Violet's Voyage

Baby Brother

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:57:00 +0000

Violet will have a baby brother sometime near the beginning of June. She is quite excited about the idea and frequently talks about him. She just started kissing my belly saying she is "giving baby brother kisses". I think she is most excited about having someone to sit in the back seat of the car with.

Here are some pictures from the most recent ultrasound of him...

Violet sings "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:51:00 +0000

I took this video yesterday. She had already been singing for probably 3 or 4 minutes with the same amount of excitement before I decided to run down and get my video camera in hopes that she would still be singing when I came back. :)

Christmas Day

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Christmas was super fun this year. I can't even remember the last time it was so much fun...
Violet has been SUPER into Santa. She talks about him all the time. Has a "baby santa" that she took off the Christmas tree that she takes all around with her. And she likes to say "Whats that sound?" and then answers herself... "Santa, up there" pointing to the ceiling.

My mom and aunt Marcia helped me make stockings for our family at Thanksgiving break. They held up very well even after Santa stuffed them VERY FULL. Wind's even had several bottles of fancy beer in it!
Violet loves her stocking and likes to say "Santa bring toys to my Violet. Put in my stocking. Yeah?"

Showing off her new shirt from Santa.

Reaching in to find more goodies.

When we got around to opening presents she had the most, of course. :) And she loved ripping the paper off and opening them up.
She is sporting her new apron that her Granny made her and surrounded by various gifts from her very generous family.

After opening packages her and her Papa watched some movies together and ate candy.
It was a great to be around out whole family... relaxing... eating... talking... and enjoying each other's company.
Violet had a blast and probably wishes that everyday was Christmas.

Peacock Lane - Christmas Eve

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:51:00 +0000

For the 3rd year in a row, we walked over to Peacock Lane on Christmas Eve... George, Joy, Doug, Linda, Wind, Violet and I.

Cabin Trip with Friends & SNOW

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:48:00 +0000

We went up near Mt. Hood and stayed in a cabin with a group of friends and their babies/toddlers. It was a little chaotic, but worked out well. Everyone played nicely... in fact Lorenzo (3.5 years old) and Violet had a really great time together. they read lots of books, played playdough, played on the hockey table, played guitar and sang songs, and ran around nakeed.
One of the days we were up there we drove about 20 minutes, until we got to some snow, and stopped to play.

The snow was hard as a rock, dirty, and scarce in some places.
Susan and Henry (1 year old) tried to sled. It was comical.

Eloise. :)

Violet's New Favorite Job

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:42:00 +0000

She LOVES doing dishes! She will cry if you tell her she can't do it.
I can only hope she likes to wash dishes as much when she can ACTUALLY do them herself. :)

Cookie Helper

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:39:00 +0000

Violet "helping" Mama make cookies.

Zoolights

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:37:00 +0000

We went to Zoolights this year with Granny (Joy) and our friends Danya & Amy and their little boy, Eli.
Here are some pics from the evening...

The Big Birthday Party

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:37:00 +0000

Violet and her friend Ania, who turned 3 two days after Violet turned 2, shared a birthday party this year. We rented out a gym at a local community center.

The had tons of kids toys and stuff to use for the party, plus a trampoline and a lunch room to do cake and food in.

Caspar.

Ania & Violet with their cake!

Claire, Stacey, and Tyler (Violet's best friend).

Brian, Henry & Susan.

Violet & Tyler on a see-saw boat.

Lorenzo & Alex.

Violet's Birthday Photos

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:24:00 +0000

Opening presents.

Going out to dinner with her new flashlight and Zoey doll.

Birthday ice cream after dinner!

At Ben and Jerry's.

Getting Our Xmas Tree

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:22:00 +0000

On December 3rd we all drive out to Bill's farm (our CSA) to pick out and cut down our Christmas Tree for this year.

I was a tough choice... there were, literally, 1000's of trees to choose from.

We finally found it and Wind and Violet marked the spot while I walked around looking making sure it really was the right tree... :)

Farm kitty.

When we got home we decorated it. It was a little harder, and more fun, this year, due to a 2-year-old--helper.

This is when she first laid her eyes on what she calls "baby Santa". She talks about him all the time and has even slept with him a few times since then.

