Um, Well, Uh...

I have so many things I need to write about and put into this blog.  Except I'm going to write about Abby's day.

She started regaling the events of today in a horrified manner the moment she walked in the door.  She described in detail her disgust at having to watch that movie about puberty and periods.  It included rather graphic illustrations, including distinctive hair and breast growth.  She's upset that I signed the permission slip for her to watch the video.  It even had animation for the egg's journey ending with a girl's cycle.  Her voice raises with disdain as she recounts the entire video.  I did ask her if there was anything other than what I already covered with her and she confirmed there wasn't.  So there you go.  We survived our first kid through the trauma of learning about her body.  Praise God.

Squarrels

Hans is playing Squarrels with the kids at the table.  Hazel has the golden acorn and doesn't want to let Abby pick any cards from her hand.  She sings about how she's so good at Squarrels.  Ooops...Abby snitched the golden acorn from her and Hazel shrieked.  She shouts every play.  Eli's praying he doesn't get the rotten acorn in the Whirlwind...

I'm really going to have to video this sometime for everyone to see the entertaining value of this.

Poor, Poor Abby

I hate seeing the school phone number on the caller ID.  Especially when I already have an inkling as to why I am being called.  My poor Abby threw up at school.  In her classroom.  All over her desk.  In front of everyone.  Isn't this one of the things that qualifies for "most embarrassing" when you are 10 years old and in 5th grade?  Last week was Eli, during the week was Pip, and now my poor, poor Abby.  I was unsure about sending her since she was sick yesterday too, but she was feeling so much better this morning and I told her if she had any ickiness to just call me and I would come get her no matter what.  I think I need to really impress on her the whole "no matter what" thing.  She lasted until 2 this afternoon, even after feeling so horrible that she didn't eat lunch.

What's Up With the Older Two

Eli threw up in the night, a smallish, bright-red puddle on his sheets, before running into our room, yelling, "I'm puking," and then going to his bathroom to finish puking in the toilet.  He spent the rest of the night (this occurred around 2 AM) sleeping on the bathroom floor.  Hans nicely lay a large towel on the hard linoleum for Eli to lay on in his sleeping bag.  Other than a load of laundry, this was the only vomit encounter we had, but I still kept him home from school today.

The boy had his first basketball practice on Thursday.  He's on a team of Kindergarten through 2nd grade boys. I've told Eli that if he has any basketball questions, he can call Auntie Erin.  Watching Erin all those years has made me comfortable enough to suggest to Eli that maybe he would have more control when he dribbles if he doesn't let the ball bounce all the way up to his shoulders.  That's about it.  Not sure basketball will be his sport, but he's on the same team as his best friend, Shane.

Abby had her end-of-soccer pool party on Saturday.  Very fun to be in an indoor, heated pool in November with more than a dozen squealing tween girls.  Hans wasn't too keen on getting wet so it was just as well that I forgot his swim trunks.  I did get in the pool myself, the only mom in the pool since my sweet petite wanted to swim too (my friend Gina was in the water for 10 minutes after swearing solidarity...yeah, right) and the only other adult besides Abby's soccer coach.  Only mildly uncomfortable.  Especially since I discovered I had forgotten my bra after getting out of the pool for the potluck lunch.

I need to download my camera in order to post pictures of my beautiful, quick-footed, athletic daughter playing soccer.  I know there are other pictures I'd like to post on the camera too, but I can't remember what they are.  I also have the children's school pictures and soccer team pictures I want to show off, but they need to be scanned.  Yes, I'm behind.  I have a to-do list that never ends (although some things could be checked off eventually, like sewing the skirt for Abby or painting all the door trim).  Really, I'll get there.

It was pointed out that I forgot some information on my Halloween post, like what the older ones dressed as. Abby was a witch, complete with a straw broom and pointy hat.  She's been reading Roald Dahl's The Witches and was trying to do an accurate portrayal.  Eli was an astronaut, but he says he was a flight commander.  Feel free to let me know anything else I've forgotten to put in here.  Don't be shy.

