Old Friends

Maddie and I spent a fun Saturday at Hermosa Beach visiting our friends, The Kennedy's, who stay there each Labor Day.

We hadn't seen Mark, Diana, Kaylee (8) and Claire (6) since we moved down to San Diego last August. Diana and I keep in touch via phone, but it's not the same as being together in person.


Maddie and I hit the road at 8am. We were so excited to arrive at the beach! Our GPS said it would take 2 hours, but we made it in 1hr and 40 minutes! We ran into Mark in the lobby and he took us out to the patio where Diana and the girls were having breakfast.

We said our hello's and headed off to the beach. All 6 of us went into the water and had fun body surfing, boogie boarding and playing in the waves. After an hour or so in the water we went back up to our chairs and visited awhile, The kids continued to have fun in the water.

Next we walked up to their hotel room, on the beach, and had some turkey sandwiches. After that we visited the street fair for a couple of hours. The girls also got to enjoy some yummy Lappert's Hawaii ice cream.

Around 3pm we headed back out to the beach. Mark and the girls went back into the water while Diana and I sat and visited.

It was Claire's birthday, so she got to pick out where we'd have dinner. She chose pasta. Around 7pm we all headed up the street to a wonderful little Italian restaurant and enjoyed lots of pasta in honor of Claire.

After dinner, around 9pm, Maddie and I sadly had to say goodbye and head home. We got in the car and within about 10 minutes Maddie was asleep in the front seat. She'd had a very busy and very fun day.

It was a great day and I really enjoyed being with Diana. Until I moved away I took for granted how nice it is to be around people who have known you and walked with you through most of your life. Diana and I are going on 23 years of friendship ---hard to believe! After a year of making small talk and repeating the same introductory stories to so many people, it was good to get into the old familiar routine of a lifelong friendship.

Time for Table Manners

Anyone whose ever eaten with the 5 of us knows that James likes to throw his food onto the floor when he's done eating.

We are trying to break him of this habit and instill some manners.

Today at lunch when he proceeded to throw his quesadilla onto the floor, Owen took him out of his chair, sternly told him not to throw his food, and placed him in our usual spot for a time out.

We kept him there for about a minute and then Owen walked over to him and asked if he knew what he did wrong.

James said, "Yeah."

Owen said, "Well, what did you do?"

James replied, "Yeah."

Basically, you could have asked James if his nose was blue and he would have said yeah.

Anyhow, Owen reminded him that he threw his food on the floor and that was not allowed. He told James that he needed to have manners.

James said, "Yeah."

Owen said he could be off time out, turned around and let out a HUGE burp.

That's the way Owi. Awesome burp after a lecture on table manners!

Daredevil

We have an awesome park in our neighborhood that has a 3 story play structure and a water area.

James, Matthew and I have been there a few times.

The first time we went, I was holding Matthew and I saw 20 month old James climbing up the 2 flights of stairs to the top of the play structure. My heart just about popped out of my chest and I was holding Matthew, so there was no way I could get to him.

I quickly walked around the equipment and saw that there was no way to fall out and the only way to get down was on a HUGE slide or back down the stairs.

The little daredevil decides to take the slide, so I stand at the bottom and yell up, "Come on down James. Mommy is at the bottom."

Soon I hear the tumbling of his little body as he slides---no rolls---down to the bottom. He's got a huge smile on his face and walks directly back to the stairs to do it again.

That's my little daredevil!

Matthew's 6 month Dr. visit

Matthew had his 6 month check up today.

I'm glad to report he's a healthy and happy boy.

Height: 28 inches 90-95th percentile

Weight: 18 lbs. 12 oz. 75th percentile

Head circumference: 17 1/4 inches 50th percentile

Right now he's eating rice cereal and various baby fruits and veggies. The doctor said that when he is sitting up better we can start giving him Cheerios and once he has that down we can start giving him cut up table foods. She also mentioned that instead of teething biscuits you can give them full size carrots to soothe their gums as they're teething. I'd never heard that one before, but I'll give it a try.

The poor baby also received 4 shots. It was hard to see my happy little Matthew crying with such big tears in his eyes, but we got through it and had a good day.

His next appointment will be in November.

Boredom

I heard Maddie say that she was bored yesterday.

As I sit here I am trying to remember a time when I was bored. It must have been a very long time ago because no memories come to mind.

Ahhhh, to be bored!

Owen, my biggest blessing, is at the Wild Animal Park tonight. He didn't take one kid. He didn't take two kids. He took all three of those little cuties!

