Sunday was a blast. We took the boys to Sno-Hyak snow park at Snoqualmie pass. It was a bit of a drive -- about 50 minutes. Then we spent a bit more time driving down the entire expanse of the icy road looking for a good place to stop. The farther on we went, the more snow mobiles we saw. Finally we came to a turn about and turned about. We went back to the beginning and parked there, then unloaded and dressed the boys. We'd already put them in long underwear with sleepers over the top. Once at the park, we put on mittens, coats and boots. Then, gathering up the pancake and the tobboggin, we headed uphill. Xander was, initially, very unhappy. He wanted to ride the pancake NOW and couldn't understand our insistence on walking. But we finally found a spot high enough on the trail and stopped. There we began the run -- and it literally was a 'run' for me! Xander plopped down on the pancake and off he spun down the trail. I ran, full out for part of it, alongside him, making sure that the pancake didn't spin off into a snow drift or bang into anyone coming up the trail. Tom and Jason followed in the tobboggin, Tom pulling, Jason laughing. We traded and began again. We played there for quite awhile then gathered boys and snow stuff up and walked further up the trail to look for snowball making materials.
Tom and Jason charged ahead. Xander marched determinedly after. I offered him my hand, to 'help him up the hill.' His response: 'I can help MYSELF up the hill!' and so he did. We came to a relatively flat surface and stopped. There we found a natural 'snow fort' and the boys and I 'hid' in it while Tom lobbed snow balls. Most of the time I was attempting to push the boys up the sides of the fort so that they could throw snow balls at their father. Funny thing, I think they ENJOYED sliding down the snow face first!
When it was time to return to the car, I sat on the tobboggin with Xander while Tom sat on the pancake with Jason and we spun down the trail. Part of the way down, we switched and the boys laughed the whole way.
It was a good day and one we shall have to repeat.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Cooking takes the lead
I really need to be better about keeping up with this! My mother is right: the days are long but the years are short. What she could have added is: the moments are many and fleeting! Seems like I turn around and the boys are into something new.
For example, the other day, thinking about things to do that would provide Jason with both learning and fun, I suggested we make bread. We did. We made Honey Whole Wheat bread. Jason measured and stirred and then he and his brother pounded (kneaded) the bread. Jason had the bigger bowl and worked diligently to get the flour incorporated and the bread springy. Xander had a smaller bowl and a small piece of dough. He enjoyed thumping and throwing it but that got old and so, being Xander, he dumped the dough out onto the table and set the bowl on his head... I had stepped into the kitchen to check the oven and when I turned around, there was Jason, working away, and a metal headed monster beside him. "OH XANDER!" I wailed, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" He laughed and took the bowl off. Jason, still absorbed, barely glanced at me as he commented "You know Xander. Everything is a hat." Xander was delighted with this insight and has been repeating it, periodically, for the past few days.
We put the bread to rise and when it had, I showed it to Jason, before we baked it. It came out just fine except that the oil was a bit off. So we dumped the oil and bought new. We will make sourdough next -- I just need to get the starter set up as it has to perk for 24 hours...
Our next adventure in cooking was pie making. Tom just recently was told that one of his ideas has been patented. He is justifiably proud and we wanted to do something to celebrate so, while he was off at work on Tuesday, the boys and I went shopping. We made him a special celebratory dinner -- Steak Au Poivre (using Jacque Pepin and Julia Child's recipe), Broccoli with Hollandaise (Jason made -- and ATE most of -- the hollandaise), potatoes, and a home made apple pie. I made the crust, Jason the filling. I have promised Jason that he can make the next pie crust, and so he will, tonight, when we make 'Stargazy Pie.' While dinner was cooking, the boys made their father big posters that said 'Congratulations Daddy' and 'We are proud of you.' Tom was delighted. The posters are still up in the door. Dinner turned out well and Xander, who is not much of a steak eater, decided that he REALLY liked Steak Au Poivre. He kept gobbling it down as fast as I could cut it up for him. He also liked pie crust. Jason just liked pie.. Should be interesting to see how they do with the pilchard pie tonight, hmmm?
