The Party

We partied from dawn until dusk. Started the morning with a gift (new onesie) and a handful of birthday wishes. You can see the excitement written all over his face. Finley said, "Oh mom, I didn't know it was my Birthday!!!" For good reason child, it's not. I made him a short stack of banana pancakes, and then it was off to buy some helium balloons.

He spent his birthday taking long naps, making plenty of messes, and playing with his sister. He ate fistfuls of cake and was covered in blue frosting, including nose and ears by the end of the night. Thank you to everyone for all of the birthday love you sent his way. Til next year, Happy Birthday Tuck!

(Please no one remind him that he was dressed in his sisters flowered pj's on his big day)

a morning of this

an afternoon of this



and when the moon came out we celebrated like this

Number 1

happy 1st birthday darling boy

Best friends

This is "Izo" and Fin. They are best friends. And...

Best

Friends

Rock!

Tucker turns One

Since I wasn't more proactive these invitations will not arrive in your mailboxes until after his party. Which is OK seeing as how you all live so far away. This year has flown by. Happy Birthday little guy.

(click invite to enlarge)

Oh my aching back...

Chad had to work and I couldn't go treeless for one more day so I loaded up the kids, hit McD's, cranked the Christmas music and headed off in search of the Tree of My Dreams. After the 4th farm we stopped at I decided there is no such thing as the Tree of my Dreams but... The Tree of my Budget instead. Who would have guessed chopping down your own tree in the Land O' Trees could be so pricey?!?

This was the 1st farm we stopped at but the trees were all too perfect so we left.

How hard could it be to chop down a Christmas tree... on my own with the two little tykes... Well lets just say it has been 2 1/2 days and the majority of the muscles in my body are still aching.

She loved running through the forest of trees yelling, "chase me Tucka... chase me".

I can't get over (and hopefully never will) the breathtaking, rustic beauty of Oregon!!! I have friends that ask me all the time, "When is the best time of year to come up to visit?" I say any time except for maybe January-March then we'll come visit you and take a break from all the rain.

Here were some of the sites along the way.

OK back to the story. We stopped at this hidden farm owned by a really old Scandinavian couple (I'm talking really old the owner was in his late 80's, 90's...he might have even been a100). With Tuck strapped into the pack on my back we hiked down the hillside to cut our tree. Finding the Perfect Tree was a cinch here. No matter how big or small every tree was $30. We found one and I started sawing away. I kept sawing, and sawing, and sweating, and sawing. After about 10 minutes I took Tuck off my back and wedged the pack into the muddy slope and called Chad. Completely out of breath I complained, "Why did I have to get this tree today, without you, I can't cut this, it's too hard, how did the pioneers do this, I need help....." .

Ten more minutes of sawing, kicking, pushing and a loud and large Crack Crack, Crack up the middle of the tree trunk the noble was on its side. I heard a, "good job mommy" from my little 3 ft cheerleader. Now I just had to drag the once 10 ft. now 8 1/2 foot tree and 2 toddlers back up the hillside and hoist (with the help of an ancient little Scandinavian) this awkward and incredibly sticky tree onto the top of our Cruiser. Note to self: Fun tradition, but next year don't leave home without Chad.

Luckily the farm owner hooked up his tractor and came to my rescue.
We loaded it into the back and he hauled us to the barn.

***Finishing touches***

Our little girl gets carsick. As we pulled into the driveway she groaned and then lost "it" all over her car seat.

Blue eyes

This morning I took photos of these handsome fellas. Could they get any cuter! We bribed them with Swedish fish and only had about a 10 minute window of "happy time" but I think we got some really great shots! Thanks for the fun boys, those blue eyes were a great way to spend a gray winter morning.

Anyone else interested in a mini-shoot for their kids. Photos make great gifts for grandparents!!! I'm super cheap... $50 or a night of babysitting (is sufficient payment) which ever fits your budget, email me at amycannon{at}gmail{dot}com

Happy Thanksgiving

Melodie Beattie: "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."

