It Isn't Easy Being Green

We really wanted a family theme costume this year. Ben really wanted to be the hulk. So Derek came up with the idea to use "It isn't easy being green". Of course we looked for a Kermit costume for Derek. But they didn't have one in his size. And even though it was a bit like a giant oven, I think Oscar was a huge hit!  (By the way, in case you are wondering, DEREK is the idea man in this house WAY more often that you might expect.  I married a brilliantly creative man who makes me look good A LOT!)

Mom, the Green Crayon and Libby, The Green Lantern

Our Most Incredible Hulk

Dramatic Green Lantern.  She was so excited to have a costume with a mask so she didn't have to wear her glasses. But somehow she ended up ditching the mask and glasses.  That girl!

Sarah as Princess Tiana.  

I was so surprised how many little kids don't know who Oscar is. But I guess when I show my kids the "old school" Sesame Street episodes, they do have a disclaimer that the early episodes "may not meet the needs of today's preschool child." I guess Oscar is probably too negative for today's preschool child. I can't really see Elmo and Oscar in the same episode. But the adults all loved Derek's costume. Derek told all the kids who got candy from us to have a "rotten Halloween."  They looked confused.  He told them his treat was "toe jam."  Some almost didn't take candy.  Hilarious!

Watch out for this girl!

One of THOSE Weeks

It was a week with some serious ups and downs. Let's start with the downs so we can end on a high note.

Technology was a killer this week. I had to restore my phone on Monday (which requires hours of work). Then I dropped Derek's old iPhone, (which I have been using while I couldn't get my phone to sync) and the screen shattered. First time this has happened to us in all the time we have had iPhones (like 5 years). Then our new computer died. 5 beeps. That's it. No start up. Thankfully it is under warranty. The dell technician came the next day and couldn't get it. He is coming back tomorrow with more parts. I think we will be getting a new computer again. (The first one we got in April did the same thing). So I am blogging from my phone. 

I was also really sad this week to find that one of my clients (the first one I ever worked with) and have been working with 3x a week since January is going to have to quit training for awhile. It felt like a very very sad breakup. We are both sad. Hopefully her husband's job picks up again soon!  I wasn't prepared for how attached I would become to my clients!  

Another hard part of this week was the cold/flu bug that has infected the family. Derek got it the worst probably.  He even stayed home from the Husky game last night (in part because it was so late & he wanted to go to Trunk or Treat too).  Ben was also a green snot factory all week. Sarah and are just starting to get it.  
I forgot my dentist appt. and a lunch/playdate with a friend.
The Huskies lost again too.  :(  They just seem to have NO OFFENSE.  Which is kind of important if you want to score many points.  Your defense can only score so often!

But, some great things happened this week. I got to talk to my bestie in Korea. Derek and I went on a date to celebrate our anniversary (only a few months late).  Ben got to have 2 playdates!  And, of course, trunk or treat!  

We had some seriously chilly weather this week. Sarah and I were matchy matchy!

A Gymnast, A Dancer & an Exhibitionist?

Ben is a very multi-talented little guy.  Actually  my favorite Ben moment this week (and I get to have lots of them right now since he is with me all the time....) was when we went to Costco.  We got out of the car and he snuggled his cheek next to mine as I carried him to the store.  It was so precious to have his chubby-ish little face on mine.  I wanted to hold him forever like that.  He is such a fun little guy.  I tried to keep that perspective when he got all upset inside the store when I didn't want to buy strawberries that weren't ripe (that he ended up refusing to eat anyway...)

Derek hates naked pics of our kids, but this one was too funny to pass up...

And here he is rocking (not literally rocking of course) the balance beam in his gymnastics class with Coach Pineapple (yes, that is what she tells the kids her name is.  I have no idea what it really is).  

FALL!!!

These two pictures do a great job of capturing the girls' different pace of life...

The little girl in the picture with them is Evelyn.  She walks to school the same way we do and is in Sarah's class.  She is adorable!  Often all the kids scream "Parent's attack!" (or are they saying "Parents attack?") and run screaming all the way to school.  So sad that her family is looking for a house in distant areas.  

It has been crispy, crunchy awesome around here.  We have had great days walking to school lately (no downpours, thankfully!)

A Fashionista and A Growth Spurt?

I just couldn't help myself...Sarah puts together the most amazing outfits.  She really  has a knack for pairing stripes and polka dots and animal prints and all kinds of random colors.  She wears it all with style.  There are days I cringe...I send her out the door with the hope in my heart that people know that she chose the outfit herself?

For those who know our Libby, this is a typical picture.  She is standing next to Sarah looking MUCH shorter.  But actually, she is growing.  A TON!  Several nights lately, after eating all of her dinner with very little prompting she said, "is there anything else I can eat?"

IT IS A MIRACLE!

