LAGO.CLAN

Ah...the fall weather.

2010-11-04T04:46:00.000-07:00

NOT! 75 degrees is not fall weather, and I will tell you what, me no likey Christmas music when I'm sweating walking to the car after work each day. Boo.

We're supposed to take a change for the cooler today though, so we'll see how sweaty I get this afternoon.

In other updates, I got to see Alisa yesterday, and hold baby Sedona for a long time...and she is so so sweet! Guess who was not so sweet? A little thing called my child. Rowan was so jealous it was crazy. And amusing, and annoying. But we got our cuddle on after they left, and she was ok. I don't have a picture of the babe yet, except on my phone, but I do have pictures of Halloween! We went to Bothell Main Street, and got butt loads of candy from the shop fronts down there. We also had a visit from Aunt Cindy on Saturday, brother Jake over the weekend, and a birthday party to attend at Drew & Donnianne's on Halloween. Needless to say a full weekend, which is awesome when Ryan is out of town. Rowan has wanted to trick-or-treat every night since too. Which is just a mouth full of cavities waiting to happen. Fabulous.

Enjoy these pictures, there's more to come!

Rowan and Ellie the birthday girl! 3 years old! Old ladies!

The cutest pair in drag on Main Street!

Rowan and a Zombie :)

Eyeball & spider treats made my Aunt Deb--a Halloween Party! One more thing we did!!

Light at 7:30

2010-10-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

7:30 in the morning...that is! Wow, are you still looking for my wacky pictures and hilarious anecdotal stories? Well you are certainly stead fast my friend. I would have (and I pretty sure I did) given up on this 'ol blog long ago. But guess what? I'mmmm bbbaaaa-aaacckk! And what better a day to make my re-entry into the blogging world, we've had the change of a new season, and I can keep the same title...it just applies to a different earth/sun position.

Clearly there's too much to catch up on, but in short, things are good, people are well. My new job (still Macy's, but now at Bellevue, on the merchandising team) is going great, but I feel like an ox carrying the load of a pioneer family on the Oregon Trail and the end of each day. Lucy is at a new school (3rd grade) and LOVES it. She just finished Cross Country, and even though she came in last place every single meet, she couldn't have been prouder. Something about that experience tells me to not be so hard on myself...'Even if you come in 77th place out of 77 participants...you still completed the race, Esther!'...

Rowan is a miniature human, and everyday makes me laugh. Then makes me crazy, then makes me yell, then makes me laugh again. She has amazing attention to detail, like when she can sing the theme to Family Guy and name all the characters. What a child genius!

Ryan is still shaking his money maker, by which I mean his arms, with sticks in hand, banging a drum. He's got a couple of gigs coming up with a new band (new for him) Project Lion Heart, or as I have so fondly come to call it, Project Lion King. (I kid, I kid!)

The animals are stirring, it's time for me to get up and help. Until next time.

Lucy on her first day of school!

Rowan on Lucy's first day of school. Sharing in the excitement of a new year!

Still light...at 7:30

2010-03-14T23:28:00.000-07:00

Rowan at the Museum of Flight

Trouble Makers

It is now 11:28, but at the aforementioned time it was still light...so there. We are about 75% moved into our new house. I will tell you right now that haveing unmatching scheduled days off with your heterolifeparter (Ryan, not Jen) is not conducive to a move. Blah! It's been difficult, but we have a deadline-- the day I leave for London. I should teach a class on getting your ducks in a row. NOT!

It is Sunday night and Ryan and the rest of the boys are probably a few hours from Seattle. Rowan is asleep and I am watching reruns of Frasier...not sleeping because it doesn't feel late enough, even though I know if I close the computer and my eyes, I'd fall asleep. Ah well. More important to give family updates I suppose. I wish I had a picture to add, but I'm suffering from moving complex, just like Donnianne, and I haven't even taken the camera out of the box, much less the cord...who know's where that is! The two most important things on my list have been checked off however-- cable television and food. I'm set.

Re-Do!!

2010-02-25T08:09:00.001-08:00

Okay, cleary am no good at blogging frequently, but after reading Donnianne's blog, it is inspiring to try and get to it more often...especially for all the folks we don't see very often! A couple of things off the bat:

1.) I got a promotion!! I am now the Sales Supervisor for Cosmetics, Juniors and Active wear a the Redmond Town Center Macy's. Yippee!! More money, better hours, every other weekend off, and climbing that corporate ladder! Do it do it do it!

2.) This job has come just in time to move into our NEW HOUSE! It's actually a rental, but the guy said he'd sell it, so we're just getting our foot in the door (quite literally) and then we talk business over the next few months. It is in downtown Bothell and 10 minutes from the Ale House-- Perfect!

3.) Ryan is doing a mini tour again in March which is super exciting! The band is going again to Eugene and down to (I think) San Francisco, and then back up...the drag...the weekend he's goine is my first weekend off (a Saturday and Sunday together) in 1,000 years. Oh well! More where that came from.

4.) I'm going to London to visit my broseph! I leave March 30, and will be there for a little over 2 weeks. My dad and his wife SungHee will be there too, so fun travels are in store, without a doubt!

Watch for headlines for a BBQ party in our new YARD on our new PATIO. Yeah!!! So excited.

November/Thanksgiving

2010-01-02T22:18:00.000-08:00

Everyone ready? Here are the last two months in a recap...ready set go!

Rowan playing with her toys in her toybox.

I know it's what you've been waiting for...an ultimate profile picture for Facebook. Your Welcome!!

Chin chin...Happy Thanksgiving!

Dave and Kristi

Ryan's headshot that we'll be sending in to a few agents so he can start getting some auditions for daytime commercials.

Cake Wrecks

2009-11-05T23:46:00.000-08:00

OMG. Drop what you are doing immediatley and go to this blogsite: www.cakewrecks.blogspot.com

Put on a Depends, you might crap yourself because you'll be laughing so hard!!

Don't be Tardy for the Potty!

2009-11-02T21:07:00.000-08:00

Here ladies and gentlemen we have Rowan Lago at her finest! She says 'poop' a lot, and yesterday was talking about it a ton before she dropped a load in her Pamper. The Dr. said last week don't introduce the potty until she is very interested in it, but talking about it before she actually did it was good enough for us. So tonight, after the bath, we tried to get her to go pee on it. What follow is the hilarity that ensued!

Drinking water on the potty, to get the flow rolling.

This is what happened instead--she picks up the potty and moves it to a better spot for deeper concentration.

Happy Halloween! P.S.-- We're back on the grid!

2009-11-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! After a painful stint with no internet and an even more painful stint (1 year) without cable television, I'm pleased to announce we are once again contributing bill payers to the Comcast corporation! Here are some new shots of the girls from Halloween!
A cockeyed shot of Rowie before her costume.

Lucy getting her makeup put on...try to pay to attention to my giant front gut that looks like I'm 5 months pregnant...guess what? I'M NOT!

Lucy in costume--Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

Rowan the baby bumble bee! These are taken at DownTown Bothell's trick-or-treat thing with all the businesses, it was fun, and I will be eating all of Rowan's candy at a later date.

The Guyer-Lago circle: Angus (Stormtropper), Izzy (guess!), Rowan and Lucy.

Another attempt at a family shot...thanks for all that cooperation, Lucy!

Next stop: Aunt Deb's to go trick-or-treating with Kristi, Dave & Co., and Meg the clown!

All the girls in costume! behind Lucy and Ro are Chloe (7), Meg (my cousin, 12), Lily (9), and Ella the cheetah (4) these (for those who don't know) are my cousin Kristi's boyfriend's daugthers, they are a party wherever they go!!

Rowie and Kristi the Klown! By the end of the night, Rowan could actually kind of say trick-or-treat! Yee-haw! Thanks Kris!

