Summer 2012
Sisters!!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Doggie Update
We have recently began to put Ginger in her kennel for night time (basement cooler in summer) and when we're gone (can't stay in a hot car). Surprisinly she seems to be okay with it. She is a "den" dog, meanding she was bred to like small, tight spaces. She can often be found under one of our beds for a quick nap or hideout. However, I've notice a simultaneous improvement in her overall behavior since we've begun to crate her again. She isn't running away anymore for startes. Even if we leave the front door open she just "hangs out" on the front walk or unfenced front yard. She also is having better social behavior with other dogs and people. We recently took her to the 'Go Dog Go' dog fair at our local park and she was great! She didn't growl at other dogs or try to start something with any of them. Of course we kept her on a short leash and Jason (her alpha) was with us. Still, I am wondering if there could be a positive correlation?? I am hoping so! Even her barking seems to be down. Perhaps the vet was correct when he said that dogs crave kennels, just like kids crave boundaries. Maybe we were just giving her too much freedom and she was exploiting it. We will be out of town for a few nights next month without a place for her to stay (the grandparents are away). I am looking into boarders and think I have found a good one out in Woodinville that is for small dogs only. The owner even has a Westie of her own and it is kennel/cage free. We will visit, with Ginger and the kids, on Thurs. morning at 8am (yes, 8 to 9 am are the visiting hours!). If it works out I'll post the web link for the place. I've also been meaning to try out Pup Scrub, a self cleaning dog place. You bring your dog and muscle power, they provide the tubs and soap. Might be fun for the kids. Might be chaos for me though.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Another small triumph in the healthy eating war!
5 and 6 yr. old accepted the organic PB on brown rice cakes...they even asked for seconds! Now if I can get the 10 yr. old off of the white mini bagels...
Monday, June 28, 2010
Clean-Eating Update
Making Progress (the good news)-
*Tried blue agave sweetener in my tea this morning...can't really notice the difference, that was an easy one!
*Bought ground flax seed at Joe's..sprinkled on my yogurt/berries/honey/granola this morning..noticed the taste a tiny bit but not a big deal.
*Kids and I made wraps for lunch today (with "mountain bread"). I put out lt. mayo, mustard, hummus, low sodium turkey, sharp cheddar, grated carrots, lettuce, cucumbers and avocados. They only rule was at least one veggie. It was great to see my ten year old daughter put ALL the veggies on hers and after tasting it, come back in to say "this needs some hummus!".
*Packed hubby a mini-cooler (Tosca recommends packing a cooler everyday for work). Jason got breakfast (same as me)plus some sliced bell pepper, an apple and a Laughing Cow light.
I am drinking about 2L of H2O a day...trying to slowly up that amount.
*Put ground flax seed on kids' oatmeal and in my eat clean banana-applesauce muffins (egg whites only). No one said anything (kids said a little bland) but they scarfed them up!
*For dinner last night tried the Caribbean chicken (easy) but grilled instead of simmering on stove, yams, whole grain braid, berries, and oven roasted brussels and beets on lettuce with goat cheese and homemade salad dressing (rice vinegar and olive oil). I didn't offer the salad to the kids, but my ten year old literally cavorted into the kitchen demanding "brussel sprouts, you didn't tell me you made brussel sprouts, where are they?!?". She ate a bunch up, much to my satisfaction!
Still Working on (the not so good news)-
*Tried Sunflower Seed butter (in place of PB) on the two who usually like PB (6 and 5 yr. olds). They wouldn't eat it. :( I guess we'll keep serving PB only when the nut-allergic 2 yr. old is sleeping or gone.
*Still can't find a bread my 10yr. old and I can agree on. She absolutely refuses to eat Dave's Killer Bread, which is what I usually buy. She just won't do seeds or nuts. And she wouldn't eat the whole grain loaf from dinner last night.
*Kids and hubby still buying ice-cream for the after dinner/late night treat. I am REALLY trying not to eat after 8 pm..managed it the last two nights! And damn was it hard to resist the hot-out-of-the-oven muffins at 9 pm!
* I am flavoring my water with a little crystal light ice tea or lemonade. Just a little bit when I need some flavor or caffeine.
*Still drinking my mochas....skim milk..but I know it's bad.
*Serving size...this is my major downfall. (See previous blog: Live to eat). I tend to eat fast (with 4 kids it's become a terrible habit)and then get seconds. I am trying to eat slower and not take seconds..hard one.