Eli came storming out of his bedroom a couple of nights ago, so frustrated.  He said he couldn't sleep because Hazel was playing the tambourine.  Hans went to talk to her and she replied, "But Papa, it's a bedtime song."  Hans came back chuckling, telling Eli, "It's okay, it's a bedtime song."  What are we going to do with that girl?

Halloween 2011

Preschool party this morning.  Pip was a princess pirate girl.  I will post pictures at some point.

Took the kids to the S-W costume parade this afternoon.  We walked the parade (all of two blocks) and then everyone splits up to the two sides of the street to trick-or-treat the shops on the way back to where they started.  Pip's candy bag is pretty heavy, especially since we did some door-to-door trick-or-treating for an hour in MV.

One sucky thing, which just reinforces our desire to leave here, is we came home to pumpkin remnants in the road again and all three of the children's jack-o-lanterns gone from our porch.  At least it didn't happen until after dark on Halloween this year instead of before the dang day like last year.

On another note, Hans had a student today dress as "Mr. Weber."  He says she's a good student too.  I would have loved to see her in her blue, vertical-striped dress shirt, off-color khaki, and Converse shoes.  He's arrived!  I married the cool teacher.

Potty Mouth

Pip tried turning on the kid computer.  "MOM!  It's not working!  It's not working 'cause it's DAMN!"  (I use all the exclamation points because she mostly yells as she whines all this at me.)

Last night, I was helping clean in her room.  She kept running out to show her papa all the treasures she was finding "in the crap under her bed."  Then she muttered about all the books on the "frickin' floor."

Whoops.

Big Rock

We hiked Big Rock this morning.  I know the name is odd, but that really is the name of where we went.  It was a short hike, maybe a half-mile, but most of it was up and there was even a section that was not meant for children, especially ones as little as Pip.  She did well, even scaling some steep rocks.  Harvey got to be off-leash since he's been doing so well at listening and sticking closer to us.  It was windy at the top of Big Rock.  A nice, warm wind with our slightly crazy weather.  Yesterday was 80 degrees until Abby's soccer game when the dark, forbidding clouds rolled in.  There was no rain until after dark, but seems to have given us a great respite for our little hike this morning.  The pictures of me are horrible since we just got dressed at went this morning and I opted not to bother with my appearance.  It shows.

 

 

 

 

 

Almost flying!

 

Happy Harvey.  

Puppies!

We went to Hans's cousin's house on Camano Island today.  Lynne and her husband Paul are incredibly nice and happily welcomed us to play with their litter of ten 4-week-old golden retriever puppies.  Mama dog Callie is a sweet, sweet extra large retriever and pups are so fun to play with.  I admit, I was right in there with the kids.  It's too much fun to miss having 4 pups pulling on your pant leg with their little growls.  Pip was a little overwhelmed (and almost knocked over) by all the puppies at once and fared much better after they were worn out and sleepy.

 

Soccer

Eli had his first game!  His team is the Orange Crush.  They're orange.  He and Abby are both number 6 on their teams.  Just a funny coincidence.  Eli played goalie his first game, alternating with another little girl.  This is the last year of co-ed soccer for him.  Abby's always been on girls-only teams. 

My little stud:

He did well at goalie.  The coach even took him aside to say he had placed him there because he was about the best on the team at goalie.  They're 7.  Eli did have one of his dramatic moments after catching the ball with his face (kicked by a school nemesis named Alejandro) where he kept rubbing his cheek and opening and closing his mouth exaggeratedly.  For about the last 10 minutes of the game.  That's my boy.

Abby's doing fantastic at soccer.  She's super speedy and getting much more aggressive on the field.  I saw her body check an opponent when she kicked the ball away.  Heard that her coach is pleased as punch about how far she's coming along.

Pip's in Preschool!

Since I forgot my camera in all the craziness of the older two's first day of school, I took pictures on Hazel's first day of all the kids.  (The true 'first day of school' pictures of Abby and Eli are here.)

