tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376144572024-03-13T12:17:57.570-07:00RamsdaletopiaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-22607792046545923452009-05-20T12:06:00.000-07:002009-05-20T12:23:30.412-07:00Warming Up!Last Saturday we went to the Seattle Center (home of the <a href="http://www.spaceneedle.com/">Space Needle</a>) on a lovely warm day. We were there to see <a href="http://giantmagnet.org/seattle/performers/sidi-goma.html">Sidi Goma</a> at <a href="http://giantmagnet.org/">Giant Magnet</a> (formerly the Seattle International Children's Festival) and to visit the <a href="http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/location/detail.asp?VE_VenueNum=244">International Fountain</a>. Had a great time and Lucas loved it so much we went back for more the next day.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TYOO3zaDr0DgdiNkgZMPbA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/ShFW7N2UZSI/AAAAAAAADUA/LURauQAT61o/s400/DSC_0031.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SxXH_LBoZueL46_fz29i1w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/ShFXMX6dMrI/AAAAAAAADUc/QPOQi3Pa40k/s400/DSC_0040.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jxz_8Zw-FXddeJ9sSg7UUQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/ShFXSF7LlQI/AAAAAAAADUk/LuSNc6RywgE/s400/DSC_0042.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/18jZjKfImRr2v3F11o-GvA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/ShFXaj4VVWI/AAAAAAAADU0/p7OmUm46sRQ/s400/DSC_0051.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eqO0gOMnNevp6lEbygFq0A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/ShFXhsHCphI/AAAAAAAADVE/G-HS1sbt3w4/s400/DSC_0054.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I love having free entertainment options like this nearby! (Well, except for parking...)Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16733127932552329507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-55972641633410813552009-05-18T05:58:00.000-07:002009-05-18T06:12:02.328-07:00At the Tulip FestivalHo visitors! Welcome back...<br /><br /><p>If you go north of Seattle an hour or so on I-5 you'll run into the Skagit Valley, home to more tulips than anywhere else in America. Every year there's a <a href="http://www.tulipfestival.org/">Tulip Festival</a> to celebrate. This year Cris's parents were in town and we took an excursion.</p><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ctuPidauZCxhkMh5rOWjow?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/SgJ1KrfjPvI/AAAAAAAADN8/r_8GjsCDTP0/s400/DSC_0002.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tNOghv7-VYW7GKq1zh8q6g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/SgJ1QCISWZI/AAAAAAAADOE/UgxR1YFD3MA/s400/DSC_0004.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xa4rBBwTJPwEjU_g19734g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/SgJ15JgazQI/AAAAAAAADO8/9Of_LYVU73w/s400/DSC_0020.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/t5bKHrs7b5xwAD2vamtx6Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/SgJ2G6ghCGI/AAAAAAAADPU/7NjTQ6qgM1E/s400/DSC_0034.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/im_UNrfWYzWIMrHH_7JYtw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/SgJ2DvDVq7I/AAAAAAAADPQ/H28k3rykB-4/s400/DSC_0033.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KeVwOnTB6_NpN-N3ZrEi3w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DXVCp-euesA/SgJ20Jtjf5I/AAAAAAAADQU/2gokP81GXUM/s400/DSC_0074.jpg" /></a>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16733127932552329507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-64533290504727795282009-01-09T23:28:00.000-08:002009-01-09T23:28:28.693-08:00Sister + kids<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHA0fw4Ctu1nK_6g00VtMCcavHnBTpq_7djEgc41HxSPAlFEUjn79t8dYQINfzqaLBuggmwZFvsic4N4XxP59916pDqSLByeneQJiPdf-1K1qpI1YZR9XFiJ6WcBl8wsKELCqTvQ/s1600-h/IMG_3203.