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Archive for the 'about me' Category
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I am.
My voter registration card came in the mail the other day. Because I’ve recently moved to Seattle, I don’t have the WA id to be able to register on line, and while I was thinking about where to register to vote, there was a lovely volunteer outside of the grocery store. I registered right then and there! and got to explain the whole thing to Iz. She’s almost 4, and I’m sure doesn’t understand the whole thing (it is pretty big after all), I do think it’s the right time to talk about it and start giving her information. She’ll come with us when we vote and get to press the buttons and pull the levers.
I remember going with my parents when they voted. I remember watching the news and waking up and hurrying to read the paper to find out wo I hope you are going to vote in November (if you haven’t already). Just please be informed. I know who I’m voting for. The other candidate helped me decide when he picked his running mate.
It’s amazing what comes out the mouths of babes sometimes. I was floored the other day when we were driving and Iz said, “Mom, you are making a left turn.”
Speechless, that’s what I was! We’ve been talking left and right for as long as I can remember and she’s not used Left or Right for as long as I can tell. Then, driving, she blew me away.
I am loving this age. Sure the emotional stuff can be a little much (one more bout of screaming at me and I might just pass out)
The grasping of things we’ve been talking about for a while, and even the new stuff, is just so freakin’ amazing. Today was spider day at school. They had a giant web up with plastic spiders, then another family brought in live spiders they caught from their yard in jars. The kids went outside and found natural elements for their habitat and filled the jars, and made lovely homes for the spiders. We talked about the spiders during book time, for a long time. I just love all the soaking up of everything. I love that Iz can put into words what she’s experiencing.
{Please Note: Not a lot of sewing has been done, I’ve got two skirts, cute corduroy jackets and lovely village frocks to make, but not a lot of sewing time. I’m also thinking about finding a place for a sew-cial and lessons…so there will be mroe soon, I promise!!!! I’m also working on ideas for a few embroidery projects in my sketchbook, so it’s comeing, I just know it!}
Sunday the weather here in Seattle was just amazing, so we decided to play outside. We started at the West Seattle Farmer’s Market (sorry, no pics, what was I thinking!). What an incredible place, woah! I think we’ll be heading back every possible Sunday, it’s open year round.
Then, we found our way to, a lovely beach front in with an amazing view of Puget Sound.
It was a little chilly, Iz was wrapped up in her cozy blanket…
or soaking up the warmth from the sand…
It was cool to see kites, we loved this one…
The air is a bit chilly and very fresh. It was a grey day for the first day of fall. The hydrangeas are changing.
The leaves on the classroom tree are starting to change too. Last week they were all green.
There were gourds and pumpkins (oooh it’s Halloween time!) on the table.
Then the kids painted them. Iz put hers in the frame.
After school was spent under the tree in the swing.
The day ended with the most delicious spinach and sausage ravioli. And a cosmopolitan. Well 2 actually. But who’s counting?
I . Do you Skype? I really love Skype. Skype lets me talk to my little brother, and lets me see my little brother.
Our conversations last around 30-45 mins and is way better than watching tv.
Skype lets me not miss my brother so much. He’s been stationed all over the world and we’ve gone for years without seeing each other. Now, it’s down to a week at a time.
I can see what his hair looks like (when he has any), what he’s wearing, and even what he’s eating (tonight it was a burger from Arby’s).
He can even send kisses, ’cause he loves his big sis soooooo much.
I always tell him not to hold a pose too long, he’ll get stuck that way.
See you soon Lil’ Bro – I love ya! xxoo Z
ps – go sign up for skype. it can be free. it’s awesome. thanks skype for letting me visit with my brother – you rock!
Now that Iz goes to school all week and I work, we don’t spend as much time together. I really, really miss her. I’d gotten so used to doing everything with her. We were always together. Now, whenever we are home together, I just want to hang out with her.
Fridays is half days, so for our first Friday, we had a wonderful afternoon. We skipped on over to in West Seattle for a hot chocolate, gourmet mac ‘n’ cheese and a hot fudge sundae. We shared them all (except the hot chocolate, even though she doesn’t finish them, they are hers, no touching my hot chocolate mommy).
After lunch we went to . It was such an amazing day.
We even found a jellyfish on the beach.
After dinner, we had to watch some jellyfish movies.
Today was the first day at Iz’s new school. It’s a really amazing place with such wonderful teachers. I’m so glad the first day of school is here. Our move to Seattle has left us without a routine, and while I tried to maintain our old one as much as possible, it just wasn’t possible. And so frustrating. Iz not falling asleep until 2AM, me in tears trying to be patient (and not being so patient some of the time…ugh). She so tired that she’s back to biting and scratching and hitting (just me mind you…). I totally feel for her. Her whole life has changed, she’s waiting for Daddy and Cinnamon (the cat) to join us (you can see Rob’s progress on his or on ), she hardly has any of her own stuff here (it’s all in boxes/storage, besides – there’s no room). She’s got a new “sister” – in the best friend way, and is totally missing her friends. (Gracie May, Henry, Ava Rose, Zosha, Emmett and Nate – we need to arrange a phone call!) But man, this is so hard. I know she’s ready for school, I’m just super eager for a routine again. Routines seem to make it all ok. (ps, Scooby and Stretchy Thingy stayed in the car today)
This is Amy, one of Iz’s teachers, Hi Amy! Amy is super crafty, I’m trying to get her to blog too. She makes such amazing clothes, bags, you name it.
