Vacation Sunday

I forgot to mention that this vacation was a complete surprise to the kids. We told them that we were going to drive to Portland for the weekend and that they were going to take Monday off. I had them frantically finishing homework on Friday night in preparation for what they thought was one day off from school. August was not too happy about the extra work load that day.
On Saturday we woke up and packed ourselves into the car. The kids were none the wiser. Andrew came along and we just passed it off that he was coming to Portland with us. As we were heading towards the airport Trey started telling Andrew about how being a parent is a lot of fun and that sometime you can play tricks on your kids. Like the time I told August that the bees and ants had an alliance and when a kid stepped on an ant the bees would come sting the kid. August believed it for a long time.
Trey then said something about how funny it would be if we weren't really going to Portland and were going to Disney instead. Hazel screamed and August said, "No, that wouldn't be funny because it wouldn't be true." I had to convince them by showing them all the secret texts between me and their Aunt Amy.
Needless to say, August didn't complain when we got on the plane and I pulled out his real stack of homework for the week. I've never seen this boy cruise through math so fast!

On Sunday we were still at Scott and Amy's house. The weather was perfect for a hike and after striking out on the first location (closed due to fire damage), we found this cool place.
The kids jumped from rock to rock, crossed a river and found walking sticks and even discovered some tad poll eggs.
And their Uncle Scott tried to splash them all by throwing huge rocks into the river.
A good time was had by everyone.

Vacation Day 1

We took the kids out of school last week for a much needed vacation. Visiting California is such an easy get away for us as the Reynolds live out there. We spent a few days with them at their house and then drove out to Disney for 3 days and then back to the Reynolds.
The kids had a wonderful time playing with each other. It just gets better and better every time they get together.

Thursday with Friends

Here's the whole day in photos:

And we even saw some animals:

Point Defiance Zoo

Hangin' with the Bazan family and Francis at the zoo.

Traditions

A long time ago, back when you could jam too many bodies into a full size van or a station wagon, back when we didn't have to wear seat belts, back when my brother Scott could curl up in the way back with a book and fall asleep, we used to look outside when we went on drives.
I know, sounds crazy, but we did! We watched the landscape change, we looked at fellow passengers and either waved or made faces at them. But mostly? My dad had us looking for birds. Hawks to be exact. We'd keep our eyes gazing up into the sky, towards the tops of trees.
The kid who found the hawk first always felt great. My dad would say, "Good eye Jenny!" or "Wow, I didn't see that one." or, "Yup, I noticed that one too!"

I've told my kids about this game. About how we'd have to keep our eyes peeled to see the difference between a big pigeon or a black bird and a hawk. I've told them about the good feeling I used to get whenever I found one.

My kids are just now getting it. They've spent most of their car time with their noses in their personal game systems. Recently we drove to Portland and we made them take half hour breaks between screen time. It wasn't half bad. We even played the alphabet game. Remember that one? Find the next letter on passing signs?

I still find myself looking up when I'm riding in the car. I still feel proud when I spy a hawk. Today, while the kids and I were driving to Bellevue to pick something up we saw a bald eagle. Funny how exciting it is to see one and yet I've seen two this week! I hope it never gets old.

Multnoma Falls

We moved to Washington about 10 years ago. We love it. We love the fact that on a clear day you can see mountains in just about every directions. As much as we adore living here, we haven't taken advantage of all the amazing places we have access to. Many of our friends take regular trips to the mountains to go skiing or travel a few miles to some hidden cabin in the woods. Our family has taken a number of road trips to Portland and it is a great escape from our regular lives.
Trey had a show in Portland he needed to go to which would've meant he'd be gone for a big chunk of our weekend. So we asked Andrew if he could watch the dogs and loaded up the kids and their swim suits and took a last minute overnight trip down I5. Trey thought it might be fun to drive a little bit further and stop off to see Multnomah Falls on our way into Portland. I'm so glad he did. Despite my fear of heights, we trekked up the path towards the bridge that looks straight at the water fall. It was beautiful. I gave August a chance to take some pictures, and then Hazel took her turn. It wasn't a long trip, but it was at the perfect time.