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHA0fw4Ctu1nK_6g00VtMCcavHnBTpq_7djEgc41HxSPAlFEUjn79t8dYQINfzqaLBuggmwZFvsic4N4XxP59916pDqSLByeneQJiPdf-1K1qpI1YZR9XFiJ6WcBl8wsKELCqTvQ/s400/IMG_3203.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>It's been awhile since I've made it home to Alabama, so sister and family pictures were in order. Of course, once you start gettting beyond two people in a photo the chances of getting a good one go way down. So I think we made out pretty well with this one. There were 3 or 4 other cameras firing so hopefully I'll get some other group shots to remember this visit by as well. It was a good time all hanging out together and doing little more than socializing and eating.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-6201487312507095572009-01-09T23:22:00.000-08:002009-01-09T23:22:53.492-08:00Sisters<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXt2ixfkB5Vmrs0EhVNRCBB0xhoiW-RTXHTGHuGspiZXED2XMTsft4WTlc1W2XHgiVjZd-gfPg0ACEogn8oWA7RWGJOzkcOg9mjqn31t56N9nGcmE_s_oGeu4PvVZLLUbFrXq7IA/s1600-h/IMG_3199.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXt2ixfkB5Vmrs0EhVNRCBB0xhoiW-RTXHTGHuGspiZXED2XMTsft4WTlc1W2XHgiVjZd-gfPg0ACEogn8oWA7RWGJOzkcOg9mjqn31t56N9nGcmE_s_oGeu4PvVZLLUbFrXq7IA/s400/IMG_3199.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-64178921844698827182009-01-09T23:17:00.000-08:002009-01-09T23:18:21.694-08:00Cousins<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcPvXs_7ssf0z-fSpWVdOTchY3kK7JUaivld5C4xVnIu6wX9ruf8Z3-0cBDm9NUUeQ_ywWPTuTj4aIgrfLveoWTmnbe_TmsTp0k7k3BOGVZW93VyMXRsGBY2jwSn6-tyojIcRBw/s1600-h/IMG_3175.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcPvXs_7ssf0z-fSpWVdOTchY3kK7JUaivld5C4xVnIu6wX9ruf8Z3-0cBDm9NUUeQ_ywWPTuTj4aIgrfLveoWTmnbe_TmsTp0k7k3BOGVZW93VyMXRsGBY2jwSn6-tyojIcRBw/s400/IMG_3175.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-82660499575590644042009-01-09T22:20:00.000-08:002009-01-09T22:20:28.077-08:00Tea party<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7BHsM_DoywJnDBrtVyhdr32wZ0Z0bDCTN1BlifyuU59Ma3oM1x0wi7cq1V9SSh1Hg3sBlW55tstA1Za6jdHyyEUW5AJ7AyXp425B1TEHEjnEyMfDygIegxYNc6D_CuhaX9t5Hg/s1600-h/IMG_3217.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7BHsM_DoywJnDBrtVyhdr32wZ0Z0bDCTN1BlifyuU59Ma3oM1x0wi7cq1V9SSh1Hg3sBlW55tstA1Za6jdHyyEUW5AJ7AyXp425B1TEHEjnEyMfDygIegxYNc6D_CuhaX9t5Hg/s400/IMG_3217.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-17042718725103767552009-01-09T22:16:00.000-08:002009-01-09T22:17:00.127-08:00Love you Nana!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7qoDgRLvmZwegsbombxjflgLu79-i_V-ain5wA9p7gK8ZJMRHdfdNVnpVUlvGrQhw1MaZOWFXNOg-G0qSigdEHuw7SZl8FD2N3QuKqiAV88vV28vIcAQ1jgPORMVArOzUxG7pA/s1600-h/IMG_3222.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7qoDgRLvmZwegsbombxjflgLu79-i_V-ain5wA9p7gK8ZJMRHdfdNVnpVUlvGrQhw1MaZOWFXNOg-G0qSigdEHuw7SZl8FD2N3QuKqiAV88vV28vIcAQ1jgPORMVArOzUxG7pA/s320/IMG_3222.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="clear:both;float:left; margin:0px 10px 10px 0;" /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:LEFT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-37691023990204761682009-01-06T23:24:00.000-08:002009-01-06T23:39:07.418-08:00The kids, up close and personalI just have to show off our beautiful children... You really should click on the pictures and see them full size. So what's up with the family these days?<br /><br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ILPzm13ETInh8itwZGJGmIKId24QCa9SYgYM_-7Lm5ucmi5qknpyDK3aGiJOo1x48Ekxc3vy1741urFdmJVOxSAnlSTdW_F0eLjdrG5J6VXdjb4rP0fWgZuNcxOvG-Me0Tri/s1600-h/DSC_0464.