Getting ready for christmas

Shoveling the sidewalk so Santa can find our door.

Gotta have a snowman!

Cookies for Santa!

New and old friends

We went to Portland recently to meet a new friend and to see some old friends. Our new friend is Charlotte Gayle Orehovec, daughter of Kelly and Stefan. She is only 6 weeks old and so precious. Such a good baby. Oliver was intrigued from a distance most of the weekend. But did show some interest when she was in this swing and he wanted to give her a stuffed animal. And he tried to help Kelly with Charlotte a couple of times. They are going to be friends for a long, long time. I can see him as an older brother already. He has a nurturing side deep down beneath the wild monster that usually roams our halls.

This is his old friend Ruby. They've known each other since Oliver was a month old. They're buds and play really well together. This day she brought doughnuts for us to eat at the park. Oliver thought that was pretty cool.

There's a baby in our bellies

The big news in the Ochs household is that we're going to have another baby in June. We're all pretty excited. We were almost sure that Oliver was going be an only child and then...well, things happen. So Oliver is going to be an older brother after all. I think he's going to be a very good one too. We're both excited to watch him grow into this role.

When I'm telling Oliver about the baby growing inside of me and showing him how my belly is getting bigger, he always shows me his belly that has a baby in it too. This is the typical pose. It's way too painful and frustrating to argue with a 3 year old. So we'll see what happens in 9 months when I win this race.

Happy Thanksgiving

We are snow bound in the Tri-Cities this year. Keeping Oliver entertained for 4 days is going to be a challenge in this weather! We didn't eat turkey on Thanksgiving, but instead made our own version of the traditional bird.

Instead of shopping with the masses today we went sledding with the masses. There are only a few hills in this area to sled on when there is snow - every one who wasn't shopping was there today. We went with Oliver's friend Owen and his family. The boys had a ball!

Oliver was an angel for a brief moment today.
Owen and Oliver
Walking through the orchards with Matt, Melissa and their two dogsOliver helped Melissa feed their chickens.
The best present we ever bought Oliver - his own shovel! Get to work child!

Itsy bitsy spider

Halloween

Oliver went trick or treating with his friend Owen this year. They had a great time together. After they knocked on the door, they would say to each other "knock knock, who's there?" and then laugh hysterically. Only once did Owen fall over in his Lightening McQueen car outfit and not be able to get back up. Then it was my turn to laugh hysterically.

Local guitar shop. I was impressed with their attention to detail.

I loved this house. They guy is real! And it reminded me of my uncle Kent, who dresses up a fake man outside of their house for a month prior to Halloween. Then on Halloween night he puts the same clothes on, sits in the same chair and scares the crap out of little kids. So bad, its good. This guy didn't faze Oliver one bit.

Fall is here

This summer we grew a pumpkin - as big as we could - so we could have the largest one on the block. Not sure that we accomplished that but we're damn proud of our little baby. Today feels like a good day to go pick apples. Happy Fall!

The wart looking things on the pumpkin are scars from when Oliver beat it with a screwdriver when it was just a wee thing. Battle wounds give it character I think.

And pick apples we did. Fujis galore in SE Washington!

Anthony showing off his juggling skills with edible fruit.

The big 3

He doesn't officially turn 3 until the 12th, but we threw him a party to celebrate this weekend. We have been teaching him numbers, so with his birthday coming up we have been asking him how old he was going to be a lot. 9 times out of 10 he would answer 6. Why? Who knows. He can say that his birthday is in October, but for some reason 3 is just not old enough. This could be telling for things to come when he's 16 and telling the guy at the beer counter he really is 21. Oh boy, that's jumping too far into the future for me. Let's stick to dinosaurs for now. Which brings me to the birthday cake. I tackled my first kid cake. And it turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. Oliver loved it! And we'll be pooping blue for a week.

Its a stegosaurus for you amateurs.

Using his new tools to fix the new kitchen. A true renaissance man.

Nothing like a man in the kitchen in only his skivvies.

That is a frog sticker on Oliver's forehead, not a tatoo. Relax.

