Par-tay!

Little Miss A turned 1 last Friday. So we had a party. With cake.

Pretty Good?, originally uploaded by apkoski.

And party hats.

And burping babies with their mamas.
And new toys.
And a party dress.
Did I mention hats?

And a little fussiness. But that's just because 2 molars are coming in.But she has a good response: "Badass," it says.

Hooray!

The Girl is One.

Today is the birthday. Tomorrow is the party!

Disappear, Reappear

This week we reappear!

Been busy with this and that -
making stuff for my shop instead of Plue.


Picnic Napkins, originally uploaded by apkoski.

But making stuff for Plue also.

Most all, we're preparing for a 1-year old birthday party!

On Three..... "awwwwwwwwwwww!" I know; I am too proud.

Reminders

first photo booth, originally uploaded by apkoski.

This month...
In a public place, someone pointed out a Cheerio stuck to my thigh.

I left for the party with eyeliner on one eye only.

All the time, "Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma."

I got an awesome present today!

Same Story Different Day

Only 4 Miles To Go!, originally uploaded by apkoski.

OF COURSE, it's raining. It wouldn't feel right to run a half marathon without a nice steady rain! My first half was 3 years ago in June: rainy and cold. My second was last October: Rainy and cool. And now we're here in Eugene. Hooray!

To friends who couldn't make it, you were missed. To Paul & Adelaide, thanks for putting up with the rain, getting lost, and dragging your butts across Oregon for me.

Some fun things:

• This is the first race I've run that has bands playing throughout the course. A little Pink Floyd goes a long way.

• And fans! Oh, the crowd! It is definitely the biggest (road race) spectator group I've ever run in front of. It makes me cry.

• I passed an old guy who had Sharpeed on his race number, "#98: X marathon, #99: Eugene Marathon, #100: Maui Marathon." I was going to shake his hand but he had socks in one and food in the other.

• We got to see some of beautiful Eugene, the famous Hayward Field, and eat at Cafe Yumm. Dangit, missed Prince Pücklers.

Today we're all recovering and (I'm) reveling in self-satisfaction; napping, not exercising, drinking hot chocolate out of demitasse. Where's my Bon-Bons?!

A

Apologies to the Peets Peeps

I am writing my sincerest apology to the lovely Thursday morning relaxing child-free, lap top using, business meeting, trying to enjoy retirement, men and women of Peets on Hawthorne for my precarious dismounting and mounting of my child to and from our Ergo baby carrier. It has been over 10 months since I have reviewed said apparatus instructions of solo loading for back carrying position, and have, for the last few months, been attempting the two-person loading procedure for back carrying position, with much luck and little deftitude, by myself.

Reliving your pause in conversation, gaping stares, whipping heads, the barista rushing around the counter crying "What can I do?! Do you need help?," my quiet businesswoman neighbor attempting to lessen the awkwardness and absurdity of the potential crisis at hand offering, "I only tried carrying my kids in front," I have realized the udder wrongness of my technique. Furthermore, I have been motivated to take a refresher course in the Ergo baby Carrier single-person back loading procedures and am becoming talented and deft at the much safer maneuver.
Sorry and thank you,
The mom who likes to push her kid really high on the swing

Adendum
Adelaide has never fallen out; just seems to be a difficult and potentially dangerous way of loading her. Its just very strenuous and involves the baby being responsible for her own balance. Here's the right way, if you're interested, for the solo hip loading to back procedures.

Kids Eat...

Pears.

Dirt.
Books.

It's Here

This is what Spring looks like in our back yard.
Or is it backyard? Note the tulips. Our own little t-fest.
Paul's hops grow several inches a day. No kidding.
Doesn't that gnome have a cute hiney?

The Little Men Next Door, originally uploaded by apkoski.

All done.

Warm, Edible Love

Good Morning Muffins, originally uploaded by apkoski.

These are the muffins I made this morning. These are the muffins of which I ate 2 (TWO) this morning. These are the muffins I will make again this weekend, after I go to the store and buy another jar of marmalade. Chocolate is much better than muffins, but right now the muffins are winning.
Thank you for your evil influences, Pioneer Woman.

Anne

This Post Needs no Explanation

:: Walken by Wilco, Sky Blue Sky, 2007 ::

Nice Quiet Shoes

Nice Quiet Shoes, originally uploaded by apkoski.

There is a LOT of screeching going on around here, so for balance, here's a picture of some nice quiet shoes.

Hope you're having picnic weather too!

Easter Roundup

This Easter was a fun one, having the kiddo along and all! We didn't hide eggs or baskets, but we did have brunch with some birth class friends. It was fun to watch the babies climb over each other.

This Easter was also special because Adelaide received several cards (with cash!) and packages: books, stuffed bunnies, toys. You guys are too thoughtful!