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ILPzm13ETInh8itwZGJGmIKId24QCa9SYgYM_-7Lm5ucmi5qknpyDK3aGiJOo1x48Ekxc3vy1741urFdmJVOxSAnlSTdW_F0eLjdrG5J6VXdjb4rP0fWgZuNcxOvG-Me0Tri/s400/DSC_0464.jpg" alt="" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0pt; clear: both; float: left;" border="0" /></a><br />Wren's very chatty and has a new tea set and a Cabbage Patch doll from Nana she's quite into.</p><br /><br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlLlMruJIb_MAa63ucNEhsyXL04PhAnCAVf2e_qbIK6gxit9Lyzk22uKq048L32wcpAxxPdbgwMUeLWHAwXF-jwMmt78U3X1Ou4Hj697T4tXkpeuMWnwHjolTkfuNPW99njUw/s1600-h/DSC_0466.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlLlMruJIb_MAa63ucNEhsyXL04PhAnCAVf2e_qbIK6gxit9Lyzk22uKq048L32wcpAxxPdbgwMUeLWHAwXF-jwMmt78U3X1Ou4Hj697T4tXkpeuMWnwHjolTkfuNPW99njUw/s400/DSC_0466.jpg" alt="" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0pt; clear: both; float: left;" border="0" /></a><br />Lucas is busy with trains and rockets. I'm reading The Chronicles of Narnia to him--we're in The Voyage of the <i>Dawn Treader</i> currently.<br /></p><br /><br />I'll try to come up with transcripts of something clever or hilarious the kids say--they're a hoot--but like most parents we usually forget to write them down when they happen.Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16733127932552329507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-72248729390600132862008-11-02T16:05:00.000-08:002008-11-02T16:21:31.210-08:00words words wordsI remember last year hearing Lucas, then 2, running around the house and chatting up a storm. At that time Wren was crawling, cooing baby. I remember thinking, "Wow. Next year this place is going to be really loud with 2 chatty running little people living with us." Well, now it is this year and, yes, we do have 2 chatty running little people living with us. They like to chase each other around, to copy what each other says, and yell "no!" and "mine!" at each other.<br /><br />To help me remember some of the funnier things they say as my children steal my youth from me, I thought I'd share them here:<br /><br />After a discussion at lunch btw Jeff and Lucas on how Thomas the Tank Engine likes to eat the same things Lucas does, Jeff said, "So you and Thomas have a lot in common." To which Lucas replied, "Yeah! And I have a lot in common with me too!"<br /><br />Jeff then informed me that earlier that morning when Lucas was looking at himself in our vanity (which displays 3 reflections when angled right), he exclaimed, "Look! It's all my friends!" Jeff said he tried not to take it personally.<br /><br />Wren has this funny habit right now of using a noun and her self-referent pronoun to let us know she wants certain clothing items on:<br />"Shoe me!"<br />"Hat me!"<br />"Bathing suit me!"<br /><br />Which led to her asking me the other day to "Off boot me!" She got her point across.<br />Her favorite phrase of the month is "pumpkin patch." Every pumpkin is a "pumpkin patch." When she's been out of a room and then comes back to join us she proclaims, "I came home!"<br />Last night we went to a <a href="http://www.urbanhymnal.org/blog/">performance </a>and after the 3rd song we had to take the kids out of the auditorium because in the pause between each song Wren insisted on shouting out, "All done! All done!"<br /><br />She really has an amazing amount of sentences for being to little and I enjoy everyday of listening to her expand her vocabulary. It is as amazing as if I could see her grow in front of me.<br /><br />My life is still super busy but my kids and I have hit a good groove and are relaxing into our fall days together. If you'd like to see more photos of us than you probably really want to go <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale">here.