From the Mouths of Babes in March

Eileen:  Mommy you owe me McDonalds.
Me:  Why do you say that?
Eileen:  I forgot to remind you to take medicine for your headache and grumpy mommy gives kids Happy Meals.

Eileen:  Why did you have babies Daddy?  Is it because Mommy didn't want to be alone with you?

Me:  Hey, NPR used Peeps to calculate the speed of light.
Linus:  Okay.  Even NPR knows how amazing Peeps are.

Me:  Go to your room!
Eileen:  Fine!  But I won't like it.

Robin:  Take my nipples off.

                                            Oh, you know. Just chillin' in a shopping basket.

Easter Weekend

Easter is such a weird holiday. It's a big deal religiously, but Easter Sunday mass always feel somehow sort of anti-climactic versus Christmas mass.  There are still old school Easter specials to watch (thanks Youtube!), fun cookies to bake, and pastel decorations.  I still chuckle every time I looked at my cute little ceramic bunnies, remembering when I bought them and the cashier at the fabric store scolded me for buying them because they took away from Jesus.

This year I planned (didn't plan?) a very laid back Easter.  I just did not feel like hosting anything or anyone.  Given how the weekend transpired, this ended up being a good thing....

Friday was a half day of school before the start of spring break.  Eileen and Linus fought nonstop.  Amid all the fighting, we managed to bake some Easter cookies and dye eggs.

Holy Saturday encompassed a wide variety of activities.  Dave took Eileen and the boys to Eileen's ballet class, while I walked across the street to go caucus at the elementary school.  Caucuses are a pain, but it is such a fun way to meet your neighbors and it does let you really feel like a part of the process versus voting absentee.  When I pre-registered I asked Dave if he wanted to caucus too.  He said no, so I told the kids we wasn't caucusing because he was voting for Trump.  Linus and Eileen gasped.

I really enjoyed hearing people's perspectives and was impressed by how civil and respectful everyone was, especially given how insanely crowded it was inside the gym.  A bonus was I finally met my neighbor (sad I know, it's only been 1.5 years).  I told her how much I loved the smell of their backyard because of all the meat they smoked.  They actually had the smoker going all day and then last night, she brought us some brisket fresh out of the smoker.  It was a great way to see how politics can bring people together.

Dave and I spent the afternoon cleaning up our yard.  14 bags later there is only one pile left.  I haven't been this sore in years.  When I picked Robin up from his nap, he was acting funny.  He felt warm.  As I walked him to his room to take his temp, he threw up all over me.  Temp turned out to be 102.3.  Robin spent the rest of the day resting on the couch before going to bed early.

The kids woke up early and Robin was fever free.  I pretty much just let the kids eat their candy at will, only occasionally cutting them off, so they learn how to manage candy intake themselves.

Linus was not happy about the idea of going to church or wearing a nice shirt.  It was an omen for how the day would go.  Linus cleans up nice and likes to do his hair.

Mass was crazy crowded.  I remember thinking last year that it was not very crowded at all.  Luckily, we ended up sitting with two families with daughters in Eileen's class.  They were so happy to be together and held hands throughout mass.  It was heartwarming and a reaffirming moment for joining the parish.

Eileen with two of her besties, Kathryn and Lucy.  Eileen looks like a young me at Easter, dressed up and slightly feral.  I don't love the bonnet, but we found it in the dollar bin of Target along with white gloves.  It was love at first sight for her.

After mass, we had the obligatory egg hunt and then Dave gave instructions on how to peel eggs.  None of the kids are huge fans of hard boiled eggs just yet.

I love Robin's expression here.

The kids did not appreciate my brunch.  No surprise there.  The big kids were having a rough morning, maybe it was the candy, maybe it was getting up early.  Who knows?  Either way, it was mandatory nap time for everyone (a perk to not hosting).  I woke up 2 hours later and went to get Robin.  Robin was very warm.  A temperature check reveal a fever of 103.3.  He was not a happy guy and spent the rest of the day lying on the couch.  Linus continued to have a rough day, but we worked through it.  Turns out that playing catch in the rain with Daddy, followed by a hot shower can go a long way to making things not seem so bad to a 7 year old.

