From the Mouths of Babes in September

Linus: "We are going to Starbucks this time.  Okay mommy? My tummy says 'I need Starbucks.' " (struggling with my recent decision to go to Starbucks less frequently)

Linus: (to his loveys)" I missed you loveys.  I will keep you ever ever."

Me: "What do you want to do today?"
Linus: "Hmmm.  Let me see.  I have lots of options."

Linus: "Is there a door?" (wanting to know how babies get pushed out)

Linus: "I'm gonna sing a song.  It's my favorite.  'This is how I found a snake. I'm going to hit it. Mommy says NO! You will go to time out.' "
            Repeat with new verses:  found a bee. it will sting you all day. Found a bear. It will bite you...

Linus: "I'm going to go to sleep in your mouth and touch your teeth."
Me: "I'd rather you didn't."
Linus:  "How do little boys get inside your mouth and get out?"
Me: "They don't go in my mouth.  They taste yucky."
Linus: "You need to spit little boys out or you will get in big trouble with the police."
Me:  "Um yes.  This is true."

New Haircut

I just got my haircut tonight after putting the kids to bed.  I had been avoiding getting my haircut after deciding that the person who had been cutting my hair was a b****.  I don't say that lightly.  But really, what do you say when she complains repeatedly about how much she hates cutting your hair.  Our conversations had never been easy.  There was something always a little cold about her, but I let it go since I often have trouble with small talk and she did a decent job cutting my hair.  However, with each haircut her attitude became more off putting.  During my last cut (in early July), besides complaining, she cut my bangs horribly and did a rush job on the rest, leaving me to cut the many missed strands on my own.  I hate awkwardness so instead of just asking for a different hairstylist, I decided I needed to switch shops completely.  Goodbye Vain in Ballard.

At Greenwood Summer Streets, a nearby hair salon was offering face painting for kids.  I chatted up the staff while Linus got a small green spider --his request--on his cheek.  The salon, Hazel, happens to be located next to a pie shop that is about to open.  What could be better than a haircut and pie?

I went in tonight hoping for the best.  I appreciate I was able to book online.  I hate talking on the phone and like to be able to see all my options.  The place has a nice vibe.  Not edgy or pretentious.  In their words, they are a little old school.  This meant I got a quality head massage with my shampoo.  They were already off to a good start.  The chick who cut my hair was smart and kept the conversation easy and flowing.  She also had a long term plan for my hair.

Here's the result.

 I am pretty pleased with the result. Despite losing my pregnancy hair, it is still crazy thick.  My hair insists on having some curl and being difficult to manage.  The goal is to grow it out a little.  I want to be able to do a cute updo for my sister's wedding.  Looking at the pictures, I realize it may be time for me to grow up and start wearing a little make up.  So my goal for the week is to try wearing some tinted moisturizer at least 3 times and some lip gloss.  If I get really adventurous, I may even go out and buy some mascara.  I know.  I live dangerously.

Seabrook Weekend

This past weekend we rented a house in Seabrook with some of our PEPs friends.  Seabrook is a planned community on the Washington coast just north of Ocean Shores.  It's a pretty cute place with its own little market and restaurant.  The house came with everything--a full kitchen, linens, movies, games, toys.  It was sweet.

Our group was comprised of four families. Each of us has an almost 3 year old toddler, and 3 of us also have a baby.  This meant that the children were able to self entertain a lot of the time and the adults could chill.

Eileen and Connor played wonderfully together.

In fact, they became inseparable.

 They really did get themselves into this position and just continue playing.  They take parallel play to a new level.

 There was lots of hanging on the couch and eating fruit.

On Saturday morning, despite the misty weather, we visited the beach.

 Little did we know what lay ahead.  While kids played in the sand and let the waves crash at their feet, Dave had the notion that perhaps we should move our picnic blanket back further.  Good idea, but unfortunately, we didn't move far enough back.  A large wave suddenly crashed on the shore.  It was like our own version of a tsunami.  We all ran but couldn't run fast enough.  Some of the parents attempted to lift the blanket with everything on it as well as one child.  Sadly, he fell and was met with sand and water.  We barely managed to rescue our shoes and other belongings.  The wave took our small shovel and pail handle back out to sea.  It also destroyed my phone (luckily, I married someone technologically savvy and we were able to save some of the info).  Wet and sandy, we trudged back to the house.  Children cried and wailed that they wanted to go home.  Back at the house, we dumped kids in bathtubs, assessed the damage, and got laundry running.  For the rest of the trip, Linus repeatedly stated, "I didn't like the big wave."  The beach trip was one of those times that sucks in the moment, but you can almost look back on and laugh.


