Summer Highlights

Today we had rainy crummy weather-- a good time to upload photos of our few weeks of sun and playing.


A photo before church one Sunday highlighting Mason's piggy tails. Yes, I am so proud. My Baby girl finally has hair!

And my oh my can she eat! That bowl of watermelon was gone in under 60 seconds.



Eli spent the month of August at various county fairs selling medical equipment. We spent a lot of time at the fair. Jacob was finally tall enough for the overpriced rides, which were tons of fun, but the free stuff was the best.

(Eli promptly cut off Jake's sleeves when we arrived at the fair so he would fit in better and with hopes of relief from the sweltering heat)

I gave Jake a haircut and nicked his ear. Mason was kind enough to wear a sympathy band-aid.
Jake turns 4. Thanks for the fun day Uncle Andy and Auntie Brit.

Mason (and myself, my dad, and about 12 other people I know) had a birthday on Sunday. It was fun. She got a cabbage patch doll, which Jacob has been calling a "celery patch kid"

First day of preschool this year. He looks so little. I think Mason is going to outgrow him soon.

Now bring on the rain, boots, pumpkin patch, and game nights-- I started a hand and foot group to help make it through the rain this year. It's going to be a lot of fun.

Finally Some Summer

The weather finally changed-- Sunshine-- aahhhh! The blackberries are ripe. The project list is ready to be tackled.


Black "eye" berryJacob's favorite part of summer -- outside pee pee.

The deck project.
The covered porch project.

The kitchen cabinet refinishing was my crummy summer of 2010 project=-glad that's over.
(Jake's the photographer)


FHE at the Jim Parsley Center. Jacob screamed the first half hour. I couldn't blame him, he had a near drowning experience the week before. We were at a friends who had a 2 or 3 foot pool. I tossed in a diving toy and he went for it, but couldn't get back up. It was a little scary. I was so glad I didn't step away from the pool and was there to yank him out.
Summer has gone much too quickly (granted we were gypped several weeks due to the weather).

A few photos

The whine face. I have seen a lot of this this.

The cheesy grin. I have seen a lot more of this. (I love, love, love Mason's hair)
Treasures. Cleaning out Jacob's pockets is always fun.
Sleepy bike rides. One of my favorite things-- until a bump in the road wakes them up.

This Summer So Far....

Rain, rain, and more rain. Overcast gray and dark. The Northwest has not been giving us its usual awesome, not too hot, but still pretty and green weather. I've been feeling it. Stay in bed? Sure why not, its not like we can do much outside. I have had to change my thinking in order to stay happy and motivated.

In June we went to Vegas to see my parents and for a Nurse Practitioner conference. It was fun. I didn't realize how fortunate I am to practice in a state where I have a high level of autonomy. In some states NP's cant even prescribe without having to have a cosign from a doctor. In Washington, the only thing I need an MD to cosign for is Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy for Medicare patients who are in a nursing home or receiving home care. I don't get it. I can prescribe drugs that can kill them without an MD telling me its okay, but not therapies to help them get better. Wacky! But nurse legislators are in the works to change all that.

So what else? I have started some summer projects, summer reading, and enjoyed berry picking despite our lack of summer.

Mason has hair! and it curls--just like I would dream about when I was pregnant.
Jacob is growing. He was in my bed last night crying that his legs hurt. I remember those days so well. I would end up in my moms bed and she would rub my legs. I feel like a real mom now rubbing my little boy's growing pains away. Sigh.....

Now for the photos: Nevermind. I have tried 3 times.. dang blogger wont upload. sorry. I'll try again later

Belated April Update

I just love these kids. I feel like a crappy parent right now. They ask to play, I put them off. I work all day and I don't play with them at the end of the day because I am too tired. At least daddy wrestles with them. I think single moms are the strongest most amazing people in the world.

We did manage to build a batcave.

Dyed some eggs.


Introducing...... Mary Poppins. Not cowboy. The difference-- an umbrella.
Cute cousins.

My little bakers.

I said to goodbye to a great friend and mentor at work, Tricia. I owe much of what I know and sucess I have had with my patients to her imparting clinical pearls of knowledge. Thanks Trish--- you will be missed.

In her absence, I am picking up extra shifts to pay for a vacation and I think thats why I feel like a neglectful nellie right now. I also am working with the young women now and that is super busy. Good thing today is a new day.

March

Cowboy Jake and Lil' Sis



We had some snow. It was so fun to watch Jacob's eyes light up... magical really. Mason could hardly move in her suit.

We celebrated 7 years of marriage. My sister in law watched the kids. Eli and I had a stay-cation and checked out Portland.

I made a comeback after my 5 year sabbatical from golf. I played with my dad's old clubs and not too shabby.


Eli had some training in Las Vegas and we took advantage of Maydawg's ability to fly free. She went to Vegas with Eli and my family watched her. Twelve days away from my baby girl. I missed her. I did notice, however, my house stayed so clean and there was a lot less laundry.

So Jake and Mommy had a fun time. We are part of a preschool co-op with some neighbors. Preschool was at our house this month.

A leprechaun had the nerve to walk his green little feet all over our table!

We went to a puppet show a few weeks ago at Burgerville. That gave us the inspiration to make puppets. (Us meaning Jacob requesting mommy do this for him).


Jacob planned a tea party and invited his best friends; Grammy, Auntie Brit, Auntie Teton and Cousin Maren. We spoke with English accents, kept our pinkies up, and ate yummy food.

Eli and Mason made it home. Jacob welcomed them home by vomiting all over.

Now its April. Spring is in the air. I love it.

This and That

Kids are just so funny. I have been writing down some of the cute things Jacob and Mason say or do, otherwise I forget. Here are a few examples just for fun:

We had breakfast for dinner the other night. Jacob was rubbing his turkey bacon on his face. I asked him what he was doing. He responded that this is what the lion on Madagascar does with his meat. Can't argue with that.


Mason is a food-a-holic. After this photo, we have thought about dieting, but she is capable of sliding a stool over to the cabinet and getting out whatever she can reach. She is definitely a Higham. Should we start metformin now or later?



Eli is trying to transform our wacky, rock laden yard into a simple patch of grass cohesive with mowing. The project is half finished, making a great place for preschooler cliff jumping.

Snow Day

I wish I had some amazing, exciting news to report. Just same old, same old here. Work is keeping me quite busy. There are a lot of changes taking place. Some interesting cases too. All I can say is please cook your food thoroughly, watch for worms and vaccinate your kids. Aside from that, I am having fun crafting while there's crummy weather outside. I had no idea how many blogs there were dedicated to sewing, quilting, crafting, etc. It is addictive.