Being Katie

Jim went to Seattle to surprise his little sis, Katie, for her 30th birthday.
Josh, Katie's beer-brewing (and very generous) hubby, contacted Jim some months ago to ask us to come up for the weekend.  With life being as busy as it is we decided Jim should go alone.
I think, although I would have loved to be there (and it goes without saying the kids too), it was a good decision - this was a much needed break for Jim. Not to mention, some much needed family time:

Bobby, Katie, Dad, and Jim - can you tell they're related?

The birthday girl and her brothers - missing a brother, Jeff makes four.

 

Bobby, Josh, Katie, and Jim

Uncle Jim and Everett

Jim heads home tomorrow.  We've missed him, and I know he's missing us.  Still.  This has been a great trip: lots of beer, laughter, nieces and nephew to love, a new tattoo, relaxation and serious Yost time

Happy Birthday Katie.  You're an amazing person. truly.
 

MAGNOLIA MARIE YOST

Happy Birthday to my BIG GIRL.  

I always make the mistake of calling her baby-girl.  She always reminds me, "I'm not a baby, I'm a BIG girl!".

Yes you are.  

Three years, sorta.  We're celebrating today, and though I will miss most of it, including the present opening.  I will be thinking of her all day, imagining her delight at the new wonders she will wake to.  The joy she will have playing and creating her own world.

It's like magic, this life.

talet show

It was a very cute and very sweet afternoon treat for Jim and I.  Except.  Except the part where Fletcher was frustrated by his lack of control over choreography.  You'll notice Maggy does not take the hint (over and over again) to exit stage right.  She is way too into those twirls.  Yes, he did try to trip her.  Sibling love.

Celebrating!

Our family is celebrating this weekend.  On Friday Jim and I paid off our account with Consumer Credit Counseling.  This is the end of four years of paying off our too large credit debt.  What a relief! 
So, last night we had a pajama party.  I made popcorn, which I don't do often.  I mean real popcorn: cooked on the stove and then smothered in butter, salt and brewer's yeast. Yum. We had tacos for dinner, and ice cream for dessert.  We watched Megamind, a truly funny and unique movie:


Today while Jim had a nice long break in the afternoon, I took Fletch and Maggy on a movie date.  This was Maggy's first movie theater experience which began with a stop at Powell's to load up on candy.  It was another funny movie, and so different than many movies that are out today:


Tonight Jim is out to another show in SLO, Sexy-Time Explosion:


Tomorrow: bowling and pizza.
Perfect weekend, lots of fun.

Happy Valentine's Day...

If your still searching for your child's class valentine's, go no further.  Here's the most unique thing you'll find:

Luckypennymake's magnetic paper dolls

so awesome.

 

 

Just Read

I don't know if you read Just Tutes blog?  I really love her. Her sewing tutes.  Her style.  Her raw honesty.
Go read An Open Letter To My Daughter.  Go ahead, I promise you will cry and laugh and totally relate.

lost (deleted)

I accidentally deleted some of my favorite pictures from Fletcher's birthday party.  I can't even begin to comprehend how disappointed I feel....yuck.

The Percy Jackson party was great success, one of the best party's we've had.  I googled the theme and found some other great blogs with all kinds of great ideas and pictures for this theme.  What an amazing thing, to find so quickly and easily just the right bit of inspiration to kick start a mom!

Blue food, which the half-bloods like best: blueberry waffles, blueberry syrup, blueberry yogurt, blueberry juice, blueberries, blue corn chips. (there are very few natural blue foods!)

the first task (Fletcher found four scrolls throughout the party which describe the tasks to be completed)

painting sheilds

Roy's

Ezzy's

Maggy's

Lemon's

Forrest's

Fletcher's

Andy's

Bella's

task two

pin the lightening bolt on Zeus

task three

To slay Medusa (thanks Mom and Aunt Harvest for the amazing pinata!)

Medusa needed a bit of "reconstruction" halfway through the great battle

the final blow

task four: cake and a blue bead on blue silk thread for each battle weary halfblood

the blue cake with a lightening bolt (thank you Aunt Harvest!)

This is where the pictures I erased should be:  a few great shots of the whole crew with their shields, it's truly a shame!  Still Fletch loved the party, the weather was awesome, and we all had a great time!

Thirty-Ninth Year

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM!

Tonight Jim is celebrating his birthday at a punk show.  

D.I., at The Z Club in SLO

I hope he's fully soaking in the energy, with complete abandon

reveling in his aloneness among others who share his love of music and beer.

I hope too for just a bit of the old Jim to come out and play:

a bit of debauchery and more than a bit of endurance.

Tomorrow we will celebrate in whatever manner he wishes:

After he wakes up!

This one's for you Babe:

Are you a Half Blood?

We're getting ready for Fletcher's Percy Jackson party this afternoon.  I think it will be his best party yet!  Pictures later....

It's Not The Chase That I Love....

If your not listening, you don't know what you're missing:
The Avett Brothers
Maybe you are already listening, and I was the one who didn't know what I was missing.

So, if you happen by my house and find me dancing wildly around, hair flying, arms and legs flailing and the room is silent, look closely; I've got my headphones plugged into the trusty old ipod, turned up full volume listening to Kick Drum Heart:

"It's not the chase that I love, it's me following you."

Fletcher is....

8 years old!

a whip cream lover.

so happy to be another year closer to double digits, a fact he loves to remind us all of.

smiling, laughing, playing, enjoying the sunshine, goofy, and sweet, very sweet.

sleeping under his Christmas quilt.

reading (and if you look closely, he might be flipping me off, but I choose to think not.)

 reading constantly.

helping Dad play Everyword, showing Mom up again.

building, building, building.  Loving all the legos and elastic powered vehicle kits he received as gifts.  He is also following the directions for the first time on his own - no longer asking us to build for him.

playing his DSI, anywhere and everywhere.

creating.  This boy of ours is growing up.  I know that is just what happens, but still, I am a feeling a bit blindsided by how quickly it all goes.  Eight seems like such a big number, so much bigger than seven - I don't know why.  He's just amazing.

reading.  He flew through the first three Percy Jackson books he got for Christmas, he's moved on with the rest of the set he got for his birthday.  He's also reading three to four Hardy Boys books per week from the library, there is something about seeing his with one of those old books that warms my heart.

Magnolia is...

dancing, twirling, singing, laughing, constantly moving.

counting her fingers, singing along with the local hip-hop radio station, trying to put herself to bed.

getting her own library books, helping me make coffee in the morning, being just a bit more gentle with the kitties, planning her birthday party.

painting, drawing whales, categorizing people according to how they are related, trying to do everything Fletcher does - and maybe a bit more.

playing uno, taking care of her babies: nursing, feeding, carrying them in slings and then dumping them without ceremony to move on to the next adventure, riding her bike, wearing almost no clothing even when it's 60 outside.

finally wearing the dress I made for her birthday LAST year!