Gone West. Love, Isolde.

They grow up so fast, don't they?

2012-02-14T13:20:00.001-08:00

Let the travels begin

2012-02-02T21:01:00.000-08:00

Josie is 4 months old, I am back to work, and life is getting a bit more exciting these days. January started out with a family trip to Anacortes, WA and ended with some sunshine in Phoenix. February will be equally as exciting with 2 east coast trips planned. Enjoy some photos!

Passport

2012-01-11T21:28:00.000-08:00

Trying to capture her best for her passport photo. She wouldn't stop talking to the camera...I was cracking up.

3 months already?!

2012-01-03T21:06:00.000-08:00

What the hell happened to the time? My maternity leave is over, my daughter is 3 months old already and it's 2012. Time just zips by when you are playing with this little dollface. Her new tricks are swatting at her hanging toys, sucking her thumb whenever she feels like it, talking ALL the time, and my personal favorite...the giggling. I am also a sucker to the flirty bashful smile she does when she wants to be ubur cute. She already loves her childcare lady (and our dear friend), so that's a relief! Her Grandma is visiting from Maine this weekend, more pics of that visit soon.

One week left and not much holiday spirit

2011-12-23T15:26:00.001-08:00

According to my employer, my maternity leave is called "bonding time". I received a call from the FMLA company confirming my return date to work. Ugh. I wasn't ready for THAT call. So I have one more week of bonding time with my baby...the end. Like most other mother's in this country, I work. Therefore, I am being stripped of my time with her. I feel like somebody is trying to pry my screaming baby out of my arms. By American law, we only need 6 weeks before they deem us fit to return to work. Screw that and screw them. I took 13 weeks and I STILL think that's too short. Kudos to you, California, for also saying screw that and giving mother's 6 months to cherish this time. I'm not ready, work. I'm not ready to say goodbye to sleeping in with Josie next to me in bed. I'm not ready to say goodbye to morning walks, noon naps and afternoon hikes. I'm not ready to hand you over to another person for feedings, diaper changes, laughing, snuggling, and holding. You are too young and it's too soon. I hate this.

Thanks for raining on my holiday parade, work.

Flying high with the baby

2011-12-20T20:14:00.000-08:00

Josie is almost 3 months old now. We thought it was high time she took her first flight. Actually, it was my need to get out of town and take a little trip before I am back to work. She did great! I wish I could say the same. I ended up getting sick on the last day....but it was worth it, every moment.

Thanksgiving in Anacortes

2011-11-26T16:44:00.000-08:00

loving the leave

2011-11-13T19:28:00.001-08:00

I have been off of work for 6 weeks now. I really can't believe how fast it's gone by. I have only 7 weeks left to soak in all this time off!!! I am kind of freaking out about going back to work. How am I going to squeeze in my Mommy & baby hikes, coffee and yoga class? I love this life.

I am also freaking out about how fast Josie is growing. I want her to stay a puppy forever. I want her to stay a little baby and cuddle with me all the time, but sleep through the night and never cry. Can they do that?

The view from the Grandparents window

2011-11-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

My parents made a wonderful photo album of their trip to the NW to meet Josephine. Follow this link to see the experience from their eyes.

Meeting Josephine

A month into it

2011-11-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

Josephine is just over a month old now. She finally met her Grandpa & Grandma from Maine. What a fun week with lots of firsts. Her first trip to the pumpkin patch, her first winery, her first day at the hotsprings, and her first dinner out at the brewery. Ok ok ok...so her life is pretty sweet.

Wow....3 weeks

2011-10-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my babygirl is 3 weeks old today. I also can't believe that I have been working around the clock for 22 days now. I am super surprised that my body is handling this. I just looked at the photos from the birth and can't believe how much Josie and I have changed. I have already lost 32lbs...only 10 more lbs until I am back to pre-pregnancy weight!

Josie is getting so much stronger now. She can lift her head and hold it up for a couple minutes. She has learned that pacifiers are not cool...she only wants Mommy and Daddys pinky fingers. Her focus is intense as she stares into your eyes. She loves to take hikes in the ergopack and is sleeping for longer sessions at night. This week, she's letting me sleep for 4hr intervals at night. Her crying is becoming much louder and more frequent, which tests our endurance, but she quickly comes out of it within a couple minutes.

I love being her Mommy and am savoring every moment of this. A few pics from week 3 and one from her birthday to see the changes.

One week old

2011-10-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

Today Josephine is 11 days old. She had her 2nd doctor's appointment. Her doctor (that we LOVE) gave her a clean bill of health. She's gained almost 1lb since her birthday and all tests results are normal. The only advice she gave us was to start brushing her scalp & hair since her hair is getting much longer. Apparently, it helps to avoid cradle cap. She doesn't need to go back for 2 months. We are super pleased. Here is a slideshow of some week old pics! Click the show for a full view.

In love with Josephine Minna

2011-10-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

Born October 1st at 9:35am in Hood River, Oregon. She weighed 7lbs 14oz. She's the most amazing and wonderful and beautiful person we have ever met.

2 days or 2 weeks?

2011-09-24T16:34:00.000-07:00

The question of the minute...Is it time yet?? 2 more days until my predicted due date. I will be 40 weeks. My current days consist of a lot of chilling at the house, reading, stretching, trying to sleep, and catching up on a lot of movies (thanks to the free HBO weekend). A little swimming when I can. I think my next post will be a photo of our new daughter.

Completely lost focus on anything else

2011-09-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

I can't sleep, I can't get comfortable, I can hardly focus on work, and I still have about 2 weeks left. I have been hiding out in my house during these last few weeks. A) Because none of my maternity clothes fit me anymore and I refuse to buy more....and B)It's been too hot to bother leaving my air conditioning. So here you have it. You are amongst the few who will see these photos. The rest will be buried in my hard drive for years to come.

One pic is of my baby shower (thanks to my family and friends for coming!) and the other pic was an early anniversary gift from my husband. I night in Bend, OR to see Ray LaMontagne.

5 weeks left....but I hope it's more like 4

2011-08-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

Daily comments from people:

"Look at you! You look like you are ready to POP!"

"Wow, that's impressive."

"You should be thankful we haven't had a hot summer."

"I can still see your ankles, it can't be that bad."

"You aren't going to go into labor now, are you?"

6 week litmus test

2011-08-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

(Caution: This post is not funny or cute or upbeat.)

I am bored. On top of my boredom, I am uncomfortable and hot. I have 6 weeks left and am literally counting the minutes. Everything about me is being tested right now. My physical pain threshold, my heat tolerance, my sitting-around patience, my mental anxiety, my self-esteem extinction and my sleep deprivation. I don't know how or why any women would want to do this more than once.

On the bright side, I am working from home full-time now, my husband is around more to help me, my stepson is doing great, and I don't have any swelling.......(yet).

T minus 8 weeks

2011-07-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

In my mind, the countdown is on. My airline travel days are over for awhile and I am looking forward to the next 2 months of grilling, chilling, and waddling around. We just got back from Maine, which proved to be a bit much for my pregnancy stamina. Next time, my friends and family will just have to come here to visit!