Thats it folks, but stay tuned, there might actually be more photos of our family up here before the girls' birthdays in April...we'll see!

My Monthy Summer Post

2009-08-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

Before I get started in the explanation of these amazing pictures, let me first say that I hate when you're uploading pictures to blogger and it puts them in the opposite order you added them-- for example, you are looking through your pictures, brainstorming how you're going to make your blog entry flow, and then, when everything is uploaded and ready to go, you pictures are all in the wrong order. I've said my piece.

The Country Fair! We took a trip to Eugene in the middle of July. It was a trip for the summer, and it was a fun one! This recent family snap shot would be us, at the fair, drenched in mud and rain. It started down pouring as soon as we got onto the shuttle bus and didn't stop til we got in line to get back on the shuttle to go back to Eugene. We made the best of it. Lucy even got a sno-cone. Good times, good times.

We had a surprise visit from Chris and Alisa who went to the fair on Saturday, and stayed with us at our friends' Nikki and Brady's house on Saturday night. We pitted cherries and against everyone else's will except my own we played a game that I thoroughly enjoyed! Thank you!

A group shot! Sans Nikki :( Brady, Ryan, Lucy, Me, Sarah and Rowan. This was at a winery in the Willamette Valley-- Sweet Cheeks. We had dinner here and it was my first wine tasting trip! Yee-haw! This was the second of two places; the first one with a free 7-taste flight! It might be my new favorite hobby!

R & R at the first of the two wineries--that are across the street from each other.

I don't know what it is about this picture, but I like it. An action shot.

In other news, I saw the movie Julie and Julia last week, and there are two things that are going to come out of it: I am going to get a Julia Child French cook book, and I'm am going to try and blog more. I'll let you know how it goes! Ha!

summertime catch up

2009-07-17T23:34:00.000-07:00

Here's the deal; I'm really bad about taking pictures. I have literally no pictures from the summer thus far. People take them, then give them to me. It works ... enjoy these fine selections from the late spring of '09!

Stay tuned! I have a CD of pictures from our trip to Eugene last week...don't hold your breath though!

uuughhh. . .June

2009-06-22T18:26:00.000-07:00

Wowza, maybe it's been a few weeks since I've made a post! We've been so busy with the end of school for Lucy (offically a 2nd grader now!) and my birthday, which takes up an entire month as it is. I have a lot of pictures to post, so I'll do them a few days at a time...hold on to your shapewear everyone...it's going to be a wild ride!!
Rowan already tired and it's only 9:30 a.m.

Pretty baby in the morning light.

Back to sleep it is!

An ode to Fart Face

2009-06-03T22:40:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, I started a second myspace a while back, mainly to look at Ryan's myspace page. I couldn't access it unless I had a page myself, so that's what it took. But it was highly secret, as I secretly hate myspace. So, with no better ideas, I decided to make my page a disguise page, with a profile pic of E.T. and Michael Jackson, an old personal favorite. And what better name to go with my incongnietus picture but Fart Face? Right? This post (because I have no other new fun pics) is a dedication, to that myspace page. Below you will see Fig. A, an artist's rendering of my all time favorite image, and Fig. A-1, the actual footage.

Cabin Fever

2009-05-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not referring to the amature horror flick starring Ryder Strong, but the Molloy family cabin on Lake Cushman, at the edge of the Olymic National Forrest!! Jen and I took Izzy, Gus and Rowan up for a one-nighter, to get her aired out and cob-web free for the summer. We had awesome weather yesterday upon arrival, and I may have donned one of Jen's 78-year-old Aunt Pat's killer swim suits. Onlookers got a good show. Here's some visual aid: let it be known that I also was playing with color when I uploaded these shots to my computer, so they are all a little different. Enjoy!

Cabin from front. Underneath is wood storage/bat cave. Oars? We got 'em!

No "good dog" for you this time, Izzy. P.S. this game makes a great gift-- Doodle Dice. Do it.

Red haired & blue eyed. She spent most of these 24 hours in this play pen, and loved almost every minute of it! Seriously!

Angus pretending he's a Japanese exchange student with the peace sign in his cheek.

View of the lake and my face. Good times, good times.

A little RECOGNITION

2009-05-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

This is a post script to the post you are about to feast your eyes on-- In the first paragraph I make comment on the toys in the picture, please excuse me for forgetting the coolest toys in the picture, the ones my father-in-law, Cliff, made!! There are two toys: an ark with animals, and a put the shapes in the box game. Both of these beauties were made by CDL Cabinet Design, owned and operated by Cliff D. Lago, out of Greenfield, OH. How's that for a plug!?

Family Ties

2009-05-24T20:53:00.001-07:00

This is a rare occurance, but I am logged into the computer under Ryan's profile. I came to write a post, and when I clicked to get into my pictures I realized I had none, because I was in Ryan's side of the computer, and all the pictures are in my side. So, what this means ladies and germs, is that the pictures you are about to see Ryan himself has uploaded to the computer, and are all from his phone, it's a day in the life of Ryan Lago, if you please. Let's see what he's got to show us, shall we?

Here we have Rowan giving her new baby a hug. She got this baby for her birthday from Aunt Stacy & Boys, Jill & Johari. The cell phone and keys were also a gift, from Aunt Cindy & Uncle Paul. In the corner you can see the horse from the See 'n' Say, a gift from Auntie Deb, Uncle Carl & Eric.

Here is Rowan attending a tutorial on how to take pictures of yourself for social networking sites. When you hold down the shutter button, you say, "MySpace!" with a gay accent.

Rowan and Lucy sitting on the Care Bear couch getting their daily 3 1/2 hour dose of television. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we are huge promoters of hands-on parenting.

Lucy looking pensive while the eye from her Hello Kitty placemat stares hollow through the eye of the camera.

My lovely husband, Ryan D. Lago. Make no mistake, although times is hard, times is hard, there's no one else I'd take for a companion to make poop sandwiches for lunch with and to watch crude adult cartoons with every night. Love eewe. = )

Zoo Time!

2009-05-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

For Lucy and Rowan's birthday, my Auntie Robin gave us a membership to the Woodland Park Zoo. Yesterday we took our maiden voyage, accompanied by our friends Ellie and Donnianne. We had a super fun time, and the babies were so good!! No tantrums, no crying, no sleeping; which could also be a con of the trip, and no Bird/Swine flu or Wolf Aids...that is recognizable so far. The weather was perfect, overcast and warm enough with no breeze. We even got soft serve ice cream and saw a peacock with its' feathers out. It was all the ingredients for an awesome day. And in exchange for some manual labor, Jen bought me dinner and a margarita. I'm pretty sure if I don't get a new job I'll just take a position on the 124th St. Southbound 405 exit with a sign that says, "Will Work For Food: Mexican or Thai perferred, but will settle for a BicMac or a #2, beef, w/a Coke from Taco Time." That'll all be the fine print of the sign ; )Rowan playing in ZooMazium, an indoor playground that was just her and Ellie's size! With oversized chairs for grownups on the outside, no hands on parenting! Just my style.

Having some snacks in the family fun farm where Rowan proceeded to call every animal a dog, and tried to kick a goat in the ribs like 5 times.

Opening a birthday present from cousin Danielle, who drove down from Bellingham for the Panda show on Sunday.

That's all for today ladys and gents. Oh, and please post thoughts on me going back to school for my ASL (American Sign Language) certification. I'm an open book for some advice!!

2009-05-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope everyone enjoyed the non-rainy weather. I had to work today, but no matter, I was done by 7, and I get to watch Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street tonight!! It was my mother's day present from Ryan, Lucy and Rowan. Also gifted to me was a sweet card from Lucy, and breakfast in bed! And, lest I forget, Lucy woke up at 5:30 a.m., came into our room, and got Ryan up to start the pancakes. He made it all the way to the kitchen before he realized what time it was, and they put on a movie and went back to sleep...but not for long. Lucy came walzing into our room (where I was still sleeping) with a plate of pancakes and bacon, at 6:57 a.m. Needless to say, the kid was excited. She brought me coffee, too; it was very thoughtful and she was proud as a pea-cork (I spelled it that way on purpose).

