Family Portraits

 Happy birthday to me!! For my 30th this year (wink wink, nudge nudge, go along with me there) all I wanted was a family portrait session. We got portraits done ages ago, before there was even a dream of a Dutchy. I just wanted ONE good picture of the four of us all together. One where we all have our eyes open, clean clothes on and our feral toddler in focus for once. I did forget to tell Cam that the other request I had included a smile from him, but I'll take what I can get!

 We got WAY more than we asked for and I couldn't be happier! A local photographer came up to our house and since the weather was dry we high tailed it to the park down the street. She snapped away and I'm thrilled with the results!

 Clementine warmed up to the photographer right away--you can see it in the pictures below that she was willing to smile on command and try out some new things. She even through her jacket off for a few quick clicks (it was VERY VERY cold!).

 While changing locations, Dutch found a mole hill piled high with dirt. Naturally, he scooped it directly into his mouth. Knowing that I would come wipe it, Dutch ran away from me. I LOVE that Photographer Tiffany was able to capture Dutchy's wild side without missing a beat. (I got Dutch to hold still by asking him to make animal noises. In between swipes, he roared like a bear and this is my all time favorite picture!)

 Then the kids wandered over to play on playground equipment...

 and Clem and I had a bubble war.

 At this point we were frozen pretty much to the bone so we headed back to our house.

 There, Dutch continued to keep his distance although I do love these shots of him! His little tootsies! And he looks so grown up in his button down shirt!!

 At one point we had to start bribing him with mini-marshmellows. He poked his head over the table to see if there were any treats up there, and CLICK, Tiffany got this shot, that I also love!

 Clem did not need to be bribed with treats, but I love this shot on the table, as well!

Nacho the rocking horse made his debut and Dutch perked up!

I was SO excited to see all of our pics. I will obviously need more wall space to frame and hang each one. 

Dutch is a fascinating specimen of male child. He looks like his sister's twin but acts nothing like her (but they do share their sweetness gene).
Here are some facts about Dutch that I bet you didn't know:

1. He loves to build nests. Nothing is safe from his collection of materials. Clean laundry being folded by mama or sister is his all time favorite. He collects all the clothes, blankets, anything, then he builds a nest in the center and hunkers down. He would stay there all day if we let him.

2. He performs. Dutchy lives to make others laugh. He started by calling Cam "mama" and me "Dada" just to get a laugh. Now he'll do whatever it takes. Silly dancing? Check. Spanking Clem ironically? Check. Doing the opposite of what you just asked? Check. Blowing blubbers on mama's belly? Check check check.

3. Dutch LOVES framed photos. With passion. He can name every person on our photo wall. His dream come true is holding the framed photos by himself. There has been a temper tantrum (or 10) that the only remedy I've found is giving him a framed photo to look at and calm down.

4. This may be the only Revard ever to not dive face first into meat. At the age that Dutch is now, Clem was SNEAKING meat off the counter, from the fridge.  Dutch would rather just have an avocado to himself.

5. This child can eat an entire avocado in a sitting.

6. Dutch hates (and I means HATES) clothing with elastic. Unfortunately, clothes in his size often have sleeves and ankles with built in elastic. If that is the case, we should expect to see him raging and tugging on these ankles and sleeves for hours. Literally, hours.

7. People had told me this about their boys and it's true: he's my snuggler. He could cuddle with mama all day long if we had no where else to go/nothing else to do. He likes to take a few minutes in the morning to snuggle before breakfast.

8. He is obviously still going to be nursing when he goes to elementary school. I can't convince this boy to ween. And when he nurses he does something Cam calls "Flamingo eating." Dutch's feet are constantly finding my face. Dutch loves to waggle his feet around and would love to get his toes into a nostril or mouth while he happily eats.

9. Things that are gross have massive appeal to him. The cat food and water dish are raided on a daily basis. If he finds something on the floor, on the ground, from the back of his high chair or car seat--he's eating it. Telling him "icky," "gross" and "Don't eat that!" makes this a challenge he's happy to live up to.

10. He can sense when a forbidden door is opened or a protective baby gate has come down. Of course,  when the opportunity presents itself, he makes a crazy mad dash to get to it.

