Brothers....

I missed my family yesterday on Christmas, and our particular traditions. Even the ones that annoy me. Something about having it all - the good and beautiful and the challenging - that makes it family and feel real. And therefore also meaningful.

I especially missed my brother and sister as I saw Brian having fun with his two brothers. I just have this particular relationship with Cameron that I can't have with anyone else. And with Megan that I can't have with anyone else. Something super cool about sibling.

Brian and his two brothers, Kevin and Matt, are pretty hilarious and wonderful to witness together. They look to each other for support, validation, jokes, for a particular kind of play that I think only they can have, and to totally dork out unrestrained. The two part picture series (above) gives you at least a window into their brotherly love world...

Snowy holiday in Portland

This is our 11th day enveloped by snow here in Portland. It's been a wonderful and welcomed (but not always easy) time here these last few days as my life has slowed down in front of me step by step, breath by breath.

The thing about having real down time is that I get to think about all the things (emotional and real) that I've been putting off as I've been busy, busy, busy. Funny how sometime being busy can allow me to feel so important, when all I'm really doing is, well, staying busy. It's a good, humbling thing to realize.

I've gone through a whole processes these last couple weeks. It started with pure excitement (I love the snow! I don't have to work!), morphed into uncomfortableness as I realized I couldn't get out even if I wanted to, and now has eased into a calmness and gentleness and acceptance. It *does* help that we got out and about yesterday in the car. Downtown was a funny mixture of slow and fast, calmness and chaos, connection and disconnection. Different than I've quite ever experienced before.

We also got out skiing on the mountain last weekend. We were knee deep in the powder. It was truly amazing. The trees were heavy with snow, at this perfect balancing point between layers and layers of powder and the crash after the last piece of snow too many.

The pictures below are from out our apartment window.

Tomorrow it's off to Gresham, no matter the weather. Christmas adventure, here we come!

Megan's birthday trip at Orcas

Ah....a relaxing weekend at Orcas with games, hikes in the rain, yummy leftover Thanksgiving food and massages! Mom is getting a massage from all three of her children - the winner of a card game.




Cameron being silly.....

Planning our afternoon hike in the rain around the lake.

Dance photos!

One of my favorite belly dancers - Darshan (aka Cammi Vance) in a performance with Gemini Project last night at Pi-Rem.

Today...

Today like every other day
We wake up empty and scared
Don't open the door of your study
And begin reading.
Take down a musical instrument
let the beauty we love be what we do
There are hundreds of ways to kneel
And kiss the earth.

~Rumi

My favorite Fall tree

Origins of Halloween

As a folklorist, I can't help but to post this. Cool article on (at least one perspective of) the origins of Halloween. Jack Santino is a well known folklorist in the field who studies these types of things. :-) Someone I've met - he's a wonderful, wacky sort of guy. Like most folklorists.

http://www.loc.gov/folklife/halloween.html

Happy Halloween!

Us Three All Together!

Summer Backpacking Trip near Mt Baker

Megan and Mr. Marmot

Here they are... Let's get a closer look!

Pictures from Brook and Sean's Wedding on Mayne Island

One of my favorite weddings that I've ever been to....

Outside vs. Computer

It's sunny and beautiful outside right now. Anyone who lives in the Northwest knows that it's totally impossible to be sitting at a computer when we get weather like this. So, as soon as I'm done with work these days, I'm getting outside. As much as possible. Means not writing many blog posts, however.

I try to make myself feel guilty about it, but I really just can't. The choice seems clear. Here are some pictures from being outside this summer. :-)