Robin ate crackers for dinner.  Linus and Eileen were lukewarm to my dinner of meatball sub casserole (as seen on one of those Tasty videos in my Facebook feed) and lemon garlic green beans.  After dinner,  I put Robin to bed.  He fell asleep in my arms.  I played board games with Eileen and Linus until they both went to bed early. 

It was kind of a long day.  Thank you Jesus for dying for our sins.  Thank you Easter Bunny for bringing Reeses pieces in the shape of a carrot.  Thank you Dave for patiently dealing with an ornery child.  And thank you God that the kids are all in bed now.

Parenting Alongside Religion, Politics, and a Culture of Fear

No one said parenthood would be easy.  I knew that.  I worried about the world they would be inheriting.  My biggest fear about their future in the greater world was climate change.  I was thinking like 30-50 years in the future.  It never crossed my mind to worry in the same way about the world they lived in right now.

Linus' favorite radio station in NPR.  I'm careful to monitor how much he hears.  I really don't talk politics much with the kids.  I more focused on helping them develop good morals, values, and critical thinking skills.  However, listening to NPR often leads to good discussions in the car. 

The other day Linus and Eileen were both asking about Donald Trump and why people don't like him.  This led to a discussion on racism and the holocaust.  We've discussed racism before.  The kids are constantly flabbergasted by the idea that people would treat you badly because of the color of your skin or your religion.  The kids have several prominent people in their lives who happen to be Jewish.  They can't fathom the government hurting them simply for being Jewish.

As we discussed how racism and fear causes people to behave, the kids started to worry about what would happen if Donald Trump was elected.  Would Marla, their 8th grade babysitter, be taken away?  Would we move?  Not easy questions.  I don't want my kids to take on the worries of the world.

I took a moment and reflected on the people living in Europe during World War II.  I've often wondered what I would do if I had been in their position.  There were no easy choices.  Now that I have kids, I might be tempted to let someone else do the hard work so I could protect my family.  This led me to reflect on what it means to be a Christian.  Jesus would have embraced the immigrants, the poor, the mentally ill, the sex trafficked.  He definitely would not have supported the idea of the "Christian" candidate, Ted Cruz, to carpet bomb.  Being Christian meant being willing to be jailed or killed in order to stay true to their beliefs.

I don't want my legacy to be that in the face of horrific wrongs, I chose the easy route.  So my answer to Linus was this, "I don't think we would move.  This is our home.  I would hope that I could be brave.  I would hope that I would be willing to save those in need even if it meant risking my own safety." 

Believe it or not, this satisfied the kids.  Linus is old enough to understand the vitriol that Trump spews.  I don't want my kids to be scared.  Although is might sometimes feel like it, the world isn't ending no matter who is elected.  Adults are scared and angry, feeding the rise of candidates who promote racism, violence, and misogyny.  I'm trying to view the current political climate as an opportunity to plant the seeds of empathy. 

I frequently come back to the wise words of Ghandi, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

The Linus Day Spa

Linus noticed that he was getting on my nerves after getting back from vacation.  He decided he wanted to make me feel loved and appreciated.  Linus knows his mama well and knows how much I love pampering.  He decided to treat me to a spa day at home and enlisted his dad to help.

I was presented with an intake form on Thursday night.

I was impressed by how much thought he put into the idea.  Friday was used to gather some necessary materials.

Saturday began with sleeping in past 7 AM.  Upon waking, I was greeted with a bouquet of flowers, my drink order from Starbucks, and an almond croissant.  Linus turned on the fireplace in my room and lit an aromatic candle.  He was very excited to get on with the day and eventually coaxed me from bed and into a freshly drawn bubble bath, surrounded by candles.  Linus then entertained me with his ukelele.  After the bath, he cleaned up the mess of bubbles I left behind while I showered.

Downstairs, I enjoyed a second cup of coffee and reading my People magazine while Linus gave me a pedicure.  He took it very seriously.

I kind of love my bloody looking nails.  Eileen wanted to know if I had been very badly hurt.  Once the polish was dried, I was then instructed to lay upon a pillow and blanket on the floor while I received a massage.  Robin assisted using a back-scratcher.  Again, Dave was enlisted to help with the massage and gave Linus pointers along the way.

