Winter Wonders

We woke up to everything covered in ice.

Kate and Mica make cookies

In the words of my sweet daughter "mommy big belly!"

Mica and Kate help put up the Christmas tree

We are getting ready for so many events this December. Mica is very excited about Christmas and likes to see Santa - from a distance. Winter break started for Steve and Kate (our exchange student) a little early. A winter storm gave them 4 days off last week and now they get two more weeks to rest, play and bake cookies. Or help me with the new baby! He is not here yet and I have mixed feelings about that. I am so ready to have this baby . . . but not to drive to the hospital in an ice storm. Mica knows that brother is in mommy's tummy and when we go to the doctor she says "listen to brother?" as we listen to his heart beat each time. Hopefully my next post will include our new addition! If I'm not able to get to the computer at Christmas - Merry Christmas everyone!

Mica is 2!!!

Yummy ice cream cake from Cold Stone :)

Mica opening Kate's gift

Cheeeeeeees

I cant believe that my little baby is 2 already. We just had a little party with Steve and I and our exchange student Kate. This weekend we will have a bigger get together with family. Mica seemed to enjoy her ice cream cake and presents. Tonight as she fell asleep she was singing happy birthday to herself - so cute.

Mommy's Helper

Mica was helping me out with my latest project. I have been making aprons and other baby things to sell on etsy a website for all things handmade. She loves to model my products, even if they are not her size. If you want to see my goodies go to www.sweetdecember.etsy.com . I just started so my shop will be going through some changes and I will be adding more things soon. It wont put her through college but maybe it will give Mica and mommy some fun money :)

Rock the Vote or the Baby

Mica helps us fill out our voting ballots.

Happy Halloween!

Not sure what I'm doing here

Mica tries to send away the Paparazzi

Its a pool full of leaves. Now what?

I'm having fun, really I am.

This year I thought Mica was still a little to young for Trick-or-Treating so we just went to the Harvest party that my MOMS Club put on. Yes that's my beautiful pumpkin in the background :) My contribution to the party. Mica was not really sure what to do or why she was there but after a while she played the games and really did like looking for treats in all those leaves. We went to Steve's school on Halloween and she went Trick-or-Treating (or as Mica calls it "Turkey Treating") to some of the offices and classrooms. I don't usually giver her candy so she is very excited about all the goodies that she got. Little does she know they will soon disappear. Though I have to admit the M&Ms have been very helpful in the learning of colors.

Pumpkin Patch

Mica and Steve shoot the apple cannon

Peek Mama

Our friend Kelly helps Mica with the ball toss

"Hi goat"

Its been a rough few weeks at the Boynton house thanks to the the stomach flu. But we did get break from illness just in time for the Pumpkin Patch. I got sick the very next day :( But we all had a good time playing and picking out our pumpkins. Mica is still about a year away from really enjoying the place we have chosen to go back to year after year - Steve and I have lots of fun. But who doesn't love fresh pressed apple cider and homemade applesauce doughnuts. Oh ya and taking your daughter to the pumpkin patch :)

Awesome!

Every day we are asked how we are doing. If reality is perception, think about Mica's response. It might change your day.

State Fair

Mooooo Cow

Our outing this weekend was a trip to the state fair. We were very excited to show Mica the animals. Up to this point she has seen horses and cows, various farm animals from the window of the car. Today she got a real treat. She was so happy to see all the animals in person and was even allowed to pet some of them (I'm so glad I travel with hand sanitizer :) Our favorite part was when out of the blue Mica says "yummy cow" out loud and without any coaching from her daddy believe it or not. So from then on everything was "yummy ____" fill in the blank with all sorts of animals. She went on to enjoy a smoked turkey leg with her daddy at lunch. I don't think she is going to be a vegetarian :)

Yummy Sushi!

Mom, what did you give me?
Ok, maybe a little taste

I made California rolls for dinner and let Mica try one. She really didn't eat much mostly just tasted it and gave it back, but its a start. Its the second time Ive made them and my technique still needs a little work but they still taste good. There is hope that one day we will have Mica with chopsticks in hand enjoying sushi with the rest of us.

