What a helper

OK so the subject of what a unique and rare child my sweet Olivia is is getting kind of old but...She is! This weekend was Memorial Day and since we didn't have any plans we cleaned the house. Usually when I say we I mean me but this time she helped. How amazing, how can that be you say to me the squinty eyes looking for wholes in my parental brag? I promise I am telling you the truth.
I was on my hands and knees with a swifter carrying out genocide on the dust bunnies and fishing for stray pacifiers and cat toys; when along came Olivia with the long handled fish net (icky thing used to scoop dead fish out of the tank) and she got down on her hands and knees along side of me and started clean the floor with it. So taking my wise mothers advice I jumped up, grabbed, extra swifter cloth and clipped it over the net and off to work she went. She got around the base of the couch and chairs and under the shelves by the door she was a cleaning machine. I'm not sure where those genes come from perhaps they are from me some long repressed urge to keep a spotless house. In any case I won't be outdone by my 16 month old.

When it got too hot it was time for the pool. Life in the park is very good. 

Olivia shared the fun with Jessica. 

Olivia saw a turtle laying eggs in Jessica's garden. 

Olivia learned how to smell the flowers. Then she learned how to paint mommy with poppy pollen. 

We had fun playing in the garden. Olivia thought she found another worm, but alas there were none. 

Over the desert and through the canyons, to Jessica's house we went.

Olivia and I had a great time this weekend getting lots of sun and fresh air at Jessica's house. The park was in full bloom. It was a nice place to spend a hot weekend. Olivia got to do lots of new things and see new things too. Here are a few pictures of all the fun stuff we did. Thank you Aunt Jessi for a really fun weekend!

A girls best friends

Remember the song that taught us all the diamonds are a girls best friends? Well Olivia has a revision to make she would say that worms and dirt are a girls best friends. This week I got up the energy to plant a few pots of colorful flowers for my front porch and Olivia was right there to help. She dove (literally) right in and was more than happy to "help" me put the dirt into the pots and into her hair and into my pockets and also dip her pacifier; which was given to her to keep her from eating dirt; into the dirt. All of this was done with a huge grin and a barrage of approving and happy babble interspersed with one or two intelligible words. Thankfully I intervened before she had a chance to taste the fat little worm she found in one of the pots from Jessica. It was found with a squeal of delight and amazement, “surely this will taste as good as it looks” she thought to herself, right before I shouted, “YUCKY!”, from somewhere deep down inside of me that told me I actually knew what a worm would taste like. All and all it was a successful planting and the porch is now awash in vibrant summer colors and I don’t feel so guilty for having the dead bodies of the plants from last year strewn about around the front door, not a very welcoming welcome.
(pictures to follow)

here she is so cute  

Check out the Decemberists

Well some of you may already know who this group is. I just found this today and thought it was cool enough to pass on to you. I hope you enjoy.

Play it now with your RealPlayer: http://switchboard.real.com/player/email.html?PV=6.0.12&&title=20050506%5Fasc%5Fdecemberists%26mediaType%3DRM&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fdmg%2Fdmg.php%3FmediaURL%3D%2Fasc%2Flive%2F20050506%5Fasc%5Fdecemberists%26mediaType%3DRM
Note: This content may require the latest RealPlayer, which is not available on Windows 95, Mac OS9 or Linux systems.

Olivia and the apple tree 

Is there anything sweeter?

Perhaps it's just me but I think that there is nothing on earth sweeter than the little elf with sparkling eyes looking up at me from the green bathtub water. In a sing song voice filled with delight she called out to me "M--o--m--m--y". My silly little elf was beckoning me closer to the tub; the closer I got the bigger the grin got, with a shout of glee that she had gotten me into her trap the splashing began. The ordinary bath tub turned in to a wild churning green sea tossing the toy boat and drowning its poor plastic captain. The sweet little elf turned into a horrible giggling sea monster tossing its elated limbs in every direction. It was too late for me to escape the torrent of laughter and tub water raining down from what seemed like every direction.