*Still buying: white mini bagels for kids, Noah's bagels for the freezer (black pepper potato is SO good), deli lunch meat, Quaker granola bars (low sugar at least) and oatmeal (high fiber one though).
*And I just can't get myself to eat plain egg whites scrambled..yuck!
Goals:
*Find a bread 10 yr. old will eat
*Try whole grain pasta
*Drink less wine/beer etc.
*No more super sizing portions
*Meet with a trainer about focus areas (getting over my plateau!)
*Get a smoothie maker
*Try making my own oatmeal
*Tried blue agave sweetener in my tea this morning...can't really notice the difference, that was an easy one!
*Bought ground flax seed at Joe's..sprinkled on my yogurt/berries/honey/granola this morning..noticed the taste a tiny bit but not a big deal.
*Kids and I made wraps for lunch today (with "mountain bread"). I put out lt. mayo, mustard, hummus, low sodium turkey, sharp cheddar, grated carrots, lettuce, cucumbers and avocados. They only rule was at least one veggie. It was great to see my ten year old daughter put ALL the veggies on hers and after tasting it, come back in to say "this needs some hummus!".
*Packed hubby a mini-cooler (Tosca recommends packing a cooler everyday for work). Jason got breakfast (same as me)plus some sliced bell pepper, an apple and a Laughing Cow light.
I am drinking about 2L of H2O a day...trying to slowly up that amount.
*Put ground flax seed on kids' oatmeal and in my eat clean banana-applesauce muffins (egg whites only). No one said anything (kids said a little bland) but they scarfed them up!
*For dinner last night tried the Caribbean chicken (easy) but grilled instead of simmering on stove, yams, whole grain braid, berries, and oven roasted brussels and beets on lettuce with goat cheese and homemade salad dressing (rice vinegar and olive oil). I didn't offer the salad to the kids, but my ten year old literally cavorted into the kitchen demanding "brussel sprouts, you didn't tell me you made brussel sprouts, where are they?!?". She ate a bunch up, much to my satisfaction!
Still Working on (the not so good news)-
*Tried Sunflower Seed butter (in place of PB) on the two who usually like PB (6 and 5 yr. olds). They wouldn't eat it. :( I guess we'll keep serving PB only when the nut-allergic 2 yr. old is sleeping or gone.
*Still can't find a bread my 10yr. old and I can agree on. She absolutely refuses to eat Dave's Killer Bread, which is what I usually buy. She just won't do seeds or nuts. And she wouldn't eat the whole grain loaf from dinner last night.
*Kids and hubby still buying ice-cream for the after dinner/late night treat. I am REALLY trying not to eat after 8 pm..managed it the last two nights! And damn was it hard to resist the hot-out-of-the-oven muffins at 9 pm!
* I am flavoring my water with a little crystal light ice tea or lemonade. Just a little bit when I need some flavor or caffeine.
*Still drinking my mochas....skim milk..but I know it's bad.
*Serving size...this is my major downfall. (See previous blog: Live to eat). I tend to eat fast (with 4 kids it's become a terrible habit)and then get seconds. I am trying to eat slower and not take seconds..hard one.
*Still buying: white mini bagels for kids, Noah's bagels for the freezer (black pepper potato is SO good), deli lunch meat, Quaker granola bars (low sugar at least) and oatmeal (high fiber one though).
*And I just can't get myself to eat plain egg whites scrambled..yuck!
Goals:
*Find a bread 10 yr. old will eat
*Try whole grain pasta
*Drink less wine/beer etc.
*No more super sizing portions
*Meet with a trainer about focus areas (getting over my plateau!)
*Get a smoothie maker
*Try making my own oatmeal
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Death Grip
I signed up for a book talk through my toddler group and then never went. But I did read (am actually not quite finished to be honest) the book, A Nation of Wimps-The High Cost of Invasive Parenting by Hara Estroff Marano. The premise is that today's parents are not only hovering over their children and everything they do but actually have a 'death grip' on them that lasts through their college years. Yes, the new term 'death grip parent' is now replacing 'helicopter parent'. The book is based in psychology and lots of research studies and being a former psychology student myself I did enjoy all the references to study groups, conferences, universities and observations.
Parts of the book I wholeheartedly agree with are:
*Kids need to play more. Not structured activity time but imaginative play, where they make up the games, the rules, etc. and no adult is butting in to make sure things are fair, scrutinize the rules, etc.
