Off to the Coast

Just to let everyone know The Adventures of Mama, Mema and Mo are taken their show on the road. We are off to the Oregon coast with our families to spend the rest of this holiday break.

Be back in one week.

Happy New Year's everyone.

Christmas, 2008

This Christmas was so much fun. Mo really was looking forward to it, and had a list for Santa. She wanted a crib, a kitchen and babies. That is all she wanted and her list never changed in the past few weeks.

On Christmas Eve, we braved their 18 inches of snow and took a bus to the mall to see Santa. She was so excited to see the big guy, that she practically pushed the kid in front of her off his lap. When she got up there, she repeated her list very diligently....a crib, babies and a kitchen.



When, we woke up Christmas morning, Mo walked into the living room, and just froze. I think she just couldn't believe that all these goodies were actually HERE. Once, she got over her initial shock, the playing began. Here you can see her crib (with babies inside) and her new kitchen.

She also loved all the little things in her sticking.....the slinky was a HIT!


The one item, she received that was not on her list was a dollhouse. She loves it and has played with it nonstop.

Now, the first things the babies had to do was go "potty" when she opened everything up.

A sign of too much T.V.....

Over the past 10 days with all this snow, we have been staying inside A LOT! We have done tons of arts and crafts, played new games, cooked, and frankly, we have watched more TV than we normally do.

We were writing letters to Tinkerbell (we have a fairy mailbox, if you put a letter in it, Tinkerbell writes back)....Mo tells me what to write, and I write it....so the conversation went like this.

Mo: Write piskidsbopork.....

Me: What???

Mo: pis kids bop ork

Me: What????

Mo: PIS KIDS BOP ORK

Me: PBS Kids - dot - org?

Mo: Yesss....

On all PBS shows, the encourage people to write in to their website....and Mo has definitely taken that information and filed it into her brain. Now, everything that has writing on it says PBS Kids - dot- org......or

PIS KIDS BOP ORK

Snow Pictures

So, you guys can see why we really haven't left the house in 4 days.....


This is Mo's tricycle.....you can only see the handlebars!

Artic Blast!

So, in earlier posts, I showed pictures where we had a dusting of snow on the ground. You can see all of us treating it as if it was a major blizzard....

Well, yesterday, an actual major blizzard arrived....we had about 8 inches of snow, then freezing rain, and another 2 inches of snow tonight.....it is CRAZY out there! We went out in it earlier today, but it was really hard to navigate...poor Mo was up to her waist in some parts...drifts of snow made it hard to get out our front door.....

I will post pictures tomorrow.......

Snow Cream

Did you guys know there is such a thing as "snow cream".......an ice cream concoction made from snow.

We gathered a big bowl of snow....mixed in sugar, vanilla and milk....and it was really good!

Scout made this yummy treat for dessert tonight....good job, baby!

More snow pics...

The snow is pretty pitiful in the background....but we take what we can get here in the Pacific Northwest.

Snowy Playdate

The problem with snow days for most people is schools close down, but not businesses. Tuesday, we got an emergency phone call, our friends needed a place for their daughter for a few hours. Of course, we said "heck yes!" to a playdate. This is S. She is Mo's oldest friend. Mo spent her the first 2 years of her life with S and her Daddy when I went back to work.

The girls got along very well.....sharing...playing....espeically babies. Apparently, all the babies are sick and need to go to the doctor.


We also tried to make snowmen out of marshmallows and toothpicks. The girls had their own ideas of what to build.....they decided a garden was a better idea.



I couldn't get over how well they played for the whole 2 and half hours. It was a nice break for me from entertaining a 2 year old.

Cutting

Mo has been really into cutting paper. She has been trying off and on for about 2 months....well, practice makes perfect. At first, she would just make random cuts on the side of the paper....and end up tearing the rest......

Over the past 2 snow days, we have done a ton of arts and crafts. She has figured out how to cut! She holds her hand correctly, she can even cut on a some-what straight line.

