Tashlik at Lake Washington

This week we celebrated the Jewish new year and Tashlik. Tashlik is a ceremony where you symbolically cast off your sins by tossing bread crumbs in a body of water. I like the idea of reflecting on your year and looking forward to ways to improve and grow. Also like the idea of letting go of that which was burdensome. I like the symbolism involved with water washing clean. However I did NOT enjoy the hoards of birds and ducks that descended like a scene from a Hitchcock film when the group began tossing bread. Elizabeth and I ran for cover and reflected quietly far from the mayhem.

It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed an afternoon in the sun thanks to a resurgence of summer weather.
Elizabeth missed the part about casting off sins and instead just casted off her clothes. Just as well. She is a pretty cute no clothed girl.

Summer has ended

It was just two weeks ago and we were reading night time books in the hammock. Summer is slowly ending and Elizabeth is slooowwlly giving up the hammock. For a few nights we were just turning pages and telling stories as there was not enough light to read or see the pictures. She didn't mind one bit. As I'm typing Jeff is now reading her books in bed. Summer is over.

As Elizabeth says... 'bye bye summer, see ya next time.

Pops and the garden

Pops came to visit this past week and we are now a bit lost without him. Last night Jeff and I tried to decide what was the best meal. Was it the scallops, the crab stuffed shrimp, mushroom stuffed pork chops, or homemade curry chicken salad. Basically we are bad people and totally take advantage of my father. He cooked, he folded laundry and most of all he planted a truck load of plants. I mean a truck load. We are revamping our backyard and he was out there for three days straight.

This is what some were doing while the rest were digging holes and planting over 100 plants.

Well I do know one thing we don't miss... Pops doing Elizabeth's hair. You can't tell here but he put about 8 clips in and they both thought it was hysterical.


Tonight we just finished the left overs. We may starve now. Come back Pops!

Does anyone out there have a G rated video about poop?

For two months we have been telling Elizabeth that when she turns three she will wear big girl panties. We planned our summer of camping leaving Labor Day free for this exciting event. Well this little girl right here has been a rock star. Now I don't want to say that we are done but three days in and we have yet to have any accidents, she loves her panties and is thrilled with the potty. Not bad.

We have a little potty video that she has been able to watch and loves it. There are songs about going potty and a skit with a princess that uses the potty. I think the princess is what convinced her that the potty was ok.

So for her reward for using the potty she wants... wait for it... a video of kids going poop. She is very specific that she does not want the video to talk about pee. She wants poop. I've looked at Amazon and unfortunately also on youtube where I encountered VERY unfortunate videos. So does anyone out there have G rated video about poop?

Deception Pass State Park - aka Disney Land of Camping

We went to the Disney Land of camping this weekend and it was awesome despite the fact that I would have HATED IT three years ago. There are over 200 camp sites here which I know is not really escaping from humanity but with a three year old things are different.


I had this moment when I was loading the pack with all the things we would need for the day... blankets, snacks, camera, sand toys... realizing that this same pack came with me to far flung countries and heights and that I am not the mom I thought I would be. Before she was born we talked about taking off with her to Africa, I would work full time while Jeff mostly stayed at home, I would rejoice with my child's fearless exploring, and we would hire sitters so we could still climb in the mountains. This is not the mom I am today and I'm thrilled.I don't want to move away from my family of friends here in Seattle. I want Elizabeth to grow up knowing these amazing women that I am blessed to have as my friends. I love our mommie-Elizabeth days and feel blessed that we can make the choice to have me work only part time. I am happy to use our climbing packs for carrying sand toys, sunscreen and snacks and I tremble when she is fearless. I especially tremble in fear.



I have found that I also love the Disney Land of camping because I love seeing my daughter begin her exploration of the Pacific Northwest. I don't want to be in the mountains without her.


So for now it is Deception Pass which I have learned can be an amazing way to spend the weekend.

Mt. Baker in the distance (a summit our pack has visited)

Drift wood see saw is hours of home made fun.

We watched the sun set and she asked to the sky "Will it be pink again? Make it pink!" and it was. (yeah I'm not that good of a photographer but ask my daughter cause the sky was pink)

Good night

And then she was three...

2011 School Party

The birthday post is a tad late but only because we have been having a week of fun. This year she has been well aware of her birthday and for months has been telling everyone 'in August I will be three'. She was absolutely giddy about her school party this year. Funny to look back on photos from the year before and see a much more timid little girl (below) sitting at the same table with some of the same friends around her.

2010 School Party

The night before her birthday we put Elizabeth to sleep in our room telling her it was a special birthday treat to sleep with Mommy and Daddy. We then proceeded to assemble a bunk bed in her room. My Jewish husband finally learned what Christmas Eve is like as this quick to assemble Ikea bunk bed was not really quick. At one point he even said "I'm actually using a good bit of my Master's degree to get this *$*$$ thing together". It was a late night. However when she went into her room the next morning she was literally trembling with joy.
That night her friends came over for a continuation of her birthday celebration and basically the bunk bed was the activity for the evening. Notice the five girls piled in the bed with poor Nico off to the side. He is the only boy in our circle of friend's kids but not to worry he gets himself right in the mix.

You might ask 'Where are all the adults?'. We are safely out on the porch as the high pitched screeching from the girls was deafening!

Three years ago

Lovin' at her first Indigo Girls concert

The Fly

Ridin' High

Three years ago today I was browsing Pike Place Market with my parents and my midwife called and said come on in you are going to have a baby today. Being ten days overdue I nearly ran to the hospital with joy. Least did we know it would be four days in the hospital before she was actually born. She did not want to come out and that sassy spirit continues to flourish. We are a blessed blessed family.

