InstaFriday 8.24.12

1. learning to play Uno, kicking mom's butt 2. quilted into the wee hours, but it's done! 3. fitting into my favorite again.  4.  garden harvest.  5. backyard cinema  6. art project  7.  the after-library sprawl  8. the finished trebuchet  9.  following a trip to blueberry park.  10.  basil cubes  11.  knitting work-in-progress.  12.  waking up is hard some days 

Instafriday 8.17.12

1.Building a trebuchet.   Yeah, we are.  

2. Sunshine squash, this years attempt at "pumpkins."  

3. Just before a date to go get school shirts.  

4. Playing nicely (it's been a rarity this week).  

5. Building a wooden helicopter (Stinky's choice of dollar store treat was the kit.)  

6. Kindergarten countdown 

Other cool stuff  that happened this week: 

-Backyard Cousin Campout

- Cast Party ( gosh, I miss those people)

- WBH and I hitting lower weights we haven't seen in years. 

-Rotten 'reading' a mash-up of Slippery Fish and Rainbow Fish

-Realizing there's just 3 weeks until the big boy is a school kid.  Killing me, but so excited for him.  

-One week until the Rotten one turns two.  Though, he's gotten really, really good at two already. 

Linked Up! 

Family Hike at the Nature Center

"Mom," Stinky began, "If I went deep into the woods, you would miss me so much. So all of us should go into the woods together." A few months ago at preschool, we took a trip to the nature center, which has trails to hike, animals to see in the center, and a beautiful playground. They're easy trails, and there are lots of things to see, so we decided to try a family hike, and we went into the woods together.

The trails offer options for how long you can hike, and I'm proud to say Stinky only said he was tired once when we decided to take the long route. He loved listening for and looking for the animals.

Despite this face, Rotten was a good sport in the carrier for the hike, occasionally babbling to us as we walked. Other hikers chatted up Stinky about the waterbugs and woodpeckers.

The playground at the nature center is a great bribe for "if you make it to the end of the hike and don't complain...." All of the climbers and slides are made to look like logs or trees. There's also a water pump and tree house to play in, so Stinky and WBH ran all over. Rotten mostly tried to eat bark.

We'll be back for another hike, without a doubt. Next time we plan to print out one of the brochures and explore the markers along the trails a little more.

This week:

Oh, Blogger. Sometimes you make me sad. Sometimes you eat up my posts and then I have to write them all over again. Thanks for only eating half of this one, today.

This weekend was so busy, but so nice. The weather was stunning, temperatures were perfect. We heard about an activity put on by the zoo at a local beach- so Swe walked the beach with a naturalist, helping to catalog the sea life there. We mostly saw barnacles, but also saw the leather sea star that Stinky's petting above, and a hairy helmet crab. We hear about this at Sounds Fun Mom, which is a great resource if you live the South Puget Sound area. She lists events several times a week, so you may want to subscribe. After an hour of listing animals, Stinky decided he was done, and introduced himself to a group of siblings, and played with them for the rest of our stay at the beach. I spent that time making sure Rotten didn't eat every rock he could get his hands on, much to his displeasure.

Later that night, WBH and I chaperoned Prom. Like his suit? We were at the EMP, so we got to visit all the exhibits while we were there- Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, and Battlestar Galactica all had displays. I played Joan Rivers with another staff member's wife, critiquing dress choices, and WBH joined a dance circle. We've chaperoned 7 proms now, making this the tenth prom I've attended. Fun as it might be to go get a formal dress and all, I'm glad I don't have to be a teenager again. Though the picture doesn't show it well, my hair was rocking that night.

We only made it through the first hour at church on Sunday- neither child cooperated for more than that, and were both put down for naps the moment we got home. Later that evening, we went to the birthday barbecue for WBH's co-worker. Stinky and Rotten both enjoyed swinging in their hammock- which is, coincidentally, what WBH is getting for his birthday and should be arriving sometime today.

Now, it's back to life as normal. I've been trying to get our house in order for the last few days, but my children's attitudes have made it a challenge. Wish me luck as I try to get my ducks (and ducklings) in a row today!

Impromptu Family Photo Shoot

We attempted to attend a friend's piano recital last weekend. We made it through three songs before we realized that it just wasn't a place for the kids- not that they were bad. His beautiful piano performance just didn't need a backup singer (Rotten) and dancer (Stinky). Fortunately, the campus we were on was beautiful, and we took the chance to take some pictures around the music building.

a really. good. day.