Someone once told me that after they turn 1, time speeds up....they do everything much faster and they pick up new new skills every day. It is so true. Just when I think she is just a toddler, Mo turns around and shows me that she is turning into a preschooler....

Slow down, little lady!

Right now, she is working on snapping.

Camera Work

So this summer, Scout and I splurged and bought a really nice camera. I signed up for a class, but ended up missing it. What that means is I can take pictures....but cannot really use the camera to its full potential.

So tonight, I wanted to take a picture of our Christmas Tree.....so here was the first try...The flash automatically came on....so you couldn't see how pretty it looks all lit up.



The second try.....I monkeyed around with the settings, so the flash wouldn't come on....


The third try, I just started randomly pressing buttons on the camera.....


And finally started pressing a bunch more buttons and turning knobs.....and got this.....pretty cosmic...


I really need to take a camera class..

Winter Wonderland

It snowed today....granted.....it was not even an inch....but actual snow fell from the sky. What I love about Portland is that CITY SHUTS DOWN. There is no infrastructure to deal with this kind of weather. Already, school has been cancelled for tomorrow...and with the forecast, I wonder if I will be going to work at all. It is blustery cold, and more snow is on the way.

An early Christmas present for Mama!!!! Poor Scout may have to work in this, but so far, they are also canceling all field work for tomorrow.

Here are some pictures from our winter adventures....we couldn't stay out there long...it was COLD!

This is what Simone had to say...

Me: "Simone, catch a snowflake on your tongue."

Simone: "Yummmm.....taste like peanut butter sandwich."

More XMAS cheer

Scout and Mo put up our outside lights. We don't do a whole bunch, but we have a Norfolk Pine in our front year, and we always string it with lights. The switch to turn them on is inside the house....so we make Mo look out the front window and say this little chant....

"Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree. Won't you turn on for me."

One of us flicks the switch and she thinks it's magic!!! So much joy!!!

That damn tree is getting so big. We are going to need more lights!

Zoo Lights

Tuesday, we went as part of a big group to see the Zoo Lights. It really was pretty. Everything was lit up, and the trees looked just magical. Mo just loved running around with her friend V.

She wasn't as interested in all the lights.....She was also totally bummed that the penguins were asleep. I mean how dare they sleep when our daughter wants to see them!!!!




The actual highlight of the trip for Mo was we parked in overflow parking and took a shuttle bus to the main gates. Well, our shuttle was a big yellow, school bus. Mo had a fit! She loved being a big kid riding the "cool bus." She barely sat still for this photo....she was so excited.

XMAS Tree

In our small house, we have 2 trees....one for the grown-ups and one for Mo. We got a small fake tree last year.....and decided that Mo could have it to decorate, knock over, dress up, whatever.

Today we got the tree out.....she was busy for about 2 hours putting ornaments on, taking them off, rearranging them....she had a blast.


The holidays are so much fun with her this year. I can't wait to do our big tree this week....

I love how she holds her mouth....just right!!!!

Oregon Sky

This picture doesn't even do it justice....

Baby Obession

Mo is obsessed with babies.....it is truly all she talks about.....all she plays with. We try to get her interested in other things, but somehow she always turns it back to babies. When we build with legos, we build high chairs for her babies......

She also has to have a baby EVERYWHERE she goes.....I mean what Mama leaves her baby behind right....

Here Mo is demonstrating to her baby how to brush her teeth.

Dancing Queen

Not sure, if you can tell from the pictures....but our little Mo is quite the twirler and dancer....

Once I get my video camera......I will post actual footage of Mo's dance recitals....they are a hoot. I tried to capture it with a a regular camera......check it...

Thanksgiving

Turkey Day, 2008 was a blast......we relaxed most of the day. Went for a walk....


Then went over to our friend's house to celebrate with some other couples. It was a small gathering, but just the right amount of people, and just the right amount of REALLY GOOD FOOD. It was a great hanging out with friends that we have known for a long time....

This is Scout bringing in all of Mo's accessories!!!!


T.J. and Michele...our lovely hosts....


Jay chilling after supper...