Here are some recent baby-on-board photos...

Not happy about the Rainbow Connection

2011-06-27T07:49:00.001-07:00

Our beloved Gifford Pinchot National Forest has been infiltrated with the Rainbow Gathering! This is not good. There is an influx of THOUSANDS of people squatting in our pristine wilderness. Trampling the land, filling trenches with human waste, threatening our forests with fires and blocking our passage to our favorite hiking, biking and camping spots. They call themselve peace loving hippies that lack any sort of structure, organization or real cause to fight. Somebody needs to tell them that begging, drug-use, and a complete lack of social & medical structure doesn't make you a lovable hippie...it makes you a burden on the rest of us.

Gold Beach Oregon 2011 trip

2011-06-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

So upsetting, it made me kind of sick

2011-06-09T19:13:00.001-07:00

I walked into the nail salon today for my pedicure:
Candy (the owner): "Hi Izzy! Look! Another pregnant lady!" As I looked at the young pregnant woman getting her nails done, her obnoxious mother yells across the room: "When are YOU due? My daughter is due is 2 weeks, isn't it great!!!"
Me: "Wow! You are counting the days, huh?" I said to the young pregnant woman. The young pregnant woman just smiled politely. I proceeded to climb into my pedicure chair as I wondered just how young that young woman is. She looked in her young 20's. Her mother sure does seem to be clingy and running the show. Poor girl. I wonder what a young 20something thinks about when they are pregnant?
Me: "So is this your first grandbaby?" I asked the obnoxious mother who doesn't let her pregnant daughter talk.
Obnoxious mother: "Oh no! I have several. She already has a 3 year old at home." A 3 year old, I thought! She is so young! Just how old is this girl? What the hell is wrong with these people. The young pregnant woman continues a conversation with her mother about the plans for her brothers' birthday...he is about to turn 21.
Candy says "Your brother is going to be 21? You should take him out to get a drink, then."
Young pregnant woman: "Oh no, I'm not old enough to do that....I am only 19".

WHAT.....THE....F**K! This is when I got really mad. I was so mad that this young girl had to have been pregnant at 15, in order to have a 3 year old and be pregnant with her SECOND baby! Then I started to get REALLY mad at the mother. How dare she strut around her teenage daughter and brag about her having babies. That poor poor girl. She was brainwashed. Then I started getting mad at all the breeder-types like that girl and her mother...and the taxes I have to pay to support their litter of children...and tolerate their rediculous "faith"...and the republican people that try to run this country. It was so upsetting, that I was making myself sick. Ech..what a waste. All I wanted was to sit in my favorite massage chair and get my feet pampered.

23ish weeks...or am I 24 weeks?

2011-06-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

My cousin, Claire, is also pregnant with her first baby. She has made a special request for some updated belly shots. Here you go, Claire!

Opt Out

2011-06-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the man last year who opted out from the new digital x-ray scan at the airport because he didn't want TSA to see his "junk", only to get irritated when they tried to touch his junk!? Even though we haven't heard much about these scanners and passengers in the news much these days, I have lots of experience. I will tell you that the more intensive pat-down really isn't a major deal. What is really the worst part is when you are approaching the TSA agent. You are watching them randomly choosing people to usher into the spaceship looking capsule and you can't help but wonder, "Am I going to be the lucky one you gets just the metal detector or am I going to have another one of those confrontations?"

I have to back-up just a bit. Let me tell you that ever since airports started introducing these new scanners, I have been Opting-Out. It may not seem like a big deal to the average traveler, but this freqent flier goes through airport security at least 6 times every month. So being a woman, who was trying to get pregnant mind you, was not thrilled about the idea of getting exposed to all that radiation, no matter how low risk the scanners claim to be.

Not all airports have purchased these scanners, including my homebase and favorite airport, PDX....so I haven't had to have that dreaded confrontation with TSA on my regular departures. I can't say the same for the rest of the country. I have had some interesting experiences that I'd like to share with you:

Chicago O'Hare International IL
Me: Excuse me, sir? I'd like to avoid the imaging system. Do I have another option?
TSA agent: Are you opting out?
Me: yes, please.
TSA Agent: (yelling at the top of his lungs over the crowd) WE HAVE AN OPT OUT OVER HERE! FEMALE ASSIST, WE HAVE AN OPT OUT OVER HERE! FEMALE ASSIST, WE HAVE AN OPT OUT!
Me: (mortified and embarassed...why is he making such a scene?!)

George Bush Airport Houston TX
Me: Excuse me, ma'am. I'm pregnant, I'd like to pass on the X-ray scan, if that's ok?
Female TSA Agent: (gets in my face angrily) Ma'am, please step out of line and over here. Let me tell you something. You are NOT allowed to speak to me unless I ask you a question! I am here to do a job for your safety and unless I am specifically talking to you, then you are NOT allowed to approach me...(she continues to carry on with her military power trip)....so lastly, MISS, I am just going to pretend that this here conversation never happened, so I am not forced to to make this anymore difficult than it needs to be. Please step through the metal detector and be on your way.
Me: (WTF?!!...I hate Texas)

Sacramento International Aiport CA
Me: Excuse me, sir? I'm pregnant...I don't think I am allowed to go through that x-ray scanner.
TSA Agent: Of course! Stay right here, let me get somebody to help you. Are you ok with a patdown? Let me get a female officer to assist you.
Me: Sure, thank you.
Female TSA Agent: Hi! My name is (insert whatever name) and I will be doing your screening. So you are pregnant! Are there any sore areas that I should be careful of?
Me: Nope, I am good. Go right ahead.
Female TSA Agent: I have a couple new girls in training, would you mind if I had them come observe? Are you running late or anything?
Me: I don't mind.
Now 3 female TSA Agents: When is your baby due? Congrats! What are you having? is this your first? Can I touch your belly? (more ooo'ing and aw'ing)...other random TSA agents stop by to congratulate me.

Denver International Aiport CO (It's crazy busy and the TSA lady directing the line looks pissed and she scares me).
Me:(Not wanting another Texas encounter) Excuse me, sir...may I ask you a question, please? I am pregnant, how do I tell the TSA woman that I can't go through the digital scanner?
Nice looking TSA Agent: (Leans down and whispers to me) Just between me and you, she's selecting people at random. Don't bring it up unless she picks you. That way you can just do the metal detector instead of the full patdown.
Me: Ok, thanks!
Pissed-off looking female TSA Agent: Ma'am, step this way (into the digital scanner time capsule).
Me: (pointing to my big belly and trying to not to shout, since she is 15 ft away) I'm pregnant..
Female TSA Agent: (interupts before I can finish)...Step over here, please. Let me get a female assist for you, it may be a few minutes, sorry about that.
Me: That's ok! Thank you! (phew)
New female TSA Agent: So when are you due? What are you having? Is this your first? Oh, I think I felt her kick! You have such pretty hair!
Original nice looking TSA Agent: Looks like she picked you, anyway. Sorry about that. We tried, didn't we?! Congrats on your baby!

In summary...there really isn't any way to tell what is going to happen when you opt out.

