4 posts tagged “family”
Two weekends ago (I know, I know...), Jeff's cousin Mike and his son Gabe came to visit us for the weekend. They were both a delight to have around, especially when Mike mistook a photo of Jeff for "some guy who is a cross between a rugby player and an underwear model." Mike will now always be Jeff's best friend. What did we do with our lovely house guests you ask?
We played bocce ball in the back yard.
We built marble runs. These take a lot of work, but are so fun.
Here is one creation. There were many others that had varying levels of success. This one was a winner.
Annika climbed trees. Big shock. She's in the fig tree in the yard. She has a little perch that's about halfway up. It's way more fun when there are leaves and Mommy can't find you to take your picture.
Big fun was had by all. Gunnar had a sleepover at a friend's house, so Annika had Gabe all to herself. She was one happy girl, not having to share her cousin with her big brother.
I'd blog this past weekend, but I took no photos. We had a Mardi Gras party on Sunday that was much fun. We had a crawfish boil and Annika sucked the heads. Everyone else behaved well and the food was yummy. Yay! Now I'm caught up.
Next up - crafting help!
Okay, this part of the post is primarily for Sarah, but anyone else can feel free to weigh in. Annika and I agreed on this color scheme and set of fabrics, plus one aqua blue that is not pictured, for her room. I can also add solids for some balance. I have between 1-2 yards of each one. Quilt? Large colorblocked coverlet backed in something coordinating (sort of easy faux quilt that is more at my skill level)? Denyse Schmidt style strips of color that don't have to be straight lines? I need ideas, but not complex ideas.
The girl needs to learn to love her room. I'm bribing her with pretties. Not with pink and purple unicorns and ballerinas with bows in their hair and the full set of My Little Pony type of pretties, but pretties all the same. In addition to redecorating, I'd love other suggestions for convincing her that her own room is cool and a fun place to be. Help...
A quick post tonight. It's been busy with work and knitting and cooking and kids. I'm trying to photograph along the way. Here are some recent photos.
Gunnar is mixing rainwater (yes! rain in Phoenix!) and leaves and stuff to make outdoor soup. Pumpkina also met an untimely death in this process. Farewell Pumpkina. It was nice while it lasted.
Annika has quite the fashion sense. Not sure what else to say, other than I'm glad she has limited this look to the back yard. I think she's ready for it to be swimming weather.
Yummm... We made homemade lasagne and macaroni and cheese for dinner last weekend. Lasagne for Lindsay and mac-n-cheese for Gunnar and Annika. It was lotsa home cookin' that weekend. This weekend we're making jambalaya, crawfish boil, and bread pudding with whiskey sauce for our reborn Mardi Gras party. Hurricanes will also be served. Stay tuned for the report.
I think that's it from here. I'd just like to mention that it is now 62 weeks until Jeff finishes law school. Not that I'm counting....
We're back in the swing of things in the Jackson household. Kids back in school, Jeff back in law school (halfway done!!!), me back at work setting new goals and looking forward to being done with having a job (did I mention that he's halfway done?). We went for a walk this weekend that for some reason, really kick-started that January thinking for me. Must have been the cold (45 degrees! In Phoenix!). We took photos along the way - here's some of what we saw.
All the citrus trees in the neighborhood are ripening. I'm so jealous - I think we're the only ones without one. Sniff.
This is one of the mountains near our house - the very offensively named Squaw Peak, as well as Piestewa Peak. To the north of us is North Mountain. I love the way the mountains turn pink when the sun starts to go down. The light can make Phoenix such a beautiful place.
My boy. With a very Gunnar look on his face. Kid seriously needs a haircut - must happen this weekend.
Jeff and Annika walking in front of me. It really was cold that day - Annika has a coat on and boots and everything! That never happens. Jeff, of course had to be manly and keep his shorts on. He regretted that decision.
On those January resolutions...
