How many sea lions do you see? More than one hundred and one? Not exactly what you expect when you visit Westport Marina, “Washington’s largest fish landing port”, or is it? These lovely and talkative (eg loud) sea lions have taken up residence on Dock 7 at the Westport Marina with a vengeance! We cautiously went up really quite close and took in the free show. It was intense! They are sunbathing, cuddling, vying for space, pooping, diving in the water, swimming around and crawling out, and generally making a lot of noise. At one point we watched open-mouthed as one brave, popular or foolhardy young sea lion waddled down the length of the pier on the backs of his mates, mosh-pit-style! It was exciting to be right out there on the pier with them amidst all the action! Lake was enthralled witnessing the large sea mammals up close, as long as he could hug onto NanaBaba or me, and I was just fine with that! A perfect day, I’m glad I spent it with you!

Lake liked to go out into the water. There was a nice low tide conducive to running and testing the limits of the waters edge. He had the safety and courage of Nana to spring from for the intertidal games of hide and seek with the waves. It was a perfect day for sunset explorations at the Pacific Ocean’s wide open Westport Light State Park. I’m glad I spent it with you ~Lake, NanaBaba and Mama!

It started with a few flakes and a few tracks,

And has just kept on accumulating! It seemed like a total of about 8- 10″ had fallen at our home near Ravenna Park in Seattle by this morning. And now tonight, maybe another six more inches just came down in a flurry this evening between 4-8pm. So exciting! Michael was inspired and went out for a run in the thick of it after being at work all day. Lake and Langley and I opted out having already been for a big snowy adventure in the middle of the day. Needless to say, we’re all enjoying it to the maximum: Such beauty! Such exhilaration!

We’re ready for more! A perfect day, I’m glad I spent it with you!!!

Snooped, is how Lake calls it when Langley comes up to him pushing against him with his wet nose and big tongue and sniffing and licking, or just breathing (but big Langley face breathing). “I got snooped!”

Or, more typically as in I don’t want to get snooped! And now it’s a verb. And these days it can be wet and snowy!

And it can apply to other situations. “I don’t like that big sheep. He’s gonna snoop me!”

And then sometimes we like to play at “snooping” each other and the cats. *Big lick* I snooped you! I snooped you, Mr. Cat!

A perfectly humorous perfectly cozy perfectly human toddler day. I’m glad I spent it with you and Langley and the rest of the family getting snooped!

We’re enjoying our snowpocalypse of 2019, aka Winter Storm Maya! A total of several weeks of snow slated for Seattle with expected accumulations of 4-6 more inches tonight for a total of 8 inches thus far. Wir wirden sehen. The area almost is having a full melt-down. Winter storm warning is in effect through tomorrow at 4 pm. Today at noon at the first falling of the snowflakes there was a mass exodus from Harborview and other places of work thus achieving immediate and sustained gridlock from noon to about 3:30 pm. Lake braved the trip to Harborview with Luisa for Aloha Friday with Clarence. The surely delicious plate lunches were not so fortunate or stalwart in their travels and delivery failed to complete.

Nonetheless we had a great time. Thank you Clarence! We ate berries and watched the snow fall. Lake and Luisa elegantly took the underground Link train back to our neighborhood, avoiding the traffic mess.

We’ve managed one snowball so far and maybe a snowman is on the horizon for the snow-filled weekend! Meanwhile Lake can’t get enough of piloting his “helitopters” airplanes, and trains, usually made out of a nest of pillows and usually bound for Ketchikan with Jamma Julie or “my baby Mr. Cat”. All aboard! This storm train has left the station. Hang on and enjoy the ride! A perfect day, I’m glad I spent it with you!!!

Enjoying the sunshine and the snow! Happy Chinese New Year! Photo credits and toddler good humor credits to Luisa Jehle. A perfect day, I’m glad I spent it with you in the snowshine!

