September 11, 2012

Reading is so important

This weekend Z-Man got a care package from my grandma!  Can I get a GOOO Grandma!!  It had paints and crayons and coloring books and a sweet letter telling Z to share his supplies with his friends.  So awesome!

In addition to the art supplies were a ton of books!  No one's complaining.  Mostly Halloween books which Z is big time into.  He has even tried on his Simba costume from last year to see if he can be him again this year.  (Too small).

So last night Z is getting ready for bed and I tell him to pick a book to read.  He proudly chooses a Winnie the Pooh book as pictured below.

First, I gotta tell you this thing is over 40 pages!  No Cat in the Hat style 40 pages where there's a line or two on each page.  No Doctor!  This guy has a long paragraph on each and every page.  Grandma is really testing my reading skills.

Walt Disney's Winnie the Pooh and a day for Eeyore

So we're reading this book and after two pages I'm saying things like, "Maybe tonight we only read this one book?"  and "I'm thinking maybe we read about half this book so we can read another book?"

Z has some mad negotiation skills so he's already countering with, "How about we read a couple more pages and then we're good and Daddy reads another book?"  All while patting my hand loveingly.  Sometimes he is just too much!

C is in our room next door folding laundry.  (Gotta love a man that will fold laundry!  Love you C)  I'm reading about Pooh and this pine cone that fell on his head and he going to do something else and suddenly the pine cone falls in the water.  Oh Pooh is on a bridge over the water btw.

Pooh notices the pine cone was on one side of the bridge and then magically came out the other side!  So he decides to make a game of throwing pine cones over the bridge to see them float in the water and he's going to call it "Pooh Sticks".  I cannot make this stuff up!

Your first question is perhaps "Why Pooh Sticks"?  Oh the book answers that...  Pooh reasons it is easier to carry a handful of sticks than and armload of pine cones to the bridge so immediately alters his game (as well as the name of said game).

I am reading this to my son.  I slow down to look at what I just read.  "Pooh Sticks"  I pause.  C hollers from the other room, "What's the game called?"  That's when I just lost it and start giggling like a 13 year old boy making fart sounds with his buddy.

This is probably 100% an inside joke but C and I say "Oh Pooh Sticks" all the time.  Well, less now that Z is around and we don't want him to say it around his teachers and then we have to endure that conversation.

So I cannot get through the rest of the page.  I mean tears were streaming down my face!  It doesn't help that Pooh's friends join in and each get their own stick to throw into the water to play the game.

Oh and I can hear C in the next room crying laughing as well.  Neither one of us can stop laughing.  Then I look at Z and he's just patiently looking at the pictures in the book.

Remember when your teacher would tell you to stop laughing and that just made it even harder to stop?  That was me.  Just trying like crazy to not find Pooh Sticks so funny.  Especially since ultimately it really isn't that funny.

Now I'm trying to choke out innocent lines in the book like "I expect my stick's stuck." and just laughing and laughing.  The joke, if you can call it that, is completely lost on poor little Z man who finally says, "Why are you laughing so hard Mommy?"

Eventually, I regain my composure and get through my laughing/crying fit and am able to finish the page. PHEW!  Then Eeyore enters the story and things turn dark pretty quickly as you can imagine.  We got halfway through it and will finish it tonight.  Thrilling conclusion!

So there you have it.  Thanks Grandma!  Not only did you give Z a great gift but you gave C and I a good solid 5 minutes of belly aching, tear streaming laughter.  I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard at something so downright silly.  When was the last time you found your "Child within"?

September 6, 2012

Horsing around



"Mommy can you come play with me?" Such sweet words can melt my heart. At times they can also sting when I really need to start dinner or wrap up something for work.

Usually I'm on board. The other day we were playing with all his horses. He has A LOT of horses. A couple have seen better days.  My sister, the Queen, gave Z a cute set of horses for his second birthday. There were a dozen or so and plastic covered with fur. Just the right size and super cute. Z plays with them all the time.

