The boy and I

Today we met Grandma Honey in Ferndale and Natalie went home with her to spend the night. So B and I went downtown and hung out for nearly 2 hours (not enough time for B) at the Railway Museum. It's a boys paradise, and it's a fairly quiet way to spend an afternoon. He's been itching to go, so today was the perfect opportunity (Natalie's interest wanes pretty quickly there).
It was nice to spend the day with just B, I had a photo of him at the museum, but just now realized I don't know where my camera is (probably in the mobile garbage dump I call a car). When I find it, I'll post the photo.
C and E came over and ate Costco pizza and E and I drank a bottle of delicious wine, then decided to spend the evening searching amusing YouTube videos. The boys watched Madagascar in between gun fights and karate chops.

Tall Ships

Jen called me just as I was leaving work (a 2 hour meeting with my children, you can imagine how fun and productive it was) and invited us to join her, Amelia and Aiden down at Zuanich park to tour the Tall Ships.
There were two ships that had docked in the marina, and they were staffed with real live pirates! The kids had a great time exploring, though I think they would have liked to have been more "hands on" instead of "look but don't touch".
Jen and I deserved a beer afterwards (walking a very long pier in the marina with 4 children is a little stressful, especially when one keeps breaking away to peer over the side, inviting the others to follow suit).
Since the Web Locker was closed (at 5pm. during the summer. duh.), we went to Applebees, where we snarfed down our dinner and Corona's.
Finished the day up with chasing our neighbors-sons-pit bull out of our yard (again) and scooping dog poop. Jealous, aren't ya?

Real life

Brady signing his name to one of his caterpillar circles at the library.

My daughter was drawing people and dogs. I'd never seen her create actual decipherable drawings before, I was a little dumbstruck. I wanted to keep one, but decided no.

Today we had a day that I felt would be like what "real" people live. The ones whose husbands come home at dinner time, instead of leaving at lunchtime like Larry does.

He had a rare morning (8-5:30) shift today, so the kids and I had a leisurely morning, then grabbed the umbrellas (yes, on July 29th) and caught the bus downtown. We had lunch and then went to the library to turn in their reading club cards (they earned a pass to the children's museum and a mini pizza from Fairhaven pizza), and loaded the backpack up with some new reads. (oh, and we went to Great Harvest Bread. If you bring in a picture of your kid with their dog, they'll give you a whole loaf of honey wheat bread! yummy. Say cheese, kids!)

Larry came home and we had dinner (gasp!), then we treated the kids to an evening swim before bringing them home and putting them to bed. Actually, Larry is reading Flat Stanley (a new library book) right now, and I'll go down in a few minutes and snuggle them in.

It made me think that this is how most people get to live. Today sure was much easier, and much more structured than other days. I'd like to have a real life. But I am also grateful that Larry has a stable, well paying job for a good company and that I have no fears that he could become unemployed tomorrow. It's safe. I like safe. But I like sane, too. Guess I can't have both!

(p.s. this is stupid, but I just ran the spell check feature, and see that word decipherable up there on Natalie's photo? I spelled it right! I'm pretty impressed with myself right now. Ah, the simple joys.)

no pics no bloggin

I've found that if I don't take a picture that day, I don't find myself very inspired to blog. Like today. I tried to take a picture of Natalie playing hide and seek behind a charlie-brown tree today, but she ran off just as I snapped it.
And I tried to pull a paparazzi move and take a photo of this lady who had her pants hiked up to her armpits down on Sunset, but my shutter speed wasn't fast enough to catch her as we drove by. But trust me, she was something else. She also had a fanny pack. And it was cinched up under her boobs. And her pants were hiked up so high that they were like clam-diggers (one step higher than capris).
So no pictures.
But today the boys rode the bike and tagalong from our house down to Boulevard park, and then we had chichitti's pizza for dinner (disappointing this time), and then mom and I had our last swing dance class. But I talked it over with her and she said she would watch the kids so that I can kickbox with Brooke this fall. I'm in, Brooke!
Oh, and I "won" the trip to go ride in 2 race cars in August at SIR. Tracy and I are goin'. Larry would rather go to the Senior PGA tournament that same weekend. I'm relieved that I don't have to go with him this year. Golf is boring even live, let alone on TV. Oh, and it's not the Senior tour anymore, it's the Champions tour. Totally PC, right?

