what happened to the brontosaurus?

ever since owen found dinosaurs in the dirt at the quail gardens we've been on a dino quest. we've had some introduction with from the fun oh-say-can-you-say dinosaur book from the new cat in the hat learning library series and we enjoy singing the dinosaur stomp but now we were serious enough that we had to get some dinosaur "critters"of our own which much to my dismay did not (like the sea critters or garden critters) have the names of the kinds of dinos imprinted on the bottom.

which means suddenly i'm taking a google crash course in dinsoaurs--because all i remember was that big sweet brontosaurs, my favorite and so unlike that nasty t-rex all the second grade boys ran around imitating. and what do i find? the brontosaurus is now the apatosaurus "formerly known as" the friendly bronto. and pterodactyl? (nope, not so much--unless like my your dino knowlege comes from little caeser's ads when you were a teenager) it's probably a pteranodon but you know, that's not really a dinosaur at all. the triceratops, the stegasaurus, and the spinosaur (or is that an ouranosaurus, i can't tell!) i've got. but there are at least half a dozen dino critters i can't identify and now we're looking for names to go with all the lizards but in the giant melissa & doug dino puzzle, and the only dino i can comfortably label on the little puzzles is that notorious t-rex. . . but next week he officially begins preschool, and he can bring all his critters to miss sherry--or daddy and he can spend the day at the library compiling a dino book of their own.

my little botanist

i was logged on to rant about dinosaurs, and just when i resigned myself to a future of t-rexs and tonka trucks owen asks: where is there rosemary? i smell something, like... rosemary. no context, no conversation, but right on the ledge above where he was sitting was the sprig of rosemary with the rose i had picked last night and put in a little vase for a much needed moment of zen. perhaps those dinos and trucks might just like to explore a little herb garden--just the kind of dirt i can get excited about.

dinosaurs, topiaries and frogs (oh my!)

yesterday we met sal, jennifer and baby lily at quail botanic gardens for a lovely afternoon of dinosaur digging and frog watching among some gorgeous native scenery. i can't get over how much our little niece has grown--she's looking more and more like her daddy (and don't i know that feeling!) and has started cooing and smiling. she was such a superstar all day--i think she got a kick out of her little firecracker cousin running around the children's garden while he ran from the steam train to the water pump to the mini excavation site. then she snoozed in the afternoon breeze the rest of the day. . . the highlights were all of the animal and musical topiaries (papa, we're thinking these are much needed in your garden!) and the lily pond (check out the little green frog peeking out from beneath the pink flowers!).

more pics

On the way hiking up to the ski jump (started to rain slightly):


In town of Lillehammer:

lillehammer

I made it back! Left Friday night and made it in to the town of Lillehammer (population 25k) -- pretty much only known for hosting the winter Olympics in 1994. I went with a German colleague of mine - Thomas. Saturday we made it into Karstad, Sweden and then Sunday (today) I drove all the way back (9 1/2 hours). Thomas stayed back in Sweden for a few days.

I didn't see any moose, but did see plenty of these signs. I think they put them up for the tourists.


Pictures from Lysgårdsbakken - ski jump and place for the opening and closing ceremonies. We got there at 9am and were the first and only tourists they had. There were also a couple of "jumpers" practicing summer jumps... sans snow.



Picture taken while taking the chair lift up:


Posing w/ skis up top:

steal this idea!

this afternoon i went to a "girl party"--one of my neighbors had a wedding shower catered by a good friend of hers who does events over at the ritz in laguna niguel. and it was fabulous! three cheers for papa (nana's on vacation so he stepped up to the task!) who watched cars and played legos so i could enjoy some much needed girl time! the wedding will be in maui and everything from the initals embossed in sand on the wine glasses to the hors d'oeuvres nestled in seashells hinted at the celebration to come. of course i took pictures!

