This guy? Is a ham. Like ham sandwich hammy. I think he’s learning how cute he is and is thinking it will get him out of trouble – and he’s probably right.
Take for instance his impromptu photo shoot on Easter:
Ham
Hammier
Cousins? Just a good excuse for some hamminess
Maybe he gets it from these knuckleheads…
Trying to get the three of them to A. Look B. Smile and C. Do them at the same time just doesn’t happen!
Some people take their hunts seriously….very seriously
Others…not so seriously
Good thing there’s a Grandma to help!
Such a pretty day
Except if you’re me, then you won’t be doing any smelling. At all. And if you’re not smelling, you’re not tasting either. For almost a week, my sinuses have been staging some kind of revolt (again) and my combination of nasal sprays and rinses has rendered me smell-less. Which, as Peter pointed out, isn’t really such a bad thing around our house will all the poopy diapers, stinky feet and smelly dogs.
But not being able to enjoy food is annoying. You don’t realize how unsatisfying meals are if you can’t taste it – good or bad, hot or mild, sweet or sour. I decided I would turn this time into a super healthy few days because the food I wanted to eat didn’t satisfy so I might as well load up on lean protien and veggies.
The part I hate the most is the lack of connection to what’s around me. They say that scent is the strongest sense tied to memory – but I think it’s also one of the strongest just living life. I love the smell of Auggie’s head. Of Baylor’s cheeks. Of those stinky feet. I like dog breath (much as it pains me to say) and the smell of Peter’s shirts. There is a very strange feeling of disconnection from everything happening.
Yesterday morning was our “quiet day” meaning we didn’t have school, tball, swim or really any other plans for the day. So I whipped up pancakes. I realized half way through their cooking that I was getting the faintest scent of golden cakes crisping on the griddle. It smelled amazing. Sadly it was gone as soon as it came, but for a minute, I got to enjoy those pancakes!
I’m being patient that whatever is gripping my head will go away soon and that my sense of smell will be back in full “what is that smell??” swing soon. It’s coming back slooowly and I’m sure I will be longing for the days missing out on the daily scents around here.
During a rare weekday breakfast date at Orange Table, PW and I spotted a picture of Camelback Mountain hanging on the wall. I realized it was the same artist that had just had an installation in the Belle Tower. A quick email to the artist later, we were arranging when he could drop off the print to us.
Much to my and the artist’s surprise – we knew each other! Auggie and his twin boys have been swimming together for the last few months. Phoenix is still a small town after all.
After looking at our beautiful new picture for a few days, we decided that we couldn’t pass up the other two prints of Papago Mountain and of Piestewa (Squaw) Peak. Jake is working on a print of South Mountain and we’ll add that to the set later this summer. I love that we’re going to have the #2 prints of each of these limited editions. Our art collection may be small, but it’s beginning to build with some really amazing pieces – almost all by local artists we have met!
Check out (and pick up!) Jake’s work at www.jakeearlyart.com
Here’s a look at our new pieces:
A friend once told me that successful people do 5 things before 8am. If my kids are up every 2-3 hours at night requiring water, clothing changes (vomit), bedding changes (you don’t want to know…), rocked back to sleep, patted back to sleep, tucked in – that is way more than 5 things we’re doing before 8am. And the fact that this pattern has been happening the last 5 nights that should make us really successful. The question is what we are successful at. At being sleep deprived? At being crabby? At being zombies? PW and I have yet to determine….
I think every mom hid some attention getting, melt down averting, stomach rumble stopping tricks in her bag. I certainly do. Which means I carry a bag that would make a sherpa strain to lift and looks like this when you peak inside:
Peanut butter Ritz Bitz? Check.
Tissues? Check
Face and antibacterial wipes? Check.
Other forms of disinfection? Check.
Suckers? Check.
Diapers, wipes, rash cream? Check. Check. Check.
Dinosaurs? Check.
It should be noted that the only things in this bag that are mine are the wallet and sunglasses case.
