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.