Boy Time

I'm not sure how I'm going to cope. My first born off on an adventure with her dad for the next 10 days.

Me.
At home.
With the boy.

Day in and day out with N. No school, no schedule to speak of, just us and the long long days. I haven't been a parent of one in a long time, "How do I do this again?" He still naps more often than not, and he really will eat most anything so that's something. Wait! He loves the children's museum, the zoo, the aquarium, going on hikes, taking long baths, digging outside with me, playing on our swing set, visiting the swimming pool, playing indoors, cooking...hmmmm on second thought I think this is going to be fine, we might actually not be able to fit everything in! And isn't this exactly what I was lamenting when he was born; that he wouldn't get that undivided attention E had for the first 5 years of her life? This is going to be really good.

Here is my latest solution to his accumulating Playmobil construction collection: IKEA has these extra large shallow under-the-bed storage boxes that are the perfect fit for keeping the mess contained and easy play! Now if we could just manage to get him in matching pajama's once in a while, who is his mother anyhow?

Fire Hazard

E left her lampshade askew, and this is what we found a few hours later...very good reminder.

Wait, When Did She Turn 15?

It didn't take her long to make a few new rules after her brother moved out.

Gymnastics Graduation

At the beginning of each class the children have a chance to stand up and do a pose as the teacher calls their name. At the end of each class the children have a chance to swing on the rope swing. And each class N shrinks and refuses (he's done this since the first class in September). Well, something changed on both fronts at graduation...and you can hear the genuine surprise in my voice while he's on the rope.

He Makes Chocolate Look Good

N surprised us all today by using the potty all day! We rewarded him with a trip out for ice cream.

Bodkins are a Girls Best Friend

Don't worry, I didn't know what a 'bodkin' was until today either. My family has this accumulating stack of gym pants/shorts and hoodies, where the drawstring has been pulled out. Some drawstrings have gone missing so I made a trip over to the fabric store to buy a few yards or cording and offhandedly asked the woman at the cutting counter if she has any magic tricks for reinserting the buggers.  Her eyes lit up and she said "Follow me!" A Bodkin! This little miracle worker costs less than $2, and I had all of our clothes restrung in less than 5 minutes! This little metal needle has pincher's on one end instead of an eye, and a ring that clamps it shut; it's genius.

Sweet Tooth

E was begging and begging for cotton candy at The Puyallup Fair this afternoon. The minute I relent, her loose tooth falls out of her head on the first bite!

I asked her if her head felt lighter after loosing that big tooth, and she said in an exasperated tone "Mom, a tooth only weighs like, a millimeter of a pound."

Flip

We had family photo's this week, and got to peek at the proofs online. After scrolling though a ton I realized that my son was flipping off the photographer...magnified it so you can see.

93 Days in Jail for Planting a Vegetable Garden

Can you belive a 3 month jail sentence is a posibility for growing your own food in your front yard in Michigan?  Read the article.

Flock of Seagulls

Birthday Surprise!

N got to ride the ferry boat today! We were on our way back and the captian noticed how excited he and his sister were and it got mentioned that it was his birthday. Well, he just invited us into the office and asked if the kids wanted to try on the fire equiptment, and show us around. He even offered to have E wish her brother a happy birthday over the loud speaker...and when she couldn't pull it together and stop giggling he went ahead and wished out little 2-year-old a very Happy 2nd Birthday. So neat!

We Did IT!

Our school earned a 50K grant for our first playground in 15 years! Thanks to those that help vote! We finished 6th out of tons of entries.

Santa Barbara Weekend

I traveled this weekend. Wait. Read that again.

Yes.

I
traveled
this
weekend.

Yes, me. Me, who has never left my near 2-year-old son over night. Me, who has only ever spent one night at a time away from E. I know, stop the presses! I hopped on a plane for sunnier skies to celebrate my cousin's long awaited wedding in Santa Barbara, CA. Things did not fall apart at the seams, my children did not die from sadness, and most of all I didn't either. I spent 2 nights away and came home aching for my babies and husband but really did enjoy myself. I ate amazing food, my sister and I reveled in sleeping all night long, walking in the warm sand on the beach, we had a royal ball with my cousins at the wedding it was an 'eat, drink and be merry' occasion (with a little dancing and photo booth fun too). I also busied myself with a little game for E; I snatched one of her little robotic hamster guys and took pictures of him on my adventure. It helped keep them close. Here's what transpired. plus a few of me too.

The Adventures of Dexter

Dexter hid away in my knitting bag

Exploring the Airport

Security

Made it!

Seat Belt Didn't Quite Fit

Window Seat

Palms

In N' Out!

Blowing His Straw Paper at E

Enjoying the View From Our Room

Lifeguard on Duty

Fig Tree Planted in 1876

Moby Dick

Fish N' Chips on the Wharf

Pink Berry

Front Row Seats

Cake

Hello Zuma Beach!

::::::::::

My Sister and Me

A Little Wind Blown, HAHAHA!

Wedding

YES!

Mom & Girls

Zuma

Su-UN!

Sittin'

After months of me asking "Do you wanna sit in the potty?" and being answered with, "No fanks." Daddy came home, and after a demonstration threw him on the pot and...success! Hopefully it will continue.

Six!

"Look Mom! 2 Hands!"

-photo by Noah Kim

Bawk-Bawk Buh-KAK!

We got our first egg this morning!   It's so tiny and cute, I don't know if I could eat it (see the comparison in the egg carton)!  We think it came from Azelea, our Black Star.  E has daily chicken duty, and she was just beaming when she found it in our make-shift egg box laying next the the 'trainer egg,' a golf ball.  When she brought it up to the house, I actually screamed!