"Listen to my words!!!!"

"Listen to my words, Mommy, this is NOT a winning race!!!"

The sentence above was delivered by my scowling daughter, angry that I suggest she hustle up and get undressed for her bath or Rowan would beat her into the tub. Sassy, yes indeed. I can't wait until she is a teenager. The thought actually scares me a little.

The weather has finally turned nice! Even if it was just teasing, and becomes crummy again, I can say that we have thoroughly enjoyed the small amount of time that it has been wonderful. Hopefully it will stay that way! It has been so nice that I dragged out all our big outside toys, like the bouncy horse, the playhouse, the climbing gym, the sandbox and picnic table, and even the kiddie pools.

I set up the kiddie pool a couple days ago during naptime, hoping that it would catch a few days of sun and warm up from the frigid fresh-from-the-hose temperature. Later that day I blocked Rowan onto the deck with lots of fun toys, but allowed Lola to roam the yard, since Wil was outside and could help me keep track of her. I went around the corner after warning her to stay out of the freezing pool. Hearing a noise that was suspiciously splash-like, I peeked around the corner to find my daughter, absolutely naked as a jaybird, splashing around happily in the pool. All anger at her disobedience was completely blown away by my amazement at her cold tolerance. I mean that pool was COLD! Giving in, we got a swim suit on her, greased her up good with sunscreen and let her play herself out in the ice cold pool. She stayed in for about an hour, only coming out after I convinced her that it was only going to get colder as the evening dragged on.

Rowan sensibly chose to stay out of the pool that day, waiting several more days to go for a dip. Instead, he played with the coveted little red car on the deck, enjoying every moment of his Lola-free-time.

Today we went with some friends to the local science center, where they enjoyed the live animals, food exhibits, and puzzles. Rowan enjoyed pooping his pants....twice....which Wil generously offered to clean both times. He loved this little reading tent thing, hiding inside and shrieking to get our attention, then flinging the curtains open like a little tiny flasher.



After the science center we went to swim lessons. The pool there was 91 degrees today! That is a far cry from the icebox pool in our backyard! Lola has been doing so great in her swim lessons. Today she actually swam! Not very far, but several feet, all by herself!

Tonight we had a babysitter come in to watch the kids while we actually went on a date! Yes, a real date! I had forgotten what it was like to enjoy a peaceful dinner without the hassles of screaming, wiping mush-covered hands, or trying to come up with convincing pre-dinner entertainment when the food is late coming out. We had a lovely sushi meal, followed by a movie and a leisurely drive home.

Now the house is quiet, save for the sound of Ivy ripping something up. Sounds like paper. Not worth jumping up and hunting her down to remove the item before it becomes lodged deep in her intestines and requires emergency surgery. I sure love this little dog. She is such a joy! It is like having a third baby, with all the cute and cuddle, and none of the all night buffet and clean-up sessions. Well, off to get some shut-eye. Tomorrow is another wonderful day!

Ivy

Betcha you didn't know we were expecting......a new puppy! After all the things we went through after Rowan's birth, we decided that two kids were the right number for our family. I knew that "baby fever" would eventually strike again. When it did, we agreed that we would start looking for a puppy. Not just any puppy would do, however. It would have to be a chihuahua puppy. Something that I could shamelessly spoil and have as as "forever baby". You know, one of those dogs that rides around in your purse, wearing bling on her collar, and expensive botique clothing. After watching my baby grow big and strong, running around the house, climbing on the playground, and starting to talk, I figured it was about time to get our "baby". So, without further adieu, I would like to introduce Ivy Callula, our new puppy.



We drove this weekend to a city near Seattle to pick her up. She is an absolute doll. We have known her for only two days, and already the family is in love! Lola carries her around, whispering soft little reassurances like "it's ok baby, shh, shhh." Rowan isn't too sure about her though, looking down in bewilderment as Ivy tugs at his pajamas. Wil and I are smitten, although he is loathe to admit it. Roy doesn't seem to mind his baby sister, but the cats tower over her, setting Ivy to growling ferociously at them as they prowl around, wondering just what she is. Ivy seems unphased by all the changes, and has completely taken over the house and its inhabitants.



Our weekend was very long, and we spent much of it in the car. We made many stops along the way, at one point buying huge popsciles for the kids, which Rowan thoroughly enjoyed.




By the end of it, the kids were exhausted, but we pressed on, heading into the mountains to go mushroom hunting. We just couldn't imagine missing out on the tasty morels. We have been shut out the last couple of years, and we were determined that this would be our year to come home with bucketfulls. Well, we ended up with three mushrooms, and two very sleepy sunbaked children. It was all worth it though, as we settled in for the night, one big tired and happy family!

Our First Camping Trip

Well, we did it. We took our first official camping trip as a family in our 1978 Kit Companion camper trailer that we recently purchased in anticipation of just such an event. I'm not sure if you can really call it camping though, when you back into a grassy lawn and hook up to electricity. Our camper also has nice clean water and a potty. Camping? Maybe not quite, but I think it is close enough!

We all piled into the truck (including the dog) for the long ride to Montana, where we would be joining Wil's family for a celebration of his dad's birthday. The kids did great in the truck, despite having colds. We stopped part way at a tourist trap and Lola thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the touristy junk for sale there. We left with a cowboy hat (oh, sorry, a cowHORSE hat, as it had a horse, NOT a girl on it, thank you very much) and a toy pony.

We rolled into Missoula and set up our "camp" with several other campers and 5th wheel trailers. There were lots of kids and dogs there to keep Lola and Rowan fairly entertained for the weekend, not to mention an abundance of doting relatives to provide endless attention.



The kids got dirtier than I have ever seen them! The bathwater at night was brown. They breifly took time off from playing in the dirt to go to the hotel where Wil's parents were staying, where they swam and swam in the warm indoor pool. Rowan loved his floaty boat, and Lola had a great time swimming with her little floaty. I enjoyed the hot tub, followed by a lovely trip to the local brewery. Many beers were consumed, and all was well with the world.



I was worried about how the kids would sleep at night with all of us crammed into the tiny trailer, but they did great. Lola slept up in her little bunk, secure behind a foam bumper. Rowan slept in his pack n play behind a curtain that I made from leftover material. They slept like rocks. I was also worried about how I would sleep....Princess Insomnia....I shouldn't have ever worried. The trip was so exhausting that I slept like a rock too. In fact, we have been back for several days now and I am still catching up!



I would say that our first family camping trip was a total success! We will definitely go many more times this summer. What fun!