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-82735768625406289582008-09-01T22:35:00.000-07:002008-09-01T23:06:50.561-07:0018 months18 months is like magic to me. I remember it with Lucas and I am watching it with Wren. Lucas turned 18 months at Christmas time. He had this sudden out pouring of language and social skills. However, with him all of this was somewhat muted because he had a fever, then an ear infection, then a cold, then another cold...all of this made him less eager to full engage the world around him.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWZuk3luuOlcy5qwpRDLckaAI5ejV_sgKOmiuHYA_pBdI7FOkrfug0JccXR-0qi8tplCo6_5b1-_Zo_R_fFahDE6VWG_V36aEMynRaMD3klhmT9xaK9WfWSFKxqGiAYh75xmIJw/s1600-h/wren+18+months.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWZuk3luuOlcy5qwpRDLckaAI5ejV_sgKOmiuHYA_pBdI7FOkrfug0JccXR-0qi8tplCo6_5b1-_Zo_R_fFahDE6VWG_V36aEMynRaMD3klhmT9xaK9WfWSFKxqGiAYh75xmIJw/s320/wren+18+months.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241296877852046290" border="0" /></a><br />However, Wren hit 18 months at full stride in the rich warmth of the summer sun. Or, at least in a summer month. Summer this year in Seattle has been a real disappointment with a surprising lack of "rich warmth" or "summer sun." We've been in long pants and long sleeves much too often for this southern girl's tastes. Anyway, Wren now names every bus, car, and bike we pass. She loves to point to Lucas's things and say, "Lucas's bed! Lucas's shoes!" She makes me pick her up and then says, "Walk!!!" as she points the way like a princess. She loves saying, "Hair!" and then working her way around the room attempting to touch everyone's hair. She is saying more phrases and clearly lets us know what she wants (Go! Car!...More! Book!). Last week she decided she didn't want help on the stairs outside anymore and very deliberately proceeded to learn how to walk up and down them without holding onto anything. She and Lucas have a great time laughing at each other, imitating each other, and chasing each other. Watching them together, I am grateful Wren showed up to make us a family of four earlier than I had planned. It has been a good summer together. I look forward to more times this fall.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwwG1nemJ-dkAfjqDSFuDt0J1rGlgtY7TkZxtkj45McgWf8vH03y8Svbfrym6LqzfTIRe8vF8oYoeU' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div>Hopefully we'll actually manage to archive some more of our summer photos here soon. We're still navigating having 2 cameras and photos on 2 different computers. That's the problem with digital. You can take a ton of pictures!!! Then you have to figure out how the heck to organize them all...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-69816792116305064202008-08-09T21:19:00.000-07:002008-08-09T21:23:38.937-07:00One person's point of view<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrq78BrvXMAcp7MX_uGGDSQ8sCG0N99VN3Yjp691e9ZB2l7_QXdsOlWXHPTxNDioCIL6S4vL_V5GGUyky8gq_j4gh-Y3lG_AjVLyXWLZhFzd4CXf-cV4Jh67-NivxIeeli9n86sQ/s1600-h/handicap+parking"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrq78BrvXMAcp7MX_uGGDSQ8sCG0N99VN3Yjp691e9ZB2l7_QXdsOlWXHPTxNDioCIL6S4vL_V5GGUyky8gq_j4gh-Y3lG_AjVLyXWLZhFzd4CXf-cV4Jh67-NivxIeeli9n86sQ/s320/handicap+parking" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232739599908601682" border="0" /></a><br />Lucas: "Look! It's a Lucas!"<br />Mommy: "Why is it a Lucas?"<br />Lucas: "Because he's sitting on a potty!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-91299912077780838142008-08-09T21:11:00.001-07:002008-08-09T21:15:27.128-07:00flying to the beach on our airplane<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mwqrU0KYjs-jogMAsmQ1VFVRQ8UdLgA2kVe8lHC7xzRhGRs7Eby2CX8pc7XnCZZ_kolL8B52o___OczNqMToqUwsUEhA-_7ImudFBWP8EY-GEvqxjSQdDw3P9a6iBpw2nVwEFA/s1600-h/IMG_2938.