How should I know?

2011-05-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

My wonderful husband is just about finished with the rebuild of our old bedroom. I wish I could say that this was the new nursery, but let's be realistic. It's actually the laundryroom/guestroom/office/nursery. It'll be finished just in time to start getting stuff for baby. There are 2 problems with this situation. First of all, we hate "stuff" and clutter. If we don't use it, we don't want it. My mother was always a person to hang on to things "just incase you ever needed it". That is one trait that didn't rub off on me. My house is teeny...we are talking 700 sq ft and we do not have room for any more stuff! As you can imagine, this creates an issue for me to actual buying anything or ask for this dreaded "stuff" at my baby shower. Second of all, I have NO idea what I will actually use once this baby comes. How the hell am I suppose to know if I will need all the rediculous things that consumer america tells me I should have. So far, my list is pretty short for a newborn. If anybody is reading this, I'd love to know what you couldn't live without for your newborns!

something for the baby to sleep on and some sheets

some sort of pad to change the baby on.

breast pump and a good nursing bra

rocking chair

all the fixins' for my cloth diaper delivery

swaddling blankets

some clothes would be a good idea

a sink tub

an ergobaby carrier

a lightweight car seat that relocates well

bottles and pacifiers

So from what I can see, most of these things can fit into a dresser and on a shelf...with the exception of the rocking chair, carseat and baby bed, of course.

PS...This book isn't helping me at ALL. Too much STUFF. I want a book called "Raising babies is small spaces. All you really need." This is going to be very important considering this little girl won't even have her own bedroom until she is 2.

For my crafty friends

2011-05-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered a funny and charming new author here in the NW, Jennifer Worick. I was reading one of her funny articles in a magazine all about her bizzaro (yet familiar) addiction to searching for sea glass. I ended up writing her an email and she surprising wrote me back!

This post is for my Yummy Mommy friend, Michele, because she's so crafty. I think that you and Jennifer would make amazing craft together. Check out her blog, WORD.

Had to laugh

2011-05-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

Receptionist behind the desk- "I know who you are! I was told to expect a dark haired pregnant women, but you are HARDLY pregnant."
In my head- "Nope, I'm pretty sure I am 100% pregnant."

I was in market taste testing some soup to determine which one I would bring home. I made my choice and moved on with my shopping. I finally looked down and saw that each flavor of soup was represented on my belly. Have I always been such a messy eater but never knew because my droppings would just land on the floor? My clothes don't have a chance for the next few months.

Woman at the lumber store- "When is your baby due? (before waiting for an answer) When I was pregnant I gained 75 lbs and went 3 weeks late. I just loved being pregnant that I didn't care."
In my head - "Holy shit, lady."

Busy May to be 17

2011-05-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

Who knew that May would be so busy for our not-so-little kid. 17 is going be a good year for him.

Morp King & Queen

2011-04-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

Jace and his girl, Christina, won the Morp dance King & Queen. Oh right, what is Morp?...Morp is "Prom" backwards. So whatever you normally dress like at prom, this is your chance to do the opposite. They were trying to do Jersey Shore meets 80's dance party. Wicked cute, I thought!

Pre babymoon vacation

2011-04-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Eric and I took our last trip to Maui for a little while. I am sure it won't be long after this baby is born that we will feel the pull to go back. The trip and the weather was really fantastic, as usual. It was a much different experience for me this time not being able to keep up with the fun activities like I used to. Instead, I was feeling heavy, sweaty, swollen and tired a lot. Eric was so patient with my gripes and tried hard to make me comfortable. I admit that I don't love seeing these enlarged photos of me...but I also really wanted to capture this time for us and for this little baby. So I am trying to get over it. We will miss the island and the amazing times we had there as a couple. Next time, there will be a plus one. (You can click on the slideshow for a bigger view)

15 wks

2011-04-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

I am not a fan of having my picture taken, however, I am making an exception these days because I know this baby will love seeing these photos. I kind of don't mind this one...it makes me laugh.

Pit stop

2011-04-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

Frequently when I drive home from the city, I make a pit stop at Wahclella Falls, to stretch my legs. It's a super beautiful 2 mile roundtrip walk into the rainforest with 2 waterfalls. Yesterday, there was a group of friends and young lovers that had set-up a romantic afternoon that included marriage proposal. So sweet. I have to admit that my little cellphone doesn't take that bad of a photo!

Scout

2011-04-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

My friends' daugher, Scout, is the cutest. I took this shot yesterday after we rode the carousel. I love the way it came out.

A family fun weekend

2011-03-31T15:43:00.000-07:00

This weekend will be really special. My sister and I are heading to Northern California to visit our 93 yr old Grandpa and his girlfriend, Rhoda. I also get to spend an afternoon with one of my besties, Dawn, and her gorgeous kids. Lots of smiling to come!

Unsolicited advice and comments

2011-03-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

A good friend (and an experienced mother) of mine wrote this me when she learned I was pregnant: "There is something called 'mompetition' and mommy guilt that you will soon learn about.... and it sucks! If someone wants to tell you that they birthed drugless, breast fed until the kids was 2, never let kid watch tv, never have sugar... blah blah blah... they are totally lying! Do whatever works for you because you are going to raise the greatest baby ever.... So, when people are trying to offer unsolicited, unnecessary, advice that you just don't feel you need, say thanks and move on." Aww..I love this lady, because she is so true. I couldn't help but chuckle, because I am already experiencing it and my husband was a victim of this when he was trying to raise his son.

Don't get me wrong, I definately will listen to your advice and take it into careful consideration. Be warned though, that I may be secretly rolling my eyes and I could publish these comments because they are too good to keep to myself.

Comment #1, "It doesn't really look like your showing, just more like you are getting fat."

Comment #2, "Only 1 kid?! Don't be silly, you have to have at least 2 kids."

What did he do THIS time?!

2011-03-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

This month's teenage stress and anxiety has resulted in the following crimes: bringing and using drugs in our house, driving under the influence, and speeding with a restricted license with 4 teenage girls in the car (one without a seatbelt). Oh, and I forgot to mention that the none of the girls in the car are covered under insurance. I bet their parents would have LOVED knowing that. But you know what? I bet their parents have no idea where their daughters are.

It's amazing how fantastic a teenager can be for birth control. For any of you considering having children, I strongly suggest that you have a teenager stay with you for a few months to help with the decision. My poor unborn child is going to be born with an ulcer.

The cat is out of the bag.....FINALLY!

2011-03-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

I have been bursting at the seams waiting for the time that I can tell everybody that I am FINALLY pregnant! I am turning the corner into my 2nd trimester and this little babe is due at the end of September. Daddy is doing great and has become even sweeter of a hubby, if that's even possible. My body is changing so fast and doing so many gross things that I never knew it could do (I will spare you)...acupuncture and yoga really help with my bodily stuff. But I feel amazing, the baby is developing perfect, and I am digging the comfort of my new stretchy wardrobe. More pregnancy blogs to come.....I promise!