Jason is fascinated by math these days. All on his own, he is going around figuring out addition problems. 'MOMMY!' he will announce with loud excitement 'DO YOU KNOW WHAT 1+3 is?' Obligingly, I say 'No.' 'FOUR!!!!' and he is off to do another 'Math Problem' in his 'Math area.' I have found numerous sites on the web where one can obtain 'worksheets' with math problems -- including mazes etc -- and have been printing them up for him. He loves the stuff and just keeps going at it. Xander, watching his brother, wants to 'do school too!' Of course, in Xander's case, 'doing school' means sharpening pencils... Yes, we have a pencil sharpener and after he saw his brother sharpen pencils (something Jason enjoys mightily... I think sometimes he writes just so that he can dull the tip and need to sharpen it!), Xander decided that that was the coolest thing going and HE wanted to do it. Sigh.
On a sadder note: the snow is gone. We are back to the old Seattle Standby, rain. On the other hand, we have promised to take the boys up to the Sno-park this weekend. That should be great fun. And with the snow gone and the roads MOSTLY clear, the boys and I can once again venture out to the parks... we just have to dress warmly since the temperatures, while not freezing are still mighty cold.
Opps, here boys yelling. Bye!
For example, the other day, thinking about things to do that would provide Jason with both learning and fun, I suggested we make bread. We did. We made Honey Whole Wheat bread. Jason measured and stirred and then he and his brother pounded (kneaded) the bread. Jason had the bigger bowl and worked diligently to get the flour incorporated and the bread springy. Xander had a smaller bowl and a small piece of dough. He enjoyed thumping and throwing it but that got old and so, being Xander, he dumped the dough out onto the table and set the bowl on his head... I had stepped into the kitchen to check the oven and when I turned around, there was Jason, working away, and a metal headed monster beside him. "OH XANDER!" I wailed, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" He laughed and took the bowl off. Jason, still absorbed, barely glanced at me as he commented "You know Xander. Everything is a hat." Xander was delighted with this insight and has been repeating it, periodically, for the past few days.
We put the bread to rise and when it had, I showed it to Jason, before we baked it. It came out just fine except that the oil was a bit off. So we dumped the oil and bought new. We will make sourdough next -- I just need to get the starter set up as it has to perk for 24 hours...
Our next adventure in cooking was pie making. Tom just recently was told that one of his ideas has been patented. He is justifiably proud and we wanted to do something to celebrate so, while he was off at work on Tuesday, the boys and I went shopping. We made him a special celebratory dinner -- Steak Au Poivre (using Jacque Pepin and Julia Child's recipe), Broccoli with Hollandaise (Jason made -- and ATE most of -- the hollandaise), potatoes, and a home made apple pie. I made the crust, Jason the filling. I have promised Jason that he can make the next pie crust, and so he will, tonight, when we make 'Stargazy Pie.' While dinner was cooking, the boys made their father big posters that said 'Congratulations Daddy' and 'We are proud of you.' Tom was delighted. The posters are still up in the door. Dinner turned out well and Xander, who is not much of a steak eater, decided that he REALLY liked Steak Au Poivre. He kept gobbling it down as fast as I could cut it up for him. He also liked pie crust. Jason just liked pie.. Should be interesting to see how they do with the pilchard pie tonight, hmmm?
Jason is fascinated by math these days. All on his own, he is going around figuring out addition problems. 'MOMMY!' he will announce with loud excitement 'DO YOU KNOW WHAT 1+3 is?' Obligingly, I say 'No.' 'FOUR!!!!' and he is off to do another 'Math Problem' in his 'Math area.' I have found numerous sites on the web where one can obtain 'worksheets' with math problems -- including mazes etc -- and have been printing them up for him. He loves the stuff and just keeps going at it. Xander, watching his brother, wants to 'do school too!' Of course, in Xander's case, 'doing school' means sharpening pencils... Yes, we have a pencil sharpener and after he saw his brother sharpen pencils (something Jason enjoys mightily... I think sometimes he writes just so that he can dull the tip and need to sharpen it!), Xander decided that that was the coolest thing going and HE wanted to do it. Sigh.
On a sadder note: the snow is gone. We are back to the old Seattle Standby, rain. On the other hand, we have promised to take the boys up to the Sno-park this weekend. That should be great fun. And with the snow gone and the roads MOSTLY clear, the boys and I can once again venture out to the parks... we just have to dress warmly since the temperatures, while not freezing are still mighty cold.
