The Amazing Liz and Ed... Again!

The weekend before the 4th of July Liz invited Josie up for a last minute stay.  She didn't really not invite Benjamin but because he has only stayed one time (and woke up for the day at 3 AM) no one really thought he would be ready to go back. Josie, of course, was thrilled at the chance to spend the weekend up with her favorites in Snohomish but surprisingly, Benjamin caught word of it and threw a fit.  He wanted to go, too. I didn't really think he was ready but Josie (who has been given our extra cell phone that we normally gave to our nannies) started texting Liz with things like, "it's totally up to you but Benjamin really, really, really wants to come.  Can he?"  And Liz, being the amazing aunt that she is said "of course he can come.  I really, really want him to come too."  She just didn't think he wanted to.  Neither did I.  But the kids excitedly packed their bags and got up by 6 AM in anticipation of the trip up to visit Liz and Ed for the weekend.  We packed up the car and headed out around 9:30.  

When we were about 5 minutes away from our meeting place I look back into the backseat and see Benjamin just starting to throw up.  Not a little bit of throw up, mind you.  He was covered from head to toe in puke.  I don't carry wipes anymore because he is potty trained and all I had were a couple of water bottles and an old fabric shopping bag!  I called Liz en route to say that maybe we might want to reschedule which was met with screams of disappointment from the backseat.  Liz, who again, is just amazing said just keep coming and we will work it out.  When we arrive at the meeting spot I tell Benjamin that he is going to have to come home.  It just isn't going to work this time.  He demands that he still wants to go and that HE IS NOT SICK!!!  Liz again, amazingly says, let's just try it.  Maybe he is just car sick.  Well, he might just be car sick but he also might have the stomach flu and Josie just might get it later that day and then she has two sick kids on her hands.  OK, I just might have REALLY needed a break from the kids because I agreed to try it.  Oh, and also there was a stirred up wasp nest in Liz and Ed's backyard and the night before their property was in a lock down because some guys who ran a meth lab were on the loose on their property.  They weren't in lock down but they hadn't caught the guys yet.  Yeah, I really did need a break because given all that I still said, OK, they will be fine, I'm sure.  And... they were!  On top of taking the kids with one still smelling of his recent vomit Liz and Ed love those kids unconditionally.  I knew they would be well taken care of even if Benjamin got sick again or if Josie got it.  Amazingly,

 Benjamin didn't get sick again and in fact was able to stay for 2 nights and slept for a good 8-10 hours each night without waking up or screaming.  Josie did a super job as a big sister and always keeps him calm and having fun while up there. By looking at the photo below you would never know he lost his entire breakfast on the ride up.  They both had a ball!! In fact the only time he cried was when he saw me the day I picked them up.  He burst into tears and wanted to go back to with Liz.  Normally, that would hurt my feelings but given his separation issues over the past 3 years, it was nice to know that he has made such enormous progress THANK YOU, Liz and Ed.

And Marty and I had a fabulous stay-cation at home.  Wow!  Below are a couple photos of Marination - a cool place right on the water and along our walk where we stopped for breakfast on Sunday morning.

Really it was amazing to have 2 days to ourselves.  He has gone away and I have gone away but that last time we got away without kids was back when Josie was just about 9 months old and we headed out to Alderbrook Resort and Josie's other amazing aunt, Kim took care of her for two nights.  We definitely need to do that at least once a year.  We ended up going on two monster walks from our house and all around Alki and back up.  They were probably two 7-8 mile walks each day and then on Sunday afternoon we put the kayak in and paddled from West Seattle over to Seattle and under the great wheel.  We ended the night with some yummy gyros at Kokoras.  Fun, Fun, Fun weekend for all.

Stroopwafels Anyone?

A really good Dutch friend of mine, Simone, opened a Stroopwafel business and is currently selling her goods at the Queen Anne Farmer's Market every Thursday.   Simone was one of the first friends I met at college who then became a roommate for 4+ years and still one of my closest friends.  A few weeks ago another mutual friend and her son (Heather and Jordan on the left in the photo below) went to a nearby playground and then stopped by for a quick visit and to try out the new stroopwafels.  .  

Josie and Benjamin would have given two thumbs up for the photo but they were too busy stuffing their faces with the sweet, gooey goodness. 

 On the way out we picked up some farm fresh rainbow carrots.  Yum!!

Seattle Center and Ouchies!

