6 months old (4 days ago)

I intended to create a fun post about Timo turning 6 months old but my computer is taking a long time to do things so it is uninspiring/frustrating to write an interesting post. I know that it will take too long for me to edit and format the video I wanted to post here so i will just post photos instead. Timo's 6 month "birthday" happened when we had a a few super glorious HOT days here in the Spoke. It felt like SUMMER!! We hardly knew what to do. However we did figure out that going diaperless on the back lawn clearly was the correct way to conduct ourselves! Since then Timo has been able to do these moves and more even with diapers on!
Unlike Ami's first year we haven't had a cake every month (not even close) in honour of Timo's mensaversaries. However, Timo gets a blog post and photos galore. Happy half birthday little guy, and Happy half birthday to Miho too!!!!

documenting...

  I can't imagine what it must be like for babies/children today whose lives are documented almost by the minute (at some times of the year at least). I wonder what it will do to their sense of self and place in the world. I thought I would make a photographic comment on this phenomenon... or maybe i was just taking a picture of my dad's hands ;)

a poem and some pictures

Spring is

Owls, spiders
flying hooting, growing
warm as a sweater.
Spring

-by Ami Elfert

day off

what does a day off look like?
what would i not do?
and would i do instead?
I'll have to wait until summer to find out,
perhaps.

remiss

I am remiss in posting here. and shocked that the last post was March 17th. but not surprised that I haven't posted however. Life is full.

Since the last post I have -
won more items at the auction,
heard Zuill Bailey play Bach Suites across the street from our house,
had parent-teacher conference at Ami's school,
Martin was ordained to the priesthood,
we hosted my parents and Helen and a friend from CDSP for Martin's ordination,
I went to California for 9 days with Timo,
I graduated from the ABM for Children Mastery training,
Ami broke his arm,
the kids and I "spring break-ed" in Portland,
Martin introduced the "Elfert Interpolation" while celebrating at the Easter Service,
and now Mum and Dad are here for a visit!
I guess that's why i didn't have a chance to post....
and perhaps why i am tired.

St Paddy's day

Today was fun. I don't have much time to write so this will be point form.
St Patrick's day
*Ami is disappointed that the leprechauns didn't come in the night (I'm not sure what they are supposed to do or how you know they came. . . )
*Ami makes his own version of muffins for breakfast- no formal recipe- they turn out pretty good actually!
*I go to the auction house to put some absentee bids on some items of interest- I'm getting obsessed with auctions.
*Timo starts long sounds- one breath, one long sound
*Timo also has really fine small motor skills- both hands- as he explores his world
*Ami's friend Emily comes over for a playdate
*Ami loses his tooth- he had a total snaggle tooth for 24 hours.
*Ami personally understands the Burns quote "Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!" - nothing terrible but a lesson well learned...
*I organize a parishioner to help with moving an electronic organ from GoodWill to our house for Ami. I bought it last week ($24.99) and have been keeping it a secret until today. I had hoped to keep it a secret until it was installed in our house but that didn't work out. It has lots of buttons- not many seem to affect/change the tone like they say they will but it is fun and he can say that he has an organ now and he can practice on it. I will get a video of it ASAP
*Ami tells me that he wants to be a famous composer when he grows up. Like Bach
He also wants to be a famous musician and artist.
*Mimi has an unimportant day except that she has 2 accidents with her elevated (high) chair.
*We finally put Mimi's tooth under her pillow tonight (it fell out in January) as Ami put his under his pillow too.
*Ami asked if they could have allowance. I said yes and then asked him how much he was thinking of. He suggested 17 cents.
*everyone wore green so that we wouldn't get pinched by leprechauns. :)


as a side note.... Yesterday Martin picked up Mimi from school on the Xtracycle. Apparently it was a big hit and everyone wanted to know about it in the parking lot of SUVs....

more bathing cuteness

This little video is here so you can see how cute my life is and hear how chaotic it is too. Seems Timo has found his feet- about a month after his cousin Miho! Of course in this bathtub how could he miss them!?!?!