Shorter blogs for 5 days

I'm challenging myself to not complain or comment about the weather for five days. I was going to make the challenge an entire week, but decided that would be just way too difficult. Besides, what's a weekend if I can't complain about the weather?

So, other than the weather today, we went to our Tuesday music class. Jonah was pretty good during class. I think he finally started to realize that the music class teacher is "Katie." I always tell him that we are "going to music class with Miss Katie," but I think that today was the first time he really understood it before, during, and after class. I underestimate how much the little guy really understands. When Genna was getting ready for bed she started crying (hysterically) because she had something in her eye. I was in another room doing something and Noah asked if I could get a wet washcloth for Genna. As I walked into Genna's room to find out what was going on, Jonah came running in behind me with a wet washcloth. We were all astonished. Not only was he very concerned about his big sister, but he thumped his way over to the bathroom, moved the step stool so he could reach the washcloths, turned the faucet on and off to get the washcloth wet, and then brought it to Genna. I had no idea he was capable of understanding such a complicated command. And what was really cute was that he wasn't even asked to do it, he just did it because he wanted to help his big sister when she was crying. Yes, the boy is an ornery little stinker, but he certainly made up for a little bit of that today.

Jonah eating blueberries

Genna eating her blueberries

I think Genna needs a new dress. This one is getting a bit short.

Jonah loves blueberries. He scooted over to the edge of the steps to be as far away from Genna so he didn't have to share his blueberries with her. Then, when I gave Genna her second helping of blueberries, Jonah walked over to Genna and sat down beside her.

Hmmm. My blog seems to be much shorter without any weather commentary.

Beach, Seattle-style

I had been watching the weather forecast for days and NOAA kept showing sun and sixty-degree weather for Memorial Day, so I'd been looking forward to going to the beach. When I woke up and it was cloudy and the forecast suddenly changed to mostly cloudy and high of 59. I was very disappointed, but Noah talked me into putting on our fleece jackets, windbreakers and heading to the beach anyway. Despite a cloudy and cool morning, we still enjoyed walking along the beach, looking for seashells, and of course the kids enjoyed the small playground. It still makes me laugh when I see all the Seattleites wearing their sunglasses on an overcast day. Perhaps they are just trying to look cool.

It was surprisingly uncrowded at Golden Garden beach and there were several open grills and fire rings, so Noah made a quick trip to Safeway to get some charcoal and some food. We had really nice lunch cookout at the beach. As we were packing up to leave, the sun started coming out, so we decided to skip nap time and stay at the beach. The kids were so happy just to sit in the sand and dig holes. As the sun began to warm the air a bit, I took my windbreaker off and even took my shoes off.

Cool morning, but the kids didn't seem to mind

Seattle boy

It's amazing how much a 4-year-old can do with a stick

These beach toys were the best $7 I've ever spent at Target

Getting their feet wet

Apparently the water was cold

My shoes stayed on, so I can't describe how the water felt

Golden Garden beach as the clouds started clearing

Boy in the sun

In other news, I finally found my razor. In Baltimore, I would have been wearing shorts for a couple of months by now, so I'll have some extra work to get rid of my winter coat.

Typical Seattle day

I'm starting to get a little excited about moving back east. Today I made our cabin reservations for Olympic National Park, our last excursion before leaving Seattle. I wonder if I will miss Seattle. As we get closer to returning home, I find myself becoming more disgruntled with Seattle. We went to a playground this morning and we all had to wear our fleece jackets. I was very bothered by this and then began to wonder if it really is such a big deal. Will the warm weather and sunshine (that I've experienced just about every other Memorial Day of my life) really make me a happier person? I had hoped to go to the beach today, but it really isn't any fun on a damp, cloudy day. I sometimes feel like I'm being teased in Seattle; there are all of these fun things to do such as beautiful beaches, fun playgrounds, amazing views of snow-capped mountains, but they really just aren't that much fun on a cool, cloudy day. So, I'll have to think back to today when I'm in Baltimore in the sweltering heat, humidity, and no break between sunny days. Maybe I'll be longing for cool, damp Seattle. Perhaps the grass is always greener on the other side. Or, perhaps, I'll be so busy in my garden, getting Genna ready for her new preschool, and looking for a job that I won't even have time to think back about our time in Seattle.