Our morning was spent sipping mulled cider and devouring fresh baked orange rolls while watching the Macy's parade. My girlie and I made cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, maple glazed sweet potatoes and Italian stuffing. She helped to set the table and made oreo turkeys with her dad. Then 4:00 o'clock rolled around.


The truth is by the time we sat down to eat nothing tasted quite as good as I had hoped. The kids were hyper. They hadn't taken their afternoon naps. Chad returned from his aunts later than I had expected, which was ok, but the food I had spent the day preparing sat "warming" in the oven for 2 hours.

This Thanksgiving we were invited to feast with Chads aunt and uncle who live nearby.
Unfortunately we had a house full of sickness and were not all able to celebrate with them.
Chad went and and brought us home some delicious turkey and ham.

I was exhausted by the end of the meal and ready for the day of thanks to be over. Before we took the kids up for bed we sat at the table to blow out the "birthday" candles. Fin sat on my lap and as I listened to the things she was thankful for I felt such an overwhelming love for her. Some days and nights she gives me a real run for my money. But last night in the midle of all of her random "thankens"(like blowing, strawberries, & bubbles, to name a few) I thought to myself, "I am so thankful for you".

This weekened

Today is misty and gray. A heavy fog is settling through the trees. Sounds like the perfect day to catch a flick about a vampire family who lives in the forested Northwest.

Today reminds me of Hill and our adventures last month.

While she was here (she happens to be a HUGE Twilight fan) we traveled to a small town in Washington called Kalama. After touring her dream house/farm in the hills overlooking the river, we drove around the high school parking lot where they filmed some of the scenes in Twilight. We grabbed some lunch and walked down main street in the rain. Before leaving for home we perused a quaint antique shop were my girl made it a point to touch each and every item we passed no matter how old and pricey it was. It was a great day.

Frugal Friday

How do you know when your food has gone bad!

click here

Giving {more} Thanks

She asked me last night if she could blow out the happy birthday cake.

This month I have witnessed an amazing amount of sensitivity develop in this little being. She can sense if I am sad worried frustrated or happy without me saying a word. If I'm sad she will go and get me a "blanklie" (blanket) and tell me, "You need a mommy." If I'm worried she will stroke my hair and quietly tell me, "Don't worry, OK." If I'm happy she is too, saying, "I so happy mom, I really happy too." She loves to whisper "I Love You" into my ear. Frequently she asks for her Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, and Grandparents (especially when she is sad, or hurt). Sometimes she'll ask me, "Mom, I sad, I want to cry." I'll say OK and she will cue the fake tears. Her favorite part of bedtime are the butterfly kisses she gets from her dad and climbing into her brothers crib and sleeping side by side with him under his covers. I love the little person she is becoming. So grateful she is mine.

Giving Thanks

We have a tradition at our house of eating dinner by candle light during the month of November. I love it because it helps fade out all the distractions of a messy kitchen and instead illuminates the only things that really matter, good grub, my fella, girlie and little tank. Sometime during the course of the meal we mention some of the things that we were grateful for. Man does our girl love this tradition. She gets so excited for dinner. She has helped prepare every meal this month, sets the table each night, eats all of her dinner, gives thanks, and then comes the best part...blowing out the candles. The other night she said she was "granken" grateful for chickens (our candlestick holders are bronze turkey's). I love the little things that have brought happiness into our lives this month.

These are a few of the things that Finley is grateful for. Where am I?!

The 10th of November

me mom rocky

Happy Birthday to my dearest friend and brother Rockford Jay. I love you.

"Happy Birthday Cake"- Finley

Our past

Just finished watching this. Loved it. Made me want to get smarter.

Seriously. The manner in which people spoke to one another, their written correspondence, the way they conducted themselves in public and in private, how refined and almost poetic at times. I told Chad that I wanted him to hand write me a weekly letter. I made him read me entry after wikipedia entry about our founding fathers. I think that we are missing out on the beauty and insight that a written letter reveals.

