Friends and other happy Mom moments

We are pretty lucky to have some amazing friends.  Everett included.  We live close to two of Everett's favorite friends and he asks to play with them almost everyday.  

This is a new kind of play i've never witnessed before but i'm loving it.  

Happy Mama of a boy and his friends

Autumn bike rides

These two playing at the park

Somehow he snuck a bath without his sister's finding out.  Lucky boy

Playing at the park in the fall is my favorite thing to do

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Gwenevere's first Backpacking Adventure

A couple of month ago James was called to be the High adventure leader for Scouts.  (AKA a lot of camping activities).  Every Time he's mention to me that he had another camping trip planned, Gwenevere would jump up with excitement and would ask "Can I go with you?"  the let down has been super sad to see.  Lately Gwenevere has been saying things like "I wish I was a boy."  I remember feeling those same frustrating feelings.  Luckily like myself Gwenevere has a great father, and her time for adventure finally arrived.

On Monday afternoon James and Gwenevere headed out on their very first overnight backpacking trip.

Can't miss a night of reading Harry Potter together, packing the essentials 

Big bag, little bag

Excitement

She wanted to bring her Hat like Papa's good in the rain and in the sun.

And she wasn't about to leave her favorite blanket behind.

Off they go.  I wanted to follow them the whole way but I stayed behind so they could have some bonding time

They got to the base of Lena Lake trail 810 around 5 pm and began their 3 mile hike to camp.  Gwenevere moved a lot slower than James anticipated but it didn't help that they hiked a good two miles in the pitch black.  They had a couple of flash lights but they weren't very bright, so James pulled out his cell phone for the last little bit of the hike.  

Gwenevere's mind kept playing tricks on her making her think she was seeing wild animals in the dar forest.  She held on tight to Papa's hand but wasn't too excited about their first experence.  

When they reached camp James quickly set up everything.  Then Papa made a freeze dry meal for dinner and then the two of them climbed into the tent to read Harry Potter.  Gwenevere fell asleep while James read and she slept through the night.

In the morning Gwenevere woke up with a big smile on her face and wished they could camp for two more days. Before breakfast, Gwenevere took out her fishing line and did a little fishing.  After fishing for a bit they explore the area.  They found another campground and Gwenevere was sad to see that the other people had littered.  After exploring for a while they went back to the campground and made some eggs with beans and ham,  They ate the eggs and a bowl of oatmeal and some hot chocolate.  While Gwenevere finished eating breakfast Papa read Harry Potter.  

After Breakfast they went back down to the lake.  then they found a nice rock to fish on.  Papa went back up to the camp ground to pack up while Gwenevere continued to fish.  

While Gwenevere was fishing she got hungry and started to pull her line in to go back to camp.  As she was pulling her line in she caught a fish.  With excitement Gwenevere called for Papa to come down and help.  Papa surprised by the news dropped everything he was holding and rushed down to the lake to see what Gwenevere caught.  They took pictures of the fish and then they decided to let it go since it was a small fish.  (afterwards James' phone deleted most of their camping pictures but left behind a few.)

After fishing Gwenevere and Papa went back to the camp and snacked on some chocolate pretzels while they finished packing up.  

Around 2pm they started back down the trail.  Gwenevere helped filter the water at a creek along the trail.  Her bag was really heavy so Gwenevere held the water bottles and both walking sticks while Papa carried her bag for her.    

James was sure hiking back down the trail would go faster than the day before but it didn't.  They took their time walking in the woods enjoying each other's company.  As they walked they made up stories about a hippo named Rocko and a kitten named Caily.  

When the got back to the car is was time for dinner.  They drove to a Mexican restaurant and ate yummy food.  Gwenevere ate a Baby burrito and Papa ate a large burrito.

They arrived home around 8pm both happy and exhausted.  

They can't wait to go again.   

Afterthought 

I was typing up this blog post after we put the kids to bed. Everett and Grace were asleep. I kept turning to James asking him detailed questions about their adventure about three paragraphs in, Gwenevere yells out from her bedroom "No Papa we did........ first" So we invited her to come out and help me finish writing this post. I would have changed the pretence to first person and just copy what Gwenevere said but I had already started writing in a third person narrative so I continued that way. BUT know this is very much Gwenevere's account of the story.

Wellness Checkups

It's the time of year again.

Everett age 2

Height:  2 ft 9.25 inches  (24  percentile)

Weight:  30lbs 9.6 oz (75 percentile)

Head circumference:  15.91 inches

Our appointment was for 2:30 (right in the middle of naptime).  We had gone to the pumpkin patch that morning and he had only a little nap while in the car.   Everett was so tired he just layed down on the exam table and let the doctor thoroughly examine every inch of his body.  The Doctor ( Brennan Carmody ARNP) kept saying he's so still, he must be tired.  I've never had a baby hold so still before.  At least he was cooperative  

Grace age 4

Height:  3ft 2.5 inches  (40th percentile)

Weight:  37lbs 6.4 ozs (60th percentile)

Grace did a fantastic job.  We found out she has a late heart murmur.  It's probably no big deal but to make sure, Grace will get to see the Seattle Children's Hospital's Pediatric cardiologist in a few months to make sure the heart murmur isn't anything to worry about.    

