Keeping 'em Busy

There are several activities to keep one's self busy at a track meet. However, if you are a spectator, you basically just sit. Therefore it takes a certain amount of patience between watching events. If you are almost 2-years-old or just turned 3-years-old, the wait can be pretty miserable. My two kids have found a variety of ways to keep occupied during track meets and last weekend at the state CIF meet was no exception.

They had a tent to play in, snacks to eat, cups to fill with whatever little treasures they found, fellow spectators to entertain (under mom's supervision of course), a wagon to play in, a nearby tree from which to pull off the bark (hey, I'll take what I can get) and although I don't condone tying up your kids to keep them under control, if they bungee cord THEMSELVES to a fence, well then, that's another story altogether...

Twirling Sticks

After making my princess some petticoats (see previous craft post) I had lots of ribbon scraps and several fake flower stems left over. Basically it's a stiff wire with green plastic coating over it. I wasn't sure what to do with them but figured they had to be good for something. Here's what I did:
Trim the plastic off of one end of the fake flower stem. Take about a yard or so of ribbon and tie it to the exposed wire end of the stem. Fold the wire over the ribbon knot and then wind it around the top of the stem to hold the ribbon securely. That's it! For a couple of them I added extra different colors & sizes of ribbon for more flare. Simple, sure, but I'll tell you that both of my kids play with them constantly. Of course, she dances with them and he pretends it's a whip (don't worry, they're too soft to hurt) or a fishing pole, but play is play, right?

PS-I suppose this would also make a great cat chase toy but we don't own cats so you'll have to test that out on your own.

Backyard Camping

Have you heard of the Southern California Wildfires? Well, they put a real damper on our ability to make a bonfire or even have a fire pit in our back yard. So they burned down to our neighbor's house across the street a few years back, so what? It's a real bummer that someone can tell you what you can and cannot do on your own property, that's all I'm sayin'. As a result, our backyard camping would be a lot less fun. So our resolution to this problem is to go to the campground that is about 10 miles away where they let complete randoms build fires in their fire pits anonymously unsupervised (like that's SO much safer).
The nice thing about the national campground being so close is that we can go after my honey gets off work and still have a full evening to enjoy the camping experience. So we went Tuesday night and had a great time. We were all set up in time to let the kids ride their tricycles around a bit (yay for level pavement!) and go for a hike.
After all that physical activity we were ready for dinner so Daddy built a campfire to cook our hotdogs.
There was just enough time after dinner for a few rounds of hide-&-seek (see Daddy behind the tree?)
Once it began to get dark, the kids took their places on our laps and we made some ooey-gooey smores over the campfire. Since the campground may as well be in our backyard, we just made our way home after we were all pooped and got to sleep in our own beds. All in all, a very nice night of camping without the rocks in your back as you slept.

They look innocent enough

But as I sat there I thought "they're being too quiet"...

As it turns out, she had her right arm buried elbow deep in dirt and he had picked 1/2 the flower petals off of one of the plants...never trust the silence.

Mail order tests my faith

We ordered eight hydrangeas via mail-order catalog recently and when they arrived they looked like this:
I was frustrated but planted them immediately and the next day they looked like this:
That wasn't very promising but a week later it was even worse:
I figured I would give the poor guys a break though and keep some faith. Soon after, they were nothing but sticks poking their little brown stubs out of the dirt. I have been watering them diligently and though virtually everyone told me that they were goners, five of the eight now look like this:
So 5/8 isn't too bad of a ratio (there's a guarantee on them just in case) but really, after all of that, how could I give up on the other three yet? For now I'm keeping the faith.

B-B-B-Bad...

Years from now, when trying to impress chicks, he'll look back on this picture and say "From the day I was born, the nurses all gathered 'round and they gazed in wild wonder at the joy they had found. The head nurse spoke up, said 'leave this one alone' she could tell right away that I was bad to the bone..."Of course, he'll leave out the part that his Great-Grandparents bought it for him and that he would have to wrestle his big sister for his turn...

Blog updates

You may have noticed that I've changed a few things on this blog:
1) to the left, you can now see what I'm spending most of my time blogging about
2) if you missed a day or two, you can now click on the time span in a list format

And best of all:
3) I have permanently added a quote by Roosevelt at the bottom of my blog that I heard a long time ago and was said even longer ago but still holds true today (especially here in Southern California). This is a good reminder that to be an American one must have unilateral loyalty. Period. I am 50% Danish but you wouldn't see me going around telling people I'm "Danish-American" nor would I ever hang any flag other than Old Glory on my home (which I proudly do).

