Salt Water Cure

"The cure for anything is salt water- sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dineson

We'd alread had more than enough of the first two for the day. So I threw the boys on the car, even if to hear the screams echo off any surface other than our home.

Rotten first started noticing animals at the zoo maybe a month or two ago. Recently, he's started showing a preference for ducks. The pond at Pt. Defiance Park has a good-sized flock, and he will just stare at them, then clap excitedly, and (see above) try to catch them from his stroller. His first birthday will be duck-themed.

Stinky, going against his nature, wanted to sit very still "so the ducks will be by me" and it worked! A few minutes later, a female mallard came and sat in the sunny patch to the left of him in the picture. We've been reading Make Way for Ducklings so he decided she was Mrs. Mallard.

Next, we drove to Owen Beach, where Rotten and I disagreed about the edibility of pebbles for most of our time there. Eventually, I got him to clap when I'd make one splash in the water.

Stinky spent most of his time working on a raft consisting of three pieces of driftwood. He managed to balance himself on it, but it sank every time. Our troubles were cured, at least temporarily, because they were hungry and sleepy when we got home, and I got some peace, at least until dinner time.

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations........

Can I bring the stuff Saturday to the baby shower for you? Everyone else, thank you for commenting and talking me up on Facebook- you're awesome. Now go get a free slurpee!

Evil Stinky would approve.... crazy kid.

4 years later

Stinky, summer 2007

Stinky, summer 2011

Same hair in the middle,

Same enviable lashes,

Same drool running down the face.

Same Sweet Stinky.

The Way to His Heart...

The old addage goes "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Stinky is starting to show me how true this is. At the library on a 'mom date,' he started handing me cookbook after cookbook as we browsed "because there's things to try."

The other day, he said "Remember when you made the macaroni and cheese with the real cheese, the tuna sandwiches with hot cheese and apple slices on the side? Yeah, that was really great of you."

I brought him dessert the other night (vanilla pound cake from a mix, strawberries and vanilla yogurt), and he sighed contentedly, saying "You are such. a good. mom."

May he always be this easy for me to win over. Food I can handle.

I Made it Monday: Father's Day Ties

We've started a new tradition for Father's Day. I took Stinky to choose fabric for a new tie for WBH. Stinky chose the brightest dinosaur fabric he could find, explaining "because my daddy's favorite color is blue, and he teaches me about dinosaurs." I got enough fabric to create matching ones for both of the boys, too. I think they were the best looking guys at church.

I used the Little Boy's Tie and Father's Day Tie, both at PurlBee for Stinky and WBH's, and I just sort of winged Rotten's. It was probably 4 hours of work but totally worth it, and a sewing machine is only necessary for a very small part of it. If you try it out, let me know, I'd love to see them!

shared at 733, Raising Memories

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!

the trip I did not take- and why this one is so much better

You are the trip I did not take.

You are the pearls I cannot buy.

You are my blue Italian lake.

You are my piece of foreign sky.

-Anne Campbell

Recently, WBH and I found ourselves a little wistful for the times before kids, before giant dog, before mortgage, when we could say "Hey, we've got some spare cash and nothing to do this weekend. Let's go!" Not that we would trade them for the world, mind you, but it was nice when we could. I don't think we appreciated that time enough, and how many options we had. Choosing parenthood very abruptly limits your options, it's true, but it also throws open a door to so many new experiences.

Stinky has learned to climb a tree. Having seen older relatives doing so, he decided he wanted to try, and once he was in it without my support, he loudly declared "I did it! I climbed a tree" His feet were maybe two feet above ground, but he might as well have been flying, as proud as he was. Rotten is now crawling at full speed. He watches for the forbidden things (an open door to the back room, cords, dropped food) to appear, then takes off as fast as he can, looking over his shoulder to see if we're coming, giggling hysterically and picking up speed when he sees that we are. Oh, and he climbs, too, which is terrifying.

These experiences that might have seemed mundane before my children experienced them, are nothing short of miraculous now. It's like Dorothy opening the door of her Kansas home into Tecnicolor Munchkinland. Parenting my boys is, without a doubt, a trip to a new world. So, while I love Ms. Campbell's poem, I'd like to add a few new stanzas:

You are the nights we cannot sleep,

The showers we can't take alone.

