snapshot of a view

@ the back patio of our new home on the Deschutes.  Moving day is Feb. 15th.  

snapshot of sunset

@ the bend brownstone front porch. 

edelweiss

Occasionally it occurs to me that I have neglected to record some small detail from our life at this stage with the little boys that I do want to remember forever.  One such moment just now.  For a couple of years now, it has been Matt and the boys' tradition to listen to Edelweiss on his iPhone as the last part of their routine on the nights Daddy is in charge of bedtime.  It nearly brings me to tears each time I hear them singing along.  Love.  Love.  Love.

Nostalgic?  Watch it again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXtSP8e27rA

mechanics

We have a foot of snow on the ground this morning and the wind is blowing a gale.  My boys???  Playing mechanics in the freezing garage in jammies and rain boots.  Of course!

snow walk on the Deschutes

The dream of winter is alive in Bend.  

the dreaded asthma

Oh joy.  Asthma.  After several episodes linked to viruses in the past two months and one very bad night on Sunday...a trip to urgent care was in order for Monday morning.  The result...a tentative diagnosis of asthma for Walter.  But, hey...nebulizer treatments are fun for everyone!!  Right?  Fritz has joined in solidarity and claims to need the meds too.  He does every treatment with his brother.  His hose is duct taped to the back of the machine, which he has either not noticed or doesn't care to acknowledge.  Empathy.

urgent care

4 hours in urgent care, as documented by Wally and Fritz...

 4 hours.  In one exam room the entire time without leaving.  We came without entertainment, without food, totally unprepared.  I had no idea what was in store for us.  4 hours with these two monkeys in this room!!!  Oh my.

Walter in the wheelchair.

We sit waiting our turn at Urgent Care.  The nurse comes out the door and calls for Walter.  We have to get our stuff together, so it takes a moment.  The nurse does not see us.  He calls for Walter again.  Then he goes over to an old man sitting in a wheel chair.  "Hello, Walter. (confused response from old man)  You are Walter?"  The look on his face when my 4 year old Walter finally responds.  "It's me!!"  Priceless.

Fritz skis alone!

Fritz only needed two ski days to catch up to Wally in the independent skiing world.  Here he is:

to the rink we go

family ski day

Oops!  This one is out of order.  Here we are on a fun family ski day before Christmas.  We have some fun videos of the boys skiing with Auntie Bridget, Uncle Michael and Grandaddy, but I can't seem to get them to load. 

beach life is a good life

 No longer afraid of the waves!

 These guys are strangely fascinating, but also so yucky!

 We could do this all day!  

Playing with girls in bikinis on the beach...a first.

random evidence

of alien presence in Mexico?

 of my presence in Mexico.  This is my only appearance in photos this go around!

of Mexican hilarity in the toy aisle.  

rosca de reyes

In celebration of Dia de Reyes (the end of Christmas season, three kings day, or Epiphany), we joined our Mexican compatriots in the delicious tradition of Rosca de Reyes y chocolate.  I picked the smallest size out of the enormous stacks at the Mega (they came 3 times this big), found one of the last packages on the decimated chocolate (Mexican hot cocoa) aisle and headed home to enjoy with the boys.

Fritz found both of the figurines in his pieces of pan.  Traditionally that means he is responsible for throwing a family party of tamales and mole on February 2nd; Dia de la Candelaria-Candlemass day...not being Catholic, I don't know much about that one!  But I love a tamale party!  

It is really a blessing to me to have the opportunity (through Bob and Kelley-thank you!) to share in these cultural learning experiences with my boys in a country I love so dearly.  

My favorite part is the chocolate.  Tana completely agrees.  I brought the remaining 4 bars of Mexican hot chocolate home in my suitcase.  Sneaky dog found them and ate them ALL, including the wrappers, when I wasn't looking.  

poolside picnic

Me-(sneaking up on these boys enjoying a picnic lunch)  What are they up to?

Them-"Oh.  Uh.  We were NOT smushing ants.  We promise.  Really."

Them- "See look.  We are so innocent.  Just sunbathing and doing a little downward dog yoga.  Really." 

all day, every day

This sheer joy brought to you by Grandpa Bob's pool.

feliz ano nuevo

Forever spoiled on fireworks shows by the New Years experience on the beach in Cabo.  We sit about 20 feet from the launch pad and the embers rain down around us, sizzling out in the waves.  Beautiful.