Opps, here boys yelling. Bye!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Back again
Back again after a long hiatus.
What an event past few months. We went to Tucson for Christmas and spent some wonderful time with Mom, Dad, Matt, Maggie and the kids. Then we came home. On the return flight, Jason was nearly inconsolable during the descent. When, several days later, he was still tearful and having a hard time sleeping, we took him into the doctor. Sure enough, the poor baby had a double ear infection going. His brother, though suffering from a nasty upper respiratory bug, did not have ear infections, thank heavens.
On the other hand, Jason, dosed with antibiotics, recovered fairly rapidly. Xander went the other way. He developed a cough that got so bad that it was, quite literally, keeping everyone awake. So in to the doctor with him -- he is now back on Axid as treatment for reflux and it seems to be working. Though he still has an occasional cough, he is not coughing all the night through and is sleeping somewhat better.
Then there is me: Several days ago, I got a splinter under the nail of my left thumb. Tried to remove it using nail clippers (DUMB!) and ended up clipping it off instead. Tried soaking it out but after two days it became pretty clear that there was an infection going. Urged on by my husband and mother, I made an appointment to get it removed. Yuck. It was worse than I thought. First, I had to have a tetanus shot since I couldn't remember when my last one had been. Then it took four shots of Lidocaine around the base of my thumb to numb it sufficiently for the doc to remove the splinter. Now I am on Vicodin and Augmentin for the next ten days. Joy. Actually, the current worst of it is that the bandage I have on the thumb is bulky and awkward. And the pain, such as it is, seems to be a result of the injections near the base of the thumb -- unless I bang the thumb itself, it doesn't hurt. What a fuss over a silly little splinter!
But there is good news in the world. Tom got a patent award for some very clever thinking. I told him that he should use the money to buy himself that camera he has been wanting. He is quite pleased with himself, as you might imagine!
And it is snowing -- again. Despite the weather mens' predictions that the next few days would be 'clear, cold, with no precipitation' it is snowing. Rather satisfying in some ways as Jason was worrying that the snow would go away. We pointed out that is was below freezing, and likely to remain so but the new falling snow seems to be a better way of reassuring him -- a clear, visible indication of the state of the world. It is not a heavy snow, mind you, just gentle dusting but it has been going on for about 1/2 an hour and shows no sign of stopping...
As to our life time learning: Jason's gingerbread pirate, Bare Belly the Belly Button, and his first mate, Bare Bottom, ran off on an adventure. We received several postcards from him while he was in Arizona then, surprise, surprise! He was shang-hied. His ship was taken and he was stranded on a grey foggy dock somewhere unknown! All we know is that it was a blond woman who commandeered his ship. Meanwhile Jason is learning all about pirates: he has been practicing his pirate vocabulary both by writing the words (and learning their meanings) and by doing word searches to find them. He does love word puzzles and I found a website that allows me to generate said puzzles using the words I designate! He has been using his math skills in treasure hunts, in counting the coins from his piggy bank, and in tallying the points on his behavior chart. We have been reading pirate books, listening to pirate songs and stories, and playing pirate games. Jason also read his first 'by himself' book the other day, not a surprise, given his large number of sight words. The pirate theme is fun, I admit. I am planning to borrow the video 'Pirates of Penzance' for him to watch as we have the music from it and I suspect that he will enjoy that as well. Meanwhile, I get a chance to do some learning of my own.
Xander, of course, is absorbing all of this as well. I am constantly amazed at what he knows/has learned. He has potty trained himself, having had only one accident (during a nap) while we were in Arizona. The only down side is that he has wakened several times at night because he needs to go potty -- and once he is awake, he is generally disinclined to return to sleep, preferring instead to talk... He adores his older brother and wants to do, quite literally, whatever it is his older brother is doing -- right then and there. He is always delighted when Jaosn invites him to play or to go potty and trots off after his brother, singing delightedly 'I'm going with my bahbah!' Indeed, while we were in Arizona, Xander's one struggle was accepting that his brother might want to play with his cousin Zach. 'THATS MY BAHBAH!' He would yell. He has since decided that, while Zach is his cousin, Hope is his sister... and he adores 'Baby Judah.'