proscuitto wrapped goat-cheese filled dates with fresh basil (with bamboo spears and grass ties):


these were beautiful AND so so delicious: gorgonzola cheese dolloped in fresh figs with some intense balsamic and fresh basil and crisp apple slivers:


these were gorgeous and promising-- red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. we had done something similar for sal and jenn's baby shower but i must confess nana's cupcakes blew these away. admittedly, the chef told me she was quite disappointed with how they turned out, she had tried a new recipe using oil instead of butter and chocolate chips. i thought they tasted flatter and much drier than the moist melt-in-your-mouth version that nana made. but, these are ABsolutely gorgeous!



my favorites (not pictured) were some home made crab cakes with finely diced mango salsa in these gorgeous pink scallop shells and a nutty quinoa with some chicken sausage, dried cranberries and walnuts (i'm definitely adding those ingredients to my next tj's run). and there was a homemade cherry tart, hot spinach parmesan dip and good wine and great conversation! feeling very rejuvinated and inspired ;)

warning: a lot of p#*p

there's this great moment in six feet under when nate is commenting about maya's poop--and there it was, so perfect! this poop and (perhaps it was brenda) says something like wow, nate, you've really lost it. but he was proud and amazed that his little baby could make this miniature perfect poop. and well, folks, i too have had the amazed poop moment. owen did it!!! he sat on the toilet of his own accord and waited and waited and there it was this long amazing poop! we were both so excited we started jumping up and down and singing and then he flushed and said with such enthusiasm BYE BYE POOP IM FLUSHING YOU AWAY! and yes, before the big flush i confess--i took a picture. yup, i've crossed some kind of mommy line. but don't worry, i'll spare you readers the evidence.

thursday

today we met papa at the ikea home & garden show in anaheim-- and of course when we get off the freeway owen shouts "look mama! that bus is going to disneyland!" and it was, since dland was just blocks away. and really how do you convince a three year old that a home show is much more fun than mickey--despite the fact that there were (oddly enough) tropical birds running around aisles of jacuzzis and outdoor tiki bars (and some rescue greyhounds we fell in love with). we had a good time running through the ikea idea house especially since all of the drawers and cabinets have signs that say "open me". i was hoping to get some ideas for our office--although i think a walk through ikea might have been just as helpful. papa, however, bought this amazing ladder he'd been eyeing for a while and the demo was nothing short of acrobatic. i'm just hoping i can get my 2nd floor windows washed ;)

we came home zonked and owen took a crazy nap (which means that he's sitting right here next to me on the couch now) so i tried to get a grasp on all of the projects i've started with the manic intent to get organized and enjoy some creative therapy before fall. a couple nights ago i stayed up until three am sorting metro tickets, museum maps, wordfettti and a few hundred snapshots--the result was impressive, but actually overwhelming. the paper all looked too pretty to cut into and my grand idea to do one big scrapbook for alesund-london-paris just seemed too much especially since for our 2 1/2 days in paris i wanted to do at least a dozen pages (everything from an ode to gertrude stein and blackcurrant merigunes to the mandatory eiffel tower page). but this afternoon i decided to just make that first tear and start with something a little less abstract or quintessential so i did owen riding the ponies at the luxembourg gardens. simple, sweet and i think it approaches the ecclectic but clean look i was going for. i'd love feedback and ideas! i love this paper--it feels and looks like exquisite wallpaper (i'm thinking actually of using some to cover my magazine binders in my office) and the first person that can figure out where i cut the quote "someday, when i'm old, i will look back on this moment as the happiest time in my life" gets five points! i was, by the way, surprisingly pleased with the martha crafts collection rub-off letters i picked up on clearance. i also got to reuse some goreous cavallini stickers i peeled off an envelope posted to us over in norway and a snippet of collage i found on my new favorite site (i just ordered an amazing handstiched pillow from an artist up in seattle--should be arriving tomorrow!). anyhow, i took the picture with my phone so apologies for the quality but here's a general idea of how it's turning out. now i'm working on the other luxembourg garden pages with some gorgeous pics of owen and michael and their sailboat and some cool shots michael took of me and owen walking around the flower garden. and now i think it's time both me and the little one got some sleep--tomorrow i'm determined to finish cleaning the garage!