*Kids need recess at school. Kids who have more recess time at school enjoy school more and WANT to go to school more.
*Kids need more play based pre-school programs. In a study done in the U.S. kids who came into school with an academic based pre-school background did perform better on reading tasks at first but were no better by the end of first grade than kids from a play based (more traditional) pre-school. However, the academic based kids were more depressed at the end of first grade (i.e. did not enjoy school, learning, etc.) and the play based kids happier.
**That is exactly why I have my kids enrolled in a pre-school program whose mission statement is "Children learn through play". And that's what the research proves. "The opposite of play is not work. It's depression."
*Giving kids unrealistic expectations is bad. E.g. If you don't go to Harvard you are a failure. Of course no one would ever say that explicitly to their child (we hope not!) but by always demanding perfection (100% on every spelling test, all A's (or in our case 3's and 4's) on report cards, making the goals at the games, etc. etc.) whether we're aware of it or not we are unknowingly setting up kids for depression and anxiety. I have to admit I am guilty of this sometimes. It's frustrating when my child doesn't study and gets a bunch of words wrong on her test. But am I harming her by asking her to get 100% because I know she is capable? That's where the waters gets murky. We just need to be careful that our kids don't equate "accomplishments to self worth". Basically, don't let your kid become your project!
*The Love and Logic Principle--if your school age child forgets their HW at home do you run it to school or let them feel the consequences of forgetting? L&L says you let them feel the consequences, so they LEARN for next time. Apparently that's not what parents are doing these days. Not only are they running their child's HW/permission slips/sports gear etc. to school but they are doing the HW for the kids, constantly meeting witht the teachers to demand better grades, sending letters to administrators, and getting kicked out of sports events. And this isn't just the grade schools. This is happening in COLLEGE! Colleges are now having to put together pamphlets for "Parental Standards of Behavior" at sporting events. Parents are now contacting their child's college professor to debate a grade or assignment. Okay, I would have DIED if my parents did this in college. But I guess if you grow up with a 'death grip' parent this is the norm.
While reading this book I thought of another I'd read in years past and decided to reread, "The Three Martini Playdate". Yes, some of it is a joke, but the basic idea is to let go and let your kid live their life, even at a young age. The 'Three Martini' chapter is a test for potential parents of playdates. When they come to pick up their child offer them a martini (duing cocktail hour of course). If they look at you in horror and trot their young one out of there as if your house were on fire, you know not to invite that child back. But if they gladly accept with open arms and tell you how much they desperately would LOVE one, you know you've found a friend indeed! Naturally I would not offer a cocktail to someone I've only met once or twice (nor do I make them on a regular basis in my home) but I think this can equate to a glass of wine. The book goes on to encourage parents to let their kids be kids....let them fall of their bike and scrape their knee, don't babyproof the ENTIRE house..kids need to learn not to run into coffee tables and hearths and not to play in the toilet, don't cook entirely different meals for the kids..you are not a waitress. Basically life skills. Not everything will be baby or child proof where they go to, not everyone is willing to make them a special meal (how else will they learn to love feta, babaghnoush, and sushi unless they try it?? sometimes by force if necessary). I remember someone telling me their pediatrician told them "Kids are like dogs, you need to run them". He encouraged her to send them out to regular outdoor time (without you outside with them). Strap on raincoats, snow coats or boots and send them out for 3o minutes unaccompanied. Let them explore and figure out what to do. Kids need to experience boredom..it leads to day dreams, fantasies, imaginary friends, creative writing, reading w/o being asked to, making forts, etc. And those experiences are exactly what lead to funtional, successful and creative thinking adults, who don't move back in with you when they graduate from college, and isn't that really the goal in parenting? I know it is for me!. :)
Parts of the book I wholeheartedly agree with are:
*Kids need to play more. Not structured activity time but imaginative play, where they make up the games, the rules, etc. and no adult is butting in to make sure things are fair, scrutinize the rules, etc.
*Kids need recess at school. Kids who have more recess time at school enjoy school more and WANT to go to school more.
*Kids need more play based pre-school programs. In a study done in the U.S. kids who came into school with an academic based pre-school background did perform better on reading tasks at first but were no better by the end of first grade than kids from a play based (more traditional) pre-school. However, the academic based kids were more depressed at the end of first grade (i.e. did not enjoy school, learning, etc.) and the play based kids happier.