Silver Creek Falls

We stopped to look at the flowers on the way.

Water! We had to show her were it starts.

Today we went to Silver Creek Falls for a little hike. My friend Therese went along as well as our new exchange student, Kate. Kate is from Germany and is used to hiking in the Alps. Well, our hike was nothing like the Alps but it was still fun. It was a short hike this time, it has been a while since I have been hiking and I move a little slower now that I am 5 months prego. Mica enjoyed her ride. We took her in the stroller and we all waked (thanks Therese for pushing the stroller!!!) The whole time Mica said "water! where the water go? and bye bye water" The weather was perfect there, a little cool but great for hiking. I'm so glad Mica likes to play outside and see new things. We are going to have so much fun when she is older.

Finger Paint

I thought finger paint would be a great way to teach Mica her colors. Hmmmm can you say brown?

Such a Girl!

Mica is learning to multi-task. She put on her sunglasses, got her phone out and pretended to talk on it. I think she was also asking for her bag, she uses an old makeup bag as a purse.

OMSI

Mica plays with animals she can find in Oregon

Not her best shot but she is too quick!

We love WATER! (I'll have to find the sport setting on my new camera)

Mica and her friends play

Ok, time to play a little catch-up. Mica and I have been doing some fun things this summer and I just haven't had time (or energy) to keep up her blog. But now I will share some of our adventures :) We went to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) and she had a wonderful time playing with all the activity centers and her friends that we went with. I was very excited to find out that they are having $2.00 Sundays for a while and Mica is still free for places like that. I haven't been to OMSI since I was in college (long time ago :) and it is a totally different experience when you bring your first child to a place you have been in your youth. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Bye Bye Celine

Maybe if I sit on her she won't go.

We all really enjoyed having Celine back home. It was so fun to see her and let Mica get to know her all over again. But like all things, her visit had to come to an end. Just yesterday Mica said "where Feen go?" it was cute and sad at the same time. We all look forward to going to visit Celine in Switzerland when the kids are old enough to fly and enjoy the visit. We miss you Celine!

Cannon Beach

Family photo

Amy, Celine, Mica and Steve

Hey daddy what's that?

I don't like the ocean, its too cold!

My girls

Steve is always working!

The Oregon Coast is definitely an acquired taste. We went to show Mica and Celine the ocean the other day. This was Mica's first trip to the ocean. It was a typical day on the Oregon Coast - foggy and a little cold. But we managed to make some good memories and capture a family photo. We are all a little wind-blown and there is no hiding my baby bump now :) -just in case you all were thinking I got really chunky in the mid-section all the sudden. In just a few weeks Mica will find out if she will have a brother or a sister. Anyway, Mica liked walking in the sand but did not enjoy the water chasing her! "UP Daddy UP UP UP!!!" I think is what she said and some baby gibberish that I'm sure were not nice words. Hopefully we can take Mica back someday on one of those freakishly warm days at the beach so she can enjoy it a little better.

Thanks Deb!

One of Steve's coworkers gave Mica a slide today. And sense we brought it home she has not stopped playing with it (except for dinner, she will stop anything for food :) The living room is just a temporary home for the slide it will soon live outside but we just had to test it out. Thanks again Deb! Mica just loves the slide.

Welcome Home Celine

We have our Swiss daughter back for a few weeks. Celine was and exchange student we hosted for a year and after being gone for a year she decided she just had to come back for a few weeks :) Mica is really enjoying her Swiss Sister all over again. She was just 6mo old when Celine left the first time. I know she will really miss her when the time comes to say goodbye. Now when Mica wakes up she says "hi mama and hi dada" now she adds "wheres 'Feen' " she can't quite say her name yet.

Happy 4th of July!

We all had fun this morning watching the parade. Mica loved the "neigh neighs" and even had the chance to pet one of the horses. The parade sets up in front of our house so all morning she was at the window telling us all about the horses and people walking by to set up. It is becoming more and more fun to take her out to events now that she is so aware of what is going on around her. Happy 4th everyone!