It sure doesn't FEEL like it

2011-03-10T17:04:00.000-08:00

Everything around me is telling me that it's mid-March, except for the fact that it has been nothing but endless rain and a raw 48ish for TOO many months! I had to look twice when I saw the wild daffodils blooming. I could only stand to look for a few seconds before I was too wet and cold to enjoy them. Come on sun...show yourself!

I don't bake

2011-03-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

If you know me, then you know that I can cook a wicked meal. I love cooking gourmet food with lots of fresh healthy ingrediants. I rarely use recipes, because I have a decent sense of what flavors work well together. Cooking lets me totally let go of control and just go with my instincts. What I can't do is bake. There is too much exact science to it! You have to use measuring cups, and tools, and specific spoon sizes. However...every once in awhile, I have a hankering for something sweet and I don't feel like going to the store....THIS is my go-to recipe.

My Vegan Chocolate Cake (or cupcakes, if I feel like it). I like my chocolate vegan, because I think chocolate tastes better without all that animal fat. Besides, who wants to lick the bowl when it's all raw eggs and butter? yuck. I have done this recipe with organic products, but the difference in price doesn't seem to satisfy any mental blockage I have about eating cake in the afternoon.

1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup warm water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp distilled white vinegar

I mix all the dry stuff together, then add the wet stuff. Put it in an 8x8 glass pan, Cook it at 350 for 30min and that's it! The creative part is my frosting. Sometimes it's just powdered sugar, sometimes it's nothing, but today is was PB frosting. I don't have a recipe for it, though. I just start mixing PB, powdered sugar, vanilla, and soy milk together until I get something yummy and spreadable. The cake in the oven right now...I'll take a pic when it's all finished.

OK...here it is...or was. Between me, teenagers, and a husband, it didn't last long. I'm no cake boss, but it was super yummy.

The apple doesn't fall far

2011-03-02T13:13:00.000-08:00

My father-in-law, Bob, is that 70something yr old guy climbing that tree in Hawaii. His son, (my husband Eric), is that 40something yr old guy climbing that rock in Mexico. I can't keep up with either of them.

Soccer Mom

2011-02-27T14:33:00.001-08:00

The high school soccer season starts tomorrow. That means really long days for our teen. Some away games don't get home until close to midnight. It's a grueling schedule, really. So I do my soccer mom duty and make him some power breakfasts he can eat on his drive to school. Eric wanted me to take a picture of them, because he was impressed with the consistency this year. I am getter better at rolling. Go Bruins!

My new faves

2011-02-26T17:27:00.000-08:00

A long time ago, I wrote a post about some of my favorite things. Didn't Oprah get this topic started? Here is my latest 2011 version:

Roku for starters. I mean...that little box is amazing. Jace can watch unlimited episodes of Family Guy, I can watch all the weird indie-films I love, and Eric can watch his old school westerns and surf movies.

Real Simple Magazine. This cute magazing always gets my nesting juices going.

Pandora Quick Mix. We downloaded the Pandora player which streams the music much faster and in CD quality. We always have it on. I also have it on my BB to entertain me during long waits at airports or for some hiking mojo.

Go-Gurt. This one is for Jace. What a fantastic teen snack. He eats a box every few days. Since it's frozen, it takes him twice as long to eat it. And since his goal is to consume as much food in 15min as possible, this snack keeps the refridgerator fuller a little longer.

My apple slicer. Love this fruit...but sometimes I just want perfectly symmetrical slices. Oh, I also have the mango slicer, but that gadget leaves behind too much fruit. I am a master as mango slicing anyway.

My 2 can't live without makeup products by Benefit. Confessions of a Concealaholic and Dallas.

My new Sirius Sportster deck for my car. I programmed it with my favorite artists, so it alerts me whenever they are playing on other channels, so I won't miss out. Way cool.

Scunci no-slip hairbands. My mop puts these to the test day in and out. I finally can really get the hair out of my eyes.

My weekend yin/yang yoga class. I look forward to these 2 hrs every week. All my other activities are jealous.

This one is an oldy, but it's one of my all time goodies. My Philosophy skincare products I have used for years! On a Clear Day keeps my adult-o-acne down and Everyday Hope keeps me looking in my early 30s.

I realize that this list is rather superficial and uninteresting to most. That's why they are MY favorite things!

It came back.

2011-02-26T13:46:00.000-08:00

I returned yesterday from a sunshiney, 85 degree week in Miami. I got a nice little tan, too. I was expecting to come back to the pretty spring days that we've been getting. Nope. This morning I woke up to 10 degrees. It's back. Winter. Oh joy.

Well, since I locked in the house to stay warm. There's no better time to do our taxes and plan our next vacation.

January entry of StepMothers Milk: Kind of annoyed

2011-01-17T20:45:00.000-08:00

I have a few close friends my age that married older men with children. Some of their stepkids are young, under 6, and some are older teenagers, like mine. So this is a shout to them...Courtney, Anne, Jenn, and Sheri. The job of stepmommy is not an easy one. I never know where I stand, I rarely get to call the shots, and I am third in line for any relaxation on the sofa. This chapter of stepmommy finds me alone with my stepson for several days while my husband is off getting some "him-time". I like to call it my "annoy-time". I suppose I am one of the lucky ones who has a stepchild who likes me. He wants to stay home with me, follow me around the house, and talk to me for hours about car exhausts, cat behavior, and Family Guy interpretations. He's a curious guy with lots of questions about ...well just about everything. Today, he wanted to know what was worse than a felony and then wanted to know the definition of "irony". What tha?! At one point today, he sat on the couch and watched me paint trim. "Izzy, you better do a good job at that." "Izzy, you are leaving parts of the wood exposed." "Izzy, do you even know what you are doing?"....and that went on and on. (insert internal screaming and hair pulling).
Ok. I am done venting. This is very good training for an infant one day. I am sure I will look back one day and think about how nice it was to have an engaged teenager in our house.

Way back in 2010

2011-01-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

Michele...I liked your post! I am going to copy you.

2010 was nuts and I can't believe all that it encompassed. There were so many difficult times and so many wonderful times that I need to write this down so I don't forget. Let's start with the difficult times. My stepson had probably the most emotionally struggling year of his life which created some of the biggest fights, unmeasurable stress, worry, tears shed at home. This really tested the strength of my new marriage. But we stuck together as a family and rode out the storm. We finally have entered the light at the end of his dark tunnel with hope for his future and well-being.

Ok, enough of the bad stuff. The incredible stuff was this....

I began a new position at my company and celebrated 10 years of employment with 9 weeks of vacation time.
My husband built our new bedroom and I got to decorate!
My sister moved an hour from me.
I fell in love with my new sport, SUP.
I paid off my car.
I got hooked on acupuncture and Yin yoga.
I watched my brother get married.
I lost weight, gained weight, lost weight again.
I tried to start a new family (sorry Jace).
I become an advanced pilates student.
I saw old friends and made new ones.
I celebrated a milestone birthday.
And finally there was all the TRAVEL!!! I went to Georgia 2 times, Virginia, Texas 3 times, California 4 times, Canada 2 times, Idaho, Arizona 2 times, Colorado, Maine like 6 times, Florida, Massachusetts, Illinois 2 times, Hawaii, and Mexico. Yes, I have rediculous amounts of frequent flier miles (which would be useless if my husband wasn't also in love with travelling....I suppose the first class cabin helps, right Eric?).

