Monday, August 27, 2007

Maren's new buddy

This kitty came over last night from across the street. Seems like it is used to spending a lot of time at our house. We had to barricade the front door so it wouldn't come in. It does not seem to understand what "dog" means. Ellie and Marker would only be too happy to show the kitty. The kitty has been a perfect playmate for Maren- chase, pounce, stalk and attack!





Kitty came back this morning for another round of attack the rope!









THE LEDGE

The view down onto the ledge. Perfect for pizza crust and crumbs!

Getting Moved In

First dinner on the patio...pizza picnic!

Her room is getting set up.

Maren is all "cozied up." She is in her new bed!

It is calling to me...

Good night Ellie!

Sweet dreams Marker!

Good morning- first breakfast!







Wednesday, August 22, 2007

More babies on the brain!

More baby-themed play from Maren. She discovered this "giant rabbit " in our living room and a good thing it was as Maren announced "This mama rabbit is about to have babies!"

Ellie nurses her just delivered baby rabbits, Peter and Cottontail.

Ellie jumps right in and gives her newborn baby rabbit a good cleaning.


The Paper Princess

The Paper Princess tells the story of a little girl who makes a paper princess doll and it gets blown away by the wind. After some adventure, she finds her way back to the girl. The kids listened to the story with eyes and ears wide open and all agreed that their paper dolls would NOT blow away. They had a ball making their own versions.


Busy, busy.

Kids and their paper friends.

A paper princess, a paper fairy and a paper cowboy gnome.
( Any guess which one is Maren's?)




Baby on the Brain

"Baby kittens are being born!"

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

An Artist is Born!

Maren got a "new-to-her" easel today.



Maren learned the word "masterpiece."
She drew a caterpillar world.
See how fun it is!
Dad does watercolors!




Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Mama Panda Gives Birth in Our Livingroom

Maren has a new preoccupation with babies. She takes care of her "baby sister" doll Heart, her horses have babies, she asks us to tell her the story of her birth on a daily basis, she rescues snake babies and sqirrel babies in the yard and takes them to the rescue center in her room, she feeds the junco bird babies in our front yard (I think they are full-grown juncos though) and she lines up puppy babies along Ellie's belly so they can nurse. I guess we all have our own way to prepare for the arrival of Baby Duffy #2. The panda bear birth is a new one. Leave it to the imagination of a four year old!





We now have twin baby pandas- Half-Pint & Clara.






Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Introducing Sitka, no wait Buttercup

Meet Sitka, our new fish. This morning when I woke up to start the coffee, I looked for Beta who usually greets meet with his morning fish face. He was not there. No Beta in the tank. Speedy and Johnny Cash the snails were there, but no sign of any fish anywhere. I looked around the bowl, on the counter and on the floor- no Beta. I looked over at Ellie and she stared at me strangely, not willing to even lift her head. I woke David and asked if he had seen Beta, but he had no idea. He joined me in the futile search. I searched multiple times and finally came to the conclusion that Beta jumped ship. Because there was no body to be found, I guess that maybe Ellie heard the fish jumping commotion and gulped Beta down. I felt some sadness. I will miss Beta. He loved his food and I fed him, so I like to think we had a special connection. Now my thoughts turned to how do we tell Maren? We have no body to prove his passing. I certainly can't tell her that maybe Ellie ate him or Ellie would certainly be written off in Maren's book. I stewed about it all day, hoping Maren would not notice the missing fish. At dinner, we told her. Beta had jumped the bowl and we sent him back to the ocean. We went right to The Pet Zoo and picked a new fish. Maren cried and talked about how she liked Beta and we all shared our Beta memories. Maren even reminicsed about the two betas before Beta #3. Maren chose Beta #4 and named him Beta. She rode with him in the bag on her lap all the way home and changed his name to Sitka. Before I could finish this posting, she changed his name again to Buttercup. So we welcome Buttercup to the family. Rest in peace Beta- you were a good fish.

"My First Horse Mom!"

Maren busied herself after her rest today with paper and pens as I started dinner. I put her new book on CD My Friend Flicka on for her to listen to. She came bounding into the kitchen with a HUGE smile on her face. "Do you want to see my drawing? My first horse Mom!" She smiled with great pride and held her drawing up high for me to see. I was pretty surprised by the likeness of her drawing to an actual horse. She balked at previous attempts to draw a horse saying she just couldn't. So here it is - her first horse drawing. We are as proud as she is.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Blueberry Heaven

Maren & Jonah lead the way to Blueberry Heaven.
We picked in Eagle River off of Hiland Road- our old neighborhood.
Upon seeing all the blueberries, Maren proclaimed,
"This is BLUEBERRY HEAVEN Mom!"
HUGE, giant, clumps of mongo berries everywhere!

Blueberry lips



I wound up with NINE cups!

Blueberry heaven happiness!







Saturday, August 11, 2007

Hike to the hand tram

The start of our hike to Winner Creek in Girdwood.

"Would you like me to introduce you to a norm?"

"This norm lives right in here."

"Hello, how are you today?" said the norm

Sunny spruce forest

Across and above Winner Creek we go!

The view from the tram.

The power behind the hand tram.