Gwenevere age 6

Height:  3ft 9.25 inches

Weight:  45 lbs 

Gwynevere's appointment was the day before at 7am in the morning so I forgot to take a picture of her.  Oooops.  Gwenevere is growing strong and staying healthy.  the Doctor took one look at Gwynevere's rash and immediately knew what it was.  huge blessing since we've seen 2 other doctors several times over the last 2 years  and they both didn't seem concerned or worried by the rash.  But I knew this rash was causing her major pain and discomfort.  So grateful for a new doctor.  

Elizabeth age 30

I too got a wellness checkup and love our new doctor.  As for my health, it's not so pretty at the moment.  I've developed eczema in the ear.  I know that sounds weird but it's quite unpleasant and can cause some pretty bad pain from time to time.  I'm the heaviest I've been besiding being pregnant 131 lbs and have a belly that won't go away.  Not too excited about those numbers but this is for posterity.  At this time in my life, I have little time to myself so I make the most of what I can do for my health and then pray I don't fall apart until my kids are a bit older and I can do more for myself and my health.  

I've started taking Prenatal vitamins again,  They seem to make a big difference for my skin.  I can't get the same results from other multi vitamins i've tried so I'm going back to the prenatals which I love.  I've also started taking Chlorophyll for my kidneys, and it helps with my body odor and breath.  As well as Liquid CoQ10 from Costco.   I love the extra umph I feel when i take all three on a daily basis.  

I try to work out 3 times a week and play outside for at least 15 minutes everyday.    

I'm sure there are a 100 different things I could be doing right now but at this season of my life I feel I am doing the best that I can.  

Unfortunately James' new work schedule won't allow enough flexibility for him to use Dr. Carmody.  his day off is the same as her day off.   but he too will be going in soon for a wellness check up soon.  

On Monday all three kids with have dental cleanings ( the girls are so excited, it's almost like Christmas time around here).  And then we'll be ready for the holiday season.  

Pumpkin Patch Farm

We were so lucky to have Papa come with us to the Pumpkin patch today.   I told James I wanted him to come so he could take pictures of everything, but I forgot to check to make sure the memory card was with the camera.  oooops oh well,   we still got some fun pictures with my camera phone.

 We had a lot of fun exploring with our preschool group. We had a total of 11 kids and 7 adults join us in our adventure.   We first meet with a farmer who told us about different gourds and pumpkins.  Then we took a tractor ride around the farm.  We got to see a corn maze and lots of big puddles.  Then we got to pick out pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and explore more of the farm.  They had baby animals to see and coloring pages, they had a kid maze with lots of big dinosaurs and a giant spider web.

Gourd bird house.  Now i want to plant gourds.  So many fun possibilities.  

Tractor ride

3/4 of our group.  

crazy dancing man

pretty corn maze

Picking out pumpkins

Gwenevere's pick

Grace's pick, "No pictures please."

Silly kids

Carter, James (Everett on James' back) and Gwenevere

exploring the burlap maze.

We found a spider web

Playing in a Dino egg

the largest Spooner Pumpkin over 1000lbs

Math

Gwenevere age 2 puddle stomping at Spooners Farm.   

Gwenevere age 6 puddle stomping at Spooners Farm
reminding me of not so long ago.....

Everett enjoying the experience of puddle stomping

Puddle stomping success

And the after math

 Once my kids had soaked their clothes thoroughly we decided it was time we head home.  But of course when we saw the sign that said Happy Donuts we had to stop and have a family treat before going home.

Proof that today was a good day

I'm the baby

This morning while cuddling Everett as we woke up and talking with James about how we much we love Everett,  James and I both agreed he's a cute baby.  Then I quickly reminded myself outloud that he's not a baby anymore.

Everett listening to our conversation spoke up.  "I  m  Baby."

James asked Everett,  "Are you the baby?"

Everett very happy and confident in his reply said "Ep"  (AKA Yep)

the view I wake up to most days.

Slight digression:  Everett starts each night in his own bedroom, but at 10pm he wakes up and needs to be cuddles again.  Usually I'm still awake and it's not a big deal.  But at midnight he usually wakes up again,  this time it's usually about the time i've fallen into a deep sleep and is harder for me to be motivated to go up stairs and cuddle him back to sleep.  It's that this point in the night that (If I haven't gotten a good night sleep for a few days)  I take him down to our bed because he likes to wake up again between 2-3am.

If James is exhausted and I don't have the energy to come back upstairs two more times throughout the night,  I'll just fall asleep with Everett in his bed.  That way I don't wake up James.

Everett has been my best sleeper (meaning he can fall asleep almost anywhere for me) but he sure is spoiled.  I guess he is the baby.