This video is of tonight after I got home from work. This has been our favorite game for a while now. Rowan gets a serious kick out of it!

Just for the Blog of it.

2009-05-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

It's another morning...another cup of coffee in my favorite red Fussball Club Basel mug from Switzerland...another Disney movie for Rowan in her PJ jammers that she isn't even watching...I was reading Donnianne's blog about her day of tantrums and other convenient things. I had a similar day, except mine was more that I wanted to rent a cave for a month, all utilities incl. I feel better today : )

We have an event today at work. Wacoal's Fit for the Cure. Or, as Jen coined, Bra-leluiah!! Which I'm petitioning for that name of the event next year. It's kind of a big deal, we should be busy with a lot of traffic in the store. Plus, there will be jelly beans, and mini water bottles, so I'm pretty stoked.

Rowan has turned into a toddler over night, I think. She does things differently, with more thought process behind it-- at least I think she does anyway. It would make sense though, she has a huge head (90th percentile to match her 25th %ile body) which means she has a huge brain, and is a genius.

Here are a few examples of her being mischievous:

Phantom baby steals candy out of her sister's Easter basket.

Caught red handed, eating the Hershey's kiss with the foil ON.

Devil baby drops every piece of hotdog and corn lunch on the floor.

Devil baby eats the lunch off the floor, instead.

First Steps!!

2009-05-04T21:55:00.000-07:00

Today Rowan and I hung out with our friends Donnianne and Elliott. Elliott and Rowan are about six months apart, and today was the first time they actually played together-- it was so fun watching them interact with each other, sharing toys, sippy cups, utensils, etc. It was nice to see Donnianne, too ; ) We also got to see my cousin Robby today! He's up visiting from LA, and we haven't seen him since Christmas, so it was a fun afternoon visit...we had a full day, to say the least. BUT, the most exciting part was Rowan taking her first steps...in a row!! She did about three consecutive at the park, and then I almost peed my pants. When we got to my aunt's house later, she took like 4 or 5 steps, steadily, toward my Aunt Deb!! Yeah baby!!! She's on her way. Can you believe this is what she looked like just a year (and 2 days : ) ago?! This photo was taken May 1. 2008 The bottom pic is from her birthday party.

Forgotten

2009-05-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

There's a few pics here off my phone I just uploaded...thought they were cute. Rowan in her carseat with her sunhat on! love that hat!

Yo-Da one for me =)

Rowan with her Grandpa Cip

And, the real reason for my post...the piece de resistance...Rowan taking some steps. The funny part is what she does before and after...enjoy!

2009-04-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

Just quick-- normally, this mantle area above the table is clear (let's be real, no it's not, but it just has crap on it) and look at all those birthday cards!! I had to document it before I took them down...Happy birthday everyone with an April birthday! And happy birthday Aunt Connie! 50 today! Yee-haw!

Birthday Girls!

2009-04-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

Today is Lucy's actual birthday, she's seven years old!! Wow-wow-ee-wow. Here are a few pics from our birthday weekend...recap: Thursday = Rowan's birthday, and the arrival of Grandma Kari and Grandpa Cip. Friday = Birthday dinner for Ryan, Rowan and Lucy at Auntie Robin & Uncle Paul's in Woodinville. Saturday = Rowan's 1st birthday party at Blyth Park in Bothell...enjoy! Delicious chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting from Costco.

Lucy with her two grandmas: (Kari, Ryan's mom and Lucy, Deborah's mom)

What can I say? I'm pretty sure this is the 2nd family portrait ever taken. Better luck next year, perhaps we'll try a studio?

Birthday girl #2 opening presents!

Birthday girl #1 opening a handmade back pack from Auntie Deb...perfect for holding her Leapster and her games!

Lucy and Rowan in their hanboks, traditional Korean garb for special occasions. Lucy's had hers for years but it didn't fit til now, and Rowan just got hers for her birthday. These are courtesy of my dad and step mom in Korea.

Catching up...again.

2009-04-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

I have lots of pictures from this weekend, but first I have to put these up before it gets to be months passed and I never do it, and I find them later, and it won't make any sense chronologically...and I'm anal retentive so I need it to be a certain way...enough said. Look at these, tomorrow I'll put some up from the girls' birthday weekend.

getting a refresher walking on the B.G. en route to Chez Gue-yey.

She loves this backpack--it was the best 20 tax free dollars I ever spent (a purchase from Eugene, on our roadtrip).

Doing laundry.

My name a-Borat

2009-04-18T23:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight I am in Bellingham. And this man is who I'm spending the evening with.

2009-04-17T23:38:00.000-07:00

Just a few more pics I had to add...I uploaded all of the pictures off my phone tonight...about six months worth, so there was a lot to weed through. I'm actually surpirsed it's taken me all week to do this, as I haven't left the house since Monday, for Ryan's birthday dinner. I did have some productivity though-- I have watched almost all five seasons of 'Family Guy' we own, and I also read The Da Vinci Code in about 2 and a half days. The good news is, my knee is healing after my easter egg hunt spill, and I think the sinus infection is waning. Me thinks the best medicine is rest...especially when you don't have health insurance =)
Lucy in a Master of Puppets night gown. Getting ready for a sleepover in front of the TV, I'm sure.

Cute baby face!!

Peek-a-Boo! Rowan loves this game. If you say to her, "Where's Rowan?" She covers her face. Actually, it's more like a double slap, but it's soooo sweet! It's funny how babies do the same thing, but it's not cute at all (maybe just a little bit) until you have your own baby to watch do it. Avert your eyes...proud mama comin' through.

2009-04-17T22:47:00.000-07:00

Look at these gems...too funny. This first one I love because of how she is holding her hands, a perfect lady at 8 months old.

This, my friends, should be your comic relief for the weekend. A baby taking a bath with goggles on. That's all you need to say.

I've been down and out with a bum knee the past few days, and Ryan had a show tonight...so, my girlfriends stopped by to bring a a delcious treat of a sausage wrapped in a tortilla with cheese and fried, a drumstick ice cream cone, and to give Rowan a bath.

2009-04-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

I just had to put this up-- to prove a point, if nothing more. The pic two post below this, the picture that is also of Rowan and myself, was taken on March 6th. This pic was taken at the end of the month, or the very beginning (like the 1st of 2nd) of April. Look how much this kid has changed in those few weeks! It's crazy! This picture, by the way, was taken at our friend Forest's wedding...there was a goat there, too. But the didn't kill it, it was a rental.

Catch Up

2009-03-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics to show you guys what we've been up to...I'm realizing I'm not grand at documenting our lives, maybe it's time for me to get on that train. As a verbal catch-up, real quick, Lucy and Rowan will be 7 and 1 next month, Ryan will be 27 on the 13th. Rowan has 6 teeth, and she is not walking...yet. She eats everything you put in front of her, whether or not it's food. Here's a recap in photos. January-- Rowan walking down the hall with daddy.

Rowan, me, Carly (good friend from Newport), Sophia; her 18 month old daughter. In Eugene, on Rowan's and my Oregon road trip.

Lucy reading! Her favorite activity. She reads every night before bed, and has inspired me to do the same. I'm currently 3 quarters of the way through Paddy Clarke, ha ha ha.

February. Rowan in her cow jammies and her shiny red shoes. She wore them only once, to Valentine's Day dinner at Auntie Deb's.

Feb/March (?). Once Rowan learned to pull herself up in the crib, she learned to pull herself up onto anything. I like this picture -- it looks like she's posing.

Love this too-- I can't quite tell what that look on her face is. She just looks very obedient, but with the look of shenanigans in her eyes.

