The lineup

An incredible amount of thought went into this lineup.
My only question has to do with the horse.


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Sleepy Time

Santa

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CAR-ma

And while Dad'n was off playing in the snow in his $700 car from the early 80's that apparently runs just fine, Mommy and boys were waiting for a tow truck AGAIN. In the rain AGAIN.

At this point, Drake thinks that standard operating procedure for any trip outside of Tacoma is to drive MOST of the way there, then call a tow truck. He loves it. Tow trucks are SO cool!

While listening to the You're on Hold Indefinitely Easy Listening tunes that the Tacoma Chrysler Dodge dealer hopes will keep you pacified, I wondered what on earth I had done to deserve this terrible  car karma. Is this all because I blew up the engine on mom's wonderfully ugly olive green VW bus (with roadrunner decals and orange plaid seats)? Or is it because of the banana yellow station wagon that ended up in a ditch before I fully mastered the art of looking in one direction while steering in another? Or is it because I told Elan that I really hoped he didn't get towed home from his little adventure to the snow, even though I was secretly pretty sure that he would?

So the question is, how do I ditch this horrible  CARma?
Is there a Patron Saint of internal combustion that I can light a candle for? A goddess of Fahrvergnügen that needs to be appeased somehow? Or should I just stick to business as usual so that Drake can continue seeing tow trucks.

On the up side, we did make it to see Santa, which was the goal. Drake liked the tow truck better, but Ewan was pretty impressed with the Big Guy's red outfit.

We stayed in a hotel in Friday Harbor, which Drake liked. After fully exploring the room, he asked, "Mommy, does this house have a yiving room?"

We found Shrek on TV, and  I realized that Drake hadn't ever seen commercials before. He kept saying "OH! where did that movie go?" then "what's that kitty cat doing?" or that car, or that man on the phone, or whatever.... then: "OH! that's the same movie we were already watching!!"
Pretty funny.

Solo camping trip in 4WD Tercel

Just a quick over night camping trip in the Olympic National Forest. With a little off roading to see what the little Tercel 4WD can do. Over all pretty good, I did get stuck in the snow(no video of that unfortunately). But after 3hours(in the dark) of digging and winching with a come-along, plus a hi-lift jack and sacrificing all of my firewood for traction it came free.
Over all it was fun but left me with out dry firewood and to tired to bother with the tent so I slept in the back of the car.

Super models

A sneak peak from our photo session today with Lisa. So fun!


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Baby monkey

Drake is carrying his monkey around attached to his chest. He just told me: "mommy I'm giving my baby monkey milk"





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Construction and Remodeling

Construction...

The Trader Joe's kit (yes, KIT; I'm nowhere near cool enough to make my own) came with little sugar people and dogs. Drake decided that ALL of the people and dogs needed to live in HIS house (go figure!), so mine is just the vacation house, I guess.

And then the remodel....He immediately decided he needed to take the whole thing apart, and demanded more "glue" so we could rebuild. I'm afraid it might have to be a daily project for a while. Future contractor? interior decorator? demolition specialist? cake decorator? who knows!

Zoo Lights

"Wake me up when it's over"

Only in Washington: Orca Zoolights

Chilly ride

If you can't tell, that's a zoo light Mt. Ranier

New Baby Cousin!!

Drake and Ewan's new baby cousin is here!
Grace Athene was born last night (12/7/10) at 12:50.
We're impatiently awaiting photos and details, but hoping that the new little family is resting after what sounds like a VERY looooooong labor.
Congratulations Evan and Tess, and don't worry, the second one is easier (haha)

The scrawniest Christmas Tree on the block

A bit like Charley Brown's tree

In Washiginton, a portion of public school money comes from land managed by the Department of Natural Resources in trust for the schools. That basically means that it gets logged for school money. So every winter they sell $10 "tree permits" and you can go up into that year's designated area of "forest" and pick out a tree. Unfortunately neither nature or DNR grows those nice fluffy trees with perfectly manicured branches.
But we love our goofy little tree.

Drake found the perfect tree

I have to admit that the McMinivan did an amazing job in the snow (with chains).
 Some credit goes to the driver, too - not bad for a California Boy!!

The snow was shoulder deep for Drake, so he got a ride.

"Wake me up when it's over"

Snack break

That was fun!

Good Morning

Baby Ewan Plans His Day

I know what you're thinking; how much planning does Eat, Sleep, Poop, Repeat actually take?? but he's a bit of a perfectionist.

Big Brother's Quote of the day:

"My new baby is a nice yittle baby."

This is why we can't go to movie theatres:

Pop Quiz!

Drake & Ewan 14 days old...which is which?

Cousin in the Oven

Drake checking on Auntie Tess' New Baby.

He told her (in his Very Excited voice): "My new baby already came out of my mommy's tummy!!"

Sorting animals with Uncle Evan

I know, I know, MORE UPDATES!!!