Frugal Friday: Necessity

I hate eating leftovers. Instead of fixing it when it's broken or wearing something out, I like to buy things new. Doing without is an exception to the rule and unfortunately not the rule I follow. Time has come to reinvent my way of living. Becoming a bi-product of my spending habits is starting to haunt me. I want to live more providently.

Farm Security Administration: Destitute pea pickers in California.
Mother of seven children. (Circa February 1936)

Money or lack of it has been a hot topic throughout history. On Saturday I read in Newsweek about Depression 2.0 and the state of our nation. I have listened to talks given by Church leaders about the need to live within our means. I pass by billboards along the freeway and hear slogans like "Act your wage" and "If in debt the only reason you should be going to a restaurant is if you are going there to work." (thank you Dave Ramsey)

Talking to a wise old owl this afternoon I was encouraged to create something worthwhile out of our situation. So here it is, as the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention". This site (click here) will document my journey as I become
A Mother of Invention out of desire to better my financial future. I will be posting all of the advise and creative ideas that I come across, (perhaps even an invention or two of my own) as I organize my life. I'd love to read about your successes and of things you've tried in order to save a dime or help you live within your means. You can email me at: amotherofinvention{at}gmail{dot}com or post a comment on the blog. With your permission I will publish your tips so that we can all benefit.

Peek in on my progress and see how it goes. The added pressure of you watching will spur me on. So let the good times roll.

**Side note. Don't start sending us cans of powdered milk. We are not destitute or bankrupt yet!**

Giving Thanks

I am thankful.
thankful for last nights uninterrupted sleep
thankful for play dates and happy children today, yesterday was another story
thankful for the rain...oh the rain (ask me next month)
thankful for the decrease in the price of gas (our car only gets 11 miles to the gallon)
thankful for this life-


Marilyn Thomsen : And while it takes courage to achieve greatness, it takes more courage to find fulfillment in being ordinary. For the joys that last have little relationship to achievement, to standing one step higher on the victory platform. What is the adventure in being ordinary? It is daring to love just for the pleasure of giving it away. It is venturing to give new life and to nurture it to maturity. It is working hard for the pure joy of being tired at the end of the day. It is caring and sharing and giving and loving…

President Elect

BARACK OBAMA

44th President of the United States

VOTE

enjoying my freedom

today is the day

Trick or Treat

So far I am loving the holidays with a kid just old enough to understand that Halloween is one of the greatest nights in "kid life". She laughed and skipped to and from each house. Hauling an overflowing bag of goodies. Once she got the hang of the routine this is how it would go;

Bing bong

Fin: "Trick or treat, hurry!" (As if to say, lets get this show on the road. Load me up. I've got more houses to hit before the night is over. Once she snagged some loot she would take off skipping and laughing to the next door and occasionally yell back a "thank you" or "Happy Halloween" as she left.)

Other favorites from the night;

While still at the door: "Ahhhhh mom, that monster scareded me, dAAAAAAaaaaaaaaad!" (in reference to a bald gentleman who answered the door, not in costume)

Chad: "Fin, you're working really hard." (He said as she strained to heave her candy-filled bag over her shoulder like a purse.)
Fin: "No dad, I working candy!"

"No Tuck, NO! It's my candy... IT'S MINE!"

On Saturday, the day after Halloween Fin and I went out for a walk in the rain. When we were headed home we approached a "grandma" in a dark pancho headed toward us.

Fin: "AHHHHH mom a WITCH, mom lookout a WITCH!!!"
Me: "Shoosh Fin, be quiet!" (as the woman nears)
Fin: "No mom lookout, a WITCH!!!"
Me: (As we meet the woman) "I'm so sorry..."
Witch: "That's OK I've been called worse."

trick-or-treating

ward trunk-or-treat
she was so excited to show her friend "Izo" (the bunny) her costume