My big 5th grade girl:

My 2nd-grader boy with his faux-hawk tolerating me:

Pip was excited about preschool until it actually came time to leave home and drive there.  Her anxiety shot way up.  I got her to stand for a photo by her cubby:

She clung to her dee and me as we walked into her classroom.  I stood next to her while she played in the purple sand until her friend Annabella arrived.  Annabella made everything okay and I left her.  She was sad on the drive home that she wasn't still at school.  It'll take some getting used to, but having a moment's peace at the store was nice.  I didn't buy a single thing I didn't need just to end the whining.

Huaraches

Hans has spent countless hours researching his various interests.  I've had the privilege? of receiving instruction on truck engines, sailboats, catamarans, motorcycles, Bill Bryson, and now running, particularly barefoot running, and healthier "staple"-based diets.  I love how thoroughly he immerses himself in the subjects.  The food thing is mildly irritating since I've been moving in that direction for ages with resistance on his part.  Now that I have a go-ahead, I'm floundering for recipe ideas that he'll enjoy eating (but he's really not picky--hah!).  He found a youtube video providing instructions for making your own huaraches (the traditional Mexican running sandals of the Tarahumara) and he and the kids worked hard to do that out of my rubber boots.  They do look cute though.

Long Day

Sometimes Pip gets a little too worn out by the evening.  This is less than 10 minutes after bedtime...

Maybe Sewing Isn't Such a Bad Thing

I've been thinking about this little skirt since I saw it on another blog.  It has probably taken much more time for me to do than she did, but I did it!  It made a great use for one of my Girl Scout camp shirts with the iron-on that I dislike so much.  Pip loves it.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

I looked up the lyrics to David Bowie's song "Changes" since it's stuck in my head.  It's fitting.  Hans is home from his last day at Geek Chic.  I'd suggest it was a bittersweet moment, but the traffic on the drive home was horrendous and it took him an hour and forty minutes, so he was more relieved than nostalgic. 

Monday begins the school routine for him.  He's gleeful about the drive along Highway 9: quiet, winding, little to no traffic.  The kids are excited for him to be home earlier in the day to actually do things with them.

Wednesday begins the older two's new school year.  It's hard to believe my girl is starting 5th grade.  It's hard to believe that all three will be in school and I will have two hours, three days a week to sort out for myself.  I excitedly made my dreaded annual appointment during Pip's preschool hours mentally cheering the opportunity to be unaccompanied after so many years.  I would guess I've been accompanied on all but a few appointments during the last 10 years.  Long time to be without privacy.  Funny what moments become celebrations.

Drama

Abby came out of her room last night after we'd put kids to bed.  She looked at me sadly and said, "I am a fish.  My cat is the ocean.  Without her, I cannot breathe."  Olive is so ticked about Harvey that we think she's found a new home.  We've seen her once in the last month and not at all in the last couple of weeks.  Abby's declared she's not moving without her cat.  Poor girl.

Calendar

I am so thankful all my kids' names start with different letters today.  I'm filling in school schedules and holidays and finding it so much easier to just put an A, E, or H to designate which kid has what going on.  H--preschool 9:30-11:45.  Early release--A/E.  NO SCHOOL--A/E (or A/E/H depending).  I still need to add soccer schedules, Girl Scout meetings, and MOPS steering meetings once I get that information.  Hans's schedule is a whole other matter. 

Don't Turn Your Head

Pip will not take a nap.  She wants to take her own money to the store and get herself a gumball out of the gumball machine.  I said she can get a gumball if she takes a nap.  She understands.  She still does not nap.

I've given up.  I sent her to her room for whining and crying about the gumball.

Out she comes, no longer fussing.  Did she take a nap?  Uh-huh, she says.  Did she close her eyes and actually sleep?  Uh-huh, she says.  Is she lying?  Nuh-uh, she says.  She is so lying.