Testing...Testing...Houston! We have one!!

2009-03-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

YESS! I have finally found a spot in the house where our pilfered internet allows me to upload pictures! I'm back everyone, and I'm better than freakin-ever!!

This above pic was taken in a cafe in Eugene, OR when Rowan and I went down to take the new Volvo for a test run, and to visit my brother and long lost high school friends...life long friends really, let's not limit it to high school.

Also, my new obsession with Facebook status updates (and the fact that I couldn't get pics to load up here) has made the blog take a backseat. But no more, I assure you. I will add though, the only spot, where I stand now, yes, stand, is in the kitchen in the far corner -- to the right of the sink, for those who know the layout of my house -- and after being on my feet all day at work, I'm ready to get off of them; i.e., not type up my life story on my blog while standing in my red WSU sweatpants (thanks Dad, I still have them) in front of the kitchen window. This free show for the town-home dwellers has gone on long enough....I'll be here all week! Try the veal; it's phenomenal.

Title

2009-02-23T15:17:00.000-08:00

It is raining. A lot in this moment. Ryan is asleep on the couch, and Rowan is asleep in her crib. Lucy is at school still and I'm hopped up on Oreo Cakesters and Dr.Pepper. Great. I'm so mad I can't get pictures up here. It's starting to bum me out big time. I think the connection is just a little bit too slow. Hopefully soon we can get that little magic piece that we had a while ago that makes it faster.

Ryan got back from Vargina this morning (the joke never gets old to me...I've been switching that 'i' to an 'a' all day...and I'm still laughing). He was visiting his brother, who got married yesterday! Congrats to Jackie and Justin. They have a cute little place for their Party of Five to live. For those who don't know, Justin, my brother-in-law has two girls; 1 Lucy's age and one a few years younger, and Jackie, my new sister-in-law (yeah!) has a little girl (6ish-years-old). Anyway, Ryan was gone all weekend, and now he's sleeping off the jet lag. So is Rowan. I think babies have sympathy symptoms for things like sickness and jet lag.

The girl is crawling like crazy, and puts EVERYTHING into her mouth. I'm pretty sure a muzzle is in her future.

Lucy lost her other front tooth last weekend, on Valentine's day, actually, and she is an avid reader. Good thing Deborah has helped implement that skill, neither Ryan or I read a lot, something I'm working on for myself. I love books, I just don't read them...it's the weirdest thing!

AHA! We are getting our new car tonight! It's a 1998 V70 T-5 Turbo Volvo wagon. It is fully loaded with leather (heated) seats, a CD player and a sunroof. I have never owned anything so luxury! It also has that sweet third row of seats in the way back that face out, so you can see other cars out the back window like a dog. Lucy is super excited about that bit. She also comes with 4 studded tires, a bike rack, ski rack, and an extra set of wiper blades. I could go on and on, I could probably start a brand new blog page on how excited I am, and all the little features this car has...I can't wait to drive it!

pictures coming soon....

...Easy like Monday morning.

2009-02-09T10:33:00.000-08:00

Here I sit, at the table, cold, no socks, no coffee but I have creamer (it's the pits when you have one but not other, especially the creamer and not the coffee, because the creamer goes so much faster), Rowan has been asleep for over an hour and I don't know what to do with myself. That's not to say that I don't have many things I could be doing, like folding the laundry on my bed, doing the dishes in the sink, but none of those things seem as important and checking my email, and watching people's status updates on Facebook. I think I might have a slight addiction to pilfered internet. We recently discovered that we can get a fair connection from one of our surrounding paying customer neighbors. It's the not the best and the fastest, but it's internet and we're not paying for it. I'm not complaining.

Things on the slough front are jim dandy, I woke up this morning and after my shower went in to wake up Lucy and noticed the dusting of snow on all the cars and trees as I was tying her curtains back. It was pretty; but even Lucy said, "Oh great, just what we need, more snow." She read my mind. She's been funny lately, you can tell she's getting more of an attitude, but at the same time she gets the joke, so there's a nice balance there, until the attitude out-weighs her understanding of sarcasm and she gets in trouble. She'll figure it out.

Rowan is offically crawling, and I wish I could post pics of it on the page. She gets on all 4s and just moves, it's cute, but annoying when you've just picked up and then all the DVDs and CDs are out strewn on the floor for you to pick up again. Good thing she likes her daycare!! (and she does! They love her too, and say that she never cries! Awesome.)

Ryan has been playing a lot of shows lately; the last two weekends have been busy. This coming weekend, Valentine's Day, he's playing at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard. I won't be able to go, again, but Lucy and I are planning something fun. I'm sure it won't be a romantic dinner for 2, but it might be a mac and cheese dinner for 3, which isn't bad.

Rowan just woke up, and she'd like to write a little note:

yn tt gtgb ty yyrkfdi

She's trying to close it, b6tbv bybbbbbybybi7yy7jnohb nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn yh h gf

she's going to make a hell of a receptionist some day.

Lagos OUT!

AARRRRG

2009-01-24T21:13:00.000-08:00

I'm getting mad because I'm trying to post pictures, and there it keeps saying it can't open the window. It is so frustrating cuz I gots to get some pics up on this page!! Rowan and I are kickin' it root down tonight; Ryan is at a show in Seattle and we are watching the movie Step Brothers.

Anyway, as soon as I can get my pictures up, this will be more exciting to check...until then, RowBot and I are Audi 5000. Take it sleazy.

My Latest Portrait

2009-01-20T22:34:00.000-08:00

Ba-Wang-O! I don't know, maybe it's been a month or three...who's counting? My plan is to just roll with the story that I last wrote on election day, and now it's inauguration day, and I was taking a hiatus from blogging in honor of B.H.O.

Anywho, I'm back and better than ever, so don't miss this season of Esther's blog...

IT'S GOING TO BE BIG!

Solid like Barack

2008-11-05T22:20:00.000-08:00

Ahhhhh. Today has been a different day. It felt different, going out and doing things knowing that the direction of this country is changing...I didn't really think about it until I was down town at Pike Place with my friend Jen getting her cards read for her birthday. I overheard some women talking about it, and realized, this is different, people feel happy, they aren't worried or pissed off about what will happen, they feel secure, this is good.

Last night as we were watching the election results, Rowan had fallen asleep around 8:30 or so. She slept for maybe a half an hour, and as soon as Barack Obama came out to give his victory speech, Rowan woke up, and sat clear and alert on my lap and watched almost the entire thing...I thought it was not coincidence, she knows she's witnessing something that is long overdue and something that as my friend Donnianne said "an everyday reality" as opposed to a question of time.

Yeah! I'm proud to be an American...again!

2008-10-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

So, maybe it's time for a post that does not revolve around pictures, but more simply just what we've been up to.

As I sit here, the night before Halloween, Lucy is building a wooden block castle for her plastic animals, Rowan is shrieking and kicking with delight, chewing on her baby blankie in her bouncy seat. Ryan is gone setting his drums up for their show tonight at the King Cat Theatre. I get to go to the show tomorrow, I'm excited. Lucy is going trick-or-treating with her mom, and Rowan will be staying with Auntie Deb, an over-nighter, too!

I'm pretty stoked on my halloween costume this year too, it's been a few years since I have been excited to dress up for the holiday, so it will be a refreshing change of pace to be dressed up as a pregnant sister wife...can't wait! Got my crisp white collared shirt and my denim/floral print dress all lined up. To top it off, my running shoes and a nice black fanny pack to keep some literature in for passing out to folks enquiring on what it means to be FLDS (fundamentalist later day saint).

I've been reading Stacy's blog lately which is making me want to write more real things, instead of just captioning my pictures. The only problem is, I'm not sure what to write about, since most of the writing is about the kids anyway, and what else would I have to write about it? I open for suggestions.