Later in the afternoon, popsicles were enjoyed by all.  (Sorry I didn't get a pic of Oscar)

Caitlin

Jackson

Is it wrong that my favorite parts of the trip were when all the children were sleeping?  After the beach incident, the kids all went down for nap.  While the kids slept,  Dave and I, and another couple (the Peoples), ate chips and M and Ms, and played Phase 10.  It was really fun.  Dave will try to tell you he won, but since we only played to phase 8, I think it is up for debate.

The evenings were even better.  The children slept, unaware of the fun and serious yumminess occurring without them.

Sterno smores! Paired with red wine and beer.

We invented a smore-eo.  Two oreo cookie sides (with cream) with a roasted marshmallow in between.  There was also the extreme version, with a square of chocolate on top of each creme side. Soooo good.

One of the more random things on the trip was on a walk.  We discovered a longer, trail version of the walk to the beach.  Along the way we came upon a Gnome City.

Gnome City was wonderfully silly.  It lined both sides of the trail.  There were slides, a library, city hall, etc.  Someone had a lot of fun making it.

I really enjoyed our trip to Seabrook, even if the weather wasn't the greatest. A lot of the trip reminded me of a summer camp overnight (if overnights were in nice oversized houses instead of makeshift campsites with blue tarp accommodations).  It was the same combination of silliness, adventure, games, and smores.  It was refreshing to spend time some place with lots of built in playmates, and where all the adults pitch in and help take care of everyone's children.  I feel so blessed to have our PEPs group in our life.  I can't wait to see what our next PEPs big adventure will be.

Spaghetti Dinner

Tonight was spaghetti dinner.  Eileen has recently started eating more of actual dinner with us versus straight baby food.  Despite an early protest from Linus, spaghetti is a crowd-pleaser for toddlers, babies, and mommies alike.

This mealtime was interesting as it provided a case study in boy toddlers and girl babies (stop reading now if you are easily offended by gender stereotypes).

Exhibit A:  Baby Girl.  Age 10 months tomorrow.

You will notice that while there is food and sauce on her face, it has been kept to a minimum.  She actually went about licking the spaghetti before ingesting.

Exhibit B:  Toddler Boy.  Age 34.5 months (almost 3 years)

 

His face was lathered in sauce almost from the get go.  Notice the fork laying unused.  He opted for double-fisting his meal.

Food was devoured loudly, with many growls.  I swear I fed him earlier in the day.

Eileen was shocked and appalled by her brother's table manners.

For comparison, Linus at 11 months eating spaghetti

My original plan had been to bathe Eileen first and then clean up Linus.  In the end, Eileen was merely wiped down with a wash cloth while Linus was rushed immediately from the table to tub lest he leave a red saucy trail in his path.

So tonight I was left to wonder if this episode of eating spaghetti is characteristic of the differences between genders, or just my children.

Adventures with Beth, an epic tale mostly in pictures

My older sister, Beth, and her son, Dylan, came up from Portland to celebrate our brother, Tim's birthday, and then to stay and hang for a few days.  We've kept busy to say the least.

First adventure, the Seattle Aquarium.

a very cute jellyfish

A post nap trip to Golden Gardens.

Extremely cool new pirate playground

sliding cousins

"I'm gonna catch you Bef"

A little beach time

This morning started with the first day of preschool for Linus.

I asked him to smile.  He said no.  So I asked him to give me a sad face.  He complied.

"I.am.a.robot."

Linus had no qualms about me leaving him at school.  He painted me a beautiful picture which inspired me to have a fall themed afternoon.  We put out ceramic pumpkins and leaf garlands and then did some cookie baking.

While the cookies baked, we painted pumpkins.

Eileen, for her part, decided to finally start crawling. She skipped army crawling entirely, preferring to wait until she could do it properly.

Perhaps, the most epic part of the visit has been Beth's and my night out to Kirkland.  We had very strong drinks and dessert at a sushi bar and then went to Beijing Herbal Foot Massage.  The place looks like the kind of massage parlor that offers a happy ending.  They are open until 11 pm and for $25 you get a full body massage.  The whole experience was a little surreal.  I had been there once before and did not recall the massage getting so "intimate."  Beth and I, a little drunk and running on a massage high, couldn't stop giggling afterwards.  We stumbled to the QFC for crackers and coffee.  We're pretty sure the women in the aisle with us thought we were high.  It was a night out to be remembered.

