My Kids Learn to Climb

We went to an amazing birthday party at the Seattle Bouldering Project yesterday.  (Happy Birthday Jed!)
My kids showed every ounce of their personalities at the climbing gym.  Sarah didn't get more than 3 feet off the ground.  She loved running around and playing the games, but getting high wasn't one of her ambitions.

Ben immediately climbed up to one of the windows that was like 6 feet high and jumped out of it onto the thick squishy mat.  2x before the guy made him stop.

Libby was a natural.  She climbed all over the place.  There was one wall I challenged her to climb that angled out a bit.  This has always been the hardest for me in my small climbing experience.  She didn't go for it.  Until they put the stuffed eagle at the top and challenged people to get it.
She tried once and gave up.  Then the birthday boy (who was turning 5) got closer than she did.  So she decided to go for it again.

AND SHE MADE IT!  

School Stuff...

This week we had 2 big school events.  Ben's kindergarten assessment (yes, he still has a Gatorade mustache in this picture).  He was so cute and excited because he got to chat with Sarah's kindergarten teacher who we love.  Then he got to play with some of the other kids who will be in his grade.  He is so ready.  It was amazing.  While the kids were being assessed, the parents got to chat with the principal and family advocate.  I listened to the group before me.  It was principal chattering awkwardly on.  He was one of my principal's when I was a teacher so I know him well.  So, our session turned into Trish asking a million questions.  It was pretty awesome and fun to be able to ask about lots of stuff I've been wondering about (relevant to other parents too, of course).  I am excited to have all the kids in school!  

It was also the Open House this week.  Sarah was going to recite "Captain Hook" by Shel Silverstein from memory.  She had cute actions planned and everything.  Then the teacher put the poem down in front of her and she read every word straight from the page without looking up and no actions.  Memorization is a lost art.  I'm frustrated that there was no expectation that she would learn it by heart.

One of Sarah's awesome pieces of art in the hallway.  

Another, this is a really strange concept.  But interesting. 

Sarah's self-portrait.

Libby's class got to do this amazing thing where they work with a professional photographer.  It is called, "My Favorite Part of Me."  They write something about that part of their body and the photographer captures it.  I love how it turned out!  

I can't believe how fast this year has gone!!

Kid LOVE

My mom had a little health scare this week.  She's fine.  But when I told the kids their compassion was huge!  They made these cards for her and made me promise to send them.  (I haven't made it to the mailbox yet, but they are now in an envelope.  And I sent her the pictures right away).

We Can't Choose our Consequences

On Wednesday, I dropped off the girls at home after school so they could practice their piano and do homework while I picked up Ben.  When I got home with Ben like 20 minutes later, they were in separate rooms of the house watching Netflix.  I was impressed with their speed.  We moved on to get ready for dance and then activity days, etc.  That night when we sat down to do "points" (or check off the things they had done for the day), Sarah admitted that they hadn't really played piano.  I was already pretty sure this was the case (they couldn't have both been done and watching movies if they really had practiced).  I was thankful that she admitted the lie.  (Libby wasn't as forthcoming, she wouldn't have ever admitted it.)  Sarah freaked out about the consequence that they lost all their points for the day.  Libby got really tight lipped.  The next day at piano was "cookie week" where they get a cookie for every day that they practiced.  I didn't let them have any.  It hurt.  They were really really sad.  I hope they have learned that they can't choose the consequences.  On Thursday evening, when we were all still kind of seething with frustration, I pulled Sarah into my bathroom to cut her nails.  And then, on a whim, I rubbed her feet with my special foot lotion.  Then I did the same for Libby.  And there was some serious healing in that lotion.  Libby rubbed my feet too.  And I think we all felt we could move past the mistake, accept the consequences and move on.

One other interesting discussion came out of this.  Derek was super frustrated by Sarah's response to the mistake and the punishment.  I was super frustrated by Libby's.  I stepped back and realized that Sarah responds like I do.  She hit herself on the forehead and said, "Stupid, stupid, stupid," over and over.  (I don't usually actually hit my forehead, but I do get down on myself for my mistakes.)  Libby got quiet and angry that she got caught.  That would be Derek's way.  So now we know that I will deal with Sarah, because I get her response.  And I'll let him deal with Libby, because I don't get her.  And since I deal with it most of the time, I'll just think about it from this new perspective, and honor the fact that they are different.

And maybe they'll never lie again (HA!).  At least not this week?

Trish on the RUN?

