Author Archives: Chrissie

Erica!

My good old friend Erica is flying in today for a Portland visit and I can hardly wait.  In law school, we had the perfect trifecta.  Kat, Erica and myself.  I used to kid that if I ever wrote a tv show, I’d have to base it on us.  Kat was the blond from Rhode Island.  She used to get dressed in full make up and hair to go to the grocery store which is pretty unusual for Oregon.  She was our sweet one who cried at every Hallmark moment and once lost her cordless phone in her apartment for a week.  Erica was our feisty red-head from the south.  She was definitely the mother of the group.  When your heart was broken and you need a shoulder to cry on, Erica was your girl.  She’s a non-nonsense, go getter with a real spark.  I was the brunette from California.  Not so much on the mothering but heavy on the sarcasm.   We complimented each other beautifully and supported each other even more.  So it was with much regret that Kat and I watched Erica move back to Louisville after graduation.  We were down one southern redhead and they aren’t easy to replace!  Erica’s last visit was right after Leina was born so I didn’t get to see her much being in the middle of tiny child shock.  That was four years ago!  That’s a long time to have to go without Southern Spice.

But she’s back!  She flies in the moring and will be here all weekend.   Even better, I’ve managed to get rid of the kids to Grandma Vicki’s for the weekend so I’ll be flying solo which means lots of time to catch up and bask in the reunited trio once again.  I can’t wait.

Does anyone know any single Portland men who like red headed girls from the south?  I’m willing to play dirty to get her back here full time.  Send me any leads you have!

Jiggity Jog

I suppose it had to end.  The blue skies and sunshine were just too good to be true.  But we did have a great time visiting family, meeting up with old friends and tromping through the Magic Kingdom.  Definitely a week of memories made!

Now, of course, we are back home where the sun fights the clouds all day long.  And it’s still so cold!  I’m not believing that Spring is here.  Not yet anyway.

Yesterday I signed Leina up for Kindergarten.   She’ll be the graduating class of 2022.   Now that’s frightening.  Kulia also decided to grew up a bit too and finally gave up her cribby.  We had converted it to a little baby bed over her protests awhile ago and I was thinking she’d put up a huge fight when we removed it all together.   I’m glad I waited because she took it right in stride and loves her new big-girl room.   She looks so tiny in that big twin bed to me.  Kevin is itching to give the garage a through clean up and get ride of all the baby stuff we have squirrelled away in there.  I like the idea of cleaning things out but getting rid of all the  baby supplies?  That implies we won’t have any more babies!  Sigh.  I guess I’ll have to start befriending more pregnant women to get my baby fix ’cause there aren’t any more here!

Heading to Long Beach

The girls and I are taking off for an adventure.  Our first time flying JetBlue and landing in Long Beach instead of LAX.  I hope I can find my way around!  LAX is always a mess though so I bet Long Beach can’t be that much worse, right?  The girls are excited for their trip to CA.  They get to hit Papa and Tutu AND the Walls brood.  Going to be a whirl-wind of fun.  Poor Artie.  He’s going to be home alone all day long.  I hope his bladder can make it.  Ah well, that’s Kevin’s problem!  I’m just keeping my fingers crossed for warm winds and clear skies.  Here’s hoping….

More Prairie Love

The bonnet pattern came in a pack with some other prairie inspired clothing.  One was a very simple chemise that would work as a nightie or even a nice little dress.  I just couldn’t resist.  Any pattern that only has 3 pieces is right up my alley!  So, a little stitching later, I was able to make Leina her very own matching prairie dress!

 

Leina Modeling Her New Dress

A Little Prairie Dress

Once Leina saw it, she immediately wanted to wear it.  Never mind that it is snowing and hailing today.  This girls loves comfort just like her mom so a nice floaty dress is right up her alley.  

 

Leina Loving Her New Dress

Leina Loving Her New Dress

But what is a prairie dress without a bonnet?  Exactly.  Kulia was kind enough to fetch the bonnet and so I can now give you the complete Little House look.  Enjoy.

 

My Very Own Mary

My Very Own Mary

I even managed to convince Kulia to try on the bonnet.  I had to promise her 21 chocolate raisins but I think it was well worth the bribe, don’t you?