Recent adventures

Oliver and I have been on the road A LOT lately. Enjoying some free time before I start working and Oliver goes to daycare. Flexibility will be greatly limited then. First we drove to Corvallis, OR for Kelly and Stefan's baby shower. We saw lots of kids and old friends. I tried to explain to Oliver that dad and I used to live there before he was a part of lives. I'm pretty sure he doesn't believe that such a time existed, because he pointed to a house and said "well I lived here too, in that house over there". Sometimes its best not to argue with an almost 3 year old.

Then we went with Anthony to Seattle for a couple of days so he could attend a conference. Oliver and I played in the big city while dad sat through boring lectures. We had a blast. Oliver loved the hotel room, the tall buildings and watching all the people. And I got a little dose of culture, good food and diversity. A much needed trip for every one.

And I'm pretty sure that Oliver is the best traveler ever. I couldn't ask for better company in the car from an almost 3 year old. If only he could drive for me and play all the music I want to hear.

Audrey (Cindy and Jon's little girl) with Oliver and frog

Outside of Darren and Charlotte's house with them, Stefan, Kelly, Brian, Grady and Heather.

Oliver, the jelly fish, at the Seattle Aquarium

Our hotel room was on the 26th floor. Oliver couldn't get enough of watching traffic from the window.

Nathan and Oliver in the hot tub at the hotel.

Camping at Mt. Rainier

Last weekend we camped near Mt. Rainier with the Serwold family from Seattle. They have two kids, Nathan and Sophia. Oliver likes them a lot and they all have a great time together. We went for an amazing hike called the Naches Trail Loop off of HWY 410 on Chinook Pass. Anthony and I agree that is one of the most beautiful mountain passes we have driven through. Washington is truly an amazing part of the country and there is so much more to explore! Next time we camp together we're going to the Olympics.

Rainier in the clouds over Anthony's shoulder and grumpy Oliver in my arms. He was thrilled to be trail running I swear, but as soon as the cameras came out so did the sourpuss face.

See, here is the trail runner leaving every one in his dust. He must have some of Auntie Monica's DNA.

Sophia getting her hands dirty on the White River.

The wildflowers up there were amazing. These were my favorite because they seemed so life like. Does any one know what they are?

Owen and Oliver

Oliver has made a friend and his name is Owen. They both love trucks, dirt and trains; typical boys. Oliver asks about him all the time. And the bonus is that I like Owen's mom!

Hiking on Badger Mtn. outside of Richland

What's growing?

Our garden is loving the sunshine and hot weather. We're learning what grows well here and what does not. Oliver is also learning what is o.k. to pick and what is not. He gets very enthusiastic when it comes to watering the plants and too enthusiastic when it comes to harvesting. Gardening is a lesson in patience, not unlike parenting. Oliver is most excited about our pumpkin, which is getting large! It'll make a perfect jack-o-lantern this fall.Basil, peppers and herbs
It gets bigger every day! I thought we might enter this in the contest at the local nursery until I saw the granddaddy of all pumpkins on a run recently. I'll just let Oliver believe that ours is the biggest one ever!Grass really does grow in the desert - if you water it like a golf course.

One of my favorite things about summer - fresh tomatoes!

Groove is in the heart

Music is playing all the time in our house. We don't have t.v. and I normally can't stand silence, so music is our backdrop. Oliver sometimes pays attention to it and sometimes not. In the car he wants it LOUD, too loud for my liking honestly. On this particular day I found him doing his own thing while listening to Rilo Kiley. Now I can picture him in the mosh pit at age 17. What makes me really giggle about this is when he gets hungry at the end. Rockers need to eat too.

Loa Inga Young (1944 - 1985)

These are photos of Anthony's mom and Oliver's grandma. I really wish I could have known her. Thank you Angela for being the keeper of all things important. I adore these photos.Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC

Mark and Loa in their house in Sedro-Wooley

Loa with Angela, Anthony and Kristjan
I can't stop looking at their shoes!

Loa and Anthony in Las Cruses, New Mexico

Adorable Anthony
Do you think Oliver looks like him as a kid? I can't tell.