Icefest is our great tradition for our family to visit our friends in Leavenworth for the holiday weekend in January. Fun to play in the fluffy snow! And to sled down the big hill in town, down the street, on the sidewalk, or anywhere really was so fun! Michael was pulling Lake in the “sleigh,” and Lake was laughing so much as he was sledded over hill and dale. Vivien came with us and gave her nod of approval to the Bavarian village in the mountains. “A good idea,” she endorsed.

It was also very nice for Tolle+1 to have relaxing social reading time in their home for the weekend. Thank you Jacquie and Glen for hosting us for a cozy weekend in the snow! We look forward to coming back next year and Baby Sister will be wearing her beautifully hand knit sweater!

Lake: Can I hug baby Sister?

Mama: Yes, first let me put these sharp objects away (seam ripper and scissors). Okay there we go.

We’re all excitedly anticipating Baby Sister’s arrival. There’s so much delight in preparing the wardrobe for our new Dear. I’m a proponent of dressing children with dignity. So I have the seam ripper and the scissors handy with no qualms to remove writing and kitch and other extraneous flair. That’s right, Lake! The deconstruction has resumed.

Lake: You’re going to love these boots baby Sister! They don’t need to say John Reindeer!

The results here:

A nice classic boot! Featuring the gorgeous weaving in bamboo of Nana’s cousin Susan Thomson! Baby Sister, you are truly loved!

Vivien asked if she could alternate days with me for dressing her. I think she was wondering if she’d get a chance! Nana’s showing her excitement too… she’s been buying so many new clothes. So much pink!

I had fun making these outfits! No need to worry Baby Sister, you’ll be able to go seamlessly from birthday suit to adorable elegant outfits. A perfect day. I’m so glad I spent it with you, Lake and Baby Sister!

I am feeling so extremely blessed to share this particular birthday with my family, such as it is. It’s not a guarantee to be able to be happily pregnant at 42 and to be able to share that happiness with my toddler parents and family. Our German au pair Vivien came with us to Nanababa’s and we had a wonderfully relaxing weekend of birthday celebration.

My annual pilgrimage to the place of my birth, Westport, however was met with 96 km/hour winds, hail and humongous waves crashing over the breakwater. Needless to say, those conditions made for a brief visit to the beach, but, oh, so, exhilarating! There’s nothing like so much fresh air and direct contact with the elements to affirm being alive! Happy Birthday, Mama!

And then to wrap it up with a gorgeous sweet treat: such a beautiful cake baked with love by Nana. Our friend Shirley joined us for the party and brought her usual fun and festive attitude! A perfect (birth)day, I’m so glad I spent it with you all!

Let’s take it down on Summer. Is that when it’s called when you have to have sandals on?

Yeah?

Yeah.

Let’s take it down on Summer.

Well it isn’t quite summer, in fact it’s mid-snowstorm, but it is mid-January and so we finally took our tree down last night. It was the most beautiful tree we ever did see. Whenever I would make a mention of taking it down, Lake would plead to leave it up. Preferably until summertime. I had to agree it’s so festive and pretty. Nearly brushing the ceiling it was truly handsome and stately. The best part was the feeling it emanated and therefore it was more of a symbol of the richness created by the fabric of family. Admiring each ornament as we hung them with care and reminiscing the fond memories associated with their origins (miniature wooden clogs from my visit to Holland in 1989! Tiny reindeer skin boots from the Laplanders! A Nutcracker from the ballet! Saint Nick hauling a Christmas tree from the Newfoundland carting event! My aunt Karen’s hand crocheted lace snowflakes! Lake’s hand print! A little Christmas pillow I sewed in Girl Scouts!) as well as their continued annual enjoyment. (I remember this one from last year!)

The tree symbolizes the tradition we’re creating with Lake and our whole new (growing) family. We’re extremely blessed to have as part of the tradition Nana finding the tree at a tree farm and setting it up in situ. This year Lake helped her select the tree from the farm too! A perfect day, a perfect season, a perfect tree, I’m glad to be creating and sharing these rituals with you!

On Monday Lake woke up wide with excitement for the white world he found outside his window. He went into Vivien’s room and opened up her blind, too.

Vivien, Look! There’s 50 drops of snow!

Today he and George went sledding with his new sled Nana and Vivien got on Sunday. Just in time to enjoy the snow… all 50 drops and then some!

