Orienteering

I love orienteering, so I couldn't wait to find out if this year Van would be old enough to enjoy it as well.

I'd say it was a success. We invited Laura and Anna to come along, we were an orienteering team. Afterwards we played in the water; it was almost 80 today, ridiculously warm and beautiful.

I'm not sure if it was rewarding enough for him that he wouldn't have rather been just wandering in the woods for an hour, but it was fun enough that I think we'll take him again.

This is halfway through, I had him take off his shirt because he was so hot. I probably should have tried harder to talk him out of those boots.

Anna in her sundress and sun hat

this picture makes me laugh

Getting distracted by a hole

hiking down the trail

We found one!

punching the checkpoint

Getting closer to the end

found another one

Finally some snacks at the end. Well done team.

 Esther posing with the map

The crew

(I made the mistake of telling Van we could go play in the water when we got Esther again so he's stealing her from Laura)

\

Do you see the naked explorer in the woods?

Ready to go

Pretty fantastic day!

The sweater

Aunty Hogean knitted Esther the most beautiful sweater!

Spencer loop

Another gorgeous day here.
The boys went to Lowes so Esther and I hiked around the Spencer loop.

stopping for a snack

Another snack

A big bear print (glad we weren't his snack)

A hiking team

A diaper change with a view

Grandpa Duane

Van is very excited to have Grandpa Duane here. He arrived last night around midnight while Van was sleeping.
7AM Van opened the door to his room and said "Hi!"
(note to any visitor in the future, wake up time is 7AM)

When Van came upstairs I asked him who he found and he said, "I found that man downstairs!"
He's not shy of strangers.
He's been showing him around the house, showing him his favorite toys and movies and telling him everything he knows.
He also told Alamo, "Mo man, don't bite grandpas." then he told Duane, "I told Mo man not to eat grandpas."

Memorable moments are happening as I type, like Van explaining to Duane how to make oatmeal. "Daddy will make us some oatmeal. You put it in the microwave, and it turns and turns, but then it's too hot for me."

This should be a fun day.

5/25/2013

New game
I saw Van out in the backyard throwing a t-shirt into his plastic basketball hoop. Later he came to the door and said,
"Hey mom, wanna play hoop shirt with me?"

Talk like a pirate
Van's favorite new show is about pirates, there is a song where they sing about how to talk like a pirate. They talk about all kinds of pirate terminology, but before the song starts the man clears his throat. So now Van tells me,
"Mom this is how you talk like a pirate, 'Ahem'"
or if anyone clears their throat for any reason he says, "just like a pirate!"

Flattop Hike

Best. Day. Ever.
It's almost 70 out and Van and I got out into the mountains early to climb flattop. We didn't make it all the way up it, it was too steep with so much snow and with both kids it didn't feel safe, but we spent about 3 hours running up, down, and around blueberry hill.

I made a little music video about it.

And some pictures

Hiker

Snacker

Hang glider!

Where Van gets his charm

Me: sigh, slouch on couch.
Andy: "You should go to bed, you look exhausted.
             pause
            I mean you look cute.
            It's a cute tired.
            You must be exhausted from looking so cute all day."

That made me laugh and I needed it.

Having it all

This article is so interesting. Everyone should read it.

http://childrensmd.org/uncategorized/why-doctors-and-lawyers-homeschool-their-children-18-reasons-why-we-have-joined-americas-fastest-growing-educational-trend/

 Two aspects: 

 - the list on homeschooling and 

 - the insights from the stay at home dad (as an update at the bottom) 

Usually when I think about the future I am depressed. I have a job I love and pays well, but I feel like at some point in the future (especially if we want more than two kids) one of us will need to be home full time. And dutifully, to be a good mother, it should be me. And I would be willing for it to be me, maternity leave has been amazing, but if Andy would be happy doing it, I would open to it being him as well. 

It is immensely important to me that each of us to have a happy and fulfilling life that we are proud of, and I want to respect the natural gender roles in our marriage.  The discussion on this topic from this man's perspective is amazing and insightful. I always thought stay at home dad = man being miserable, marriage suffering, gender roles thrown out of whack, etc.

This article makes me believe there might be a way for us both to do what we love, be happy, and be great parents.

Also I think the discussion on homeschooling is fascinating. I never thought about homeschooling, I LOVED school. But I do think this list provides some interesting perspectives on what homeschooling could provide for your family. It's definitely different than when we were growing up and there are a lot of attractive aspects. I feel like we'll start the traditional route but I would be quick to jump ship if we run into problems with the traditional school system. Anyone else considering non-traditional schooling?

Message, call, e-mail or text me if you're interested in discussing either of these topics more, I think they're so interesting.

Pronounciation

Van: "Daddy where's your 'puter?"
Andy: "It's computer, COMputer"
Van: "Ok daddy where's your come-a-puter?"

5/18/13

My friend Christi went upstairs to pump while I was downstairs nursing Esther. When she came down and saw me still nursing she said,
"I'm done first."
Van looked up from playing with his trucks and says,
"Hi done first!"

Rain rain

It is raining and snowing today and most Alaskans are disgusted, myself included. But not Van, who insisted we go to the park.

Valley of the Moon Park, we had the place to ourselves.

Esther and I

This is my "sure why not?" face.

All I can say is I'm glad we have toddlers to make bad weather fun.