i'm three!

ok, so preschool was good, but the "transitions" as miss sherry explained were difficult for owen. not once did he cry for mommy or cry because he wasn't having fun or cry because he wasn't getting along with the other tots but apparently every time that bell rang to move from jungle gym to story time or snack time or potty time those sweet little eyes welled up with tears. but only, miss sherry assured me, for the briefest of moments and once she gave him the schedule (and i kept thinking of my super traveler that could endure eight hours on a plane and three train rides as long as we started out the day with the schedule: one plane, three trains) and he was so so proud at the end of the day to fold up his little thomas blanket and put the nap mat back in the cabinet and tickled to show me his lunch box in his cubby labeled Owen F. (that's me! owen F! because I'm a FIDLER! and then lots of giggling).

and here's how our "how was school today" conversation went:

owen (riding his trike): well, the boy said you're crying like a two-year old.

me (heartbroken): oh, well did you tell him you were not two, but three?

owen (elated): YES! mommy i DID. i said, no, i am not two but i am THREE! that's what i told him in the sandbox. silly boy.

and so silly boy indeed, my three year old will master that montessori schedule and show those four year olds how to spell the WORD four ;)

my little bird

this morning i awoke to "mommmmmmy, i'm poooooooopy." across the hall. which was good, actually, because it meant that owen had actually slept in his own bed all night and was, well, becoming more aware of poop which is that much closer to potty training. so i go into his room and no, he wasn't poopy, "just soggy". so as i was changing him while he stayed snuggled up in his bed i noticed his legs were cold and rubbed them until they warmed up and went back to bed and owen stayed in his own bed. at around 6:30 he comes into my room: mom, is it morningtime yet? no, i answered, but come snuggle me until morning. and he does and as he nestles his way under the covers he says quietly before falling back into dusk sleep, mom, thanks for warming up my legs.

so it's no wonder that on our way out to our preschool commute (we snuck in a full "practice" day before both owen and mommy start school this fall) tears were fogging up my sunglasses as we sung along to elizabeth mitchell's you are my little bird--i agree with this review :

I can't discuss this album without mentioning Mitchell's voice, which is the sweetest and best voice in kids' and family music today. The crystal-clear quality of her voice not only is pleasant to hear, it's also essential to understanding the lyrics so you can then sing the songs to the kids in your life.

yet my misreading of that was, to sing the songs into your kids' life which is the same, but different. for me, it's her cover of what i believe was originally a french ballad, which goes like this:

If you listen you can hear
Birds sing and flowers grow
If you listen you can hear
My love for you just grow

In the silence that's around
Deep peace and love are found
In the days that will be here
My love will call you loud and clear

And in the silent place
Where loneliness is found
I'll wander through the open door
To look for you
There in that magic land
That lies beyond the clouds
Floating on the sea of dreams
I'll sing to you

and it's simple and gorgeous just as unconditional love should be--and i wanted to sing it as a promise, that always always i'll sing this to you, always. and i'm not trying to be monumental here about preschool, but i have this sense that this is just the beginning of the separations, and that it doesn't get easier, but i'll sing nonetheless, even if i have to sing quieter.