He is now three and a half.  The other day as we played with all his horses I said, "hmmm maybe we should get rid of some of these horses that are looking king of yucky?"

He said, "Which ones?  Why?"  So I pointed out two and said they just weren't doing too well. One had most of the fur peeled off and looked like it had fur leg warmers.  The other had half legs (C's attempt to even out the legs when one broke).  See photo above with one sort of normal looking horse and the two other horses.

He said, "No Mommy. Maybe the horses are saying 'I like having no fur and short legs." 

Well ok. We'll keep the horses. Never too old to learn from a child. 

August 31, 2012

Silver Sliver



All families have traditions.  Some are pretty standard like baking certain cookies around the holidays.  Others can be weird clever zany unique like the Silver Sliver.  When I was kid my grandparents always had coffeecake for dessert after dinner at their house.  Most people in the world cut at least a one inch slice of coffeecake.  Not my family.

For some reason we would sliver the thing to death!  I'm sure it started out innocently enough with Grandma asking my dad or grandpa if they wanted a piece and they said, "Maybe just a sliver."  (With hand in the air and thumb and pointer finger gesturing a tiny amount).

August 28, 2012

Summer 2012: recap

Guess where I am on this lovely August summer Saturday?  Work.  Yes, that's right work.  I just glanced out my window (I mean work window) at Mt Rainier which is some consolation I guess.  Let's not forget my tummy is also packed with Specialties egg and cheese sandwich, fruit, BRIE (Like good ooey gooey Brie), and coffee. 

So, is this the recap of summer 2012?  Kind of.  I remember back in school teachers would assign papers with a page minimum and I always hated that.  Well, in general I hated writing papers but then to require it be FIVE WHOLE PAGES!  Geez!  I could pretty much get in and out stating what I needed to in one page. Heck, one paragraph.  Succinct.  Then I had to BS the other four pages and wonder why I got a C on the paper.  What's proof reading anyway? 

So yeah "What I did this summer" could be summed up thusly; work, layers, t-ball, walking, zoo, Chelan, Chicago, and love.  Save and print.  Mr. Claudon would be so proud.

You are probably thinking, "I thought you were working? What's up blogging while at work?"  Yeah you got me there.  I'm at work but choosing not to work.  Get it?  Need more?  OK.  So I'm a database developer in case you didn't know.  My team works on projects for several months in a play environment (Or in this case 6 months) and then during off-hours we release everything we have worked on to the live environment for others to enjoy.  Often we can release Friday evening but this is a biggie so we are releasing on a Saturday.  So I'm here at work at 7am to who knows when waiting for everything to release and be checked.  As Mom and Dad so often used to say to my sis and me, "No Comment."

Moving on...  Seattle has had mild summer weather.  Upper 70s would be considered a hot day here.  It took until mid-July to really get to these kind of temps.  There have been some days in the 80s and even a few days in the 90s (which I thankfully missed).  Truth?  I like upper 70s just fine so really no complaints from me.  Pretty much summer in Seattle is all about wearing/bringing plenty of layers.

Z-man is all about the sprinkler and slip and slide (Yep they still make them!).  Our yard is all shade by 4pm so it can be pretty chilly back there for slipping and sliding.  Poor guy.  Summers are for kids and to not have good hot days to run through the sprinkler sucks.  He doesn't care though.  True to a Seattle kid he's ready to take his shirt off once it is over 50 degrees. "Mom, I'm sweaty" which means he wants to take his shirt off.  Let's not even talk about his "Summer feet."   I'm pretty sure he could walk on glass without injury.

Our neighbor coached a T-ball team and Z was on the team!  He was a purple pirate dragon.  Get this, the kid bats lefty. My man!  He had a game once a week and the kids and parents had a blast.  The kids took turns playing in the dirt or chasing the ball as a pack for two whole innings.  It was adorable.  He's looking to be a slugger and is my child when he gets mad if he doesn't like his hit.

