Blah Blah Blog

Uncle Ken.

2012-01-27T05:58:00.002-10:00

Tomorrow my family is gathering, not for Indiana chili and two-buck chuck, which is what they should be doing. But instead to reflect on and celebrate a life that was full, but undoubtedly cut-short by the pernicious cancer melanoma. A little over six months ago, he was fine - busy, hardworking, adventurous, and always kind. Then what started as a lingering cough turned miserable, made even more miserable by treatment resulting in the physical and emotional exhaustion that only fighting for your life can bring on. And before any of us were even able to get over the initial shock of the diagnosis, were were having to face saying goodbye. Even now, I still hold out for the possibility that there has been some mistake made and that Ken will walk through the door with a fresh caught albacore, ready for his expert preparation with his ultra-sharp kitchen knives.

Although I have heard that it took my aunt Robin quite a bit of persuading, Ken was a great addition to our family and a person you would always want to talk to when occasion would bring us together. Ken was super friendly, but not in overt or annoying way, he knew a lot about a lot of things - deep sea fishing, real estate, travel, tending avocados, cooking (I'm certain that it was from him that I learned to use water and not milk in omelets and scrambled eggs) and many other things I never learned because proportionally, time spent visiting with him generally involved him doing more listening than anything. Few people have the talent of being a really great listener and conversationalist, but Ken was. It didn't matter if you were in high school or a newlywed know-it-all or a stay-at-home mom, he was actually interested in hearing and knowing what was going on. And while good parenting runs in our family, he was an exceptional example of fatherhood and my cousin Tate had a great friend and mentor in his dad. Through Tate, and the rest of the family, Ken's best qualities, experiences and hopefully recipes, live on, as he would encourage and champion us to do.

Warm Feet.

2012-01-26T13:30:00.000-10:00

When Miles came in from playing outside, this is what he was wearing under his boots. Seven pairs of socks.

Power outage.

2012-01-22T06:38:00.001-10:00

What do you do when you don't have electricity for 55 hours? Good old-fashioned blogging:

The aftermath:

The kids couldn't play outside because of the cracking and tumbling branches. My espaliered apple-trees were toast, as well as a giant rhododendron that the kids loved to climb. But now we have lots of firewood!

Snowed in.

2012-01-19T09:03:00.000-10:00

Reading May 2011 - Jan 2012

2012-01-18T11:09:00.000-10:00

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids - Carol McCloud: I can't say enough about this book or concept. It's a great way to teach kids about kindness and maximizing their own happiness by spreading it to others using the metaphor of bucket filling and emptying. Also a great reminder to adults.

Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins: I know I am way behind the curve on this one but it is my current obsession. My sister gave this book to me for Christmas and said, "trust me". A few pages in one night, I knew this book would present a problem to my shut-eye. So I held off till the morning. Never have I been so excited to get up and get Avery off to the bus. I then brought the boys into bed with me so that my body heat would keep them asleep and I proceeded to read till it was over. I took one break to make them brunch when they woke up at noon, then they were promptly plopped in front of a television until I finished at 2pm. It took me a few days to shake the feeling that I was part of this story. I still wish I could have thought this up. If there is anyone left who hasn't read this, you have until March before the movie comes out. One of the jacket reviews touts that this book is "perfectly paced". That's probably the best way to describe it. It's easy to read, intense, wildly entertaining, tragic, gripping with bonus points for keeping it clean. Target audience - teenagers - or middle aged white women who drive station wagons and get the occasional speeding ticket.

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand: Oh man, this story was gripping as well. But true. I listened to this one on cd when we were travelling around California, and while my usual go-to for long drives is talking to Ben on the phone (hands-free of course), what I really wanted to do was find out what was next for Louis Zamparini and his World War II compadres. This one will also be made into a movie, no trailer yet. Sharks, sociopaths, Billy Graham...this story has it all. Ben also listened to this one and it almost made his commute enjoyable.

What Would Google Do? - Jeff Jarvis: Someone at work recommended this to me. It was boring. Maybe if I was currently in a management position it may have some value, but I didn't find that it inspired anything beyond what one might come up with intuitively.
I wish I could make the picture of the book smaller.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother - Amy Chua: Wow Amy Chua, you are crazy, woman! But I love it. If she was submitted as a tribute for the Hunger Games she would survive, I'm sure of it. This Yale law professor/author/tiger mother has seriously high standards for her children. Sure, we all think we are whipping our little ones into shape, but compared to her techniques I might as well be letting my kids stay up late watching Netflix on the iPad, sleep in till noon, eat peanut butter out of jars and marshmallows out of bags and sign their one page of homework off without even glancing at it to see if they did it right...er...but it's cool as long as they practice 5 minutes of piano and I fawn all over their slaughtering of a simplified Imperial Death March, right? Amy Chua has her kids redo their homemade birthday cards to her if she feels that they did less than their best. But guess what, she has a daughter at Harvard. You can read an excerpt here. Interesting note: For bookshelves in China the title was changed to : Being a Mom in America. :)

Designing with Succulents -Debra Lee Baldwin: Pretty, pretty succulents.

Sugarsnaps and Strawberries - Andrea Bellamy: Great for any level of gardener with any size of garden.

Spousomics: Using Economics to Master Love, Marriage and Dirty Dishes or How to Maximize Returns on the Biggest Investment of Your Life. - Paula Szuchman & Jenny Anderson: Hmmm. I'm on the fence on this one. I like marriage and I like Econ, so I enjoyed the premise. The chapters are organized into common economics topics- Loss Aversion, Division of Labor, Game Theory and I think it is a fun and novel way to look at relationships...I just feel like it fell into the traps that lots of books and even more movies do too often - by inserting excessive foul language and a general sexing up when unnecessary. Some things are worth taking to heart and applying but overall I'm not sure how qualified the authors are to offer some of the advice and think that some of it may have harmful implications.

At Home: A Short History of Private Life & I'm a Stranger Here Myself - Bill Bryson: At Home was my introduction to Bill Bryson. I picked this book up at the library off the shelf. It's long but chock-full of fascinating history of the components and activities of various rooms of a home including but not limited to: the kitchen, the fuse box, the garden, bedrooms, bathrooms, attic, nursery and drawing room.

The Victorian time period being ever so formal but rife with scandal makes it perhaps the most interesting of times to read about, although we can be made to appreciate modernity on multiple occasions. And if we thought our current supply of produce was toxic one of my favorite passages in the book talks about how cherries could be made to glisten afresh by being gently rolled around in the vendors mouth before being put on display. How many unsuspecting ladies of quality, he wondered, had enjoyed a plate of luscious cherries that had been 'rolled and moistened between the filthy and, perhaps, ulcerated chops of a St Giles's huckster'? It's a long book but the good news is that you can jump around to that which interests you and not get lost.

Since I really enjoyed Bryson's wit and style I picked up a couple of his other books and read the fairly short I'm a Stranger Here Myself about his experience coming back to the U.S. after living in England for 20 years. Not as jam packed with info as At Home, but okay. Basic premise - we drive everywhere.

Be a Successful Property Manager - R. Dodge Woodson: Made me realize that I do not want to be a property manager.

What's Gotten into us? Staying Healthy in a Toxic World - McKay Jenkins: Alarmist without being alarmist, Jenkins basically breaks down our basic environment - home, food, body, lawns and the amount of chemicals we are surrounded by everyday. I enjoyed it, but I am into worrying about stuff like BPA, PCB's, phlalates, dioxins etc. I probably don't recommend this book for most, because if you do read it you will have no choice but to escape into the wilderness naked and take your chances with the wild animals. So I won't say anything else, but the inside of microwave popcorn bags are covered in Teflon, which I'm not sure mixes well with heat. And most chemicals have some sort of immunity from testing for health implications. Cheers!

The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis: I'm a C.S. Lewis fan. I just am.

I am in awe of his skill with allegory and frequently enlightened by his symbolism. In this book I was astounded by his grasp of both humanity and divinity and darn it if I didn't get a glimpse of myself here and there among the inhabitants of his hell (which thankfully is more like purgatory). As with most Lewis, one page might be the most you can handle at a time. So many quotes of course, but my favorite comes from the preface, which alone is worth the read: Even on the biological level life is not like a pool but like a tree. It does not move towards unity but away from it and the creatures grow further apart as they increase in perfection. Good, as it ripens, becomes continually more different not only from evil but from other good.

First Things First - Kurt & Brenda Warner: I picked this book up when the kids and I were at Barnes & Noble and when it was clear that they wanted to stay a while. Warner had recently been in the news advising Tim Tebow to tone down the religious rhetoric (speaking from experience), so I was interested in knowing more about his story. I was surprised at how good it was. Basically it's about their family and the values and goals they have. Both Kurt and Brenda take turns writing about their history and how they make their family work. Surprisingly candid and relatable with some good advice.

Heaven is For Real - Todd Burpo: It's been a while since I read this book, and I sense that the skeptic in me has had time to set in. But if I recall my perception when I read it, I think that the story is incredible and that the details are moving if not amazing. Everyday I make a choice to believe in God, heaven and all that abounds therein, so why couldn't it be for real? And I don't know the title but I recently saw another account that seemed similar to this little boy but the encounter was under different circumstances.

I would be interested to know what anyone else who has read this thinks. It's a very quick and interesting read. Can easily be read in one sitting.

Radical: Taking back your faith from the American Dream - David Platt: Of all the books recorded in my book journal, this one has multiple pages of notes. The author is a pastor of a mega church in Alabama - which caused me to instantly and unfairly judge him as a televangelist who makes major bucks off of his followers by giving them a very entertaining weekly show. Which he very well may make a lot of money and be charismatic, but it's what he does with his church, his money and his life, and then challenges those reading the book to do, that is remarkable. He starts off by changing the premise of his church, saying that a mega-church with all of it's comforts is not what God asks of his disciples, and furthermore that Christ was the pastor of the first "mini-church" and that like Him, we should have material concern for the poor and spend time in another context, away from our big homes and comfortable churches. Platt recounts some great examples of people in his congregation that do so and impact lives in a major way locally and to all corners of the world (specifically China, India, Darfur and Indonesia). The problem with this book is that it is challenging and makes you uncomfortable with your comforts.

Edible Landscaping - Rosalind Creasy: Great resource for integrating a garden into your landscape. Encyclopedia of plants included. Great photos.