My first thought was that I would sit down on the couch, turn on the tv, and not move a muscle while they were gone. I'm feeling tired because Matthew and James have been make some wake up calls between 4-6 am.

As Owen and the kids were leaving I was cleaning up the dinner dishes and making brownies for desert tomorrow night.

As long as I was in there I should clean the kitchen too, right?

I turn my head and look out our big windows into the backyard and see that things are in disarray so I begin to straighten out there.

As I walk back into the family room I notice it is full of toys, so I'd better clean that up.

Mixed in with the toys were various items that belong in our room, the boy's room and Maddie's room, so I put those away.

There are also some dirty burp cloths around so I had better start a load of laundry and I might as well throw in the bedding from our guests this week too.

While I'm at it I should do a second load of towels that I collected from out by the pool.

I haven't answered e-mails in quite awhile so I should sit down and get to those.

People would probably like it if I blogged. I'm a little behind since we've been out of town. I'll even get ahead a day and write two blogs.

As I finish my second blog the phone rings. It's Owen.

"Can you meet me out front and help me get the boys out of the car and settled into bed?"

"Of course, I'll be right out."

Ahhhh, to be bored!

Remind me to read this next spring!

Maddie always spends the first five weeks of summer at her dad's house. Therefore we are continually trying to fit an entire summers worth of activities into 5 weeks. It can be a bit overwhelming!

Week 1: Maddie's two friends from the Bay Area arrived for a week of Sea World Camp.

Week 2: I enrolled Maddie in volleyball camp so she could get some instruction prior to trying out for the team this year.

Week 3: Family Camp---you've all read about that one!

Week 4: Our friends, The Riggan's, from our old church came down for a 3 day visit. Yippee! So great to see old friends.

Week 5: We scheduled a trip to visit Maddie's paternal grandparents for 5 days, but it got cancelled.

As much as we would have enjoyed visiting the Davis' I have to admit to being relieved that we are having a week at home with nothing on the schedule before school begins.

---Oops! I just remembered that I may drive up to LA to visit my friend Diana who will be vacationing down there---

What's wrong with me? I just can't stop myself!

Maddie's Top Ten Family Camp Memories

Maddie's Top Ten Family Camp Memories

1. Having mother daughter time.

2. The Zip line

3. Making crafts at the craft cabin. Maddie decorated a plate and made a mosaic dragonfly. Debbie made a souvenier frame for Maddie.

4. Polar Bearing: Maddie went into the icy cold creek and stayed under water for 10 seconds. Burr-chill!!

5. The Great Race: Maddie, myself and 2 other friends formed a team on lake day and went through 6 stations of activities. For example one activity was going down a giant slide into the lake, picking up 2 noodles and swimming them back to shore. We came in 6th place out of 20.

6. The fun Dance Party

7. Watching the nightly skit, which unfolded with a hilarious 20 minute musical on the last night.

8. Being out in the wilderness

9. Winning 2nd place in the belly flop contest

10. Being surprised by having a girl from her old elementary school spending the week at camp and being in Maddie's group.

Poor Baby James

As you can tell from yesterday's post, family camp seemed like the perfect family vacation. We went into it with high hopes that this camp would meet the vacation needs of our family, especially with a big kid and two babies.

Going in we knew James has had a few problems over the last several months that could cause some concern. Twenty months is a difficult age for restaurant eating, he's been experiencing a little seperation anxiety when we drop him off at the church nursery, he has some problems with dry skin and allergies and he doesn't sleep fitfully in portable cribs. We figured one of these things might happen and we would handle it as it came.

Sadly, by Tuesday, we were facing all of these problems. Poor Baby James was just completely miserable. Owen and I had a conference and considered our options. I could take James home, Owen could take him home or we could all go home. One thing was sure,staying was not an option. James needed to get home before his skin got any worse. By this time he was red and itchy from his neck down. We aren't sure if it was from the very dry air or allergies.

In the end we decided to break it up by the sexes. The boys and Owen would come home and Maddie and I would stay at camp. We figured since the week was already paid for, Maddie and I could take advantage of most of the activities and salvage some enjoyment from the difficult situation. Owen was just happy to be able to eat his next meal in peace. Or maybe he was anxious to get home because they were serving salmon for dinner that night and he hates fish---I'm not 100% sure.

Tuesday night, they got home and James was immediately at ease once in his own crib. By Friday, when they came to pick us up, his skin was all cleared up and he was feeling much better.

More camp stories to follow!

We're Back!

So much to write after our week at camp. I'll give an overview today and may add some detailed stories as the week goes on.