It's been a really fun visit and I will be sad to see them go home tomorrow.  I feel so blessed that I can count my sisters as two of my closest friends.

New Shopping Partner?

I love to window shop.  I especially love going into boutiques and small independent businesses and browsing the goods.  I try to make an effort to shop local first.  However, lazy browsing is often made difficult by impatient children.  But something is beginning to change....

I already knew that Linus loves U Village.  It is almost something of a home away from home.  It is not uncommon to hear Linus exclaim, "I have an idea.  Lets go to U VILLAGE!"  with arm raised and index finger pointed for emphasis.   Recently, he has been asking to go more frequently and then requesting specific stores.  I am not sure which one of us loves Pottery Barn Kids more.

Today we were walking back from the library and I decided to pop into a cute little store, Tasty, on Phinney Ridge.  As I perused the shop, Linus delicately looked as well.  When the shop owner came over, he very earnestly and politely told her, "I like your stuff."  I admit to doing a double take.  The store, which features work from local artists and designers, has lots of breakables.  Linus went around the store explaining to me which ones were breakable and which things he liked.

Then it got weirder.  As we were finishing up, he told me he wanted to go to the mall.  SAY WHAT?  We never go to the mall  Barnes and Noble, yes.  Nordstrom when shoes are needed. Mall, no.  I reserve time at the mall for when he is in the care of someone else. 

I feel like the skies are clearing.  I almost don't know what to think.  Could stress free shopping adventures be in my future?  Could I actually plan afternoons of strolling through the shops of Ballard?  I am not getting my hopes up, but I am excited by the possibilities.

Linus E. Dimock, age 2.5.  Loves University Village, free samples at the Farmers Market, shopping local, and trips to the mall.

Escape to Victoria

This weekend Dave and I escaped to Victoria, BC.  I bought us a weekend away via the Victoria Clipper for Dave's 30th Birthday.  He was totally surprised.  I felt like a romantic weekend, no matter how badly needed, was not manly enough for a major birthday like 30.  I decided that nothing sounded more manly than ziplining!

My sister, Sally, was kind enough to watch my children while we were gone.  It was the first time I have left Eileen overnight and the longest I have ever been away from Linus.  Dave and I left early Saturday morning to hitch a ride aboard the Clipper.  Guess who has two thumbs and likes to get seasick?  This girl!  Yup.   I totally puked.  I didn't used to get seasick, but over the last few years it seems to happen every time I get on a boat (kayaks, canoes, and large ferries excluded).  Am I fun or what?

We spent the first day enjoying exhibits at the Royal BC Museum as well indulging in some shopping and fine dining.  We even stumbled upon a fringe theater festival and took in a show.  We had to wait until Sunday to go ziplining.  We went to Adrena Line in Sooke, BC.

It's a pretty big deal that I went ziplining.  I refuse to go on rollercoasters and have a healthy fear of heights.  Just the very bumpy ride on the trail to the zipline course in an old army vehicle had me feeling nervous.  After some basic instruction and a ride on the "bunny slope,"  we went to our first line.  It's name is Commitment because once you go on it, it's too late to turn back.

I was in no hurry to try so I let Dave go before me.

He did not have the same apprehensions I did.

A very long suspension bridge.  The helmet won't save me if I fall.  The helmet is really just to protect my head from getting whacked by the ziplines.

Rockin' my helmet.

It got slightly less scary as we went along.  The longest zipline was 1000 ft and 150 ft off the ground.  One of the ziplines you couldn't even see the end point so you just hoped for the best when stepping off the platform.

The couple that ziplines together, stays together :)

Officially a ziplining pro!

I survived my first ziplining experience.  I never did try any of the fancier tricks they showed us like hanging upside down.  I was pretty proud of myself that I was willing to do it one handed by the last zipline (there were 8 in total). 

I hope we are able to go ziplining again sometime.  It was so nice to feel like our old pre-child selves for a little while.  It was also great to just get away for a little bit.  Victoria would have been a completely different experience with children in tow.   I missed my babies terribly and was reminded how much I loathe pumping.  I am totally indebted to my sister for watching the kids.  Hopefully, we can return the favor some day.  I look forward to our next adventure with just the two of us, but for now I think I am going to snuggle my babies just a little bit more.