Bossypants - Tina Fey: Mostly funny, sometimes tedious, or maybe the reverse. Bad language which never earns points with me. I had two favorite parts. One was her "prayer for her daughter" (If you click on the link, be prepared for some of that language I mentioned). The other favorite excerpt is: About the current beauty ideal. Now every girl is expected to have Caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican dance hall (bum)…the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama, and doll (boobs). The person closest to achieving this is Kim Kardashian , who was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes.

That, I thought, is funny.

Stories I Only Tell my Friends - Rob Lowe: Rob Lowe is a good writer who has lived a fascinating life. I didn't know anything about him and I picked this book up b/c our library was having a/c issues and they only had a few kiosks of books available for checkout. So I got this, Bossypants and Stolen Life. All of them have the "F" word, but I think I have belabored my disapproval of this already. His stories about growing up in Hollywood were really interesting and I enjoyed his writing.

A Stolen Life - Jaycee Dugard: A major downer, of course. I didn't know that she was tazed to facilitate her kidnapping and that scares me as a mother.

Instant Physicist: An Illustrated Guide - Richard Muller: Everything you ever wanted to know about lasers, bio-fuels and radioactivity but were too dumb to understand! This book is really fun I thought and was full of interesting info like on pg 104 - If the sun blew up we wouldn't know it until 8.6 minutes after because that's how long it takes for it's light to reach the earth. And pg. 110 - Organic foods are higher in poisons and carcinogens that foods grown using pesticides. Typically the natural pesticides in organic foods are thousands of times more carcinogenic than artificial pesticides approved by the USDA - and they can't be rinsed off. I don't know what to believe anymore.

I Don't Believe in Atheists - Chris Hedges: Even though I get that it's a joke, I don't love the title of the book because it is offensive, but I did love it's cute little size and gold cover and I thought the content was good. The author observes two radical and polarizing sides debating faith and religion in the U.S. - fundamentalists and atheists. I have a few notes but it's been so long since I read this that they are cryptic to me. I think this quote came from the book, "Science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind." And also something to the effect that it's not what we do in life, but what we do with what life gave us, enduring with compassion, wisdom, humility and accepting the ambiguity and ultimate mystery of existance. I may have to go back and read this again b/c I think I liked it but can't remember specifics.

Lights Out / Sex, Lies and Menopause - T.S. Wiley: I can't remember what turned me on to this author but I checked both of her books out at the library and I thought they were great. Basic premise - Get adequate, if not abundant sleep (in complete darkness) and if you are going to eat sugar and stay up late do it in the summer when the days are longer. She also has a lot to say about bio-identical hormones. I thought that these books would be smart reading for any woman, regardless of age.

Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that changed America - Erik Larson: This historical fiction novel about the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago is riveting. Larson intertwines the lives two men: one a doctor and murderer, the other an architect in charge of designing and carrying out a huge undertaking in the World's Fair. It took me a few tries to get into this but I'm glad I stuck it out. I was even reading this when we went to Chicago last spring so it was fun to explore some of the architecture in the book. This took a long time to read but I am excited to read Larson's next book about Nazi Germany.

It's You and Me Lord: My Experience as a Black Mormon- Alan Cherry: This book did not end up in my hands organically as many of my eventual reads do. In fact, I'm not even sure that this book is still in print. I ordered this book used as a part of interest and study in the experience of Black Americans in the Mormon church that came about mostly through discourse and disagreement with Ben. Good read, interesting experience and testimony, especially considering the time period he joined the predominately white church. What I have found of greater and continued interest is the Sistas in Zion website and the Genesis Group.

10.5 in Pictures

2012-01-06T11:54:00.000-10:00

10.5

2012-01-06T10:28:00.001-10:00

In honor of our tenth anniversary (back in July)I have compiled a new cd commemorating the occasion. A volume two to our wedding album*. On this one** the songs either are personal favorites, inside jokes or have artists that hail from one of the six states we have lived in (plus a Canadian or two for good measure) or are just great songs of love. If you want one, let me know and I will mail it to you (that's one of the perks of having only a handful of people follow your blog :))

I guess now I can start working on the next decade's volume. If we don't make it, I have a great break-up disc ready (thank you Adele).

*Original Wedding Album:

You're Mine - Richie Valens

Surfer Girl - Beach Boys

By Your Side - Sade

Let's Stay Together - Al Green

Thank You - Dido

Happy Together - Turtles

Rapture - Anita Baker

Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra/Bono

Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

All My Life - KC and JoJo

Chapel of Love - Dixie Cups

All My Lovin - Beatles

Wifey - Next

Wouldn't it be Nice - Beach Boys

Glory of Love - Chicago

Meet Me at the Alter - Jagged Edge

Forever & Ever Amen - Randy Travis

Being Around - Lemonheads

Dyer Maker - Led Zepplin

Guantanamera - Celia Cruz

Poison - Bel Biv Devoe (Lovingly dedicated to Ryan Westbrook)

Sonata in D - Handel

** Anniversary Album:

Better Together - Jack Johnson

U Smile :) – Justin Bieber

Henehene Kou’Aka - Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole

Would You Go With Me – Josh Turner

Love, Love, Love – Unwritten Law

The Luckiest – Ben Folds

Satellite – Eddie Vedder

Lucky – Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat

You & I – Michael Buble

We Close our Eyes – Oingo Boingo

Need You Around – Smoking Popes

I Have a Date - The Vandals

Drop Baby Drop - Sean Na'auao

A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow – Mitch & Mickey

You are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne

Psycho Killer – Talking Heads

Our Love is Here to Stay – Blossom Dearie

Baby – Neon Trees

Fort – Recess Monkeys

Beloved One – Ben Harper

Baby – Neon Trees

Our Love is Here to Stay – Blossom Dearie

Liebestraum - Liszt

2012! / 2011 Recap

2012-01-01T22:16:00.002-10:00

I am ending 2011 with my erase board calendar stuck in September, 359 unread emails in my inbox and owing $2.55 to the library (total fines paid this year: $23.15). Nevertheless, I will skip ahead and join the rest of the world in 2012 and enjoy the chance to start afresh...but let's review 2011 first, and save me a lot of singular back posts (or inspire some):

Ben - Sometime in spring the husband formerly known as Ben became "Divorced Dad", named so because, he lived in his own apartment, provided mostly only financial support and made up for his lack of presence by being super fun, taking the kids for treats and buying them things outside of our norm. And when staying at his place, had things like ice cream topped with cereal for breakfast (may I suggest carmel pecan with honey bunches of oats...)

In July and probably the highlight of his year, he shook Eddie Vedder's hand at a concert in Seattle.

Avery - Started 2nd grade, continued learning violin.

Miles - Learned how to swim and ride a bike.

Cruz - Learned how to walk and speak.

(Britt - One up's Ben's Eddie Vedder encounter and attends a wedding where Magic Johnson is a guest...as well as Kenny G.)

Me and/or us - It was a good year for work and for play - It's a buyers market (thank you historically low interest rates (3.75%+/-), so I had a fun year negotiating and brokering home sales. I also had a chance to reprise my days as a "business analyst" (not necessarily the right term but it was my job title, "indentured servant" may be more appropriate) for my first employer out of college, when they brought a Chinese delegation through Los Angeles.

For fun we hit up Belize in March, Chicago in April, Lake Chelan in July and San Francisco in September. And the kids and I took up residence in California from late October to early December (We also started the year there in January). From there we hit the central coast, beaches in every coastal county in So. Cal, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. You just aren't living until they freeze your credit card for being in too many places in too short of a time. And you are grateful when they freeze your credit card when someone uses it in Brooklyn then Norway and you are nowhere near either of those places.

So that about sums up the year, looking back on it no wonder why it zipped by. We never took a moment to catch our breath. Just how we like it.

What are my wishes and hopes and dreams for the new year? (Besides fewer parking, speeding or red light camera tickets...please please please (make that 6 pleases) Last year was about not looking too far into the future, so as not to enjoy the here and now. It's easy to yearn for days of not changing diapers or making school lunches but when those days are gone they are gone, and furthermore the future will be filled with unseen/unpondered challenges of it's own I am certain. So this year I will build on that live in the present philosophy with another that spoke to me through a banner at the YMCA. It was one marked RESPONSIBILITY and referred to the verse in Ecclesiastes about whatever it is that you find to do, you do it with all your might.

Although I'm a bit worried that this will hinder my multi-tasking abilities, I do think that it will be efficient and rewarding. And it goes hand in hand with the only real resolution I made this year, which is to be a better cook. I like to cook; I like the creativity involved and of course I enjoy the end result. Unfortunately however, the last few years I have let Trader Joe's and Costco a lot of cooking for me. I appreciate that we have sophisticated convenience foods, but I need to hone some basic techniques and learn how to make a sauce for goodness sake. Other ways I will employ this idea - better workouts at the gym, more thorough teeth brushing, and being a more attentive parent - anywhere that I presently spend time out of necessity or desire may I improve my performance. That is my wish for 2012. Let the fun begin.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T06:15:00.000-10:00

Happy Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:02:00.004-10:00

We didn't send out Christmas cards*, but if we had, they might have looked something like this:

*And we had no excuse not to since Tarah took some really fun pictures of us this year. I'll post more soon.

Christmas List

2011-12-12T22:42:00.000-10:00

1. A nanny who comes everyday at 7:30 and has my kids sound asleep by 8:30.

2. A bubble bath and a stack of good books or magazines, to be enjoyed between the hours of 7:30-8:30

3. While I'm wishing, how about someone to put away laundry, decorate my house, unload the dishwasher, upload the 684 pictures and unpack us from our trip to California. I think I can take care of everything else.

4. I also need a jacket.

2011-11-23T12:30:00.005-10:00

Late November 2011, still not Washington

Santa Ynez

2011-11-05T20:55:00.005-10:00

Happy Birthday Sister.

2011-11-02T14:27:00.001-10:00

November 2011, Not Washington

Halloweens

2011-10-31T22:27:00.002-10:00

As long as it doesn't fall on a Sunday, Mormon's will almost always celebrate Halloween twice. This allowed Avery to have a pretty Halloween and a scary one, Miles to be both Obi Wan and Ben Kenobi, and Cruz to wear a Casper t-shirt on one and a Superman t-shirt on another (lame I know). Cruz is not in these pictures because he is probably in candy bag somewhere.

