Relief

Noah came home today from his trip to DC and Baltimore. It's always a bit of a challenge when Noah is gone, but admittedly, this time seemed to be much easier than other times. Perhaps it was because the sun shined a bit more than the other times, or maybe I'm just getting used to being with kids so much. Or maybe they are getting a little easier to manage (probably not). After picking up Noah from the airport, he took them to the playground (Cowen park) while I went grocery shopping and started dinner. I don't mind grocery shopping as much as most people probably do, and the couple hours without the kids was both cleansing and refreshing. On the top of my list of "things I will miss in Seattle" is the University Fish and Poultry Market. I feel like I walk back in time a few decades when I step in the store; their fish and poultry is amazing. Next time I will buy the quail eggs. I just can't leave Seattle without making something that involves quail eggs.

Ridiculous

(Wednesday Jun 29 - Blogger was down again, below is Wednesday's blog)

I can't believe that it is June 29th and I was freezing at the playground this morning. There was a mom wearing gloves and a coat (and sandles), and I saw a toddler with a hat on (and shorts). I was wearing jeans, long sleeved shirt and sweater, but the wind was so cold I wanted to leave after just ten minutes. I stuck it out for the kids, who were really enjoying themselves, but it put me in a grumpy mood. I've completely worn out my jeans and I'm looking forward to putting them in the trash; I would have never thought I'd still be wearing jeans at the end of June. The big weather joke around Seattle is that summer doesn't start until July 5th. Well, they are right, except I might argue that Spring doesn't start until then either! I'm looking forward to warmer weather.

Look at how that woman in the t-shirt is shivering and her arms are covered in goose-pimples

Genna spent over an hour on the rings - this is how she kept warm

Genna had her last little ballet recital today. It was precious.

"Big smile, Genna!"

I love this room when the sun shines

Playdate

I survived the three-girl playdate today. Two of Genna's friends from school came over to play today. I've only watched four kids by myself once or twice before, so I was hoping things would go smoothly. I was most worried about Jonah. He tries so hard to play with the bigger kids, but hasn't learned yet that grabbing toys, knocking over towers and screaming aren't welcomed play activities by girls that are more than twice his age.

As it turned out, the girls played wonderfully together, and Jonah either did his own thing or played pretty nicely with girls. In some ways I found it easier with the four kids than with just my two. When it's just Genna and Jonah, I'm usually trying to do something else also (which often just ends up in frustration). But with four, I accept that it is impossible to do anything else, so my only focus is the kids.

We spent most of the time at the playground and then came back home for lunch. I thought we'd have time to play outside a bit after lunch, but the four kids "socialized" around the lunch table for well over an hour. It's just fascinating to watch the kids grow and mature.

This is the most amazing tree to climb.

I believe they called it the fairy tree

This is the closest thing they have to monkey bars at this playground

I love how the three traveled around in a pack at the playground (made my job easier)

Wheeeeee!

Down the twisty slide

Jonah occupied himself pushing trucks around. He couldn't quite keep up with the girls' physical activity

Back to the tree

The girls were getting tired by now and I had to help them out several times getting down from the tree

Some casual construction before leaving

The kids love the sand pit

I love that most of the sand is shaken off by the time we walk home

I learned that Genna can start podcasts on my computer by herself now. When I was making lunch,  the kids were suspiciously quiet. When I went upstairs, this is what I found. I really love this picture: today it is Sesame Street's The Number 7; tomorrow it will be Justin Bieber (or whoever will be the next heartthrob). 

Lunch was a smorgasboard of macaroni, salmon, hard-boiled eggs, and fruit. I was amazed at how much everyone ate. 

Strawberries

Today was a rare weather day. It was overcast as usual, but the overcast clouds were very high, so we could still see the snow-capped mountains. The white snow on the mountains against a grey-white backdrop was quite beautiful and calming. If all overcast days here were like this I wouldn't mind the weather nearly as much.