Spring Break was so busy, it seems like it was here and instantly gone. We took a day trip with my mother and sister into Seattle on Friday, to the Science Center and to the fountain.

Stinky took his camera on the trip, too, and it kept him busy in the crowd at the butterfly house.

Ultimately, the science center was so crowded that we left early to picnic and play near the fountain. Stinky and I played tag.

While Rotten napped in the gorgeous spring weather

Being there in the sunshine turned Stinky into '50 degree shirt's off guy' stating "I'm going to take off my shirt and run into the fountain . That's my decision, guys" WBH got this picture at the one moment he held still:

We drove the long route home, where we could watch paragliders floating down and Stinky said quietly, "Mom, this was a really. good. day. "

Where Did I Go?

Please pardon the absence. It's been a busy few weeks around here. We made a April Fool's Day dinner for WBH, with Orange Jello Slices, Meatloaf Cupcakes and Spaghetti for dessert. This one is almost crawling. It's fascinating, thrilling and terrifying all at once.

We took a field trip and rode a ferry...

...and put our toes in sand, wishing for warmer weather soon.

WBH is on spring break, and we're keeping busy. Back next week.

Is spring popping up in your neck of the woods? Around here, it still feels like November to me. I'm hoping it will ease up on the rain soon so we can plant our garden. I'm craving fresh spinach and snap peas.

Sad Valentine's Day

photo by my sister-in-law @ her blog- hope you don't mind that I stole it!

... and by sad, I don't mean Singles' Awareness Day. We dropped Valentines like the one above off at Stinky's preschool V-day party, then we drove him in for x-rays.

Sadly, he broke his right collarbonethe night before while playing with his dad. We'd delivered valentines to several friends, and were enjoying dinner with Tealah, her roommates and friends. They have a Love Sac at their house that Stinky, well, loves. He will run and jump and be dropped or pushed into it until he collapses. Unfortunately, the last time it happened, he missed and landed on his shoulder.

So he's in a sling for three weeks now, and will have to learn to function left-handed for the most part. I stocked up on foods he can eat easily with one hand, and to be honest, he's being spoiled a little right now. The lesson? Party with college girls, you're only going to get hurt- even when you're four.

The Tree: Part One

Cookie Friday is on holiday (get it?) until after Christmas. Look for her triumphant return January 11. The baking mojo took off with her and forcing the baking means it's no fun and doesn't taste as good.


We are luck to have a tree farm just 20 minutes from us that's well priced, friendly and really fun. Not only that ,but we get to drive past beautiful buddhist and hindu temples on the way there. We've gone there for 3 years and it seems like every time we go, we find THE tree almost as soon as we walk in. Then, Stinky helps WBH chop it, or holds a branch. Same thing.


And he is a big help when it comes to lugging it to the shake-out-the-needles-and-bugs machine.

The tree farm has a "trees baled $2, children baled free" sign. Don't advertise it if you don't mean it, folks, because this family will take you up on your offer to wrap our firstborn up in a candy cane colored net.

Last year we asked him if he wanted to, and he shrieked in horror at the very suggestion. This year, he was excited for it. The kid who roughs up the trees to get them through the baler, said that this was his first kid though, and that it made his day.

Of course we wouldn't really do this, but I kind of think he'd really enjoy the ride

Oh yeah, we were there, too, and Rotten was a little cold. Like his "I hate you guys so bad" face?

For Part Two, come on back Monday.

2010 advent activities

It suddenly hit me today: December is tomorrow. Time flies when you're not sleeping, right? I put up the advent calendar yesterday, and planned out all our activities. Here's what this year holds for us

W-1 Put up Christmas decorations
TH-2 Read Christmas books
F-3 Watch Nightmare Before Christmas
S-4 Rae's birthday, get tree and decorate it
SU-5 Attend a Nativity/Music event at Church
M-6 Set up our Nativity while reading the Christmas Story
T-7 Make Ornaments
W-8 Watch "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown"
TH-9 Make Snowflakes
F-10 Make House cookies
S-11 Watch Polar Express
SU-12 Drive around and look at lights – award the best looking lights with a plate of cookies
M-13 Make soap snowmen

T-14 Aidan’s special day at preschool
W-15 Make cookies for fire station/library/secretaries
TH-16 Deliver Treats to WBH's work for secretaries
F-17 Preschool Christmas Party
S-18 Church Party or Family movie night
SU-19 Make cards to send preschool friends in the mail

M-20 brother present shopping (taking kiddos to the dollar store to let them 'choose' gifts)

T-21 Make and deliver treats to the firestation and library
W-22 Stinky's Birthday
TH-23 Make bird feeders and read The Animal's Christmas Carol.
F-24 Christmas Eve Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Pumpkin Patch Kids

I love fall. I love cooking in fall, the warm, hearty food after being outside in the cold. I love the colors, and the transition nature makes. I love the smell of spices and leaves. I love the way that fall begins the time of year that is full of traditions.