**That is exactly why I have my kids enrolled in a pre-school program whose mission statement is "Children learn through play". And that's what the research proves. "The opposite of play is not work. It's depression."
*Giving kids unrealistic expectations is bad. E.g. If you don't go to Harvard you are a failure. Of course no one would ever say that explicitly to their child (we hope not!) but by always demanding perfection (100% on every spelling test, all A's (or in our case 3's and 4's) on report cards, making the goals at the games, etc. etc.) whether we're aware of it or not we are unknowingly setting up kids for depression and anxiety. I have to admit I am guilty of this sometimes. It's frustrating when my child doesn't study and gets a bunch of words wrong on her test. But am I harming her by asking her to get 100% because I know she is capable? That's where the waters gets murky. We just need to be careful that our kids don't equate "accomplishments to self worth". Basically, don't let your kid become your project!
*The Love and Logic Principle--if your school age child forgets their HW at home do you run it to school or let them feel the consequences of forgetting? L&L says you let them feel the consequences, so they LEARN for next time. Apparently that's not what parents are doing these days. Not only are they running their child's HW/permission slips/sports gear etc. to school but they are doing the HW for the kids, constantly meeting witht the teachers to demand better grades, sending letters to administrators, and getting kicked out of sports events. And this isn't just the grade schools. This is happening in COLLEGE! Colleges are now having to put together pamphlets for "Parental Standards of Behavior" at sporting events. Parents are now contacting their child's college professor to debate a grade or assignment. Okay, I would have DIED if my parents did this in college. But I guess if you grow up with a 'death grip' parent this is the norm.
While reading this book I thought of another I'd read in years past and decided to reread, "The Three Martini Playdate". Yes, some of it is a joke, but the basic idea is to let go and let your kid live their life, even at a young age. The 'Three Martini' chapter is a test for potential parents of playdates. When they come to pick up their child offer them a martini (duing cocktail hour of course). If they look at you in horror and trot their young one out of there as if your house were on fire, you know not to invite that child back. But if they gladly accept with open arms and tell you how much they desperately would LOVE one, you know you've found a friend indeed! Naturally I would not offer a cocktail to someone I've only met once or twice (nor do I make them on a regular basis in my home) but I think this can equate to a glass of wine. The book goes on to encourage parents to let their kids be kids....let them fall of their bike and scrape their knee, don't babyproof the ENTIRE house..kids need to learn not to run into coffee tables and hearths and not to play in the toilet, don't cook entirely different meals for the kids..you are not a waitress. Basically life skills. Not everything will be baby or child proof where they go to, not everyone is willing to make them a special meal (how else will they learn to love feta, babaghnoush, and sushi unless they try it?? sometimes by force if necessary). I remember someone telling me their pediatrician told them "Kids are like dogs, you need to run them". He encouraged her to send them out to regular outdoor time (without you outside with them). Strap on raincoats, snow coats or boots and send them out for 3o minutes unaccompanied. Let them explore and figure out what to do. Kids need to experience boredom..it leads to day dreams, fantasies, imaginary friends, creative writing, reading w/o being asked to, making forts, etc. And those experiences are exactly what lead to funtional, successful and creative thinking adults, who don't move back in with you when they graduate from college, and isn't that really the goal in parenting? I know it is for me!. :)
Monday, May 3, 2010
It's still raining...and I haven't found the post its or notebads...okay I found one but it's in the shape of sunglasses and about 2 inches..must be one of Emma's. I did find Ethan and Ella's thank you notes from their birthdays (last Oct. and Nov.) that never got sent which only reminded me that I never sent Ethan's thank you cards from his 5th birthday the year before..where are those? They were so cute, it was at a fire station and I took pics of all the boys driving the fire trucks. Maybe I sent them? Urgh...how did this happen? I used to be so on top of those kinds of things.
I took my 10 year old and her friend to the mall yesterday to buy swimsuits. Found out Justice is not "cool" anymore, their suits cover too much. Pac Sun is where it's at. Took one look at the suits for my petite, hasn't come close to hitting puberty yet tween and realizing even the XS would be too big for her but the XL too small for me..how did that happen?? We left with XS string bikinis..I guess she can learn the hard way when she dives into the pool..wasn't in the mood for a big battle (wasn't it just yesterday I was fighting with my mom to shop at The Cube instead of Fred Meyers?). They begged to stop at Hollister on the way out. Is this a night club or a clothing store? Couldn't tell. Lights off, loud music, reeks of perfume/cologne ("..doesn't it smell great?!" my daughter and her friend pointed out "..they spray men's cologne through the air!!"). Great, I can already feel the migraine coming on. I was greeted by a 16 year old with a "what's up?" when I walked in, but I'm sure she was clearly thinking "what the hell are you doing in here?!" until she saw me rendezvous with the tweens.