All for now. My shoulders are hurting. Will add more later.
What an event past few months. We went to Tucson for Christmas and spent some wonderful time with Mom, Dad, Matt, Maggie and the kids. Then we came home. On the return flight, Jason was nearly inconsolable during the descent. When, several days later, he was still tearful and having a hard time sleeping, we took him into the doctor. Sure enough, the poor baby had a double ear infection going. His brother, though suffering from a nasty upper respiratory bug, did not have ear infections, thank heavens.
On the other hand, Jason, dosed with antibiotics, recovered fairly rapidly. Xander went the other way. He developed a cough that got so bad that it was, quite literally, keeping everyone awake. So in to the doctor with him -- he is now back on Axid as treatment for reflux and it seems to be working. Though he still has an occasional cough, he is not coughing all the night through and is sleeping somewhat better.
Then there is me: Several days ago, I got a splinter under the nail of my left thumb. Tried to remove it using nail clippers (DUMB!) and ended up clipping it off instead. Tried soaking it out but after two days it became pretty clear that there was an infection going. Urged on by my husband and mother, I made an appointment to get it removed. Yuck. It was worse than I thought. First, I had to have a tetanus shot since I couldn't remember when my last one had been. Then it took four shots of Lidocaine around the base of my thumb to numb it sufficiently for the doc to remove the splinter. Now I am on Vicodin and Augmentin for the next ten days. Joy. Actually, the current worst of it is that the bandage I have on the thumb is bulky and awkward. And the pain, such as it is, seems to be a result of the injections near the base of the thumb -- unless I bang the thumb itself, it doesn't hurt. What a fuss over a silly little splinter!
But there is good news in the world. Tom got a patent award for some very clever thinking. I told him that he should use the money to buy himself that camera he has been wanting. He is quite pleased with himself, as you might imagine!
And it is snowing -- again. Despite the weather mens' predictions that the next few days would be 'clear, cold, with no precipitation' it is snowing. Rather satisfying in some ways as Jason was worrying that the snow would go away. We pointed out that is was below freezing, and likely to remain so but the new falling snow seems to be a better way of reassuring him -- a clear, visible indication of the state of the world. It is not a heavy snow, mind you, just gentle dusting but it has been going on for about 1/2 an hour and shows no sign of stopping...
As to our life time learning: Jason's gingerbread pirate, Bare Belly the Belly Button, and his first mate, Bare Bottom, ran off on an adventure. We received several postcards from him while he was in Arizona then, surprise, surprise! He was shang-hied. His ship was taken and he was stranded on a grey foggy dock somewhere unknown! All we know is that it was a blond woman who commandeered his ship. Meanwhile Jason is learning all about pirates: he has been practicing his pirate vocabulary both by writing the words (and learning their meanings) and by doing word searches to find them. He does love word puzzles and I found a website that allows me to generate said puzzles using the words I designate! He has been using his math skills in treasure hunts, in counting the coins from his piggy bank, and in tallying the points on his behavior chart. We have been reading pirate books, listening to pirate songs and stories, and playing pirate games. Jason also read his first 'by himself' book the other day, not a surprise, given his large number of sight words. The pirate theme is fun, I admit. I am planning to borrow the video 'Pirates of Penzance' for him to watch as we have the music from it and I suspect that he will enjoy that as well. Meanwhile, I get a chance to do some learning of my own.
Xander, of course, is absorbing all of this as well. I am constantly amazed at what he knows/has learned. He has potty trained himself, having had only one accident (during a nap) while we were in Arizona. The only down side is that he has wakened several times at night because he needs to go potty -- and once he is awake, he is generally disinclined to return to sleep, preferring instead to talk... He adores his older brother and wants to do, quite literally, whatever it is his older brother is doing -- right then and there. He is always delighted when Jaosn invites him to play or to go potty and trots off after his brother, singing delightedly 'I'm going with my bahbah!' Indeed, while we were in Arizona, Xander's one struggle was accepting that his brother might want to play with his cousin Zach. 'THATS MY BAHBAH!' He would yell. He has since decided that, while Zach is his cousin, Hope is his sister... and he adores 'Baby Judah.'
All for now. My shoulders are hurting. Will add more later.
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