We arrived at camp last Sunday afternoon. Our cabin was surrounded by beautiful Oak trees, large rocks and adorable squirrels and birds. The neighbor cabins were far apart which offered some privacy, with the exception of the family you shared a wall of the cabin with.

Once inside we were surprised that the cabins had recently been updated. The wood paneling, carpet, shower and bathroom cabinets all looked brand new. It didn't take long to get comfy.

After settling in we began getting familiar with the camp. We went to a first timers meeting and then met in the dining room for dinner.

One of the most pleasant surprises was mealtime. The drill is...you walk in and find a table, take the kids through the kids buffet line. Once the kids are started you serve yourself salad from a seperate buffet, but the rest of your adult dinner is served by a waiter. They camp has a formally trained Canadian chef. (Yes, Owen was full of pride for his homeland!) His name was D'Arcy and spent much of his career with the Fairmont Hotels. The quality and presentation of the food was impressive and Chef D'Arcy had a great sense of humor to boot!

After dinner you and the kids meet your babysitter, included in the price of the camp, at your cabin and she stays with the little kids while the older kids and adults go to thier respective classes/lectures.

Each day is about the same....
Breakfast, morning meetings, lunch, family time, dinner, evening meetings, evening activity, bedtime.

There were some optional choices mixed in, like a craft room, miniature golf, a lake day, horseback riding, playgrounds, hikes, a zip line, pool and a gameroom.

Well, that's enough for today. Tune in tomorrow for the saga of James!

If you're interested learning more about the camp their website is www.foresthome.org.

How about 9?

Maddie has been home for almost 2 weeks now. It's been non-stop for her. Friends visiting, Sea World Camp, grandparents visiting, and now volleyball camp. She is completely exhausted!

After a heavy workout at volleyball camp each day she has been asking to rest in the afternoons. We've been letting her lay in our room and watch tv. Today she got to take a hot shower and relax in our room. When she came out about an hour or so ago I said, "Maddie, I want you to go to bed at 8 along with your brothers."

Expected answer: "Yes mom, that's a great idea. I'm really tired."

Actual answer: "Can I stay up until 9?"

I don't get it! Are you tired or not Girl????

Traveling with Babies

Owen and I sat down today to brainstorm a list of things to bring on our trip to family camp next week. We are staying in a cabin with bedding included and all of the food and entertainment are provided. Packing should be easy, right????

Our list started with formula, bottles, sippy cups, diapers, wipes, swim diapers, toys, swing, 2 portable cribs, stroller, pacifiers, etc. etc. etc. This is the beginning of the boys list. We haven't even gotten to clothes yet, let alone Maddie, Mom and Dad!

50 items later I start thinking that we may need to bring two cars. Of course you can't go to family camp in two cars. Half of the fun is driving there and back with three screaming kids.

As any couple who wants to remain happily married does, we put the list down and moved on to lunch and tv watching. We still haven't talked any more. I think we're going to submit the problem to prayer. If God can move mountains He can certainly make room in the minivan for a family of 5 and all of their gear!

A Quick Update

Today, I'll just give a quick update of what the kids are up to.

Maddie just finished up Sea World Day Camp last week. This week she is at volleyball camp. The camp is at her school and she's hoping to learn some skills so she can try out for the team this fall.

James is loving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He's a bit picky with eating, so it's nice to have one thing he'll almost always eat.

Matthew is doing great with his rice cereal twice a day. He is also rolling all over the place. If you leave him in one place, he'll be in a new place when you get back. I think he's close to crawling too.

Ear Piercing, FINALLY!

Today is a day to celebrate!

Maddie FINALLY got her ears pierced.

Getting her ears pierced has been one of our biggest dramas over the last several years. We have gone to Claires (the ear piercing shop) at least 4-5 times and ended up leaving without pierced ears. Her friend's mom even took her once. Maddie got all the way up to putting the dots on her ears and then changed her mind.

What made the difference today? I've been thinking about this all afternoon. I think a few things played into her new found bravery.

1. Her two friends from the Bay Area were with her.
2. Her two friends from San Diego got their ears pierced this summer.
3. She had her immunizations updated this year, so she's had several shots and they didn't hurt as bad as she thought they would. (she's made a connection between shots and ear piercing)
4. She's a little older.
5. The salesgirl made her feel at ease and hurried the whole process along before Maddie could freak out.

We're all super happy for Maddie.

It's a right of passage for a pre-teen and something she's really been looking forward to, even as she's been dreading the perceived pain.