Time to check on the lasagna. I'm getting excited for the cold weather again...Halloween is like the gateway holiday becuase the day after is November, and then Thanksgiving is a few weeks away...then I get to start listening to Christmas music! I'm excited to have Rowan be the age she is for the holidays, chewing and grabbing for stuff...it will be fun :)

til next time...

video post experiment

2008-10-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

This is my practice round at trying to post a video. The picture still says processing, but I'm gonna try 'er anyway.

Here goes!

Rolling Over!

2008-10-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

This beast can't be tamed! You put her on the ground, and she rolls and rolls...like she could do it forever. Tonight she rolled from where the carpet meets the wood floor all the way into the hallway. I want to try and get a video of it, but I can't figure out how to load videos...any pointers you guys that put videos up with your digital cameras? Donnianne, I'm looking in your direction!!

Scooby and Shaggy in the background of this shot.

The balance here is incredible: right arm smashed elbow, left arm straight as a plank...tounge/head used as stablilizer.

A Series I Like to Call, "Sistery Love"

2008-10-14T20:39:00.000-07:00

These were the pictures that I initially wanted to post tonight: Lucy missing her front tooth (she lost it over the weekend at the San Juan Islands, this makes tooth #3 that has fallen out) and Rowan's first try with sweet baby carrots--the doc said to wait til 7 months...she'll be 6 next week, I figure that's close enough. She loved them, by the way.

A shot of my girls together, Lucy palming Rowan's skull.

Lucy thought she might give feeding Rowan a try. She was a pro! Even got a few laughs in!

But it took very serious concentration, especially since Rowan mainly licks the spoon...

All in all, it was a good experience. Lucy got to feed her sis for the first time, and Rowan liked the carrot puree...eeew.

Lucy's Homework

2008-10-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

This is Lucy's homework. She took this picture tonight when we were sitting at the table. I don't know what it is about it that I find artistic, I just really like the combination of items: a rabbit on a piece of paper and a red pencil from Camp Lutherwood, that Jacob and I had to go to 10 years ago...why I still have a pencil floating around from then I haven't the foggiest, but now I shall truly never forget my week spent there, as my 1st grader sits down to do her rabbit math with the pencil from my venture.

1 more thing!

2008-10-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

I had to post these pics too--they are from our trip a year and a half ago--these girls are just too cute together. April 2007

September 2008

My brother-in-law Justin and me...with short hair!

My all time favorite picture from any trip...EVER. I like to think this could be me and Ryan in 50 years, walking down East Riverside Drive, when we've moved from our condo to the retirement apartment complex, or the 55 and older trailer park. Either one is suitable.

Ohio 2008

2008-10-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

It's been about a year and a half since we were last in Ohio visiting Ryan's family. Here's a few shots to sum up our trip...we were there for one week, and everyone enjoyed themselves. I wish I could say the journey out there was uneventful but it wasn't, and we had to stay an unexpected night at the Sheraton Hotel in Atlanta, GA. It was a disaster, but we were happy to be there with family when we finally arrived.

Visiting Grandma Clay's grave at Washington Cemetary. We took Lucy here last time we came out to visit too, she enjoys it.

Ryan and Rowan the rebels not staying on the paved path. This is at an Indian Burial Ground called Serpent Mound. It's huge, 1000 years old, and was built at the edge of where a huge asteriod hit 300 million years ago. Pretty awesome.

Rowan and Grandpa hiking at Serpent Mound.

Ryan and Lucy hiking at Serpent Mound.

Me! In Ohio :) Behind me is Cliff and Kari's (Ryan's folks) front yard. Notice the landscape behind me...flat flat flat.

Baby in Carhartts. Love thisi pic!

Rowan and her Great-Grandpa Clay, 'boopin' heads' as he calls it :)

Cousins!! Hailey (almost 4), Lucy (6.5), Paige (almost 7), Rowan (5.5 months). Hailey and Paige are Ryan's brother's girls, they all live in Virginia. Or, as I've taken a liking to calling it, Ole Virginny.

Uncle Justin with the girls!

Paige and Lucy. These girls have only seen each other a handful of time in their lives--literally, I think it's only been 5 times, in 7 years...we're hoping to change that pattern and get out there in another 6 months.

Butternut Squash!!

2008-09-16T21:57:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Rowan's first eating experience with a spoon and actual food that is not milk: it's butternut squash! I like this sequence of pictures, it really shows how well she took it...I guess :) She did seem to like it though, she didn't cry, just couldn't figure out what the spoon was, and gagged when she tried to swallow the food. It was pretty darn cute!!

Go Seahawks!!

2008-09-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

I love these pictures! It was just the three of us watching the game on Sunday, that we unfortunately lost...again...and Rowan was so funny sitting with Ryan on the couch. It looked like she was really watching the game!!

1st Day of 1st Grade

2008-09-02T22:17:00.001-07:00

Lucy started 1st grade today, she was pretty excited, but I think coming home from Disneyland two days ago has finally set in. She was in tears tonight at bed time, and got out of bed 3...count 'em, 3 times, crying because she missed Disneyland and the Tiki Room so much. I felt so bad, because I could totally relate, you have one of the most memorable experiences of your life thus far, and then you come home and it's rules and bed times, and school...this picture kind of captures the mood she was in this morning and this afternoon.
The bus.

Ryan's cousin Danielle at their house in Bellingham. She and her fiance Rob met at our wedding two years ago, and they just got engaged!! This was their engagement party last weekend.

Rowan training for her boxing classes that we're going to get her signed up for...just as soon as she can sit up on her own. Or maybe stand, that'd probably be easier if she could stand for the boxing sport.

Four Month Old Feet

2008-09-02T22:03:00.001-07:00

Here we are on the moment Rowan had discovered her feet...laying on my bed as the August rain poured down, she was screeching happily and then I looked over and she was trying to put her toes in her mouth, which I hadn't ever seen her attempt. She kept trying and trying and pretty soon she had both feet in her hands, and hasn't left that position since.

Trying to hold a bottle by herself...still needs a little help.

Eating her feet in the bathtub...with the soap and everything.

Pretty 4-month old girl. This dress is from Rowan's Great-Grandma Carol who lives in Ohio. We did a little photo shoot and she did awesome for it...except for when she kept falling over to the side and would just proceed to put her feet into her mouth, but it was still cute :)

2008-08-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry, had to just post these too...they are too funny. Look how red the hair is on this baby!?
Boyfriends with an adopted baby, or brothers-in-law?

This reminds me of an album cover...like Simon and Garfunkle or something...

An Amazing Discovery

2008-08-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

I just discovered some sweet news! A couple months ago my dear friend Nikki gave me a digital camera because ours is broken. She told me ahead of time that she had no cord for downloading pictures, but it works fine to take the memory stick to the store and print off that way. I thought, that's nice, but I'm much to lazy to take a stick to the store and do it that way, after I feel like I've been spoiled with my Snapfish discovery. The sweet news: I realized my computer has it's very own "media hole" (that's a technical term). Hence, I don't have to take the stick to the store, but rather can just stick it directly into my computer. I practically crapped my pants I was so excited, and to christen these moments, some shots from the camera, from our friends Sarah and TJ's wedding. Enjoy!

Ryan as the "ring bear" for the ceremony.

In this shot we can see Toledo on the end, Izzy next to him and Jen next to her, and that's me in the front row. *this picture added for quality comparison*

Alisa and I waiting for the ceremony to commence.

Rowan giving a wave and tasting her dress. She sat in her stroller through the whole thing, awesome because: A.) It was a scorcher and I didn't want to hold her, and her father was dressed in a bear costume and unavailable, B.) We were in DI-rect sunlight and I didn't want her little 10 week old face to burn off.

Sarah (the bride) and Alisa with their awesome necklaces that were custom made by the same lady who has an etsy shop. If you can't see it, Alisa's is a radical peacock feather, they are made of leather.

