Everyone now singing at the top of your lungs:
"Tomorrow, tomorrow
Erik comes home tomorrow,
It's only A DAY A WAY!!!"
Welcome home Erik! We missed you!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
"Uh-Oh, I forgot Blankie"
That was the horrible thought that entered my mind as we stopped for lunch on our way to Seaside. My heart sunk as I realized in the haste to leave my house I had packed food, clothes, beach toys, nebulizer, medicine, strollers, kids, anything I could think of that would make the trip fun for all of us. But I forgot one important, irreplaceable item, J's blankie.
I remember how excited J. was when his aunts, cousins, and grandma arrived. We grabbed the few last items, J. grabbed his soccer ball and we were off. I did a quick walk through of the house just to make sure we had everything that we needed. I never saw blankie laying on the couch.
As soon as I realized this terrible mistake I started to think what my options were. Do we turn around and drive back to Seattle, we were only 1.5 hours into the trip, do I try to find a replacement at the outlet mall, do I try to find a Pottery Barn Kids and buy the exact same blanket and hope he doesn't notice?
My sister had been through this exact same horror the first year we went to Seaside. After arriving at the hotel D. asked where his blankie was. A moment of panic followed where we searched for blankie and tried to think of suitable alternative's (his aunt's silky underwear?) But theirs was just a moment of panic and blankie was found hidden in D's pillow. All was good.
I was not so lucky I knew we didn't have blankie with us. After a panic call to my husband and a terrible mis-order at Burger King the decision was made. One car load of people (those trapped with me) would drive to Tigard, just outside of Portland, to the closest PB Kids, the other car would head to Seaside. It was the best I could do. My poor husband called the store to check that they had "My Best Blanket" in green so the trip would not be in vain. They did. So, we were off on a rather lengthy detour.
Now, you might be asking why we did not just turn around then and there, we were only in Centralia. It seemed at the time that moving forward, not backward, was the best idea. We made it safely to the mall, thank god for GPS, and ran into PB Kids. I found the row of blankets and my heart sunk for the second time that day. The blankets on the wall were not the right ones. I went up to the cashier, opened the PB Kids magazine and pointed to the blanket I needed.
"Oh", says the very helpful employee, "Those are catalogue/internet only"
I reluctantly bought the closest blanket I could find, knowing it would not be a replacement to blankie. With a heavy heart and a slow tread I walked back to my sister and her two kids to tell them that this lengthy detour did not have quite the results I had wanted.
Later that night after a rather scary drive on a road my mom calls a "death trap", a yummy fish and chips dinner, and our first trip to the beach and the pool, I laid down my with 3 year old. "Where's blankie" he asked. Umm, well, we don't actually have it but I have this other one that is almost the same. He looked at me, pushed the blanket away and rolled over to face the wall.
By the end of the weekend J. had made peace about not having his blankie and even allowed me to cover him up with the new one. We made it three nights without it, but the first thing we did when we came home was say "There's my blankie! I found it!"
I remember how excited J. was when his aunts, cousins, and grandma arrived. We grabbed the few last items, J. grabbed his soccer ball and we were off. I did a quick walk through of the house just to make sure we had everything that we needed. I never saw blankie laying on the couch.
As soon as I realized this terrible mistake I started to think what my options were. Do we turn around and drive back to Seattle, we were only 1.5 hours into the trip, do I try to find a replacement at the outlet mall, do I try to find a Pottery Barn Kids and buy the exact same blanket and hope he doesn't notice?
My sister had been through this exact same horror the first year we went to Seaside. After arriving at the hotel D. asked where his blankie was. A moment of panic followed where we searched for blankie and tried to think of suitable alternative's (his aunt's silky underwear?) But theirs was just a moment of panic and blankie was found hidden in D's pillow. All was good.
I was not so lucky I knew we didn't have blankie with us. After a panic call to my husband and a terrible mis-order at Burger King the decision was made. One car load of people (those trapped with me) would drive to Tigard, just outside of Portland, to the closest PB Kids, the other car would head to Seaside. It was the best I could do. My poor husband called the store to check that they had "My Best Blanket" in green so the trip would not be in vain. They did. So, we were off on a rather lengthy detour.
