snapshots

ten on ten

 

 

:: Happy Wother's Day :: gifts for camping :: a birthday gift for a special little girl :: sweet Dylan's dedication at church ::  DELICIOUS (it's true) :: family :: end-of-the-day FARKEL game :: a perfect day ::

For more Ten on Ten, (but with better quality photographs!), go here.

Good moms...

leave out trays full of interesting things for their little offspring to cut.

(Good for fine motor skills, you know).

And Keston is totally into cutting, (mostly her hair), so I thought I should just go with her natural bent. The homeschooling book I was reading the night before suggested that theory too. I was on the right track.

Happily going along. What a sweet little girl.

Or not.

Really not.

  
Well, that's ok. I can still hide it with a hair clip.

 
Or not.

And that concludes my attempts at being a good mom.

One day it will all pay off, and I'll walk into her shop and request free highlights.

Tale of a sunny October day.

Yesterday Keston and I enjoyed our traditional autumn leaf-collecting hike. Aren't we cute hikers?

 

 

   

In my fridge:

yogurt, milk, pesto, leftovers, cheese, hummus, eggs, bread, green marker. I don't know either. I left it there.

Mom Spa

 

Services Offered (and highly suggested): 

candle lit baths :: scrubbing of little toes :: teeth brushing :: nail clipping :: manicures :: pedicures :: hair trims :: hair washing :: hair styling :: facials :: lotion application :: q-tip services :: mustache shaving (he is eight now) :: and the all-important cleaning behind the ears.

Three fresh kids. Awesome.

she sells seashells

 

 
Seashore themes continue around here, happily. For more muffin tin lunches, check here.

Details.

Handsome 3rd grader, huh? He had an excellent first day, in those Tony Hawk shoes. (These are the important details of being a third grade boy.) I walked him into class, took some photos, kissed him good-bye when no one was looking.

And today, only Day Two, and I dropped the child off in the drive thru lane, wearing my pajamas. But I did put on lip gloss in the rearview mirror, so I think it was ok. And since he left his lunch in the fridge, I will have another shot today at arriving showered and dressed.  Fabulous.  

she totally gets me

At 10pm, when she should be in bed, but is in my lap instead:

Me: "I just want to squeeze the guts out of you."

Her: "I love you too, mama."

currency of a three year old

"Mama, I'll give you two shells for some of that candy."

*I plan to sit back and collect them, for as long as she is offering. My sweet little Ruby girl. 

i've been calling her booty-licious

I don't think she really likes it. She didn't like it when I sang "these boots are made for walking" either. Teenagers.

She seems to be making a habit of breaking bones lately.  Poor clumsy girl. :)

that's my girl

...practicing her "mom"s and mermaids on the sidewalk.

muffin tin monday: alfresco

(Contents: raisins, blue corn chips, kissables, string beans from the garden, green flax seed chips, celery from the garden, bread with mustard (to make a sandwich), hard boiled egg, oranges, cheddar, turkey slices, strawberry).

I used to love doing this many years ago for Mady and a little boy I nannied for. I was so happy to be reminded of it! (Remember how I said I was sort of a slacker mom these days?) I am sure I read it in an early childhood development book or something like that. Offering your child lots of things to nibble on, in hopes that they might like to try something new because of the sheer novelty of it. We like it alfresco.

Today's challenge was rainbow themed. I will say, last Monday they ate all of their food, this week, not as much. Who am I kidding? There was no chance they were going to eat raw celery or string beans. Oh well. Here's what they had last week...

 

To see a whole unruly gang of muffin tin moms, go here.

the first time around I was sooooo creative...

When I had Mady at age 23, I couldn't wait to try every possible activity, and art experience with her. Her development was my utmost concern. I made sure she had an abundance of manipulatives and sensory materials, and exercised her fine and gross motor skills. I read all the books about development that I could get my hands on. Each and every day, there was a new project that we did together. We went to the children's hands-on museum every Friday. And story time at the library every week too. We knew every crevice of each local park. We worked hard to grow her collection of books, and at three, she was reading. By four, writing her own stories.