A couple of other funny notes:

Her best idea for Halloween costumes was that we should go as the digestive system.  (Of course I suggested Derek should be the poop :)

She also has to do a career project for school.  She very seriously told us she had decided to do "Queen Elizabeth" as her career.  We informed her that becoming a queen isn't a career path (you have to be born into it...), so she has decided on becoming a police officer for the purposes of her school project.  It is about the coolest costume you can dress up in, right?

Our Visit to Taco Bell

The Norton and Rathburn grandparents have a long standing tradition of Taco Bell dinners.  We crashed the one they had on the Rathburn's last night of their visit to Seattle.  We have really missed them since they moved into the MOHO (motor home...) in parts much farther East than Seattle.  Now they are moving South.  It was so fun to see them and hear about their adventures.  

It was also fun that one of Derek's wrestlers was the cashier.  Since we don't eat there very often (or ever, actually) we had to go back a few times to buy more food, LOL.  

After she was done eating, Libby spent all her time either trying to do tricks on the bars at the front, or chatting with the wrestler.  She blushed when I asked her if she now has 3 favorite wrestlers.

  

Sarah's Birthday Celebrations!

This week was Sarah's big birthday celebration week.  She proudly told the clerk at a store on Monday, "This is my last day of being 5!"  

I am going to blog her celebrations through some pics...

We partied with the Norton/Rathburn clan last Sunday night.  This also included Auntie Jen!  Sarah was a wonderful and gracious hostess...except she didn't quite finish setting the table, so not everyone had a goblet.   She also shared her party with Brett, whose birthday was in Sept and we hadn't ever managed to celebrate.  

Here are the 10 reasons Libby came up with.  She also paid Sarah a very sincere compliment (which was very true) by saying that Sarah is very good at sharing.  Sarah shared every one of her birthday presents.  (Libby was the first to play with several of the gifts.) 

Libby wanted to write a tribute card--and deliver as a speech at her party.  It was cute because it reflected something I have done for them (I wrote them 10 things I love about you cards for Valentine's Day last year) and because she was so sincere in trying to show Sarah how much she loves her!  

Grandma Debbi chose this doll and Auntie Jen chose the coat.  Matchy Matchy!  This is Sarah's "practice" American Girl Doll.  She needs to take good care of this one to show me she can get a real one when she turns 8....(or maybe she will grow out of wanting one??)

Her actual day was on Tuesday.  We ate leftovers from her party on Sunday.  Then Uncle Davey flew in from SF to see her on Friday night.  She really enjoyed the Uncle Davey time.  She is especially thankful that he taught her NOT ONE, but TWO songs "THAT NEVER END."  I am less grateful for this part of his visit.  (One is the traditional, and one is about a Combination Pizza Hut & Taco Bell....which Sarah loved to change to Taco Hut & Pizza Bell)

Then Sarah had her friend party on Saturday.  Aunt Maren bought this for her at the Shorewood Booster Auction.  A gymnastics birthday party!

Blowing out the candle on her "gold medal" Rice Krispie cake.  

Monkey walk!

As close to a group photo as I could get.  They were LOVING the movement.  

Sarah wanted me to get a pic of her double forward roll!  This is more flattering than the pic I got on the other end.  

"Gold Medal" goodie bags.  The "ribbon" is a fruit by the foot.  

The "medal" cake and cookies.  

Remembering A Hero...Phil's Birthday Celebration

Last Sunday would have been Derek's buddy Phil's birthday.  You may remember that in January he was killed trying to pull a person off the tracks in California.  To celebrate Phil and his legacy, one of his friends got together a group to hike and eat (and for the non-Mormons drink) in his honor.
We did the Discovery Park Loop Trail.  It was so beautiful.  Perfect weather and views.  Then we ate at Kickin' Boot in Ballard.  So, so yummy.  We were glad to be together to raise our glasses for an amazing life.  It was a chance to be surrounded by friends and loved ones and remember that our time with them in this life is short and needs to be treasured!  Somehow I missed getting a group photo...but there were many of us!

The Norton kids with Caia, Phil's neice

While we were waiting to hike, the kids directed traffic on the road--causing a fair amount of car confusion :)

The view...amazing!

Lots of float plane activity.

Building castles

Binkie Store?

Ben is still asking to go to the Binkie Store.  He is a little sleep deprived and grumpy still.  I am excited for this phase to pass.  He started sucking on his shirt or blankie yesterday.  He is still struggling a bit.  But overall, he is a little darling!

A grumpy face last Sunday.  We saw this face a few times this week.  

