slippers as a gift. I agreed to her idea, pulled her onto my lap and let her browse online for some slippers.

Immediately, her little eyes were drawn to UGGs. Man UGGs. Oh, sweet baby! Visions of Mike strutting those boots in public for his little girl danced through my head. Mike in man UGGs! The ridiculousness was almost too much. Stifling great chuckles, I wondered if I could get Sarah to suggest that he pair them with shorts? And a wallet chain! I choked on enormous balls of laughter, that is until I saw the price tag. $180! Now, that is too much for this cheap chick and her funny bone.

In the end, Sarah settled on getting her dad cupcakes and making him a card. I talked her out of the UGGs, and that, I would say, is the best gift I ever gave Mike. Oh, but if I find $180 just lying around...