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!

Katie Couric

 At the end of May we got a phone call that the producers at the Katie Couric show were interested in featuring the documentary "Sleeping with Siri" that Marty made with his good friend, Michael Stusser.  A little back story to fill in the gaps...Last August, while I was working for Marty trying to promote and sell his Twisted Scholar videos, I had written to the Katie Couric show telling them about the recent video Marty had made called "The Digital Blackout" based on the social experiment that took place at the high school where I taught Spanish for 8 years-Shorecrest.    They challenged their students and staff to go without their cell phones, texting, internet, Facebook, twitter, etc. for an entire week.  Shortly after "The Digital Blackout" was released, Michael wrote an article for the Seattle Weekly called "Sleeping with Siri" and while Michael was writing his article, Marty documented what transpired during Michael's first week- a digital gorge and then the second week when Michael went dark and without any social media, no computers, no cell phone.  They worked endless hours on this film from September through the end of the year.  By the beginning of 2013 they had already been accepted into several film festivals and were starting to promote the movie. Meanwhile throughout the entire school year I had been writing and talking with the producers at the Katie show and they kept saying they were interested and even gave us a few potential dates for their tech show but nothing came to fruition.  Until that morning in late May when they said they would like to feature the documentary and could I arrange flights for the following week!! So Michael and Marty took off for what would end up being a whirlwind of a trip.  Above is a photo of them in the green room at the Katie show. And below is a photo of... you guessed it, Michael and Katie.

Below is a link to the part of the show that featured the documentary.  And although Marty didn't get to sit up on the couch with Katie he did get a very sweet shout out from her from the couch. 

http://www.katiecouric.com/videos/could-technology-be-hurting-you/

Bellingham Fun

Directly after Josie's kindergarten graduation we headed up a bit farther north to my sister's house in Bellingham.  Both kids are in heaven here with all the area to play in and Drew's big machines.  It wasn't long ago that Benjamin's reaction was this:

 But now he just can't get enough of all the guy stuff up at the Wiley's.  With Jon (17) and Drew (15) those Wiley boys know boy stuff!!  After awhile on the tractor they decided to put on some ear protection.

 Drew built a fire in the fire pit and we roasted marshmallows after dinner.  Another highlight to our Bellingham trip was that Grandma and Papa were up there as well.  Fun to see them too.

 Fire... always a big hit. 

 Roasting marshmallows with a little help from Auntie Kim and Grandma

 Tough to keep it close enough to the fire without it burning and falling into the fire.

There was this crazy infiltration of caterpillars.  I had been reading the book, Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver about the migration of the monarch butterflies so at first this was fascinating to me.  Then Fred, the science teacher, told us that this type of caterpillar will turn into a moth not a butterfly.  Not quite as beautiful of a thought but still amazing nonetheless.  Josie collected a bunch into a shoe box and created a cozy little home for them complete with some leaves, a flower and some sticks. 

In the morning my sister talked me into swimming in Lake Padden.  Not really loving cold water I was a bit hesitant.  It was my first time swimming in a wet suit and although at first a bit uncomfortable, I got the hang of it and kept up pretty well.  We swam about a mile and it was really a refreshing way to start the day.  Wish we could do that more often!!  Feeling a bit like a stuffed sausage but here is photo documentation.  Drew paddled right next to us in his kayak and was there for support.  Unfortunately no photo of that.  Thanks Kim and Drew!!

 Drew mesmerizes the kids with his tools and toys outside and Jon does the same with his musical instruments and video games inside.

 One of the highlights was the Deming Log Show.  It seriously was like flying to a different country.  Same English language but worlds away from our Seattle life.  Here the kids are enjoying an enormous (split into two) shaved ice.  It was a really hot day but the ice was so cold that Josie had to put her sweatshirt back on.

Another great time in Bellingham.  We will be back. Thanks Wileys and Grandma and Papa!!

Kindergarten Graduation

 The week before school ended all 5 kindergarten classes headed up to Carkeek Park in North Seattle for the end of the year "graduation" celebration.  The kids rode the school bus and Josie sat right in the middle of her two best friends in class, Elliott and Madison.

Benjamin and I drove in the car and met the bus as it arrived.  Josie immediately grabbed Benjamin's hand and lead him down the path to the beach along with her two friends.  So sweet!!

The students (all 120+ of them) were broken into teams of 3 or 4 and completed a sea life scavenger hunt.