To make ends meet, instead of going to work, I took a job as a nanny, and she came to work with me each day at the home of another little boy. We took field trips every day, made crafts, sang, colored, glued, read, cuddled and played pretend.

When Mady was five, Jenson came along. With colic. Super cute baby, but super loud, for a super long time. Things were put on hold for two years until he outgrew that. At which point, to make ends meet, I opened a licensed child care in my home.

I took lots of Early Childhood Education classes. I spent hours planning themed curriculum, projects, activities, and even meals to coordinate with the seasons. I took in other people's babies and children, until I had six to care for each day. We painted, read, went outside, crafted, ate, played with bowls full of water and boxes full of birdseed. That was exhausting. Fun, but exhausting.

A couple more years, and we were blessed with sweet Keston.  Oh! What a lucky child to have such a creative, giving, experienced mama!   ....not so much.  I must have used every bit of "Creative Mom" in all the previous years, because poor Keston is lucky to paint once a week. I haven't made her fresh playdough in months. She hasn't stitched a single thing. She bakes with me, but not as often as she should. She doesn't have a special place to display all her lovely creations!  Poor neglected girl.

So, inspired by the amazing Crafty Crow blog, next week is Keston's turn. I plan for her to be covered in sticky glue, dough, and glitter, all week! And then some. She has waited ever so patiently for her turn.  I'll be sure to post our adventures, in case you are in a tired rut too. :)

Notice in the grainy old photo: not only are we baking and spoon licking, but there is a paper chain proudly hung over the window, and handmade-by-a-kid card on the ledge. Taken at our first house, circa 2003. The good 'ol days.

pretty much the cutest kid ever, right?

She fell asleep in the car, mid-princess drawing, after a little field trip tour of the bread shop. I told you she was the cutest thing ever. I just adore this girl.

what we love: camping

Four out of five of us, love camping, anyway. My husband, not so much. He preferred to stay home and golf, away from bugs and dirt. So the rest of us packed up this weekend.

Camping is all in the details, really. I am the Martha Stewart of camping.  Neatly made beds, flowers on the table, gourmet fire pit meals, fairy houses and arts and crafts for the children. For the first day and a half.

By day two, it is just dirty. With marshmellow sticky faces and critters eating our trail mix in the night.  Which evolved into our new camping tradition. On evening one, I warmed some water on the fire, used a hotel shower gel and soft cloth to gently wash each of their faces. They loved it. On night two they were asking to have their faces washed. And thus, our new camping  tradition. How do you camp?

Friday's glimpse of summer : edition one

Making progress on our to-do list.

A stay at Homestead :: A trip to Whistler :: a free movie at Regal (Doogal) :: Ice Cream at Edaleen's (40 cents now!) :: spray park picnic (freezing!) :: bike riding :: picking local strawberries :: campout in the backyard (my whole body hurts) :: reading in the grass :: paper making at the library :: library reading program kick-off party :: walks with my husband in the evenings. 

A very good start to our summer, indeed.

Cause for celebration

Today, she learned how to pump all by herself.  This was a very good reason to have a party.

We decorated the dinner table with balloons, a princess tablecloth, and a handmade card from her brother.  After dinner we went to the park to show daddy her skills. And then, ice cream sundaes with whipped cream and four M&M's.

Even if she doesn't remember today when she's grown, I know it will help to build her into a confident girl who knows how much she was loved. :)

Summer Plans and Activity Ideas

Each spring, just before summer gets into full swing, we make a list of all the things we want to do in the summer months. Then we fill it all into a calendar, just to make sure we get to do everything we want, without the days slipping by.

{To make your own list, start by looking in the Sunday papers for ads of local events, and then look to your Parks Department for free activities and community events.} Click on the links I have added, there are lots of great ones!