Now, you might be asking why we did not just turn around then and there, we were only in Centralia. It seemed at the time that moving forward, not backward, was the best idea. We made it safely to the mall, thank god for GPS, and ran into PB Kids. I found the row of blankets and my heart sunk for the second time that day. The blankets on the wall were not the right ones. I went up to the cashier, opened the PB Kids magazine and pointed to the blanket I needed.
"Oh", says the very helpful employee, "Those are catalogue/internet only"
I reluctantly bought the closest blanket I could find, knowing it would not be a replacement to blankie. With a heavy heart and a slow tread I walked back to my sister and her two kids to tell them that this lengthy detour did not have quite the results I had wanted.
Later that night after a rather scary drive on a road my mom calls a "death trap", a yummy fish and chips dinner, and our first trip to the beach and the pool, I laid down my with 3 year old. "Where's blankie" he asked. Umm, well, we don't actually have it but I have this other one that is almost the same. He looked at me, pushed the blanket away and rolled over to face the wall.
By the end of the weekend J. had made peace about not having his blankie and even allowed me to cover him up with the new one. We made it three nights without it, but the first thing we did when we came home was say "There's my blankie! I found it!"
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
We're Going to the Beach, the Beach, the Beach...
If you have ever watched The Wonder Pets then that song should now be conveniently stuck in your head. It is in mine and has been for a few days. Not because we have watched The Wonder Pets recently, in fact, it used to be my son's favorite show but was pushed aside for Curious George. It is in my mind because our annual trip to Seaside, OR is quickly approaching.
The trip to Seaside has taken on almost mythic proportions in my family. We start talking about our next trip as soon as we leave our condo. We make our condo reservations in January, with our fingers crossed that it hasn't filled up. At most family gatherings there is a mention of how excited we are for Seaside, how much longer to Seaside, and where are we going to eat on the last night. It is almost ridiculous the excitement we have for this trip. But my sisters and I absolutely love it.
We started going six years ago when my brother-in-law was on his first deployment overseas. He was gone, my husband was proving that his bike was his true first love and planned a weekend of working at Greg's and cycling, and I decided that was it. The girls needed to leave. So, my two sisters, and my 5 year old niece and 7 year old nephew made our first trip to Seaside. It was unbelievable, nice weather, hotel on the beach, great fish and chips, tedious souvenir shopping, swimming in the pool, and hours of sitting on the beach. No one was there to tell us when to get dressed, ask what we were going to do today, or tell us that eating nachos and veggies and dip for lunch each day was not very healthy. It was almost like we were kids left alone. We ate what we wanted, lazed around as much as possible, and had an incredible time. There was some misfortune, a near drowning experience where my sister had to rescue me, not her son, and my niece deciding she was old enough to walk back to the hotel alone. I have never seen my sister move so fast!
We have never had as nice of weather since that first trip. One year we broke our rule to not drive the car the entire weekend by going to the movies. It was raining so much we were out of options. We have sat on the beach in the rain, bundled up to our eyes in towels, just so the kids could play in the beach one more time. We have rented one of those rickshaw type bicycles and tried to pedal around Seaside. We have enjoyed each trip we have taken there.
It is now our sixth year of going. We have added three more kids to the mix so there are now more kids then adults, and we have added a grandma. They dynamic has changed but the point of the trip remains the same. I have stockpiled up on chips and candy, food my husband would vomit over. I plan to eat fried foods and cheesy pizza without ordering any "no cheese on half". I plan to sit outside for as long as my boys want to, not caring if I am bored or not!
Three more days and we will be going to the beach, the beach, the beach....
The trip to Seaside has taken on almost mythic proportions in my family. We start talking about our next trip as soon as we leave our condo. We make our condo reservations in January, with our fingers crossed that it hasn't filled up. At most family gatherings there is a mention of how excited we are for Seaside, how much longer to Seaside, and where are we going to eat on the last night. It is almost ridiculous the excitement we have for this trip. But my sisters and I absolutely love it.
