Olympic Sculpture Park

We've been stuck in a weekend rut, which I have been desperate to change.  Though shaking things up seems so much harder than it should.  I persevered this Saturday and we had a lovely day.  After our standard delicious pancake breakfast (some things must never change), a little down-time and a good teeth brushing (all that maple syrup) I shooed the family out the door, not to do the standard weekly food shop, but to explore a new park.  We were ready for the day with snacks, bikes, scooters, helmets and raincoats.  Kids ... check.  Directions .... yup.  Traffic ... not yet.

My plan was to wander through the Olympic Sculpture Park, exposing the girls to a little art, and on into neighbouring Myrtle Edwards Park where we could ride and scoot along the waterfront path.  The OSP was a hit.  The girls loved the zigzagging paths and balancing along the stone walls.  We enjoyed an exciting game of hide and seek in the giant steel curving waves (Wake by Richard Serra).  L loved darting through the sinuous spaces between the weathered metal wiggles.  Her happy shrieks were caught in the air and echoed through the sculpture.  She also loved the massive typewriter eraser (Typewriter Eraser, Scale X by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen); a tool that she will probably never need.  A clambered into one of the many red chairs and curiously assessed Alexander Calder's tall red Eagle.  "Is this a sculpture or a seat Mummy?  Can I climb on it?" L wanted to know of one piece.  The OSP was a fun way for the girls to explore art.  It was interesting to hear our nearly 5 year old's interpretation of the sculptures.  She wanted to know their names and more.  Our littlest was delighted by the train tracks that pass under the park and the orange engine chug-chugging in the sidings.  Admittedly my eyes strayed many times away from the art and towards my favourite vista; the cloudy Olympic mountains brooding on the horizon above Puget Sound with it's ferries crisscrossing back and forth between the islands and the Seattle docks.  

Once at the bike trail we discovered a lovely rocky beach with big rocks for big girls to clamber on and pebbles perfect for little hands to grasp and wrap around.  Such a shame we didn't pack a picnic.  But by now little legs were tired and we were all hungry.  The bike plans were abandoned, favourite stones sadly discarded and J and I coaxed the girls back to the car, cursing the awkward bicycle and scooter we had needlessly hauled around the park!  Riding through Myrtle Edwards will have to wait for another weekend.

Not quite ready for our lovely morning to end, we prolonged the adventure with a delicious lunch treat at Macrina Bakery.  Here is A enjoying a rare lunch of jam and bread.

Daddy Dearest

Yesterday L commented "Daddy, you smell like ..... "

She paused to think exactly how to describe his particular scent and announced

"...... the zoo!"

Last week, as I was reading "Where the Wild Things Are", A excitedly pointed to the sea monster rising out of the sea and happily remarked "Daddy, DADDY!"

Hmmm Jon, perhaps you need to trim that beard and maybe take a shower! 

But we love you regardless of your zoo odor and wild thing appearance.

Good Friday

Today was a day of disaster control.

I was finishing the waist band of L's new skirt while the girls were eating breakfast (yogurt with berries).  I was sitting with them at the table quickly sewing in the elastic and A put her pink berried spoon on top of the skirt fabric.  Stained before it has even been worn!  L was devastated.  Stain removal was now an additional "to do" item for the morning in addition to reassuring L everything would be ok.  Every 15 minutes she wanted to know, "is my skirt ready yet?"

Between stain removal I was finishing up with the hot cross buns.  L and A went upstairs to play and since I heard no bickering I set to work.  After a while I checked on them and found L scrubbing the upstairs toilet and A cleaning everything (even L's sheets) with a very wet wash cloth.  They knew I wanted to do a little cleaning before our lunchtime guests arrived and decided to help out!!  Very impressed I left them to their tasks and returned to the hot cross buns.  It wasn't long before L was shrieking for me.  I dashed up the stairs and L led me into the bathroom where A was standing balanced on a step stool on a ledge and filling up a dish with water from the tap and then pouring it onto the bathroom floor.

The afternoon play-doh incident seemed like nothing after the bathroom flooding and the berry stained skirt.  But it was so cute I have to include it.  My wonderful friend, who I do not see nearly enough, and I were chatting away, while her daughter was teaching L how to play Frozen tunes on the piano.  A toddled into the office, found the play-doh box and took the tools and play-doh bit by bit to the dining table and very determinedly set herself up for some play-doh time.  She was very content and being able to chat with my friend was worth having hot pink play-doh squashed into our tightly woven rattan dining chair while listening to a 7 and 4 year old playing Frozen tunes on the piano.

What a crazy and wonderful day.  

The Supermarket Incident

Here is another feather in the Mummy cap.  My little one vomited all over herself and me in the middle of PCC today.  I was so surprised that I just stood there dripping.  I didn't fuss over her or me.  Though she seemed absolutely fine, as though it was just a burp.  I am so glad my good friend was there to help us clean up.  I hope that is one parenthood experience that I don't have to go through again.

Guns & Cigarettes

On our drive home from Aikido today L mused, "if we could take two things away from our world, I think they should be guns and cigarettes."

Amen. The wisdom of a four a three quarter year old.

Yellow Belt

Congratulations brave L on your Yellow Belt in Aikido.  You looked so proud of yourself and rightly so.  You are so serious and focused when you learn something new in class.  The gleam in your eye, flushed cheeks and wide smile let me know how much fun you are having.

Hello Blog!

Why, hello there blog!  It's been a while.  About a year.  Little wonder I haven't visited you for so long.  When I last wrote my littlest was finding her walking feet.  It wasn't long before she was running, dancing, jumping and climbing.  It has been a year filled with bumps and bruises, near misses and big tears. But we have survived and the sweetest little rascal and her delightfully protective big sister are settling into sisterhood together.  Oh there are spats, shoves, pinches, screams and growls, but there are more and more beautiful moments of happy play and uncontrollable giggles.  Maybe I will be able to visit again soon ....