Livvie Livin' Life

i LOVE kindergarten

2008-09-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

The Dish was very nervous and excited at the same time. Once she hit the playground before school started, she seemed to be ready to have mom and dad hit the road. She made a new friend immediately and sprinted to line up when the bell rang (leaving mom & dad in the dust). She reached the really mom, go now and stop the video camera, very shortly after plopping down at her desk.

All in all a wonderful first day. By the time we picked her up, she said she loved kindergarten at least three times. Recess is of course her favorite. Did you know they have THREE recesses?

She's going to dig school. Our girl is growing up, and we couldn't be prouder of her.

we heart daddy

2008-07-30T19:32:00.000-07:00

long overdue, but somewhat recent photos for all you fans. father's day was a surprise adventure for daddy, livin is a very good secret keeper. took him for a picnic and kite flying at gasworks. then took him to the races for the day. no shortage of sassiness from the princess that afternoon!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

2007-12-20T19:39:00.000-08:00

The Next Idol

2007-10-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

We've been terribly negligent here, but we have loads of photos we'll get up soon. To tide you over until then, a short video of Liv showcasing her singer/songwriter cred.

Since we shot this video, she's been writing songs down. She's probably up to about twenty. My current favorite is "Do the Chonga."

Windy Lake Wenatchee

2007-08-15T17:26:00.001-07:00

Well, at least it didn't rain on us, but the weather wasn't so good. But, Olivia was a rock star camper, for sure. She loved hanging in the tent and poking at the fire. But most of all, she will tell you that SMORES were the best part of the vacation.

Recital

2007-08-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

So, one week after the big birthday, she had her very first fancy ballet recital. (Sorry, no flash photography or video cameras allowed!)

She had the curtsy down!

Mom is surprised to have gotten a smile out of her - she was super focused on the free cookies for the dancers.

Four 4 IV

2007-08-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

The 2nd of June was Olivia's 4th birthday.

She awoke to presents - the favorite, of course, was Totoro. The little guy (?) was looking at her when she woke up. Then she got the movie too!

Then the folks hurried her off to ballet class - which just happened to be the last class of Spring semester, so mom got to watch me perform. AND, Teacher Maygan found out it was her birthday, and everyone sang. Here are some of my shapes from class.

And, then the fun didn't end there. We rented The Dragon Room (her preschool) for loads of fun and sugar. 12 little kids running about make for a tired set of parents by the end of the day. Rock Star Dad even created a treasure hunt game for the kids.

All in all a fantastic day, which ended in a sleepover at Grandma & Grandpa's house with THE COUSINS!

MY PARENTS SUCK!!!

2007-08-06T21:57:00.000-07:00

Apologizing now for the break in Miss Thing's blog... she's been a busy kid, and her parents have been trying to keep up.

Opening Day 2007

2007-04-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

Liv and I were taken to Opening Day last year by Tricia's parents, and we had a great time, so we decided to go back again this year. This time around, Mama was able to come with us.

It was a pretty nice day by Seattle's April standards. No rain, some sun, decent temp. We milled around outside the park for a while calling grandparents and aunts and uncles that were going to be at the game, too.

Last year we were in the Terrace Club, but since we were footing the bill this time, we went with left field bleachers. To be honest, its my new favorite spot for watching the game with a kid. You feel really close to the action, and the four spaces we bought were cheaper than three in the upper deck.

Last year, the fireworks were a little intense for Liv. This year, we were right under them, and she LOVED 'em.

Of course, we always need at least one group self-portrait.

Liv cheered especially loud when they introduced her favorite player - ICHIRO!

If the fireworks were her favorite part of the day, discovering the joy of peanuts in the shell was a close and hands-down second. She kept saying "Do I get BOTH of the peanuts?", and I think she was especially tickled by throwing the shells on the ground.

To top it all off, we actually won! Go M's!

Springin'

2007-03-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

The sun was shining this afternoon, so Liv and I took her bike and roller skates over to the park. For her first real time on the bike, she's picking it up pretty quickly! The skates didn't last too long because she wanted to climb the waterfall.

Here I Am!

Sporting the helmet, which she is still tentative about because Jim accidentally pinched her chin when he was snapping it closed last summer. Her memory does not fail.

Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot.

Mama's favorite pic of the day...

The pretty trees are blooming and petals are flying everywhere. If only Mama could keep me centered in the photo...

Throwing petals...

Dancing with the petals...