I'm not usually a resolution person, but this year I really do have some areas of my life where I'd like to see some growth. Well, one area in particular. This is the year that I plan to grow my photography business so that it pays the bills and is rewarding financially as well as personally. My goal is to have photography provide 1/3 of the income that we generate this year. It's a big goal, but I think it's doable with a lot of hard work and some good networking. I'd love to know what has worked for others in growing a portrait photography business. What are the best ways to get your name out there?
I think my most difficult goal for this year will be to just live in this year, in now. I've already mentally moved ahead from here to the next thing - to June 2008. To Jeff graduating and getting a job again. To Lindsay graduating and heading off to college. To not having a "real" job anymore and being able to work as much as I want at what I love. To living again in a place where I can walk to my coffee and to the store, and can go for days without driving a car. I need to remember to step back and enjoy each day as it comes. I need to do my best at work each day I'm there by being a good manager and by making good decisions. To enjoy my life in Phoenix because there is so much that is wonderful about Phoenix. I need to treasure each day that I have with my family, since this is the only year that they are 4, 8 and 16. This year will never come again and I don't want to miss it by looking ahead to next year. One way that I'm going to accomplish this is to bring my camera wherever I go so I don't miss the special moments or forget who they were this year. With photos like this one to keep me going, it's going to be a very memorable year.
We drove for our Christmas vacation from Phoenix to the San Francisco Bay area, then to Portland for a few days, up to Seattle, and then made the trek back home. 2 adults, a 16 year old, an 8 year old and a 4 (no Mom! I'm 4-1/2 now!) year old, as well as 2 large dogs made for a very packed Eurovan. While Jeff and I put on a brave face about the drive, we were secretly dreading the trip. I was so pleased and surprised that not only was it a tolerable drive, it was even enjoyable.
The kids spent a lot of time like this:
Our first stop was at Uncle Jay's house in Fremont, CA. We loved hanging out with this little guy. The kids were so happy to see their cousin.
We have always had a firm policy about spending Christmas at home. We made an exception this year for a very special person. Grandma Mavis. My grandma spent Christmas Eve with her 3 children, her 5 grandchildren, and her 5 great-grandchildren, as well as the assorted spouses. Great-grandchild number 6 was still baking in the oven, so he missed the big day (edited to clarify: my cousin Christine is the happy mommy to number 6, aka Drew, born on January 10. Not me). I was so happy to break the rules to give that gift to my grandmother and to all of us. That day is one that we'll always treasure. Here's Lindsay with her great-grandma.
Santa did manage to find us at Grandpa's house. The kids were delighted. We scratched our heads wondering how we'd get everything home.
- Unwinding every evening with Jeanne and Rob. Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! for taking all of us in.
- Seeing Sarah and the boys. Sarah gave me the yummiest handspun yarn. The kids were so delighted to see each other. It's amazing that 4 year olds will remember each other after a year and just hug and run off and play.
- Meeting Shane. Andrea and Max, you have the loveliest baby. Sorry Annika dropped him...
- Jeff & Sandi's Christmas lights. They never fail to blow our minds. Sorry no photos - I was too overcome to take them.
- Seeing the old neighborhood friends. Playing with baby Drew, drinking wine with Jeff & Eric, hanging out with Sallyn in her drywall and heat-free home. I expect some walls next time!
- A wonderful evening and meal with my mom and Papa Don
- Spending time with the rest of the Jackson clan
Paul and Terry - your marriage is a real testament to the power of being friends, loving each other, and forgiving each other day after day. You set a powerful example for the rest of us.
We went back to Portland the next day for a rousing night of Pink Martini with my dad and Donna. Carol Channing was the surprise opening act, which made the night even more amazing. She's 85 years old and still shakin' it. Thanks Dad!
Back to Fremont for a good night's sleep and an early morning start to Phoenix.
Home to sunshine and our own space. Our own beds. Whew!
Would I do it again? Yes. But not for a while.