Beer:30

Let's go fly a kite, up where the wind is right (name the movie?)
Now I understand why I call my children "wild animals". It's genetic. Alright, now he's just showing off.
What goes up, must come down!

I am wrapping up today with a nice Blue Moon Belgian white wheat ale. Pretty tasty. We had a Winnie the Pooh kind of day here, very blustery.
We tried to go to Boulevard park to fly kites, but there was some hippie fest going on, so we went to Marine park. We got some flying done, and threw some rocks too. Then we headed into Fairhaven to have a early dinner (at the fish-n-chips bus. I'd never been there. Not too shabby!) Then we took our ice cream cones down to the village green and listened (and danced) to Yambique. They are a Salsa/Latin band. So I busted out my new moves with the kids (Lar kept his hiney parked on the bench). quick-quick-slow, quick-quick-slow.
Larry went to play poker tonight with the boys, but just walked back in the door; I guess he got his ass handed to him tonight. He usually plays until the wee hours of the morning, tonight he was home by 8:00. You got to know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run. OK,OK, I'll continue, don't beg! You never count your money, when you're sittin' at the table. There'll be time enough for countin', when the dealin's done.
I had the Urban Chipmunk record when I was a kid. You don't know good music until you've heard Alvin sing The Gambler.

off my game

I don't know what is with this week, but it has sucked. I'm walking around looking like I've smelled something rancid. I'm a total sourpuss.

I'll come around again, but it's hard to blog when you're pissy.
I did get chosen to participate in a Starbucks survey and entered to win $1000. That would be cool.

Oh, and I got selected to RSVP for a day of racing with the Marlboro team, I have to try and get in tomorrow morning (no, I don't smoke, it's a long story involving contests and my smoker friend Tracy).

And here are a couple of photos of our week:

Christian claims that someday he's going to marry Brady (not Natalie as his mom and I have "arranged").

These two are so close, they look conjoined! Natalie. Got to lick the salt from the bag.
These two each won a cupcake at the Family Fun day (Brady and I were locked in a battle over eating 5 bites of a plain hot dog. I won. But it took me 20 minutes.)

Natalie calling out the pinata "You're goin down!" (see the Darth Vader pinata?) Brady's first whack (we went to his classmate Nathan's birthday today).
Brady emerged from the backyard looking like this. I had a little fun on picnik with it.

Natalie on our "piglet" ( can't really call that thing a "hog" now can I?) Please excuse the white trash mess in front of our garage. It's how we roll.

Could he be?

Brady has a serious Indiana Jones addiction. He has improvised his costume by using his "bad bart" cowboy hat that Grandma Sue got him for his birthday, and he stole his climbing gear bag for his satchel.

Then the other day, Grandma Honey was over and she commented on how she thinks Brady looks like "that guy that married that actress". Oh yeah, him. Luckily she remembered his name and now we have to do the comparison.

I wouldn't frown if Brady turned out a little like Kenny... but I don't see Kenny crackin' whips or using a machete.

Family Fun Night

Natalie fell in love with the 3 calves. I think they were a little overwhelmed, they all fell asleep.

Brady harnessed up to ride the impromptu zip line that the search and rescue team put together. (I'm hoping to swipe a couple of the good photos from Erin...)

Last night (Tue) the kids and I headed over to the Baptist church to attend their family fun night. Those baptists can do it up right! They had a search and rescue team, 2 aid cars, a bouncy house and slide, lots of carnival games, hot dogs and popcorn, and to top off the evening, The Reptile Man made an appearance. The boys sat in the front row and really enjoyed the show. Natalie hung back with Erin and I (we met up with her and C, then we ran into Beka and her family, my neighbors who are members of the church, and 2 former co-workers of Erin and mine).

I didn't think I'd be celebrating my anniversary this way, and I thought I would be dining on something other than a hot dog and a cup of watered down tang, but hey, that's the price I pay so that I may stay home with the kids right?

Mom generously watched my kids tonight so that I could play Bunco (she works from 5:30-5:00 every day!) and I SO APPRECIATE it. I needed that little rejuvenation with my girlfriends. Although I would have loved to bring my mom instead of leaving her here. Once again, I just donated to the cause, I had 10 losses, 8 wins, 1 Bunco and 6 travels. Not close to winning a damn thing. Middle of the road, that's me.