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 423px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mwqrU0KYjs-jogMAsmQ1VFVRQ8UdLgA2kVe8lHC7xzRhGRs7Eby2CX8pc7XnCZZ_kolL8B52o___OczNqMToqUwsUEhA-_7ImudFBWP8EY-GEvqxjSQdDw3P9a6iBpw2nVwEFA/s320/IMG_2938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232737216165619506" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-73633134238287819332008-07-14T23:25:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:50:39.118-08:00sweet sweet summerI wish I could remember the dozen amazing things my children say each day. Every day Lucas makes me laugh with the humor and unintentional wisdom of his words. Wren is just utterly delighting in having oh so many words. My chatty girl. I could hold her in my lap and smell her white blond hair all day. On this long, over brilliant blue-green days of summer I can think of nothing better than passing slow hours with my children at the wading pool, on the beach, in the sand. I have only one more paper to write for summer classes and I am so glad because I've already had such a taste of joy this week in slowing down a bit more just to be...to be with my family, with myself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the people I love spending my days with...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLchhezdhYhiP8dE5m04scESO4SdhvhkTDnDqFBemRMomzrk8v5g8du0dvt_GQMxUYTIoNXD9WtcQnP3Xg2kmBbVyRVWG92-316hyphenhyphen-soN7_DJGv6BzM9CITEa5bmPqyKm_ErY4TA/s1600-h/wren+17+mon+camping.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLchhezdhYhiP8dE5m04scESO4SdhvhkTDnDqFBemRMomzrk8v5g8du0dvt_GQMxUYTIoNXD9WtcQnP3Xg2kmBbVyRVWG92-316hyphenhyphen-soN7_DJGv6BzM9CITEa5bmPqyKm_ErY4TA/s320/wren+17+mon+camping.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223126542549986242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgB55kHcKNiuMwvb_esuSBayRUZLm3a4PglVigxrL-F8cHM4hO1EXroDf9DmNvL3Ab4U-dotmgiJb6ED2yDkXGrRbfRL0Q81L59Xnn3THUB3rwFMtwNIwr1uGPLYMD3AUSkoPjA/s1600-h/lucas+and+grandaddy+july+08.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgB55kHcKNiuMwvb_esuSBayRUZLm3a4PglVigxrL-F8cHM4hO1EXroDf9DmNvL3Ab4U-dotmgiJb6ED2yDkXGrRbfRL0Q81L59Xnn3THUB3rwFMtwNIwr1uGPLYMD3AUSkoPjA/s320/lucas+and+grandaddy+july+08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223126545531220338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B9y4PlJnI2sx9LSWgeTQBo3D82xoBDMjjXyfiTzBIQ8OugVcZ33U1Ki7Ov9ckZys01s6ims4pXst_pmrp3RBQ4a6_0AS1ENlBKEuBMbUFoMR_zpP4GEK-Ao08eqD22x5Q1tYIg/s1600-h/lucas+july+3+yrs.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B9y4PlJnI2sx9LSWgeTQBo3D82xoBDMjjXyfiTzBIQ8OugVcZ33U1Ki7Ov9ckZys01s6ims4pXst_pmrp3RBQ4a6_0AS1ENlBKEuBMbUFoMR_zpP4GEK-Ao08eqD22x5Q1tYIg/s320/lucas+july+3+yrs.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223126546012725138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2doZgy_-aNSi18P8eEMtvCAAkMZUO7ofX7Fah_5ZReuul76WNqjcFZWBNQpwFA-IBeuz-e5cZKjTx0E2QoSiAc3iRuUbOA-jpKYo1TR88VxpNM-gya2BKRibG66cKsA3LbLTufg/s1600-h/wren+17+months.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2doZgy_-aNSi18P8eEMtvCAAkMZUO7ofX7Fah_5ZReuul76WNqjcFZWBNQpwFA-IBeuz-e5cZKjTx0E2QoSiAc3iRuUbOA-jpKYo1TR88VxpNM-gya2BKRibG66cKsA3LbLTufg/s320/wren+17+months.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223126178760621890" border="0" /></a><br /></div>That's Lucas's granddaddy there making a guest appearance. And that little boy with the squished up face would be you-know-who. Anyone know a good trick to actually getting a 3 yr old to smile nicely?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-19096838996520833342008-06-23T17:19:00.000-07:002008-06-23T17:35:57.805-07:002008 fremont solstice paradeSaturday we went to the <a href="http://fremontartscouncil.org/events_solstice.html">Fremont Solstice Parade</a> at the <a href="http://www.fremontseattle.com/center_frameset.htm">Center of the Universe</a>. Fun times!