A shot of Ryan and Lucy just before they walked down together...Lucy was the flowergirl and did an awesome job! Thankfully she refrained from lying down on her back and sticking her legs straight up in the air like she did at our wedding.

Makin' Mems '08

2008-08-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

Here's our car, packed to the brim. I can't believe we fit four people worth of stuff and food plus the four people in the car. I was impressed.

Our little Panda Camp. We had a large communal area for all of us to hang out and for the musicians to jam...it was fun, except for those sporadic drum solos at 4 in the morning.

We got a lot of rain while we were there, this particular picture was taken right before a guy called Buckethead (he wears a mask and a bucket on his head, and doesn't talk into the mic) came on, and it was raining pretty grood. Viking the sound guy let Ryan stand with the baby under his sound board hut. I'll tell you what, he's the nicest viking I've ever met.

Wierd, a stubborn 6-year-old with her father watching the old Panda drummer on stage. Lucy looks so tall in this picture. Notice the sweet-ass dancing hippy in the back ground. 10 bucks says Ryan is checking her out...NOT! Ryan is NOT checking her out! (Special thanks to Borat for that awesome joke...who knew "Not Jokes" could be funny again!?)

Alisa and Rowan cudding while Chris gets ready for a jam session. The girls were so good the whole trip! Went to bed without a peep, and Rowan slept through the night both nights. She won best camper award, and Chris Poage won best camp hair. I'm pretty sure that I probably won Best Camp Complainer. I've come to learn that camping is not my favorite past time, despite how much I love love loved it as a child. Oh well. Guess it's all about the memories. Makin' mems '08.

a;sldkfja;sldkfj: HOME ROW

2008-08-12T10:32:00.003-07:00

Here are some recent pics. We got back from our camping trip on Sunday night, I'll post those later, because there are some sweet gems in here you won't want to miss!

Rowan and I were running a few errands last week and when we got home, this was the walkway up to the stairs. It was thrilling.

Rowan at Blythe Park for a picnic with my dad, Sung Hee, Suji and SuHyun, Aunt Cindy and Gram. This was equally thrilling as the velcro covered ball to Gram's Reach Volley set rolled down the hill. The search efforts recovered nothing, except for a baseball that doesn't stick to the loops on the Reach Volley mits.

Thank heavens for regular diapers. This was a little situation we got into last week at Jen's when I ran out of diapers. I found a pair of Angus' plastic training pants (these pictured are size 3T, on a 3 month old) and folded up a recieving blanket to make the padding. It was amusing.

Ryan and I went down to Jen's warehouse to help her straigten things up a few weeks ago. Rowan fell asleep to the gentle motion of Ryan pushing a broom coupled with the cozy-soft atmosphere of the Interbay warehouse space.

Lucy taking Nicky for a walk around Green Lake.

Mother and child at a dock in Olympia. My dad and I went to visit some old friends from Oregon and we met up half way in Oly. It was fun and I had a sandwich called the Ellensburg Rodeo. Yum.

...So here they are, just a few random shots of life with the Lagos. I"ll post some pics of our camping trip after you've all had a chance to digest these. Happy Birthday Auntie Deb!!

New Pics, New Thoughts...But some of the same thoughts, too.

2008-08-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

Things have been chugging along at Ye Olde Bothelle Statione. My dad and his wife are getting ready to head back to S.Korea, Yorkies and all. I always hate this time of the summer, it reminds me that we have to get back to a regular routine, but we're not quite there. It's like a warning bell or something...I don't have great associations with it. Despite that though, it's still summer time and there's still fun to be had!

We are going camping this weekend, Ryan's playing a show in Darrington at a festival, so our entire gaggle of Lagos is going, should be fun. It's a nice way to ease the sadness of my dad leaving, it's giving me something else to prepare for...keeping my thoughts occupied elsewhere.

In other news, I joined Weight Watchers and have lost three pounds! So, the next time you see me, be sure to tell me I look good, and to keep up the good work, even if you can't tell :) Everyone else is enjoying their summers...Rowan is getting big, starting to feel heavy, like a REAL baby, instead of a limp noodle, and Lucy is getting ready to head for CA for a week with her mom, Disneyland and the like. Only to come home 3 days before school starts...that ought to be a fun first summer vacation to remember... leaving the happiest place on earth to go to school...I shudder at the thought.

Playing with the camera and the mirror...trying to achieve the best shot. I learned it's hard to look at the camera when you're doing this though.

Rowan with her Great-Uncle Carl at Auntie Robin's birthday party. I think his leg looks extra long because of the angle...still, I love the comparison.

Drool Face MaGillicutty. I mean, Rowan.

Super Happy Family Fun Time!

2008-07-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

My dad asleep in a chair, my brother and SuHyun trying to burn a newspaper with a magnifying glass.

Rowan at her 1st Music in the Park, at St. Edward's last Thursday.

Lucy with a rewarding ice cream cone after riding her bike (with no training wheels) all the way to Baskin Robbins.

Jacob and Ryan with Rowan at the Greek restaurant on Broadway that poisoned Ryan. Those dolmas look good in the picture, but I'm pretty sure he'll never eat them again.

So it's been a few weeks! We've been busy, and my family is in town visiting. Jacob, my brother is here from Eugene and my dad, his wife, her son and their 2 Yorkshire Terriers are all visiting from S. Korea. Here is a few pics of what we've been up to...

We've been having fun but having my brother and dad here always makes me wish they were here all the time. Jake is getting ready to head to London in couple of months, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he'll come back saying things like "I haven't showered in a fort-night," and "Good day gov'na, fancy a tea with yo' biscuit?" I want to go visit while he's there...we'll see.

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-07T22:43:00.000-07:00

Baby's 1st stovepipe-uncle Sam hat.

Lucy and Izzy on the decked out scooters.

Proud to be an American...

Lagos on parade.

Thank heaven for nice, cool, sunny weather this last Friday on the fourth. Last year I was so miserable I think I changed clothes 3 times due to sweat saturation. We went to the Bothell parade where Lucy rode Scooty and Rowan rode Daddy through the streets. Deborah (Lucy's mom), Jen and I sat from the sidelines and watched as the dads with all the kids got closer and closer...ever enfringing on our fleeting moments of being child free for those 45 minutes :)

Afterwards Rowan and I went to my aunt & uncle's house for a barbeque, were I ate like a queen and had a feast of crab and brownies. I don't even know how many I had--I stopped counting at like six. Ryan came later, he was playing a show at Lake Sammamish on a dock, where he enjoyed shirmp the size of his fist. Needless to say, we ate well on the 4th.

p.s.- baby and I took the bus again, and it went much smoother.

New Mom Takes Bus to Target, Hilarious Results.

2008-07-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Who's your baghdaddy?

Last night Alisa came over and we went for a walk to Bas-u-kin Ro-bin-su. Rowan had a baby ice cream cone. Just kidding. But she is really holding it in this picture!!

Chillaxin' in the Bjorn with Alisa.

It's been so hot out that yesterday evening was the perfect temp to go for a walk, and eat ice cream. In other news, my tabs expired and I haven't gone to Worthington license yet to renew them, so I took the bus yesterday. The bus guy was so rude to me!! I was struggling to get the stroller up the stairs (which he didn't lower for me) and then he gave me a dirty look and asked me if I was "new" at this. I didn't know if he meant being a mom or being a mom on the bus, or riding the bus. He then told me I must remove the baby from the carriage (to which I thought, let's be real, no one says carriage, unless your British, and he wasn't) and proceeded to ask, "doesn't that stroller collapse?" Indeed it does, but that would defeat the purpose of taking the bus to Target to get diapers and use the basket of the stroller, now wouldn't it? Anywho, we are giving the bus one more shot today--I wanted to run up to Alderwood (except with the bus it's more like riding a saddled sloth than a 'run up') and pick up a few things, but this time, no carriage. Just a back pack and a baby Bjorn. I'll report on this trip with my next post :)

School's Out For Summer

2008-06-25T20:23:00.001-07:00

Rowan showing off her dress and giving a wave!