PS - Olivia liked the color fonts

Pixie

2007-03-10T12:06:00.000-08:00

The biggest hair cut yet - and so very cute!

Mariners FanFest

2007-02-05T17:43:00.000-08:00

Livvie and her mom joined Grandma and Grandpa, Auntie Sissy, and The Cousins for Mariners FanFest a couple weekends ago. She's been to maybe a half-dozen games already, including Opening Day last year, so she totally qualifies as a fan. Another doomed Seattle fan.

Charley, Molly and Olivia would like to welcome you to Safeco Field.

Liv and Grandma. Looks like it might be the Terrace Club. My girl likes the good stuff.

What'd you say? Yo, Sea-town born and bred. Represent!

Kickin' it with a coupla her boys.

Just three punk kids hangin' in the dugout. Once again, pretty clear which one is the well-behaved one, no?

The obstacle course was pretty fun...

...and face painting was okay...

...but running the bases totally rocked!

Man, I wish I got to do that.

Santa!

2006-12-19T12:18:00.000-08:00

Tricia took Liv to see Santa at Northgate Mall on Friday night. She was really excited, and they got there just after Santa finished feeding his reindeer, so no line and nobody rushing them through. Liv got to read her whole list to Santa and he even took the list with him so he wouldn't forget.

That tiara, which she insisted on wearing, says "Drama Queen."

Mama's Vaca

2006-11-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

Daddy let me use his password to write about Mama's vacation. She was home every day for 9 days in a row. It was pretty great.

On the first Monday, I was supposed to have a playdate after preschool, but my friend was sick, so instead Mama asked me if I wanted to go to the Children's museum. Score!

The Children's Museum is in Seattle Center, which has the Fountain and the Space Needle.

I went in this whale the first time I ever came to the Museum, and then never again, until I was hanging with my Mama.

The special Clifford area had some tubes to climb through, and I gave Mama a really really big smile.

And I got to dance in a Clifford video, too.

But Mama's favorite parts was the seaweed strips.

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T13:09:00.000-08:00

She's a girl, she's a kitty, she's totally super -
she's Super Kitty Girl!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!

Vacation All I Ever Wanted

2006-10-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

Our original summer vacation plans to the coast were squashed, so we took a quick weekend trip over to the Olympic Peninsula - Sunny Sequim. The driest place in the Pacific Northwest. Home of lavendar fields, The Olympic Game Farm and the world's longest natural sand spit.

Our Ballerina

2006-09-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

Livvie took a ballet class this summer and totally loved it. She is bummed that the school doesn't offer tap until kids are four, but is going to take another ballet class this fall.

Most days, we are only allowed to peak through the windows of the studio, but on the last day of class were allowed to sit in on class. Not quite a recital, but still Olivia's performance debut.

Yeah, she's a little bit cute sometimes.

The Moose is Loose in Ballard

2006-08-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

Livvie's friend Deborah from Seattle Rep gave her this little stuffed moose when we stopped by to pick up my paycheck this week. We decided the moose needed to get to know his new home, so we took him on a photo safari.

The beginning of our journey, hanging out on the steps outside our apartment.

Liv and the moose have a heart-to-heart outisde the library.

William Tell and his apple got nothin' on us.

Peakin' around the art (we stop and say hi to this art whenever we go to the bank).

Checking out the marquee at the Majestic Bay. The moose thinks Will Farrell is a hack.

Ballard's Scandinavian heritage celebrated at Bergen Place (there are three drunks asleep behind those bushes as we take the picture).

Liv checks out the giant archway at the entrance of Marvin's Garden.

Livvie and the moose decided they don't like the spray from the husky fountains (as Liv has dubbed them).

And the cool kids hang out at the skate bowl, looking cool.

It's All Fun & Games Until...

2006-08-06T22:59:00.000-07:00

...you get water up your nose. We've got Liv in parent-tot swimming lessons right now. I have historically taken her, but after one session with Daddy, she was no longer interested in swimming with Mama. Well, that is until she got water up her nose. Now she says this week she'll sit up in the bleachers with me and hold the bags.

Mama-Daughter Sleepover at Grandma's, 11pm

2006-07-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

Last one standing! Yeah!

The Zoo, The Fountain, & The Ocean

2006-07-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

Liv and I have been busy this summer. So much so that I'm taking pictures waaaayyyy faster than I can post them. But, I thought I'd grab a few favorites from some of our recent adventures to share with Livvie's legions of adoring fans.

First, the zoo...