It appears to be strawberry season here (finally), so the kids and I went strawberry picking. I was surprised how much the kids really liked it. Genna thought the berries were the best she's ever had, she even said "the strawberries from the farm are so much better than the ones from the supermarket!" So cute. Genna went apple-picking with me when we lived in Baltimore. Jonah did not come with us then, so Genna enjoyed playing the big sister and showing Jonah the ropes on a U-pick farm. "Jonah, I went apple-picking with mommy before, but you didn't come. We take the tractor out to the farm and put the strawberries in the basket. You are not supposed to eat the fruit until we take it home and wash it." Much to Genna's warnings, Jonah probably ate a pound of strawberries in the field. After seeing how much fun Jonah was having, Genna had to eat a few herself. I'm not quite sure what the etiquette is about eating in the strawberries in the field, but I'm sure we broke at least some of the rules.

Tractor ride out to the fields, baskets in hand

Jonah is already dirty

Beautiful strawberries

Active picking

Active eating

I think Genna is tossing a strawberry stem

"How do I get so messy?"

The kids were thrilled they had some playground equipment at the farm

Barn

This isn't a great photo, but in the background we could clearly see all the snow-capped mountains. It was so beautiful.

On my drive home, it was 75 degrees, and I just had to put the air conditioner on for a little while. Baltimore is really going to shock my system.

Ahhh.... sun

Today was the weather we've been waiting for. This is the weather that is supposed to "make up" for nine months of grey skies. It was clear, sunny, and a pleasant high of 72 degrees. I'm not sure it made up for that many days, but we did make the most of it.

I love how Jonah sticks his tongue out when he's concentrating. Or, perhaps, he's just trying to wipe off some snot.

The truck goes vertical

Little girl, you need a longer dress!

Jonah could spend hours pushing trucks around

After lunch we went to the Woodland Park Rose Garden. It was beautiful. Even though we haven't reached 75 degrees yet this year, the roses are all in full bloom. Of course Genna finds the stones on the path far more interesting than the roses.

We've been thinking about buying a new digital camera, but on a sunny day, my old camera takes perfectly good photos.

Jonah finally started smelling roses after I dragged him away from the water fountain.

It was surprisingly easy to get the kids to hug each other for a photo.

Once again, the light switch in the gazebo holds Jonah's attention far longer than any beautiful view of the rose garden.

Hanging out with the sippy cup on the bench.

I can't believe my four-year-old can do chin-ups. I'm so envious.

This ground cover was so beautiful and soft I took about five pictures to show my local horticulturist back in Baltimore. I hope I can grow it there.

Genna worked very hard to "make a tree." While holding the log with one hand (it would not stand up by itself), she piled grass on the top... only to have Jonah push off all the grass. He's such a little stinker. 

It was a wonderful day, but I'm now getting more concerned that I'm really going to be uncomfortable when I move back to Baltimore. I haven't been in temperatures over 75 degrees in nine months. I'm starting to think that 75 and sunny is a hot day.

A blog for Noah

A few weeks ago, Noah wrote my blog. Today, Noah had the camera and the kids so I'll write a blog as if I were Noah today:

Since I (Noah) am going out of town for a few days, I took the kids for the whole day while Susie went to a Lebanese cooking class and enjoyed the day to herself.

I tried to get Jonah to poop on the potty. This is a rock he's holding while trying to poop. We were not successful.

After gymnastics open gym time (where I forgot to bring the camera), I took the kids out for pizza. I found a new spot that was quite good. I can't seem to manage both cooking a meal and watching to kids, so I have to eat out every time I watch the kids without Susie. 

I'm not sure why Jonah is putting his head on the table. He probably misses Susie.

Genna is so great at restaurants. Just give the girl some paper and a couple of crayons and you could take her to the finest restaurants in the States. She loves to eat out. Fortunately, so do I.

I got some stranger to take this picture. Hopefully, they won't run away with Susie's camera. 

I've on only been with the kids two hours by myself and I already need a beer. 

The boy can eat. Of course, he's always loved Italian food.

Good pizza. 

This is Jonah screaming, "I miss mommy."

This is Genna's drawing. I'm pretty sure the four stick people are our family, but I'm not sure about the other two mammal-looking things.

I think Jonah took this picture of himself. 

After lunch, I took the kids to work and made a cappuccino in a colleague's lab. My latte art is beautiful 

After taking the kid to work - and not actually being able to work - I brought the kids home, made them dinner, and spent almost two hours trying to get them to bed. I don't see how Susie does all this; one day and I'm wiped out and overloaded with the kids. I should really buy Susie an awesome birthday present.