Belize UnderH20

2011-10-16T13:19:00.009-10:00

Fat Lip

2011-10-08T22:34:00.000-10:00

Just as Ben was walking out the door to go watch a fight Miles crashed and burned on a neighbors too small bike. Ben said he needed stitches and I incredulously asked him if he was going to do it...I forget, one, that Ben really is a doctor and two, that the face actually falls under his realm of care. So I hesitantly gave authorization. Miles didn't like the "pinch burn" (the numbing shot) but otherwise handled it like champ...while looking like first runner up.

Backyard Project.

2011-10-05T08:04:00.004-10:00

BEFORE

AFTER

Sunday Photos.

2011-10-02T07:50:00.000-10:00

127

2011-09-29T22:27:00.000-10:00

Daaaa, da da da da daaaaa, da da da da daaaa...

For their birthdays this year, we sent Avery (7) and her grandma's to the Phantom of the Opera production in Las Vegas.

Avery came back with a $40 mask that she bought with her "own"* money. Clearly, this will sit on a shelf until some sorority party in 2022.

We're missing a grandma here. She must be out riding the gondola.

*For the record Avery, you did get some birthday money this year, but you also steal from your brother's piggy bank.

One Cold Cat.

2011-09-26T18:31:00.000-10:00

Dead bobcat killed by car on Banning Bench, salvaged and frozen by Dr. Westbrook.

This is a photo of Ben's dad who is undoubtedly giddy from his good fortune. He loves a good animal encounter, dead or alive. I wonder what else he has in that freezer...

Dirty Bird

2011-09-26T12:15:00.004-10:00

Another theme you could categorize photos of Cruz under would be 'Filth'. No wonder I don't wear nice clothes. I have to be in contact with this creature.

Hungry Bird

2011-09-26T11:45:00.006-10:00

When going through my pictures I found an interesting common thread in the photos of Cruz. Not surprisingly, he is always eating. And at least 75% of his vocabulary is food related.

Good Stuff

2011-09-24T23:03:00.005-10:00

I am glad I took the time this evening to get a babysitter and go listen to this broadcast. It is also one of the reasons why Dieter Uchtdorf will take the crown as my 2011 crush (succeeding Rick Bayless 2010)*. There is something for every woman in this talk.

*Ben's 2011 crush is Ryan Gosling.

Pinteresting!

2011-09-22T10:03:00.004-10:00

I may very well be the last person online to know about Pinterest. ( What, I'm not stylish enough to be invited? I think I addressed that issue fully in my last post, but what better place to help the style and time challenged than this site?)

If I am indeed not the last person, allow me to introduce you to this amazing place- a virtual pinboard to collect design ideas, recipes, books you want to read, trip plans etc. etc. This just may solve the problem I have of keeping a million browsers open at one time and dragging down the speed of my computer. I can also do without lists scattered around everywhere with things I need to check out. Plus it is fun to see what your friends have pinned. Since I can't dedicate any time to Facebook, I am happy to network on this visually stunning site with a quick visit. It just makes me happy to look at it. And hungry. Will it make me a better mom? Probably not, but the kids just might get a better playroom out of it.

Rededication to Blogging

2011-09-22T05:23:00.007-10:00

I really enjoy blogging. Because of that, I consider it a treat, something to reward myself with when I complete all of my chores..much like TV is and why my DVR list is constantly erasing itself. I realized yesterday that if I wait until my house is clean and every project is finished that I will NEVER EVER blog again. If I commit to getting a post up every other day, or thrice a week, I will be happier than if I am re-cleaning the same fingerprinted window for the second time in a day. What good is having a ~~spotless~~ minorly spotted house, if I can't post pictures of it and show the world how easy breezy living my life is? ;)

I was actually going to post pictures of me doing the various chores that take me away from blogging, so that my real life could be seen in plain view, but when I saw that in pictures taken over multiple days I was still wearing the same clothes (and no, I did not work out today Jerilynn, thank you for asking) it was just a little too real. As I was on the phone disparaging the groundhog day laundry scenario that takes place here last night to Ben, I told him I don't know where all of the laundry comes from because he doesn't live here and I don't produce much because I had in fact been wearing the same outfit for 48 hours (most of my weekday outfits have this life cycle). I know I scoffed before but maybe I need to just order some pajama jeans and simplify my life. My 'suspect hygiene' (as Ben calls it) could be a whole 'nother post of it's own...and putting this in writing will lead me to analyze why I don't feel the need to 'get ready' everyday unless Ben is going to be around...even when I am going out in public.*

Just like we all have our things that we choose to spend money on (travel), we do the same with our time. And although clean sheets doth not a clean girl make, and while the majority of the week I am no sartorialist, I invite you to come dine off of my floors**, drink from our commode, peer through a smudgeless window, admire the pristine walls that leave no trace of having been patched and repainted, examine the baseboards, and go ahead and take a look in my oven while you're at it (I just cleaned it yesterday!). But if you do stop by, please call ahead, remove your shoes and don't let your kids touch anything. And don't look in my junk drawers...they look just like everyone elses.

So I am starting off the fall pledging to myself to do more consistent writing, more frequent perusing of friends blogs and a smidge less tidying up. I have to remind myself that the whole house in it's entirely doesn't have to be clean all at once, except on special occasions. If a couple of rooms at a time look good I think that'll have to do.

Luckily, there is not a big chunk of my riveting history missing from the universe. In the absence of blog posts I have been more faithful in recording the personal - content which ranges from the mundane to the spiritual to the distressing - and residing in a black leather Moleskine that is easily scribbled in and toted around (plus I'll always have the ever relied upon back-dating and mass posting), or an even smaller floral notebook that briefs what I have read, or a yellow composition book that records both to-do lists and some of my most heart-felt/vitriolic messages to my husband that he has never read (99 cent therapy). This site is equally important to me and will remain a display of life's pleasures and public musings...and pictures of plants.

*I can trace this problem back to at least college, when my choice of attire for the first day of class was called into question by my dear (and highly fashionable) roommate. What were "shower shoes" to her was my footwear of choice. And when you are going to swim for three hours a day who really wants to do their hair...swimmers, a little help here?

**Only if you come in the next five minutes and only if you enjoy pine needles as a side dish.

What's Blooming

2011-08-26T18:29:00.004-10:00

I may have 8 foot tall quinoa plants growing in the garden but I am really most excited about the flowers. Makes me forget about the sad state of the tomatoes.

Top to Bottom:

Begonia*

Begonia

Fuchsia - "Blackie"

Cordyline, aka Hawaiian Good Luck Plant, aka Ti Plant

Hydrangea - Peegee 'Limelight'

Rose

Stargazer Lily

*I HATE the look of Begonia leaves but I love the flowers, they have the craziest stamens!

Poor Man's Piano Lessons

2011-08-26T13:34:00.007-10:00

Like most parents, I want to give my kids every opportunity to develop talents and learn discipline all without over scheduling the little dears and going bankrupt at the same time. The Y gives us the chance to explore all varieties of dance, gymnastics, swimming and martial arts as part of our family membership, but it doesn't do music. And I would really hope that each of my kids can have a basic understanding of and read music (like their dad), instead of squandering away the opportunity to do so by cheating and playing by ear (like their mom).

Miles has the concentration and desire to sit and try to play from books I bought them. But we didn't have a good system for him to be able to learn new songs on his own, and I only have so much time/patience to dedicate to "Here we Go Up a Row". I was wishing that there were some stickers that I could put on the piano to indicate the notes but not ruin the keys. But I found something better than that - dry erase markers! Hopefully that will get him through a few low level piano books and buy me some time (and $$$).

Looking rather gay!

2011-08-26T13:08:00.004-10:00

At church a few weeks ago, during the Sacrament (the quietest and most reflective time of the service), Avery leaned over to me and says:

"Mom, I know there are two meanings to the word gay...and I don't know what one of them is... but I do know the other and boy Cruz sure is looking gay right now. (Cut to Cruz who is looking extremely extremely happy).

Here he is looking the other meaning.

*Note: It is very surprising to me that Avery, ever curious and wanting to know all, would not want to know (or insist on knowing) what the other 'gay' is. That wasn't the moment to discuss it (although I'm sure that the two lesbian sisters a few rows back wouldn't have minded) and I tried to bring it up another time when it seemed appropriate but she didn't seem interested. So, I guess we will shelve that conversation for another day.

Mid-Summer Recap

2011-07-30T06:12:00.000-10:00

Ben - Has moved out. And I didn't even have to ask him to go. The Army did. They also gave him a sweet bachelor pad (and sometimes a roommate!) in the city. We are about to start our 5th month of his relocation. He spends on average 24 hours a week at home, 80 hours a week in a hospital and the rest in his sweet (read: not great) apartment. Sometimes he gets to stay in luxury hotels elsewhere in the U.S.; Chicago, as documented by my accompaniment on the trip and most recently Rochester, Minn at a little place called the Mayo Clinic where he practiced sewing on vasculature 1/8 of a millimeter thick (Ben made me show him with my fingers how big an inch, then centimeter, then millimeter was, etc. until I was duly impressed). A big thank you to all of those Minnesotan mice for your service.

Professionally, I could not be prouder of him. Every day he becomes and better and better doctor and every day he already starts off as a pretty good one.

Me - I got to keep the house. And all of the maintenance that goes with it. I can almost always be found in the yard, wearing a sweatshirt and boots, wishing I was wearing cutoffs and flip flops.

Avery & Miles - Took a few tennis lessons but otherwise are enjoying everything an unstructured summer should be - except for heat, which we will try very hard to be grateful for.

Cruz - Does whatever everyone else does and generally destroys most things in his path. If it's edible, it's a goner.

School's Out for the Summer!

2011-07-11T22:26:00.007-10:00

I love watching for Avery as she comes down the drive after getting off of the school bus. Sometimes she sprints home, backpack bouncing. Often she dilly-dallies and takes it all in, many times talking to herself or singing. Always fun to watch.

The last day of school I expected a cheerful dash to the front door but what I saw was a newly graduated first grader sobbing...sob-bing... as she made her way home. I dashed down from my usual vantage point on the second story and greeted her on the driveway. I thought something bad had happened on the bus or that she was injured. Nope. Her heart was just broken that another school year was over. She mourned moving on from her teacher, the 10 week break from her friends and bus-rides, not a bit consoled by the fact that she could now sleep-in and stay up late(r).

This guy is not sad to have her home for the summer.

Girls and Boys of Hula

2011-07-03T22:28:00.001-10:00

In an effort to get in touch with their island heritage the kids started taking hula. It began as Avery's class but Miles' was quickly invited to take part as well. Here is a video of their first performance.

