spring summer autumn winter:

our holiday update.

(...because we like to participate is the general reflective mood.)

what has happened this year?

and it's not so much about what we've done,

but rather who we've been.

which is us, i guess. 

(many thanks to my mother-in-law tami for emailing me this photo...) casper family 11/12

TYLER: (who is kind enough to let me post on his behalf... :) )

swinging at my folks' house; december is such a lovely time in the foothills.

 i think kindness is a quality that gets overlooked. tyler is as kind as he is funny....and let me tell you kindness goes a loong way. when he isn't working at sac international as an air traffic controller he dabbles in his numerous talents (which include, but are not limited to: beard growing, housekeeping, cooking, parenting,  internet hacking, carpentry, electronic fixing, crocheting  planning adventures, being cheerful, and auto mechanics.etc etc...he does it all...) this year he bought a golf tdi vw and tuned it up with the intent of turning our garage into a bio-diesel lab. this old soul became a father this year and it has been fortifying to watch him and lincoln become the friends that they are. he is a true natural and is the best parenting partner around.

tyler and his day old son!

don't we look deliberate? "...wanting to live deep and suck all the marrow out of life..."

graciously presenting a lovely growth of toyan berries.. he is a happy companion to many of my expeditions as well as the ones we plan together.

his little helpers.

the best evenings look a little like this... he really is the best dad. i don't know anyone else who scrubs out poopy diapers on a daily basis. 

tiny backyard harvests are the best kind..

DOLLY:

i went from carrying my baby on the front.....

these have been some busy seasons for me. i learned a lot about caring for two, mastered breastfeeding and cloth diapering, and i am slowly (but surely) learning the old art of creating a cozy, creative space for my family while growing as an individual. i have found a renewed interest in native plants, knitting, etc etc etc, you know, goin' old school.

to the back.... lots of exploring to do

a big highlight for me was staying in eugene OR with my two boys...

...made some cool friends

saw many beautiful sights...

learned a lot about fibers and spinning from my cousin jess, who is a future weaving master.

and i took my boys to my old stomping ground, that stagnant sapphire caldera of crater lake. the season was over and the place was deserted...it was wonderfully cold.

and here is another picture of my best mate. :)

 i learned a lot about what i require to feel accomplished and progressive, and the majority of it correlates with learning with my children, returning to the earth, and becoming self-sufficient all at the same time.

he loves his brother. in no time at all they became the goofiest little rough-housers.

TEDDY:  he turned five this year, and has developed some pretty awesome interests. 

he loves planting and digging 

he's the best little beach comber, always finding bits of urchin or driftwood

he lives for these kind of days...

is apt to sneak downstairs to finish decorating the tree while everyone is asleep...

mastered riding a two-wheeler, and insists we bike everywhere..

he hovers over lincoln, and is quick to inform me if anything is awry.  he really is a big helper, and loves any sort of responsibility i delegate to him. he has a really defined sense of justice, as he sees the two of us as equals. (read: stubborn...but you gotta love this kid.)

is a an odd collector of rocks, candles, and other curios. 

picked up sewing...this is his fabric rendition of the carpathia. he can even thread the needle. (did i mention he had a healthy obsession with the titanic this year?)

little dreamer.

coming to get you.

two days old... he looks humongous to me.

3 months old

 LINCOLN:

lincoln was born during the wet and windy month of march and is still quite new to planet earth... he's pretty much the star of the show around here. teddy, tyler, and i go cuckoo for this little goober everyday. 

 likes:
-door stoppers. (boing. BOOING...)
-animals
-peek a boo
-nursing
-daddy and teddy
-playing music/ musical instruments
-splashing
-putting things in his mouth
-climbing

dislikes:
-getting dressed/changed
-driving at night

 he fills our house to cuteness overload. he is a treat to have around, and we're always laughing because we can't help ourselves.
he crawls with lightning spider quickness, which can be as disconcerting as it is adorable.
he grins super cheesy whenever he sees a flash. he follows us around the house like a puppy. he is soooo much fun.

 he slobbers and flaps and grabs and swipes plates of the table. he got all 8 front teeth before he was 8 months old, so he's pretty toothy! he chews on everything and grabs our faces to nuzzle our heads, forehead to forehead.

 needless to say we have a bazillion pictures of this baby.

 we love rocking him to sleep, rubbing his fluffy head, kissing his rosy cheeks, hearing his sweet little voice, and squeezing his chubby little thighs.... everything is new to him; his chunky finger points up at the moon, his zipper, or anything that catches his eye. we love teaching him.

this makes me laugh...we took his diaper off a little prematurely. 

he pulled this kumquat off of our tree.

learns new tricks every day. he can: climb stairs, pull himself up and balance on his own, pull himself up to the piano and bang away...we think he'll be walking very soon. it's mind boggling to think how fast he's grown is these past 9 months!

we are healthy and well, and we love getting your christmas cards. i'd love to post something a little more organized and thoughtfully written but i've got a trouble maker to chase after! SENDING OUR LOVE-- life is so sweet and tender. SEASON'S GREETINGS to you and yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


xoxoxo