There's only one flag worth waving. Those who don't believe that do a disservice to this country and all loyal Americans.

Mary Quite Contrary...

How does my garden grow? Very well, thanks for asking!
Here's some sugar snap peas that have sprouted...
And some strawberries that are beginning to show fruit...
I even have some raspberries springing up in my vinca! Watching all of this happen makes you really appreciate the magic of sunshine & water.

A Mountain Workout

With track season winding down and summer approaching, I am always looking for some way to burn off a few extra calories (lately it seems the caloric intake>output). One of my favorite ways to burn calories is going for a jog. All the area around us is hills so it would be a perfect layout. Unfortunately, up here in the mountains most roads are too narrow and windy to go very far. I do have approximately a mile loop that our house is on but I'd find myself running in circles and I don't do that well. Plus, I don't suppose thered be much tolerance from the little ones when I needed to lock them in a closet until I get home.
The happy compromise has come in the form of taking the kids for a walk. Now, any mother of a 1 or 3 year old knows that their pace leaves something to be desired. I've figured out a great way to resolve this by pulling them in their wagon. They get out and enjoy the sunshine, I get a mile of workout while pulling 70ish pounds of resistance. Isn't it nice to find win-wins?

Back in the Swing of Things

We drove almost 30 hours north to visit family last Wednesday-Thursday and then made the trip back down here this Monday-Tuesday so it's taken me a little while to get back in the swing of things. On Friday we spent the morning with Grandma then she watched the kids while I went to help sis with her track practice. She's got some pretty good hurdlers for 7th & 8th graders.
Saturday we spent all day at my niece's league finals track meet where she got 4th, 2 5ths, a 6th and a 7th (that's 5 events, but we're not really counting). Since there were 10 schools there that means that there were somewhere between 20-30 kids in each event, so that's pretty respectable finishing if you ask me. Her 7th place came when she WON her heat in a hurdles race, so really, you can't ask much more than that. She's quite the little speed demon.
Sunday we got to relax around the house for the morning and then we went with Aunti, Cousins, Grandma & my best friend from high school and her kids (10 of us girls altogether) to a play in Portland called "Petite Rouge". It was a cute rendition of little red riding hood, except spun in a Cajun version. The LRRH was a duck and the big bad wolf was really a crocodile. We also got to go out to lunch before hand and had some strawberries & angel food cake when we got home so it was a good day all around.

I was exhausted when we got home after having very little sleep the previous 2 days. Somehow the week has gotten away from me and now it is already Friday! Tomorrow is our big state track meet where two of my hurdlers will be competing in both hurdle events. They are total rock stars in my book. Come Sunday I will probably be tired again and sunburned but looking forward, I know it will be worth it. All those trips that wear you out through the day after are always the best ones.

A Fun Evening

Since tomorrow is our last track meet of the year I suggested to all of the hurdlers that they have pasta for dinner to stock up on carbs before their big day. They, of course, had the great idea that pizza constitutes "pasta" and so we planned dinner together at the local pizza place. It was also a nice way to celebrate the last practice and meet for the year.

It all started innocently enough, with some food and playing the video games and air hockey but then it somehow took a turn. One person wanted to jump in the lake...then another said "I'm in" and before I knew it I was walking with all of them down to the dock to watch their antics. I have to say there is no way I would have gotten in that freezing water with them but they all looked like they had a great time doing it. I guess you have to be careful what you say around high school kids and perhaps rethink your phrasing when you suggest that they "go jump in a lake"...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Crazy Kids

We had a very nice time visiting with friends the other morning. Mommy got to scrapbook and the kids, well, they were kids. There are days when they just NEVER get along with anyone...and then there are days like this one, when they were sharing their treats and playing in a tent~

A Walk in the Clouds

The other morning we were headed to a friend's house off the mountain and while driving along the rim I just had to pull over and take a picture. Some days it feels like we're living on Mt. Olympus...

Another day at the Zoo

Last week we went to the zoo again (with annual passes, it's virtually the cheapest thing we can do) and of course, the kids loved it. We got to do the sea lion show for the first time and it seems like every time we go there we find something he hadn't seen before. In particular, the kids love the children's petting zoo. My little man likes to chase the goats yelling "Dog! Dog!" and my little girl likes to use the "Big Girl" bathrooms (Translation: Potties so close to the ground that you're basically sitting on the floor and sinks at your knees). Oh yeah, I guess seeing all of the the wild animals was fun for them too~
I suppose they would have been more excited about these guys if they'd seen the Lion King. Have you noticed that ever since that movie came out everyone knows these little guys' names? Nobody could have cared less about these little guys or the wart hogs before that. Nice going Timon & Pumbaa.