(Miles is up front in green and Avery is to the left in black with a white lava-lava)

Ben is not as thrilled as I am about Miles' "dancing" but I think traditional hula is about as masculine as it gets. In defense of my opinion you can check out the Men of Hula on PBS. Or see below:

You're welcome ladies.

He also taps.

2011-07-03T07:39:00.001-10:00

This is what ensued when he found my old tap shoes in a cabinet.

Cape Flattery/Neah Bay

2011-07-02T22:28:00.000-10:00

Fourth of July weekend we packed up and headed for the Northwestern most point of the continental U.S. - Cape Flattery. We stayed at Hobuck Beach on the Makah Indian Reservation with our usual partners in camping, the McA's. We saw some great scenery, but first I will bore you with pictures of my children.

This is Miles' sad hiking face. Before we ever take two steps he always let's me know how much he does NOT like to hike. Or walk. Unfortunately for him, we were going to do a lot of both.

This is after I showed him how ridiculous he looked with his sad face. Avery, always ready to spot wildlife.

You know you are on a Washington beach when it's July and you are wearing a fleece jacket.

The kids don't care though.

Sanddollars like Washington beaches too. And now I will bore you with some pictures of those.

Ben cooking up the best chicken quesadillas ever!

Cape Flattery - This is the view we came for.

Lovely, albeit frigid, Washington beach.

Really great smoked salmon.

Ben and Avery getting skunked, fishing from the bridge.

The men doing their, 'must get to highest point' thing.

Cape Alava

Ben carrying the boys (6.4 miles)

I got the better end of the deal and got to hike with the tie-dye twins. We left everyone in the dust...er..moss.

They didn't want to share germs by using the same water bottle. So they used this Skunk Cabbage leaf to share germs from.

On our way home we identified what could potentially be our next camping adventure: Salt Creek Recreation Area. I've never seen so many mussels in my life. And there were deer on the beach.

This is what I imagine Neverland looks like.

Some miscellaneous photography of Cruz, doing what he does best.

Fathers Day 2011

2011-06-19T23:30:00.000-10:00

Still Standing and Delivering

2011-06-19T22:15:00.001-10:00

I have been wanting to post about my grandpa Dwight for quite a few months now...since his 85th birthday. He is actually closer to 86 now but as he just gets more remarkable with age, I guess there is no harm in the wait. Plus, as it is Father's Day, there is no better time to feature someone whose fatherhood directly impacts my existence.

Recently, he was featured in the Record Gazette, which highlighted his extensive (and ongoing) teaching career. I have witnessed him in the classroom and found his ability to adapt and connect to today's generation and demographic amazing. He even incorporates Spanglish to get the attention of his students ("ojos -up here").

The article captures the spirit of my gpa as well as a brief article can. It mistakenly lists that he has three daughters (make that granddaughters) and it fails to mention that he does 200 reps each morning with his dumbells (I believe they are 20 lbs each) and that even at 85 he might build a block wall or two, maybe pour a driveway or any other miscellaneous concrete work that he has more years experience in than I have breathing. When he is not working or working out, you might find him in the hot tub, in the kitchen frying up some delicious meat product, studying scripture or watching the Angels play ball...or women's basketball (he may be the only one).

My kids keep laughing that their grandpa (great) is in the newspaper and I love that the interviewing gathered some of his words of wisdom to be passed on to my/his posterity. Miles always says that gpa tells him that he is "full of beans" and the gpa Dwight phrase that I associate most with him is "oh, fudge!", which rings as clearly in my ears as if he were standing in the same room...wearing swim trunks, a ball cap and making "goulash".

85!

2011-06-19T18:42:00.010-10:00

(I had to sneak this picture of my mom in b/c I think that she and Cruz look alike)

Special thank you to Sara for photographing our special day!

Lake Diablo

2011-06-11T20:53:00.001-10:00

Ben had his first two days in a row off in two months so we decided to get the heck out of town and go camping. We headed to the North Cascades...The North American Alps (I have nothing to compare them too, but they were definately stunning).

I love that on this trip Avery became a reader. "The Puppy Place" was a page turner.

Quick stop at Cascadian Farms for some berry drenched shortcake and ice cream.

We saw at least 18 waterfalls on our drive to the lake.

Look at that water color!

In a completely random, but totally welcome turn of events, we ran into our friends the Thorntons who were in our ward in Hawai'i and also made the move to the Northwest. Of all the campgrounds in Washington...

These two gals share a birthday...and perhaps a love of feather collecting.

Fisherwoman.

2011-05-21T16:51:00.001-10:00

The kids got to participate in a local kids fish-in. Well, Avery did, Miles has to wait until next year. But he fulfilled his usual role as chief go-fer and in this case fish holder for her royal highness. I had thought that Ben had the day off and that he would enjoy this outing with the kid. But he didn't and I had the pleasure.

The kids lined up and guess who caught the first trout of the session... (powerbait is a-mazing)

Then she promptly caught another... her limit for the day.

Before the event, she was ambivalent about fishing. I thought that she could just pass the pole on to Miles, but after a few bites she was hooked! (heehee) When I asked her if she wanted to give Miles her pole now, she said "No way. I'm taking this thing to the grave". And she named it - Sara, or Melissa, or Zoe...she keeps changing her mind, but it is definately a she.

Avery gets her love of fishing from both sides of the family (although in mine it's allure has been lost on the last few generations) but one thing my side does differently than Ben's...we eat our catch.

(I cooked it up and it was good, but so many teeny bones. I was worried that the kids would choke on them so I swapped their servings out with some boneless Tilapia:))

Note: Ben took the kids out on another occasion and they weren't having great luck off of the dock fishing with worms. Ben went to load the boys up and Avery said she knew where to go so she took her worms and ran off. By the time Ben had the car pulled around she had one on the line. And another after that. I can't cast to save my life so I am very impressed by her. I'm already making plans to move to Colorado so she can be a flyfishing guide.

Jedis

2011-05-20T17:00:00.000-10:00

32.

2011-05-18T08:06:00.000-10:00

Rain Rain Go Away

2011-05-16T13:19:00.005-10:00

Chicago

2011-05-15T10:44:00.000-10:00

Ben had a conference and a course in Chicago (so free hotel) and two days off in between which happened to coincide with my birthday and the willingness of my mom to babysit...again. So off I went. I packed my bags with all of the clothes that I want to wear but don't want to get smeared with the usual goo, every piece of jewelry I own, six pairs of shoes (for a four day trip), three books I've been trying to finish, four magazines, one camera, a removable hard drive and laptop so that I could catch up on my blog and catch up on others blogs.

I didn't get as much as I wanted done...or anything at all, but I had a really great time, wore all of the shoes and enjoyed every moment of it.

Although not as warm as I had hoped, the entire city was in bloom.

But who cares about flowers. I travelled all of this way for one singular reason. A date with Rick Bayless. A unilateral date, with Ben as a third wheel, but it was my birthday wish fulfilled. And Ricky did not disappoint. We skipped his more expensive establishments in favor of his new hip quick-service cafe XOCO (don't click on this link unless you want to be sad and hungry). And the quicker this food could get into my mouth the better. Fresh churros, homemade vanilla ice cream and bean-to-cup hot chocolate, tortas - delicioso!

We went back another day for breakfast and had french toast with bacon and pecan sprinkle, more churros, savory empanada and the most refreshing drink I've ever had (I'm usually a water girl, so maybe that's not saying much) coco-lime-pineapple (with a hint of basil) agua fresca.

In between trips to XOCO we were tipped off to another Rick Bayless gem...at Macy's no less. The largest Macy's in the world actually (formally Marshall Fields). I had read that the food is essentially the same there as you might find at his sit down restaurants, just take-out with nothing over $7.50. Again, disappointment was nowhere to be found. Corn poblano soup, tamales, tacos, raspberry prickly pear aqua fresca, guacamole. (I am currently experiencing similar pangs to when I think about living in Hawaii, but am not there.)

Below is Ben taking a post-Bayless nap in the home furnishings dept. He wanted to buy that recliner.

While he napped I couldn't help but go back and grab a hamburger from Frontera Fresco's neighboring take out place Marc Burger, by Marcus Samuelsson, another celebrity chef. It was very good with homemade pickles and spicky ketchup, but not cravable. But then again, I'm a one-man woman (that sure doesn't have the same ring that the reverse does).

But that's not all of the eating we did. We hit up Lou Malnati's for some classic butter crust deep dish. Butter (and pizza) is very dear to me, but I have to go with the salad at this place. It was great. We had brunch at a place that was healthy and okay but I can't remember the name of. We did dinner at Goose Island Brewpub which was not memorable. As in I am racking my brain and I can't even remember what I ordered. I think they are known more for their brews. I did have a ridiculously good birthday dinner at a restaurant with another proprietor of Top Chef fame - Stephanie Izard from a few seasons back. Restaurant: The Girl and the Goat. I tried to get reservations here or at Bayless' Topolobampo for my big day. Even a month prior they were booked. As of April 30, the next available reservation was June 22. That doesn't stop me. It didn't stop me from getting a table a few weeks back for Seattle Restaurant week*. And it wasn't about to stop me as I was celebrating another year older and wiser too. They were open until midnight, which is lucky for me since I got to spend the earlier part of my night watching one of my least favorite things on the planet - UFC (if only it weren't such a great time to get together with friends). It ended at 11:15, we hopped into a cab and got to Girl and the Goat by 11:30. who has reservations at 11:30? There was still a 20 minute wait. But alas, we could be served the full menu in the bar, so we grabbed a couch with our friends who were also attending the conference (the more the merrier at a restaurant with tasting plates I say) and we indulged in things like fried oysters, goat belly confit, really great green beans, "pig face" (just might be the best part of a tasty animal) and desserts like lemon rhubarb shortcake and buttermilk panna cotta, parsnip pot de creme with pistachio cake and bittersweet chocolate cake with shitake gelato and toffee creme fraiche. The chocolate cake was maybe the best we've ever had. But mushroom ice cream? It just tastes weird. It wasn't bad, but why not just throw some McDonalds soft serve on there and knock it out of the park. Anyway, thumbs up to Girl and the Goat (better make that a golden thumbs up b/c it's fairly pricey for the portions, but I don't think that's what you are paying for.)

So besides eating, Chicago also has a good music scene. We weren't sure where to go, so I did my best reseach and we landed at Kingston Mines and B.L.U.E.S Chicago. And it was two clubs for one cover.