So, besides bundling up for the weather today, we did have a nice day. The playground was fun, and we had some good family-time playing frisbee, except for when Jonah kept running off with the frisbee or to take some other little kid's ball. We went out for lunch; it was okay. Barely okay. Because it was late and everyone was very hungry, we ended up at a diner. The food was descent, but only that. The kids ate well and were good, but I would have much rather gone to a Thai, sushi, organic, vegetarian, or middle eastern restaurant. There are so many good restaurants in Seattle, that it just seems like a waste to go somewhere that is only okay. We'll plan a little better next time so I don't have to eat tuna salad and dip my fruit salad (which turned out to be mellon salad) in a low fat vanilla yogurt.

Fortunately, what lacked in lunch, was made up for in dessert. We went to a fabulous gelato place in Wallingford. Noah ordered pistachio. I love pistachios, but don't like pistachio ice cream because it never tastes like pistachios, it just has some weird flavor that barely resembles a nut. This was different - it really tasted like I was eating fresh pistachios whipped in some cream and sugar. It was amazing. We then explored Wallingford a little more before heading home. A good day in Seattle.

Genna building a structure

Jonah building his structure

Genna's finished product

Jonah's final project (notice he strategically placed a block next to a boat)

Diego before bedtime

"Look Jonah, Diego saved the penguins!"

Start to a holiday weekend

Today was a perfect start to a Memorial Day weekend. After a leisurely breakfast and some family time spent organizing the playroom, Genna had a playdate with her friend, Ruby. Although a little chilly, the sun was mostly out today and everything seems more cheerful on a sunny day. While Genna was playing at Ruby's house, Noah, Jonah & I went to a new playground. I chuckle at myself a bit when I get excited about a new playground. It's always fun to find one that is both fun for grownups and kids. This one was by a reservoir, and was the perfect size for Jonah. It even had an old-fashioned merry-go-round. Then, the three of us went out to lunch. 

Jonah was really a good kid today

I'm so glad that Jonah likes asian food. He loves edamame, noodles and rice.

As the three of us were eating lunch, it reminded me how much easier things were with just one kid. The 2:1 parent-child ratio is just so much more advantageous to the grown ups. On the other hand, Jonah missed Genna terribly. After we dropped off Genna, and Jonah was sitting in the second row of the minivan all by himself, he started crying for Genna. It's just so nice to see how much they care for each other. 

After Genna's playdate, we went home and Noah somehow got Jonah to take a nap. Genna, on the other hand, was a different story. After about 30 minutes, we gave up and I took her grocery shopping with me. She's actually pretty good when she goes grocery shopping with me, so we had a nice mommy-daughter afternoon. When we got back home we had pizza, which I'm now calling my "flatbread" since I have a hard time making them perfectly circular and "flatbread" seems to be the trendy word for pizza these days. We then took a nice neighborhood walk and ended the day with showers for the kids and laundry for the parents. 

Jonah got to ride the trike today

Daddy & Jonah

Matchy-match

I'm hoping that the weather forecast comes true and we get to see the sun for the rest of the holiday weekend.

Noah's blog

This is Noah. Susie said she has nothing to blog about, so she let me do her blog tonight..... So, here's a day in Susie's life....

Wake up early. Oh, wait, that's Noah.
...

Wake up at about 7:30, stumble into shower. Noah makes me a cappuccino as good as a pro barista.... life is looking better. Kiss Noah off to work. 11AM: Call Noah and complain about Jonah being difficult. 2PM: Call Noah and complain about Jonah not taking a nap. 2:30-4:30: Make a fabulous dinner and fresh bread. 4:58PM: Call Noah "When ya comin' home?" 5:30: Noah comes home.... feed him amazing food and watch him get fat on sabbatical.  7:45: Put kids to bed. 9: Do blog.

How did today differ? Jonah refused to take a nap. Then the kids then started playing in the kitchen when I started making, but they distracted me so much I couldn't finish make dinner. So, we went out to an amazingly tasty restaurant (Brad's Swingside Cafe). The kids, who were demanding all afternoon (preventing a home-cooked dinner), were just amazing at dinner and so the night was fun. Ate yummy ice cream at Molly Moon's.

 Kids didn't take a nap today, but when they do they are very cute. These are from a couple days ago.

One sleeping beauty....

And another.

Bench outside Brad's Swingside Cafe.

Check me out in Genna's polar bear glasses!

Kite Hill

Today was Genna's preschool's last field trip of the school year. Knowing that I'll miss her Ladybug school as well as wanting to have a little Seattle fun with my 4-year-old, I decided to chaperone. The first little preschooler showed up to school at 9:15 wearing a hat. Yes. A hat. Not a baseball cap to keep the sun out of his eyes, but a warm knitted hat. We are five days away from June and we're still wearing hats. One little girl was even wearing mittens, and one of the dads was wearing a hat and scarf. Okay. Enough said about the weather.