I am curious to what 2011 will be like.

My 35th Birthday present was Baja Sur

2010-12-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

The best birthday I have ever had. (click on the slideshow for full view)

35th birthday and 35 reasons why I love him

2010-12-11T16:49:00.000-08:00

1His strength
2He holds my hand
3He keeps me healthy
4He pushes me
5He has feelings
6He gets shy
7His sense of adventure
8He is also a middle child
9He loves all music
10He can fix his own car
11He studies waves and stars
12He does laundry
13His tan skin
14He doesn't want to stay up late
15He is humble
16He is a caregiver
17He doesn't like beets
18He wants romance
19He can always make me laugh
20He is a scientist
21He chops wood
22He is a father
23He plays with my hair
24His perfect feet
25His dimples
26His love of my cooking
27His coffee
28His values
29How he cuddles the cats
30His silent sleeping
31His arms
32How he swims
33His love of travel
34His attention to detail
35His 35th birthday present to me...thank you, my love.

Schroder home improvement project #826

2010-11-11T16:40:00.001-08:00

This latest project was surprisingly a lot of fun! Maybe it was that it only 2 days or maybe because Eric and I worked really well together this time. Anyhoo, my kitchen just got even more cozy. I love our new heat source and so does the environment!
THE BEFORE

THE AFTER!!

Are you sick of my vacation photos yet?

2010-11-07T15:20:00.000-08:00

Too bad! Here are some of the latest trip to Maui. HA! :)

The Schroders hit Chicago

2010-10-23T19:53:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, me and the guys went to Chicago for a wedding. My big brother, Malcolm, got married to an amazing woman, Naoko. Here are a few shots from my camera. Congrats Naoko and Malcolm. What a fantastic wedding!! Kampai!

Going at it Alone

2010-10-01T12:08:00.000-07:00

That title is a little misleading, isn't it? So last week, I was on a work trip to a tropical destination. (By the way...I think it's rediculous to expect yourself to be able to focus on work when you are staying in South Beach, Miami, in a hip hotel, across from the beach in 85 degree tropical weather.) My dear friend, Rachel, was planning on joining me for part of my trip so we could have some fun in the sun together. But the poor girl came down with pnuemonia and wasn't able to make it. I was a little dissappointed, but what could we do, right? Sooo...I have never been somebody to let an opportunity pass me by just because I was gonna have to do it alone. HELLO people!!!! I moved across the country by myself, if you recall. It was perfect timing, because another close friend, Michele, was writing a blog on how important it is to take time to be alone and make yourself happy. I have never failed to take care of that business...but I know a lot of mommies that don't. So congrats to everybody who makes time for themselves and enjoys these moments of alone-ness.

As for my alone time in Miami...I ate out in South Beach club, swam in the gorgeous warm ocean, drove a convertible to the Florida keys, rented a sea kayak in Key Largo, drank a beer in Islomarada, bought myself a cute dress, and just soaked it all in. Rachel...my dear...we will have to make another destination date in the near future!

The great grape event!

2010-09-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

It was a rainy weekend in the Columbia Gorge this weekend and we have these out-of-control concord grape vines growing in our yard. So what's a girl to do on a weekend like this? CAN! This was my first attempt to can (or jar, in this case) anything in my life. So here it is...my first batch of Izzy's Organically Wild Concord Jam. I have to admit that I felt a little like Diane Keaton in the 1987 hit movie, "Baby Boom". Let's hope it sets right and doesn't turn into Grape Sauce.

ewww...that smell.

2010-09-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

How to eradicate the smell of a decaying and stinky rodent in your house? There are a million opinions on the web...but the consensus is....
Wait it out. Gross. Thankfully, it's in the office and not in our bedroom or the kitchen.

Maine + husband = good

2010-08-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

I am numb to Maine. Born and raised. It doesn't help that my job sends me to Maine every 6-8 weeks for work. But last week, I was in Maine with my husband and THAT made all the difference. It was only his 2nd time and seeing it through his eyes was fantastic. Here are some shots. Thanks Mom and Dad for putting up with us!

Checking in

2010-08-14T10:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I blogged. Maybe because summer is zipping by and time in front of my computer is at a minimum. So here's a little update as to the goings' on with this step-mommy, wife, and traveler.

Update number 1: I got Lasik'ed! I am seeing better now than I have my entire life. I have 20/13 vision. Everyday I have to remind myself that this is really happening and that I don't have to take out my contact lenses tonight.

Update number 2: Our next vacation starts in about 5 days. Eric and I will be at the Felder Camp on Cobbossee Lake, Maine. We plan on eating lots of lobster, sailing, laking, beaching, hiking, and lounging. yesssssssssss.

Update number 3: Jace got his braces off and has been working his tail off this summer. He saved lots of money and we are so proud of him. The car shopping has officially begun. Within the next 90 days, my stepson will be the proud owner of his very first car. A late 90's Honda Civic hatchback, of course, with lots of bass, hot wheels and exhaust. (are you rolling your eyes, too?)

Update number 4: My big brother is getting married! Malcolm and Naoko are finally getting hitched this October in Chicago. We are really excited for them and can't wait to see how cool this wedding is going to be.

Well, I think that's it for now. I gotta go get my paddle-board on for the day. It's a calm day on the Columbia River and almost 100 degrees. Too hot to be on land!

Do I really need another sport?

2010-06-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

YES!!! That's right and I am hooked. I love Stand-Up Paddling, also called SUP. I have done the snowboarding, skiing, windsurfing, surfing, mountain biking, and dirt biking. But this is it. It'll probably be the most expensive gear that I will own, but it's totally free after you purchase the board n paddle. I can just picture it now...me and my SUP board cruising around the pacific ocean, from Washington to Hawaii.

For any of you wanting to try it, look for a SUP class near you. Here's what you can do in the gorge. http://www.bigwinds.com/sup/faq/supper-club

Bingen to the Beach

2010-06-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

We're back from 8 days in Gold Beach, Oregon. A FANTASTIC week of windsurfing contests, cook-outs, camping, hiking, and beach bonfires. I didn't want to leave.

CSA's and vacation take me away

2010-06-13T16:04:00.000-07:00

My first week of my leave was a success. The reading has commenced. I am working on my tennis skills, I have started some home decorating projects, and Vit D intake is where it needs to be. A couple of exciting things happening this week. First, it's the beginning of our CSA season. If you don't know what a CSA means..it's Community Supported Agriculture aka Community Farm Sharing. So every Monday from now until October, we get a box of locally grown organic produce and fruit that was harvested that morning. It's from a delicious local farm called Dancing Moon Farms. I recommend checking into your local farms for your very own CSA. To keep the price down, we are splitting our load with another couple...since each box is enough to feed a family of 4 for the week.

The second exciting thing happening this week, is our annual trip to Gold Beach, OR. I absolutely LOVE this place. I think I have bragged about it in past posts. This year, it won't be such a sleepy little town, since the Wind Bash is back on. I can't wait to hit the road!!!

