Wild in Wallingford

Elise is 2!

2010-10-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

sunflower!

2010-09-19T09:25:00.001-07:00

We planted a few seeds this spring, and got one sunflower. Lindsey is excited she can see it from her window. It's pretty tall!

new maps

2010-09-19T09:00:00.001-07:00

Here is a shot of our new map of the states. It is hard to see the pins, but we each have a color for the states we have been to. Lindsey wrote the legend. I am ahead of Chris by one state after we confirmed that I have actually been to Oklahoma.And our other new map in the guest bedroom fits perfectly above the bed. It is from an old school, and has great, vibrant colors.

a recent hike

2010-09-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

It was just a mile and a half total, but Lindsey thought it was tooooo long. Her legs started hurting while the car was still in view. The photos were all taken before it started to rain....and don't really capture that it was actually pretty chilly.

We made it back to the car after lots of drama. Chris asked if she had fun, and she immediately replied yes. Her favorite part was the fishing (2 or 3 casts). It was an interesting day.

first day of school

2010-09-08T21:01:00.000-07:00

camping!

2010-06-28T20:21:00.001-07:00

We took our first family camping trip this last weekend. We went to the east side of Mt. Rainier, hiked to and into a cave, ate s'mores, explored a river, saw friends, met some new people, and ate great food.

Artistic Sisters

2010-06-09T10:41:00.001-07:00

Lindsey loves to color, draw, and paint, and Elise loves to do whatever her big sister is doing. They make a pretty cute pair!

island wedding #2

2010-06-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

Pre-wedding visit to the lookout tower at Mt. Constitution - a view of Sucia Island, where Chris and I kayaked to on our honeymoon

Senior flower girl

Junior flower girl carrying her bear!

island wedding #1

2010-05-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

Princess Rocket Launch

2010-03-13T20:27:00.000-08:00

Recently Lindsey got the idea that she and Chris were going to build a rocket. An actual rocket that they would take to outer space, while wearing space suits. They would need strings to connect their space suits to the rocket so they wouldn't fall on any nearby planets. Her enthusiasm was exciting.

Chris told her they'd have to start a bit smaller, with a rocket that pretend people could ride in. So, he found a kit that requires a 2 liter bottle and some water. Today we assembled, decorated, and took the rocket to the park, and launched it a few times. I took some pictures, and Lindsey dictated some captions for a book. Enjoy!

hand me downs and dollhouse preview

2010-01-13T19:38:00.001-08:00

Elise this week, 14 1/2 months. Lindsey, February 2006, 9 months. And, a couple of dollhouse photos. I had planned on finishing the top (water-based black stain that Lindsey will help with) before posting, but realistically, it might take us awhile. The girls are both having a lot of fun with it. Lindsey picked the orange and pink - well, sort of. I talked her down from pink and purple - it's my family room too, right?

merry christmas!

2009-12-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

Super fun art museum deal

2009-12-12T15:38:00.000-08:00

Lindsey and I went to the art museum for a special kids' day program. We toured the Calder exhibit and then Lindsey got to make a wire and assorted materials sculpture. Ailsa, the doll with the duct-taped legs came too. There was also a bus ride downtown, lunch at the market, and even a little Christmas shopping. It was a lot of fun!

Turn this in for pumpkin pie!

2009-12-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun kid pics from our Thanksgiving visit to Omaha - lots of cousin and grandparent fun. More here.

iphone camera fun

2009-11-09T15:31:00.001-08:00

Elise's composition of items dropped through the railing

Lindsey with new 99cent purse at Fuel Coffee
Chris at the Sounders playoff game
Sounders game
backup halloween costume/winter coat - $5 score
butterfly at the park
butterfly asleep in the car, post h1n1 shot

new hat and pumpkins

2009-10-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

First photo - no explanation other than we bought a new cute hat.

We carved two more pumpkins yesterday. Lindsey drew a princess and a silly face with her tongue sticking out for the patterns. The pictures are sort of similar to last year, and it's crazy that I was hugely pregnant just a little more than a year ago.

Elise is 1!

2009-10-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

Here are a few fun photos from Elise's birthday party. Kids got to dress up - Elise looked great in her fish costume, and Lindsey was excited to wear her beautiful Snow White costume, made by Nana. Elise had a great time, but was not terribly interested in the cake. We made pumpkin cupcakes from a pumpkin from our garden - yum!

On the go

2009-10-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple shots of Elise moving around. Also one of both girls. I was almost the mother who bought my girls matching dresses. Yikes. They are coordinating instead.

Almost walking

2009-09-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

Taking a step!

