Changes...

Hey everybody! Sorry for being a posting loser lately. Our plate just keeps getting fuller. A couple of brief announcements: Kate and I are moving out of our house at the end of this month, so shots such as the above one are going to decrease in frequency. This is sad. The boys do get along every once in awhile, and for these glimpses it is a joy to watch them play. Until the pushing, screaming, and squabbling of course. They still call each other their best friend, but don't really act that way 89% if the time.

The other announcement that some of you already know is that we will be moving back to Minnesota at the beginning of April. I have decided to finish my degree online so that we can be closer to family. I really miss the unparalleled support of family. When I moved to Portland I had a deranged idea of how much my 20 something-childless friends would want to help me out with my darling boy. Here in the city we are all much too busy, and I need a slower pace. I also moved to Portland to have a social life, but you know what? I never see people! Maybe once a month, but really it's 99% me and Ez, rockin' it the two of us. It'd be nice to have a Grandma or Grandpa around. Heck, even an Uncle!

Anyways, there's a lot to do between now and then, what with packing, finals, and Ezra's birthday (we're going to the coast!), so I'll try to post but if I don't, I'm sure you'll understand.

Hope you had a good Valentines Day!

Christmas In Minnesota

These pictures were taken by my very talented brother in law during our stay in Minnesota this past Christmas. They're a little out of order, but capture most of what we filled our time with: eating, playing, going outside, and coming back in.

I really liked to sit on counter tops when I was young too.



Grandpa's cooking up some of his famous pancakes in the background.


Ezra samples one fresh off the flipper.



The second course: an egg over easy,


A little coloring to digest.

Out on Lost Lake gathering pine boughs to make Christmas wreaths.

Wreath workshop.


Dido, the horse made by Grandpa that still seriously rocks.

Peekaboo at Grandma's.

Ready, set, jump on Mama at Grandma's.

Tunnel at Grandma's.

Lunch: Grandma's house style.

Finding what's interesting in Grandma's shed.

And sealing the deal: he's the cutest. Ever.

Auntie showing Ezra some new tricks.

Minnesota: Pillows

He is really enjoying himself in the above photos, I swear! He loves to be covered in pillows.

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Sorry, the photo shoot at Itasca didn't work out. I was much too into the book I was reading at the time, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I was recommended this book by a co-worker, she even lent me her copy complete with a golden book mark. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to you as well, although I can't promise a golden book mark. It is so nice to read a book of my choice, at the pace I prefer. I finished the book last night, and today picked up a number of possible next reads. Nothing grabbed me, any recommendations from you out there?

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It is lovely to not have to read anything I don't want to read, such is the case with school. I do love going to school, learning and strutting around campus, but it has been really nice to be on break these past four weeks. Ezra and I did a lot of dancing today, and as you can see in the above pictures he has developed a fondness for covering himself in pillows.

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Yesterday we went to one of Uncle Nate's football games. He plays with the Park Rapids Panthers, and we are very proud to report they creamed those Frazee fools! I felt a little bit bad for Frazee, they had half the amount of team members as the Panthers, meaning they were really tired by half time. Nate's team kept switching people in and out, allowing them to rest. I cheered on the Frazee fellows as their shoulders slumped, much to the sneers of the Panther's fans around us. Ezra loved to watch the game, and I am praying that it doesn't develop a serious interest for him. I do not want him to play football, nor be a dentist when he grows up.

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Speaking of which, I signed Ezra up for a gymnastics/dance class! You may say I'm raising a dandy, but there's nothing sissy about balance, rythm and socialization skills. I think the Gym Dandies class will be fun. Ok so I am raising a dandy. A Darling Dandy.

Minnesota: Grandpa's Garden

Ezra and Grandpa on the shores of Lost Lake

We are quite the movers and shakers this month. From Guatemala to Portland to Minnesota! Ezra has racked up quite the frequent flier miles. He has become very plane saavy. Shortly after boarding he falls asleep, and wakes up upon landing. Everyone around coos how wonderful he is, and I agree. The flight to Minnesota was really nothing, three hours with no connections. Compared to the eight hour (not including connections) trip to Guatemala it was like a stroll around the block.

The first day here we spent with the lovely Marla. I'll post some pictures of our time at the Como Zoo in St. Paul as soon as she sends me some (wink wink Marlsipoo). I'll save some details, but a highlight was certainly the baby orangatang.

Then we headed up to Pleasant Lake to spend some time with Grandma. There's no photos of this time because my camera decided to drain batteries of their juice when not in use. Bummer dude indeed. Highlights of Grandma's include: a bag a frogs, insects, snakes, turtles and the occasional pirate, a farm set up complete with animal noises and an annoying rendition of Old McDonald Had a Farm (not annoying at all for the wee one), and Lucy the cat who loves to rub up against Ezra, the tip of her tail licking the underside of Ezra's nose.

We'll go back to Grandma's next week and hopefully take some photos of the two love birds together. He does love Grandma. Who wouldn't?

Thankfully here at Grandpa's house Uncle Nate has a camera that he let me use for a photo session this morning. Grandpa has quite an impressive garden, and Ezra enjoyed grazing the strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, basil, and green beans. There are many more veggies to be had, and tonight at dinner we will see whether or not Ezra likes sweet corn. I think he will, but I'm not always right. (He didn't like Grandpa's famous home made waffles! He did however scarf the sausage. He's a savory guy.)

At the entrance to the garden, with an appetizer of a ritz cracker.

He loves the cherry tomatoes.

Sometimes he figures out to bite them.

Picking broccoli (the leaves anyway).

Fresh from the soil.

Thank goodness for teeth. Sitting on the new porch on the new porch swing catching some rays.

Inspecting the leaves of his apple tree.

We're off to Itasca State Park! Perhaps a photo tour will spontaneously occur...

Happy Sunday!