Watch out on the sidewalks

Oh, what a difference a year makes. Joseph's preschool holds a trike-a-thon every fall. The teachers draw a "track" in the parking lot with chalk and the kids ride a bike, trike, scooter, etc. for as many laps as possible in 15 minutes. Last year, he very tentatively and cautiously participated in the race. He was new to tricycle riding and rode slowly on a sturdy trike, looking at me for support every few seconds.

This year he was off and riding the moment the kids were set free to ride. He quickly zoomed to the front of the pack, where he and a good friend held the lead for the entire "race." He took each corner at a breakneck speed, not even slowing when he yelled triumphantly, "I am so fast!" It is really great to see how far his motor skills have come in the last year!



Looking behind him at the competition.

how many laps did I do, Mom? 14? Awesome.
Whew - that was hard work. Good thing it's time for snacks.

Whirlwind Vancouver Tour

My parents were in town for a few hours last week. They were on their way to spend a week at the Oregon Coast, but had a few hours available before they met up with friends. Joseph and I picked them up from the airport. I had really debated what we could do during those few hours which would be fun and meaningful. Anything with lots of walking was definitely out, as Mom recently seriously injured her foot while in Europe, and is still in a "walking boot." The kids would all be in school during the hours they were visiting, and Dan would be at work.

The night before they arrived it occurred to me that we could visit all the kids on their school lunch breaks and then meet up with Dan for lunch. The next morning I made some cookies before heading to the airport. (The cookies were inadvertently "healthier." I made the cookies in the middle of the morning rush hour, and found that evening that almost half of the butter which was supposed to be in the recipe was still sitting in a bowl in the microwave. Oh well.) We would visit each of the kids and take them a treat at lunchtime. Our schedule was tight, as the kid's lunches were about half an hour apart, but we would at least have a few minutes to visit.

Joseph and I raced to the airport and met Grandma and Grandpa at the curbside. First on our agenda, embarrassing the high schooler. Really, what could be better for a senior in high school than to have your parents, grandparents, and little brother show up at school to hug you and bring you cookies? Oh, and Mom had a camera and insisted on taking pictures. It's all right - I think Brandon's "coolness" factor didn't take too much of a hit, especially since he shared cookies with his friends.
Sorry, Dad, somehow I caught you between smiles!

Next, we drove 5 miles to Aubrey's school. We visited with her for a few minutes in the front lobby of her school. Aubrey was on her way to lunch, where she was to be the coveted "lunch helper." Apparently all fourth graders vie to be the one to clean trays, do dishes, and pick up garbage, especially since they are rewarded with a treat. Hmmmm, so strange that she isn't equally excited to do these chores at home!
Joseph brought three changes of clothes for our trip around town. He constantly changed in the car from Batman costume to Batman incognito costumes (aka regular clothes).

Next, we drove to downtown Vancouver to Bailey's school. We caught her just as she was going to lunch. On this particular day she was preparing to perform as a part of a salsa dancing group for a visiting guest from Cuba. This year the entire school is focusing on the theme of Cuban music and art.

Posing in front of Cuban art in the lobby of her school.

Finally, we drove to a restaurant across the street from Dan's office. We had a delicious lunch and a nice visit. By this point Joseph was getting bored, so he borrowed my camera and took pictures. He was the photographer for this picture of Dan:
After lunch we looked at the koi in a pond outside the restaurant and enjoyed the gorgeous fall weather.
We bid Dan farewell and drove to Tigard, near Portland, where Mom and Dad met up with their good friends.

It was wonderful to see them, hug them, talk to them, and spend a few precious hours!

Our Opera Review (fans of the opera should stop reading now)

Dan and I attended the opera La Boheme last Friday night. My good friend is in the opera orchestra, so we decided to give it a try. We love most things that involve music, and especially love musicals, but had never been to an opera. Quite honestly, the prospect of attending a show completely in an unfamiliar language has always worried me. I wasn't sure if I could follow the story line. This opera (maybe all operas, for all I know) had a screen above the stage with a translation of the Italian words being sung. We were happy to see this, as we knew this would help us follow the story better.