Outside, then inside.  "Where are you going?" I ask my little Pip.  I get a smile in return.  "Ssh," she says, "go back, don't turn your head."  "Where are going?"  "Be quiet," she says again, "ssh, don't turn your head."

I know she's going to her room to get her swimsuit.  She smiles again, finger in front of her lips.  "Ssh, be quiet."
Little stinker.

Mama, Can I?

Pip: Mama, I'm going to sleep in Abby's bed tonight with Abby!
M: No, you're not.
(After whispers from Abby) P: Mama, can I sleep in Abby's bed tonight please?
M: No.  There's not enough room for you and Abby to sleep in her bed.
P: But I have little legs.  And I have little arms.

Ross Lake

Hans must have forgotten who he was planning the hiking/camping trip we just did together.

Yesterday we hiked TWELVE miles from the car to our camp site on Ross Lake.  We stayed at Devil's Creek and really, the devil can have it.  Twelve miles!  It was fun spending time with Hans and the hike was beautiful.  I am just more into the camping part of it all.  I hiked twelve miles, with a full pack, most of yesterday.  I even waded through one larger creek because the log across was just too dang high in the air.  After the sixth mile, my hips were giving me pain and I was slightly nauseous.  I think the last time I did anything resembling a hike was before we ever had kids.  Yesterday was a bit of an overwhelming re-introduction.  If you ask Hans, I did really well.  Today however, I can barely move.  We hiked the 3.7 miles back from Devil's Creek to Rainbow Point this morning, taking at least 2.5 hours since I was so sore.  Hans felt so bad for me that he said we'd wait by the dock for the ranger or someone in a boat to hitch a ride somehow, minimizing my mileage as much as possible.  Three older guys, Jeff, Eugene, and Brian, let us hitch a ride with them.  Very nice men, mostly retired, who do an annual fishing trip together.  Teased us a little about being married 13 years and not figuring out by now that maybe this hike attempt was going to be a bit much on me.  They dropped us off at the south end of the lake, but it was still another couple of miles to Highway 20, and a lot of it was up.  We hiked to the road and I waited in the shade while Hans hitched a ride with a vacationing German couple the 5 miles to where we left the car.  We had quite the adventure.

Visitors!

When I get photos from Mary and Meta, I'll be better able to write about all we've been up to.

July continues in a whirlwind of activity.  Meta visited last week for a couple of days with Mr. Emmett and Mr. Kai and her camera.  She takes such awesome pictures.  Meta took pictures of us with the Klanicas and took pictures when Gail and Aunt Jan came on Friday with Kacy, Micah, Melanie, and baby Kara.

When Meta arrived on Thursday, we met at Deception Pass State Park and played with the Klanicas.  

The three three-year-olds: Patrick, Hazel, and Emmett.  The water is so fun to play in, even if the weather doesn't cooperate.

Pip's outfit after falling in the water.  Eli's behind her in my jacket and no shirt or bottoms since his were so wet.

Catching Up

With all our craziness, it was nice to have one of the laziest weekends we've ever had.  Granted, the rainy weather did contribute to the zero accomplishments this past weekend as well.

Thursday with Klanicas was fun.  I got permission for Molly to go to camp with Abby for the day and they even had an extra shirt in the right color for her to match my girl.  Mary left with my Eli for his first overnight with a friend ever and I was left with two three-year-old girls until the older ones finished camp for the day.  Hazel and Annabella were hilarious, playing side by side, with one being "Mommy" and the other was "Little One."  Listening to the two of them chattering away is highly entertaining.

H: Okay, Little One.  It's time for nap.  You lay down here and Mommy will be here.  No, 'nabella!  You lay here (pointing to her princess bed as she climbs into my laundry bucket).
A: 'Night, Mommy!  You'll be right here?  (Closes eyes, fake sleeps.)
(2 seconds later)
H: Time to get up!  Let's go to the store.  (They go to Pip's room.)  'Nabella, you be Mommy.
And it starts all over.