It was definitely one of the more relaxing mornings I had in a while. I was sure to give frequent and glowing accolades for his efforts.  By the end of the day I was a "last place mom" again, but my morning at the spa demonstrated that Linus doesn't stay angry for long and that he really does love his mama.  If this was only March, I can't wait to see what Mother's Day brings.

Hula Hula Keiki Keiki

"hula hula keiki keiki do the island hop now" -- Caspar Babypants

We finally took a real vacation.  Our most recent big vacation was when Eileen was about 20 months old.  Last year's vacation consisted of weekend family camp at Don Bosco and a couple days at Cama Beach. Using our shoebox savings, we booked a 10 day trip to the Big Island of Hawaii.  With the keiki (kids) in tow, it was really more of a trip than a vacation.

Oh my goodness I did not realize how much I needed a vacation.  Sometimes you get to a point when your body is just constantly tensed.  I had a massive sinus infection leading up to the trip.  We've all been so busy and working so much, it was truly amazing to just leave it all behind. 

The following is the proverbial vacation slide show. One of the best things about being on the Big Island is how not crowded it is.  We were often the only people where ever we went, even resort pools.  It was awesome.

We started our trip in Hilo, the wet, tropical side of the island.  It was wet, it was humid, and a little rundown. There were chickens everywhere walking around on this side of the island. We stayed at the Dolphin Bay Hotel.  The kids couldn't believe we would stay someplace that didn't have a pool.  It's a very basic place that probably has seen much in the way of an update since the 1970s.  I kind of loved it.  Linus wanted to know when we would be staying someplace nicer.  I gently informed him that staying in a nice hotel was not why we came to Hilo.  We came for waterfalls and the volcano.  It was cheap, had a separate bedroom, and a small kitchen.  The kids came to love our morning trips downstairs for complimentary coffee, cocoa, bananas, and banana bread. 

When traveling with kids, I like to stay places that have kitchens.  It's stressful and expensive to only eat in restaurants.  The kids were happy to eat cereal at 6 am versus being forced to wait to go out to eat.  It also lets us pack lunches for our adventures. I also like to stay places where I can run laundry.

Breakfast on the lanai.

We headed to Volcano National Park our first full day.  I have always wanted to see the lava flows.  I wish we had gone at night when it lights up.  It was still cool. 

At this time last year the caldera filled to within 10 feet of the top.  That would have been cool to see.

Linus embraced his Junior Ranger status while Robin was just happy to spend some time with his dada.

There really is a lot of hiking at the park, not all of it ideal for young children. We had fun checking out different lava flows and going through the Thurston Lava Tubes.

We swung by the Panaewa Rainforest zoo (it's free and has a cool play area) on the way back from the volcano.

The next day we set out to see some waterfalls.  This sign kept us giggling the whole trip.

No filter under a banyan tree at Rainbow Falls.

Eileen was too scared to go inside Kaumana Caves.

We also went to the 'Imoloa Astronomy Center.  I personally thought it was a bit pricey for what is was.  In the afternoon we drove to Pahoa and went swimming at Ahalanui Beach Park.  This place was awesome.  It is a naturally formed swimming hot spring that is fed by the volcano.   We investigated tree molds at Lava Tree State Park on the way.

Someone was exhausted by the end of the day.

We were only in Hilo for a couple of days before it was time to drive across the island for the next part of our vacation.  We took the scenic route and made sure to visit Akaka Falls.

We stayed at the Kohala Suites at Waikoloa Resorts for a week.  I was a bit frustrated with myself at first.  I didn't realize how far it was from Kona (40 minutes) or just how nice it was (crazy super nice, whoops).  Luckily, by our 3rd day there I was so glad we were staying where we did.  Kohala Suites was amazing, I wasn't that wowed by the big resort that was a 3 minute shuttle ride away.  Our place had the most spectacular pool.  It was so perfect and also warm enough for someone like me who is super sensitive to cold water.  It had two slides, a smooth bottom wading pool, and a slow beach approach with water spouts.  I wouldn't normally go on about a pool but it was so truly wonderful.

Waiting for the shuttle.

Linus was on an emotional roller coaster during the trip.  After a particularly big meltdown, he fell asleep in Dave's arms.  Eileen decided to put herself down for a nap.  Robin napped for 3 hours.  Big days makes for sleepy children.

