We tasted freedom!!

So, the sad part of the story is that for the past week we have been S.I.C.K. sick at our house! Coughs, fevers, tissues, headaches, grumpy kids, etc. We picked up this nasty cold in Utah and haven't been able to shake it. We are using oils, spicy foods, and washing a lot of hands, but it is slowly moving its way through each one of us. First Evan, then Wesley, now Steve and I. I long for the days of healthy, happy boys in my house! However, along with this cold and the dreaded fevers, we also got to experience a tiny bit of freedom. Freedom from what? The blasted helmet of course!! When Wesley woke up from his nap late Wed night and was on fire! One of our explicit instructions for helmet wearing was to remove the helmet at first sign of a fever and to keep it off until the fever had been gone for 24 hours. We obediently removed the helmet on Wed night and got to keep it off until Friday afternoon! Almost two full days without the little blue Orthotic device. It was amazing! Two days without a bath (his eczema totally cleared up- not a flair up anywhere without all the bath soaps and shampoos!) He slept wonderfully ( although I woke up numerous times from bad dreams of soft heads and misshapen bones...).

I understand the benefit of a fever as the body fights off the bad stuff, but I usually sort of fear a fever. This time, however, I was kind of disappointed to feel his head on Friday and find a normal temperature. The little helmet had to go back on. Wesley was fine. Life returned to normal (well, normal with this hideous cold), BUT we tasted a little bit of freedom and I absolutely cannot wait until the time comes for freedom to be our normal and for the time when the little blue helmet can be left at home without guilt or fear!

I did it!

Back in August I posted my post baby goals. These goals included losing 12 lbs, fitting into my sparkly butt jeans and running a 5k by St. Patrick's Day. Well, I am happy to report:
Total weight lose since August = 22 lbs!
Sparkly butt jeans = back in action!
Kirkland Shamrock Run 5k = total time 33 minutes .04 seconds!
I was scared of the 5k and doubted my ability, but as Jen and I finished it I felt wonderful! Kathi said we should treat ourselves to something for all our hard work. What she doesn't know however, is that all our hard work IS the treat. Two solid hours to myself every week to go to bootcamp. Two hours to focus on me. No one but me. No dr. appointments, no picky eating problems, no helmets, no crying, no Handy Manny/Chuggington/Mickey Mouse Club, no fighting over why he cannot play Mad Birds on my phone AGAIN, no planning dinner, no car seats, no kids music in the car, nothing but me and whether or not I can do another push up, whether I can lift the heavy tire above my head, whether I will actually die if he makes me do one more lap. All me! I am proud of myself for reaching my goals and I thank Steve for not complaining (too much) as I skip out the door for boot camp each Monday and Wednesday night.

Next goal - save the frogs dash in April and then moving on to a 10k. I must give myself a deadline, I am just not sure when that deadline should be!

Oh my "garling"

Evan is sitting at his little table coloring with his markers. I am sitting in the kitchen watching Wesley try to 'eat' a teething biscuit and I can hear Evan singing his little heart out. "Oh my garling, oh my garling, oh my garling clamantine!" LOVE!

Feb. Adventure!

February was quickly coming to an end and we had not yet completed our February adventure.  We had talked about going to Leavenworth, but never really committed to the trip as we looked up hotel costs and weather temperatures.  We were hesitant because  with Wesley and Autumn being so little, we were unsure if sledding was really a good idea. 

As last weekend approached, I realized that Leavenworth was probably not going to happen and we were left with exactly NO more weekends.  Jen and I had set out to have an adventure every month.  We had completed January with the snowy owls and could NOT let our New Year’s Promise go down the drain as soon as one month later! 

At this point I told Steve to get online and search “free things to do in Washington.”  The search resulted in countless suggestions from random internet posters, but the one that caught our eye said, “Free boat rides on Lake Union every Sunday!”  Hmm.  This could meet the requirements of the monthly adventure.  It was something we had never done, something we would NOT usually do, and something that sounded like an adventure!  One quick text to Jen and the trip was planned!

We arrived at 10 a.m. and put our name on a list to board the vessel at noon.  The boat could hold 17 passengers and we would officially take up 9 of those spots.  When we got there the sun was shining and it seemed like it might be a great day.  This quickly changed and, as it got colder and more miserable outside, Jen stated that maybe we should change the focus of our trips to be “what are the coldest things we can do in Washington this year?”  :)

After we faced the fact that we would be cold, we realized it would only be one hour and we would survive.  We obediently put on the required “life coats” as Steve calls them and climbed aboard the little sail boat.

 

  

 Poor Wesley was equipped with coat, life coat, and helmet.  He was definitely coast guard approved for safety, but not so much for comfort!

Evan and Ivy held little mittens hands as the boat started moving.  Jen and I laughed our heads off at the absurdity of what we were doing.  We were freezing, the children were slightly fearful, but we were not turning around! (At least not until the older Skipper who kept making very boat-esque type comments told us we were turning around.  His comments included things like, “the wind’s got her now!” “we are going to jibb our way back” “we’ve got wind today!”  Jen and I were in love with his little accent, his little sailing suit, and his love of the water and the boat.  As Jen said, if anyone was going to make sure our little crew was safe, it was definitely THIS guy!)

