coming up on six weeks

it's a wonderful time...

trick-or-treating is for the dusk

 

last year i was astonished to have a steady stream of trick-or-treaters starting before 4pm. this year we posted the sign above on our door. i know it's kind of Scrooge-like in a Halloween sort of way but how are you supposed to make and eat dinner, get in costumes, take a few photos all while answering the door every 5-10 minutes? you can't. so the sign worked and i've saved it for next year.

 

English's Johnny Depp-Tonto costume was made from nighthawk wings and a gopher snake skin he found while out running. (Ash went with Dad as a cowgirl to a "gender-bender" costume/drag event at the College.)

 

Finn sported his jack-o-lantern shirt and candy corn socks. Tom was a skeleton cowboy (the mask was his idea and he helped me make it) and Ash was a sparkling angel, which she loved!

last year, this year

meet Finn

an introduction...

Finn Ovid Brooks, born Friday, October 4, 2013.

it's a beautiful day

in the neighborhood...

Tom and i have been watching Mister Rogers these days and more than one episode has left a strong impression on Tom. the other day he asked me for a string with the ends tied together. then he asked me for a pan with water and detergent. then a little more detergent. sure, sure i thought. the next thing i know, he's making giant bubbles on the deck!

a few days later after watching an episode where Fred goes to an art center and learns from the potter that four- and five-year olds can throw on a wheel, Tom said, "Mom! I'm four and four-year olds can throw on the wheel! When can I throw?" he's a natural.

school: it begins

Ash is all geared up for first grade and Tom is ready, set, go! for preschool. Have a stellar year little kiddos!

images of summer

Lower Calf Creek Falls, giant cottonwood, Capitol Reef, Newport Beach, swallowtail butterfly, ice cream sandwiches, first horse ride, Capitol Reef, Fairview swing

creative creatures

last night i spoke for the Art Talks series at Snow. it was a great opportunity to reflect and think about who i am as an artist, what i know, what i believe, and what i do with my work. a lot of the talk ended up being about education and i talked about Ash and Tom's work more than once.

warm me up, red rock

a few days in Moab is a perfect February trip. could have been a few degrees warmer though.

window of opportunity

i never imagined i would be heading back to Costa Rica so soon. yet, the timing and smokin' hot deal on airfare couldn't have worked out better. this time around the kiddos were even more suited for adventure (and remembering those adventures) and we had an incredible trip!

cold coconut juice / plaza centro in La Fortuna / hanging bridge / foggy windows in Santa Elena /  views from the Observatory Lodge / old fig tree / little cow at Tierra Viva / sunset at Esterillos / walking to town in Alajuela

first day

this girl is ready for the adventures of kindergarten! what and exciting time... have a great year, Ash!

stitches

it couldn't have been a cleaner cut; glass cabinet, unfinished edge. it's such a strange moment when, as a parent you're looking at your little kid and you realize, "wow. that's a super deep cut. that's going to need stitches." it's almost slow motion. fortunately i was able to keep my cool so Ash didn't get scared. Ash was such a brave girl. the poky shots were the worst part but three stitches later she was okay. plus G'pa Rem happened to be in town when she was ready to have them out. how's that for lucky?

pack 'em up and move 'em out

thanks for a great three years, Reno! here's a quick list of things we will most certainly miss:

pals, no dout
Truckee river
parks, parks, and more parks
Winco (i love you, Winco)
quail and jays in the backyard
Lake Tahoe (camping at Bliss S.P.)
peach tree
Peavine fields
NMA
hiroba, süp, blind onion (restaurants)
balloon festival
girls night dinners
sierra nevada
fresh, local (and i mean local) eggs
close proximity to so many cool places
Pyramid Lake
ease and convenience of the airport
a Target within a few minutes' drive
mild winters
CSA basket
co-op preschool
ARTown concerts
taking a new way home
... to mention a few.

packed up boxes make good seats / having some flan in the empty kitchen, using the step stool for a table / great pals / all of our belongings in the moving truck / sleeping on the air mattress / driving into Utah with the sunrise

in kilometers it sounds awesomer

the first 5K i ever "ran" was the Willie Walk put on by my high school. i was 18 and in really good shape. still, i didn't run the whole thing - probably because i didn't really know about pacing - i had to stop and walk. after that i ran/walked several more 5Ks but i never ran the whole thing. then, after being married to a very strong distance runner i thought i simply wasn't a runner. my family is full of sprinters. give me a 50 yard dash and i'm there. but recently i realized i was in a family of runners with two little kids who will most likely enjoy a good run on a regular basis. so rather than be left behind (in the dust, as it were) to cheer from the sidelines, i decided to get over the lame excuses and run.

with the help of a good friend who taught me some techniques and kept me in check by meeting me at 6 am three times a week, not to mention a very supportive family, i worked up to a three mile run. we signed up for a 5K and fortunately it was cool and breezy. i was slow, but i ran the entire thing... with some left in the tank to sprint to the finish (Johnson style).



i have to say the shirts at 5Ks are much better now. no more regular t-shirt, folks. these are cool-tech athletic shirts! still need some work on graphic design and sponsor logo placement, but hey, one thing at a time.

p.s. just for the record, i've been running regularly since, and with the bionic man no less. :)