Libby Milestones

Libby had a great week this week.  We had some more good weather, and some early release days.  I decided it was time they got out on their bikes again.  I put Libby's training wheels back on because a few months ago we had a huge debacle attempting to ride without them.  She tried riding around with them for a bit (they weren't level for some reason) and decided to take them off herself.  So I ran up and down riding with her for a minute.  It was clear right away that all the scooter riding she has done has helped her balance significantly.  But, she was pulling a Libby freak out.  I finally let her stop trying when she was crying so hard that her tears were flying off and hitting my hand on the handle bar.
She had a snack, rested for awhile, and then went for it again.  (After I threatened her with a screen time ban).  She did it!  I let go of the seat and she rode!  Down and back in our street.  She still didn't have the stopping and starting thing, or the turning thing, but I'll take it!  I can't wait to go on bike rides with my kids!  (Sarah is a ways from wanted to take off her training wheels.  We are going straight to a balance bike for Ben.)
The next day I took her to the park where she could ride around in the loop. She can start and stop (sort of).  We are a ways from being able to ride up hill, but it is a beautiful start.  She calmed herself down several times (including after she took out Sarah on her bike while trying to stop) and that was a big accomplishment too.  She discovered that when you ride off the sidewalk into the grass it isn't that bad!
We also had Libby's parent teacher conference this week.  Libby didn't do very well on her reading evaluation at the beginning of the year.  She was just above the level of qualifying for additional reading help, so her teacher went ahead and qualified her for the additional help.  She is pulled out each day for an extra 1/2 hour of reading support with a small group.  The improvement has been amazing!  The reading teacher came to our conference and said that she gives the kids thing to read that have big words for them to read and small words for her to read to them.  Libby is already reading the teacher words.  Libby also finally got into her first little chapter book.  She read about 10 pages without complaining that it was too much.  She was so interested in the story that she just read!  (The Rainbow Fairies are going to be the ticket to better reading!)  Libby's regular teacher said she has improved in other ways too.  Better attention in class and she is finishing her work.  AWESOME!

Evolution of the WitchyCake

Sarah has now had the same "cake" 3 different  years.  I think I get a little better at it each time.  What do you think?

The 2010 witch--bald

The 2012 witch--Libby pointed out that she should have hair, so I made hair from the meltaways.  

This year I was just finishing the rice krispie when my training clients arrived.  I had Derek shape the face and hat.  Not bad!  Then I added actual Rice Krispie hair.  Sarah wanted blue eyes this time, so I added m n ms for the eyes.  I like the hat band also, a fruit by the foot!  

Sweet Sweet Sarah

Today we begin the Birthday celebrations for Sarah.  She is turning 6!  This morning she got in bed with me and Ben (who had joined me a few minutes earlier) and told me I was "covered in cuddles."  It was the best!

This week we had parent teacher conferences.  We were one of the last ones to meet with her teacher.  Mrs. Chase said, "This is the first conference where I haven't had to talk about academic or behavioral issues!  I don't even know what to say!"  She had written that Sarah was "happy, fun, etc."

One hilarious moment with Sarah this week was when she injured her middle finger at the gym.  They kindly put a skin colored bandaid on it.  Imagine my surprise when I approached her after the gym to receive a stiff middle finger from my sweet girl!  It has been a long time since I have been flipped off, and I was 50% shocked, 25% horrified, and 25% laughing.  As she approached, I finally realized she was wearing a bandaid and she was very concerned about her wound.  What should I say to this girl?  So, I didn't say anything.  I forgot about it until we got home and she approached Derek with the same gesture.  He couldn't stop laughing once he realized that she was showing him her bandaid.  So, we had a little discussion at dinner about which fingers we don't hold up to show people.  NO MATTER WHAT.

 This girl is a super super star!  

This is the "witchy cake" that Sarah wanted.  3rd time she has asked for this Rice Krispie Creation.  I love making it.  Super easy and everyone eats it right up.  I think the third time is the charm.  I'm going to give this one its own post.

She also wanted pumpkin cookies.  I made a double batch because this is what she is taking for her class too.  

Happy Halloween!

When I told the kids we were going to get out the Halloween decorations, they were most excited for the WITCH--the one that they get to put candy inside.  I am always surprised about the things they remember from year to year.  So when the decorations came out and they put the witch right by the front door.  Now I hear several times a day, "Trick Or TREAT!" from each of them.  This means that I am supposed to give them a treat from the witch.  I guess it is a good way to clear out the candy bin and prepare them for the actual Halloween night...but they are getting way too much sugar.  (Most of the time they say Trick Or Treat I make them wait until after lunch or dinner, or something...but I can't put them off forever.)

The witch and my favorite Halloween pics.  Libby lined them up so the frames make a sentence.  "Eek my little pumpkin, BOO!."  She said it about 75 times after she lined them up.  

I have faced a dilemma with wreaths for my front doors.  I have two doors, so I need 2 wreaths.  This can be quite costly!  But I saw idea at Micheal's, so we made this for FHE (started it actually) a couple of weeks ago.  I changed the Michael's idea from alternating colors to doing chunks of the different colors.  I like how it turned out.  I had the Best Witches thing already.  I love Halloween decor.  Now if only my kids could decide on what to be...and if it could be something we already own.     