Here's the thing - there really wasn't a story. The plot was immensely thin. What we know now is that opera is ALL about the music. The music was beautiful. The orchestra did a fantastic job, as did the opera performers. However, Dan and I agree that opera moves VERY slowly, as the main characters sing beautiful arias about EVERYTHING. No sentence is too mundane that it can't be dragged out for several minutes of singing. So, needless to say, not much happens.
Afterward Dan summed up the plot like this: "Starving artist meets girl, kisses her. Girl is sick, girl is dying, starving artist and friends fulfill her dying wish and buy her a muff."

We were far too cheap to spring for the expensive seats on the main floor, so we were in the second balcony. We had worried that this would make it difficult to see all the action on the stage. As it turns out, it was easy, as there really wasn't much action.

It was an adventure, and we're always up for adventure. We have to admit that we liked the musical "Wicked" (which we saw in the same auditorium last spring) much, much more. And, of course, nothing comes close to the inspirational, complex, and beautiful musical, Les Miserables!

Ahhhh, Saturday

Some Saturdays are stuffed with activities and feel frantic. Last Saturday was perfect. The weather couldn't have been better - warm, but with a touch of crispness in the air. Everyone was in a reasonably good mood. We assigned chores, and Dan told the kids that in two hours he would go on a bike ride with anyone who had finished their chores. While Dan mowed lawns, Brandon, Joseph, and I washed, waxed, and detailed all three cars. Joseph was assigned our "new old car." His detail job may not have been the greatest, but he felt very important. When everyone was finished, the kids and Dan rode bikes to the closest convenience store to get a candy bar.
While the boys and I were outside, even better things were happening inside. Aubrey secretly did two of Bailey's chores and left this note for her.This was actually the second act in a "kindness chain" in our house this week. On Tuesday Joseph was excited to do Aubrey's chore for her while she was at school. He could hardly stand to wait until we picked her up so he could tell her what he had done. Aubrey passed along the kindness to Bailey on Saturday. Let's hope the kindness chain keeps going! Aubrey is going to teach the FHE lesson tonight, to talk about random acts of kindness and helping each other.

In the late afternoon I left to the Women's General Conference Broadcast, which was followed by a dinner at the Stake Center. It was a great meeting, and I enjoyed visiting with women in the stake. While I was gone, Dan took the kids to the movie "Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs." Everyone reported that it was a good movie!

Family Home Fight

Last night was Family Night. Many Mondays I race through the day, never giving any thought to what we will eat for dinner. Yesterday I thought it through and was prepared. On the menu: cedar plank-grilled marinaded salmon with lots of other accompaniments. I made sure there was something each family member would like. And then, I prepared a lesson. Ahead of time, and even with visual aids and an object lesson. Obviously, I was dooming myself to failure.

First, dinner. Everything was hot and on the table outside, ready to eat. Dan wasn't home yet, so I called him. After a few tries, he answered and said that he was sitting at Olive Garden. After interviewing a new administrator, the management team was taking the new hiree out to dinner. It wasn't his idea, but he couldn't get out of it. So, strike one. We would eat without Dan.

Then, it really began. An unnamed child started to wail at the food offerings. Loudly and with great emphasis on the whine. I found myself mildly fuming and forbidding said child to go make herself Ramen soup instead. I mean, really.

After about 40 minutes of fighting, I mean DINNER, we cleared the plates inside. Before the family night lesson, I told everyone to hurry and get their daily chore done. (Each week the three oldest kids rotate between dishes, garbage, and vacuuming the hardwoods). Even at their worst, the chores only take 10 minutes max. A child-who-will-not-be-named was in charge of gathering garbage from around the house and dragging the cans to the curb for garbage pickup day. Said child was very unhappy with the prospect of doing the chore, and screamed mightily. Did I say screamed? That might be an understatement. My frazzle level was rising rapidly. I was silently repeating to myself, "I am the mother. I am calm." No amount of reasoning with the child or with myself helped, so after 15 minutes of torture, I brought out the punishments. I was rapidly removing privileges and leveling threats I wasn't sure I could follow through on.

