4 Year Olds Can Catch Fish!

Lisa's uncle Tim has a beautiful place out in Poulsbo that has been near and dear to Audrey's heart since they hosted the family re-union the year prior. It was her first experience with many leisurely activities such as berry picking (blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry), hammock lounging, "insanely large swing from a tree" swinging, and best of all . . . homemade ice cream. She has been asking to go back ever since.

As you can see from the picture above, being 4 years old opens up your world to a whole knew batch of leisurly activities (Yep, uncle Tim has a fully stocked pond on his property). Would you believe that she landed a fish less than 5 minutes in?

Success! And don't worry, it was catch and release. Lisa was worried that she might be cleaning and de-boning an 8 ounce bass.

For Audrey's birthday party Lisa suggested we do face painting. Being the mild idiot I am I said "do we rent a clown to do that"? Did I forget who I married? As Audrey likes to say about her mommy (in her very best Beastie Boy voice) "She's Crafty!" Lisa did a great job painting faces (butterfly of course for Audrey).

4 year old birthday parties really are great. It's the first one where kids seem to get that there is one birthday child and they all sit around and watch and give the occasional ohhh and ahhh. And yes, Disney princess theme'd toys still win the day. I'm not sure, but I think that branding campaign is going well.

And here we have our two very own princesses. Cinderella (Sydney) on the left and Aurora (Audrey) on the right. I know the Disney princess line-up better than the Seahawks line-up . . . AHHHH!

Quick quiz . . . can anyone identify one choking hazzard for Sam on the table above? Okay, how about 17 choking hazzards? Still too easy? Don't worry, Audrey has promised to "Put them in their bed every night . . . I promise".

We've referred to Sam's ever growing toddler mullet before. I was telling Lisa that we shouldn't cut it and let the top grow in to meet up with the back (perhaps I'm jealous of growing hair?). I do believe after seeing this picture that I was arguing a very weak case.

Pretty sure I didn't have an awesome Blue Angel chair to sit in when I was a kid. Lisa and I were singing "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" from Top Gun the whole time. I think he's more like Iceman but Lisa likes Goose. The hair stylist was not impressed.

In the end mommy knew best and the haircut looks pretty good on our "he looks nothing like a baby anymore, so let it go already" baby boy.

Who doesn't love being a tourist in their own town? You really do learn a lot on these kind of adventures. One caveat . . . the tour guide sold Bremerton to a group of ladies thinking it was Bainbridge. He told them it was a 30 minute ferry ride to Bremerton and they could have dinner and watch the sun set as it reflected back on the city. Pretty sure they were a little upset when they drifted into Bremerton.

Or perhaps they didn't hear him because of all the quacking? I felt like I was at the UofO on a Saturday afternoon!

"Not sure about these new binky's mom, maybe I am ready to give them up".

When Audrey was born Lisa joined a mom's group. They are still going strong and meet very regularly. Here are the kids at the group 4 year old birthday party.

And here they are with the addition of siblings. Nearly all families have now "doubled-down" with two even adding a third (in less than 4 years? that's crazy talk). It's so sweet to see all the kids piled on their mother's laps. Can anyone see Audrey and Sam cuddling? Yep, still not happening. She was up quicker than a flag on the fourth of July when she saw him coming.

I'll admit, he's a little grabby, but come on Audrey you're his idol! In a show of affection, she did cry when he recently fell down a half flight of stairs (unhurt), so I suppose there is still hope.

Swim Lessons and Lake Chelan

If you read last month's entry, I made the comment about the cheap target pool not being able to handle the 3 year old fury . . . well the inflatable slide gave up the ghost, but never fear, Audrey quickly found a replacement "launching pad".

Poor Sam still hasn't been invited in to the big kid pool. He doesn't seem to mind . . . who would want an incoming 45 pound 3 yearl old messing with your surf anyway.

In preparation to a trip to Lake Chelan we put Audrey in swim lessons. While the 1st day was a shocker (the teacher drags all the kids off the diving board and forces their head under water) she was a champ by the end.

Flash forward to the pool at Lake Chelan and you can see she had the basics down. The kicking and screaming trying to stay out of the pool on the 1st day of swim lessons turned to kicking and screaming when it was time to get out of the pool at Lake Chelan.

Who would want out when mom is this fun!

Sam finally made it to the big kid pool! Well done Sam, now KICK!