Survival

Each year the kids' school encourages families to participate in the National Turn Off the TV week. We generally don't have the TV on Monday through Thursday. At first we did this because it just made things easier for us. We set the plan with August and when he'd come up to one of us asking to watch Arthur or Lazy Town we'd look at him and ask what day it was. He quickly caught on and learned that he shouldn't even ask. The plan worked so well that we just continued it. At this point I'm not sure we'd even have time for the kids to watch TV during the week. What with School of Rock and the school play, then add the hour and a half (if we're lucky) of homework on top of that and we're rushing for dinner to be done before 8pm so that Hazel can get her reading in before lights out. So, when the note came home that this year's event would be starting January 8 and continue through the 15th we just assumed we'd all do it. Hazel was excited to sign the contract while August conveniently kept forgetting his. When you have a mom who works in your school it's really hard to get away with anything...so I just grabbed a new contract and had him reluctantly sign the form.
Friday night has typically been our movie night but last Friday we changed it up and played Pictureka together. Man, Hazel is good at this game. She can find the needed item so quickly it's shocking. It was already a late night and we could only fit 2 rounds in before bed...but we survived the first night!
Saturday we made waffles together and spent most of the day out of the house, ending with pizza at the Nyssen's. We had to inform them that we weren't watching TV/playing video games because the boys are now programed to go right to the game system when they see each other. The kids spent their time going through all of Francis' new toys while the parents had great conversations over the kitchen table.
Sunday was another busy day with little time spent sitting...and then, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...we made it!
On the 15th the school welcomed all the families who participated to come back at 6:00 to play board games and use the gym for a few hours. I had some running around to do between play rehearsal which ended at 5:30 and the family event so the kids went over to our back yard neighbor's house to eat a quick dinner and hit the school.
Once we finally made it home a strange thing happened. It got very quiet in my house. August slipped into his room and Hazel disappeared to her room. I was rather tired from subbing and then going right to rehearsals so I just sat on the couch for a minute before I walked around my silent house wondering what my children were doing.
August was found on his bed with his DSi and earbuds...Hazel? You guessed it...same thing. They stayed this way for at least 1/2 hour before I encouraged them both to hit the sack.

I don't feel badly about them retreating to their personal game systems. I think they already have limited screen time as it is but I'm thinking that we might want to change our policy up just a bit. Two Friday nights in a row spent playing board games...it was a good thing. Friday night might be the only night that we don't feel that rush to get things done. No one needs to get up early the next day so bedtime can be flexible. Homework can wait until sometime Sunday meaning that we can have dinner together without rushing...which just might leave us some time to sit around the coffee table with a game or two...wanna come over?

Jobs Revisited

About a year ago I posted this post about family life and the responsibilities that were given to the kids in my family growing up. I found myself thinking about it after dinner and thought I would revisit the ideas that were written.

We had pot roast tonight for dinner. It was perfect. Trey brought August home from a cold night of soccer ready to eat a warm, hardy meal. Conversation was flowing, we talked about our days, about the good and the bad. August is still struggling with finding the good in his day but honestly, it's so much better than it was this time last year. It was so encouraging to re-read the old post and realize that things are shifting in our family. The kids are getting along much better these days, August is sticking up for his little sister on a regular basis...things are good.
After dinner, much like the post from last year, I cleared my plate and allowed Trey and the kids to clean the kitchen.
While I can't say that it went as smoothly as I think it went when I was growing up, each of my kids tackled a part of cleaning. Hazel is great at clearing the table and wiping it down. August is a master of rinsing off the plates and putting them in the dishwasher.
I vividly remember being given the task of washing the dishes and thinking I had completed my task once the sink was empty of dishes...only to be called back into the kitchen by my dad. He explained (again and again) that I am only done with this task when the sink is CLEAN, not just clear.
I had to chuckle as I sat in the living room uploading photo evidence of the cleaning of the kitchen when I heard Trey call August back into the kitchen only to explain the same thing to my son. Remind me to inform Trey that he too will probably have to revisit this idea with the boy again and again.

On our way to school

We walk to school everyday. It's a great way to wake the kids up and it serves as the dogs first walk of the day. Some days we're in a rush and there is little talking, but today we were doing just fine on time and so...there was some chit chatting going on...:

Hazel: Mama, you know Chad from High School Musical? The black friend of Zac Effron?

Me: Yup.

Hazel: I think he's even more cuter than Zac!

Me: Whoa!! Really? Cuter than Zac?!

Hazel: Yup. 'Cause he looks more like Daddy.

Hola!