This past Saturday marked our second run as part of Team Olivia in the Children’s Cancer Network’s Run to Fight Children’s Cancer. I’m always excited to sign up, but the morning of the run Peter and I say to each other at least three times “let’s not do this next year” as we try to wake, feed, dress and load the kids by 6am along with their snacks, waters, joggers, sweatshirt and contingency gear.
But once we get there, we realize why we go. After the run, there is a survivor walk. As we followed our friends, the B family, I realized how amazing it must feel to know that just a few years ago, they were pulling sweet Olivia in a wagon because she was too weak to make the quarter mile walk. And this year, she was the horn blower to start the walk and then ran the entire track.
It’s hard not to get teary as you walk and realize how amazingly lucky and blessed we are to have two healthy kiddos. And for those that aren’t healthy, it’s worth the effort to run for them.
Team Wand ran the 5k in 33 minutes trading off pushing a 100 lbs jogger. Not to shabby. BTW, check out how much this team has grown since last year!
B got in on the running action
Post run celebration
Auggie was slightly less enthused about the whole thing. We also learned he is terrified of mascots. The Sun’s Gorilla, Howler the Coyote and the Grand Canyon University Antelope all scared the bejesus out of him. Note to self.
Buddies ready to take on the obstical course
There was tons of media coverage – I love how easy the Team Olivia shirts are to see! Check out the honoree herself getting caped up for the survivor walk.
On a warm Saturday morning, I had one of those fabulous “this is so much fun” parenting moments.
I was standing on a baseball field in the hot sun, watching friends pull into parking spaces. Each of them had the windows down and the Frozen soundtrack turned up. Little hands reached out of windows waving. Little hands waved back from the field. Suddenly the bleacher bench was filled with smiling faces and little legs clad in baseball pants. There were matching pink helmets, pink bat bags, pink and black gloves. Water bottles were compared and shared. Dads shook hands, took roll and divided into groups. And we were off! T-ball season has begun! And I think we’re off on the road of many years of practices, games, heartbreak and fun. Bring it on, we’re ready.
Do you love these guys?!
Thank you Diamondbacks for the great uniforms! Yea White Diamondbacks! (slight issue when you donate the uniforms to the entire league an every team is the same mascot…hopefully there will be enough colors to make it less confusing….)
This guy? Is having the time of his life. And thank goodness, because the other dads are terrified of taking the girls from the team. There was honest panic in their voices when he was in Montana. Herding cats would be far, far easier.
This guy kills me. His only goal during practice is to get on the field. He generally settles for sitting on the bench. I can’t take the cuteness.
Yelling at Cheering on his sister
When you’re 17 months, it’ all the same.
When we did get out in February, we had a great time. Here’s what we’ve been up to:
We saw the Pony Express ride into town. These gentlemen ride from Prescott to Scottsdale and deliver letters from a school there to a school here. It’s neat to see the tradition live on. And hilarious to see traffic stopped for 40 horses.
Getting out as far as she could without actually being in the street
Pop and Auggie getting very excited
And here they come!
Next was the Waste Management Open. I vowed long ago that I would not go back until I could be up in a sky box and away from the drunken masses. Thankfully for me, one of Peter’s clients got sick so I got to go on Sunday morning!
Auggie got a new tooth. And everyone knows about it because he looked like this for pretty much the entire month. He’s crying in this picture because I wouldn’t let him play with the straightener.
We waited patiently to see Peter in the Parada Del Sol. Sadly, the Scottsdale 20/30 Men were “excused” from the parade. I’ve heard various excuses and explaination. I buy none of them.
Baylor made me an amazing bracelet for Valentine’s Day. She put two B’s – one for her and one for me.
And the absolute most fun part of February – Baylor started t-ball! We have been having such a good time – can’t wait for some actual games. And thanks to the Diamondbacks for the awesome uniforms! The fact that every team in the league are the Diamondbacks is a touch confusing…but making them different colors helps!
Go Red Diamondbacks!
It’s a little tough to know who likes t-ball more – Peter or Bay. And God love him, he’s the only dad brave enough to coach the girls from the team and make them behave!
The Goon Room 