10 years is too long

2010-06-03T10:59:00.001-07:00

I was 24 when I started working for my employer. It's so rediculous to think that it's been 10 years since I had any significant time off. Is this what enjoying life is suppose to be like?! I feel like a measly month off for 10 years of service isn't enough time. The company calls it "Personal Growth Leave". I suppose they think that 4 weeks is enough time to work on your personal needs....then you have to forget it all and go back to work. (insert me rolling my eyes). At this point, I don't give a shit. I'll take whatever time they will give me!

So starting tomorrow, I am off the clock for a month. It's my reward for 10 years of dedication to my career. Don't expect me to do anything of significance. Don't bother calling me for any favors or help. Only call me if you want to go have fun. I am shedding all responsibility and going off the grid.

Here's my personal growth list:
Be active
Be outside
Avoid all airplanes and airports
Turn off my blackberry
Hike Dog Mtn
Bike Lewis River
Windsurf
Swim
Hike more of the Pacific Coastal Trail
Sunbathe topless on a deserted beach
Garden
Comb the beach for shells and rocks
Eat fresh and cook outside
Sleep in a tent with my husband
Take very few showers
Read a book
Sketch
Have lots of sex and laugh a lot.

Gone West. Love, Sophie?

2010-05-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

My sister is moving to Oregon. She arrives next week! This marks the first member of my immediate family to make the coastal switch. It will be really nice to have a piece of my Maine family here. Somebody to have over for the holidays, somebody to go to nothing with, and somebody to check in on. She will be living only an hour from me, so that means she will probably come over on the weekends to do her laundry. Can't wait to have you here, little sister! I really hope you love living here as much as I do.

random shots from the yard today

2010-05-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

What your fridge says about you

2010-05-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

My good friend recently posted her perfect fridge on her blog and I am wondering what my fridge says about me?

April in my backyard

2010-04-14T12:42:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE spring in the Gorge. The lawn is mowed, our delicious apple tree is in full bloom and Eric is getting his toys ready for another season. (insert big smile on my face)

Unsuspecting Teen get Academic Recognition

2010-04-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

Our teen is wrapping up his first year of high school. We are really proud of him. This is definately fridge worthy. Come on college scholarships...big bucks, no whammies.

Desert for birthday dessert

2010-04-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Eric's birthday present this year was a little getaway to the desert. These are a few of his favorite things.

Those were the years of the girlfriend

2010-03-06T20:13:00.000-08:00

Back in the early 1990's, there was nothing more important than my girlfriends. Those bonds never really happened again for me in college and only happened once as an adult (yes, that's you, Rachel). There are a handful of girls that surprisingly enough, have stayed connected the 15 some odd years since those times. Tabatha, Michele, Kasey, Tiffany, and the internet has reconnected me back to Jen and Megan. Besides the typical marriages, divorces, kids, careers bad hairstyles, and tattoos...we haven't really changed much. My next trip to Maine is in 2 weeks. So I decided to take a little extra time to see some real oldy but goodies. I can't wait to see all my old friends and talk shit about each other!

Travel Log: People Watching Report

2010-02-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

Having some travel issues today. Northeast weather cancelled my flight out of Maine with the next flight leaving in 2 days. Uh no, that won't work. So now I am sitting in Boston waiting for the next opportunity to get home. It's going to be a long day. So as I sit and stare at all the people shuffling through the airport, I am drawn to the young couple with 4 kids. 3 boys and 1 girl all under the age of 6 (I am guessing). I don't like this family. Keep in mind that I am travel cranky today. I decided I didn't like this couple when they chose to park their brood in the chairs next to me. Didn't they see ALL the empty rows of seats at all the empty gates? Immediately, they kids start jumping up and down (on the seats) and screaming AIRPLANE AIRPLANE I'M HUNGRY MOMMY DADDY...etc etc. You get the drift. Now don't get me wrong...I like children. But it was apparent that these parents were completely exhausted with these 4 kids, so all consideration for other people had gone by the wayside. To make matters worse, these jumping bean children were hungry, so what does the mom go do? She goes and buys a DOZEN dunkin donuts to feed her family. Great idea, Mom. Let's fill these 4 hyperactive kids with pure deep fried sugar just before you squeeze them onto an airplane for the next few hours. It will be just my luck that these kids will be sitting behing me on the plan kicking the back of my chair.

Sassy Pants

2010-02-20T09:20:00.000-08:00

Got a taste of spring last night and the great music that comes through here more often thanks to the folks at Everybodies Brewing.

Sassparilla Jug Band. Really fun!

A California Valentine's Weekend

2010-02-16T12:46:00.000-08:00

I am having a hard time staying east coast cynical after the weekend that we had. A special thanks to our friends', Dawn and Eric Olson, for putting us up at their house in Nevada City! Click on the album for a bigger view. Enjoy the photos!

Just another school night...

2010-02-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

Homework, dishes, driving lessons, school shopping, stacking wood, dinner, myspacing, drumming practice, 257 text messages and letting me video tape him. Just an average Monday night.

Schroder Videos

I gotta do SOMEthing!

2010-02-06T16:51:00.000-08:00

I have decided to not be a statistic. I do NOT want to be the average woman in her 30's who gains 2-3lbs every year. I am also DONE with this adult acne that hit me almost a year ago. My goal is short-term to begin with (90 days), with a longterm commitment. My challenge is going to be my job. My job completely fails to give me a consistent schedule, restful sleep and only tempts me with bad eating choices. I am going to fight back! My weapons of choice: P90X and Philosophy. I am posting it here and now for anybody that is reading. I am 34 years old, 5'1", 147lbs. Let's see what I can do with that!

The past few days and those to come...

2010-01-31T07:45:00.000-08:00

My stepson got his drivers' permit the other day which has strangely changed the dynamic in the house. He has become oddly obliging and eager to please. This really comes at no surprise, since most teenagers (or adults, for that matter) will turn on the charm whenever they want something. So what does he want? He wants to practice driving and he needs my husband to do that. My husband has decided to be the instructor...giving on this right of passage onto his son. I think it's a great idea and something that Jace will remember the rest of his life. There are lots of schools of thought regarding parenting new drivers. Our primary goal is practice time before he's out there on his own. We are hoping that by the time he takes the drivers' test (a year from now), he will be a MUCH more advanced driver than those other teens who have all of 11 minutes of practice. Also, this will buy him some time to save for his own car and his own insurance.

All we have to do in the meantime is tolerate the incessant nagging of..."Can I go drive now?....what about now?....and now?"

Our first formal

2010-01-24T09:14:00.000-08:00

Winter formal. What are the rules? Tickets...check. Cool clothes...check. A meeting place for the the 3 couples...check. Corsage?...oops! A quick text message to the date for her dress color...check!! All this in just 4 hours before the dance. Just imagine if my stepson was a stepdaughter. We would have been talking and shopping for this day weeks ago. Ugh and a big oy vey. Winter formal....check!

