Then & Now

First day of preschool:

Last day of preschool:

Sweet Dreams

I recently downloaded pics off my camera, and I came across this one taken back in March. Don't be surprised if it ends up being my 2010 favorite.

Doting Aunt

Awhile back, my nephew Tanner requested I mention him on my blog. I'm sure he assumes I've forgotten (as he well knows I tend to do).

When I was 18, Tanner was 4, and I spent a lot of time babysitting him, taking him to Chuck E. Cheese's, and dealing with his precocious ways.

Now he's 18. And as precocious as ever. But he just received his Eagle scout, is about to graduate high school, and is headed to college shortly thereafter. Can you tell I'm proud?

Meanwhile, I'm dealing with my own precocious almost-4-year-old. And it brings me great relief to know precocious children everywhere can turn out as well as Tanner.

A Whale of an Appendage (Or: An Appendage of a Whale)

I have some friends who think posting ultrasound pictures online is inappropriate/tacky/creepy. To them, my apologies (and permission to skip this post).

To the rest of the world, check out this beautiful leg!

The ultrasound tech said it's the thigh of a soccer player. Or runner. I know a certain proud grandfather who'd say it's the thigh of a NASCAR driver. (Regardless, the child can thank Matt, since mine are the thighs of a speed skater.)

Eccentric Artist

Riley's preschool is holding a summer art camp, and look who the poster child is:

I love her intensity (sleeves rolled up, even), her stance, and of course that the paint colors match her coat.

Rain or Shine

It's a beautiful, sunny day in Portland. (Finally!)

But Riley insisted on taking her umbrella to preschool. "In case it rains after school!!!"

Such a skeptic. Such an Oregonian.

(Summer is really going to throw her off. If it ever arrives. And I just realized where she learned skepticism.)

She's Crafty

Riley's current obsessions: fairies, mermaids, and princesses.

I mostly attribute this to the copious amount of princess/fairy hand-me-down dress-up clothes we've somehow acquired over the past while.

As much as Riley loves her dress up clothes, she felt something was missing: fairy wings.

So Matt, resourceful guy he is, saved the day. Together, he and Riley made custom hand-painted fairy wings. Which I'm kinda hoping make it 'til Halloween.