Lindsey playing on the bench. This is one of my favorite things about our new family room.

Fun at the beach last weekend.

Chewing on some wood, thinking about pulling all of those books onto the floor.

Charlie's Angels?

Jumping and pounding, with squirt guns

Cute, cute baby

Two photos

2009-08-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

Elise standing up, and Lindsey having fun in the sprinkler. Enjoy!

(not) very exciting downstairs update

2009-08-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

We installed some cabinets in the laundry room today. They were salvaged from a school, and are metal! The last shot is from the hallway, looking at our world map on the wall. Not too exciting, but since we started this blog to keep track of our house project, there you go.

first tomatoes!

2009-08-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today we are enjoying a typical Seattle summer day - 64 degrees right now on the way to 83. However, all of the real (103, with no AC anyone?) heat we've had this summer has really done wonders for our tomato crop. We picked the first cherry, grape and yellow pear tomatoes last week, and have had a nice handful for salads most nights. We are waiting for the green zebra, ivory egg, and black prince tomatoes to ripen - perhaps another week or so. The vines are pretty tall - we've had to improvise staking at the top since most of the plants are about twice as tall as our cages. Lindsey picked the first two, and is standing in front of the south window in the bottom photo.

"Apendance Day", sleeping sisters

2009-07-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

Here are 3 cute photos from last week. We had a great 4th - Lindsey helped make the cake, and got to stay up late for the fireworks, and Elise crawled and smiled.

Denny Creek hike

2009-07-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some fun photos from a hike yesterday to the Denny Creek water slide, up by Snoqulmie Pass.

Crawling and garden progress

2009-07-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

Elise is now crawling - the stairs are gated and we are frantically picking up non-baby-appropriate items from the floor. In the first pic, she is clearly her daddy's girl with the camo hat.

We are really excited about our vegetable garden this year. We've done tomatoes before, with varying levels of success. This year, we should have a really great yield. We have green tomatoes already on 6 of the 8 plants, and some pea pods should be ready in a week or so. The zucchini and pumpkins we planted (1 start each) are threatening to take over their corner of the yard. There are several zucchinis started and at least one pumpkin. Lindsey keeps saying, "Our garden is going nuts!"

Lindsey's first fishing trip

2009-06-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

Here are several photos from Lindsey's first fishing trip to Grimes Lake in eastern Washington with Chris and Wally. She caught the only fish - a cutthroat trout. She was really excited; they ate it for dinner. Camping was fun too!

future fisherwomen and grass

2009-05-31T18:53:00.000-07:00

So Chris and Lindsey left on a fishing trip today - here she is all ready to go. Elise is also quite interested in fishing; she helped tie some flies the other day. In exciting yard news, we had some sod installed. It looks amazing, and at about 400 square feet, will be a great size to maintain. Projects still in the works include planting by the red garage, building a platform at the back door, and a gate on the west side.

On a hike, bucket on head, birthday crown, and playing with a saw!

2009-05-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

Our yard in May

2009-05-25T20:48:00.001-07:00

Lots of projects in various stages going on in the yard......raised planter bed, fences, pathways, sandbox, sod. We are excited to spend time in our smaller yard this summer.

Castle cake

2009-05-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

Lindsey's birthday party was last weekend. We're knee deep in the princess phase around here, so we baked a castle cake. I googled castle cake, found one that looked fairly doable involving Hostess products, ice cream cones, and bamboo skewers. So it was all assembled Friday afternoon. Overnight, one tower collapsed. We mixed more frosting and took some extra skewers to the park, repaired the cake, and all was well. Next year, maybe just cupcakes!

amphibicar

2009-05-16T21:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a random series of photos that Chris, Wally and Lindsey took a couple of weeks ago. Somehow it seems that they need to be shared. Enjoy!

Go dawgs

2009-05-16T21:01:00.001-07:00

I took this photo awhile ago for Chris, who wanted me to put it on the blog. Since the target audience here is grandparents, I guess the intended recipient Coug will see it.

spring

2009-05-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some assorted spring pics, mostly from our yard. We bought our tomato plants this weekend, and have been working a bit in the yard.

The girls on the new porch chairs.

I already forgot what this one is called, but it makes for a good photo.

Some English daisies that Lindsey picked out. They're apparently edible? although I doubt we'll put that to the test.

A birdhouse painted at preschool on the Japanese Snowbell tree. If memory serves, the snowbells will show up in a month or so. Holding the baby with teeth and two broken legs (casts made of duct tape)Elise in the flying position, uncharacteristically quietTree blossoms looking out the back window

I once knew the name of this plant, but have forgotten. It looks a little like a giant dandelion tree.