Summer Times

Finally had a couple weekends in town and enjoyed time with friends. Elizabeth and I actually got away for one night thanks to an invitation from Shauna and Maeve. We left Jeff at home to do whatever.

They shared this sweet house right on the water.... check out that view!

The previous weekend we had a cookout with the gang at our house. At one point we noticed that the girls were sort of quite inside. Alison went to investigate and found that they had opened the front door and left! Did not realize I needed to tell her that she must ask before leaving the house. Luckily our neighbor was out front chatting with them so they didn't get far.
There has not been a lot of sun but when it comes we are in our red neck pool for sure. You can take the girl out of the south but.... I love this group of friends. Good to get everyone under one roof for the night.

Camping Galore

We have been out of town every weekend since June and it has been nice. Just load up the Westie and go where ever it seems sunny which unfortunately has been a bit of a challenge this year. There have been some super rainy trips and some sunny hot trips.

Elizabeth loves camping and I think it is mostly cause she has both of our undivided attention the entire time. We are packed together in a small space and the goal is to chill and play. We find these great camping sites that have options for those rainy days like old military bunkers.




Elizabeth asked me the other day where the sun was and then quickly followed with 'even if there is no sun we can still play the same'. True enough!

Random Thoughts

She is growing so fast and I want to make it sllloooowww down. Things she used to say:
'Momma I don't want to ride on the highway I want to ride on the sideways'
'Oopsy doosie'
'Me name is Eesabes'
Now she knows it is the side streets, when she falls its an oopsy daisy and that 'my name is Elizabeth Sophie Speert and I be three in August'.

She continues to have a feisty spirit. When we ask her to brush her teeth or put her shoes away or hang up her coat and it happens to not be what she wants at the moment she will stick out her little index finger and shrill 'that is not good manners to ask that, that not good manners'. The other option we will hear is 'you make me sad, I frustrated about the brushing teeth and you make me sad momma'.

Actually most the time she is such a little trooper. She is sweet to her friends, worries about other people and loves nothing more then a mommy, daddy and Elizabeth day. Those are all of our favorite days.

Oh, and by the way, in the picture above she is wearing her 'pretty dress' at her request when we went out to eat and then needed to nurse her baby while dancing to the music.

Summer has begun!

Summer does not typically arrive in Seattle until July 4th. This year it was especially true and June was a difficult month of rain. Alas the sun has arrived and we are on the go.

If the temperature is above mid seventies then Elizabeth believes she must be naked and in some water. She will holler out to our neighbor 'Hey Pete I'm naked' as she runs in and out of the house. The first time Pete nearly fell off his steps laughing. The little things bring her such overwhelming joy... like being naked. She just giggles and smiles as she runs around.

This is the first summer she has had ice cream due to an allergy that is improving and she LOVES her ice cream. We tried these little ice cream things called 'dippin dots' which are small pellet size balls of ice cream. They are DISGUSTING. She was so excited cause we got the 'pink' flavor but quickly put hers aside and devoured our real ice cream cones. She has good taste.
We spent July 4th with Lynn, Sam and Anneka up in the mountains. We ran the girls ragged until they collapsed at night allowing the grown ups some much deserved relaxation. We swam, hiked, biked, played in parks and went to mountain concerts where the girls danced like maniacs (and the parents).


Hope you are having a twirling, dancing, laughing sort of summer also!!

Solstice Block Party

Summer solstice is a much celebrated occasion in Seattle as we all are praying to any God that will listen to please send us some sun. One of our neighbors is quite the organizer and we shut down the street frequently for parties. This year the solstice party had a hot dog cart, kegs of beer, tons of water guns, 135 folks came with donations for the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the guest of honor was actually the sun. There is hope that nicer weather is on its way.

Elizabeth found a group of older girls and subsequently stayed put the rest of the night. The tween girls just doted over her and she was treated like quite a princess. We were then able to enjoy actual adult conversations with our neighbors.




Elizabeth keeps asking since then 'Is today a no car day so we can play in the street?'

Celebrating Birthday and Daddy Day

Untitled from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

It has been easyish to tell people in person but for some reason very difficult to write down but since so many people have been asking, sending well wishes and prayers I know I must share with my friends that my mom died on June 2nd. As was so beautifully said by another... 'Henriette, we hope your first week in Heaven was more splendid than you ever imagined! And we imagine that Heaven is even a bit more splendid since you arrived.'

Despite the sadness I am well aware that we as a family are just so blessed!

Play Date with Lila

It's always nice to have the girls together. Now that they are getting a little older they are playing together more without the need for parental involvement.
They sat down to play what was supposed to be a catch game, but instead....
practiced their soccer headers.




Elizabeth is constantly cracking herself up. This is what she looks like after playing a trick on Daddy.

She Loves to Hug her Friends

Elizabeth is thrilled to hold, hug and sit close to all her friends. It is especially exciting to hold her little friend Sylvan although we are a bit bitter that her parents are moving her to Madison.

Oh and she always loves to give Lila a good squeeze. Even here you can see how she just wants to reach her arms back to hug on Lila.

She really is just love. The other day at the park she stopped playing and said 'Momma you make me happy!'. Well it is simply cause she is such a big ol' slice of squishy happiness.

Mother's Day Video

Mother's Day from Laura McGregor on Vimeo.

It was a lovely and emotional mother's day. Laura made this video for mom(Grandma). Something about pictures set to music that can just make me cry. I made it home to see Elizabeth sleeping in her bed before the day ended. I am blessed.