Wednesday, March 31, 2010

In preparation for our separation

Man, it's been a busy week. Not only did I manage to post yesterday, but we've also been running around getting ready for Good Friday and Easter at church and Seth's next deployment (dates to remain secret until after the fact). Our friend Michele is moving to a house with a fenced yard and a better landlord. And of course we have a two year old who continues to grow and require adjustments. We're recovering from colds, starting spring sprucing and a little bit of gardening, and doing massive home improvements. This is Boogaloo trying to fasten her own shoe while I pull weeds in our kitchen garden.
This is me having fun with my scant knowledge of the principles of photography.

By far our biggest news is that we have new siding on our house. Our house is no longer mint-chocolate chip. It is now Harbor Blue with Cape Cod Gray trim. We still have a few ends to patch up, like the porch cover, the shed, and the gutters, but I can do most of that on my own. All the browns will be covered over eventually, the cement patched back up, and the pictures rehung on the walls. We also got new lamps for the two porches which Seth is installing as I type. We are thrilled with the result. It cost a bit more than we were expecting, but at the same time, it cost a whole lot less than it could have. And it adds a bit more color to an otherwise white and gray neighborhood.

In smaller terms, Boogaloo moved from her crib to her big girl bed today. We ordered the bed weeks ago, and it finally arrived today. I was expecting a little trepidation, but she was excited from the moment we started pulling pieces out of the box. She's taking a nap on her new bed right now. She loves the sheets. She loves the drawers. She especially loves the fact that she can slide right out of it. However, we are going to have to get her a little step-stool because she can't climb back in.

Also in preparation for his leaving, Seth and I kinda went out on a limb and got tattooes. Nothing extravagant. They don't even match. I got a small bird on my back right between my hips, and Seth got a cursive J (for me :) )with a mermaid curled around it on his left shoulder. I designed it myself. At the moment, blogger won't let me upload the pictures. ("Internet Explorer cannot display this website."), and Seth won't let me post his anyway, but I will put mine up as soon as the Internet cooperates.
There it is. Isn't it pretty? I just love the color. I can't wait until I can take the bandage off for good. It keeps catching the waistband of my jeans, and it's driving me crazy. I chose the bird firstly because it was beautiful. Then there are connections with the Holy Spirit and birds flying home to nest (would that it were so). A bird can carry my heart to him and his heart to me when the long lengths of sea lay between us.

I've always worried that I would regret getting a tattoo, especially one that didn't have mega-mundo meaning, but it's not like I thought it was. This is private enough. Seth is the only one who's is going to see it on a regular basis. It has enough symbolism that I can appreciate it for a long time, it's tame enough that I won't be embarrassed by it in front of my kids in twenty years, and it's not something I'm going to regret later. In short, I kinda like it.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Boogaloo turns 2.

Well, our favorite angel turned two this past month. Funny the difference a year can make. Whereas last year, she was awkward and astonished and didn't really know what was going on at her own birthday party, this year she really understood that it was all about her. She was a little shaky on the cake. Daddy had to blow out the candles, of course, but she knew that it was cake, and cake is good. And I think she enjoyed the process. The weekend after her birthday, my parents came over, and we all went to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Boogaloo loved every minute of it. For starters, we had more cake. It was also a gorgeous day, one of the first nice days we've had all year. She got to pick out her own clothes, she got to ride in the car, and she got to see "manmals." Point Defiance Zoo and Acquarium isn't a big zoo. It's in Tacoma, which is a city of average size but isn't the population center, that being Seattle. The zoo and acquarium are part of a private park belonging to the city, and so they make up in uniqueness and beauty what they lack in size. This is the view from the entrance. The PDZA has been part of several reclamation projects like the red wolf and the Asian elephant. It has walruses, sharks, a tiger, sea otters and river otters, injured birds, Asian creatures, elephants, seals, native fish, exotic fish, ugly fish, and just about every variety of sea horses imaginable. This is our friend, the tiger.

This is Annika and myself in the kids' exhibit looking at the snakes. This is Annika refusing to pose for the camera. "Annika, look at the camera. Look at mommy."

This is Boogaloo finally consenting to look at something, in this case, meerkats. Sea ottersBoogaloo and daddy looking at the monkey. Boogaloo and mommy looking at the fish. "Sharfs and sishies"After we got home from the zoo, Boogaloo opened her presents from mommy and daddy and grandpa and grandma. Last year, we had to open her presents for her. This year, she knew those presents were hers. She jumped right into them. And much to mommy's delight, she liked them. Look at that expression. She promptly christened the dog "Max." Then we all went out for dinner and a happy end to the day. Boy, can't you tell she's in charge.

Tired of being at the mercy of the constitution of my drying rack.

Yesterday was officially the first day of spring, because yesterday was the first day that we had enough sunshine to justify putting a load of laundry on the clothesline. It was only 40 degrees F at 10 am when I put the clothes out, but it was nearly 60 when they were dry by the end of the afternoon. That is the epitome of a bright spring day in Washington. (The epitome of a dark spring day is when I look out the window and see blurred images through a sheet of sideways water flowing down.)

So the Boo and I got some outdoor time, the crazy glue on my ricky-racky got some time to set, the dryer only had to dry two loads, the environment (and my gas bill) got a bit of a break, and my neighbors were treated to the nostalgic sight of sheets and baby clothes waving in the wind. It was a really pleasant day. Boogaloo is discovering that she likes being outside, especially if we bring the bubbles outside with us. We don't actually have to blow bubbles, but the bubble container must come outside with us. She has a new soccer ball, and she has rigged leashes around the necks of her two stuffed dogs so they can follow her wherever she goes. She even helps me pick up the dog-do. (Don't ask.)

Getting outside yesterday felt especially good because the Boo and I have both been trapped at home with monstrous head colds. Apart from the stuff coming out of her nose, she doesn't seem to feel it, but boy do I! Fatigue, sinus headache, sore throat, everything from the collar bone upward. Why do I have to be under the weather when the weather is so nice?