Here's our '08 list:

1. go camping, at least twice. (tips here.)
2. make smore's in our backyard firepit.
3. birthday parties for Jenson, Mady, and Frank
4. have a memorial day bbq (recipes here.)
5. go to Jetty Island
6. spend a day at Forest Park, including swimming and petting zoo
7. road trip to Ocean Shores to use our timeshare 'bonus'
8. use our timeshare 'bonus' in Lynden at Homestead
9. many trips to Bloedel for beach play
10. trip to Granville Island
11. Whistler business trip
12. read books in the backyard on blankets with iced tea
13. garage saleing to hunt for fun outdoor toys
14. make our own ice cream
15. go for drives in the MGB with the top down
16. Birch Bay Discovery Days parade
17. Buy candy and snow cones at the C Shop
18. waterslides (my own childhood favorite!)
19. participate in the Barnes and Noble summer reading program
20. Participate in the public library reading program
21. go to a couple outdoor movies
22. go to the free Regal children's movies
23. have an Alex's Lemonade Stand
24. Square Foot Garden
25. picnics at out local water spray parks
26. many walks along Taylor Dock, with treats at Woods Coffee
27. Faith Academy camp
28. Relay for Life
29. plant more trees in the backyard
30. shop farmer's markets
31. go to the zoo
32. play horse shoes at Cornwall park
33. Park days with our Mops group
34. Edaleen Dairy for the famous 35 cent cones
35. pick strawberries, blueberries and raspberries locally
36. take many beautiful photos
37. Children's Art Festival, a yearly tradition
38. chalk art festival
39. many walks to Starbuck's with Jen
40. Brown Bag Children's Concerts
41. trip to Tahoe! (aunties, when do you want us?)
42. watch my uncle Johnnie play. He's a rockstar, you know,
43. swim in Lake Tahoe (aka - lay on the beach like sea lions at Skylandia)
44. 4th of July picnic and fireworks
45. invite myself to harvest lovely flower starts from my 'adopted mom's' garden
46. take our little raft out in Lake Whatcom
47. try lots of new recipes for 'summer' foods with our SFG harvest
48. hike
49. day trip to Friday Harbor
50. summer art projects

the simple joys of childhood

A school carnival, complete with a cake walk, cotton candy, and tempera painted signs above silly games. A bowl of sudsy water and a couple of Barbies.

These are two things that brought me joy as a child, too. Simple, happy times of childhood. Nothing could be better.

Love. And Joy.

I don't get coffees all that much anymore. And when I do, I almost never get them for my kids. If it is their super-lucky-day,  they will get the $1.00 hot chocolate or steamer with honey.

So Mady received a Starbucks gift card at Easter.  She has been dreaming of a frappacino. Dreaming, I tell you. Finally tonight, after youth group, we went,  and she got one.

"So how does it taste, Mady?" I asked.

Very seriously... "Like love. And joooyyyy."  You too, can have love and joy, for just $3.80. Perfect.

I love this girl to pieces

She said, quite loudly "OH MYyyy  GOSHHHHhhh!" (Something I have never heard out of her before). And she ran over to the TV and hugged it. Until the ballet commercial was over.

I'll call Dancing For Joy as soon as they open. It was inevitable, really.

Update: She's all set, dancing starts next week. The girl on the phone asked if I wanted to spend an extra $35 to buy a costume for an upcoming performance. Silly question.

Isn't she lovely?

We had a lunch date at Stanello's this weekend. And I forced her to let me take pictures while we waited for my favorite pizza ever. Isn't she beautiful?

She always make me laugh.

Some days more than others.

She was determined to wear her swimsuit, even if it was raining...

And invited company for the weekend, too. As far as houseguests go, the princess was quite pleasant.

And lastly... "Kes, what are you doing?"  "Nuffing".  Hmm, really?

An Ode To Toilets and Homeschool and Spring.

Spring is almost here! This morning I woke up to chirping birds, I think they were robins, and a migraine. The birds portion was nice. :)  We've been noticing the crocuses every time we get in and out of the car - open to the sun and warmth, closed to dark and cold. It is fascinating to Kes.