Despite the chilly wind, the field trip to "Kite Hill" was fabulous. We actually had some beautiful sun and a good wind. Kite Hill is just off the shore of Lake Washington and just about a 10-minute drive from our house. The wind was a little strong for some of the homemade kites, breaking a few as they were thrust down to the ground from the wind, but there were several that survived and the kids had a blast. Jonah even had a great time, thanks to the soccer ball and the frisbees that were brought along.

Fly, kites, fly!!!
(note the hats)

Beautiful day for kites by Lake Washington

I have so many pictures of Jonah in his raincoat eating a snack. This is his official Seattle pose.

Waaaaay too sunny for the locals

Young love

Hold on to the string, Genna!

Toddler soccer

Jonah boy

Basking in the sun... after rolling down the hill

A little out of control

About a month after we moved into our apartment in Seattle, we had our living spaces relatively organized and considered ourselves "moved in." There was one exception to our "organization," and that was the top of my dresser in my bedroom. This 4.5' x 1.5' flat surface was cluttered with stuff, and I made a conscious decision that I would be comfortable with it cluttered with stuff for the duration of sabbatical. Everybody needs a place to pile junk, and my dresser top was my place to happily clutter odds and ends with no intention of ever organizing or cleaning it. In fact, all of the stuff provides a "protective layer" so the dresser itself is probably not collecting any dust at all. I have to admit though, after seven months, it has gotten a bit out of control. There are a couple of things sitting there since the day we moved in - the video camera that doesn't have a battery charger (we left it in Baltimore), the ditti bag housing my toothbrush and toothpaste, and the camera instruction booklet that after five years is still unread. My dresser has also become the place where I put toys that I take away from the kids (toy timeout) and also things that I don't want Jonah to reach (Advil and water cups). I also put my favorite drawings from Genna up there as well as some other special things that Genna makes for me. There are a half a dozen bottles and items that I use on a daily basis (moisturizer, sanitizer, cotton balls, wet wipes) as well as a few bottles that I've never used such as the peel masques that I thought I'd be using weekly to pamper myself on my 9-month vacation in Seattle (ha!). There's also some sunscreen - I might as well just throw that in the trash or ship it back to Baltimore. Today, in an effort to clean up my dresser just a bit (again - not because I want it organized, but just so that I could find things more easily), I realized that it has really gotten out of control. It's amazing that I can look at my dresser multiple times per day and not even realize what I'm looking at. There are some Christmas cards on top, a couple of Noah's birthday presents, a checkbook (which I've looked for a couple of times), some crayons and ribbons and even a pine cone. I know that Noah thinks that it is my mess on the dresser, but it is really everybody's junk. We all use the comb up there as well as the nail clippers and the Seattle public transit guide. Yes, my glasses are sitting up there, but so are Genna's keys, Jonah's chapstick, Noah's utility knife, and everyone's orphan socks. I even think there are some bungee cords that belong to my brother-in-law. I looking forward to throwing everything up there in a box to be moved back to Seattle. Perhaps I'll never unpack that box back in Baltimore... or maybe it will be the first box I unpack.

This shows a small portion of my dresser top - not an inch to spare

More fun with Jonah today

Silly boy

How can somebody so cute be so ornery? 

Still cold

I came up with a theory today why Seattleites tend to be on the "fit" side. As I was driving to the grocery store this morning it was 52 degrees and overcast, yet we are nearly in June. Just like Genna, the people of Seattle are willing the weather to be warm. I saw a dozen people in miniskirts, shorts and t-shirts. Fifty-two degrees in any other part of the country requires inhabitants to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and a jacket. The only way people stay warm wearing shorts in 52 degree weather is to exercise. I just can't believe that we are practically in June and I am still wearing jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, fleece and raincoat. Ridiculous.

Genna wore a sundress today. She had to wear a sweatshirt on top.

I think Jonah was about to run towards me here to grab the camera

Genna took this picture of Jonah and me

Jonah in his UPS outfit

Noah was giving a big talk today and was very concerned about splattering soy sauce on his shirt (hehe)

Yummy lunch

Kid's bento box for the boy

Playground recycling truck. Only in Seattle would you find recycling trucks at a playground

Genna using the sandbox scooper

This is what Jonah and I did while he should have been napping

I don't know why this boy doesn't nap

He used to be such a good napper until about 3 weeks ago.