This is O.......Mo's first friend.....he is 4, and they are finally at a good age to play together...


O's mommy, Amy.....hanging in the kitchen!!!


The kids really played well together......by the end of the night, we turned on a movie, and this photo just cracks me up....talk about tuning in, and dropping out...

Brains vs. Brawn

So, most of you know we have two dogs......we often say that one got all the brains and the other has all the brawn......now, I won't say which dog is which, but perhaps this will give you a clue....

This is Percy.


This is Cricket.



If the pictures don't do it for you.......listen to this little anecdote....

The dogs get impatient to eat in the morning. They often will come into our bedroom and try to get us up by licking our hands, trying to crawl on the bed, etc....It doesn't work, we shoo them out.

This morning, I got up to go to the bathroom, and caught Cricket up on Mo's bed, standing over her, LICKING HER FACE! Cricket realizes that once Mo is up, so is everyone else....which results in dog food in her bowl! Now that I think about it, Mo has been waking up earlier than usual lately......

Damn Cricket......

Sicko

Mo has had a stuffy nose for the past few days. Nothing major, just copious amounts of snot running down her face at all times. It never bothered her....we just kept the tissues handy....

Last night, laying in bed, the coughing started. She was just occasionally was doing it, but at around 2:00 in the morning.....she broke out in a huge coughing fit, that lasted several hours. We brought her into bed with us, and tried to prop her up and make her comfortable....

She managed to get a few hours of sleep....and woke up in a decent mood.

My poor girl.....

(I secretly love when this happens, because I have an excuse to cuddle with her in our bed......shhh, don't tell anyone)

update.....

The past 2 mornings, we have left the house and everyone had clothes on.

I feel like I won the battle......but I have no illusions......Mo is winning the war......

....or else

Lately, Mo has been stalling in getting dressed in the morning. We are on a tight schedule, and it doesn't seem to matter if I wake her up early, lay her clothes out, or anything.......she just doesn't want to put her clothes on when I need her to....I have wrestled with her......threatened..... begged....bribed......nothing seems to work.

This morning, she was running around....she had taken off her PJs, but was refusing to put clothes on. I gave her 2 warnings......and she just gave me that sly smile (you know the one).......

I picked up her stuff and her and walked out the door.....and yes, she was butt-naked!!!!

I was hoping this would shock her and make an impression.....and it did....she thought this was hysterical. She kept laughing and saying...."I naked!!!"

On the way to school......she kept saying she was cold (I didn't turn up the heat in the car)....I told her too bad she didn't have clothes on...clothes keep you warm. I also mentioned how sad it was going to be that she wouldn't get to go to the park since you have to wear clothes at the park.

When we pulled up to our daycare....I opened her door, fully expecting to have to carry my naked child in.....and Mo looks at me and says.....

"I want my clothes on." She put them on right there in the van.....saving me from that walk of shame.

Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.......

Sushi-Ville

Tonight, we tried a new sushi restaurant.......they had a salt water fish tank with all the fish from "Finding Nemo" in it......

Mo couldn't stop looking at the fish. She loved it......as she looks at the fish, she says....

"Hi, finding nemo.......you were in movie.....you in fish tank now?"

The Little Things.....

Mo : I loves you Mema.....

Mema: I love you too....

Mo: You nice...

Mema: Thank you....

Mo: You not bite me......you nice.....

Talking on the Phone

Mo loves the phone. She loves fake phones, real phones....it doesn't matter. But her favorite is to talk to people on the phone......here she is talking to Nana. She is very conversational......and sometimes, will even "show" the person on the line something by holding the phone up to it. She hasn't figured out it is a hearing only device!!!!

New Toy

Last week, our favorite babysitter, Evan came over to watch Mo for a little bit. He brought with him this book that folds out to make a dollhouse. Well, Mo can't get enough of it. She plays with it non-stop.......

Little does she know, Santa is bringing her a real doll house this Christmas!!!!

I didn't mean to.....

This is Mo's new catch phrase........."I didn't mean to.....I sorry."