About 1/2 way through the ride the Skipper said if the wind kept up the way it was blowing, we were going to put down the sails and head back in.  At the same time, he said that I could take poor Wesley down into the the bottom of the boat to get out of the blasted wind.  I took him up on the offer and headed down a little ladder into the bottom of the boat (that is probably called something official, but I was too excited to find comfort for Wesley to pay attention).  As I entered the under-boat world, I was in LOVE with the bottom of the boat.  It was complete with a bunk bed, a little kitchen and a bathroom.  It was not in the cleanest condition with pans and coolers and food and blankets and ropes and flashlights and buckets all over the place, but it was amazing!  You could definitely imagine what it would look like in it’s glory as it protected some withered old sailors out on some journey across the sea.   Jen and I joked about how the Skipper would have reacted if I came up after the short boat ride and he found his little vessel completed organized (I tell you the thought crossed my mind…), but I didn’t touch anything, I just sat there in awe of our wonderful February adventure!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update!

After hours and hours of patiently waiting for the long line to start, someone came out of the preschool and started hanging signs on the gate. Hmmm. I got out of the car to go and see what they said. As I started reading the signs other parents started walking toward the designated line up spot - behind me. Oh! After all the waiting, here we were, starting the line and I was now in the best spot I could have imagined- FIRST! I almost started cheering right then and there! I did it! He was in! I kept my excitement at bay until I had the little receipt for my non refundable $50 in my tight little hand, but after that, i actually skipped to the car. Hooray! Here we go class of 2028!

Preschool.

So, Evan is at that wonderful age where he will be starting preschool in the fall. I really, really, really want to get him into the Edmonds co-op preschool. This school is a little different from normal preschools in that the children don't have to be potty trained (we are hoping this won't be an issue come fall, but you never know), the kids get to learn by playing (there is a structured curriculum, but the kids get to decide which play station they want to attend and if they choose to stay at the sand bin the whole time, so be it). The other great thing about this school is that parents HAVE to participate. Each parent comes to help one day a week. This is why I am obsessed with the school! Evan wants to go to school, but he is a little hesitant still. He likes his independence, but only a small bit. For example, Jen and I recently put him and Ivy into a music class where we drop them off for the first 35 min and then join them for the last 10. Evan is ok to go in alone, with Ivy. He is ok if I leave, but only because he knows I am waiting in the next room with Wesley. He loves music class, but I can see the little fear that he pushes back every time before we get there as he asks me a million times if I will just be waiting with Jennifer until teacher tells us to come in.

How this relates to the preschool? I can give him the independence, but can also be there- just one day out of three, as he adjusts to this new adventure!

I have heard that this preschool is very hard to get into. Wait lists for miles. I have done my research, talked to the registration girl, attended the open house, and learned that if I want to get Evan into one of the 5 open spots, I have to be there today to line up by 11:30 (or earlier if necessary), wait in line, and PRAY that there are not 5 people in front of me. Oh the pressure! What time should I get there? What time does "earlier if necessary" mean to other crazy moms? Can I really sit in line for hours for a preschool? I feel the same nerves as right before a law school exam and have had to nervous pee twice already!

Jen and I decided there is no shame when it comes to doing things that we know are best for our kids, so here I sit... In the parking lot. Waiting. Hoping. So far, I don't see any other crazy moms waiting, but I have my running shoes on in case there is an unexpected, mad dash to the front of the line!

Healthy Beauty Products!

For awhile now we have been focusing on getting the GMO's out of our food. We have been spending countless hours researching and shopping and trying and tasting and baking and cooking. We still do not have things 100% perfect, but we are finding healthy alternatives to our favorites and can rest a little more peacefully at night knowing that most of our children's food is free of harmful chemicals.


This obsession (and it truly becomes an obsession) has led us to the next level in consumer awareness. Yes, you guessed it, our beauty supplies. How can I be so concerned about the chemicals in my food, but then blatantly slather chemical enriched products all over my skin? How can I justify not eating my favorite Easter candy - The Mini Egg, only to then wash my face with a product containing potentially even more harmful additives? So, here we go. We are not perfect, we are not guaranteeing this will be easy (or cheap - sorry Steve!), but we are on a mission. Some of the products we are finding may not be the "best" alternative and I am sure things will change as we learn more, but for now, if we can even eliminate one of the chemicals we are currently using, we will be one step closer.

Replaced product no 1. Mascara. Yes, this is a hard one for us. I love my current lengthening, lash separating chemical laden makeup. So sad to see this one go! BUT after a little online research and a lot of fear, I think this one may work. For now.

Tarte. Gifted - Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara. It comes in this cute little bamboo tube and is paraben free, mineral oil free, phthalates free, sodium lauryl sulfate free, and made without synthetic fragrance. I got it at my local Sephora, but it is also available online.

Sorry for the extreme close up, but I wanted to show that it still looks ok!