mind you, while owen was busy reading chicka chicka abc and adjusting to montessori routine i wasn't pining away. i took advantage of the calm before the storm and had brunch at simple's in riverside--those readers who are familiar know there's nothing better than that ceramic coffee mug and a bacon and spinach omelet (or take your pick--homemade chicken apple sausage, the chewiest freshest bagels, the decadent sourdough french toast, or the winter omelet with those amazing carmelized onions) in that booth by the window. then over to tiggy's where i scored some fabulous wardrobe finds for great prices. and when i went to pick up owen, here's what i found:

silliness

getting owen dressed has always been a challenge, he's super squirmy and so easily distracted. i've been working on less mommy-help but sometimes my patience gets the best of me. this morning we were in our jammies way too late (how i'll miss these long loungy mornings together!) and trying without much success to get owen to take his pajama shirt off. he could see i was getting frustrated and gigled "should i take my arm off?" so then i had to crack up. and he continued on with the play--"should i take my legs off?" when it was time to do pants (and i won't say what he suggested when it was time for pullups off!). but i love this about him--he has such a curiosity and engagement with new ideas and isn't afraid to try new things. i'm not sure the cognitive phenomena here but i think it's pretty big--like rhyming and word play.

and, yesterday he ate a tomato!

sunday seven (with the preschool three)

i found myself wishing i had a video camera a lot this week, but instead taking quick snaps with my phone and then wishing i had that p.t. i'd always dreamed of (long, inside story--but basically someone to transcribe those brilliant ideas you have or record those moments you want to keep in a jelly jar forever). so here instead are six of those times from the last week.

7. i walked into the garage to see owen sitting on his little blue chair looking at the glitter art project he made with nana the day before. really, just sitting and looking. when i asked what he was doing he simply said oh, mommy, i'm just looking at art.

6. in the same "i'm just..." style-- we went to do a "practice preschool" day last wednesday and owen did a super job joining in on circle time with miss sherry and while owen was going around meetin everyone in his class (imagine a dozen three year olds shaking hands saying "hello, owen, my name is tyler. nice to meet you." giggle) he suddenly stops and runs out of the circle and skips around the room. when i asked, again, what he was doing he replied i'm dancing in a circle (of course)

5. ah, preschool. this one is from last week when michael and i went out with owen to drop of our paperwork and introduce him to his teachers--on the car on the way there he suddenly panics: mommy! you forgot to paint the jeep yellow! and i said, yellow? then remembered, ooooh right. school = schoolbus; mommy's bus = jeep; therefore jeep=yellow.

4. and the third preschool--this is just one of those aaaaaaaaw moments--when i came to pick him up after leaving him (for the first time EVER in a public institution!) to enjoy "practical life" and lunch like a big boy the first thing he said to me: mom, i cried a little bit because i missed you but then i was ok. this of course was quickly followed by: but why are we leaving now??

3. i just love this pic-->talking to daddy in norway on the phone with headphones. so i-hip, no?

2. the return of the wednesday boys--owen and west shouting we are super duper heroes with their sea creature foamy goggles and hat which they duitfuly wore for i swear an hour while they did super battling, soccering and playhouse cooking.

1. while waiting in line at anthropologie for our fancy new pillow (imagine owen dancing around THAT store singing "an-thro-pol-o-geeeeeee") owen kept himself busy opening and smelling a collection of candles in tins. oooooooh, mommy, candles! this one smells liiiike: strawberries! and this one . . . butterflies! and this one . . . ice cream. . . oh, this one smells like flowers, mommy. we have to buy it! so, you know, i did, and he proudly carried it out in his own bag and when we arrived home ran up the stairs and placed it on my desk. the pillow, i'm taking back, but the candle--well, that's my gift to keep forever and ever.

sukkertoppen

in honor of my dad/brother/sister-in-law/uncle hiking the pacific crest trail, I decided to head out on a little hike of my own. Near the town is a hike up sukkertoppen. The total distance to the top from my hotel is approx. 5.5 miles (11 round-trip) and gain in altitude of 314 meters (1030 feet).