Feeding the budgies at Willawong Station has become our new favorite zoo activity. A dark shot, I know, but you'd be surprised how hard it is to hold a camera and a child holding a stick on which perches a bird all at once.

My cute little caterpillar on the way into the butterfly exhibit (also high on the LivList).

It's a Zoo, it's a museum, it's amazing - it's Zoomazium! And they have a cool slide.

My only (attempted) arty shot of the day. I am so not my wife.

Testing the waves at Golden Gardens.

Beach babe in motion.

I love this shot because the perspective makes it look like she is a giant emerging from the forest.

Liv walks the fine line between hug and headlock.

Manna from heaven this fountain in the park directly across the street.

Same shot, different day.

Video Rewind

2006-07-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

I have had my hands full keeping the little one busy lately, and haven't had time to post any new pics (though we have a lot - maybe I'll just do a highlight reel later tonight). So, I thought I'd dig up some old material and share the video I made for her when she was around 9 mos, filmed at the Skagit Valley Tulip Fest, our Bellingham apartment and a park near WWU.

Our Ballard Photo Adventure

2006-06-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

Liv and I took a few of her closest friends on a little photo safari through Ballard today.

Introducing LegoMan, King Louie, Kitty 1 & Kitty 2, and The Viking. We began our adventure in the new skate park across the street from our apartment.

Here's Liv giving some instructions to LegoMan. Apparently he wasn't pouting enough.

She tells me they are sitting around the council fire in this shot from the metal chairs in front of the library.

Kitty 1 & Kitty 2 didn't want to talk to each other in the park at all.

This is our favorite art. When we walk to the bank, we pass by and say "Hello, art!" So, we needed to set at least one scene here.

The Viking wanted to conquer the art. Something about reclaiming his heritage.

Liv thinks that LegoMan has got a fat belly. Perhaps he's been noshing at Carnegie's (in the old old public library building) behind our back.

My lovely and talented photographic assistant and safari guide.

Grandma Lila's 80th

2006-06-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

Liv's great grandma Lila (she has 3 great grandmas still kickin') had an 80th birthday party this past weekend. Liv had a great time playing with all of her cousins (this is the smaller side of TJ's family, and still there were 9 or so kids of playing-on-their-own age).

Getting some beauty sleep on the way in.

Doublin'-in up on the cuteness factor with cousin Molly.

Good thing cousin Todd is an athlete. He made a lot more trips than Daddy.

Of course, Todd couldn't do it all, so Papa Roy helped out, too.

Yes, in fact she did wear that helmet almost all day.

A wagonload of cousins.

Party Pics

2006-06-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

Finally, some pics from Liv's birthday party. It was fun, pretty grown-up heavy, but she had her cousins and her friend Bryce. She also had a very froggy voice - woke up with it and had it for a few days, though she never seemed to feel unwell.

Anyway, captionless party pics because I have just moments of naptime left.

Happy Birthday to ME!

2006-06-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

I'm this many today.
What do think of my new wheels!

Syttende Mai in Ballard

2006-05-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

We had a parade in Ballard this past Wednesday, just a block away from the apt. Norwegian Constitution Day, commonly known as "Syttende Mai" or the 17th of May, is a celebration of the day in 1814 when Norway’s constitution was signed in the town of Eidsvoll, Norway. Apparently, the people of Ballard take this day VERY seriously. I imagined maybe an hour or so of parade at the most, but it was near two hours. Crazy, but very fun. Liv scored a ton of candy.

Snacking up and waiting for the parade to start.

The whole fam.

The parade started with the SPD Motorcycle Drill Team.

This is how close they came. Kinda freaked Livvie out.

They are too loud!

I never knew there were this many Scandies in the world, much less WA...

And, yes, there were some giant blonde inbreds. Why do you ask?

And, four different marching bands, at least.

Livvie started loosening up and really enjoying the parade as we went into the second hour.

And just a few more of our favorite moments - librarians, an old clown, gnomes, and a giant manure scooper. Man, I love Ballard.

Carkeek Park

2006-05-19T17:29:00.000-07:00

Carkeek Park is one of my favorite parks. It is on the north edge of Seattle, with really groovy play areas, access to the shore, and the railroad running practically through it (you cross a footbridge over the tracks to get to the beach).

Anyway, the girls and I kicked it at Carkeek in the beauty weather last weekend.

I loves me some nose kisses.

What NW park is complete without a giant salmon slide?

Peeking through a giant log.

There are bunch of these cool installations made up like tidepools.

