Spending the Night at the Farm

Gabby spent the night at The Farm last night with the 'farm grandma and farm grandpa' (Kathy and Rich) She had fun but I think Nick really missed her. In the middle of dinner Nick said to Chad and I, "I wonder what Gabby's doing right now..." later he said "I wish Gabby was home." Poor little guy was scared to sleep upstairs without her...so Chad got Gabby's bed and Nick and I stayed in Chad's and my room.

While we waited for Rich and Kathy to pick Gabby up, we got a little bit of fresh air outside. We're all very ready for warm weather and more fresh air! The kids had fun with their scooters and the hula hoop.

As you can tell, it's a lot easier to get a shot of Gabby than Nick. Nick just moves too much and too quickly! He did 'pose' for me while hanging from one of the trees that lines the sidewalk...

Today was Nick's turn to go to The Farm. Gabby seems better without him than he was without her...but then she's always liked to sit and play quietly with her princesses and horsies and such. Nick and I went for coffee this morning...maybe Gabby and I will do the same tomorrow morning...just the two of us.

I took this cute picture of Nick while he was waiting for grandma and grandpa to come and get him in their new blue pickup. I just love his little smirk.

Just a Spoonful of Sugar

I found a new spot for photos in the house yesterday...and took a few pictures of Gabby, looking very Mary Poppins-ish in a cute vintage hat. She was soon tired of taking photos and told me so in no uncertain terms. Nick happened to wander in about then and asked "Mommy, would you like to take a picture of me?" Thrilled with the prospect of a willing subject I said "Yes! I'd love to!" The kids switched places and Nick started posing away. Gabby left the room for a bit and then came back to tell us in her most pitiful sad voice, "I'm feeling left out."

There are days when I just can't win!

Here is my little Mary Poppins...maybe a spoonful of sugar would have helped today!

And here is Nicholas in photo mode. He often has to run off just before I snap a photo to check his expression in a mirror and make sure it's what he wants!

Nick even posed his blankie for me! This is what I call "blankie on a stick"

We also enjoyed a little visit with our friends Suzanne and little Ryan yesterday. They are finally moving back to Spokane after living in Pheonix way too long! Once they are all moved back, I'll have to offer to babysit this little cutie once in a while just so I can snap his photo all day. I love these blue eyes! This is the only shot I got that was even almost in focus...I think I was too close to him (I forgot how toddlers are always walking toward the camera!)

Hotels and Hiking

I haven't posted in a while...I had a difficult couple of weeks, which I may write about later, when I'm feeling up to it. We've been keeping busy, though! The kids and I went to Yakima with Chad last week. He had some work there so we tagged along to get away for a couple of days. We hung out in the hotel, watched cable, swam in the pool, lounged in the hot tub and ate from those cute little hotel boxes of cereal in the morning. Nick woke me up before 7 am asking, "Is it time to go downstairs and get some of those rainbow cheerios yet?" (fruit loops, something we never have at home!) On the way home, we stopped in the Tri-Cities and had dinner with my friend Kristi and her wonderful family. Gabby had a fabulous time playing with her girls.

Here are my little hotel t.v. zombies...

We spent most of Saturday being lazy and catching up on rest and relaxation. (As nice as it is to get away sometimes, it never seems to be as relaxing as you think it will)

Sunday, we all went on a little hike. The kids love getting out and hiking and exploring in the great outdoors...and I like tagging along and photographing them.

After the hike, we stopped at Alvin's to get our canoe. He's been storing it in his garage but now that he has a wife, he needs more parking space! We took the canoe to The Farm, stopping along the way for take n bake pizza.

Here's Nick's kissy face in the car, waiting for Daddy to get the pizza.

And Gabby at the farm with the new Farm kitty, Black as Night.

My Brown Eyed Boy

Yesterday, Gabby once again told me she'd pose for photos if I gave her a dum dum lollipop. She let me take ONE grumpy photo and then she was finished. She needed to 'rest' so she curled up in bed (and later ended up resting in the family room for the remainder of the day). I think she really was tired...turns out she was up a lot during the night

(I slept through it but Chad was up with her)

So, Nicholas said HE would pose for a dum dum lollipop! I love taking photos of both of them, but when practicing something technical on the camera, she is usually easier because she STAYS in focus. Nick moves closer and further from me, from side to side, jumps around. I swear, this boy has SPRINGS on the soles of his feet. Lately, too, he just doesn't want his photo taken. He is a kick, though, and comes up with the most hilarious little things to say or do. He likes to rhyme words (he calls chad ChadWICK the HICup) and he loves phrases like stinky stinkster, mommy momster, etc. He's also terribly creative. Give him a few pieces of cardboard, string, a stapler, crayons and other odds and ends and he'll make something fabulously imaginative. He's been making lots of books lately too. He even makes little bindings for them. Smart kid.

I love this photo..it's like he has a big thought bubble over his head, filled with all his imaginings.

Gabby did let me take a couple photos later...but as you can see, she still wasn't in much of a photo mood. She's still a pretty little muse though!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

That little phrase perfectly described Gabby yesterday. She was cheerful, happy, sweet and sassy. She posed for photos for me in return for a dum-dum lollipop. It was a fun photo shoot, full of smiles and giggles and funny little Gabbyisms.