Lucy and "Scooty" on the trail to Bothell Landing.

Sisters...

Lucy's school got out last week and she's been singing the Alice Cooper song nonstop, and really utilizing her summer freedom by searching for Alice Cooper music videos on You Tube (no joke). We walked (I walked--Rowan slept and Lucy scooted) to Bothell Landing earlier this week, the weather has been really nice and sunny. Today we took Rowan to the doctor for her 2 month check up, poor babe had to have 4 shots and is the fussiest I've seen her EVER tonight. Not even a rousing episode of Wife Swap is cheering her spirits up...she did weigh in at 10lbs 10oz. though, and the doc said everything looks great :)

lucy lucy lucy

2008-06-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

Here's one of our Lucy girl. Her last day of school was today, we haven't talked to her yet but I'm pretty sure that she's excited for school to be done, and to be able to say that she is now 1st grader. I know that she will also be excited to know that we are planning a trip to Ohio in September...she loves going out there, and I'm so glad because it reminds me of how excited I used to get when we'd travel up to Seattle to visit our family...I lived for those trips, and I feel that same excitement from Lucy when we talk about going to back to visit family.

Lago Update!

2008-06-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

She's 8 weeks old today, getting more smiley and cute too!! She's got that tounge out all the time, and is such a mover...but still has that calm that she's had since the day she was born...except when she's done riding in her carseat or hungry. Generally though, she's pretty content and a good baby!

Here are a bunch of new pics...they are all of this last month, mostly just stuff we've been up to...and mostly baby. Lucy's done with school now so hopefully soon I will get some of them together...mostly I take pictures when it's just the two of us in the morning or evening.

She's been sleeping through the night--the past two nights anyway. 7 hours!! The funny part is I'm waking up in the middle of the night to feed her, and she's fast asleep...I'm still waiting for my body to catch up with her.

Playing in the morning...she's happiest in the a.m. right after she wakes up and eats :)

Sporting the Led Zeppelin outfit from Robby, Lindsay and Kristi from when Kristi went down to LA right before Rowan was born. I didn't think this thing would fit forover, but it fits now! It looks awesome. Thanks guys!

This face cracks me up, she does this a lot, and I think it's more because she can't get her head all the way up, so it looks like she's cocking her eyebrow.

Angus making lemonade on the hot day we had Monday.

Rowan in the cute outfit from Great-Aunt Kendra in Ohio. We got our tickets yesterday to fly back to visit Ryan's side of the family in late September. He'll be in Chicago for 1 week at a trade show for work, and his cousin Danielle and I will fly out with the girls--he's meeting us out there and we'll stay for a week to visit. I'm excited for them to meet the baby.

Happy Father's Day!! Rowan wasn't stoked to take these pictures, but I wanted something documenting her first father's day with Ryan. This lake was so pretty, I'm excited to go back when it's a little warmer to actually swim. The kids were fearless and got right in, pretty sure they are crazy. Or part polar bear.

Lucy, Angus and Izzy playing in the water. Yes, that's snow on the mountains :)

My birthday was on Sunday! And so was Father's Day. We went to our friends' cabin for the weekend, they have two kids that Lucy is great friends with, so we had a little weekend celelbration. It was super fun--we took the ferry over on Friday and then came home Sunday evening. We ate, played games, had a bonfire, ate, roasted marshmellows, ate, slept, ate, went on a row boat ride, and ate, again. The cabin is close to Hoodsport in the Olympic Mountains, and it was Rowan's first real trip :)

2008-06-07T22:48:00.000-07:00

Here is my first attempt at posting a video...actually second attempt, which would be the successful one :) I still can't figure out how to rotate the whole thing, so it's sideways for now. I love her little talking noises, and what I super love is that I have a phone that I can do cool stuff with now! Finally! I'm getting excited for Lucy to come home tomorrow so that I can get some cute pics of them together up here. Birthday countdown: T-8 days.

6 weeks old and lovin' life

2008-06-05T21:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some new pictures--Rowan is six weeks old this week, I can't believe how big she's getting so quickly...but still so little! She's really starting to smile and coo, it's been a lot of fun for us. It's funny to see three people that are so enamored with this tiny creature that just makes funny noises and faces :)

new outfit from my childhood friend Ashley in Portland...she had a baby girl 2 weeks before Rowan was born.

In other news, I got a new cell phone!!! I've been using the same one for over two years, and it came free with the plan we signed up with, it's pretty much equivalent to those old ones from the 1980's that were like the size of a brick with a big rubber antenna. Jake and I had one of those, a toy one, it was so awesome. I've been taking lots of pictures with it, and it's so easy to upload them to the computer, I feel so technologically advanced. I've finally caught up with the rest of the world.

what's up attitude!?

Everything else is going well for us; I've started working a little bit again, picking up a few shifts at Macy's and watching my friend's kids a few days a week. I'm getting excited for summer stuff to start, always kicked off with my birthday...June 15! I'll be celebrating 25 of years of Esther. Awesome.

2008-06-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Times they are a changin'

2008-05-27T20:09:00.000-07:00

Ryan and Rob teaching Riley the ways of the guitar.

Deer in a baby swing...I mean in headlights!

Trying out a new pacifier...I love this picture Kinah took because you can tell she's looking at me :)

On Saturday our friends Rob and Kinah (those of you who attended our wedding, Rob was one of the groomsmen, the one with glasses) came over for dinner with their 6-month-old son, Riley. He's super cute and has a raspy little voice and bright blond hair that sticks straight up. It feels so strange to hang out with people that have babies--especially since most of our friends either don't have babies, or they have had one in the last 6 months. I've gotten so used to Lucy and her independent ways, and her just hanging out with us and our friends, it feels weird to all of a sudden have someone who's way more demanding, to have friends that are experiencing the same things...I just said this to a friend, but it's true; in the words of Bob Dylan, times they are a changin'.

Tooth News

2008-05-24T14:31:00.001-07:00

This is the latest exciting news around our house: Lucy has lost her first tooth! I haven't got all the details, but I talked to her on the phone and gathered that she lost the tooth at school, and she got a quarter from the tooth fairy :) Last week when she was home with us (she's at her mom's now--this pic is courtesy of her) I kept asking if she'd like an apple, trying to kind of sneak something in there that I knew would do the trick, and it would work for about 2 seconds then she'd get scared and ask for grapes instead...what can I say, she's a smart kid.

In other news, Rowan attended her first Panda Conspiracy (Ryan's band) show last night at the Northwest Folklife Festival. It was really cool weather and it threatened to rain the whole time, but it was still fun to have the babe there to see her dad drum his pants off.

Today we are just enjoying the warm weather with the cool breeze and getting ready for summer...and my birthday! June 15th, just in case you forgot :)

First Friend!

2008-05-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

Five girls on the sofa:

Elliott, Esther, Donnianne, Rowan & Alisa

The mamas and the babies.

We barbecued at TJ&Sarah's house last weekend when the weather was really hot. Our friends Drew and Donnianne (Drew used to play the bass for the band that Ryan plays drums for now) have a baby girl who is 6 months old named Elliott. She is cute as a button and Rowan's first official baby friend! Even though Rowan pretty much slept the whole time, we got a few cute pics of us together...and they gave Rowan a super cute blanket that I have been coveting since I found out I was pregnant--Thanks guys!!

Weekend with my Girls

2008-05-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

This last weekend Ryan went to Westport with the band for a show at a surfing competition. I was going to go with Lucy and the baby, but we decided not to, a good choice! We had a fun weekend of playing in the warm weather, playing in the sprinkler at Auntie Deb's, me getting to spend some time without the girls, and to top it off a trip to the donut shop (Lucy's idea) on Sunday morning.