Tossin' rocks into the creek.

Just bein' cute by the creek.

Here comes the train!

And it's really loud!

Lookin' for groovy stuff in the rocks, just before we left.

Desert Aire - the Palm Springs of Washington State

2006-05-07T11:35:00.000-07:00

Or so they advertise in the brochures selling real estate. Liv and I went on our first road trip vacation together over to Eastern Washington. My sister just bought a vacation place on the Columbia River south of Vantage in Desert Aire. Lovely little developing community in the middle of nowhere - quite literally.

But, alas, the sun was shining, and it was warm. We had fun with the cousins and Auntie Sissy, and it was nice to get out the city and see grand things like the mountains and the Columbia River.

the cousins - try and guess which one is the best behaved...

charley aka chi chi, cheech

miss molly mae

livvie ann

throwin' rocks into the mighty columbia

my artsy shot for the weekend

Tea for 13

2006-05-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

Me and Liv having tea with 11 of our closest friends.

Future Rave Chick

2006-05-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

Auntie sent Liv some glow stick necklaces, and we had some fun with the night mode on the camera. This is as artistic as my photos get - happy accidents and cropping.

Bunny Hill

2006-05-05T20:58:00.000-07:00

Liv and I took a little trip this week to visit the wild bunnies that live in this giant warren in Woodland Park. There's been talk about and even attempts to exterminate the bunnies because of the INCREDIBLE amount of droppings (they are like a level of mulch in the grass even a couple hundred meters away from the main warren), but short of napalm and carpet bombing it is probably a lost cause. Anyway, we like the bunnies.

She's just so shy around the camera.

Numbers are definitely down - usually the rocks are covered.

Bunny.

Maybe if I get really really tiny, he won't see me.

We found this little shrine, and Livvie asked what it was. I said it looked like it might be a grave for a bunny that died. She said, "But, we don't want it to be a bunny. Maybe it's a squirrel!"

Enough! I'm eatin' my snack!

I love the Zoo in April

2006-04-28T16:52:00.000-07:00

The first of many trips to the Zoo this year - it is within a bus ride and we bought a membership. This trip was with the two she calls My Boyz, Ethan and Owen.

First stop, the gorillas.

She's already learning to use feminine wiles - sheesh.

Nose kisses for Daddy.

She really dug this hut at the entrance to the African Savanna exhibit.

The peacock's bid for freedom foiled by a brave young Ethan.

Make a run for it! There's a monster in here!

Just two cute.

Look, Daddy! We're dancin'! We're...

...down for the count.

Help, I'm being held captive by a baby metal elephant!

Learnin'

2006-04-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

the wee one is a brillant little thing. mostly in part to the time her daddy spends with her. one of my favorite activities to watch.

Discovery Park

2006-04-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Livvie has developed this thing about bugs. The first clue came when she freaked out about a fly in the house a couple weeks agao, but it has gotten bad enough that she won't go on the slides atthe park.

So, Liv and I have been talking about it a lot. I told her it is okay to be afraid of things, but that you have to try and learn to be as little afraid as possible so that your fear doesn't get in the way of fun stuff.

Anyway, these are pics from a bug-hunting excursion to Discovery Park, one of our sure-to-be-many attempts to work through this phobia.

Mariners Opening Day 2006

2006-04-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

GrandmaChar and PapaRoy took Liv and I to Opening Day at Safeco Field this year. It was Liv's 3rd M's game ever, and my first OpeningDay ever.

She was a little excited the night before.

On the way to the game.

In the giant mitt out front with Papa.

You can almost watch her energy melt away through the last few.

Blustery Day at Golden Gardens

2006-04-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

The girls and I took a quick trip out to Golden Gardens, just beyond the Shilshole Marina, a few weekends ago.

I love her cheesy smile and cat eye shades.

Great example of why TJ takes the pictures. I'da just centered Liv and shot.

This was actually a big step for her. She's really freaked by tube-slides.

Kickin' it with Daddy doing his best Unabomber impersonation.

Livvie Ann Hits the Web

2006-04-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

This here is my little girl...

...and I've mentioned her from time to time on my own blog, but I like to cuss and talk about all manner of sundry stuff there, so figured I should set up a Livvie-specific space. I mainly will post photosets here, but may try and teach Liv to add things, too (she's already figured out how to open up my web browser, go to bookmarks, and find the PBSkids games section, so, why not?).

And, just a general note - if there is a really cool photo here, the missus took it. I just center the object and shoot.