“Symbi is so escited for marshmallows and hot chocolate. He thinks it’s a birthday party”

Yes we’re having a nice evening.

“We’re not having a bad evening because I’m not yelling.”

T: yes, we’re having a nice evening.

“We’re having a huggy evening! Love you“

Practicing the Scandinavian art of hygge (“hooga” cozying around together) with a huggy evening!

He’s got some very cute expressions now:

To Baba at Christmas: “I just so much love you! I can’t even stop loving you!”

Then again after Christmas to Clarence: “I just so much love you! I can’t even stop loving you!”

Then regarding some chocolate nut protein food bars: “they’re so yummy. I can’t even stop loving them!”

We watched some of The Crown in our pajamas for New Years Eve (Michael very sick with something approximating the flu).

Lake: “we’re not [going to be] watching a movie with guns and stuff right?

Mama: No, we’re watching The Crown.

Lake: Because my technique is: if it’s a scary movie- I turn my head…like an owl. That’s what my technique is. If you’re scared you just turn your head away like an owl. Then you can’t see the scary part. “

A perfect evening, I’m glad I spent it with you! Happy New Year, all! Hopefully we’re all able to look this year straight on… Happy 2020… it’s going to be memorable!

Lake and I have been the George Balanchine’s Nutcracker danced by the Pacific Northwest Ballet together for three of the four years since his conception. It’s a Nutcracker tradition for us. We enjoy the sweetness of this magical experience. We like to bring Nana and sit right down in the front so we can see everything with the dancers and really get swept up into the story. This year Lake elected we ride the Link and the monorail to MaCaw Hall adding to the adventure.

The best part though comes leading up to and following the event itself. Lake delights all with the Nutcracker performances he puts on at home on the living room carpet “stage”.

A perfect holiday tradition, Lake. I’m glad I share it with you and Nana, and now Baby Sister, too! Thank you for making it so special.

I love you, Daddy! I love you, Daddy!

When I get big than you can I wear your clothes please? We can share, when I get big than you. Is that okay?

Lake references most things to “when I’m big than Daddy”

And he’s ecstatic to spend time together with Michael. Depending on our various schedules and the day of the week, different people will be the point person when Lake wakes up when his light turns green at 07:30. The other day if was a rare weekday morning where Michael was the point person. This was explained to Lake by Vivien that she would be sleeping in and her door would be closed Friday morning because she would be sleeping, and they would spend the evening together. So in the morning when his light turned green he would go to Daddy’s room. Lake’s face lit up; he could hardly believe his good fortune. He double checked with me just to make sure he’d gotten it right. He could open the door to Daddy’s room on Friday morning?!

Yes! They had a great morning!

On Sunday morning he got to crawl into bed with us when his light turned green. He asked if he could climb in between both of us. Then he was close to Michael.

I love you, Daddy! I love you, Daddy!

…and he kissed Michael’s cheek, just how Daddy likes it. So sweet!

A perfect day… I’m glad I spent it with you!

Is your Christmas Treed? Does it have all the ornaments on it? In all the right places?

Lake asked me while we decorated the tree this week.

Getting there!

So many pretty ornaments. So fun to play with. So many so fragile ornaments carrying priceless memories.

Finally our Christmas is Treed. Now we’re ready to enjoy the coziness of the season! Besides visiting with friends and family (eating pie, drinking tea…), our favorite activities are reading books while drinking hot chocolate by the fire wearing our matching pajamas and waiting for St. Nikolaus to come! Er kommt bald!

Lake and I have been spending a lot of time together lately. With Michael’s new work schedule we have eight evenings together in a row including every other weekend. Before the schedule change I was worried how it would be. I was wondering how I would manage as a single working parent for more than half the evenings. It has turned out to be challenging at moments, but a blessing in many ways. We have this incredibly special time together. He often shares with me the sweetest sentiments.

“Lovely Mama” sure melted my heart. He repeated it about four times in a row as it is occasionally his custom.

Tonight during our good night cuddle he was telling me how he loves a long cuddle and then often spontaneously: “I love you!” as well. Then he said an impromptu:

I came out happy.

I loved that now matter what he meant really. But I thought it was worth exploring. “You came out of where Happy?

The kiss!

I came in happy! I came out more happy!

Oh my!

What a lovely son.