Singing instead of sleeping

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:11:00 +0000

Last night, after her birthday party, she did not want to go to bed even though she hadn't taken a nap that day. She cried and then would stop crying and stall by singing the ABC song, then she would cry again.
Wind got a video (although you can't see anything because it was too dark) of her singing the song. It is SOOOOO cute.

Happy Birthday Violet!

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:49:00 +0000

Today Violet turns 2 years old. I cannot believe it has been 2 years already.
She is an amazing little person. She says over 500 words, 5-6 word sentences, runs, laughs all the time, has friends of her own and tells me "Mama, I love you" all the time. She is really a sweet, caring little person.
Wind made her this video to commemorate the event...

violet is 2 by gardamin

Thanksgiving in CJ

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:45:00 +0000

This year we went to CJ for Thanksgiving. I neglected to take almost any pics... but here are the few I took.

Violet's new toddler bed at Nana & Papa's house with Elmo sheets and comforter.

Riding the rocking horse...

Sleeping. :)

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:43:00 +0000

Oops - back one month - September 2011 - Seatlle

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:42:00 +0000

In September Violet and I took Violet's first train ride to Seattle to stay with Nana and Papa in a hotel. Nana was going to a conference and had to work during the day, but V & Paper & I bought a Seattle Pass and went EVERYWHERE. We went to the Zoo, the Space Needle, Underground Tour, Experience Music Project, the Aquarium, and a boat cruise!
I, unfortunately, lost my photos of the trip, so don't have many to show... but here are some my Dad took.

October 2011 - Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:38:00 +0000

This is the first year we took Violet trick-or-treating. She has been practicing (see earlier video).

ZigZag is ready to hand out candy with Oscar &Nana & Papa.

I really didn't think V would actually say anything when the doors opened because she is usually really shy at first, but she said "Trick-or_tweat" at every door. She also said "thank you" after getting the candy. I was really proud of her!

Libby, Jason, & Caspar (dressed as Dumbo) came along.

She VERY much enjoyed her spoils.

October 2011 - Pumpkin Patch Trip #2

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:32:00 +0000

We went to a different pumpkin patch the weekend of Halloween with the Dolatas, Freddis, Ashbury/Galvins, and Kane/Slossers. We dressed up all the kids and drank apple cider, looked at animals, picked out pumpkins and ate food.

Lorenzo, Ania, Henry, & Violet

Violet and her Nana,

Looking for the perfect pumpkin.

Nick and Nora.

October 2011 - Halloween Music Class & After

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:29:00 +0000

Every year Violet's music class has a dress up party the week before Halloween.
As you can see from previous posts, V had two costumes this year. A lion and Elmo. She wore Elmo to this class.
It was a good choice because she was a kid rock-star. When she walked in several kids yelled "ELMO!!!" and ran over. I am pretty sre one little boy actually though she was Elmo.

After class we always hang out with Stacey and Violet's best friend, She wanted to continue wearing her Elmo costume. They decided on the way back from lunch that they would roll around in someone's yard.

October 2011 - Practicing Trick-or-Treating

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 03:19:00 +0000

"Trick or tweat. Give me candy."

October 2011 - Bucket Hats

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:37:00 +0000

October 2011 - Beach Trip

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:20:00 +0000

We went on a little weekend trip to the beach in the middle of October.

We went to Seaside on day...

There was a cool swingset ON THE BEACH.

At Cannon Beach we went down to the tide pools...

V loved how crazy Zig gets on the beach!

And we had lots of fun playing in the sand.

August 2011 - "ZigZag SIT"

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:35:00 +0000

October 2011 - Pumpkin Patch

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:32:00 +0000

Our Playgroup went to the pumpkin patch again this year with our babes dressed in costumes.

Ilsa &Sean (twins) in the wagon on the left. Claire, Violet, and Tyler in the wagon on the right.

There was a farm where the kids got to see a bunch of animals... cows...

donkeys...

They climbed on a hay bale pyramid.

and played with a water feature to make ducks

ate snacks...

then went on a hayride...

Best Friends.

October 2011 - Apple Festival

noreply@blogger.com (The Sloth) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:27:00 +0000

Nana and Papa came to visit and we took them to Portland Nursery to the annual Apple Tasting Festival. We ate lots of apples, drank apple cider, and...

Violet painted a tiny pumpkin

with help from her Daddy...

and played games...