<br /><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice_Cyclists">bikers</a>:<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&noautoplay=1&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fjeff.ramsdale%2Falbumid%2F5214500629458554785%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Solstice_Parade_%26_Pageant">parade</a>:<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&noautoplay=1&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fjeff.ramsdale%2Falbumid%2F5214950991139280385%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16733127932552329507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-73218604879514504652008-06-22T22:23:00.000-07:002008-06-22T22:37:42.600-07:00wren's turnWith all the attention lavished on Lucas lately it's time for a Wren update.<br /><br />Scene: the Ramsdale family bed, this morning...<br /><br />Cris: Achoo!<br />Wren and Jeff, simultaneously: Bless you!<br /><br />Well, Wren's was more like "bess oo". She's also pretty good at saying "thank you" without being prompted.<br /><br />Here's the little tyke:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasS3rdBirthdayParty/photo#5213473969066051650"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFn68-PtiEI/AAAAAAAAAV8/ueeqGJ1Wkow/s400/DSC_0117.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Contemplating crushing her brother and his new bike:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasGetsABike/photo#5213476004880550562"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFn8zePtiqI/AAAAAAAAAbE/o0RxjAOehrM/s400/DSC_0002.jpg" /></a><br /><br />On the trail to Twin Falls:<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/AHikeToTwinFalls/photo#5213482095144177186"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFoCV-PtjiI/AAAAAAAAAik/ebqXq4qRe_E/s400/DSC_0120.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/AHikeToTwinFalls">A Hike to Twi...</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />On the trail back from Twin Falls:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/AHikeToTwinFalls/photo#5213482709324500722"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFoC5uPtjvI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/vZVHOwwjPIo/s400/DSC_0184.jpg" /></a>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16733127932552329507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-13137250760397934302008-06-22T22:06:00.000-07:002008-06-22T22:23:45.480-07:00lucas gets a bikeFor his 3rd birthday we gave Lucas a bike.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasGetsABike/photo#5213475974815779474"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFn8xuPtipI/AAAAAAAAAa8/fapyudYYG-4/s400/DSC_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasGetsABike">Lucas Gets a ...</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />His sister went into a fit of jealous rage.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasGetsABike/photo#5213476077894994610"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFn83uPtirI/AAAAAAAAAbM/UbxBZnuo45o/s400/DSC_0003.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So he ran her over.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasGetsABike/photo#5213476644830677858"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFn9YuPti2I/AAAAAAAAAco/lYjgMUPo2EY/s400/DSC_0037.jpg" /></a><br /><br />All better.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasGetsABike/photo#5213476563226299202"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFn9T-Pti0I/AAAAAAAAAcY/T-BhnI0AjEk/s400/DSC_0030.