February on FB

After nearly 20 years of marriage, Jason and I are so in tune with each other that we now get synchronized headaches.

There's an exotic food fairy who leaves exciting new foods on our porch 

I am here today to tell bear witness to the truth that you can give a child a tissue but you cannot make him (in our case) blow his nose.

This week in awkward examples of why education is important and should include discussing "uncomfortable" topics from history: Rep Greene and her fear of tomato soup police.

Join me next week for a list of people who should have at the very least checked Wikipedia before losing their minds about CRT in K-12.

Some interesting classification going on over at Walmart

Welcome to the dark side, um, the Pacific Northwest

B: Is it me or is it weirdly bright in here?

Me: It's just you. That is called sunshine.

B: But, it's winter!

Me:

Me: Yes, in some places there are lots of sunny days in the winter.

B: That just doesn't make any sense!

Superbowl Sunday!! Woohoo! Let's go. The (insert the name of your team here) are definitely going to win. Especially since (insert name of favorite player from your team here) has had such an incredible season. Plus, the (insert name of other team here) are a garbage team. Let's go (insert name of your team here)!!!!

How Valentines Day goes at our house

Presenting Parenting in the PNW

Pouring rain and 40 degrees: "You can walk to school - what are you complaining about? It's just water, it won't hurt you"

Bright sunshine and 20 degrees: "Don't worry, I'll drive you to school"

I locked myself out of my phone this afternoon. Best to stay out of my way for a bit.

I Can't Be Trusted

 What's the best way to celebrate President's Day? Why by getting lost on a freakishly muddy hike of course!

I promised less than 2 miles. Didn't quite work out that way. My credibility is destroyed.

Mima Falls in Winter

The weather is cold, but when the rain isn't falling it is time to get out and hike. Especially this hike that actually looks cooler when we've had some rainfall.  So I took the non-teens in the house and we got some miles in.

Hikes are more fun when there is a point of interest to hike towards and then a warm car to hike back to.

The trail was in good condition, so a few weeks later I brought a different hiking partner and we did a little over 12 miles while the kidlets were at school. We made great time and got back in time for middle school pick up. I love my kids, but my friend is often much more fun to hike with these days. 

And then after I got home I had some ibuprofen and Dr Pepper with my dinner.

January on FB

A child's prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the Switch

Thank you for my mom

Thank you for my dad

Thank you for me

Thank you for my life

Thank you for the Switch

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen

What my weather app says (PNW edition): a chance of rain in the morning, rain likely late morning, a chance of rain in the afternoon

What my app should say: pull on your rainboots and put on your rainjacket and keep them on until May. Okay, maybe June. Ehhh, July.

Today's math lesson: a small percentage of a very big number is still a big number

Let's just call things what they are:

noise-cancelling headphones are really just parent-cancelling headphones

Our school district has covid-19 flow charts for symptomatic cases, close contacts and household exposure. I'm sure someone worked really hard on them, BUT I'm thinking that it would have been far more entertaining if they had made a "choose your own (covid) adventure" website instead.

For such a young child, Isaac has a strongly developed sense of "cringe"

“That was when I realized, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real.”

-Ernest Cline, Ready Player One

For Alison who brought happiness to the reality of many people (and introduced me to many good books and blessed the lives of my family)

Boosted, Hooray!

 We finally hit the 6 month mark for the two-shot sequence vaccine for all of the 12+ boys in our house (and our friend's house as well).  To cut down on the number of trips, I scheduled all my boys for this Friday afternoon and Ben's friend's mom decided they'd join us. Of course, Isaac came along as well and he was beyond thrilled that he was not one of the shot recipients.

Everyone else was a trooper. Including the volunteers who helped their mom who forgot to bring their vaccine cards. 

Oops.

Folks, I showed up with all of my kids and somedays that is the only criteria for calling something a win.

Definitely a sense of relief in the house.

Welcome in 2022?

We got some rain.

 

New Year Hike: Geoduck Beach