In classic Audrey fashion she made a new best friend immediately. Meet Brooke. Every single time we go to a park, event, grocery store, or gas station Audrey immediately seeks out any girl within a few years of her age and introduces herself. I'm serious. Just tonight we took the ferry home from Kingston and she met a little girl on board. She cried for 10 minutes when we had to return to our cars because she was going to miss "her very best friend".

Look at mom swimming around the lake with Audrey and Brooke (Audrey's best friend (best Lake Chelan friend))! Anyone that knows Lisa's aversion to cold water knows what a feat this is.

Sam's lake time was better spent at the playground just off the lake. Anytime we got near the lake Sam would decide to eat the sand. Boy genius.

100 degrees = immediate ice cream cone purchase. While Audrey is all for tasting mommy's chocolate chip mint, Lisa looks a little leary of diving into Audrey's Cotton Candy flavor. I don't blame her.

Packed up and headed home . . . pretty sure the kids enjoyed the week. Is there any better road trip when your kids are in this mode? "Honey, where are we going?" "Who cares, we can actually have an adult conversation!".

Sam is getting a little more love from Audrey these days which is very sweet.

"Come here bubby, I'm gonna give you a little squeeze."

"Gee thanks big sis, you're the best . . . do you think I can play in the big kid pool tomorrow?"

"Not a chance diaper boy, just keep smiling for the camera."

Summer Time!

Incoming! In preparation for Audrey's swimming lessons we thought we'd get her a little backyard pool to splash around in . . . you know, maybe have a tea party with her floatable friends. I'm not sure the Target $40 pool was prepared for 45 pounds of 3 year old coming its way.

"Daddy, the Zebra pool is for big kids, babies need to swim in their own pool . . . with a home depot bucket . . . ". Sam was actually more than happy to be in the safe confines of his own pool vs. being Audrey's landing pad.

"Dad, where was this when I was stuck playing with the orange bucket!".

"Daddy, I'm having so much fun feeding the birdy. Really, I'm not at all scared . . . not freaking out in the slightest . . . DAD, DO YOU SEE THIS BIRD RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE!!!!".

Playing zoo keeper left Audrey absolutely famished. She let me know that mustering the energy to get to the Elephant barn was going to take more than the pretzels and string cheese I brought along. Clearly, bubble gum ice cream cones are the answer to any low energy 3 year old situation.

Had to be fair to the little one at home!

Audrey has been on a camping kick for a long time now. So I broke down, packed up the car, and headed deep into the Baker National Forest for hard core moutaineering . . .

. . . well, in my defense, at around 11:30pm she woke me up (she clearly hadn't slept a wink) and asked me if she could go to bed. I was a little shocked and was frankly curious about what she had been doing for the past hour while I was sleeping.

Having grown up in the 80's, to me this picture looks like two little girls listening to Cinderella (the rock band, not the Disney princess). Their moms quickly corrected me letting me know that this is sign language for "I love you". I then pointed out that both moms grew up in Anacortes. I'm sticking with my interpretation.

You can't tell by the photo, but Sam is rocking a pretty sweet toddler mullet right now. Nothing up top or in the front, but straggly, curly blond hair in back. Nice look bubby!

Tribute to Billy the Cat

Oh Billy, we'll miss you. From the first days we had you, when you would wake us in the morning by sinking your sharp little kitten teeth into our sleeping cheeks, till the last days when you would still nurse yourself to sleep by sucking your own paw. You made us literally have to jump into bed as you would hide underneath the bed and attack our ankles if we were too slow. While you were feisty, you were absolutely a lap cat, all 17 pounds of you (hey, he was tall). From the 2 live birds you brought into the house to the live possum, a boring cat you were not. I've never seen (or heard) of a cat having to wear the large plastic cones on their head that dogs have to wear when they are nuetered. You gave me that visual not once, but twice. We always new you would pick a fight you couldn't win one day, though we assumed it would be with another animal and not a vehicle. We'll miss you Billy, you definitely weren't cheated in your 7 years of life and we thank you for the memories.

Are we friends yet?

Something clicked with Audrey in May and she began . . . well . . . I won't go so far as saying she began playing with Sam, but more along the lines of Lisa and I didn't have to fear so much for Sam's safety at all times.

I mean in the photo above, you could argue that she is downright affectionate . . . unless you view those hands as poised for a back jolting push.

I can't even argue that this photo shows anything but unconditional love of a younger sibling. Almost "Don't worry about a thing Sammy, I've got your back in life".

"Uh-oh Sammy, stay with me . . . I'm not losing this photo shoot because you can't quite stay upright at all times . . . stay with me Sam . . . stay with me . . . "

" . . . and you're on your own kid, I'm not losing this chance to model the new suit".