 After the scavenger hunt and a BBQ lunch there was an awards ceremony and Josie received her Certificate of Kindergarten completion.  Watch out first grade, here she comes!!

Josie and her best friend, Elliott with their kindergarten certificates. 

First grade and 7 years old in September!!!!  Where does the time go?!?

Award Winner

Near the end of the school year, Josie was nominated for the Seymour Kaplan citizenship award for her behavior and attitude at school.  Of course,  we were thrilled but then when we read the full description (above) that the award was based on it made us even more proud of our amazing little girl!  She truly does embody these characteristics and we are so thankful to be her parents.  Way to go, Josie.  Here's to many more citizenship awards in your future.  I was telling a friend about the award but said, that she is only in kindergarten so wasn't sure how much weight to put on it.  She said something that really rings true.  In kindergarten kids are so young that it has to be their true character showing through.  There is no way they are savvy enough to fake it at this age.   I have a strong feeling that this will be the first of many for her.

There was a special assembly to honor the award nominees.  Here she is sitting and waiting with her friend, Nate. 

 Her name being called.  We might have to work on the eye contact and hand shake...

And up on stage with the other award nominees. 

 Josie's biggest fan, her brother Benjamin, was there to watch her receive her award.

 It made the day and award all that much more special that her best friend in class, Elliott (who is standing to the left of Josie),  also won the same award.  Two award winning girls, that is for sure!

 Josie laughing with her friend, Joe.

 Proud

 Josie's school is so big that here is a photo of about 1/8 of the school.  They had to have several assemblies to give out the awards because there isn't room for everyone to fit all into one room at the same time.

No More Diapers!

Benjamin was interested in the toilet at a very young age but shortly after his 3rd birthday he fully embraced underwear and was ready to say goodbye to diapers.  I have never understood the whole "potty training" thing where people don't leave the house for days trying to get their child used to underwear and seem to have endless accidents.   For both kids (Josie at 2.5 and Benjamin right when he turned 3) they seemed ready and then we switched from diapers to underwear.  And with both we had very few accidents. It was one of the very few things that I have not forced as a parent.  It just seemed logical that when they were ready it would be easier for all involved. And it definitely was.   It is really nice to have crossed this milestone.  No more diapers for this kid!  And his very favorite is to do a "nature pee" which is to go to the bathroom outside on a tree or a bush or in the dirt, "just like dogs do!"  Thankfully around his birthday and when he decided to trade in his diapers for underwear the weather warmed up as well.  He goes to the bathroom outside these days more than inside and insists on hitting things with his stream..  He also loves using his "penis pocket" - the small, convenient little opening in boys' underpants.    

And boy is he ever proud of his accomplishment.  I took a couple of photos and then he demanded video documentation.

Little Hikers

Near the end of May we decided to go for our first hike of the season.  This is met with a combination of dread and excitement from the kids.  Here they are during a brief photo shoot before the hike.  Happy little campers....

 The Talapus Lake trail hike was really pretty and not too steep. Round trip was a little over 4 miles with an elevation gain of 1250 feet.  We probably should have done a bit more research than just the miles and elevation gain before we headed up though.  About 3/4 of the way to the top which was a beautiful lake we hit snow.  At first just a little bit off to the side where the kids happily played for a bit and then kept right on trekking up the trail.  But after about 5 minutes of the snow just off to the sides we found that the trail and everything around it was covered in snow.  Marty and I have good hiking boots but the kids were just in (very water absorbent) tennis shoes.  By the time we got to the top their feet were soaking wet and ice cold!  They both took off their shoes and socks and we tried to warm them up the best we could.  They were troopers and didn't complain much.
Here they are still on our way up and just getting into the snow hiking over one of the several little bridges.

 Snow at this point is still fun, novel and their feet aren't too wet....yet.

 And finally at the top.  Notice Benjamin's bare feet in between Marty's bare legs.  Trying to warm up as we eat lunch.

 And after lunch and heading back through the snow to the bottom.  In the video, Marty had just accidently stepped into some melting snow and his foot went down to the ground putting the snow up to his hip.  Amazing that the snow was this deep and he was saying that if Benjamin had gone in the whole it would have gone up over his head.  It was a little precarious trying to avoid the parts of the snowing that were melting and stay on the packed part. a

 Benjamin's face says it all.  It was a longer and more difficult hike (due to the snow) than we expected but it was fun.

 The true sign of a good hike is how quickly they fall asleep once they get buckled in.  It was probably no more than 5 minutes before this....