So you think you're crunchy? Well how crunchy are you?

1. Do you have homebirths?

15 points for "yes" (unassisted)
10 points for "yes" (with a midwife in attendance)
5 points for alternative birthing center
2 points for "thinking about/would like homebirth"
0 for "no" (wouldn't consider it)

2. Will you circumcise future sons?

5 points for "no"
-5 points for "yes".

3. Do you use cloth diapers?

20 point if you do Elimination Communication (nodiapers)
15 points if "yes" (wash and make your own)
10 points if "yes" (wash your own)
5 points if "yes" (diaper service)
2 points if "thinking about it"
0 points if "no" (wouldn't consider it).

4. Do you observe your fertility signals usingNatural FamilyPlanning/Fertility Awareness and use that for birthcontrol/trying toconceive?

10 points for "yes" (observe and use for birthcontrol/ttc) or you useecological breastfeeding/lactational amnorrhea
5 points for "yes" (observe for trying to conceive)
2 points "thinking about it"0 points for "no" (wouldn't consider it).

5. Do you breastfeed exclusively for the first 6+months?

10 points if "yes"
5 points for "no" (use occasional bottles ofexpressed breastmilk)
2 points for "no" (use occasional bottles offormula)
0 for "no" (don't breastfeed by choice).

6. Do you co-sleep?

10 points for "yes" (all night every night)
5 points for "yes" (part/all of most nights)
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no".

7. Do you use a sling/soft carrier?

5 points for "yes"
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no" (wouldn't consider it).

8. Do you believe in/practice child-led weaning(even if that meansbreastfeeding for several years)?

15 points for "yes" (complete child-led weaning)
10 points for "yes" (up to 3 years)
5 points for "yes" (up to 2 years)
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no" (you'll wean the baby at 1 year or
earlier).

9. Do you tandem nurse/nurse during your pregnancy?

10 points for "yes" (nurse during pgcy and tandemnurse)
5 points for "yes" (nurse during pgcy, but weanbefore birth)
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no"(wouldn't consider it).

10. Do you eat organic/whole/natural foods and limityour meat?

15 points for "yes" (grow own/buy organic, shop onlyat health foodstore, grind own wheat, vegetarian, etc.)
10 points for "yes" (grow some of own food, buyorganic, use wholewheat flour, bake own bread, eat some meatoccasionally)
5 points for "yes" (try to buy natural, whole grainfoods, etc.)
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no" (wouldn't consider it).

11. Do you use herbal/homeopathic remedies?

10 points if "yes" (very rarely see a regulardoctor)
5 points if "yes" (but use a doctor occasionally)
2 points if "thinking about it" (see a doc for now)
0 points for "no" (wouldn't consider it).

12. Do you homeschool?

10 points if "yes" (currently homeschool)
5 points for "yes" (will homeschool)
2 points for "thinking about it"
0 points for "no" (wouldn't consider it).

13. What's your take on childhood vaccinations?

15 points for no vaccines
10 for delayed, selective vaccination
5 points for selective, on schedule vaccination
2 points for thinking about not vaccinating
0 points for vaxing on schedule.

14. Would you/have you ever breastfeed/fed someoneelse's baby or havesomeone else bf your child?

10 points if yes (have or someone has bf your baby)
5 points if yes (would)
2 points if maybe
0 if no (wouldn't consider it).

15. Do you use cloth/re-usable products for mom?

10 points if yes (make own)
5 points if yes (buy own)
2 points if thinking about it
0 points if no.

Ratings
120 ・140 Super Nutty, Ultra-Crunchy Granola EarthMama
90 ・119 Mmm! Love that whole-grain crunch!
60 ・89 Pretty Crispy
20 ・59 Sprinkled with Granola
5 ・19 Instant Oatmeal

Here goes nothin'

Here's our first try at our very own blog. I hope you all enjoy reading about our lives and adventures.