Hazel says Annabella is her favorite friend.

Molly stayed the night with us and then we did a mad scramble drive to swap Molly for Eli and get my Abby to camp on time (only because we stopped at the library on the way back).  Didn't get Hazel a real nap until the weekend, but it was such a relief to have happen since it made for a much happier little girl.

Yesterday was another Klanica filled afternoon.  We went to Accidental Artist and painted pottery, something Abby had been waiting to do for when Molly got her since she did it for her Girl Scout badge.  Since I had all the kids with me, I splurged a little on a platter with the kids' handprints.  I'll have to take pictures of their projects to post here after they're fired.  Hazel was so mad about leaving her doggie named Scout behind to get "cooked."  We hung out at Skagit River Park in Burlington after zipping to Fred Meyer for snacks.  By this time, we had Rachelle and Emily along with us bringing our kid total to nine.  I think we did well for maneuvering through the store with nine kids trailing, especially with two of them being three, and three of them being boys.

Add Some Klanicas...

or at least the news that the Klanicas will be here in a few hours, and I get kids cleaning their rooms before 8:30 AM.  Wish Molly, Ben, Patrick and my Mary could come over more often, especially if this is the response I get from my kids!  We'll be having a full house soon since Annabella is also coming over today.  Only negative is that it's raining and my house is half the size of my sister's.  I'm thinking it'll be a pretty fun, loud day.

Boys!

Annabella was with us today and Hazel was busy all day playing.  After we walked Annabella to her grandparents' house, Eli ran into the house, disappeared for a few seconds, then ran back out to the backyard fence.  He ran out to pee!  Ugh.  Boys.

Wow, Time Flies

It's already the 10th.  Summer moves faster and faster every year.  I already have most weekends scheduled through October (although soccer games make much of that simple).  Abby starts Twilight Camp (through Girl Scouts) tomorrow, our friends from Louisana come this week, Mom and Meta are contemplating coming the week after, and the last week has the kids going to Farmor's and Grandpop's for fun grandparent time and swimming lessons.  Hans and I are thinking we'll go for a hiking/camping date.  And that just wraps up July.

Last weekend's 40th Anniversary fete for Harlan and Karen was a wonderful treat.  I'm still pondering if I'll share the musical entertainment from that.  They loved the sign Hans made.

We skipped Sedro-Woolley's parade on the 4th and tried out Arlington's.  I loved that Arlington's parade was about half as long.  The one here in S-W has far too many logging trucks and sprint cars.  There really isn't much variation in those.  Hazel was hilarious about the fireworks.  She ran circles around us while waiting for them to start, shrieking and giggling at the ones people would shoot off before the big show.

We've been in recovery mode this week.  Hans has been fussing about his sore throat, but won't go to the doctor.  I took Abby in and she has strep throat, but even that hasn't convinced the hubs to seek medical attention.  He's taking the antibiotics from his armpit boil, so that's better than nothing, right?  Abby's been on antibiotics long enough now that she's perking up and isn't contagious anymore, which is good since camp starts tomorrow.

Yesterday was one of the laziest Saturdays we've had as a family in a few years.  We spent most of the day in the backyard simply hanging out.  We had an impromptu barbeque with Hazel's friend Annabella's family.  It was nice to just chat and relax.  I'm going to be watching Annabella one day a week or so and when school starts, we may just trade babysitting so I can substitute.  Rachel (Annabella's mom) is going to check out the preschool I have Pip at too.

 

I love my little dirty ragamuffin.

Garage Sale

We did it, it's done, and stuff has left the premises!  So happy it's over.  At least a third of the people who stopped in had to be Sedro-Woolley people who have seen the changes around here and wanted to get a better look.  I received many compliments on our yard, our house, the garage, and the dog.  So very small town here!