Aerial view of the mountain:


a good sign I found the right path:


me on top:


the "other" view of Alesund:



view of the Aquarium:

i left my heart in san francisco

and really, with boys like this around, how could i not be smitten? papa just sent me some pics from our family roadtrip up to the bay area and these are by far my favorites. we went up for a winery wedding of an old family friend we had grown up with in fremont--it was everthing you could hope for in a wedding: gorgeous weather, tasteful bridesmaids dresses, a bride so raidant you can't help but cry with hope as she walks down the aisle, and a groom that knows he really scored. but it was really beautiful to be there with both michael and owen and my parents--i felt nostalgia for our own wedding, nearly a decade ago! and i remember the bride and her two brothers when they were owen's age. nothing like getting old and finding yourself saying "i remember when. . ."

but thanks to some radisson gold points and michael's expert travel booking we stayed in san francisco and he managed to sneak in an extra vacation before flying out of SFO back to AES. we stayed on an extra day before the mind numbing drive on the 5 fwy and had a great day touristing out at the piers. we started out at ghiradelli square and walked our way through fisherman's wharf where we enjoyed some artisan sourdough bread--owen got a mini turtle and was sooo excited to eat the little feet first!--and out to pier 39 to watch the sea lions and ride the carousel. we took the streetcar back to ghiradelli and indulged in some hot fudge sundaes to end a nearly perfect (we had dropped of michael at the airport on our way to all of the sightseeing) day! we enjoyed the city so much--i'm hoping we can find a way to spend another family weekend there (we didn't even get to ride cable cars although nana did buy owen one to introduce to thomas and friends, and there was a antique fire truck tour and more bread to eat) soon...

drive

so I have 4 suitcases and 2 large duffel bags full of my winter clothes, cara's sweaters, and Owen's toys. Since this is possibly my last trip to Norway (I start Sweden in September), I have to take the luggage with me this time. I'm thinking about taking next weekend and drive over a couple of suitcases and duffel bag and drop it off at the hotel I will be at next. I'm thinking about leaving friday after work and stay the night in Lillehammer, which is about half way. Saturday, I will wake up and drive the rest into Karlstad and spend the day/night there. Sunday, I will make the long drive back. I think it's totally do-able, and keep in mind that these roads are only open a few months out of the year. Comments welcome.

and the accompanying text

so i've always kept a diary, a journal, a transcription of sorts-- and there's always this point where you feel this need to "catch up" even when you're six or thirteen and writing what you've had for lunch or what judy blume book you'd read. it's all the same, really--and it seems like we've been doing so much coming and going and moving and not really much time to sit down and scribble. and i've been writing, mostly in my head, really, everything from how much i love fritattas, and making them for michael (there's a yellow sticky in my joy of cooking right above the variation on asparagus frittatas that says "i like a whole lotta frittata" and i think i'll never take it out) and how the entire world of words opened up for owen (he's reading, no really, i mean reading-- today in trader joe's "mommy does that say 'fresh eggs'" and holding up one of the new seuss library books i bought "and is this book called fifty trees?" and it quite simply astounds me) and how san francisco is much more an international city than london (we spent sunday at the wharf with nana and papa and i heard more french and italian spoken then 'american') and how the pigeon dove that has nested outside my bedroom window has had two baby birds and at three in the morning i woke up and watched her feed them from her mouth and there was my baby bird who had just crawled into my bed fifteen minutes earlier (and it made michael's empty side of the bed bearable) and really how freaked out i am about the new adventures, so to speak, but excited too (nightmares about preschool bullies and commuting to riverside five days a week and finding that someone broke into our storage cubicle and stole all of my old dusty teaching files). . . but i guess that's the rule, you just sit down and write. whether it's a diary entry or a disseratation and how there's nothing like the tappity tap of keys--even if it's just to say everything you haven't written, or to skip that and start from right now: where there's a fantastic breeze coming through my corner of the office at midnight and tomorrow we do a "practice preschool day" and i picked up 154 prints of our pictures from pairs and bought a crate of paper so gorgeous i want to paste it on my walls and so no, dear heidi we haven't abandoned post--but thank you for the reminder. the beach, as you can see was gorgeous, but seeing owen dance around the sand with his cousins, and haivng inlaws that i love, really love, was, you know, priceless ;)

for heidi!