Yep, I am starting to work on retraining my stride by running.  I think it is working.  Maybe?  I ran twice this week.  Once in between my leg/PT exercises on Monday.  I got so so sore, but in a good way.  On Thursday I used the Nike app for my run/walk after I dropped off Ben.  I got sore again, but not as sore.  I bought new running shoes.  My goal has been to run with my bestie Emmi when we are in the Dominican Republic again for our friend Jen's wedding.  Only 2 weeks until we leave!  I might be ready!

Speaking of Jen, I got to see her this weekend!
A bridal shower/bachelorette party on Friday night, spa day on Saturday afternoon, and she rode to the Ms game with us.  I am so blessed to have great friends (even if some of them live really, really far away!)

Jen is about to have a stepson that is exactly Ben's age!

Kid Accomplishments

Over the last week I have been pretty proud of my kiddos.  

Libby had a goal to make it to Level 2 in gymnastics.  She did it!  After 2 sessions in Level 1, she made it to Level 2.  She is excited to be progressing.  Her strength and agility are impressive.  She can do some fun things on the rings on the new squat rack.  

Sarah completed her 2nd marathon on the treadmill.  She earned a "fitbit" (I bought her a kid version of another brand.  It doesn't have great reviews, but I wanted to spend $30 instead of $130).  It should come tomorrow and she has been (im)patiently waiting.  She has been able to walk a lot of miles because she gets up early and hops on the treadmill.  

Ben reached the 50th lesson in Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.  It has actually been really easy to do these with him.  He likes to read.  It turns out that even though he was convinced it wasn't, reading might just be his talent!  He earned the first of 5 Avenger toys that we bought in a set (on clearance!) at Target.  When we get to lesson 60 I think he decided he gets the Ironman toy.  (This toy is Ultron, a bad guy I think.  The girls are really excited for him to earn these toys too, because they are Barbie size so they can be included in their games too.)

Libby and her friends decided on their own to put on a play about Midas and the Golden Touch.  I came in to see the play on Friday afternoon.  It was really fun(ny).  Libby was "Mairygold," King Midas' lovely daughter.  She wore a yellow dress and pigtails.  She painted scenery on scrapbook paper, made a crown, and brought props.  She certainly has a flare for the dramatic.  

Take Me Out To The Ball Game, and then TAKE ME HOME!

Last night was our school's Mariner Night.  I figured if we invited a few friends from school to go with us, I was brave enough to take the kids there by myself.  And it worked out pretty well.  Someone was sitting in our seats when we got there, so we sat down the row.  This then caused a domino effect and soon no one was sitting in their correct seats.  But not everyone showed up, so it all worked out.

Baseball is not an easy game to understand.  The kids really don't get it.  Ben was totally bored (thank goodness for iPhones).  We did have a camera man film our section and the baby in front of us was super cute, but you could see us in the background on the big screen!

The Ms were up most of the game.  Then while I was standing in line to help the kids join the Ms Kid's Club (ugh) the Angels scored 4 runs to go ahead.  I figured that was probably it.  Then the Ms rallied!  They scored 4 in the 8th to tie it up.  Their closer came in and I figured a quick 1-2-3 inning for the 9th and we would be on our way home.  By this point Ben was exhausted.  He kept yelling, "I am freaking TIRED!"  So, when things went south and the Angels scored 2 runs to take the lead again, we left.  The Ms did not rally again.  But it was an exciting and fun game.  I need to find some kind of baseball tutorial to help the kids understand before the next game!

We got to see Derek before we went in.  Then he had to arrest someone and we only saw him for a few minutes later in the game.

Libby's buddies sat with us for most of the game.  Sarah's friends that I invited couldn't go.

Ben's attitude about the whole thing.  But he did get up and dance and cheer several times.  He had a pretty good time.  

What Ben Said

Ben is absolutely obsessed with going to the dentist.  For a few weeks now I have been telling them that our dentist appointments are coming up.  I say this as motivation for them to floss.  (I always hope that if we floss a lot in the month before the dentist then he won't be able to tell if we didn't floss the whole 6 months?)  And actually I have flossed Ben pretty regularly this time around, so I'm kind of looking forward to the dentist.  But not as much as Ben is.  He woke up yesterday and said from bed, "Is today the dentist day?" (Side note:  Our kids go to a pediatric dentist that is really fun.  Fun waiting room, and movies over the dentist chair (which is actually a flat bed) while they rest their heads on big stuffed animals.  They also get a coin to put into a vending machine at the end to get a little, silly prize.  But Ben in particular, loves all of this).  So, when I told Ben it was not dentist day, it was Saturday, he started crying and said, "Well then I'm not getting out of bed.  I'm staying in bed until dentist day."  Well, have fun with that.  10 days in bed is a long time.
He whined and cried enough to wake Libby who came to the office and said, "Did you know you have a child crying?"  I told her the scenario and she went in and distracted him with a story or something until he got out of bed.  And I didn't mention the dentist the rest of the day.  Whew.