We started going six years ago when my brother-in-law was on his first deployment overseas. He was gone, my husband was proving that his bike was his true first love and planned a weekend of working at Greg's and cycling, and I decided that was it. The girls needed to leave. So, my two sisters, and my 5 year old niece and 7 year old nephew made our first trip to Seaside. It was unbelievable, nice weather, hotel on the beach, great fish and chips, tedious souvenir shopping, swimming in the pool, and hours of sitting on the beach. No one was there to tell us when to get dressed, ask what we were going to do today, or tell us that eating nachos and veggies and dip for lunch each day was not very healthy. It was almost like we were kids left alone. We ate what we wanted, lazed around as much as possible, and had an incredible time. There was some misfortune, a near drowning experience where my sister had to rescue me, not her son, and my niece deciding she was old enough to walk back to the hotel alone. I have never seen my sister move so fast!
We have never had as nice of weather since that first trip. One year we broke our rule to not drive the car the entire weekend by going to the movies. It was raining so much we were out of options. We have sat on the beach in the rain, bundled up to our eyes in towels, just so the kids could play in the beach one more time. We have rented one of those rickshaw type bicycles and tried to pedal around Seaside. We have enjoyed each trip we have taken there.
It is now our sixth year of going. We have added three more kids to the mix so there are now more kids then adults, and we have added a grandma. They dynamic has changed but the point of the trip remains the same. I have stockpiled up on chips and candy, food my husband would vomit over. I plan to eat fried foods and cheesy pizza without ordering any "no cheese on half". I plan to sit outside for as long as my boys want to, not caring if I am bored or not!
Three more days and we will be going to the beach, the beach, the beach....
Monday, April 28, 2008
I Love My Yard
There, I said it. I really do love my yard. I have been mourning the loss of my old yard ever since I first saw this new house at the beginning of November. I remember looking at the house, peering in the windows and seeing the potential for what it could be. But the yard, never inspired the same feelings in me. Even after we poured money into some serious pruning, a parking spot and gravel path, and the most beautiful sod you have ever seen. I liked it, it looked much better then I ever thought it would but I did not love it.My other yard was long and deep and had a giant pine tree right in the middle. It always smelled like the woods to me and reminded me of my grandparents. It didn't matter that the yard was almost always in a state of "white-trash" and that my 80 year old neighbors had a yard 10 times nicer then mine, for a while the renters next door even had a better yard. Every time I walked out the back door I was in love. One of the reasons we bought the house was because it had a hydrangea. I wanted one and when I saw the 60 year old hydrangea in the back yard I was sold. I know I can plant one at my new house but it won't have the same character.
Today I went to my old house for the last time. I left all the keys and locked the doors. When I shut the door for the final time, I admit it, I cried. I stood on the deck one last time and looked at my backyard and was sad. Even though the yard overwhelmed me a good 90% of the time it was still my favorite.
Until this afternoon. When the boys woke up from their nap the sun was actually shining. I quickly put on shoes and hats and out we went. I had no agenda except to kill time but once I got outside and saw the plants I had just bought, I thought I would try to plant them. I went to the Olympic View plant sale for the first time and scored some good buys. The trick is to go at 3:45, in the rain, on Sunday afternoon when they are at the end. The selection isn't as good but they were selling plants for more then half off. I bought annuals, bedding plants, and some good perinnials to fill in my flower beds.
I spent an hour outside today and got all my plants planted. I even did some weeding. The whole time I was outside my boys played. Jack ran in the grass while Micah sat on it. They walked in the bark and played on their climbing cube. They even got out their bikes and rode on the cement patio. I was able to move around the yard, planting and weeding with no problem. Well, except for Nemo making a run for it, but the neighbor was kind enough to tell me I had lost my dog again. I stepped back at the end of the hour and looked at my yard. I have established plants that are starting to bloom, 3 huge lilacs that I love, some sort of fruit tree, and now some fresh plants that are favorites of mine. I wasn't overwhelmed or left the yard with a list of things to still do. I have some more plants I would like and some more pots but overall, I have to say, my yard is beautiful.