In school news, Mady is officially enrolled as a WAVA/K12 student. We should be getting her books in a couple weeks, and then we'll start. The enrollment process was slightly less daunting than doing your own taxes. So after many hours on the phone, at the computer, and searching through old files, all the necessary items were faxed in, and it was official yesterday afternoon. (And for my homeschooling friends, fyi, she is considered public school status, not homeschool status. This will enable her to receive a diploma rather than GED. This also enables us to get the program at no cost. It seems that it would be feasible to school several children at once through the program.) To find out more, check out these sites. WAVA is our state, Washington Virtual Academy, and K12 is the supplier of the curriculum. The teacher we'll have is through WAVA. The daily work is through K12. I think. Her desk is all set up, we're ready to go!

Last night Jenson and I had a date at, where else, the library. A date with Charlie the Noiseguy. Jenson was laughing hysterically, so I think he liked it. For $2.15, it was a successful date. (Two Dilly Bars later.) His budget was bigger than two Dilly Bars though, because he pulled out a pocket of wadded up dollar bills to buy the Noiseguy's book - Flush, An Ode To Toilets. Hmm.

I love the library!

Have you ever taken advantage of their programs? There are so many, and I am pretty sure it is all free. Yay, such a good use of my taxes!

We're participating in story times for both of the younger kids, teen game night (with board games, Rudy's pizza, and a Wii), knitting sessions for Mady, and an upcoming Dr. Seuss party with stories and crafts and cake. (One little boy I know is really going to love that!) There's evening family events, movie nights, and lots of cultural things.

Something I can't get enough of right now, is the "Hold/Request" system. I can search online from home, and have them put aside the books I want. If they are checked out, I get added to the list. When the books are ready to go, they're in a special area, with my name on it. In and out, that easy. If you have a toddler, you understand how great this is! I have read so many great books in the last couple of months because of it : Plenty (100 Mile Diet), Animal, Miracle, Vegetable, Square Foot Gardening, and currently Alice Water's The Art of Simple Foods.

Do you know about the Preschool Box Kits? Each box is a different theme, like trains, animals, friends, homes, fish, etc. I think there are around 30 boxes. They contain several books about the theme, usually some type of activity, and an audio book. We have the birds box right now, and it  has a field guide, about 10 storybooks with birds, a felt board activity, baby board book, and a notebook of other activities I can do to incorporate learning about birds. The boxes are available to everyone, not just preschools.

So go to the library. It's fun!!

I'm needing to devote all my energies into my family right now, and won't have much time for posting for a while. (And most definitely can't keep up two blogs!).  Just came across this as a great reminder today, about being in the moment. 

oh dear.

Two things you don't want to hear:

1.) "Could you come pick up your son right away? He just vomited in his classroom.

2.) "Mom, I can't take the yucky pants off here (at school). I didn't wear boxers today."

today what I did is?

By Jenson. "Today what I did is? Mom and Dad went to the movies. and the cops came. But my sister, by accident, she called the police."

True story, actually.

Mady was babysitting, as she is capable of, and often does.  On the way into the movie, we called to check in, and remind her to write down our cell number and to write down 911, in case she blanked out in a real emergency.  This is standard procedure. Except usually I just write the numbers down before I leave, but I had forgotten.

Something was lost in translation or misunderstood though, because she thought we were telling her to call 911. Which she did.  And for an hour, while we enjoyed half of Dan In Real Life, the dispatch kept her on the phone to calm her down and sort it out.  She thought something terrible happened to me. But she didn't think to call us back. Oh,... until the police were at the door.  Which is when she called us, and we eventually realized what was going on, and we rushed home. Poor Mady was so upset and scared about us.  The police did tell her she did the right thing by calling, so that was good for her to hear. Rough day!

Frank learned a lesson too. If you get five phone calls in an hour when the kids are home, answer them, even if you don't know the numbers!!!

the best thing I heard all morning

Me: "I love you."

Keston: "I know."