Sam is full on walking everywhere he goes now. His head is always on a swivel trying to locate Audrey. He's like to moth to a flame with her, however, as soon as he approaches her, his eyes do the fluttering blink as he never quite knows if he is going to get the hammer or a kiss.

While you love your kids the same (it really is a baffling feeling of balance), you can't help but compare them. Sam is full of smiles for all his photos while Audrey was always quite serious in front of a camera. I will say "boy genius" above however doesn't seem quite as observant as Audrey at that age. Come on Sam, show some self awareness!

Tulips

Lisa and I had never actually been to the Tulip Festival in LaConner, which is fairly surprising being that we both grew up in the Skagit Valley. We have both driven by the fields, in full bloom, no less than twenty times. Chalk yet another event up to "things change when you have kids". Actually, a girly-girl 3 yearl old.

We were actually on our way up to Anacortes for the day to visit cousin Kyla, but couldn't simply drive by when Audrey noticed the flowers. While the fields were probably only 25% in bloom, they were still beautiful. Plus, catching your 3 year old stopping to smell the Tulips is priceless.

Apparently tip-toeing through the Tulips is tiring? Fine kids, we get the picture, let's go to cousin Kyla's already!

While in Anacortes we went out to Washington Park with auntie Kristin and cousin Kyla. I know this picture is a little distant, but I simply love seeing Audrey against that backdrop. It makes her seem so small, which I have a feeling I'm going to hold onto longer than I should.

This on the other hand is Lisa's favorite picture. Audrey is officially at the age where she has to pick every single "landy-lion" she sees for "Mommy to put in a vase". She can definitely turn on the charm when she thinks she needs to.

Audrey hit another major milestone this past month . . . number 2 in the potty. While we have been bribing her for 6 months, she remembered (above all others) the promise of a trip to the banana-split store. That white dress had zero chance against that sundae.

Turns out bribes don't really work. The clincher, and in hind-sight the obvious move, was to simply take away the pull-ups. (We spared you photo proof).

If you haven't seen the kids in a while, this photo is their world in a nut-shell. Audrey flies into the room, catches Sam's attention bringing an instant smile to his face, then turns and flies back out of the room before he can get near her. Stay tuned for next month as Sam has put together 4 to 5 steps at a time. Her world is safe for now, but will be rocked soon enough. His little smile above is almost "knowing" of this fact. Go get her Sammy!

Little Mr. One Year Old

Sam turned one this month and got his first introduction to pure white cane sugar! He didn't waste much time diggin in.

While he wasn't shy with the initial bites, his reaction was a little "ho-hum" and frankly a little dissapointing . . .

. . . oh yeah, sugar is kickin in. "Mommy, not sure what is in this little cake, but I'm on board, anytime, anywhere . . .

. . . uuuhhhh, Mommy, crashin a little here. Where did that burst of energy go?". We can't believe the little guy is one. I think with Audrey we were so focused on every little milestone. With Sam he's lucky we remembered his birthday! Just kidding Sammy, you're our little guy.

I was giving Sam a bath after his birthday, washing all the frosting off his little mug, and right about here Lisa shouted from the other room . . . "Hey Sammy, want another piece of cake?!".

With all the focus around Sam, Lisa decided to give Audrey her first ever pedicure. Based on Audrey's reaction, I think I have a regular "Gene Juarez Debit" to look forward to out of our checking account.

Audrey showing off her new tatoo. I'll pay for a pedicure a week for life if she doesn't "ink up"! Actually, Audrey helps me empty all the garbages on Sunday night, and if she does a good job, she gets a quarter. What does a quarter get you these days? A surprisingly large butterfly tatoo at the little vending machine at Safeway.

Sam absolutely loves being flipped upside down. It's gotten to the point of danger as when he senses the opportunity he will literally arch his back and throw himself backwards . . . "off the couch? No problem, someone's going to be there to catch me!". It is so funny how different he is than Audrey was.

Don't mean to stereotype between boys and girls, but for Sammy the next best thing to being upside down is to make as much noise as humanly possible. It doesn't matter what he's holding in his hands, he will bang them together to see how much noise he can make. It didn't take him long to figure out banging pot lids is about as loud as it gets.

It is tough to recognize your kids growing older in front of your eyes. I look at this picture and barely recognize her. She looks so much like a little kid and nothing like my baby girl. I love seeing her personality develop, and let me tell you, there is alot of personality developing!