 

Sweet Kulia

Sweet Kulia

And, Liza, I am not one to flinch from a dare.  But be afraid girlie.  I’m bring the bonnet and my camera to your house on Friday.  I triple dog dare you!

 

Bitg Head + Small Bonnet

Big Head + Small Bonnet

Now, lets see.  Is that everyone?  Oh, right.  I almost forgot.  Something to make you smile all the way home.  May I present the Bonnet, as modeled by Kevin.  (You do not want to know what I had to promise Kevin to get this shot and the ok to post it.)

 

Aint He Sweet?

Ain't He Sweet?

Hello Camera

 

Book, Netbook, Coffee.  Good stuff!

Book, Netbook, Coffee. Good stuff!

 

I finally dug out my camera for a few pictures.  First, here’s my adorable little netbook that Kevin got me for Valentine’s day.  It’s tiny and light and able to be tucked under my arm and trundled anywhere.  Now, no matter where the girls are, I can track them down and still be hooked into the Internet.  Gotta love that!

 

Size Comparison - Closed

Size Comparison - Closed

 

In between setbacks, I’ve only managed to eek out a little crafting time.  So sad but true.  One thing I’ve been working on is making Leina her very own Little House on the Prairie Bonnet.  She adores the Little House books.  Oddly enough, her favorite character and idol is mindful Mary.  She often wants to play Little House.   This involves me being Ma and telling Mary some important task to do.   Leina will listen to me carefully and then nod her head wisely and intone, “yes Ma” and then begin to mind the baby or fetch the cow or whatever else I can devise.  So far, she balks modern requests like clean your room or empty the dishwasher but I’m hoping that the addition of the bonnet might make her a bit more amenable to my suggestions.  If not, seeing her troop around in her very own prairie bonnet is enough to melt a hardened old heart like mine.

 

My Little Prarie Girl

My Little Prairie Girl

Confusion

Last night at dinner, Leina announced that she likes broccoli.  Just out of the blue.  Like she was saying her favorite color was pink.  We were sitting down to dinner and she looked over at my plate and said, “you know Mom, I like broccoli.”

Now, I have prepared 99.9% of this child’s meals and I can tell you, she does not like broccoli.  I have tried it dripping with butter, in melted cheese, or hidden between casserole noodles to no avail.  The offending green is plucked out, labeled disgusting, and tossed to the dog.  She has never knowingly eaten broccoli in her life.  Never.

So there I sat, a bit dumbfounded.  I was tired from this icky cold and I just wanted to eat my dinner.  I did not want to get up and make Leina a serving of broccoli just to have her take a nibble and then spit it all out.  So I decided to wuss out.

“Honey, you don’t like broccoli,” I told her.

“Um, yes I do Mom!  I eat it all the time!”  Leina retorted.

“No, honey, I’m not making you any broccoli.  Just eat your nuggets.”

“But I really want some Mom, please????   Just a little?”

Kevin intervened here and handed her a floret of broccoli and she popped it in her mouth and said, “Yummmm.  Can I have more?”

I was pretty sure she was pulling my strings.  She just wanted me to get up and cook her some and then by the time I sat down again she’d declare she didn’t really like it any more.  I’d seen this tactic before.  I wasn’t falling for it.

“No honey, just eat your dinner.”  

“But it’s so yummy!” Leina replied.  To this Kevin decided he was willing to part with his broccoli and passed it to Leina.  She ate it.  All.  And then started eyeing mine.  At this point I realized that maybe she really truly did like broccoli.   I mean, who really knows how the mind of a 5 yr old works, right?  So she ate Kevin’s broccoli, my broccoli, and all the extra still in the bowl.  It was amazing.

Kulia, who idolizes and follows everything her big sister does, also decided that she too loves broccoli.  So I made her a bow.  She took a big chomp and a look of revulsion pulsed over her face.  Luckily, Leina was more than willing to finish her sister’s share of that delicious green goodness.

Now the real question is, will she eat it again or was this some rare food fluke?  Only time will tell.  I will keep you posted.