On Saturday Lucy wanted to ride her scooter that she has named "Scooty" to the park. The whole way there she was chattering to Scooty, asking it questions and carrying on a conversation with it as I tried to keep her close to the edge of the trail as to not get pummeled by cyclists who can't seem to slow down because they are all trying to impress each other with how fast they can ride...or something. We had a little picnic at the park; Rowan felt the grass on her feet for the first time which was amusing to us, and Lucy played and fed the ducks--or geese rather--that weren't afraid at all of us and kept getting closer and closer which freaked us out :)

What took the blue ribbon though was the kid who forgot to back pedal (brakes) to keep from riding his bike straight into the slough because he got side tracked by some people launching a canoe into the water. He didn't go ride into the water, his bike fell over before that point into some tall grass and sticker bushes. I helped him out of the mess and lifted his bike off him, and was so so glad he didn't fall into the duck poop infested waters.

Baby and a Beer Bottle

2008-05-15T22:28:00.001-07:00

I found this and can't quite figure out if the bottleneck is supposed to be in the shot or not. She's totally giving an evil eye...or a lazy eye :)

2008-05-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more pictures from Mother's Day. I can't believe we're a family of four now...I wish I could say that we're having a smooth transition, but alas, we have a six-year-old who is very smart, precocious, and above all else sensitive. She is doing great with the baby, but is clearly feeling that her place in this family is threatened. It makes me sad because I want her to be herself and feel safe and loved. I think deep down she does, but to let us know that would be for her dropping her guard, and she's not there yet.

Cute daddy and baby.

Mother's Day

2008-05-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first official mother's day. I have kind of faux-celebrated with Lucy over the past three years, always getting projects and stuff from daycare and school, but something struck me so differently yesterday--a combination of our growing family, my close-knit support system of amazing women, and missing my own mom, too.

Lucy came back home to us last night, after being with her mom for a little over a week. She was really clingy the whole time her mom was here, and wouldn't leave her alone, a repercussion of bringing the baby home, I'm sure. We had a heart to heart about it later that night when she was in the bath tub. I told her that I understood how much she missed her mom, and that I too spent some time crying that day like she was because I wanted to see her so bad. I could see the wheels turning in her head as she started to turn her face from a forced pout to concern for my well being. She asked me if the reason I was crying was because I was sad that we couldn't visit my mom, because she lives in heaven. I told her yes, and also because I wished so badly that she could have met Lucy and the new baby. She reassured me that although we can't see her in person, she can still see us, and is watching over our family, like an angel.

Those words, even though I've thought them in my head a hundred times, coming from her mouth melted my heart. She put her worries and sadness about missing her mom aside and was consoling me--the grown-up. I'm not sure what was going through her head, I think it was somewhere along the lines of matter-of-factness and acknowledging the pain that I was feeling, but I felt so happy to know that I'm part of why this kid is who she is; and so proud to have a six-year-old with such a caring, compassionate soul.

Belly

2008-05-08T19:34:00.000-07:00

Lucy using Rowan's old home as an elbow rest. I look so thrilled to be pregnant. Wow.

This was about a week before Rowan was born. Lucy loved hugging and talking to the baby.

Milk Face

2008-05-08T16:09:00.001-07:00

Rowan is 2 weeks old now. This picture is from last week though, when she was about a week. She and I have been catching up with the gals on the View in the morning, and with Oprah in the afternoon...it's been rough on us :)

Sweet Baby Girl

2008-05-06T22:36:00.000-07:00

Wide awake...I love this picture!

Things are starting to settle down, Ryan is back at work, Lucy's been at her mom's all week, and the baby and I are starting to get the swing of a feeding routine, no help from my over-exerting breasts :) I have enough milk to feed all the babies in Bothell, but we're getting down to only one shirt change a night, so that's promising!!

Rowan had her first check up last Friday, where she weighed in at 8lbs, 5.5 oz., only a week old and exceeding her birth weight. She is still super calm for the most part, she really only gets mad if she is hungry and impatient. She's been taking a bottle once a day from Ryan, which has proven to be an easy feat--switching back and forth from me to a bottle. When she's awake she just looks around and observes everything...people, her mobile, the blinds in our bedroom, the dots on her crib...she's so sweet; I can't get enough of her little face and her big blue eyes.

9 days old.

Baby Time

2008-04-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Rowan... 4 days old.

Jen had to whisk as I drank, because the oil kept separating from the rest of the concoction

Just add Vodka, Rite Aid brand Castor Oil, and the Dole juice of your choice!

Notice the red hair anywhere else besides baby? Maybe Ryan's face! Booya!

Here are some pictures of new baby Rowan. We don't have a working digital camera, so I have a collaboration of pics from friends and family that have been over to see the babe. For those of you who don't know, our plan to deliver at the birth center fell through, because baby came two weeks late...so the picture of me with the tall dark-haired beauty, AKA my friend Jen, was the night prior to the induction at the hospital. I was drinking a Castor Oil Cocktail, as I like to call it, ingredients also pictured.

Rowan is a super calm, sweet baby. She's been sleeping in chunks of 3-4 hours every night in between feedings, and we swear that she has cracked a few smiles at us already :) Lucy, Ryan and I are all head over heels in love with this babe and her red hair...she is so much fun, and she doesn't even do anything!

Here's a few facts, in the case you found yourself wondering:

Labor was about 13 hours, from point of induction to actual delivery--I was only in real pain for about 4 hours (1am-5am, when she was born)

She was 8lbs., O oz. at birth, and was 21 inches long

Born at UW Medical Center, with the Midwife on call there. I did it with no interventions, besides the pitocin.

Baby Rowan

2008-04-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

Baby Rowan is FINALLY here!!

Stubborn Baby

2008-04-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

Today makes twelve--count 'em, TWELVE--days that I'm past my due date. I guess it was just wishful thinking that I'd actually have a baby by the end of April. Oh well, we will just keep waiting, what else are we going to do? I thought today (and there's still time) that today might be a fun day to have a baby, as Ryan's birthday was last Sunday, and Lucy's is next Sunday. I've been having little contractions over the past few days, but it never turns into anything serious...bummer. Ryan has a big show tonight and guess who's not in labor and free as a bird to attend? That'd be me. So I'm going with, with hopes that my water will break or something spontaneous will happen when they're in the last song of their set...keep your fingers crossed!

Also, Ryan's parents, Cliff and Kari and coming into town on Thursday. We're really excited to see them, I just wish this baby would come out so I can get used to the idea--if only for a day--of a baby before we have guests. Oh well. If nothing happens by Wednesday morning, then I'm planning on going to the hospital to be induced. Not my first choice, but then again being pregnant for 5 years wasn't a favorable outcome either.

Think thoughts of babies...and them coming out into the world!

Baby Shower!

2008-04-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

This is from our baby shower in March. It was at our friends Jen & Andy's house...super fun party!

Lucy Painting

2008-04-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

This picture of Lucy was taken when she was 2. She'll be 6 in 10 days. This is how I remember Lucy when Ryan and I first started dating...she was so little and now she's a big kindergartener, almost a big sister and an incredible kid!

I'm Trying...

2008-04-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt at actually blogging--and I'll tell you right now I wish someone had invented a different word for it. I don't like the word blog, but I love when my Gram says "Bolg" instead, so I guess there's a few good things that came from that word. Today makes 9 days that the baby is overdue, and I'm growing impatient. I'm getting nervous that I'm going to have to go to the hospital to be induced on next Wednesday. Baby is taking her sweet time...maybe she's taking after her Grandpa. I have an appointment with my midwife today, so hopefully there will be good news...

Cheers! It's my first BOLG!