Finally, finally, all chores were done, dinner was completed, and it was time for the spiritual part of the evening. The only problem? I was in charge, and I wasn't really feeling very spiritual. Mostly I was ready for some good chocolate and a walk around the block. Because Dan still wasn't home, I was running the show, and I had been busy being Enforcer Mom, Drill Sergeant Mom, and Punisher Mom. Somehow I now needed to morph into wise, calm, Inspirational Mom.

We forged ahead. I really should have stopped to video it. Next week I am going to tape family night, I swear. The four year old bounced off the ceiling while everyone else intermittently ignored me.

On with the lesson. The topic was "improving the quality of our Sabbath observance." I pulled out the object lesson - ice cream that I topped with pepperoni, lemon pepper, french fries, etc. Finally, I had everyone's attention, just in time for the conclusion of the lesson. Then, Dan walked in, we said the closing prayer, and had some ice cream (without pepperoni , etc. this time).

The ironic thing: after I stopped trying and was sprawled on the couch, filling Dan in on the evening, I heard the three oldest having a really cool gospel discussion while eating ice cream.

I really love being a Mom. I never would have guessed how much I would love the constant work of mothering. And our kids are really great kids - they occasionally have a bad moment or day, but then, so do I. But, there are some moments, and last night was one of them, when I feel like a colossal failure and I find I have to laugh, or I will surely cry.

I have a scripture printed and posted on a mirror I look at daily. It says, "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. (D&C 64:33) I guess that sums up motherhood for me. For I am often weary, and busy doing many small things (often not very well), but I hold onto the faith that eventually great things will come of my efforts.

Autumn Cleaning

I have never been into spring cleaning. During spring I want to be outside, reveling in the newness of everything and playing in the dirt. And, the kid's activities are usually at their highest peak during the spring, so organizational and big cleaning projects just don't happen. I have great intentions to accomplish projects during the summer, when the kids and I have many lazy hours to work together. That doesn't really happen. During summer we keep the house at a manageable level, but bigger projects take a back seat to fun things.

There is something about autumn that gives me the itch to clear out, throw out, organize, reduce, simplify. The kids get back into a schedule, which means that the day is more predictable. Within the first few days of school I start prowling the house, getting rid of things and trying to create order. I ruthlessly attack my flower gardens, which are bursting with probably too many plants and flowers by the end of summer because I am really awful at being disciplined about pruning. I cut down, pull up, and cut back the same plants that I have carefully tended for months. It feels liberating! What I am hoping remains in both home and garden is simplicity. It is so hard to find simplicity in a busy family with kids. That's what I really want. I want us to only hold on to things we really love. I want life to be as simple and uncluttered as possible.

Vancouver's newest Eagle

Last Wednesday Brandon had the Board of Review for his Eagle. It was quite the experience. The council here in Washington/Oregon is VERY strict about all aspects of the requirements for the Eagle project. Dan says it has been much more rigorous than what he experienced in Arizona years ago. But, Brandon finished the project, jumped through all the required hoops in the correct order and with the correct signatures, and then endured and triumphed as five people Scout people grilled him on everything from his project, his goals in life, and current events. And, the most challenging questions (the ones about current events) came from the leader he had asked to be there on the board as his advocate! I was more nervous than Brandon was. After he was done with his interview, the board interviewed Dan and me. We told them what a wonderful boy Brandon is. We didn't tell them that we just wanted the entire crazy Eagle process to be OVER. He passed. He is an Eagle. Congratulations Brandon!

Our new old car

The final disposition to our recent car trouble . . . we are back to a three car family. Which makes my life easier, as Brandon can run himself around. We bought a Nissan Maxima from craigslist. The car has been maintained well and runs great. It is also very old (1996), has some cosmetic issues (dings and such) and a lot of miles. And, did I mention that it was unbelievably cheap? Our frugal selves won out in the search for a car. As this car is only needed for exactly one year, until Brandon leaves to college, we wanted to buy a car old enough that we can resell it in a year without taking a hit in depreciation. And it just needs to transport either Brandon or Dan a few miles to their school/place of employment. We're crossing our fingers that no major car repairs are needed this year. Since the insurance payout on the Infiniti accident was more than what we spent on the new car, Dan is eyeing a new flatscreen TV. Or, at least thinking about and wishing really hard!