Spirited child

It's a bigger problem than it used to be apparently. I picked up my copy the other day, and it's almost twice the thickness than my borrowed copy! And it's not exactly light reading!

8 years ago today

We planned our wedding for over a year (mulling over almanacs to find the historically nicest weekend of the year), only to experience one of most fantastic thunder and lightning storms. Things cleared up about an hour before the ceremony, but it was too wet to wed outdoors.

Larry and I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful day, our friends and family surrounding us and danced the night away (OK, Larry and I took off early while our guests partied all night).

Marriage is by far the most challenging journey I've taken (yes, more than children), but the reward has been worth the bumps along the way. I love ya, Lar!

Someone's got a case of the Mondays!

Not really, but it's Monday and I have a migraine. I had to work all day (gasp!) and I was talking to the doctor (the one I work for) about Migraine triggers and how some people get auras and other things just before the onset of a headache (many forms of headaches are vision related).
Then at about 4 o'clock I was on the computer doing something, and part of the screen disappeared. At about 4:15, my migraine kicked in. Almost made it to closing time!
Got home and realized that I left my cell phone (my only line of communication besides email) on the charger at work. Shit. So I took the kids back to work, let them eat at Morries for dinner, and crashed at Erin's house for a few to let the kids burn off the grease they just consumed.

On a fun note though, I went to B&N and bought my very own copy of Raising Your Spirited Child (I've had a friends copy for about 6 months and have only gotten 1/3 through it). It has helped me gain some perspective on Brady (and Larry and myself too). I would just like to see a few more solutions for discipline, communication, diversion, etc.

Of course we got lost in the children's section and I walked out of there with:

• Miss Nelson is Missing! (on of my fav. classics)
• Adventures of The Magic School Bus (was for a birthday gift, but got confiscated by my kids)
• Franklin Rides a Bike (to encourage Brady to ditch the training wheels)
• Sammy: The classroom Guinea Pig (for Natalie, but really for me. I heart guinea pigs)
• The Best of Wee Sing (CD) I also love Wee Sing songs. Sue me, I love to sing old campfire tunes.
• The Barenaked Ladies new children's CD, Snack Time (So far, awesome. Love those cheese-heads)

Sunshiney Sunday

Did you know my daughter has two left feet? I used to wear different colored Chuck Taylors, but this is a little ridiculous.
Brady full of testosterone (whenever he gets a surge, his hand goes on his hip).

There was this cool teal anemone in one of the tide pools (I did not photoshop this photo). Larry climbed to the top of this limestone rock face. Rock climbing isn't as much fun for the belay'er.


We headed down to Larrabee State Park (fun fact: Washington's first state park) to explore the tide pools and rock climb. It was so nice out today, glad we got to enjoy it.

Barkley Days

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We met Jen and her kids at Barkley Village today to check out "Barkley Days". eh. There were about 10 vendors, mostly just insurance and chiropractors. They did have a BBQ to benefit Boys and Girls Club, but at 12:45 they still weren't serving.


We did enjoy the music of the Motown Cruisers. Apparently this bunch of Cougars enjoyed them too. They sat in the front row (I think they came to see these guys). I decided I had to take their picture when the one in the middle started making groping guestures to the lead singer during a chorus.
After lunch we headed back down to Jen's home where the kids played in the back yard while she and I enjoyed a couple of Corona's. It was a very nice afternoon.

Seattle

Brady discovering his power to create a vortex (Indy Jones can do anything!)

Natalie making "snakes and balls". With brown clay. Snakes and balls alright...

Natalie pretending to be a chipmunk poking out of a log (I cringe at the sight of her with that costume on her head. I'm having flashbacks of her lice incident. I checked her last night. Clear.) Natalie is sitting in Papa Bears chair (too big). They had a storybook section that had The Three Bears chairs; Frog and Toad's home, and Arthur's front door.
Brady chose this snake (I didn't know how big it was until he had already fingered it) and a tarantula at the candy shop. Aren't those common characters in Indiana Jones movies???