We moved some furniture into the newly remodeled basement..kids super excited. We're getting Emma a queen bed (she's been after this for a year or two now) on Wed. when my husband can go back to the store and negotiate w/o the wife and 4 kids in tow. We're passing beds down. Four year old gets the twin bed while the toddler bed goes into storage for the two year old still in the crib. Hopefully this will be the last time I have to talk my husband into buying beds/mattresses. Everyone can stay with their beds. When tween goes to college in 8 years (yikes!)we can give 4 year old the "big" bed. Okay, just talking about beds is making me tired.
Just realized I LOVE Rascal Flatts, how did I not know about them before?? Tomorrow has to be better than today...no dead battery in the car, puking on me two year old in the rain squall (at least we were outside) and dog pooping 5 times (we don't have a fenced yard yet so I am still scooping each one at the time, except for the two I didn't have bags for today!).
Listening to J. Mayer.."..red wine and Ambien, you're talking shit again"..just listened to the actual lyrics for the first time..hmm...maybe I'd get some good sleep.
I took my 10 year old and her friend to the mall yesterday to buy swimsuits. Found out Justice is not "cool" anymore, their suits cover too much. Pac Sun is where it's at. Took one look at the suits for my petite, hasn't come close to hitting puberty yet tween and realizing even the XS would be too big for her but the XL too small for me..how did that happen?? We left with XS string bikinis..I guess she can learn the hard way when she dives into the pool..wasn't in the mood for a big battle (wasn't it just yesterday I was fighting with my mom to shop at The Cube instead of Fred Meyers?). They begged to stop at Hollister on the way out. Is this a night club or a clothing store? Couldn't tell. Lights off, loud music, reeks of perfume/cologne ("..doesn't it smell great?!" my daughter and her friend pointed out "..they spray men's cologne through the air!!"). Great, I can already feel the migraine coming on. I was greeted by a 16 year old with a "what's up?" when I walked in, but I'm sure she was clearly thinking "what the hell are you doing in here?!" until she saw me rendezvous with the tweens.
We moved some furniture into the newly remodeled basement..kids super excited. We're getting Emma a queen bed (she's been after this for a year or two now) on Wed. when my husband can go back to the store and negotiate w/o the wife and 4 kids in tow. We're passing beds down. Four year old gets the twin bed while the toddler bed goes into storage for the two year old still in the crib. Hopefully this will be the last time I have to talk my husband into buying beds/mattresses. Everyone can stay with their beds. When tween goes to college in 8 years (yikes!)we can give 4 year old the "big" bed. Okay, just talking about beds is making me tired.
Just realized I LOVE Rascal Flatts, how did I not know about them before?? Tomorrow has to be better than today...no dead battery in the car, puking on me two year old in the rain squall (at least we were outside) and dog pooping 5 times (we don't have a fenced yard yet so I am still scooping each one at the time, except for the two I didn't have bags for today!).
Listening to J. Mayer.."..red wine and Ambien, you're talking shit again"..just listened to the actual lyrics for the first time..hmm...maybe I'd get some good sleep.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Where does stuff walk off to??
How can I not have/find any post-its or note pads to write on?? It's driving me nuts! I am writing messages/notes on the back of envelopes and recycle papers. I distinctly remember emptying my desk drawer at the old house into a box to go to the new house (not packed in the POD) and it's nowhere to be found. I guess I could go to the store and buy more, but I know I have a ton somewhere....but maybe if I go out and buy them I'll come home and find them. That's usually how it works for me. To top it off it's raining (again) and I pulled a muscle in my shoulder at the gym last night...yep, it's one of those days!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Movin' Around....