It was also where we were when we got this news...

I imagine that Bin Laden's Abottabad hideout probably looked something like this place we were at anyway.

The music was groovy and we enjoyed ourselves until I got wrapped up in this embarrassing "booty call" with a few other female victims, which culminated in me doing he only dance move I really know, which is the worm. And as usually happens when the worm appears, Ben has us make a quick departure.

All in all it was fun times in the windy city. I hope I am invited back some time.

*I was going to tell a story about a Seattle restaurant we visited recently. But it deserves it's own post.

Chicago Architecture

2011-05-15T09:27:00.000-10:00

I checked out Chicago primarily by running the city streets. A good way to counteract all of the eating we did I guess. I was reading the book Devil in the White City, which is about Chicago during the 1930's world fair. I was hoping to see more architecture that related to the book, but had I finished it while I was there I would have learned that much of it burned to the ground. I did get a sense of some of the great architectural history of the place though, the Palmer House among others that have withstood the flames, wrecking balls and time. Before Donald Trump came to town. Trump Tower

Carbon and Carbide Building

Buckingham Fountain

I don't know what this thing is (a jellybean? a red blood cell?) but it sure is fun to take pictures of.

The faces change (and move - it's video rather than photograph) on this urban art which features local citizens. And occasionally water comes out of their mouth.

Wrigley Building (I think) with Trump Tower in background.

Dunno.

Kalaloch Beach/Camping (September 2010)

2011-05-13T10:50:00.002-10:00

Rocks. (Or are they stones? Pebbles? Just one more thing to put on my list of things to Google)

Guy time.

Miles wanting to climb like his dad.
Ben and Cruz's stupid human tricks. I would have preferred this one if it weren't over the campfire. Just kidding about the campfire.

Hiking with mom.

Miles finding out that he is approximately the size of a full grown eagle. (Body, not wingspan)
The crew posing at their club they named the "chop shop"

Interesting tree pathology.

Westy's and McA's.

Breakfast and Bedhead

2011-05-08T17:22:00.000-10:00

Mothers Day 2011

Perfectly warmed poptart, peanut-butter for dipping, chocolate and nuts for topping and a broken up Stinger bar for...protein!

2011-05-08T10:34:00.003-10:00

Me at 33

2011-04-30T14:36:00.000-10:00

BLOG SPRING CLEANING.

2011-04-22T07:31:00.003-10:00

I am determined to finish all previously hatched posts and do a general clean up of computer files. So please excuse the mess that ensues. Eventually it will be sorted out.

2011-04-22T07:30:00.002-10:00

(August 2010, photo by S. Westbrook)

2011-04-22T07:30:00.000-10:00

Note to dad.

2011-04-22T07:29:00.000-10:00

(From Avery: 10-12-2010)

2011-04-22T07:26:00.000-10:00

(4-30-10)

2011-04-22T07:25:00.002-10:00

(3-30-2010)

Caged.

2011-04-22T07:20:00.000-10:00

2011-04-22T06:58:00.000-10:00

(1-03-2011)

February/March/April Recap

2011-04-15T19:01:00.001-10:00

We've been keeping ourselves busy so as not to be disappointed by the lack of sunshine that is de rigueur for a proper Seattle springtime. We have learned this much by now. So let's see what everyone has been up to.

Ben - Was awarded the Presidential Airway/Esophageal Foreign Body Award (that's a real thing??) for the poster presentation he did with two colleagues entitled "Novel use of a suction irrigation device for removal of impacted clot from the airway". Fascinating as well as novel, I'm sure.

Avery - Lost one tooth on a Saturday in February, then lost another a few days later while at school. The second one never made it home, so the tooth fairy only had to make one visit that week. Rude, I know.
She also learned how to ride a bike without training wheels.
Miles - Can play Old McDonald Had a Farm on the piano with his eyes closed (literally with his eyes closed).

Cruz - Turned one! And since he is the third child, he got neither a birthday party nor blog entry dedicated to the big day*. Plus I'm too busy trying to think of 33 things about myself for my special day coming up. But we do love our little guy. Even if he doesn't walk (despite standing like a champ and taking multiple steps three months ago). I guess he has to put all his energy towards growing that hair. He also learned to ride a bike this month, and he started wearing shoes on occasion.

Me - I've just been doing the usual: tilling the earth, making butter from cream, successfully curing a kidney infection with a regime of yoga and apple cider vinegar, unsuccessfully representing myself in court**, attending my first ever Chamber of Commerce meeting, making homemade deodorant, selling houses, showing even more houses, testing recipes for a Seattle restaurant's cookbook, fitting 2 years worth of continuing education into one month. Nothing as prestigious as what Ben does, but fulfilling just the same.

*I will get around to it!
**I got a speeding ticket, and I refuse to believe that I was going 40 in a 30. I was just returning a library book for goodness sake. It was overdue, yes, but I had already accrued my fine that day. No rush. There are more details to why I disagree with this but I as I had no evidence what could I do? He agreed to keep it off of my record if I could go without 6 months without getting a ticket. No problem. I haven't been pulled over in 13 YEARS. I didn't even go 4 days. This time 28 in a 20. A full on speedtrap (where the speedlimit changes unexpectedly), which the officer admitted while chuckling. He didn't even ask to see my insurance. He wanted to hurry and get to his next victim ("one after another" he said). So my experience, plus the recent experience of three other gals I know leads me to believe that they are targeting pre-middleaged white women who drive stationwagons or minivans, (my experience in court would lead me to believe that they are targeting uninsured hispanic men in their 20's) all in the name of revenue generation.

Headboard

2011-04-14T07:39:00.003-10:00

As is usual it takes me forever to decorate and our guest room/office needed a headboard as a focal point so that I can put some pictures...although it will probably take me another two years to do that. I love our wood floors and we had these planks left over so we made them into a headboard. Easy! And this flooring I can just enjoy without having to sweep thrice a day.

One.

2011-03-26T14:44:00.000-10:00

Birthday Menu:

Ribeye
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Pizooki a La Mode

(all of Cruz's favorites)

SleepCrawling.

2011-03-18T05:26:00.006-10:00

This morning before 6, house completely dark, Cruz woke up, started crying, forcefully wiggled out of his mothers loving embrace, got out of bed (our bed (which is usually his bed between the hours of 2am-9am), not his pack 'n play obviously) and continued crying and searching around the house for me, while I sat in bed trying to figure out what was going on and calling out to him. He went down the stairs, through the kitchen and into the office which is often where I am especially when he wakes up in the morning. When I wasn't there he started his journey back and stopped in the kitchen, sat and cried until I came and picked him up. Then he put his head on my shoulder and went back to sleep. Since I had him to begin with, was calling his name the whole time and it was dark, I can only guess that he was sleepcrawling. Very interesting.

(And if you are going to make me get out of bed before 7, it had better be interesting.)

*The pics abov are not from today, but I thought it was appropriate to display his pretty sweet bedhead.

Oregon Coast

2011-03-07T13:33:00.013-10:00

Over President's weekend, we headed south to see what the Oregon coast had to offer. I had always wanted to go, but Ben is a beach snob and has never given in to my request to explore this part of the country and my mom is up for anything, even close quarters with my three children. Our first stop (well actually our second, after breakfast at the Original Original Pancake House) was the Tillamook Cheese Factory & Creamery. Look at all those loafs of pepperjack!

Then basically we beach hopped for the next two days. You can only do so much lounging when it's 41 F. There was sun though, which gave us permission to wear shorts and flip flops, until we were reminded that it is still very much winter.

You can't see it so well, but in these pics at Cape Meares there were waterfalls and other beutiful scenery that reminded me of places in Hawaii.

We spent the night in Garabaldi, and hit up Rockaway, Seaside and Cannon beaches.

Our last stop was Astoria, OR (of Goonies fame). We checked out Bowpicker Fish n' Chips per recommendations on Trip Advisor. I'm not a huge fried food lover but I had never had fried albacore before and it was good. The kids insisted that they didn't like fish but it turns out when battered and dipped in ketchup, they do.

The Astoria column, which you can climb up and throw gliders off of. We stayed at the bottom and tried to catch some.

View from the column overlooks the Columbia River. This is Lewis and Clark territory.

2011-02-28T12:07:00.000-10:00

NurtureShock: New Thinking about Children, Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

I was made aware of this book by a friend whose book club was reading it. Aside from the single long black hair I discovered part way through (which reminded me how very public library books are), I loved this book. I recommend it (and have many times already) to any parent, grandparent, teacher or anyone who will ever have a role in a child's life. I read many tidbits out loud to Ben (as I do frequently with many things that make it onto my reading list), and really wanted to share information from every chapter with him, or I wanted him to read it himself. He said that I should take notes for him. Unfortunately, this entire book is already so condensed that every paragraph is of worth. Each chapter tackles a different topic, such as "the inverse power of praise", sleep habits and how it affects kids, why kids lie and "why white parents don't talk about race".

The race chapter and the included study results were particularly interesting to me and inspired a rather shocking interaction with my own child. It is important to read the book to get the details but the gist of it is that in our efforts to be "colorblind" and not discuss and or acknowledge racial diversity we are instead leaving children to draw their own conclusions about race relations. After reading this particular chapter, while putting the children to bed (earlier than usual, based on the readings in a previous chapter) I decided to ask if the kids "liked people with brown or black skin"? Ever diplomatic (and fresh off of Black History Month at school), Avery responded in the affirmative and gave specific examples of one of her friends whose skin was "beautiful". Miles shook his head no and continued to work on the puzzle in his lap. I thought for sure that he must have misunderstood and asked the same question again, to which he continued to say no and continued to work on his puzzle. I then brought up names of his friends from church with brown and/or black skin who he did agree that he liked. But no one else. I didn't have to say anything because Avery unleashed on him, I'm fairly sure she was quoting Martin Luther King in her rant. He still wouldn't budge. When I asked him why, he said..."they might snatch me". Cue explosion in my head.

On one hand, I am glad my child has some fear that a snatching could indeed occur. On the other, very large hand, I am appalled that he would attribute this possibility to a certain group of people, and I've done a search of the child predators in our area, and they are dominantly old white men (and we live in a diverse area). But back to the study, this is what the book found; That unless you tell your children explicitly, that you yourself do like people of other races, then they won't get it. No matter how much Little Bill you have them watch or even if they see you with friends of varying color. So right then and there I bore my testimony that their dad and I do indeed like people with brown skin and black skin. The next day I repeated the initial question to Miles and he decided that he does in fact like people with brown skin and black skin. I don't know why that was so scary to talk about, but I'm glad I did. (There are a lot of other studies in this chapter, involving intricacies of how children shape ideas of race, the introduction of Black Santa, etc.. Interesting stuff)

Read it.