And I love it, I really do.
Friday, April 18, 2008
"Mommy, You Gotta Kiss It"
This is what I hear from my three year old at least once a day. Any owie that occurs, big or small, requires a kiss to make it all better. Some are quick kisses and we are all better, others - ones that tend to leave a mark - seem to take several kisses plus some hugs before we are good to go. In order for the kiss to work it has to land on the exact spot that hurts. When it is a head injury that tends to be a little tricky because I am not always sure where exactly he bonked his head. I will end up kissing all over his head until he finally says "I'm okay". Some days he just seems to want extra love as he will say "Uh-oh I hurt again" and smile as I ask him where he needs his kiss. I've kissed his toes, knees, elbows, fingers, head (many times) and have been asked to kiss his butt and his tongue. These last two always make me laugh at which point he realizes it is funny and wants even more kisses.
As I look at my little boy who is the source of both continual joy and frustration, I wish I could always just kiss it and make him feel better. I love that he believes that I can ease his pain with a kiss but know that one day that will no longer work. I know he will have bigger hurts that can not be kissed away: friends who move away, the loss of a loved one, the pain of a broken heart. I know I can not protect him from life, from both the happiness and sadness it brings, nor do I want to. I want him to enjoy life and not be scared or worried about all the things that could go wrong. But when they do and he is hurting or sad I wish with all my heart that I would hear "Mommy, you gotta kiss it" and know that I could still make it all better with just a simple kiss.
As I look at my little boy who is the source of both continual joy and frustration, I wish I could always just kiss it and make him feel better. I love that he believes that I can ease his pain with a kiss but know that one day that will no longer work. I know he will have bigger hurts that can not be kissed away: friends who move away, the loss of a loved one, the pain of a broken heart. I know I can not protect him from life, from both the happiness and sadness it brings, nor do I want to. I want him to enjoy life and not be scared or worried about all the things that could go wrong. But when they do and he is hurting or sad I wish with all my heart that I would hear "Mommy, you gotta kiss it" and know that I could still make it all better with just a simple kiss.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tater Tots, Part Deux
My very first post was about tater tots and how much I love them and how my boys hate them. Well, I have not had any tater tots again until today. I figure that something so golden and delicious can not possibly be good for you. Also, most days by the time I finish feeding the boys I just grab whatever I can find to eat. Having tater tots for lunch requires a patience I do not always have.
But today I decided I did not care. I had spent the morning cleaning my kitchen, unpacking the very last boxes of kitchen stuff/crap and organizing my shelves again! I decided I wanted a nice little treat for myself for lunch. By the time the tater tots were done lunch was long over. I loaded up my plate with a few piping hot tots and headed into the play room to find the boys.
As soon as I sat down I had one little boy come walking up to see what I was eating. I knew this was a trick because neither of my boys like tater tots. I gave a very small piece to my baby to see what he would do and he ate it. That was kind of a surprise to me but I continued to eat my tater tots not unaware of how my life was about to change. Next thing I knew my 3 year old had also realized I had something yummy. He came over and asked for a piece. I told him he didn't like it but he was insistent that he did. So I gave up another small piece to him. "Yum" he says "that is good". WHAT??!! The boys do not like tater tots that has already been proven. Nope, now my oldest is back for a second piece and this time adds ketchup. It is all over after that. I quickly inhale the remaining tater tots on my plate while my baby is distracted and my toddler is still eating his piece. When he finishes he turns to me and says "Want more, mommy". At which point I have to say, "I'm sorry, they are all gone".
If I had known I was going to have to share I would have made the whole bag!
But today I decided I did not care. I had spent the morning cleaning my kitchen, unpacking the very last boxes of kitchen stuff/crap and organizing my shelves again! I decided I wanted a nice little treat for myself for lunch. By the time the tater tots were done lunch was long over. I loaded up my plate with a few piping hot tots and headed into the play room to find the boys.