If you've come expecting beautiful pictures from our trip to Nuevo Vallarta you will be very disappointed. Almost as disappointed as I was when I realized that I'd left the house at 3:30 in the morning to catch our early, early flight out of the country without my camera. This revelation came especially hard as Trey had just purchased a new lens for the camera and I was very eager to snap some beauties...
So, I give you pictures from August's spring soccer game instead:Hazel got her hair braided on the very first day in Mexico. She wanted to keep them in until her friends from school could see it...by the time I took them out...well, it wasn't pretty, I'll just leave it at that.


The trip to Mexico was so restful and full of bright blue skies and ocean breezes.
I know, there's a ton of bad news coming from that part of the world...we spoke with some folk who live in the area and they felt strongly that the news was pushing fear. They said that the violence that is taking place right now is indeed drug related and that a) it's staying within the drug community and b) it's no worse than the big cities here in the US...so...I felt better about it. We did venture off the resort for dinner one night to a little place across the street and it was delicious.
The kids swam in the pools, August and Trey went into the ocean, Hazel went to the kids club on the resort and made friends. Trey and I had a few nights out (thanks to Paul and Linda) where I re-learned my lesson on why I don't like Tequila...(never again, never again!)
Thankfully, no one got a sunburn due to our excessive reapplication of a number of sunscreens. I'm sure that if folks were watching us they'd have gotten a kick out of how many times we called the kids over to slather the lotion on them over and over again.

And now, we're home...and the weather the last few days has been so wonderful. I subbed for the PE teacher today and spent the whole day outside with the kids...today...I have a sunburn!

Recap

We had quite a weekend! Trey was off to SXSW and we had a house full of friends and dogs and good memories.
Ann and El came over for an old fashioned sleepover...Hazel did a read aloud with El when they first arrived. Hazel is getting better and better at reading. She still gets easily frustrated if she can't get a word right away...I remember this feeling as a beginning reader. August, Trey and I just try our best to encourage her and motivate her with lots of interesting books.
August had the Francis over from Wednesday through Sunday...talk about a sleepover! They got along just fine and had plenty of video game time. I think Hazel enjoyed the one on one time this allowed the two of us to have...

Portland

The kids had another long weekend so we took the short drive to Portland for the night. I love handing the camera over to see what they see when we walk around new cities.
We started the day at Stumptown where we had warm drinks and good treats.

Then we walked down to Powell's and saw many interesting sights along the way:

Hazel headed right for her "just right books" and picked 3 to read to me...I love Dr. Seuss and the confidence his books have given my daughter.

Trey was happy to introduce us to VooDoo Doughnuts...he and the kids thought they were great...I thought they were sick.

Please Don't be Late

Wow! We've had a great weekend packed with Winters goodness and Christmas cheer.
First, let's get the exciting news out of the way:
It snowed in Seattle. Yes, snowed. And right now, it's 23 degrees outside. The only good I can get out of this situation is that we're all going to be ready for our Michigan visit because our bodies will be acclimated to the cold temps. Of course, in Seattle, when the rain turns to ice crystals, talk turns to snow days...people freak out and assume that no one should drive in the snow so all day yesterday people were betting on no school today. I joined them in their winter wishes and hoped beyond hope for someone to wake up and declare the roads simply undriveable.
Much to my amazement, my phone rang and 5:30 this morning with an automated message stating that Seattle Schools will be beginning 2 hours late. I'll take it! Unfortunately, I am one of those people who can not go back to sleep once I wake up...so, I've gotten a few things done around the house while the rest of my family sleeps off the events of last night.
Which brings me to the next bit of exciting news:
Our dear friend Rosie Thomas released a wonderful new Christmas album this year. The Many household has been listening to it consistently this season and Hazel can be heard at any given time singing Silent Night (which she sang with the choir on the record). Last night Rosie drove from Portland to Washington to end her brief Christmas tour among her friends at Townhall.
Hazel and Trey got on stage to sing with Santa's Helpers Choir and on the very last song Rosie asked Hazel to join her as she closed the show with Silent Night. Hazel was a bit shy during sound check but I think the crowd really boosted her confidence and when Rosie turned to her and asked her to climb the chair so they could sing together, my girl Hazel walked confidently and sang her little heart out. She even ended it with a HUGE "Merry Christmas!!"
I sat in the front row with August and beamed up at my long legged little singer. August yelled, "You go Hazel!!" and stood to applaud his baby sister. It was a good night and a great start to our holiday season.