The big Waikoloa Resort has 3 pools, two with lots of water slides.  Eileen and I agreed the water was just too cold.  While Dave and Linus swam and went down the slides, Eileen, Robin, and I had a good time in the children's sand pool.

The kids learned to entertain themselves while waiting for the shuttle back to our hotel.  Robin face planted right after I took the picture.

I won't lie.  There was a lot of screen time on this trip.  A lot.  Like crazy stupid amounts.  Our rental van came equipped with a DVD player.  We bought a DVD of classic Charlie Brown films.  Our whole family spent the trip singing "No dogs allowed."  The plane had individual media players.  Our hotel suite had three tvs, plus included video rental.  Additionally, we brought along an Ipad. 

Robin discovered a new love, Super Why.  I love how he keeps a smirk the whole time he is watching.


We didn't spend a whole lot of time in Kona due to driving time and the fact that it just isn't that great.  We drove a little further to visit Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Park.  It was beautiful.

Back in Kona, we went window shopping and had ice cream.  Eileen needed the requisite rainbow shaved ice.

 Robin decided he liked to hug poles and trees.  He squeezes them as tight as he can and says, "huuuug."  He would run from tree to tree until he was satisfied.

 Done window shopping, we went to Kahalulu Beach Park to play in the sand and snorkel.  There aren't a lot of sandy beaches on the island, even at the hotels.  This place had great snorkeling.  Robin and Eileen were fans of the sand.

Dave and Linus out snorkeling together.

We ended our day with dinner at the Kona Bay Brewing Company.  We loved it so much we ate there again for lunch the day we left.  

The day after our Kona exploration day, we went back down to Kona early in the morning for a turtle dolphin snorkeling trip.  It was an ill-fated trip to say the least.  Despite dramanine, I was seasick before we left the dock.  Within the first hour of the trip, I puked.  Robin puked all over Dave and then Linus puked in a garbage can.  I spent the trip laying in the fetal position with my eyes closed. I got seasick anytime I opened them.  Eileen sat next to me, very patiently considering she had zero interest in snorkeling, and scolded me every time I opened my eyes and reminded me I would get sick. I sat up at one point, feeling better.  This was a mistake because then I threw up again.  I have never been so glad to be on dry land.  In Dave's words, it was classic Charlotte.

After our snorkel trip, we visited a ukelele shop in town.  We purchased Linus a ukelele (he earned a big reward in February).  The shop owners were so awesome.  One of them sat down with Linus and gave him a free lesson.  Linus really took to the ukelele.  He practiced a lot and even composed a song.  Thank goodness for youtube videos.

We got dressed up to go out to eat..  Linus didn't want to be in the same pic as his sibs.

  

Having recovered from our snorkel trip, the next day we went to a public beach about 3 minutes from our hotel called A-bay.  It was an awesome beach, and we all had a great morning.  

 After the beach, I finally had the moment I had been waiting for.  I laid by the pool with a book, no children, and a lava flow in my hand.  It was everything I had dreamed.  I even got to repeat it the next day.  The rest of our trip with filled with pool time, a little bit of window shopping, a trip to Starbucks after dropping Dave off at Beach 69 to snorkel (he loves to snorkel), and more pool time.  We did end up joining Dave at the beach later to play after he had had sufficient time to snorkel without parental duties.

I love this picture of Eileen outside the Starbucks.

Our kids love a good sandy beach.  There were lots of other memorable moments from the trip:  Linus puking as we tried to get off the plane; capturing a gecko in our hotel room and seeing it throw it's tail;  Robin entering toddler mode and hiding the keys to the car;  Eileen telling everyone we met that she was skipping school; and seeing a sea turtle off a public pier in Hilo.  Another fun aspect of the trip was that Robin decided he wanted to potty train when we got to Hawaii.....

The trip was fun, it was exhausting.  I think Maui is my favorite Hawaiian island, but I don't regret the decision to visit the big island at all.  The kids miss Hawaii already and keep asking when we will go back.   We made so many memories.  I think my big take away is that there will never be a great time to go on vacation.  There will always be things that need to get done, but it is important to step away.  I barely thought about life at home during the trip.  We needed the chance to reconnect as a family in a way we couldn't do in just a long weekend in Seattle.