This consumer review for Roku

2010-01-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

My husband and I are all about trying out new things. This new little entertainment gadget is going to help us save on our entertainment expense. Roku not only allows us to watch our online Netflix queue from the comfort of our sofa, but it has allowed us to cancel all of our Dish movie channels! It's so much fun. I even like the little bubble sound it makes when you navigate through your videos. I can't even tell if there is a lack in visual clarity, because our TV is so old and everything looks like junk! I do wish you could populate several instant queue's at once, though. All of us in the family have our own Netflix accounts. Still...I heart Roku...go buy it.

2010 Travel logging

2010-01-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

As part of this new year, Twenty-Ten, my desire is to keep a better travel log. I want to really pay attention to the destinations I visit and learn the interesting facts, quirks and history. My first stop will be Atlanta, GA next week. I have been there a few times in my life, but that was in my 20's when I was too pre-occupied with myself, shopping and nightlife. All I know so far is that it's the peach state, the airport appreviation is ATL, and wunderground is calling for sunny in the 40's. Anything else I should know before I go? Let's see what I'll learn while I am there!

My new Canon Powershot SD1200 IS

2009-12-26T19:00:00.000-08:00

My favorite husband gave me a camera for the holidays. It's just what I wanted! Here is my fisrt attempt to capture some shots while I was X-C Skiing this afternoon on top of Mt. Hood. What do you think?

Music to my ears

2009-12-23T20:27:00.000-08:00

Eric's learning Banjo...Jace on guitar...and I am learning Mandolin. All we need now is a fiddler, harmonica and a metal tub bass and we have ourselves a Schroder Jugband christmas.

Stepmom's are speaking out!

2009-12-16T20:44:00.000-08:00

I discovered tonight that there is a HUGE internet society of stepmom's like me! There are actually stepmom mixers, conferences and meetup groups. Where have I been?!!

If you are reading this and want to join this not-so-secret society, then check out these very cool sites:

Stepmothers Milk

Stepchicks

Stepdivas

Blended Family Soap Opera

....and not to forget ALL the stepmommy bloggers. This is like gold to me.

A nice homecoming

2009-12-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

Wow, I was gone a LONG time. I missed my family so much, that this trip seemed exceptionally long. Do you want the good news first or the bad news? Lets start with the good news....

I got promoted! I am changing positions within my company. I have taken a position as a Field Trainer. I am really excited about it and am ready for the change. The other good news is that my husband and stepson were very busy while I was gone. My car is fixed (from a recent accident involving a raccoon of abnormal size) and Eric put in some new bells and whistles! The renovations are in full gear. Jace got awarded Employee of the Month and managed to bring home ALL A's and B's this quarter!

The bad news is that it is reDICULOUSLY cold here right now. Waterfalls are frozen mid-air, windows are draped in cloth, all of the heaters are on, and the pipes are freezing. This is just how cute my husband is...he wrote poems so we would remember.

How much wood can a woodchuck chuck in 11 days?

2009-11-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Maine,

As you know, my employer is based in your fine state. So I am very lucky that I get to see my family more often than I would if I was employed by a west-coast company. The challenge that I face is how to fit everything and everyBODY in during my trips to your state! I leave tomorrow for a total of 11 days. Within that time...I have 2 days of travel, 7 days of work, 2 days with the Felders, and every evening filled with dinners schmoozing with colleagues and reconnecting with old friends (my personal favorite). Since these days are typically long, jet-lagged, and calorie-filled, I have to get my workouts in early morning. No joke. My days are like 16hrs long. So to all my friends that I missed during this trip, please accept my sincerest apologies. You didn't make the cut this time. I'll try to schedule you in next time.

Love,

Isolde

I heart SIRIUS satellite radio

2009-11-27T20:24:00.000-08:00

I am going on 4 years with satellite radio and I would like to consider myself a longtime listener. 4 years and I am still never bored with the stations and the programs. It's where I get all my new favorite bands and try to stay moderately cool and up-to-date. Here are a few favorite radio shows that can't get enough of:

Rosie Radio: Her morning show is great! I never thought I would like listening to Rosie O'Donnell...but she's SO good on the radio. I especially like her points of view on parenting teens and family relationships. She has poignant and inspiring guests and I am constantly impressed on how intelligent and passionate she is. I also like that I laugh out loud constantly! I suggest checking out the show.

Theme Time Radio with Bob Dylan: No, it's not a station of Dylan songs (snore). It's a funny and quirky Spectrum channel program narrated by Dylan's deep slurry voice. He picks a theme for the hour....say "Love", for example. Then he'll play all his favorite songs from the 40's and 50's about Love, with interludes of clever facts and music trivia about that era or artist. What a great show!

Broad-Minded on Stars: Don't be fooled by the title. It's show narrated by two broads...hence the name. It's like reading US Weekly or People Magazine without actually reading it. They are super shallow and star-crazed broads. It's intelligence killing...but entertaining.

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and Fresh Air: You can also catch these on the NPR channels from your traditional FM radio or online. Wait Wait is so funny. I love that the winners on the trivia show win a voice recording from the semi-celebrity panel member that you can use on your answering machine. Do people even HAVE answering machines anymore? Would you have to give them your password to your cell voicemail?! As for Fresh Air....well, I like to listen to the celebrity interviews. I get a little sleepy listening to the interviews with authors or politic figures. I am trying to stay awake behind the wheel, remember?!

For all you iPods....you will never take the place of my satellite radio player. I will always prefer real-time entertainment with uncensored music and spoken word.

Soup's on

2009-11-22T15:42:00.000-08:00

It's my favorite time of year for soup. The winter rain has started, ugh. So I cook soup. If there was a breakfast soup, I would eat that, too. Eric is my taste tester for my hot pot creations. For those of you who aren't familiar with Hot Pot....it's an asian thing. My old roommate, Amy, turned me onto this a couple winters ago when she took me to a restaurant called Hot Pot City. It's when you put a pot of broth (your choice) on a stove burner or portable burner for the table, then you have dozens of fresh ingredients that you keep adding to it. It's so delicious and fun. At home, I typically choice a low sodium chicken or vegetable broth with lots of asian-inspired ingredients, like ginger, lemongrass, cilantro, fish oil, mushrooms, lite coconut milk, rice noodles, lime, shrimp, bok choy, and whatever else I can find! If I am not doing a hot pot creation, these are my favorites to cook: Tom Yum Goong (LOVE this when I have a cold), Brazilian Seafood Stew, and Chicken Curry Soup. I try to make the soups with lots of extra broth, so I have a tasty new broth to work for the next time.....however, my taste tester tends to finish off the batch before I can store it for later.

Walnut alert

2009-10-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when we look out our window at our beautiful walnut trees.....then we look down to strange ladies, with cigarettes hanging from their lips, filling their buckets and baskets with our NUTS! 2 particular ladies walked out of here with 3 of those 5-gallon buckets FILLED. So now we are on full blown nut-watch. No more freebies for the neighbors. Step away from the nuts, people!

the HONEYMOON!!!