11. While Clem had her own special brand on eating (she hummed the whole meal through!) Dutch has not failed to make his mark as well. This boy needs two of everything--one morsel for each hand. If I hand him only one cracker, he doesn't know what to do with it. He'll stare and ask for more, ignoring the one he has right in front of him. He must have one in each paw.

12. We (I) have called Dutch "The Moose" since he was 3 months old. Dutch got this nickname from a neighbor who saw the chunky 3 month old boy "sitting" in the grass one day. At that point in his life, he was GIGANTIC. Now he's a fairly average sized 1.5 year old, but we (I) still call him the moose.

(Bonus story, one day at the fabric store, the sales clerk asked me why I kept calling Dutch "Moose." I said "It's been his nickname since he was a baby." "But how come? Why does he have a nickname 'Moose'?" She asked. So I cheekily replied "Because he was born with antlers." She didn't laugh but I cracked myself up.)

Doggy Date

Clementine has been asking (ahem...begging) for a dog for at least two years (ahem...forever). She is head over  heels in love with every dog she meets. 

(We are open to the idea of finding a family dog but haven't found a just right fit yet.)

In the meantime, Clem has herself a date. A weekly date. With a big furry Mountain Dog name Takaya. 

Our amazing public library has a program for readers Clem's age and older. They can come and read with dogs who have recently graduated K-9 Good Citizens class. 

 Clementine carefully choose some books to read to Takaya today, on their first date. She chose books about dogs and practiced them last night.

Mostly Takaya listened. But she knew there were treats coming her way and got a little distracted. Clem was fascinated by this big old bundle of sweetness (who is ALSO 6 years old!). She got to read to her as well as feed her treats.
Pretty much, the best day ever.

Rugrats at the Dentist

 Clem is so fond of the dentist, we thought: "Surely if Dutch is able to watch Clem do her dentist stuff first, then he TOO will be fond of the Dentist."

Au contraire. Dutchy was NOT a fan of the dentist. Nor was Dutch a fan of watching Clementine at the dentist.
He was, however, a fan of running amok throughout the entire building--taking pictures off the wall, walking into private offices, climbing office chairs...I could go on.

 Do I look sweaty in these pictures because I was. Chasing a determined Dutchy is major work.

He did eventually come up in my arms and allow himself (hardly) to be held. But not for long. Dentist barely got a glimpse of Dutchy's toofs before a certain wailing banchee needed to be removed from the building. Ahem.

We'll try again this summer.

Thankfully, Clementine was a rockstar as usual.

Adventurin'

Surprise January sunshine=this crew heading for the hills (literally!). We went adventurin' this weekend. And here's what we found. 

 Dutchy loves swings.

 And slides.

 Clem will only monkey bar if her feet can touch the ground.

 And she is extra sassy.

Marina Touch Tank

 Cam and I are both home these two weeks with both kids. The four of us need (NEED!) stuff to keep us out of trouble. I have a physical need called "Getting out of the house each day."

So, on one such rainy day, we took the kids on down to the Squalicum Marina "Aquarium" (we've been here before, remember?)

Once again, Clem watched only. She refused to touch any of the terrifying sea creatures.

 Whereas Dutch would have climbed in if we'd let him.

If you guessed that Dutch tried lapping up the water from the touch tank like a puppy, then you are correct. When Cam intervened, Dutch realized that cupping his hand and bringing it to his mouth could do the trick.

Yup, our visit there was short.

Hello again, old friend

 It's been ages since we hit up our old haunt, the Skagit County Children's Museum. I think Clem had to be 3 or 4 when we were there last. And now we can't remember why we waited so long!

 There's a whole toddler "farm" for wee lads like Dutch...(who by the way ONLY went up and down the two slide-like inclines on this play structure. What gives?)

(and also has been taught by Daddy how to do a perfectly scary bear cub growl, now he loves bears!)

 

...there's also plenty for a 6 year old explorer like our favorite wee lass. 

She loved fishing and playing princess Barbie dress up, 

 She got to play long-shoreman and semi-truck driver.

 Then she rode this gull like a rodeo bull.

And made a snow man frame in the art area. Seriously, I just can't get enough of this place!