Libbyisms

I went to pick Libby up from school this week and noticed a boy hovering at her side every day.  She would hug him and call him Poppa!  One day they held hands for a minute as they went in the direction of the playground after school.  And, most importantly one day he held up a small stuffed animal and had it pretend to toot in her face.  What is the world?  So I asked Libby.  She told me, "We are in L_O_V_E (spelled out)."  Ugh!
So we had to talk about how we aren't 16 yet.  So we can be friends, but we don't hug or hold hands.  Seriously, I am having this discussion with my 7 year old.  The last couple of days he still hovered, but I didn't see any hugging or holding hands.

Also this week we were discussing my desire to be a trainer and a mommy.  I told her I am trying to do a good job with both.  "Highly Unlikely." She said.

Another Home Project...

I never posted about another home project that we did....because we paid someone else to do it.  And it took so long to find someone else to do it, it was kind of ridiculous.  When we moved in, this side of the yard was weeds, and a few dilapidated raised beds made of cinder blocks and cement.  Early in the summer Derek and Clark cleaned it all up.  Derek even rented a bobcat and a jackhammer for the effort.  Then we spent all summer looking for a landscaper to extend our sprinkler system to this side of the yard and put in sod.  We finally found someone who did a so so job.  We also took out some flowerbeds on the other side and filled in with more sod.  Our backyard is much more playable now!
Eventually we would like to get a play set for this side of the yard.  Santa has contemplated bringing one...but we will see.  They are pricey!

Sunday Seminars

Every once in awhile as  parent I have a breakthrough.  An idea that is probably inspiration from on high.  This idea (I think) is one of those.  I was wondering what to do with all the work that comes home from school.  On school nights I don't really have time to talk to each of them about their school work as we rush from thing to thing.  But they (especially Sarah) would get upset if I threw it away right away.  And, I wanted them to know that what they are learning matters!  

So, I came up with the Sunday Seminar.  I keep all their papers from the week in their file.  Then on Sunday, they get them all out.  They have a few minutes to review what they learned during the week.  Then they have up to 5 minutes to share what they learned at school during the week.  Then they can choose one or two papers to keep and we recycle the rest.  The best part is that they are really excited about it! 

I think Libby is the one who created the podium.  She shared with us something she learned at church rather than at school, but hey, it was her teaching something.  

Sarah teaching...

Even Ben got in on the action!

Bye Bye Binkies and other Ben related news!

This has been a big week for Ben.  I bought him his own IKEA Jr. chair and got his high chair ready for the attic (or maybe Craig's list, still deciding).  Then last Sunday when we went to put him to bed, we discovered that the only binkie we could find had a rip in it.  (I knew there was one more around, but we didn't know where it was).  So, we decided it was time to say goodbye to the binkies.  Last Sunday night was a tough one.  He got up several times.  Once he said, "I heard a binkie noise in my room!"  And the most frequent request was to go to the "Binkie Store".  It actually was breaking my heart...but I know it is the right thing to do.  He was using it WAY too much.  It was slowing down his speech a little bit--and I'm sure the dentist will be SO happy.  After Sunday night he slept just fine (and when I came down to workout on Monday morning, I found the other binkie in the Ballroom, but I hid it on top of the fridge).  But that didn't stop him from longing for binkies any time he thought of it.  I feel a cross between the meanest mommy and the best mommy for making him grow up.  He really is getting so so big.  I had to get him some 2T/3T pants this week!

This is Ben's favorite game right now.  We play it almost every morning and any time we get out of the car when he has his blankie.  (Which he isn't taking anywhere now that he doesn't have a binkie--GREAT!)  Ben hides and we have to "look for him".

Surprise!

I am really enjoying the time I have with him all day when the girls are in school.  We went grocery shopping this week.  I promised him a treat.  He choose lofthouse cookies (and ate one while we were shopping).  Then at the checkout line decided that cookies aren't really a treat and he needed something else.  I refused.  In the car on the way home he said, "Mom, I am so frustrated with you!"  Then he proceeded to list his grievances.  It was so adult!  So I said, "Did that make you feel better to share your feelings with me?"  "NO!  I AM STILL MAD!"

He is learning his letters!  I think he actually  knows more than I think.  I left a stencil on the floor a few weeks ago and he said, "Who left this F?"  Also at IKEA he saw the Registered Trademark R on the cart and laughed because the R was upside down.

He has also decided that he has 2 girl friends.  One is Evelyn (Sarah's school friend) and one is Lucy (a girl from church).
It is harder for me than I thought it would be to have my baby grow up!

Ben learning to take pictures...

He saw our outfits on Sunday (I got dressed first, for the record) and said, "You guys are matchy matchy!  Give me your phone so I can take a picture."