stomp rocket

Isaac is a lucky boy. He got a "stomp rocket" for Christmas from Great-Uncle Chris. This is probably his very favorite toy. Since this picture, we have lost one of the rockets on our roof. Apparently some people are coming to clean the gutters though so maybe they can help us get it. 

 We had fun bringing them to the park to launch them, but unfortunately Sonia had other ideas about being outside, and we had to go home earlier than we would have liked.

Thanks, Uncle Chris, for this great gift! 

sick days

On Tuesday afternoon, when Isaac woke up from his nap at school, his voice didn't sound so good. But, I figured it was just post-nasal drip because it got better soon afterwards. So, he went to school on Wednesday. But Wednesday evening, he had a fever and was getting worse, so I kept him home from school on Thursday and Friday. The only bummer is that he missed his little concert. I thought of going, but his voice and breathing were so congested that there is no way he would have been able to sing. Anyway, he has sung all the songs to me over the past few days, so I have a good idea. It might have been cute to see all the kids singing together, but that is okay. There is always next year! Maybe they can have a spring concert.

 This morning, he is starting to feel better. His temperature is back to normal and he hasn't had ibuprofen for over a day. 

 I am glad. I didn't want my little Isaac to be sick for Christmas! 

 So far, it doesn't look like Sonia has caught this cold, although she was pretty sleepy yesterday. Her voice sounds fine and no fever yet. 

Isaac has still been going to preschool while I am home on maternity leave, but he only stays until after nap now. At first I thought that would be a bad idea, that he should just stay home the whole time, but I think the routine has been good, not only for him, but for Sonia too. She is getting used to a bit of a schedule, and it is nice! Now we have two weeks off for Christmas and New Year's, so I will get a bit of time with both of them. Judging by the last two days, I think it will go well! 

toes

So, I realize there are some pictures that will necessarily have to be put on one blog or another, because now Isaac and Sonia are together in a lot of activities and pictures :)

This could easily go on either blog, but it is probably equally "weird" on either one. At least Auntie Anna would probably say it was weird. I took a bunch of pictures of my babies' toes the other day. Isaac's feet usually get cold at night so we make him wear socks. Otherwise the feet end up under somebody else's body. Sonia's feet are generally covered with socks, so they tend to be nice and toasty.

Big toes, little toes. 

 Toenails that need to be trimmed...

 Toes that can be held still on their own... 

 Toes that need assistance to stay still for a picture. 

 I don't know why the camera was having trouble focusing on Sonia's toes. They are so cute and tiny! Maybe because they are more pale than Isaac's and don't contrast with the background quite as much. Apparently a few shades make a difference? 

 Finally - baby toes in focus! 

I just love them and their sweet little feet. 

snow

It snowed on Tuesday. We got to walk to preschool  in the snow and Isaac thoroughly enjoyed it. It was actually warmer than it had been the previous week when it was frosty outside in the morning. Isaac got really excited about the snow several times and just wanted to touch it. I realized that this may well be what he has thought every year about snow, but that he was just able to express it more coherently this year.

water

First of all, I have to say, WOW. Apparently there are a lot of people looking at Isaac's blog lately. Serial lookers? What is with all the people from Russia? Seriously, I don't know anyone from Russia who is in Russia right now. Maybe I need to revisit those privacy settings. I don't want to password protect this blog because I know there are multiple people who read it but don't comment, but... apparently there have been 23 views from  Russia in the past week. Google stats. Interesting. Terrifying. 

Anyways, last weekend we went to the "ducks park" as we affectionately call Alton Baker Park. The water level in the Willamette was very high. We saw a lot of people out there fishing (in the ponds, not the Willamette), and we even saw a guy land a trout. 

 It was so endearing - one of the guys in this picture below said to Isaac, "Look at that BIG fish the guy caught!" I couldn't help but think to myself, "My, that fish is pretty small compared to what I am used to. But maybe to Isaac it is still big." Isaac brought his own chair so he could sit in it.

 Just because we don't get enough pictures of Papa. He was really cold. That's why he looks less than content in this picture. Also, those steps that go to the island in the middle of the duck pond? Covered in water. Wow. 

 If you look closely at this picture, you'll notice that the two benches are now on the edge of the river. Part of the path was flooded. The water coming out from the left is where the water comes out from the ponds. I'm sure it does this every year, but it was disorienting to me. 

 We walked over this bridge too, which is apparently called the Peter DeFazio bridge, after our congressman who has been in congress for a really long time. I have to say for the guy, although he never ever agrees with me on anything I write to him about, he at least takes the time, eventually, to write me back. And it seems personal enough. I do like that, I guess. I'll take what I can get.

Anyway, the view from the bridge gave me a somewhat panicked feeling, like my fear of heights, I guess, but in a different way. The river was just so much higher than I was used to, that I think it was more of a fear of a flood, or the strong current washing us away somehow. 

We had a good walk, but man, it was cold. Luckily Isaac stayed warm, and after about 45 minutes out there, we all decided that it would be a good idea to go home and warm up. 

I put this on Facebook, but have to put some of Isaac's little mis-use of words. I don't remember exactly the sentences, but just the context, so forgive me if they are a little different than you read before. 

"I'm going to snickerdoodle around here." (sneak, I think. He was trying to get past my legs.)

"I'm going to chuckle the chair back over here."  (slide/push)

"It's like an ovaltine." (oval)