You are the laundry piled so deep,

The noise that makes this home.

You are the trip we did not take

So we could take one better.

What good is some Italian lake

If we're not there together?

This Month in Pictures

I am working on that old blog post, the one where I talk about how much I love my children. Today, however one of them is full of bad choices and the other is teething big time. How about we just look at some nice pictures instead? Here are some of my favorites from this month:

I got to enjoy my first Mother's Day Tea. It made me a little weepy to think that I get to do that now, and that my boy is old enough to have them with me. Stinky's teacher did a lovely job with it.

The weather warmed up enough to enjoy the beach and Rotten developped a love for swings.

We got a free date night, tickets courtesy Tealah and thanks to my little sister who watched the boys. In fact, we have dates planned for the next two weekends. Crazy.

We spent time with family before Middle Sister left for her mission, including a trip to the zoo.

Stinky learned about car maintenance with his dad.

Today was Stinky's last day of preschool for the year. It was a little sad- some friends from the last two years won't be back next year, though we hope to see them at the play time at our house this summer. It's also a reminder that he's only got one more preschool year left before he's off to Kindergarten. Wow. I'll think about that tomorrow.

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.

Gardening With Your Kids Without Losing Your Mind

Unemployment is capitalism's way of getting you to plant a garden. -Orson Scott Card

Well, it's not that bad. In fact, we know that WBH's teaching job is secure for another year, but I think the truth holds just as well if you substitute "a lousy economy." We had an absolutely glorious day this weekend, and we took advantage of it- yes, a little late in the season. We're experimenting in square foot gardening this year, and I planted the first seeds.

This is the third year Stinky has helped with our garden. I really believe in involving kids with a garden for several reasons:

• You can get kids to try eating what they've helped grow. Last summer, Stinky would grab snap peas right off the vine and eat them while he played.




• Children gain a sense of accomplishment and contribution to the family from working together.




• You're teaching math and science concepts without really having to try.




• Kids become connected to their food, seeing it in it's whole, fresh form and learn to value that.

Here's what works for us:

• Know ahead what you'll have your child do: Stinky got to help push in the stakes on the outside of the garden, cut the yarn, push in the seeds where I poked holes in the soil.




• Remember that it will take two to three times as long with your helper.




• Let them help shop for seeds and help plan, as they are able: Our rule is that he has to try eating whatever he wants us to buy.




• Small children are usually happy to dig or rake next to you if they're not ready to follow directions (we ended up with more spinach than we could eat due to eager hands tossing seeds by the fistful).




• Plan other projects around it. We made markers for our squares from Popsicle sticks. You could paint rocks, draw pictures- just makes sure it's waterproof.




• To keep costs down, if you're local, we used TAGRO's you-shovel pile. Stinky got to help with that, too.

I'm excited to see how our garden comes in using the square-foot technique, and excited to add our other plants later on. The coldest spring in over a hundred years has kept us inside for so long. It felt great to be in the sun and working.

He's pretending to eat a carrot here, by the way. Thanks for reading this epic post today! Happy Monday!

Parenting 505

Earlier this month, our church held it's semi-annual general conference. Twice yearly, the leaders of our church broadcast messages via sattelite- for us this means that we gather at my parents for pancakes, gummi bear conference bingo, and we get to enjoy church in our jammies. There's usually one or two talks the feel like they're aimed directly at me. I know that for many other moms, this year that talk was the one that referenced "Parenting 505." In this talk, Lynn G. Robbins said:

"A sweet and obedient child will enroll a father or mother only in Parenting 101. If you are blessed with a child who tests your patience to the nth degree, you will be enrolled in Parenting 505. Rather than wonder what you might have done wrong in the premortal life to be so deserving, you might consider the more challenging child a blessing and opportunity to become more godlike yourself. With which child will your patience, long-suffering, and other Christlike virtues most likely be tested, developed, and refined? Could it be possible that you need this child as much as this child needs you? "

This talk has been on my mind frequently since it was given. Stinky has been a Parenting 505 kid this year in particular. Then I think about it more, and I don't know a single parent who doesn't feel like they're muddling their way through 505, even those whose children are adults now.