----

The Moral Landscape: How Science Determines Human Values, Sam Harris

I picked this book because the title sounded interesting. I started it on CD because that's what the library had available, but three discs in I went in search for the hardback because I needed to see if it was his delivery that I was struggling with or if it indeed was failing to deliver substance. One thing I hate is wasting time, my own time, others time, watching others wasting their own time (subjective I know), but especially my own time. Which is what Sam Harris did to me by making this into a book and not an article. Because, besides one novel thought that he had in the first 100 pages (that I wrote down in own of my many notepads but can't find) I found it to be a super tedious endeavor. The title promised a book about how science can help us be better people, and what it delivered was extreme examples of injustice and conjecture. I was hoping for more of a day-to-day application of his scientific discoveries. He's probably a great thinker and neuroscientist, he just happens to be a very poor storyteller. (I am apparently in the minority on this, as I just checked Amazon's reviews of the book and it has a bunch of positive reviews, including the first one which calls it "A provocative feast"!) . I almost gave up on it but I skimmed through and thought it got better around page 138. I also thought his Acknowledgements section showed some personality. And I liked that there were nearly 100 pages of Notes, which made the book much shorter than I had originally thought.

2011-02-27T18:51:00.000-10:00

Baby Whisperer

2011-02-24T15:01:00.000-10:00

Miles loves babies. Unfortunately, his own brother is too strong (willed) to be held so he has to take any opportunity he can to take care of the newly born.

With his new cousin Quinn.

With his new cousin Emma.

And recently, I was was watching a friend's baby and I couldn't get her to be happy. But Miles could.

2011-02-20T14:43:00.000-10:00

2011-02-13T11:00:00.000-10:00

Smurfed.

2011-02-11T09:12:00.007-10:00

(I hope that the title of this post doesn't have any innapropriate connotation. A quick search of the word didn't come up with anything)

Imagine my surprise this morning when I got an email with an iTunes reciept for $119.10. Honestly, I bristle when I get an iTunes reciept for .99, so this floored me. Especially when I saw what it was for:

*The Cat in the Hat - Dr. Seuss, v1.08, Seller: Oceanhouse Media, Inc. (4+)
Write a Review Report a Problem $3.99
*2 Toki Tori HD, v1.0, Seller: Chillingo Ltd (4+)
Write a Review Report a Problem $4.99
*Smurfs' Village, WAGON OF SMURFBERRIES, Seller: Capcom Interactive, Inc.
Report a Problem $99.99 !!!! (despite contrary belief, sometimes more than one exclamation point is neccessary. this is one of those times. )

Report a Problem? Yeah, I should say so.

Miles likes to play on the iPad Ben generously gifted me for Christmas. The iPad that took me 3 days to open because although I really did want one, I didn't want such an expensive gift. After my grandma essentially told me to stop being so cheap and to open the darn thing, I did. And I like it. But Miles likes it more. So of course we know what happened. While the iPad was babysitting Miles, he downloaded to his hearts content. Only, anytime I try to do ANYTHING with iTunes I have to enter in my password, almost to my annoyance, but I was happy for the protection from potentially expensive mistakes. So I'm not sure exactly what happened, only when I was recounting the story at the office this morning, someone told me they just read a similar story a few days ago. And she forwarded it to me: http://consumerist.com/2011/02/8-year-old-girl-racks-up-1400-bill-playing-smurfs-village-ipad-game.html. I haven't had a chance to read the article yet, and don't have time to be blogging about this really but while I wait 24 hours to hear back from Apple it serves as a therapy of sorts, and hopefully a warning to others.

So although I'm pretty certain that a four-year old doesn't legally have the capacity to enter into that kind of purchase agreement and I trust that my request to kindly remove the charges will be sufficient, I am a bit concerned. Concerned that a kids game charges real, significant money (a few more purchases and Miles could buy his own iPad) during the course of play. Concerned that you can buy your way to advancment with the click of a button (so much for achievement based on skill development and hard work). And mostly I am concerned that there is a market for this and that people (and by people I mean adults) would even spend a nickel on a wagon of smurfberries ($99), a bucket of snowflakes($19) or this other virtual nonsense.

I guess I probably got Gargameled, really. All of this has driven me to break into my box of Valentine chocolates early (thanks dad), and subsequently spend even more time finding a "mouse"-free hiding spot for what's left.

January Recap.

2011-02-01T06:10:00.006-10:00

I can already tell that 2011 is going to be a busy year. My library holds list is already a dozen books long, my collection of seeds to plant is growing by the day, I get to do real estate related activity a few times a week, have a busy calling, busy children who make plenty of messes, taxes to file, two hours of Bachelor ever Monday night...I mean the list goes on and on. And just when we think we have things under control and I think I might just have time to clean out a junk drawer we have a minor disaster somewhere in the house (one word - mold) which means I need to resurrect the house building blog). So let's get to reviewing.

First, we kicked off the year with a trip to SUNNY, lay by the pool, eat too much good food and play tennis California. And it was fun to see the family and friends too. Our first order of business was to see this guy again after two and a half years (whom cousin Kate is sooo glad that McKay is "not our cousin anymore, he's our uncle!". If anything will turn you from cousin to uncle status it will be a mission I guess. (For the record, he's always been her uncle):

(more family photos to come)

Ben - Started a block of research - YEA! (At least that's how I felt when he first started and I thought he would be around more. I still don't see him during daylight hours (not that there is an abundance of them) so now I just feel like: yea! (with only half an exclamation) because I think he feels like he can breathe a little easier during the day (while I continue to gasp)(but this section isn't about me is it?). I'm not sure what he is researching exactly, but he did give a presentation on face lifts today. So hopefully he's not researching my face.

Avery - Turned 7. For her birthday, we sent her to Vegas. And what happens in Vegas, deserves it's own post.

Miles - Miles spent a good portion of January telling fibs. Big ones. Such as when asked who ate mom's not-so-well-hidden chocolate stash by the bed, he flatly responded "mice". When pushed further on the story, he gave great detail on the apperance of the mice, number of mouse offenders and even gave a demonstration on how mice eat chocolate. Never mind the chocolate rimming his little lying lips.

Cruz - Has officially spent more time outside of the womb than in, although at times he does seem to prefer the former. He will do anything to get to his mom. My favorite is when he is is crawling around the house, spots me and then puts his head down and goes full speed ahead to get to me. His parents are suckers for him and just like the other two before him, he has convinced us that the best place to sleep is right between us, mostly we agree. Although not walking yet (so disappointing) he has mastered not only going up the stairs, but sliding down carefully step by step - a trick Avery taught him. He also claps, leads music and says a few words that only a mother can decipher - mama, dada, ball, Avery and water (okay, I'm not so sure about the last one). And he still loves to eat, not what you are feeding him, but whatever you are eating.

Me - I pretty much covered my stuff in the opening paragraph, so unless you want to hear more about my vacuuming technique or love of laundry (I must love it since I spend so much time doing it), how to re-seal countertops or touch up paint then my thoughts on January are over. Except to say that Britt spent the majority of hers wining, dining, kayaking and being dip kissed in New Zealand. Wah.

A month of Sundays

2011-01-30T08:09:00.000-10:00

Jan 30, 2011

Jan 23, 2011

Jan 16, 2011

Jan 9, 2011

Jan 2, 2011

The People Have Spoken.

2011-01-19T06:29:00.002-10:00

Happy Wednesday.

(It gets gross around 2 min. Meanwhile...Ben chats about basketball.)

Litl Booklit of Wrd's

2011-01-11T07:51:00.004-10:00

My favorite things about this worksheet - the teacher's words of encouragment "Keep Trying?" (what is the question here exactly?) and Avery's spelling of January. I circled that because it is priceless. I also love the names of some of her classmates that appear in this lesson.

Laying Out Clothes.

2011-01-11T06:54:00.001-10:00

In order for us to get from the bed to the bus in 15 minutes flat I encourage that Avery to get her clothes laid out the night before, down to whatever accoutrements she will be requiring.

Sometimes Miles lays out his outfit as well...

(For the record he's not usually wearing flipflops in January. Sometimes he does, but these pictures were taken in April 2010)

2010 Recap

2011-01-02T16:46:00.005-10:00

2010 was a fun-filled year, and I'm sad to see it go but alas time marches on. Here are some of our highlights.

Best/Worst Moment - Welcoming Cruz K. by c-section. I will be happy to share this moment by posting a video if anyone is interested. Vote on the sidebar.

Vacations - Road Trip to UT, fall trip to CA, Labor Day camping in the Olympics, Thanksgiving in Victoria, BC. (pictures still to come on some of these)

Visitors - Alise, Heidi and her mom Nancy, Nate, Britt and Eric, Audrey and Kevin, Ryan and Jen (and my SS pots and pans have never looked so shiny!)

Growing - Artichokes

Exercise - H.E.A.T with Janine

Board Game - Wits and Wagers (w/the Manchaks)

Movie- Babies

Punctuation Mark - ?! (mostly I was just excited to learn that this has a name -Interrobang)

Word - Penultimate (which I learned from Prof. Manchak)

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Avery - Beginning violin lessons, starting 1st grade, modern dance.

Miles - Soccer, Hip-Hop, Angry Birds and Cut-the-Rope, sneaking marshmallows.

Cruz - Crawling, teething (6 to date), singing, drumming, wrist twirling/waving, eating everything.

Ben - I don't know how many lives he saved, but probably a lot. (I was witness to one recent display of excellent airway management and potential life-saving that occurred during a church service.) Did his thing as asst. ward clerk and sometimes EQ teacher. Snow/wake/and skateboarded on occasion. Frequently rocked out with the kids.

Me - Got WA Real Estate license (and renewed CA license for another 4 years), served in Primary as teacher, now secretary. Nurtured life day and night.