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The bike is a <a href="http://www.bootscootbikes.com">Boot Scoot</a> Cruiser. You might notice it doesn't have any pedals as it's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_bicycle">balance bicycle</a>. That's so little guys can learn to balance without messing with pedals or training wheels (which teach bad habits). Evidently they are all the rage in Europe...Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16733127932552329507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-81903912069257786992008-06-20T23:39:00.000-07:002008-06-21T00:01:22.046-07:00lucas turns 3Little Lucas turned 3 last week! Strapping young lad. He's curious, mischievous, a joke teller and a fine conversationalist. One failing is his inability to pucker his lips effectively for proper candle-blowing, so mom had to help. Here he is prior to the attempt:<br /><br /><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasS3rdBirthdayParty/photo#5213473475144812466"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFn6gOPth7I/AAAAAAAAAU0/PL0EFJJpquc/s400/DSC_0035.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasS3rdBirthdayParty">Lucas's 3rd B...</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Like his mother, he enjoys being celebrated.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasS3rdBirthdayParty/photo#5213473539569321922"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFn6j-Pth8I/AAAAAAAAAU8/VjT5hDXjbFs/s144/DSC_0038.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasS3rdBirthdayParty/photo#5213473591108929490"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFn6m-Pth9I/AAAAAAAAAVE/oDl1avRWHZI/s144/DSC_0039.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Meanwhile, Wren entertained herself...<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.ramsdale/LucasS3rdBirthdayParty/photo#5213473634058602466"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/jeff.ramsdale/SFn6pePth-I/AAAAAAAAAVM/WKZ4cwV1gOg/s400/DSC_0052.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Thanks all who made it!Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16733127932552329507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-22818451584960656832008-06-20T23:29:00.000-07:002008-06-20T23:38:38.818-07:00an introductionLong-time readers may recall several break-ins here at the old homestead over a year ago that resulted in the loss of numerous cameras and laptops. Recently we finally replaced the digital SLR, resulting in an up-tick in photographs captured (better weather hasn't hurt either, though that is certainly in short supply this year). This camera is more typically used by Jeff, so he has been granted publish rights to this little blog so that he might post some of said photos. In fact, Jeff is writing this post, which also indicates the degree to which Cris tends to overload her schedule. Here's wishing myself much success in keeping you, dear reader, engaged!Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16733127932552329507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-61097457658453174462008-05-20T14:13:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:50:39.662-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpAFnkO3dAVAoQmiuaLML5vgJHVB08RtWGwX3eG0_3N7Z5a-IO9DjDcMwqj5iUHCtFVokNixv6sVU-IWtbetaOEE-0onmddkASOLSPLyxBZjQdqR6PfXnwpbwTpr1nCbnwk_BDg/s1600-h/family+april+2008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpAFnkO3dAVAoQmiuaLML5vgJHVB08RtWGwX3eG0_3N7Z5a-IO9DjDcMwqj5iUHCtFVokNixv6sVU-IWtbetaOEE-0onmddkASOLSPLyxBZjQdqR6PfXnwpbwTpr1nCbnwk_BDg/s320/family+april+2008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202571480044127842" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-1065984568441948482008-05-20T14:08:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:50:39.859-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnwqkLM8GsdOOT_svqtrCLBtxj8d-lXi4OsV1f3YJ55uQEvUkI7ODxuIwuGKKRSmTTgoF2W8HBlnzj11NuQmGNBEPUfGJSTwL4R__zAXqMeLSgG_owtav_1_MPOTIrYWDBQZ_QQ/s1600-h/lucas+airplane.