She says this all the time.......

.......when she drops something
.......when she falls down
.......when she pulls all her books off her bookshelf
......when she turns her glass upside down to watch the milk spill out
......when she gives her dinner to the dogs.

"I didn't mean to......I sorry."

History has been made!

We just watched the results for the 2008 election. History was made tonight......Obama has been elected. There was part of me that was afraid to get too hopeful that the democrats could pull it off......but they did.

The previous 2 elections left me feeling empty and disenfranchised........a government based on fear, and intolerance. Especially, an intolerance for me and my family.

Now, there is a government of hope.....and that makes me pause for a second. It makes me realize that things can be different for Mo and the generation that she will grow up with.

I don't know how his presidency will go.....but for once....I believe there will be a cultural change in America. I hope it spreads like wildfire!!!!!

Only in Oregon

Last night, as we were trick-or-treating.....we went to about 10 houses. Not that many....we got the standard fun size candy bars, peanut butter cups, suckers, etc.....but a few things we got I didn't expect.....we got a fun size bag of animal crackers at...one house was giving away juice boxes....also a surprise.....

But the biggest surprise of all was the house that had apples, honey, and packets of Emergen-C. (a vitamin supplement)......Mo choose the honey stick......

Only in Oregon!

Halloween Fun!

The past week has been all Halloween, all the time. This is the first year that Mo has been really aware that this is a special event....you get to dress up AND you get candy. It is a pretty sweet deal (no pun intended). Mo was a funky witch. I made the costume....no sewing, just fabric glue......I think it turned out pretty well. It was comfy, and lasted the whole week.

We started off the festivities with the Monster March last weekend.....a parade through the Sellwood neighborhood. It was fun (crowded)....and Mo had a good time...We marched with friends of ours with their 2 kids, so it was a good time.



Then she had a party at her daycare....another opportunity to dress up and get more candy!

We carved a jack-o-lampern (her term, not mine).....I think it turned out well. We roasted seeds, and Mo really liked those.


For the actual evening of Halloween, Mo really got into knocking on doors and saying trick - or-treat....she kept saying "I tick-or-teet again." She even got so bold as to knock on a few doors by herself.

In this picture, which one looks more excited?

Overall, Halloween 08 was fun, not too crazy.....and so much fun to experience through Mo's little eyes.

Zoo Trip

Last night, we were sitting around and thought it would be great to go the zoo Saturday morning. We got up early, had breakfast and set out on our adventure.....there is no photographic evidence of the event since I thought the battery wasn't charged (it was, just not in the camera).....

Anyho.....we got to the zoo only to realize it is the annual Howl-o-ween.....a trick-or-treat and costume event. It looked like fun.....arts and crafts, activities, candy, pumpkin carving....the only problem....we didn't know about it....we had no costume...and we were about 2 hours too early. We got to watch them set up, and it was just getting started when we were ready to go.....

Poor planning on the mommies part.....maybe next year.

It was not crowded at all, so we go really good views of all the animals. We got to see the baby elephant, Sam. He is up to 485 pounds, and is super cute. The tiger was out, and so were the rhinos, and giraffe. The walrus put on quite a show and seemed to come right up to the glass to get a look at us.

A fun day!

Homework!

Tonight, Mo was coloring on the floor....very carefully, very intently. She doesn't even look up and says to us...."I do homework."

We respond: "What kind of homework are you doing?"

Mo: "Shhhhh.....I need quiet."

Ready for Vegas.....

At daycare, Mo has been watching the older kids play Go Fish....she is fascinated with this game...and she loves to 'play' with us at home. She has her own system of naming each suit of cards.....

hearts = hearts
diamonds = diamonds
spades = other hearts
clubs = flowers

Face Cards = placemats

Jokers = bikes

We do a lot of passing cards back and forth...not a lot of matches are made, but the effort is there. So a typical game would sound something like this....

Us: "Do you have any hearts?"

Mo: "Noooo, do you have any placemats?"

Pumpkin Slideshow

I have wanted to do this for a while....here is my first try....