One of our traditions in the trek out to the pumpkin patch. We've gone to the same one for four years, now, and each year it's more fun. Stinky loves running through the muddy patches (with our sunny October, there was much less of that than the year we took the picture for the header). We told him this year he could choose his own- but he had to be able to pick it up and carry it to the wheelbarrow by himself.

My parents got some free pumpkins as part of the CSA at this farm, so we went with them. WBH will be carving one for them this weekend. Check out his past work here. He's got some big ideas for this year's pumpkin.

Yeah, I love fall.

Summer Joy no. 24

Summer Joy no. 24

a good story to tell... later.
(a big happy birthday to Bubba!)

Summer Joy no. 20

Summer Joy no. 20

One more trip to the fountain, with my brother and sisters this time.

Summer Joy no. 13

Summer Joy no. 13

getting to the zoo as it opened and feeling like the only ones there.
kind of a cool story: WBH and I went on one of our first dates to see the mama tiger when she was a cub at another zoo. Now she lives at the zoo near us and just had two cubs, who we took Stinky to see.

Summer Joy no. 9

Summer Joy no. 9

warming up on Grandma's lap after 'accidentally' falling into the water

Summer Joy no. 7

Summer Joy no. 7

running in the Seattle Center fountain

Summer Joy no. 4

summer joy no. 4

discovering a dinosaur-themed mcdonald's...

... and trying to leave Stinky with the t-rex.

Friday Favorites: Delayed

Friday Favorites will return next week, as this weekend has gotten a little busy- I'll be back with my favorite,WBH this weekend, cheering on the Sounders, but this weekend we get to take Stinky and Littlest Sister, e. Stinky's first professional sports event- wish us luck!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Stinky, Son of the Beach

Our trip to the beach house this year was wonderful. We managed to avoid all the weather we'd been warned about on the news in the days before, which left plenty of opportunities for exploring.
In spite of the toys, tricycle, movies, and games we packed in the event that the weather turned on us, all Stinky really wanted to do was to explore the beach. Throwing rocks, drawing with driftwood in the sand, and finding crabs were first on his agenda. "He's a son of a beach," his uncle declared.

Stinky, WBH, and I shared a makeshift bed from two twin beds pushed together. It was cozy, and a little lumpy, but we made it work.

WBH arranged a treasure hunt for the Stinkster one morning, complete with map and poem. 'X' marks the spot. Note the stick in his hand- this is a "Gandalf" stick. You climb on top of rocks and shout "YOU SHALL NOT PASS" in the lowest voice possible for your three years. Just so you know.

RedBeard the pirate seemed to know just what Stinky would like.

It was a great time to get away. Our family saw a mated pair of bald eagles and their nest and a pair of juvenile bald eagles not far from there, a lagoon full of blue herons, and the obliging deer (with their babies!) that always take their dinner on the field surrounding the house. The rain we had hoped to avoid completely provided stunning rainbows over the water, but cleared up right away.

We know that it won't be long before we have to rent a second space as our extended family grows, but we managed pretty comfortably again. So long, beach house. We'll echo through your halls again next year.

Saturday at the Seattle Center

Since we were meeting a friend in Seattle later that day, we decided to make a day of it, and visted the Seattle Center. Stinky still recognizes the "mountain that sprays water!" but I'm hoping he'll have gotten over the torture of last year enough to try it again when the weather warms.

I love the Science Center, and when my parents included us in their membership last year, we were really excited. Stinky's favorites are the mechanical dinosaurs and the water play area. I'm a big fan of the warm, fragrant butterfly room. I could sit there for days, I think.

In the Mars exhibit, Stinky got to build a rocket with WBH. It's serious business, as you can see.

On our way out, we saw some police horses, and Stinky was excited to greet them. This one shares a name with Middle Sister's boyfriend. Good thing we got a picture of this end, or the resemblance might have been too much (kidding, of course, he's a great guy). Just past the police horses, a protest rally was in full swing. Stinky recognized that they were yelling in Spanish and started yelling back, "GRACIAS! GRACIAS!"

Oh, and if you see me in person, ask and I'll share the story of how I managed to electronically "flash" a crowd at the Science Center without removing a single item of clothing. It's a beauty.