As soon as I sat down I had one little boy come walking up to see what I was eating. I knew this was a trick because neither of my boys like tater tots. I gave a very small piece to my baby to see what he would do and he ate it. That was kind of a surprise to me but I continued to eat my tater tots not unaware of how my life was about to change. Next thing I knew my 3 year old had also realized I had something yummy. He came over and asked for a piece. I told him he didn't like it but he was insistent that he did. So I gave up another small piece to him. "Yum" he says "that is good". WHAT??!! The boys do not like tater tots that has already been proven. Nope, now my oldest is back for a second piece and this time adds ketchup. It is all over after that. I quickly inhale the remaining tater tots on my plate while my baby is distracted and my toddler is still eating his piece. When he finishes he turns to me and says "Want more, mommy". At which point I have to say, "I'm sorry, they are all gone".
If I had known I was going to have to share I would have made the whole bag!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
BFF
I admit it, I am completely addicted to Friends. It has never been a secret that I enjoy this show but lately my fondness for it may have reached an all-time high. Since I had my second child last April, and purchasing a DVR for our bedroom, I have watched Friends every night. At first it was the perfect show for watching during the middle of the night feedings, it didn't matter if the sound was on or not. I was half asleep anyway. Once we made it past the initial ugliness of having a newborn in the house, I would watch Friends during the last feeding when I would put my son to bed. If I was lucky I could get two shows out of it before he fell asleep. Some nights I would stay in the room and watch Friends while I folded laundry or cleaned up. On really bad days, I would go in my room as soon as my husband came home, shut the door, and watch an episode. Yes, I know how bad that sounds, but I also know my limits. There are times when being home with a baby and a two year old is extremely difficult. I remember days of holding my baby trying to rock him to sleep while my two year old watched TV pretty much all day. Or other days when my two year old and I would engage in battle of wills to see who was actually in charge. I did not always come out the winner. Those days I needed the peace and quiet of my room, and a few minutes to pull myself together before continuing with dinner, clean-up, bedtime routine, and of course quality time with my spouse.
Things are much better now. I think I am going to like having a three year old a lot more then a two year old! And I already love having a baby who does not rely on me for 24 hour food nourishment! But I am still watching Friends everyday. In fact, it is the only show recorded on my DVR in my bedroom. I still fold laundry while I watch it, straighten up the room, feed my baby, and take a few moments to myself.
The other night I was out with friends celebrating birthdays. As we made a wish on our dessert, I remembered a scene from the last episode I watched. I mentioned to the group, partly pleased that I even remember a quote - that is a whole nether blog - and as I described it, I heard one friend say: "She talks about them like she knows them". I laughed because, yeah, I guess I do. This past year has had it's good times and it's hard times, and through it all I have watched Friends. I saw Ross and Rachel get together, have a "break", Monica and Chandler continue a secret relationship, and now finally move-in together. The show makes me laugh no matter how many times I have seen it and I would have to say I agree: 'laughter is the best medicine'.
Things are much better now. I think I am going to like having a three year old a lot more then a two year old! And I already love having a baby who does not rely on me for 24 hour food nourishment! But I am still watching Friends everyday. In fact, it is the only show recorded on my DVR in my bedroom. I still fold laundry while I watch it, straighten up the room, feed my baby, and take a few moments to myself.
The other night I was out with friends celebrating birthdays. As we made a wish on our dessert, I remembered a scene from the last episode I watched. I mentioned to the group, partly pleased that I even remember a quote - that is a whole nether blog - and as I described it, I heard one friend say: "She talks about them like she knows them". I laughed because, yeah, I guess I do. This past year has had it's good times and it's hard times, and through it all I have watched Friends. I saw Ross and Rachel get together, have a "break", Monica and Chandler continue a secret relationship, and now finally move-in together. The show makes me laugh no matter how many times I have seen it and I would have to say I agree: 'laughter is the best medicine'.
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