This photo is a couple weeks old - our rhody in full bloom.

We had a lot of tulips this year, they are just about done now.

happy easter

2009-04-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Sisters, ready for spring edition

2009-03-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

Oh, and here is a baby Viking.

Future downhill racer

2009-03-01T18:21:00.000-08:00

Today Chris took Lindsey skiing for the first time. This day was highly anticipated. We had a lot invested in her enjoying something we love doing, although were prepared to drag her up again and again until she did like it as my parents did. It took two years for me, and lots of screaming and crying were apparently involved.

Lindsey did have fun, and especially enjoyed making snow angels, going fast, and wearing her purple Dora helmet. There were a couple of meltdowns due to 1) purportedly promised purple skis and 2) wanting to ski with her daddy after lunch. Otherwise, the day was a success and we look forward to lots of future mountain fun. Her next run, perhaps. Here she is ready to go this morning. She also wore her helmet and goggles while riding her bike to the park, and while watching TV the other day.

Park pics

2009-02-21T20:02:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun shots from a cold but sunny visit to Carkeek Park today.

The bubble man was at the park today - Lindsey got to chase bubbles.

Salmon tunnel slide

Rocks in the water

Jumping off some driftwood

Chris was carrying Elise while Lindsey and I went down to the beach. A couple of retired teachers asked if he had kids and why he was carrying a stuffed bear on his chest.
It turns out there was a kid in there, wearing her fantastic bear suit.

Valentine's day

2009-02-13T20:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, it was unseasonably warm and sunny, so we went to the beach. Lindsey got to throw rocks in the 'sea' and Elise got to pretend to be a purple bear.

Afterwards, we went to La Carta de Oaxaca, and actually got to eat there, since we waited in line for the 5 o'clock opening. A bride and groom stopped by for a picture, since that was where they had their first date. It was a fun moment.

We made cookies the other day, using this recipe for cookies and this one for icing. Lindsey got to paint some and I piped (is that the right word?) some. They were delicious. Happy Valentine's Day!

V is for Viking

2009-02-06T16:32:00.000-08:00

Chris's mom recently sent his childhood hat collection, this being the coolest specimen. Lindsey took it to school this week for 'show and share,' since the letter of the week was V.

We haven't had any snow to complain about lately, so here is a snowperson shirt instead.

Boxes are the best toys. This one is a pretend train engine.

A couple of smiling baby pictures
Lindsey's cookbook continues to be a big hit. We made bagel faces!

this past weekend

2009-01-20T16:10:00.001-08:00

We had a visit from Courtney and Grace. Here are the three Wilder girl cousins.

We went to the Tacoma Art Museum to see this exhibit, which was pretty neat.

A sculpture that Lindsey called Clifford, the big red dog.Looking toward the glass museum, where we definitely did not go with a 3-year-old.
And, a nearly identical picture of Elise from our last post - still as cute and smiley as ever.

2 months, dozen dozen

2009-01-05T15:59:00.000-08:00

Elise weighed 12 pounds, 12 ounces at her 2 month appointment today. That is about 2-1/2 pounds lighter than Lindsey at the same age, but still around the 95th percentile.

Christmas

2008-12-29T16:23:00.000-08:00

The last of the snow pictures. This was on the 22nd - now it is all gone. Future snowman builder. Alternate caption would be 'ubiquitous bouncy seat photo'

Building our snowman
The snowman has rosemary arms and fern hair (plants that we never got around to trimming for the winter)

Christmas eve girls
Christmas morning
Crazy cousins

Crazy snow

2008-12-21T14:32:00.000-08:00

I know that for most of the dozen people who read our blog (or look at the photos since there's not a lot of writing), winter is no big deal. But in Seattle, a city with approximately 4 plows and a lot of hills, this much snow is a big deal.

From our yard, looking down the street. Usually when it snows we get a couple inches, which melts by noon.

There's a baby in there - wearing a big snowsuit handed down from her sister.

Eating some snow, after announcing, "You don't eat yellow snow."

From our family room, looking out the window to our neighbors' yards to the west
Looking south out of the family room
We are ready for Christmas, hoping that by Thursday, travel will be possible so that family can arrive.
These stockings are from Chris's childhood. Don't worry, our railing isn't curved. That is the lens.
New and old trout ornaments on our tree. Lindsey had fun with the paint and glitter.