Our last first day of preschool

As I dropped off Joseph for the first day of preschool this morning, I realized that this is the last "first" day of preschool in our family. Wow!

Joseph attends preschool at Family of Christ Lutheran Church. He loved this preschool last year, so it was an easy transition to start preschool again.

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On his big first day, Joseph woke up and ate breakfast and then got stuck when it was time to get dressed. He found me in my bathroom and said, "Batman doesn't go to school." So, according to four year old reasoning, if Batman doesn't go to school, then he shouldn't go either. I told him, "it's okay, you can pretend to be Batman when you come home. Right now you can be Joseph going to school." To which he responded emphatically, "Mom, I AM Batman!" Quick-thinking Bailey remembered (or made up) an episode of Batman where he attends college, which she explained to Joseph is a type of school. Crisis averted - for now!

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We call Joseph's new haircut "shorn sheep." He loves haircuts as much as his brother did at this age (as in, not at all). I am actually reasonably good at doing a nice little boy's haircut, but I can usually bribe and cajole Joseph into only about 3 minutes of sitting for a haircut. So, I buzz it as quickly as possible. And, as short as possible, as that buys us an additional month when we don't need to fight the battle! Poor guy - when I was done with the haircut he went to the bathroom to check it out. He came back and said, "I don't wook dood."

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Thank goodness for Washington's rainy, somewhat cool weather. Joseph would only consider wearing a long sleeve shirt and long pants today. He is anti-shorts and doesn't even like short-sleeve shirts anymore. This has posed some interesting challenges on days when the thermometer has creeped up to 90 degrees. I'm sure this fixation on wintery clothes will only last until it is actually winter. Then, short sleeve shirts will come back into favor!

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When we stopped to take the "first day of school" pictures in front of his preschool, Joseph insisted on showing me all his great superhero moves for the pictures. He said, "this is what Batman doos when he goes to school."

I am adding this last thought after the preschool day was completed. I would just like to say how happy I am that there is such a thing as preschool. Joseph, who has been antsy, oppositional, and just plain difficult since school started for the older kids, had SO much fun today. He couldn't stop talking about how great 4-year-old preschool is, and this made for some very pleasant and enjoyable conversation this afternoon. Not one tantrum, no time-outs, just excitement and enthusiasm and delightfulness. Hip hip hooray for preschool!

First Day of School

The three oldest kids started school today. I think we must be the last district in the country to start school! They were excited, as they should be. It is going to be a great school year!

Aubrey is a 4th grader! She picked out her very cute "first day of school" outfit. Over the summer, she learned to do her own hair entirely, and she designed this special hairdo for the first day. Most days, Dan drives Aubrey to school on his way to work. Because she goes to a magnet challenge school, there is no bus provided.


Bailey is in her second year of Middle School - 7th grade. I drive her to the local Middle School, where she catches a bus to the school she attends - Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. She is excited to see her friends, but not so happy about the return of homework.

"Mooooom!" I couldn't resist getting a parting picture as she got out of the car to walk to the bus. I'm sure she was terrified that I would embarrass her!

Brandon is a Senior in High School this year. He didn't have early morning Seminary this morning (it starts tomorrow), so as he left for school there was at least some light for my picture-taking. Whereas the girls had previously laid out their outfits for the first week of school, this morning Brandon scrounged through his pile of clothes for something to wear. Finally, he pulled something out of the dirty clothes and asked me if it smelled. Yes, it did. Luckily, I found something unoffensive in the unfolded clothes in the laundry room!

Brandon leaving in his car. Make that Dan's car. The resolution of Dan's car mess (see previous posts) is that Dan is taking over the Hyundai we bought last year. When the rental car goes back this Friday, Brandon is without a car until we can find a suitable used car.