It was one of my parenting goals since well before Day 1, that my son would be a healthy appreciative eater, a real French garçon. Our au pair job description listed assiduous development of our son’s palate, “We look forward to your dedication and enthusiasm with assiduously developing Lake’s palate and sensory appreciation. By cooking and introducing different healthful foods you will be contributing to his culinary education.” It’s working out well. He’s starting to get noticed. He’s always loved apples and carrots and tofu since he was able to eat, at about 7 months old. I’m proud to report his culinary and gastronomic education continues to go well in the ensuing time interval. When queried today, “what are your favorite foods?” “Second one, I like chicken!” he replies exuberantly. “Second you like chicken? So do you have a favorite? What do you like best?” I asked. “Soup! I like soup! I like soup and chicken, Nora”

He likes all vegetables except he’s not keen on leafy greens, but loves cucumbers and he’ll try to steal them off you (asking sweetly first!)! and of course he loves carrots. He especially loves all fruits. One of his favorite traditions is a pear bath (see Peach Bath), or more specifically “cold pear bath” which involves sitting in the kitchen sink “bath tub” eating frozen pear quarters, sometimes with a glass of soy milk (always “I want big soy milk”and/or oats “milk bath” and “oats bath”.

He’s often asking at anytime of the day or night for oats and raisins and soy milk. Oatmeal is a true staple in our home. Recently I taught him how to eat olives with pits!

Of course he loves pomme frites and crisps and cakes and sweets, too. Just this morning he asked me ever so sweetly, “I have a small cookie please? A small one?” How could I say no? It was the “please” combined with the “small”, it really went straight to my heart. And of course he also wanted a “big soy milk” and directly afterwards a whole banana in the peel. He likes to hold the banana whole holding onto the bottom part in the peel. He likes to eat it that way like a grown up, getting some help halfway down to peel the peel the rest of the way back. For the most part Lake’s a good eater. He’ll sit a while and eat a bit.

Lake walked Langley with me this weekend as Michael was in California. He did a great job. One evening we passed a nice neighbor lady who paused to visit with Lake.

Hi! What a nice dog. Is this your dog? What’s your dog’s name?

Lake:

Hi, yes, Langley!

Neighbor lady:

Lay-lee? Is that a girl?

Lake:

it’s a bear!

Everyone laughs!

Lake is very sweet with all our animals including Langley. He often calls them “sweetheart” and tells them he loves them. He’s starting referring to them as “my Baby.” Missy is “my little Baby” Mr. Cat is “my Baby” and Langley is “my big baby!”, or otherwise, “it’s a bear!”

Nana’s in Morocco! It’s so thrilling. Nana’s parents went to Morocco in their 70’s as well. Mama would love to go to Morocco. Lake says he’ll come with me to Morocco. He likes to play along that he went to Morocco too! In the bathroom behind the towel, in the suitcase, or at the play cars at University Village. He’s vicariously joining in on Nana’s trip to Morocco. We all are a bit. A perfect day, thank you for sharing it with us Nana! Enjoy Morocco to the fullest!

On our drive back from Leavenworth on Highway 2, just west of Steven’s Pass we stopped for a short piggy-back adventure. It’s seemingly such a diminutive trail (0.5 miles), and it’s on such a thoroughfare, combined with the more obvious obstacle that it’s closed for the season, that it’s easy to pass right by, and thus miss Deception Falls Nature Trail. Well, on Monday, opportunity knocked and we answered. In the spirit of the power of the present moment, the wonder of each turn of toddlerhood, and the healing power of nature, we opted to stop and explore. We celebrated Rev. Martin Luther King Jr Day with an hour of quiet contemplation off the beaten track of the automobile highway. It turned out to be a very special experience We had the place to ourselves, and such an impressive bit of the Tye River where Deception Creek plunges into it. Lake and I stood in awe, as the water roared down, helpless against gravity, relentlessly booming onto the granite rock. Lake surely loved it. It’s such a dramatic scene being played out. Yet, so simple. For a child of 2 1/2, a half mile hike is plenty, really, and we technically didn’t have to drive to the trailhead, since the trailhead came to us. What a rest stop! Restful to the point of rejuvenating in a transformative sense. Highly worth the time of day.

A perfect day; a perfect day hike. I’m glad I explored Deception Falls Nature Trail with you, Lake!