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnwqkLM8GsdOOT_svqtrCLBtxj8d-lXi4OsV1f3YJ55uQEvUkI7ODxuIwuGKKRSmTTgoF2W8HBlnzj11NuQmGNBEPUfGJSTwL4R__zAXqMeLSgG_owtav_1_MPOTIrYWDBQZ_QQ/s320/lucas+airplane.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202570071294854738" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-50281348914659275692008-05-20T13:54:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:50:40.014-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2he3fr3CcmaRUNccOXmSzkggpspdygmbEscilBDGo5w1mL5mIbPr8ClYjSr8J5JawT9ejWV9eGEwKMYHJSJGICaw1Vdkp65pgptPOzIpnluIDqdajrPXNjtOEiE7uaneZbZ4KLg/s1600-h/wren+woods.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2he3fr3CcmaRUNccOXmSzkggpspdygmbEscilBDGo5w1mL5mIbPr8ClYjSr8J5JawT9ejWV9eGEwKMYHJSJGICaw1Vdkp65pgptPOzIpnluIDqdajrPXNjtOEiE7uaneZbZ4KLg/s320/wren+woods.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202567979645781570" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-60081309680375056832008-05-10T21:19:00.001-07:002008-05-10T21:20:27.380-07:00Lucas, as we are skipping and hopping down the sidewalk: "We're like fireworks!"<br />Mommy: "Why are we like fireworks?"<br />Lucas: "Because we are jumping up and making loud noises."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-71146082748300881142008-04-18T23:22:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:50:40.277-08:00my big boy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbEgXfzJ73KXBzvjHSnumdt5RiBvbraFPDcXWG8SPo2kZbMl3negVQ9l06lglRTCFmHxF3M8AQzKjH-4LcmNBlY3tAJKz4AvnpIncklW5S4fJDS8_8DS8PdtSCjRd6nMMcQAZKw/s1600-h/lucas+april.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbEgXfzJ73KXBzvjHSnumdt5RiBvbraFPDcXWG8SPo2kZbMl3negVQ9l06lglRTCFmHxF3M8AQzKjH-4LcmNBlY3tAJKz4AvnpIncklW5S4fJDS8_8DS8PdtSCjRd6nMMcQAZKw/s320/lucas+april.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190838380618795922" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-56924505746052635722008-04-10T19:07:00.001-07:002008-12-09T05:50:40.412-08:00munchkins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrQlwEiDc2WX4zV4ZWpYlfGZhO13lN2aDttHpRGGZl34fCmO0rd8tayVzM3bbLfsvm_pglDqzgSYy4n1uuxOGcXMouNubKgnFa89IJw8xPFCnskr103hjdCTirxDq67cxI9_s0A/s1600-h/larwrenapril08.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrQlwEiDc2WX4zV4ZWpYlfGZhO13lN2aDttHpRGGZl34fCmO0rd8tayVzM3bbLfsvm_pglDqzgSYy4n1uuxOGcXMouNubKgnFa89IJw8xPFCnskr103hjdCTirxDq67cxI9_s0A/s320/larwrenapril08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187803795645059026" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37614457.post-1600227498577692322008-04-10T18:58:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:50:40.861-08:00i love me some blanket<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RrJQXyyktcuX300jYXd4XZEQsrNbe3kGBctYECqwgAaqZdqJrw3UHbADFiz5pZKqwkOxXRY96Pg3rf-__I4y1DCHMeYtvy7dS4QCYy2fcn5th9UW3fj8KdQFvmMBMoX5bEqxHw/s1600-h/wren's+blanket.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RrJQXyyktcuX300jYXd4XZEQsrNbe3kGBctYECqwgAaqZdqJrw3UHbADFiz5pZKqwkOxXRY96Pg3rf-__I4y1DCHMeYtvy7dS4QCYy2fcn5th9UW3fj8KdQFvmMBMoX5bEqxHw/s320/wren's+blanket.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187802322471276466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4VuwxePfkfPMrEGnM6fxXGRYozZC4N76mKE2bl9KDcivZz4JkigQUYAEpU26a9SOmgXj-la5Mjkw8VFb6k60kr4WY4ku2ZVsut_rggYZtLBSYkQtWILGvBw4LOkqw2qd3MbIiA/s1600-h/wren's+blanket2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4VuwxePfkfPMrEGnM6fxXGRYozZC4N76mKE2bl9KDcivZz4JkigQUYAEpU26a9SOmgXj-la5Mjkw8VFb6k60kr4WY4ku2ZVsut_rggYZtLBSYkQtWILGvBw4LOkqw2qd3MbIiA/s320/wren's+blanket2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187802326766243778" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0