This is Whitney, one of Iz’s teachers too. She’s way cool and has a degree in environmental education. I love that. She also hails from Massachusetts and is so glad to be in Seattle too.
Iz is making art. There are lots of art stations in her room and there is an open studio (pic below) that she spends the morning in. Who wouldn’t want to spend the morning in studio?
Iz’s bin that holds her water bottle, the ever famous change of clothes and stuff from the day. She made this picture for her bin, but insisted that we take it home at the end of the day.
Here’s Iz in the studio. Lots of color, paper, markers paint. YUM!
Iz’s name card. Little Miss Otter. (or is that a sea lion?)
Oh, and her lunch! I got her a , and it has to be the greatest thing ever! The containers really help me plan her lunch. (ok, I just did day 2, but seriously, the boxes really help me organize and you know how I LOVE that). Day one she got spinach quiche (the crustiest parts, I took the other half in my lunch), , almonds, seaweed wrapped rice crackers, apples, strawberries and cheddar cut into the shape of animals (I went to and got the sweetest set!). We made her lunch bag out of a thrifted tennis skirt and thrifted sweaters that I felted for insulation (the lead-in-vinyl thirng freaked me out a bit). More pictures of that later.
I started my new today. Just wonderful, but so strange since I’ve been focusing on Iz so much and all her first day stuff. It’s a lovely place with lovely things (oh my you should see these documents, just breathtaking….). I did get lost in the neighborhood trying to get back in time for pick-up and needless to say I was super late. But what wonderful people let me know it was all ok and that they were there for me and Iz if we needed them. All these friendly faces and warm places help to make Iz and my life a bit brighter, helping me realize that perhaps we are getting settled a bit, and soon, there won’t be biting, hitting, scratching, stomping, screaming.
Ok, so I’m going to write more about that those last few words…bear with me:
Let me first say that I completely understand that these changes are stressful and this is the end result. The frustration, anger and tears come pouring out. This is her exploding. While I consider myself patient, I didn’t flinch when she bit me, or hit me or scratched me and while I remained calm, at one moment I snapped and raised my voice (ever so slightly of course). I feel so bad, and so angry and so frustrated. I miss Rob and the cat too. I miss my old car (the Volvo now has a new owner – sniff sniff!), I miss my gardens, I miss friends. I totally get it, I haven’t been sleeping either which makes it all a bit hard. And then I think well if I’m in a good place she’ll be in a good place too. Right? Am I projecting all my stress on her? Is this just something we need to settle into and we’ll find our groove and rock on? I think so. We just need to get through the right now. At least lunch is made for tomorrow – have a look:
I haven’t checked and counted the days that we’ve been here (in Seattle that is…), but it’s been a few weeks and we are meeting new friends, catching up with old friends and visiting some really fun places. We’ve had a few nights of tears and missing our old home, but when morning comes and play begins, we stash those feelings for a wee bit.
My little butterfly!
Flamingos
Sitting on Flamingo nests.
Gorilla Statue Love
This little pup wandered into our lives one day, just walked right up to the front door. We took care of it for a few days before we took it to the vet, then to the shelter to await his new home. Iz cried as we left him at the shelter, she loved this little pup so, so much.
We made Dutch Babies one morning. yum.
It’s been just lovely, the weather is different from what I remember, the storms now include thunder and lightening and this one ended with a rainbow.
I have many food memories growing up. Other than the “you must eat the liver” memory (ugh – do you have one like that too?), probably the next biggest would be our pancakes. Every weekend, Dad would make us pancakes using his mother’s recipe. They were of course, delish, and would come in the shape of the letters of our names. They were so much fun to eat. And, we could make them together. There was ingredient getting, measuring, mixing, pouring, the butter and cooking. Oh, and let’s not forget the eating. YUM! Dad would pile his pancakes up high on his plate, biggest pancake on the bottom to the smallest pancake on top. He’d ever-so-carefully place a small pad of butter on top of each pancake then drizzle maple syrup over the whole stack.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had those pancakes, but lucky me has moved to Seattle and spent a weekend with the family that has kept this little recipe alive. I had forgotten how delicious they really are.
At our house we’ve been eating pancakes with the lovely mix from Trader Joes, and it’s really yummy. But I think I’m going to just make these now….
They are amazingly light (much lighter than the TJ’s mix) and just sweet enough but not sugary.
I didn’t leave the table with that “oh, that pancake just SANK to the bottom of my stomach” feeling. And now, of course, I can’t stop thinking about these pancakes! Thanks Aunt Debbie!
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