Santa and actual winter weather

2008-12-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

Today, Santa was at our neighborhood burger place, so we braved the icy sidewalks and walked to see him. He asked Lindsey what she wanted, and she said "Everything on my list." It's an interesting list, including, but not limited to: a balloon, a watering can, a dolly christmas cup, and a christmas bucket. We're not sure that the elves have all of these things in production this year, but we will see what Santa can come up with.In other news, we are having actual winter weather here in Seattle this year. Since we took this picture on the 14th, we have had even more snow, and are bracing for wind and freezing rain tonight and/or tomorrow. So far we have been unable to make a snowman because the snow is too dry.

A couple of pictures of our Christmas baby, and last, but not least, here is a shot of a "butterfly princess worker."

christmas tree

2008-12-09T16:17:00.001-08:00

At the tree farm - guess who picked out this outfit? This tree was "four inches and a half"
It turns out we got a bigger one, it is "this big"

Lots of the ornaments went in the same two-square-foot-or-so area. Elise was nearby, with a smile
And the decorated tree!

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T12:08:00.001-08:00

First, a smile!Lindsey recently rediscovered this amazing hat that she wore when she was a baby.Hunting for pine cones and leaves for our turkey project

Lindsey's turkey

The whole turkey crew - Chris, Sara, Elise, Lindsey, Nana, Papa

before and after - Elise's room

2008-11-22T13:10:00.001-08:00

The current nursery was a 12-year old boy's room when we bought the house - maybe that explains the odd Penguin/J.Lo decorating scheme in the first picture. Also note the ceiling tiles, plywood 'cabinet' below the window and stained wood floor. Also because of the odd door configuration, they just gave up and put the bed in front of the door. (We rehung a door to make this area work better.)The same view, with crib and Elise's play quilt from Nana.

This window was painted shut and utilized really ugly translucent glass

At some point, we still need a door for the closet at left. We did replace the vinyl fake wood grain folding door.

Elise's wall quilt and the play table with the chalk side up.

sisters

2008-11-15T20:20:00.001-08:00

before and after - Lindsey's room

2008-11-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

We have a few photos of the house when it was still occupied by the previous owners. Here is the sunroom, which used to be the computer room and is now Lindsey's room:

Wood paneling up to the picture rail, you probably can't see the vinyl flooring very well

More wood paneling, bizarre crooked frame, paint on all of the hardware, and a dishwasher

New curtains made by Nana and her Labor Day paint jobThis photo is a repeat from an earlier post, but it contrasts nicely with the dishwasher in that location
Kid's eye view.

Three halloween pics

2008-11-02T15:36:00.000-08:00

Elise Abigail

2008-10-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

October 21st

3:28 pm

7 lbs., 8 oz.

pumpkins

2008-10-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

I meant to post these from last weekend, but then we got sidetracked with a hospital visit. Lindsey wanted a fish pumpkin and a face pumpkin. Another post with baby photos to follow soon.

basically done

2008-10-05T17:44:00.001-07:00

Finally, a railing
The bench with all the doors and pulls, TV and stereo. A cushion for the window will happen at some point.
Another family room view
We are moved into the computer desk
Bathroom and pseudo self-portrait

We unearthed a couple of Ikea bookshelves and quite a few boxes of books for the guest bedroom.

Lindsey in her big-big girl bed, in her new room

labor day weekend

2008-09-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

Lindsey with a drawing, and a before shot of the concrete

Concrete after with 2 coats of Adobe Soycrete stain and 1 coat of Acri-Soy sealer

Another concrete view - in the hallway
2nd weekend project - Nana painting Lindsey's room blue

Painting in progress

Lindsey got to hang up her pictures.... and her quilt!

Another view of the finished room
3rd weekend project - Grandpa putting the patio back in. 108 pavers in the background

Several rows are inLindsey on the finished patio

an inside update

2008-08-24T19:46:00.001-07:00

first, a shot of Lindsey ready to ride her bike

Baby wanted to come - she got to ride in the backpack

Here is our new pantry, which feels almost like a whole new kitchen

Most of the inside paint is done - looking at the computer nook

Some doors are up on the bench, and the light fixtures are installed

Looking out the east windows

It doesn't look very exciting, but today we hung the door between the kitchen and Lindsey's future room with a reverse swing. Lots of chiseling and adjusting....