What to Make

Just ask my kids, chickens say "cheap cheap"...well this one really is, to the tune of about $1.50 per serving, including adding grain (rice/pasta/bread) and vegi side dishes.

This one is as easy as it gets. I got it out of one of my magazines this month. Take chicken and put it in an oven dish. Brush it with an equal mixture of brown mustard, honey and soy sauce. Cook it at 375 for 15 minutes. Brush again then cook for another 15 minutes at 375. Totally easy and very good.

I served it with barley mixed with peas. I had never made barley before but you make it just like rice so it's easy and a bit heartier than plain rice. There's a new addition to my recipe book.

The life of a 3 year old

She gets up every morning and rushes in to give us kisses. Then it's down to breakfast and "Mom, is Sesame Street on yet?" The next couple hours are full of play with toys and the sporadic errand in the car. From there she moves on to lunch, which she takes an hour to eat, and then a quick nap before track practice. All of the high-school kids love her and she feels the same. It's one of the highlights of her day. On the way home we sometimes stop at the supermarket and she usually asks to ride in the cart shaped like a truck. Her next priority is making it home to see her dog (whom she is quick to tell you that she's the boss of) and her Daddy (who she wishes she was the boss of). After helping to make dinner and some time at the table with the family, she forces down the last of dinner in the hopes of earning dessert by finishing it all. Another hour with family and toys then it's off to bed with a book from each of her parents an more of those wonderful kisses.

There is so much to do when you're three that it is hard sometimes to take it all in, especially with a 1.75-year-old brother butting in all the time. Here's what you get from all that when you give her her own camera to capture it all....

What to Make

I was craving something sweet but didn't want the a heavy snack so here's what I made:

Put a sheet of parchment paper each on two cookie sheets. Spread out popped popcorn on the parchment paper. Then in a saucepan melt 1/2c butter, 3/4c sugar, a 3oz package of any flavor of jello, 1T of corn syrup & 3T water. Let all of that come to a boil and bring it to around 250 degrees (somewhere around 5 minutes). Take the pot off the heat and add a small amount of baking soda. It'll get all fun and fizzy and foamy. Pour the jello foam all over the popcorn and cook it in a 250 degree oven for 10 minutes. Stir around the popcorn 'n jello goodness and cook it for another 10 minutes in the same 250 degree oven. This made way way way more popcorn than we could possibly have eaten so there's loads of leftovers but not to worry, the popcorn gets all crunchy when it cools off and stores well.....not that it will have to for long :)

A Case of the Toddlers

My daughter: "Doctor, I have a terrible case of the toddlers"
Docter: "Change your dress five to ten times a day and see if that helps"

My son: "Doctor, I have a terrible case of the toddlers"
Doctor: "Go for a walk and every five steps you take, pick up a rock or stick then throw it and see if that helps"

My Mookie Chookie Boy

Every little toddler goes through a phase of learning to speak and not exactly getting the words right. For example, the golden arches around our family are referred to as "Old MacDonalds" and my blueberry loving daughter was often known to request "Boobies" (!). My little man is no exception to the rule but has decided to come up with his own terms rather than try to master the existing English language. Case in point: "Mookie Chookie". This term has been come to identify anything that is neat or fun or amazing or exciting or great or wonderful...you get the picture. So for example, yesterday the kids and I spent some time washing, cleaning, vacuming and detailing our cars and enjoying the beautiful sunshine. My son was elated to be able to sit in the driver's seat and practice his driving while I was cleaning and promptly proclaimed "Mookie Chookie!" There was also a day recently when I turned on some music (which they both love) in the toy room for a little dance party. The sound of the music starting was enough to merit a big "Mookie Chookie".

Isn't raising kids at this age great? I just love it. It makes me Mookie Chookie all over.

The Lockwoods

We recently had the great pleasure of spending a weekend with Aunt Sarah & Uncle Wally up North and had a fantastic time. We spent the first day out on the river, fishing and soaking up the sun while the kids played in the snow-runoff freezing water. Then we spent the next day on the lake where it was warm enough to make us want to jump into the lake despite it's chilly temperature as well.
We got to do lots of other fun stuff too, like playing jenga (Uncle Chris is a master), cooking up a world-class barbecue and playing in Uncle Wally's empty keg (he works in a brewery, and has no kids, thus no toys so cut him some slack). The kids had a wonderful time as did daddy & I, despite our sunburns we both dealt with on Monday morning. As is often the case, dealing with a sunburn is often the sign of a fun weekend.