We're also going outside a LOT nowadays. It has been pretty beautiful out.

Garden Planning

I took some time last month to measure out our front lawn and sketch up a to scale depiction of the garden space we're digging out right now (although somehow the actual garden looks like it won't fit all that stuff on the layout).

Can ya read all that scribble (Actually, if you click on the image it comes up crystal clear in a new window.) I'm going for shades of yellow, chartreuse, and orange, infused with a healthy dose of purple. I want mostly perennials and evergreens. The house is 'margarita green,' according to our lush neighbors, and the mailbox, house numbers, and planter are copper. The space gets strong afternoon sun (6-7 hrs), so I'm going for drought-tolerant plants. Any suggestions for the gap?


PS - Anybody visited the Amazon(d0t)com apparel shop yet?

Where's Adelaide? ...

Here she is!

That was fun.

Happy Easter Weekend Everybody

Clockwise from 8:00, Papa Bear, Baby Bear, Mama Bear.

Apple Blossom Clematis and new Cotinus to put in the ground.

Peeking north over our good neighbor fence at our good neighbor's Star Magnolia.

Happy Easter!

Keeping Up

Last time I posted it was March. It was raining every day. We washed the guest bed sheets twice, said an unceremonious goodbye to our old Accord, and entertained a traveling window salesman into the wee hours of a Friday night.It was a productive, fun, tiring month.

Chasing, originally uploaded by apkoski.

Then April came. The weather has been wonderful, so we've invested in some baby sunblock (the cheap stuff, not the $25 bottle. Yes, really.) and went outside. Between breaks digging dirt, rocks, and sticks out of Adelaide's mouth, we've managed to also dig out a portion of the front lawn with plans to create curb appeal. I don't think I can get it done without Mr. P's help; his forearms are animalistic.

Meanwhile, Adelaide is nearing 11 months and has recently mastered the game of Peek-a-Boo. So apologetically, we have more baby movie to share with you. Ahem.

Proof!

She moves!

Spring Manifesto

This spring I will finish washing the walls, and collect paint chips with thoughts of brighter, lighter surfaces.

This will be the spring of more walks to the store, the park, and to visit friends, rain or shine.

I will plant more food and less fluff in our garden, and use the compost responsibly, rather than let it sit unchurned for another season.

This spring I will enjoy sitting with my family on the patio and enjoy their company and all the fun of our backyard.

This spring is all about bringing the camera along.

I will offer up good company and share food with friends and visitors, and good old fashioned correspondence to those who enjoy it most.

Trouble

Troublemaker-is-my-middle-name-especially-in-the-fridge, originally uploaded by apkoski.

Ok, so she didn't open the fridge herself, but she did get the peas down and have a couple. She loves to play in there while I'm getting food out for meals. I'm sure "don't let your baby play in the fridge" isn't on the tip list at EERE.

[Indeed, "Troublemaker is my middle name."]

Speaking of cute things, check out Paul's new toy, an EEE. It's so tiny!

A Week with Grandma

We are having quite the time this week with Adelaide's Grandma Mary.My mom has been in town for 4 days, and we've already gone to the zoo, a letterboxing event, the mall, downtown to the Pearl, the plant nursery, and to a few other letterboxing locations, which are a secret and I have been told that I will be disliked by many if I squeal on those locations.

It's been busy but fun.

The letterboxing event was called the Ides Of March, and it was an experience for all of us. As the Event name suggests, it was based around the Romans and Ceasar. Sunday morning, we went to the Oracle (the host lady's house) and were dispensed wisdom (letterboxing clues) and fortified ourselves with coffee cake and coffee. Then commenced the Spoils of War (letterboxing: 4 hours to find over 20 letterboxes). We located one box and then went home to tend the baby.

The event concluded with the Roman Triumph (dinner) at DiNicola's, so we went, donning togas and our carrying letterboxing gear. We talked with other letterboxers and watched a game of Clue, Roman style play out, and traded stamps (which you can only get if you have solved a clue shared online by each letterboxer). They seemed like very nice, pretty normal people, but there was some weirdness.

In no particular order...

1. Everyone was wearing TOGAS and didn't seem to mind. Thespians, perhaps?

2. Everyone referred to themselves by their "Trail Name." So I would say, "Hi, I'm Annie Walnuts," when introduced to someone.

3. A Boxing Buddy won a prize at the prize drawing. When his name was called, the owner carried his buddy, a pocket-sized stuffed monkey, to the prize tray where the monkey proceeded to sniff out his prize, take a nap on the tray, and then jump back into his owner's pocket with the prize.

4. Serious letterboxers carry tool boxes containing a colorful array of stamp pads, markers, stamps, and other secret letterboxing stuff.

Wow, only four. That wasn't so bad.