More Blue

2008-08-01T21:10:00.000-07:00

front elevation

detail of blue and white

back inside, looking at south and west windows and bench storage

computer desk nook

the first look at our very blue house

2008-07-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

blue!

a blue side, windows and trim are still taped

new paint with fuschia

and some interior trim - west window in family room

south windows in family room, partially complete

exterior almost complete

2008-07-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

first, some completely unrelated pictures of Lindsey on her scooter

this one was right before she fell, requiring two band-aids

here is the back door

the backyard, ready for the patio to go back in

west elevation

in the hallway, looking toward existing basement

looking out the back door

we planted this tree several years ago - this is the first time it has bloomed!

here is a view of the whole tree

Lindsey standing in front of one coat of sample paint for the exterior

Two coats of sample paint, followed by some pressure washing

new paint colors for Lindsey's new room and the downstairs bedroom

siding and drywall update

2008-06-08T16:17:00.001-07:00

a view of the east elevation

straight on, from the neighbor's yard

old and new

south elevation with scaffolding

inside the family room, ready for taping

looking toward the stairs

looking back to the kitchen - the door and window are gone, replaced with plastic

some siding up, etc.

2008-05-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

Some of the siding on the lower level, shingles will continue around the addition above

Our rhody blooming in the midst of construction craziness

More siding, trim to be finished next week

Radiant heating for the main floor

Looking up to the family room ceiling from the stairs

A new roof and some windows

2008-05-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

The east elevation, stairs behind

South elevation

In the bedroom downstairs, looking west

Looking south to the mess in our backyard

Family room

New roof over the entire house

Stairs, mostly

2008-04-19T18:53:00.001-07:00

The stairs from the top

The stairs from the bottom

Looking into the bedroom, hallway and stairs beyond

South elevation view with the roof overhangs mostly complete

Roof framing

2008-04-13T12:39:00.001-07:00

Looking out the windows where the stair will be

In the family room, looking toward the kitchen

Looking out one of the west windows

Southwest corner of the family room

The south windows

Family Room Walls

2008-04-06T09:52:00.000-07:00

Looking at the south wall - the space will be vaulted

There's always work to be done....

East wall where the stair will be

From the kitchen - we can't wait for the big tall windows

From the kitchen again, toward the stair where there is currently a false floor

A floor and some more demo

2008-04-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

Looking out the back door, the floor is in.

Lindsey wanted me to take her picture.

Some siding demolition on the existing house and sheathing on the addition

From the patio - the edge of the addition up to the first floor

Miscellaneous framing

2008-04-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

It was sort of dark when we took this shot. But you can see some floor joists.

Random shot of Lindsey on the project site.

I'm not sure what is up - Chris took these.

Inside the basement, looking toward the bedroom

Looking out the door to the patio and red garage wall

Framing begins

2008-03-26T18:41:00.001-07:00

Some of the exterior basement level framing is complete.

When she saw it, Lindsey informed us that "our room needs a roof and a door."

The concrete slab is poured

2008-03-23T14:16:00.001-07:00

the concrete is done - we are finally ready for framing

bathroom will be here

looking back to the existing house from the patio

Getting ready for the slab pour

2008-03-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

radiant tubing and some spray paint to mark the walls

another view, backfilling is complete around the foundation

Concrete

2008-02-17T17:23:00.000-08:00

Here's the footprint of the addition.

Looking from our neighbor's driveway over a big pile of dirt.

Lindsey's response to the construction

2008-02-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, I'll get some new pictures up later today, but in the meantime, here are a few Lindsey quotes on the project:

After the initial demolition was done and everyone gone for the day: "Where did the knock down mans go?"

Looking out into the backyard the other day: "Mommy, can we build some stairs tonight?" When I answered no, she said, "Maybe tomorrow then."

Yesterday, while they were removing some of the concrete slab with a sledgehammer: "Are they knocking our house down?"

More concrete forms

2008-02-08T14:49:00.001-08:00

here are the forms for the foundation

they are planning on pouring concrete next tuesday

Concrete footing forms

2008-02-05T13:26:00.001-08:00

the footprint of the addition - stairs and guest bedroom where the pile is, laundry and bathroom to the right

looking south, the stairs will go here

a more expanded view from the neighbor's driveway

Excavation continues

2008-01-27T12:50:00.001-08:00

sunset view of excavation on the 15th

some of the basement slab removed

More bracing, and the basement slab is completely gone. Concrete work will start this week.

More excavation

2008-01-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

Parked in our yard over the weekend

A view of the big hole.

Demolition and excavation, day 1

2008-01-13T16:42:00.001-08:00

Stairs, porch rail, and column are gone. Day one of excavation.

The first item they found was an abandoned oil tank.

Here's a view to the porch.

Before

2008-01-13T16:27:00.000-08:00

Here are some before pictures......

Here is a view from the backyard. The addition will come straight off the right gable, with enclosed stairs located near the existing ones.

Assorted storage, fencing and rickety stairs.

The interior (very steep) stairs - we will not miss them.