Looking forward to the following in 2011, besides Ben drinking less soda (you can make resolutions for other people can't you? If so, I am putting Kit on the same program, although that may be pushing it):

Reading - The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1

Television - The Bachelor: Brad Womack. Our favorite bachelor returns Jan 3! (Besides this and a select few favorites I actually plan/hope for 2011 to involve less TV watching)

Growing - A rad garden with tomatoes that turn red (purple, yellow or whatever color they are supposed to end up)

Parties - I have a few ideas up my sleeve including a book exchange, an emergency preparedness block party, an anniversary party...and that just gets us to July.

Blogging - Besides catching up on the posts I never finished in 2010 (and at least one from 2009) I saw a great idea that I plan to implement which is to take a picture of the kids or family every Sunday and post it, so at least I have a weekly recording. I started this a few weeks ago but haven't gotten them up yet.

What you will not find me doing in 2011 -

Wearing pajama jeans. (Although I may sport a grey crew neck from time to time)

Matching

2011-01-02T14:04:00.000-10:00

I tried.

Merry Christmas from the Space Needle.

2010-12-25T07:34:00.000-10:00

Jolly Rancher Ornaments

2010-12-13T07:56:00.001-10:00

I was really excited when I saw a craft in this months Better Homes and Gardens that I might actually be able to do and that would be fun to do with the kids - ornaments made out of Jolly Ranchers! (This would also be useful, seeing as how my children have managed to break quite a few glass balls over the past few years.) They made it sound soooo easy - just "spritz" a cookie cutter with cooking spray, fill half way with candy and bake at 350 for 7 minutes.

Well, two days, a ruined cookie cutter and a major laceration later I had successfully made ONE stinking star ornament (and a birdhouse). And even that one had to have a tip repaired. When jolly ranchers are melted then cooled in a shape with sharp points, it's like working with glass. Fragile and dangerous. And really kinda pretty. So we melted and remelted and twisted and shaped and came up with these abstract ornaments instead. And I can sleep easy at night knowing that no one is going to call me up to demonstrate this on national television.

Oh Victoria!

2010-12-07T06:28:00.012-10:00

I had really been hoping to celebrate Thanksgiving in Peru this year, but I decided to do right by Cruz and opt out of the trip to go pick up our favorite manny-turned-missionary, McKay. But I still couldn't resist going on a trip so we hopped on the M.V. Coho and took a trip to visit our neighbors to the north.

Once we boarded, Ben assumed his usual posture for travel.

One of the best things about vacation, and I'm sure most will agree, is that you are pretty much required to eat out. So we did.

Avery got to experience a proper high tea.

Chinatown. Where this family of 5 shared take out noodles from one box, with one fork while standing on the sidewalk. We are a class act let me tell you.

The Empress.

Floating houses at Fishermans wharf.

Sealife.

Parliament building at night and harbor ferry waltz to Nutcracker Suite.

It's a good thing.

2010-12-02T07:11:00.000-10:00

When I know of a video clip I will post it!

Martha and Sara.

2010-11-19T07:05:00.013-10:00

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There's nothing that will get me up and blogging like someone I know being on TV, and this one may be the holy grail of television appearances. So set your DVR because Sara Westbrook is going to be on The Martha Stewart Show. On THANKSGIVING DAY!! Hallmark Channel. Check it out. Her name is even on the website! Speaking of websites, you won't be sad if you check out Sara's http://www.onecharmingparty.com/. I'm so happy to have known her before she was famous. ;)

Gather some paper bags and craft along, they are going to be making this. This is a pairing that was meant to be.

PS- Sara, can you ask Martha how to properly load silverware in the dishwasher?

Practice makes perfect

2010-11-10T11:40:00.001-10:00

It's never to early to start.

Reading. And Read (past-tense).

2010-11-03T23:54:00.002-10:00

Welcome to the August -November meeting of the LW Book Club...

My Lobotomy. By Howard Dully.

Wow. And Yikes. Interesting story. The story more interesting than the writing. Although it's a fairly quick read, I think it was a little too long for what it was. So if you're interested you can click on the book image at left to go to the NPR segment on it that started the whole thing.

Gifted Hands. By Ben Carson, MD.

True story of his life. I'm pretty sure there is a made for TV movie of this book which I haven't seen but his story is great. It chronicles his rough childhood being raised by a single mother (who is undoubtadly to be credited for much of his success) through to numerous surgeries he has performed as a neurosurgeon. It sounds cheesy, but if you don't believe in miracles, you may after reading this book.

Seattle Kitchen. By Tom Douglas.

Yes, I read cookbooks. Especially if they give you hints about places to eat where you live. This is a good one - the recipes and the suggestions. I can't remember what I made out of here but it was good. Oh yes I do, Corn Bread Pudding.

Ad Hoc at Home. Thomas Keller.

I love everything about this cookbook. It's size, the photographs, the recipes, the prose. Delicious.

Stumbling on Happiness. By Daniel Gilbert.

Saw this book on the Tovar's blog was intrigued by this blurb, so I checked it out at the library. It's about the psychology of happiness, written by a dazzlingly witty author. And I would really love to finish this book because it's such a pleasure to read but someone who I guess wants to be in my bookclub stole it from me and I haven't seen it since. By the way Ben, it's overdue.

No Man Knows My History. By Fawn Brodie.

This is a loooonnng book, full of detail. So I am not done with it yet, and not sure if it will go the way of another very looonnng book about Joseph Smith - Rough Stone Rolling - and never be finished by me. Not for any reason except that I have limited reading time and a reading wish list that is quite extensive. Plus, although I am finding it interesting, I am growing weary of Ms. Brodie's attitude that is omnipresent. As if she wrote the entire thing with a smirk on her face. Let's just say, she don't like Joseph Smith. And she made sure to gather much of her research from like-minded folks. It's like using Kanye West as a resource for a biography of George W. Bush.

The Year of Living Biblically. By A.J. Jacobs.

The premise of this book intrigues me. I am not very far into it - probably because it's the kind of book I want to read excerpts of out-loud to someone, but my someone is rarely home. So it's slow going so far for me. Hopefully no one is waiting for me to return it to the library because I keep renewing it I think this would make a great movie/documentary. And apparently Brad Pitt does too because it looks like his production company is working on it. Which is great. I just hope to finish it before it hits theaters. Here is a fun list of some of the "rules" he had to follow to fulfill his quest.

Get Me Out. By Randi Hutter Epstein, MD.

Another winner for me. Just look at the cover. I love it. This is a history of childbirth from the beginning of time to today. It is so interesting. I need more people in my bookclub because I want to have play by plays of this one with someone too. Two thumbs up for fun, factual, sometimes disturbing info about making and having babies.

The Freud Reader, By Peter Gay.

I'm just including this because it's in a pile of books I am looking at. I just got it to cross reference some facts in another book I was reading. This collection probably has some interesting theories in it. And may give me insight into why my carrots grew the way they did.

In-N-Out Burger. By Stacy Perman.

The subtitle is "A behind the counter look at the fast food chain that breaks all the rules". I read two pages and realized that I didn't want to read about In-N-Out. I just wanted a hamburger.

Carrots.

2010-10-12T05:59:00.001-10:00

Frankly, I'm a little afraid to pull up any more.

2010-10-10T12:42:00.000-10:00

June/July/August/September ("Summer") Recap

2010-10-01T10:15:00.008-10:00

Ben - Ben had a particularly eventful summer. While still working full time he managed to:

Take a flight with his brother Nate (formally known to many as Nathan and to others and even more formally by his maiden name Nathan Kalana-Westbrook) piloted by the head nurse in the ENT clinic.

The two also took a rafting trip. Neither trip resulted in a payout of life insurance funds - which may or may not be a relief - I need to see what the going rate is these days.

We have an entire CD of pictures from the trip and in each one Ben's mouth is wide open. Cracks me up.

Here he is gallivanting on American Lake with his colleagues, on a weekday nonetheless.

And still another workday resulted in this fine catch. And a lot of sea-sickness I hear.

He also spent a month in Iowa for an work-related course, which was probably more fun than it sounds, at least it is if you like Wagyu beef. This trip also gave him the chance to visit Chicago.

Avery - Started first grade, is wearing skinny jeans* and is playing the violin (which is going much better than I had expected. my ears aren't bleeding...yet). She made a brief attempt at Tae-Kwon-Do but when she realized she wasn't going to get to do any real fighting the allure wore off. Plus discipline is not really her thing. What else... basically this is what Avery's summer looked like:

* Quite possibly the worst moment of motherhood to date when she asked "mom- can I get skinny jeans?" Actually, scratch that, it's a distant second to when she asked if I knew who Lady Gaga is. (When I played dumb she kind of let me know that while she knows who she is, that maybe she shouldn't tell me - to protect my impressionable old mind I'm sure. Uncle Nate was there to witness this interaction.)

Miles - Is still on a sheep riding high. Which is funny considering the rest of the summer he spent preferring to do yoga over sports like t-ball or soccer.

Cruz - All he cares about is where his next meal is coming from. And if it's going in your mouth then he wants it too. Nevermind that he has no teeth. (Actually he just sprouted two last week, started sitting up and does a mean inchworm)

Me - Well obviously while Ben was having all the fun this summer I was responsibly taking care of house and home. (Okay I managed to squeeze in a longish trip to CA and CO)

Britt - Because only Britt's events rival Ben's...I think it went something like this - Vegas, New York, Cabo, Yosemite, Colombia (the country of), Seattle then topped it off with a RV trip from CA to Oregon. And she also managed to work full time. But she couldn't win Wipeout.

It's mutton bustin' time.

2010-09-17T07:18:00.012-10:00

Miles and I made our second annual trip to the fair this week. We had some important business to take care of.

There were goats to pet.

Corndogs to eat.

Horses to see. (We saw a horse named Miles)

(And a horse named Ben)

Giant pumpkins.

And mutton to bust.

Miles has been waiting a whole year to participate (yes, they allow two year olds to ride). Last year we got there too late for the sign up. But not this year.

The local news was there. If I had known, I would have done something with myself. (I was going to say with my hair, but pretty much an overhaul was in order.)

You can come over and watch the news segment on my DVR. Or you can just watch it HERE.

He made it about half way which was pretty darn good. He said that next year he wants to make it all the way.

Baaaa.

Cousins

2010-09-10T13:42:00.001-10:00

Tonsils.

2010-09-10T09:48:00.009-10:00

Ben just finally could take it no longer - the fact that our kids had an abundance of perfectly good nodular tissue at the back of their throats just irritated him to no end. He was determined that it come out.* I was afraid he might take matters into his own (capable, I'm sure) hands and try an at-home procedure, so I agreed to schedule the surgery. (I do not agree with this plan of action necessarily - the kids get their gigantic tonsils from me and I still have mine, plus I'm certain that there is an equally effective homeopathic treatment should a problem arise)

They were running a 2-for-1 tonsellectomy special at the hospital this month so we thought we'd go ahead and get the two older kids taken care of.