I couldn't just expect my kids to drive to Seatac in their jammies (we had to wake them to leave), so after we said our goodbyes to everyone we headed back north only to sit in traffic entering Seattle (at 11 am). I was going to try to get further north before stopping, but the kids had been sitting since 7:30 that morning and were a little antsy. We exited and I parked at the Northlake Mall downtown.
I treated the kids to a monorail ride and we arrived at the Seattle Center. Brady and Natalie voted for the children's museum over the science center (bummer for me). So we headed downstairs and it cost me $22.00 to get in. I about fell down. They charged ME $7.25 (isn't that a movie nowadays?!) This whole concept of charging adults to go to the children's museums pisses me off. Like I'm going to go by myself some days? And it makes me more inclined to come with less adults to save money, resulting in more children being under-supervised (but of course not under my watchful eye. heh-heh)

The kids lasted almost 2 hours (oh, and 2 exhibits were under construction, so we paid full price for 10% less activities). We headed out and took the monorail back to the mall. I couldn't afford to pay for more parking so that we could have lunch downtown, so I bribed the kids with a couple of treats from the candy shop, and we headed out of Seattle.

We lunched at Red Robin and by the time we got to Marysville my eyelids were drooping, but miraculously my children had plenty of energy (can anyone say candy shop?), but they let me close my eyes for 20 minutes at the rest stop, then they decided to nap about 10 miles up the freeway after my nap (couldn't have done it with me, huh?)

Gassed up in Burlington and saved 6 cents per gallon from Bellingham prices (it was only $4.19 there! But somehow I'm still not relieved by this).

Made it home and went Salsa dancing with mom.

I'm pooped.

Leavin' on a jet plane

We're off to Seattle to take Rach and Corinna home. It has been a wonderful visit all around, and I already can't wait for the next time they come.

Whidbey

We headed to Whidbey Island yesterday, and I have so many terrific pictures to share, but I don't have the time to post them all now, I'll have to do a roundup at the end of the week (I'm up early to go to work, and no I've found myself on the computer for 30 minutes).

All I can say is that is was a long day, but a terrific day. Every stop we made was wonderful in some way.

Family Reunion

My good friend Rachel (from middle school) came out to visit with her daughter and they are staying with us for the week.
I haven't seen them in years, resulting in lots of late-night talking. Her daughter Corinna is 14, so I have basically lost my computer to her for the week. So please forgive my lack of posting this week, but I have been waiting so long to catch up with these two.
We're off to Whidbey today to see Rach's ailing dad, and then we'll drive off the south end and take the ferry over to have dinner with my brother Richard (Rach and I refer to him as little Dicky. The big sister won't die in us.)


Here's a quick rundown of our visit so far:
Sunday: met up with a couple other high school classmates on Lake Samish and picnicked and caught up with each others lives.

Brady maxin and relaxin on the lake.
Natalie desperately tried to make friends with Taylor, but Taylor only had eyes for Corinna. :(

Monday: We had a girls day and headed to the mall, bought Cinnabons, and then I drug them over to Treasury to pick up a couple of items. It was so hard to make a "quick trip" in that store!

Larry busted out his prized hand-crank ice cream maker to delight our guests (and me).


Corinna nabbed my camera and does what all 14 year olds do, take hundreds of self-portraits. I smell a mini-book for Rachel to come with all of the photos of Corinna I have now!
Rach and Corinna chopping veggies for our salad.
Corinna caught me up in her portrait craze. It was fun to be silly & giggle like a teenager again!

Today: Heading down the island for the afternoon and then over to Everett and back home.

What my children drive people to do.

Self-portrait at 12,000 feet. Perfect composition (she even squeaked out a single tear!)

My sister from another mister, Tracy, has volunteered to watch my children Friday evenings for the next month so that mom and I can go Salsa dancing (we do Swing on Mondays).

So what does Tracy decide to do the day before she is scheduled to watch my children? Skydive! I mean I can't blame her for trying to end her life, but she could have just said no to me.

I'm really proud of her for following though with the experience, but as she described it to me it just made me that much more certain that I will NEVER jump out of an airplane. Ever. Never ever. Never.

But I'm happy for her (and happy she made it down in one piece). She did watch my children Friday night, and the Salsa instructor kicked our butts (apparently Aerobics 101 is a prerequisite).