A few weekends ago Marty was asked to MC the TED talks  hosted here in Seattle as TEDxSeattle.  The even took place at the Seattle Center and the day before he had to do brief rehearsal.  We decided to make a day of it so we hoped on Link Light rail to downtown and then took the Monorail to the Seattle Center.  It's funny how taking anything different than the bus always makes you feel like you are on vacation.  Anyway, so I had packed the kids swimsuits thinking that they could play in the fountain while Marty was busy.  It started off great.  Josie was LOVING the fountain and running in and out. I took a couple of photos and then Benjamin demanded that Josie do it again so that I could get a video.  She has forgotten that her brother told her to do this run through and good thing because she took a nasty stumble on the return.  I probably wouldn't have continued video taping had I known but it was so sunny and bright and hard to see her.  I didn't really know she fell until she made it back.  Poor thing.  She was really tough though.  It was also the Rock n Roll Half Marathon that day with all of the activities right there at Seattle Center.  A quick trip to the medic station for a couple band aids and we were 

 Bloody knees and a sad face :(

 She bounced back and after Marty was finished with his rehearsal we headed to the Pacific Science Center for a couple of hours and then as a very rare treat the kids got a bag of cotton candy to share.  I'm so conscientious of packing lunches and snacks and we rarely buy food when we are out so sharing a bag of cotton candy was a big treat.  We all sat down under the Space Needle to cool off and nibble - the kids with the treat and Marty and I with the packed lunch and snacks.

 YUMMY!

 Face first right into the candy

 Cotton Candy Faces

And because they had eaten and unprecedented amount of sugar we told them to run around for awhile.  That is when the second ouchie occurred.  Benjamin did a face plant scraping up both hands and both knees. Although as you will see in the video he bounced back rather quickly as well. 

We stopped for Greek food on Lower Queen Anne before hoping on the bus to take us back to the train tunnel.  While in the tunnel the kids spied their daddy in an ad on the side of a bus.  Hey, wait a minute.  I know that guy!!

Parks and Pools

Just about every day during the two weeks the kids had swim lessons we would pack a lunch and head to a park after the lessons were over.  One day we ran into a bunch of friends at Lincoln Park

 Benjamin LOVES throwing rocks into the water and can do it forever.

We are also extremely fortunate to live across from the most generous neighbors. Stan and Mary invite the kids to come play in the pool when they are out of town and often times when they are at home and in the pool themselves.  Personal pool time along with swim lessons has helped both kids with their swimming so far this summer. 

Like Fish

 The kids started off the summer with daily swim lessons for two weeks at Arbor Heights Swim and Dive Club.  Although sign-ups for non-members (us) is a pain, it is worth it for the quality of lessons that they get. They both improved so much this year during their 2 weeks and by the end were swimming like fish!

This was Josie's 4th summer taking lessons here.  The first summer she had a few days where she just didn't want to get in the water.  Little by little she started to improve and this year she was placed in the very highest group with kids who were two and three years older than her.  Her particular class was called "stroke correction class" and they worked on all of the different strokes. Josie was amazing this year.  She improved so much and now not only survives in the water but is doing really well at using all the different strokes and side breathing.  She even jumped off of the high dive on one of the last days. Unfortunately I was too busy cheering her on that I forgot to get a photo or video.

Benjamin was able to sneak in a bit early last year as a 2 year old - they normally start lessons at 3.  He had a few bad days last year but mostly good ones.  This year started with him giving his teachers the stink eye on the first day but by day 2 he was LOVING it.  He loved his two young, attractive female teachers and really was flirting with both of them.  Oh, boy... I didn't know that started so early.  Thankfully, they were charmed by him as well. He started putting his face all the way under water, using big arms and jumping fulling into the water toward his teachers.  He had a ball and isn't quite swimming on his own yet but so very very close.

And here are their report cards: 

Happy Graduation and Birthday Stephanie!!

In June we all headed up to Snohomish to celebrate Stephanie's 21st birthday and her graduation and an early birthday celebration for Oma and Marty.  We so rarely get a good photo of the whole group.   What a fun day, good food and sunshine.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Marty!!  I honestly cannot imagine any person who could possibly love Josie and Benjamin more than Marty does.  Although we often disagree about the small things - he tells me to steer less and I tell him to direct and set limits more- we are on the exact same page as far as big picture parenting things.  And especially about loving the kids unconditionally, leading by example and being a parent that they will always be able to count on.  For Father's day Josie stayed up late the night before making this colorful banner for Marty.  

Then we ate a big breakfast and headed out to pick strawberries.  One in the bucket one in the mouth, one in the bucket one in the mouth. 

After berry picking we took our lunch and headed to a park.  There was this cool old bridge.  This photo kind of sums up the kids these days.  When we got to the bridge I said, hey turn around and I'll get a photo.  Josie sneered.. "NO PHOTOS!" Benjamin repeated the sentiment and they walked on.  Thank, Marty for indulging me :)

The kids peering through the bridge down at the water. 

Which way to lunch.... Josie always has a plan. 

Sharing sandwiches

Josie had this crazy idea to hike up a VERY steep cliff with no real path.  I stayed back to document and call for potential help ;-)  There they go...

They made it and here is their descent.

Coming down was harder than going up. 

We did it!!

Benjamin LOVES taking "nature pees"

Big bowl of beautifully washed strawberries

Lots of helpers. Benjamin loves to have a job and to help. 

And finally 10 jars of yummy strawberry jam.  Yummy strawberries, fun hike, and a nice celebration for the best Father around!