....I know I've been exhuasted when I can't remember the last time I had trouble falling asleep. And that's big for me, I tend to lie down and my brain goes into overload: don't forget to sign up Em for summer camp, make sure a clean leo is in ballet bag tomorrow, read Bud's story with him in the morning for his Kindg. HW since we forgot tonight, call for an oil change, did I make the PSE bill this month??. etc. etc. Actually, I can remember the last time, it was in our old house. Lying awake, making mental checklists of all the things I needed to do to get us, our 4 kids, one dog and one fish moved. We didn't move far, but sometimes that doesn't matter. Just getting all the stuff out and semi-organized is enough of a challenge, regardless of where it's going.
In the new house not only have I still not put on the duvet cover, but only made the bed twice. Nightly I collapse onto the downy plumpness of our mussed up comforter and sink into immediate sleep. I am grateful for this since I still have so much to unpack, reorganize and stay on top of. Like blogging.
Not only did we move, but we moved into half the square footage of our old place. I said goodbye to a walk in pantry, corner soaking tub, automatic two car garage, two ovens and three fridges and hello to an older, quaint (I'm being optimistic for my own sake,)in progress (unfinished basement is currently under construction), garageless, 3br./1 bath (includes the laundry room) home for my family of 6 (8 as my eldest insists we include the dog and fish). However, I can now walk to the grocery store, multiple coffee houses/stands (this may not be a positive in my husband's eyes), my children's schools, the movie theater, wine bars (again this is debatable for many reasons), and parks. My car will stay cleaner since it will not continue to be our second home and we are already saving money on gas (although it may be a wash considering the coffee places).
Moving in and of itself is not a joy. It is exhausting and tends to bring out the worst in all of us. Leaving our old home was bittersweet; we brought home our youngest from the hospital to that house, my husband designed the interior with us in mind and we thoroughly and easily enjoyed entertaining there. But our new place is bringing us closer, yes in proximity but also in what we value. My kids are happier walking to and from school, I delight in last minute jaunts to the park after dinner that don't involve our car and the sunlight that pours into our new home (our last was shrouded in mature Evergreen trees--I won't miss the wind storms!). Our dog is losing weight with all the walks she now gets in and finding lots of new places to sniff (yes, that's me standing in Jason's shoes at 6 am in the front yard with a small white dog on a red leash, hair sticking straight up, not quite awake). I look forward to a summer filled with parks, sunlight, trips to the weekday market, long walks, picnics, watching the big boys play baseball down the street, trips to get frozen yogurt, last minute stops at the library, and eventually acquiring two more bedrooms, another bath, a play room and a fenced yard. Until then I'm leaving the bed unmade and more than a few boxes unpacked!
In the new house not only have I still not put on the duvet cover, but only made the bed twice. Nightly I collapse onto the downy plumpness of our mussed up comforter and sink into immediate sleep. I am grateful for this since I still have so much to unpack, reorganize and stay on top of. Like blogging.
Not only did we move, but we moved into half the square footage of our old place. I said goodbye to a walk in pantry, corner soaking tub, automatic two car garage, two ovens and three fridges and hello to an older, quaint (I'm being optimistic for my own sake,)in progress (unfinished basement is currently under construction), garageless, 3br./1 bath (includes the laundry room) home for my family of 6 (8 as my eldest insists we include the dog and fish). However, I can now walk to the grocery store, multiple coffee houses/stands (this may not be a positive in my husband's eyes), my children's schools, the movie theater, wine bars (again this is debatable for many reasons), and parks. My car will stay cleaner since it will not continue to be our second home and we are already saving money on gas (although it may be a wash considering the coffee places).
Moving in and of itself is not a joy. It is exhausting and tends to bring out the worst in all of us. Leaving our old home was bittersweet; we brought home our youngest from the hospital to that house, my husband designed the interior with us in mind and we thoroughly and easily enjoyed entertaining there. But our new place is bringing us closer, yes in proximity but also in what we value. My kids are happier walking to and from school, I delight in last minute jaunts to the park after dinner that don't involve our car and the sunlight that pours into our new home (our last was shrouded in mature Evergreen trees--I won't miss the wind storms!). Our dog is losing weight with all the walks she now gets in and finding lots of new places to sniff (yes, that's me standing in Jason's shoes at 6 am in the front yard with a small white dog on a red leash, hair sticking straight up, not quite awake). I look forward to a summer filled with parks, sunlight, trips to the weekday market, long walks, picnics, watching the big boys play baseball down the street, trips to get frozen yogurt, last minute stops at the library, and eventually acquiring two more bedrooms, another bath, a play room and a fenced yard. Until then I'm leaving the bed unmade and more than a few boxes unpacked!
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