Thursday, January 29, 2009

Without A Sled

Hugo's favorite thing to say at the moment is, "I'm good helper Mom". Today we dug our selves out from under the snow and ice. I had a shovel and Hugo had a shovel. He also carried an ice scraper about with him. He helped clear off the grill and front bumper of my car. The problem with his helping me is that he wants to switch up our tools all the time. He'll want which ever shovel I'm using and then five minutes later he'll want to switch again. He did get bored while I was digging around the car and climbed up a snow bank. Then he began to throw ice chunks my way and grunted and groaned attempting to topple over boulders of snow into our freshly plowed drive. We had a break to talk about this and afterward he spun around and set off to explore. An inch of ice capped the snow. Hugo walked all around on top of the high snow. It was a sight to see. He knew it was special and kept asking me to look at him. I wanted to take a picture but I had miles of snow and ice to move and a lunch date waiting. So I hacked and heaved and tried to figure out how to lift with my legs and not my back. Tricky. I was in an ice smackin' and snow throwin' zone when I realized Hugo wasn't where I thought he was... He was sliding down the island (land between the two driveways) as fast as could be with no need of a sled. We have no sled. I didn't buy one when I saw them for sale at Dick's and today when I looked they wanted $30! for a snow boogie board thing which you could customize with your own artwork. Sorry, we'll wait for next year's cheapo normal sleds. Anyway, there was Hugo down on the lower drive, he couldn't make it up the way he had come because it was slippery soooo smart boy of mine, walked up and around the house all on his own. He was glowing at his accomplishment when he arrived by my side. All smiles he was! I went back to my hacking, heaving and swiping while he slid down the island on his snow pants covered bottom over and over again.







Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Snow Balls

We had fun in the snow today. We made snow balls galore. I was the main target, who am I kidding, I was the only target! I made the snow balls and then posed for my son's target practice. Awesome. It has been a long, long time since I have participated in a snow ball fight. Hugo laughed and laughed as he covered me in the heavy wet snow. I could hardly roll the balls up fast enough. In the photos it looks as though he is a snow ball maker expert but, alas no. He was simply scooping up intact snow balls which had not yet struck their momma target.








Back to shoveling for me!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

January 27th

Come, let's be a comfortable couple and
take care of each other! How glad we shall
be, that we have somebody we are fond of
always, to talk to and sit with. Let's be a
comfortable couple. Now do, my dear!
-Charles Dickens

Happy Anniversary Cesar

I love you.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Warms My Heart

Hugo has been crazy for Cesar's skateboard for a... years now. I can actually say years regarding the length of Hugo's little life! Amazing. Anyway, Hugo loves skateboards. He rides around on his bum. He rides around on his tummy. He pops up the board with a stomp of his foot. He jumps from the middle of the board and lands somewhat back on the board again. All his smooth skateboard riding moves have been learned from his Papa and Yo Gabba Gabba. Awesome little dude!














Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The Small Things

I gathered up trash from around the house this morning and tied it up neatly into bags by the front door. It was cold today, a whopping 20 degrees in the sunshine. Even though the garbage cans are just around the corner from the front door I needed to dress up like the Abominable Snowman for my short jaunt. With parka, boots up to my knees, scarf, mittens and hat all donned, I bent down and gathered up the plastic bag tops into one hand and opened and shut the front door behind me with the other. I took three steps, or so, straight ahead, turned to my left and was about to take a step down which would lead me on a short path alongside the house to the trash cans when I froze.

There they were.

Some creatures foot prints in the deep snow. I think it must have been a rabbit, but I'm not sure. I'm no animal track master. I surprised myself that I was able to stop so quickly when my body was simply rolling with the motions and my mind had been off on who knows which cloud, well, I know, but I'm not telling!

I stood there for quite a few minutes and just admired those tracks. Some little Peter Cottontail was brave and bold and had ventured close to our door and left a cute calling card for me. The tracks brought a smile to my face and offered up happiness along with a moment for reflection upon the little blessings which are all around us and which are so very easy to miss.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Shadow Shot #9

My shadow shot entry is a bit lengthy this week. The photos here highlight the past two weeks Hugo and I spent in Oceanside, CA with my sister Millie, her husband Trent and the cousins - Lucas, Emry and Carly.

The above shadow shot shows cousins glued at the hip - no strings attached!

Lizards, lizards everywhere.

Boots tossed hither and yon with wet, sandy socks were a daily happening.

Cousins/little sisters were lovingly smooshed, daily.

Waves and shadows were chased as often as possible.

Hugo and I posed as I have so often envied in others SS entries.

Slides enjoyed.

Swimming holes discovered.

Nonstop movement.

Little ones adored.

Happiness.

Fresh tank tracks from the beach at Camp Pendelton.

My sand art with Emry's feet and shadow.

Sand angels and gull tracks. This was all Hugo's idea by the way.

Family.

For more Shadow Shot entries please visit Hey Harriet and say hello while joining in on the fun!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Beach Afternoon

Emry and Hugo played in this giant hole in the sand dug by a mystery someone.



They played and played with their found driftwood sticks.




My toes.














Speedy tank tracks. We wondered at one point if they might run us over.




I began to draw a heart for my sweetheart at home...

A naughty little someone thought I was doing it all wrong...

The stinker tried his best to erase it out with his foot!

Off he went in search of someone new to torment.





Sand angels. All Hugo's idea.

































We loved every minute.