A Big Week for the Nortown Gym

When Derek and I first decided to sell our house in Lynnwood and move, we really had a secret hope that we would find a house with space for a gym.  We didn't think we would find such a thing.  Well, the miracle happened.  We found a house with the perfect space.  I have been training in both the living room and the garage for over two years with a random conglomeration of equipment I have acquired as my clients needed new challenges.  Well, last week we got to a new milestone.  I have a client who needed to squat more weight that we could lift to put on her shoulders.  So--I said the words that were music to Derek's ears.  "We need a squat rack."
And the bee dived into Derek's bonnet.
We scheduled a time to go to ROGUE fitness to look at weight sets.  Then, lo and behold the set we wanted showed up on Craigslist that very day.  For a good deal.  Now, my clients are going to get stronger every day a little faster!
We found the squat rack on Monday, and then we had to reorganize the garage to make it all work.  So, my week went into a mini-tailspin with the added project.  But we got it all done (and I mean WE since the Mariners were out of town, Derek was around to help with this project!).  It's still a work in progress, mirror and heavy bag to hang, a plate racks to buy, and I really want to patch and paint.  But here is a little glimpse of the new toy.  (Ben went with us to buy it and he said, "This is not a toy!")
I can't wait until I can use this too!

This is Derek's happy place.  Lifting heavy things.  And now he can do it at home.  (Actually he can lift more than the weights we have, but he can just do more reps, right?)

Another Moment of Fame

I took my kids to a wedding reception on Saturday night.  Ben picked out the suit to wear (he actually loves wearing it.)  But, in the parking lot I realized that Ben had worn his crocs.  I posted a picture of the mistake.  And it blew up when my bro-in-law posted it to reddit.  I didn't even realize that Ben was looking like a little thug in the picture until Brad posted it.
Brad said: My nieces and nephew were excited about his crocs and they accidentally made their first rap album cover.

I was a rap fan in high school, so I love all the puns that came out in the reddit comments.

NWC, and MWC (several people pegged us as Mormon)
2croc shakur
Croctor Dre
Croccy by Nature
Kris Crocs
2 Croc to Stop
Jenny from the Croc
I loved these lyrics:

Used to wear docs now I'm all about the crocs

Wearing shoes with holes in my Sunday clothes

I'm a bad little kid with stinky toes

Here are some of the photoshop results from the reddit ps battle.
I love it.

One of the readers wrote "That kid is baller!  His swag puts me to shame."

The pic was also featured on awkwardfamilyphotos.com and iFunny.

A Ben Post

I feel like I post a little too much about Ben lately, but can you blame me?  Seriously, this kid is hilarious.  Yesterday at church he leaned in for a snuggle, pulled back and said, "Mom, you stink.  No seriously,  you should have taken a shower" (waving hand under nose).  It had only been 2 hours since my shower.  Lol.

But the best from yesterday was when the Primary president saw me in the library after church.  She told me that after Sharing Time Ben raised his hand.  She called on him and he said, "When are we going to have REAL SHARING TIME?"  She asked what he meant.  "I need to come to the microphone and SHARE something."  So, she let him (brave woman)!  He shared about how we went to a dinosaur museum in Utah and he saw a lizard (at which point Sarah told everyone from her seat that it was an iguana).  And he saw the lizard eat.  Then he sat down, content that some real sharing had taken place.

And, the other day I took him with me to the chiropractor.  They have a candy bowl there.  (Seriously, why?)  He asked if he could have a sucker for each of his sisters (and one for himself, of course).  He brought the suckers home and had me help him write a note to go with each sucker, then he put them in the girls' room.

Note for Libby:  Dear Libby, I give you this lollipop because I love you so much.  I love you a lot and I hope you like this present.  Love Ben.  (Now draw a heart Mom!)

Note for Sarah:  Dear Sarah, I love you!  I hope you like this lollipop, this present that I gave to you.  Love Ben

We were having a "sunroom picnic" and he was jumping onto the blanket instead of eating.