On Saturday, one couple stopped in and chatted about how they just live down the street and moved in shortly before we did, yada-yada, and how they thought it was so nice what we've done, etc.  We chatted more and I said something about how we'd gotten the game they bought because my husband works for Geek Chic.  You should have seen their faces.  They were in awe and even said "Geek Chic" in completely reverent, hushed voices.  So, so funny.  They were huge fans of the company, referring to themselves as "PAXers" (PAX is one of the serious Seattle conventions), dreaming of someday acquiring a table of their own.  I was happy to see Hans coming out since they were so excited and I didn't quite know what to make of it.  I don't know that I've really seen true fan appreciation.  Hans was a celebrity!  I half expected them to ask if they could touch Hans just to feel his greatness.  When they left, you know they were just going to go to their friends and brag about meeting the designer of the Geek Chic tables.  I am married to some serious hot stuff.

Busy, Busy!

We're having a garage sale this weekend.  I'm a bit in awe of all the stuff we've managed to accumulate over the years, but I know I'm doing better when much of it is kid clothes and toys I can finally part with.  It's a quarter to one and I'm already dragging.  I spent most of yesterday in cleaning and setting up the garage.  There is a lot of arranging and pricing yet to do.  Hans suggested (especially since the weather is iffy) that I pull my van out of the carport and use that space too.  Now I get to see if I can get my hands on more tables.  Ooh-la-la!  We're breaking out of our comfort zones with this shebang. 

Something to Talk About

Those other Weber boys came up on Thursday and helped Hans get things going on the house.  It doesn't seem like much was done, but the progress was fantastic.  I love those boys.

Also on Thursday, Hans heard from Nathan, the science department head at Arlington High School, who called to let him know there is a biology position open and is he interested?  I may have been a bit overenthusiastic about this news since it would be the most ideal situation for all of us.  Arlington has been the plan for so many years and to have offered again is incredible.  It's our first choice for positions, but we're still looking at other districts and have applied to a position at Skyline where Hans taught originally.  I think it says so much about Hans's character and skill that these schools would want him back, seeking him out to ask.

When we returned from camp last week, I began a project for Hazel.  Hans took apart the little bike (blue and green) both Abby and Eli learned to ride on so I could spruce it up with some paint and stickers for our Pip.  We finished it today.  If you don't get too close, it almost looks intentional.

Pierced Ears/Abby's Birthday/Girl Scout Camp/Play Day

It's a busy, busy time of year!

Abby got her ears pierced before we headed out to our Girl Scout Spring Encamporee on Friday night.  Eli was my photographer for the ear piercing.

I wanted to do something significant for my girl who was spending her birthday at camp without much fanfare for her special day.  I did my best.  The camp theme was "Cowgirl Roundup," and I made sure everyone knew it was her birthday:

 

Outside our cabin:

I didn't take the camera with me when we were canoeing since there was no guarantee it'd make it back safely.  Laura, another girl in our troop, was much improved this year compared to last, but she's still wiggly and I had to keep shifting for the canoe to stay balanced.

The girls were wading after canoeing and my Abby had to catch a tadpole:

After canoeing, we were on to crafts:

Abby raced the stick pony she made and won!

We ended the day with archery and bb guns. 

It looked like sniper school with the bb guns since the girls had to lay on the ground:

Check out how well Abby did her first time ever shooting a bb gun!

We celebrated Abby's birthday on Sunday after we returned from camp.

Abby's birthday cake:

Now to yesterday...  Yesterday was Play Day at school and I had to stop by in the morning and in the afternoon to get pictures of the kids since they now do it at separate times.

Eli and Hazel are always excited to see each other:

Happy boy, even with the rain:

A couple hours later, Abby and her friends Rachel and Betty:

Trying to squirt the ping pong ball off the top of a soda bottle:

Eli's class walked to the park to play in the afternoon, so we headed there after taking pictures of Abby.  Eli's such a nice big brother:

I feel like I haven't had a moment to myself to even think since last week and have realized it's not going to get any less busy with school ending tomorrow and all the whatevers we end up doing to maintain sanity, the house projects, and the applications that need attention.  However, I am one lucky mama to have these neat kids.