The Stewart Boys are busy this week entertaining Popo (That is, Grandma Marti)

Apparently I have been a slacker blogger (slogger?)
Sorry, I've been busy doing laundry.....Ewan is a champion laundry maker. Seriously, REALLY good at it.
When Drake was this age someone else did our laundry.....wasn't that nice???????
YES IT WAS.

Ewan's First Week

Fresh Toes

Family Time

Snuggles with Grandpa Larry

First Bath

Drake loves to kiss the New Baby's fingers

"We're going to need a bigger boat" or bed

I thought he was a Dinosaur but he looks more like a little Jedi

Ewan's 1st Halloween

Frog toes

A Name! And all the details.....

Ewan Elliott Stewart

8.7 lbs, 20.5 inches

    This little man waited until he was good and ready, and then got the job done as quickly as possible. Bernie, our midwife, was a little skeptical that it was really true labor, until I charged through the birth center door barefoot ready to get down to business (it was pouring rain, and COLD but no one had been able to make me put shoes on).

   We checked into the birth center at 11:45 am, and Ewan made his entrance at 1:03 in a beautiful (but very purple) room with a jacuzzi tub. Baby had the cord around his neck and was a bit too purple himself (maybe some reflection off the walls) but Bernie had him untangled and screaming at the top of his healthy little lungs in no time. He spent a few minutes lounging in the nice warm water with his Mommy, and then went for some quality time with Dad and Auntie Bess while Bernie stopped some extra bleeding on Mommy.

   Meanwhile, Big Brother Drake was out on the town with Aunt Emily. He went to the gym to work out, went out to breakfast with some buddies, crashed a stranger's birthday party, built a model car, and then headed over to the birth center to pick up the New Baby. 

   We were all home in time for dinner with Grandma Jennie, Aunt Emily, Aunt Bess and Roger.

It's a BOY!

At birthing center

Glowstick bath

Drake copying his east coast bud, Desmond C.

My late birthday present!!!

HaHa! 
I bet you thought I was going to put a picture of a New Baby up, didn't you!

Nope. No such luck. 

Still waiting.......

But it's a really nice mixer.

Guess it's time to make some cookies for the midwives (or is that jumping the gun?)

No pressure, Baby, but seriously, we're ready anytime.......

Still Waiting.....

...and Big Brother is testing all of the baby gear.

"A woman and her son"

This photo is from today's SF Chronicle with an article talking about the new lighthouse innkeepers. Drake and I are billed as "A woman and her son enjoying the island"........really???

Just a very small example of just how thankless that job really was!
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/22/BA3V1G055L.DTL

Big Brother Present

I'm not sure which was more exciting; the actual go-cart or the HUGE box that the mailman dropped off with Drake's name on it, but he LOOOOOOOVES his new "race car". After we got it all put together, he informed me that he needed to "go drive the car on the sidewalk to daddy's work and bring him home". He's also pretty sure that it should have a rocket on the back that he can light with a match to go fast (like Woody and Buzz do in Toy Story). He showed me exactly where I should attach the rocket.

David (Elan's cousin) starting a family tradition -1994

Great pumpkin search

Dishwasher

So nice to have a fantastic photographer in the house. 

Nice one, Roger.

Cousins in the Ovens

Evan and Tess' little Bean is due 34 days after ours - Can't wait for the little cousins to meet!

Drake and new friend Esther

"I'll hug you but you can't have my cars"

The sweetest little boy on the planet:

We still need to spend quite a bit of time talking about when and why Daddy was gone in Louisiana for a long time, and today Drake told Elan:
"You're happy because you came back, Daddy...You came back to Mommy's house...and Mommy makes you happy"

What a sweet little monkey!!!

Poor Emery remembers when he was an only child...

Some expecting parents nest...

...and some just go ahead and rip the roof off of their house before the baby comes. Guess which type we are??

It turns out that it is really hard to get a 2 year old to take a nap when there's a whole crew of "Roof Mans" climbing around up there.

And if you have ever wanted to ask where the work crew goes to the bathroom while they tear up your house, I am now very informed and can share this priceless bit of information with you all:

On the fence outside the kitchen window.

Isn't it nice to be well informed?

"Mommy went to get the new baby out"

No, not really, but while I was at my weekly midwife's appointment, Drake informed Auntie Em that it was "TIME" (I guess he's ready to be a big brother!)
The most frequently used word at this appointment was "perfect": heart rate is perfect, measurements are perfect, blood pressure is perfect, weight gain is perfect, baby's position is perfect, movements nice and strong (perfect).........now we just WAIT........the Arizona Stewarts are expecting news of the new baby on October 19th, I'm assuming it will be my birthday (23rd), Elan is guessing the 24th, my mom says the 17th, and Drake is apparently expecting to be a big brother ANY MINUTE.
(Funny how no one seems to think this baby feels obligated to wait around for silly things like due dates)
I can't wait to see who's right!

"I'm sitting on the New Baby"

And the new baby fights back (ouch!). This baby really knows big brother's voice.

Help! Drake's trapped in the iphone!

Circus tent

How to throw a party in the PAC NW