Most days, I feel so blessed that I get to be a mother, and specifically, Stinky and Rotten's mother. I watch our family and other families, see how their dynamics work, and I think about how they work with the personalities their children came with, and how each child seems to be so perfectly placed within their families- I don't know how anyone can fail to see a Divine Hand in that.

When I think about the way that my boys have shaped me- like putting a rock through a tumbler, polishing me by rolling me around in a mess of sometimes abrasive circumstances- I know that they were meant to be our children, and WBH and I meant to be their parents. I reject the idea that our family is mere coincidence. The gravity of knowing that makes the responsibility that much more fantastic and real to me.

How Freddie Mercury Answered My Prayer

Yesterday I sat in the mother's lounge at church, half-listening as they piped in the speakers from the chapel. My mind wandered to the events of this last week- my grumpiness and frustrations with the boys and myself. I thought about what it was I needed to change this week, and prayed I'd get the answers, the opportunity, and the motivation I needed.

This morning, I woke before Stinky- got dressed, put on music, had his breakfast on the table and ready to go. He woke and came downstairs. As is his nature, he couldn't hold still once he heard music. I scooped him up and we danced in the kitchen. The words stood out to me, and as many songs often do, took on a greater meaning when heard as a mother. In the Queen song, I found my job description as mother to my boys.

Whenever this world is cruel to me

I got you, to help me forgive

Oh, you're the first one

When things turn out bad

You know I'll never be lonely

I'm happy (happy at home)

You're my best friend

So we danced the song out. He sat to eat, and I kept moving with my morning tasks, but it stuck in my mind. It is my job to teach him, to discipline him, to prepare him - but it's also my job to protect him, to be a safe place he can come to. It's funny, the places the answers to our prayers come from, isn't it?

I hope your week is off to the same great start mine is. The sun is shining, and we're going to prepare eggs for mailing today. Happy Monday!

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.

"How do they do that?"

We're turning off cable and switching to a netflix/hulu combination. Subsequently, this boy has developped a love for prehistoric documentaries by national geographic. He'll request them over cartoons, which does this mama's heart so good.

Until we have to answer the question:

"Hey, guys? What's fertilization? How do they do that? What does the daddy dinosaur give the mommy dinosaur?"

Then we're in real trouble.

Lucky

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend

Lucky to have been where I have been

Lucky to be coming home again

I'm lucky we're in love every way

Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed

Lucky to be coming home someday

Dear Stinky

Dear Stinky,

Today you experienced death for the first time. As we knew would happen, one of your fish went belly-up. It was so tempting to wait until you were distracted and scoop him out before you noticed. We could have avoided the tears, the fishy funeral, the sadness in learning about this part of life.

But we can't do that. It's part of life, and part of why pets are important. So I told you that Mickey was dead, and you cried. You cried when I told you, and you cried as you said "Good-bye. Thanks for being a good fish. I'll miss you so much." Then you ran away and I gave him a burial at sea, because you didn't want to bury him in the flowers you and your dad planted together. Then we talked and you cried some more and I cried a little too, because some parts of life are ugly and hard and I can't keep thm away from you forever.

I can soften them, though, with a big glass of chocolate milk and snuggles, and I can teach you about what we believe about life after death. I can wipe away tears, yours and mine, and be there for you when you feel this sad. That has to be enough, even though it doesn't feel like it is, but I love you, and I'll always be there, with a hug and a big glass of chocolate milk.

Love,

Mom.

"and I'll get better and better."

after catching the garter at a wedding.

Stinky: "Mom, I made a butterfly. It's a baby butterfly who can't fly because he's so little. But he keeps trying, and trying, and he'll get better. And he has a mommy named what Daddy calls you: Rachael."

Me: "Are you my butterfly who can't fly yet, but keeps trying and trying?"

Stinky: "Yeah. And I'll get better and better."

I'll remember that.

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.

Winter Joy no. 13

"A special lunch? For me?"