They didn't seem to be too concerned about their surgery, it probably helped that they had each other. Also, we had been discussing getting Avery's tonsils out for over a year now so she was prepared. The trip to the grocery store the day before didn't hurt either. We came home with every manner of frozon confection and then some. Bomb Pops, Klondike bars, Push-ups, Fudgecicles, slow-melt Ice-Age popsicles, 5 flavors of Dreyers Real Fruit bars (coconut are our current favorite), Fat Boys, gelato and just some plain ol' ice cream. Fortunately, we have two freezers.

Day of surgeryOn the way to the O.R.

Avery takes up prime real estate in the waiting room.

You won't be smiling for long...

Perioperative Bomb-Pop. This is after the screaming and the parental abuse (hitting his parents) subsided. Ben was not the surgeon for this procedure, he just got to play dad.

"I said, Don't touch me". A warning given to mom, dad and her nurses and anyone who dare try to comfort her. This one is punctuated by a kick.

The kids are lucky that their dad shared his popscicles with them at all.

Coming out of anethesia was devestating as a parent. It was so sad. They both tried to rip the IV out of their hands and both said that they didn't want their tonsils out after all. Miles requested that his be put back in. The next few days were bliss as they slept a lot and couldn't really speak, and when they did it was meekly. Avery was considerably nicer (not that she's not nice) and helpful with Cruz even when she was recovering. Ben said it's like castrating a dog - it takes the fight out of them. I thought for a while that maybe they had actually performed a lobotomy. But, while her voice is slightly different - not quite as husky, a bit more high pitched and raspy now - the old confident, bossy to her brother Avery is back after a few weeks. Miles may never forgive us, but he sure liked eating a dozen popsicles every day. Neither one of them wanted any medicine in the days following which was a surprise given that they always love to try and find an excuse to take Tylenol otherwise. What was not a surprise given that we were warned by a friend who had just recently experienced this - was the most horrific dragon breath the kids had. But I guess rotting, cauterized tissue smells pretty awful. With both kids in the back seat we would have to roll the windows down for fresh air for at least 10 days after.

I'm glad that it's all over, I hope that it provides some kind of benefit to them in their lifetime and I hope Cruz doesn't need his removed.

*Really the kids have problems sleeping - mouths open, snoring etc.

The end of August and nary a tomato.

2010-08-29T09:34:00.021-10:00

From a distance my garden looks good but production of actual things to eat has been weak. Apparently you need sun to yeild fruit. All I can hope for is an extended growing season via a mild fall. But I'm not holding my breath.

I would really really like at least one full size ripe tomato, I do have seven large leafy plants after all (plus a cherry and a grape size). But it isn't all bad.

I grew four different types of green beans this year - three with climbing tendancies (Malibu, Tall Telephone and Yard Long) and one bush. The bush variety was Burgandy (purple really) which turned green when you cooked them which was fun.

Plenty of lettuce. Our climate is good for that. And a beet. Never been a fan of beets but I think that was just the pickled kind they served on salads at the San Gorgonio Inn. Now that I'm grown up I can handle a roasted or sliced fresh beet now and then. I grew the Chiogga type which has flesh kind of like a bullseye.

Rainbow Chard. A cousin of the beet. Flavor is okayish. Healthy for sure and a beautiful addition to the garden.

Sun Gold cherry tomatoes. All 5 of them.

One cucumber. Burpless. Whatever that means.

Tomatillos. Difficult to grow from seed. My seeds didn't grow but I bought a small plant that turned into a large plant with tons of fruit. I just hope that they can ripen.

The tomatillo plant is like four feet by four feet wide. It makes good shade for the lettuces.

Broccoli. It grew but I didn't realize it prefers cooler weather and planted it in the same sunny row as my Japanese eggplant which likes it hot. And hasn't fruited yet.

Strawberries. Seascape and another kind I can't remember the name of. They are prolific right now.

The most exciting thing in the garden this year - Artichokes! What a cool looking plant. I grew these from seed.

Baby oranges being pollinated by bees. I consider this just good practice for the bees since I'm pretty certain oranges won't grow here. (But I'm sure going to try again this year)

Blueberries. Darrow.

Things are about to get a whole lot messier around here.

2010-08-28T18:44:00.000-10:00

WiPEOuT - What they didn't show you.

2010-08-25T06:52:00.001-10:00

First of all, Brittany "scared little girl" Lyons is not 22 years old as listed (but that would make me only 24ish...), although she could definately pass for it.

What they didn't show this scared little gal doing was successfully negotiating the Smack Wall and garnering the fastest time in the first round of 24. Probably because they were too busy dubbing her screams in. She said you might have noticed that her mouth wasn't moving during some of those. Granted, some were very very real. Did you see the Motivator take her out* (hee hee)? My favorite part was when she was stuck on the things that bumped up and down.

On the second round where she eventually made her exit she said it took over an hour to film it and that at one point they had to stop and give them tips and slow it down so that people would start making it. On TV it looked like she barely attempted that portion but she assured me that she tried at least 6 times and that when you see her bending over standing on the platform, she isn't waiting for a good time to go. She's sucking wind because she just climbed up the ladder yet again.

All in all she knows that you don't go on that show to look good. I know I wouldn't have looked better. Avery on the other hand, has some tips for her aunt and is quite sure that she could navigate the obstacles with ease. So when they have Jr. Wipeout, watch out, I just might sign her up to take her down.

*On the wipeoutphotos.com there are some great frame by frame shots of her. Episode 311 photosA0727-759. They are in the 200-300 photo range.

WiPEOuT

2010-08-24T07:01:00.003-10:00

Britt (my lovely, and temporarily insane sister) is on ABC's Wipeout tonight 8/7c.

See her photo here. (At least at time of publishing it was her. Although you may not recognize her covered in mud)

The episode title is Mustard, Ketchup and Wipeout Weenies. Descriptor: Contestants tackle obstacles including Organ Grinder, Dizzy Dummy and Smack Wall while dodging condiments and wipeout weenies. Sounds awful. (Awfully funny!)

She described this experience, which actually occurred in January, as the most painful, horrendous thing she has ever done. And she used to run the 800, so it must be bad.

I particularly like how her boyfriend described it in an email invitation for their viewing party. Subject - Wonder where those bruises came from?:
Nope. It wasn't overzealous jump dancing on tequila-laced mosaic tile. It was the Motivator. It was the four red orbs made of galvanized rubber. It was the 24 hydraulic charged punching gloves designed to readjust your mandible and your pelvis. It was the strange idea that it is worth risking multiple lacerations, torn knee ligaments, spinal separation, never-walk-againedness and a premature interview with the Angel Gabriel in order to command control of $26,654.46 after taxes. In a word, it was Wipeout. Brittany has generously donated her home as a viewing station for the momentous event (she would also like to donate her left kidney as well, since it doesn't really work that well anymore.)

Not familiar with the show? (I wasn't until last week)
Here's a little taste.

Now get back to work.

Little Si.

2010-08-16T06:27:00.004-10:00

Roundtrip 4.4 miles. Elevation Gain 1200 ft.
Hikers: Britt, Lynn (plus one), Eric (plus one), Ruth, Avery
Riders: Cruz (first hike!)
Half Hiker, Rider when it counted: Miles

Before (above) and after (below) the big fall into the mud. Better than off a cliff.

At the top!

Then on for apres-hike doughnuts and kebabs at Lola.

Balance.

2010-08-16T06:20:00.002-10:00

Since I can't figure out how to download my own pictures I have to steal these from my sister's Facebook page. Thanks Eric.

This is ~~Ben's~~ Cruz's latest trick. He can also amazingly grasp his toes on demand. He might also possibly be able to grab his mom's nose on suggestion or maybe that's just what he does when I put my face in his face by default.

I think I remember how to do this.

2010-08-16T05:38:00.003-10:00

Been on vacation (although really, when is traveling with 3 kids by yourself a vacation?). Lost a computer and all of it's contents two days before getting external hard drive in the mail to back up all files in case of emergency. Hoping to recover pictures because I have some major backposting to do. Didn't feel like I missed much being offline for a while. But, I'm a little bit scared to check my email. And considering how long it is taking me to figure out how to upload current pictures I'm not sure how quickly I'll be up and running. But just a warning. I am going to start from today and work backward...and forward at the same time. If I can find a USB port. Now the baby is awake and I squandered my free time.

But the good news is...summer finally came.

2010-07-04T07:31:00.000-10:00

Three months of Cruz

2010-06-30T21:14:00.001-10:00

I'm three months old. What have I been up to during my short time on earth? The usual...

Immunizations.

Watching TV with my brother. I wish I could have some chocolate milk.

Doing Yoga.

Riding bikes. I know, I should really be wearing a helmet.

Watching Basketball.

They keep dressing me up in this same outfit when people come over.

Here I am happy that the Lakers are winning.

Here I am cheering.

Getting rolled. This happens at least twice a day.

This is what I look like most of the time.

Sometimes like this.

But mostly like this. I don't like people to know what I'm thinking.

First Hair Cut

2010-06-30T09:59:00.004-10:00

{May 10, 2010}

*In case anyone wanted to comment on how good I look here - that's actually his Aunt Sara. Haircut by Heidi.

2010-06-28T19:35:00.000-10:00

Avery G. Westbrook is a Graduation Girl

2010-06-25T07:12:00.003-10:00

Schools out.

Love these ladies.

Avery looking very proud of herself.

A boy that likes Avery.

The boy Avery likes (blue shirt).

The fam, minus Ben plus Exzavion.

The cake.

Avery's favorite book.

Bonus footage: The graduation song (I love the words! In public school even!)

6-4 3-6 6-7 7-6 ...

2010-06-24T06:17:00.004-10:00

70-68?! American John Isner defeats (or exhausts) Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

Now that's a tennis match worth remembering. Too bad all the sports channels on TV were broadcasting early round world cup soccer. Nothing like ~~watching~~ reading a monumental/historical/record smashing sports event via live blog.

Since Wimbledon doesn't participate in the 5th set tiebreak rule the game exceeded 11 hrs over three days. Too bad Isner is probably too wiped to do well in his upcoming matches but go USA tennis (and soccer).