In the Spring Emily gave me a FitBit which is a fancy schmancy pedometer.  I aim for 10,000 steps per day.  Having a desk job means I was getting about 2000 - 3000 steps per day.  Now, I'm taking a couple 10-15 minute walks per work day and it is making such a difference.  Not only am I more fit but clearing my head really helps me be more productive at work.

My sister-in-law, Katherine, told me about MyFitnessPal app for my phone (and online).  I am pleased to report I have logged most or all of my food into this app for over 130 days in a row!  Wah-huh?  I've never done anything for that long in my life!  The app syncs with the FitBit which is super awesome!  I'm loving this routine and it is the easiest "Diet" I've ever been on.  Finally able to report my favorite pair of pre-prego jeans from 3.5 years ago finally fits!

Seattle's zoo, Woodlawn Park Zoo, has ZooTunes in the summer.  Super kid-friendly concerts that start at 6 and end by 9pm.  They are on the lawn and you bring a blanket and picnic.  Too fun and I always wish I could go to more shows.  This year we saw Ziggy Marley one night and then Steve Earle and Los Lobos another night.  FUN! 

Finally in August I took a week off of work.  We went to Lake Chelan for four days with my sister and her family, my dad and J-Mo, and my brother-in-law and sister-in-law.  It was in the upper 90s (Eastern Washington is a high desert) so the water felt amazing! 

The second half of my week off we flew into Chicago to celebrate my in-laws 40th wedding anniversary.  WOW!  40 years!  It was a really fun weekend and we saw almost everyone but sadly not nearly everyone.  There are MANY people on my hit list next visit.  Too many to name but you know who you are! We had pizza three times, Chicago hot dog, bags upon bags of Oke Doke cheese popcorn, Italian beef twice, and White Castle sliders once (once is really enough, oh boy!).  C even had a pizza puff which I snagged a bite.  Drool pizza puff.  So wrong yet so right.  I had to be rolled onto the airplane and am not even upset about it.  That's what Chicago does to you.

Now, we are back home and Z and C have been best buds for the whole week and then part of next week.  It is really awesome to see how close they are.  This morning as I tiptoed out of the house for work the boys were still asleep in bed and looked so cute and peaceful.  Did I mention Z comes into our bed several nights a week at about 3-4 in the morning.  Mostly he's a snuggler so it is ok but the nights he is a kicker can be rough.  So yeah I love my boys more than anything and can't wait to be with them.  SOON!

I hope you had a nice summer.  Tell me all about it!!!  Bring on the fall fun!

May 8, 2012

Life Happens

April 29th was my sister, AKA the Queen's, 40th birthday.  Her hubby, Kickball Ken, threw her a somewhat surprise birthday bbq party.  I say somewhat surprise because she knew there was going to be a birthday bbq but only thought family was coming.  He surprised her by inviting all her friends.  Very sweet!

One of our friends, David, was in attendance.  I asked how he was doing and he gave me a quick catch me up.  He then said, "I know you've been super busy!"  I opened my mouth and took a deep breath about to launch into my try-to-be-quick-but-never-am catch him up when he says, "I know this because you haven't blogged in months and you aren't on Facebook anymore."  Well, there you have it.

So what happened?  Really, I'm not sure.  I guess life happened.  Like most things in life some things have been good and some things have been not so good.  Then there's getting back into the swing of things and forgetting to make time for favorite past times like blogging.

You know how you don't talk to a good friend for a couple weeks and then it slips into a couple months to maybe even a whole year?  Then you realize gee I haven't talked with so-and-so in ages!  What would I say? There's so much that's happened.  Yet at the same time, nothing.  Yes, so I have been feeling this way about writing again.  What to say?  Where to start?  What's important?

I started making a list.  I hope to get to writing about some of the things on it.  I've been cooking some wonderful things and thinking a picture would be in order.  Yet I don't find my way to the camera.  More often than not I don't even think to get the camera.  Maybe that's the problem.  Could it be writer's block?  I'm certainly having no trouble now.  Well, ok you got me.  Now I'm just rambling.

Here are the highlights of my life since Feb 28, my last post.