2009-10-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

1 week in Kauai, 1 week in Maui, 1 jellyfish sting, 1 tandem bike, 2, beach cruisers, 14 sea turtles, 1 shark, 30 bugbites, 115 photos, 30 beaches, 1 surf board, 1 sailboard, 18 papaya, and whole lotta love....

Wedding slide show...more just added!

2009-09-21T12:31:00.000-07:00

As we are sifting through the hundreds of professional photos (Thanks Jay Carroll!)....here are some combined home photos shot by our friends and families, and some pro-photos. Love, the Schroders.

Introducing......Mrs. Schroder!

2009-09-16T17:23:00.000-07:00

We did it. We got married this weekend! It was so amazing, beautiful, emotional, exciting, stressful, happy, fun, exhausting, fantastic, perfect wedding. There are hundreds of photos flooding in and I will be posting a lovely album as soon as I get back to earth. Thank you everybody for your love and your presence with us. Sharing this with all of you was unforgettable.

7 days until the Wedding

2009-09-05T07:52:00.000-07:00

It's just about showtime! We are down to cleaning the house, mowing the lawn and waiting for the families to show up. Eric, Jace and I are so excited. No freak out, either. I guess that means this is the way it is suppose to be. I can't wait to show my family my home and introduce Felder to Schroder. It's been so much fun planning for this week. So what's next to plan? Eric says that we begin the real construction on the house after the honeymoon. YAY!!! More space and I get to keep decorating our life. This is a photo of where we are getting married on Saturday.

Gone West, Love Isolde Schroder.

Freshman year...the year of the crazy crushes

2009-08-31T21:52:00.001-07:00

Jace started his freshman year at our local high school. He comes home everyday and tells me how many girls he talked to and who he likes today. He used to talk about his teachers and how lame his classes are. But NOW...it's all hormones at this point. Dinner has become a yelling match, because he is so aggro and pent up with lust that he doesn't know any other way to cope. Being a girl, I never realized how badly boys had it. No wonder such great music and art came from young men....they are just SCREAMING on the inside.

Fortunately for us, he is getting really good with his guitar and when the aggro angst sets in....out comes some really great tunes.

Forest fire

2009-08-28T17:54:00.000-07:00

As the summer ends, the fires begin. We don't get rain all summer. In fact, my town hasn't had rain since May, I think. This particular fire is going on as I type. I can see the flames from my house, as it burns through the town of Mosier. The helicopters are buzzing non-stop and the sky is all haze. It a sad sight to watch nature go up in flames.

Here is the local news story

Quality time Pre-Wedding

2009-08-14T18:57:00.001-07:00

Our final rendezvous at the beach this summer. Next time, we will be husband and wife.

The Lewis River

2009-08-01T20:54:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite Mtn Biking and exclusive swimming spots is the Lewis River in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. We spent 7 hrs biking, hiking, swimming in waterfalls, climbing boulders, floating down the river, and having an amazing day. I wish I had a water camera so I could have taken more photos from the amazingly clear pools.

Wedding countdown is on!!

2009-07-17T19:02:00.000-07:00

56 DAYS AND COUNTING....

I can't believe it. I look back over the last few years and am still shocked on how dramatically my life has changed. It's been so much fun planning this wedding. I wish everybody could come and celebrate with us. Only a few minor details to take care of now. The rest is done; location, band, invitations, caterer, cake, flowers, clothes, rings, photographer, rehearsal dinner, linens, tables, chairs, bar, hotels, flights, honeymoon. I am sure I am missing something...but who cares!

July 4th weekend 2009!

2009-07-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

It was me and a bunch of boys this weekend. Check out the photos from our trip to Gold Beach Oregon!

Promotion

2009-06-14T08:42:00.001-07:00

No, I didn't get a promotion. Jace did! He got promoted to high school. He also received 3 acedemic awards this semester: Math, Science, and Language Arts. Not a bad way to finish his career at Middle School.

Jace and Keaton

River and Jace (Jace's cousin in the back right)

Proud father thinking, "only 4 more years till he's out of the house."

I didn't get the musically and artistically gifted gene

2009-06-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

My brother, Malcolm, is on tour right now. His project is called LINELAND. I went to see his performance last night. I realized that I am an idiot. It was so unique, mesmerizing, and creative that it was above my mediocre brain. I highly reccomend seeing this act live and in person. The music combined with the visual stimulation was really cool. I have never seen anything like it. You can check his website for dates or downloads!

A lovely long weekend

2009-05-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

Memorial weekend was really fun. If you haven't been to the southern oregon coast..you MUST put it on your list of must see's. According to Eric, it was lit up and stupid windy. I got myself a killer windersurfer tan (face and hands) while the wind kicked up enough sand for a great microderm peel. Here are some shots!

Let the DIY construction begin! (Again)

2009-05-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go again. Time to start our regular trips to the lumber yard, the big orange man-store, and the hardware store. It's time to begin round 2 on the home upgrades. Now this little house was never meant to be a mansion or a luxury home or even a modern dwelling. It's just a simple little corner of the earth that keeps us dry, it's comfortable, and it's safe. Someday our dreamhome will come...and near the beach, of course!

For those of you that don't recall last years' projects...they included: New kitchen, new living room, new bathroom, and new Jace's bedroom. We can't forget the new roof!

This year...we are converting the board-shop into our master bedroom, and turning our current bedroom into office/guest space. The board-shop is moving into a new shed (our old carport) and the big toys are moving into a new shed behind the house. That reminds me! I gotta go pick up the piant and paint that shed before we hit the 80s today.

New found freedom

2009-05-05T20:56:00.000-07:00

Jace turned 15 this weekend! This young man has a newfound freedom and it's called Amtrak. Yes, that's right. He can now ride, get on AND get off the Amtrak without adult supervision. What does that mean for us?! No more pick-ups and drop-offs to Portland ever other weekend!!!!! Whooopppie! O happy day. The best part is that the station is 3 blocks from our house.

Last days of snowboarding

2009-05-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

This is the last open weekend at Mt. Hood Meadows. There is still over 10 ft of snow to enjoy. However, the days are too warm, even on top of my local glacier, to keep the snow cold enough to be slippery. Eric and I took our final runs of the season yesterday, but we were happy to put our flip-flops back on when we got to parking lot. See you next season Mt. Hood Meadows!

Fresh picked blueberries

2009-04-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

I convinced Eric that we needed to have some blueberry bushes on our property. So I dragged him to a farm in 85 degree weather, so he could work for hours digging out the bushes that I chose. I helped carry the tools and bag the roots, though!

My first Mother's Day

2009-04-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

This year, I am giving myself an honorary mention of motherhood. Jace and Eric would agree, I think. But before I start thinking about how I am going to spoil myself, I need to throw my soon-to-be-stepson, a 15th birthday party. What does a 15 year old boy want for his birthday? He wants a drumset...no....Cold hard cash for an i-touch....no....some new Nike street sneaks, new clothes and a guitar c-clamp....YES! Oh, and let's not forget the pizza, cake, and a dozen other teenage boys on skateboards at the local hangout during First Friday.

As for me; well, I think this non-traditional mommy will take some real windsurfing lessons and keep the mom-jeans at bay.