Hello Dear Friends and Family!
It has been awhile since I have written up and update. I have mostly depended on facebook and I've gotten into writing in my other blog, I've greatly neglected this one.
These are some of the most recent pictures I just took of Tristan and Sequoia. I don't realize how much they have grown/changed until I take pictures of them; then, I can see how much older they look! Tristan has lost 7 teeth this year. His first 2 teeth came out last Febrauary on and just after his daddy's birthday! Sequoia really wants to lose her teeth too..often exclaiming about phantom loose teeth.. I'm in no hurry for her to catch up. It is going by so fast. We just celebrated her 5th birthday! I'm a little happy and sad about that. Tristan will soon turn 7 in May.
Reaching into the next near past adventure. We have learned how to make soap! blogged about it on other blog: http://timecapsuleeighties.blogspot.com/2010/03/soapmaking-making-tallow-coconut-oil.html (inspired by wanting to get it done for Ayyam-i-Ha gifts) We had some lamb and beef suet in the freezer just waiting to be rendered into tallow:
2. The tallow after being melted/purified3. Mixing lye, water, tallow, coconut oil, and olive oil: The basic soap
4. The milled soap. Melted, added fragrance, color, herbs, etc..and put into molds
Tristan has had a lot of fun losing teeth this year! He has a very nice 1st grade teacher and he is such a good/fluent reader! He has excelled in reading and writing. He loves to write stories.
Mom decided to seriously cut hair:
Mike and Melinda celebrated our 9 year anniversary by spending 2 nights out in Hood River at a Bed and breakfast. Grandmama helped out by taking care of the kids and the pets. We had a wonderful time resting (sleeping in) and hiking around.
Sequoia and Tristan dressed for their first days at school.
A new experience: Sleep-Overs! Their best friends Allie and Stephen have had a couple of sleep-overs at our home and vice versa. It has definitely been a win-win situation for all of us. The kids always look forward to the next time they can have a sleep-over.
Tristan and Sequoia had their first violin recital this year! We were sooo proud of them as they went up on stage and performed with courage and joy and played Twinkle Little Star! (the video is in the post previous to this one)
They love dionosaurs right now and there is a wonderful "real" T-Rex skeleton at OMSI.
This past weekend we went to see Walking With Dinosaurs (dramatic performance)at the Rose Garden. It was amazing. The Dinos were huge and lifelike
At the end of summer, I took the kids fishing and to a park south of here..some last minute exploring before the school year. We hope to go there again soon as the weather improves.
On an exciting note! Mike went to Tokoyo, Japan in October for a managers meeting. And then two weeks later he went to North Carolina to meet with a customer/client of the company. This summer, he may have another opportunity to travel to France for a conference!
Lily and Sparkle(Sparkle is now bigger than his mom) He is the one with the black nose.
Oh, and I joined a gym. My next goal is to incorporate exercise into my life! For awhile I was getting exercise taking the kiddos on walks/stroller rides/ carrying them around, etc..but now that is not happening so much.. So far I am really enjoying it. (they even have childcare included with the gym membership) Soon, I will be putting out seedlings. Some trees are already in bloom. Crocuses and daffodills are in bloom..soon the tulips. Time to work on the gardens and get ready for Spring/Summer!!! This year has passed in a fury. (We survived the swine flu season!!!)
Hope you all are staying healthy and strong too! (until the next blogging)
Much Love,
The Conways