Z-Man turned THREE!  All Grandparents were in town for what the Queen calls "Prom in March for Z".  I'm sure she means it affectionately right?

My dad, the Dude, got double pneumonia complete with a collapsed lung and needed pretty much emergency surgery.  He was in Flagstaff when it all came to a head so the Queen and I went there to be with him and J-Mo.  We were so glad we did and were incredibly thankful our husbands stepped up to the plate as Mr Moms.  Love you guys!

He's doing much better (yesterday he rated himself feeling at 85%) but believe me when I tell you it was the scariest week to date in my life.  I'm pretty sure Dad can say the same.  Lesson learned:  if you're over 65 get your pneumonia vaccine!  Don't mess around.

I have a whole new appreciation for travel.  Everyone kept asking us if we were going to Flag for business or pleasure.  Um neither.  I just sat on the plane to Phoenix with my eyes closed and let tears stream down my face.  Dad and J-Mo said to "Enjoy the beautiful drive to Flagstaff".  I know I saw a cactus and it was uphill and long.  What I told my dad once home was Arizona is a lot prettier when I know my dad is ok.  The drive to the airport was lovely!

My sister-in-law, Marcy, visited for a long weekend.  That was super duper.  Sadly, it was days after I returned from Flag and I was still fighting a stress-induced nasty cold/depression.  I just wasn't myself.  Recently, C, his bro, Ed, and my sis all had birthdays. Loving the family times!

Since Flagstaff and Marcy's visit I've been playing pretend everything is normal until it does.  You know, fake it til you make it.  Luckily, I made it and a week or so ago finally felt back to my normal self.  I've got lots to tell you about.  Remember, I have a list.

What have you been up to the last 2.5 months?    Do tell!

February 28, 2012

Sunday Pizza: 02.26.2012


Happy Leap Day!  Is that what you say?  What do you say?  Nothing I guess.  Oh well.  Right now I'm multi-tasking. That's right I'm working while blogging! (at 9pm!)  Yes, guilt guilt send me jewels, flowers, candy, and a masseuse.  


February 1, 2012

Corn Dog Waffles


One of the best parts of having a child is getting to relive many of your childhood memories.  The smell of something like carving a pumpkin brings me back to carving my own pumpkins with my dad and sister as a little girl.  Hearing a certain song or playing with a toy and I'm right back in my old house again.  Amazing!

Foods have the same impact.  I've succumbed to keeping kid food around the house.  Stuff that when I was a kid I loved like mac and cheese, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, cheese pizza.

This summer we went to a state fair.  In the cow barn they were milking cows and Z was fascinated.  On the way out we noticed a vending machine with ice cold milk.  Not just milk.  Chocolate milk. PINK milk!

January 23, 2012

Sunday Pizza: 01.14.2012


"Brothers don't shake hands!  Brothers gotta HUG!"  That guy in the picture up there isn't C with hair, clean jeans, and a tan.  Nope that's his nearly twin brother, Ed!  Look familiar?  Ah yes, because Ed and his wife, Katherine, were on the pizza bench in June.






We are just busting because... drum roll please... They.  Are.  Moving.  HERE!!!  Can I get a Woop Woop!!  I never ever dreamed this would happen but it is!  Woo Hoo!  (side note - they have NO idea what they just signed on for!)

January 2, 2012

Tomatillo Salsa!


Phones.  I have a smart phone.  My son is not yet three and can unlock it (no password) and start the "Mommy Game" and play puzzle after puzzle for nearly 20 minutes.  Scary!

What's sad, to me, is that he will probably never know the satisfaction of slamming the phone down.  You know, really hanging up on someone.  Seems the click on the other end was louder and the caller knew you meant business.  Now, you have to tap the "End" bar.  Lame.

I started cooking at a young age.  I remember making doctored up mac and cheese for my sister and me.  The orange powder never quite dissolved properly when you sprinkled it on the noodles and stirred as directed.  Blach!  So once the noodles were ready I would get out our tiny, little saucepan and heat up the milk and butter on the lowest of low heat.  When it was bubbling I added the orange powder and stirred.