The Bad Contact and a White Flag

OK everyone, the surrender is full and official. While Kate was an absolute champion of patience in the 5 days we spent trying to get used to her contacts (I say “we” because while Kate had to wear them, mommy had to figure out how to get them in her eye), we declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities. The contact was just too big and I could never figure out what it was that I did right when I got it in her eye after 40 minutes of struggling and doing the same thing over and over.

So yesterday I called Kate’s ophthalmologist’s office and told them unless they wanted to move in with us we had to come up with another solution. This Thursday we will be getting Kate’s new, smaller contact and trying that out for a bit. We’ll let you know how it goes.

My eyes! The goggles do nothing!

Day 4 of Kate’s new contact. Not “contacts” as she only wears one in her left eye. Yes oh yes friends and family, little Miss Kate at the tender age of 5 is attempting to move into contacts and no more glasses.

Kate has been absolutely amazing. Aunt Amy can swear by the fact that Kate’s contact is huge, an issue we believe is tied to the fact that she has a stigmatism. Since Kate’s eyes are small, getting the contact in is an extreme exercise of patience and determination. My daughter has not only kept up with repeated sessions of at least 20 minutes to get the contact in her eye but she is determined to learn how to get it back out on her own. I am in awe of her patience, her spirit, and her positive attitude. Here’s the Amazing Kate, contact in place.

 

We’ll keep you informed on her progress. And just in case you’re still curious about the post title, here is the Simpsons video clip for reference.

Jacob is prepping for Mt Everest

J-Dizzle (a name Jake is actually answering to these days) is prepping for his destiny… Summiting Mt Everest. Now any of you who’ve heard me talk about my hopes and dreams for my children’s futures will be sitting there saying “What in the world is going on and when did Candice’s overachieving tendencies finally kick the dickens out of her id and let the super ego take over?” OK, maybe not, but you might be thinking something along the lines of “I thought Candice just wanted her kids to grow up healthy, happy, and self-assured.” I promise I am still only concerned with my children knowing that they are loved and that I will support them in following their passions, which is where Everest comes in.

My son climbs everything.

The couch, the counters, chairs, desks, walls… There is no end to what he wants to summit. I’m thinking an apprenticeship with Joe may be in order. But in the meantime, please enjoy some pics of Jacob on one of his many new favorite perches.

Container Garden v1.2

Uh-oh! My peas have gone crazy and I haven’t found stakes high enough yet to be able to handle the height. They’re collapsing in on themselves. Anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

On the other hand the herbs and tomatoes are doing grand.

Father’s Day 2009

Father’s day this year was spread over a couple of days.  On Friday I was invited to an Ice Cream Social at Kate’s school, where they read poetry to us, gave us key chains they had made, made us have a doughnut eating contest (with our children holding our arms behind our backs), playing a memory game, blowing up balloons and popping them, and even actually eating ice cream.  It was very fun, and Kate and I had a great time.

Then on Saturday we did our traditional Father’s Day activity of the annual Brewfest at St. Edwards Park.  Kate brings me along, and my sister brings our father along, so we have the whole family there.

Kate always has a great time because we get her an unlimited pass for the rides, and she just keeps going and going and going and going.  I started off joking with her that she had to go on all of them three times, and just like my little rules-follower she was keeping track of each one and how many times she’d gone on it.  She really likes the slides, and Bapa and Auntie Amy finally taught her to hold her arms straight up as she slides down.

I finally got to interrupt the rides and convince Kate that lunch was needed, so we grabbed a mini-pizza and she scarfed it down (to get back to the rides of course).

She found out about the face-painting and was doing her sweetest to convince me she needed one too.  She found out that the woman would paint her a Mariner’s logo if she wanted and since we were heading to the game later that night, that is exactly what she wanted.

After we finished up at the Brewfest, we needed a short rest before our next adventure: Kate’s first Mariner’s game (that she’ll remember, her first was when she was six weeks old).  Just prior to the first pitch between the Mariner’s & Diamondbacks.  The Mariner’s ended up winning 7-3, Kate’s off to a good start.

Overall Kate did well at the game, she wanted to go check out the Kid’s area, which we did after the 4th inning.  It was packed and so she never did get to go in and play, but we did swing by the Kids shop and get her a Mariner’s hat.

Of course we need to get some photos of the family at the park.  Kate and her daddy (both with their new hats).  Notice the blue lips from the cotton candy she had to have.

Kate with her Bapa (my father) enjoying the game.

And for those of you who wonder where I get it from…I present this empirical evidence.

Cuties

Just a few good shots of the kids…

     

It’s coming right at me!

It was a beautiful day, and I decided we would go out in the back yard and play around with Jacob’s T-Ball set.  Just like many of the funniest home videos…I decided to take a picture and just about got nailed.  Here the ball is in flight…coming right at me.

Café Besalu and the Ballard Sunday market

Gma Roo, Auntie Tricia, the kids, and I treated ourselves this last weekend to our favorite patisserie, some excellent espresso (for everyone but the kids of course), and a beautiful stroll through Ballard to the Sunday market. Anyone who hasn’t been to Café Besalu should know that if you love les croissants like I love les croissants–then a visit is in order.

So Kate, Jake, and I executed the rendez-vous with Gma Roo and Tricia at the café, then made our way down to market. Here are Kate, Jake, and Roo braving the crowds.

Then my typically crazy son on display. Jake became enamored of a banana yellow chair (monkey reference intended) outside a kids shoe store and we had to take him away kicking and screaming when it was finally time to leave.

   

He’s darn cute when he’s getting his way though…

Jacob’s new bed

We’ve been putting it off for too long now but… Jacob is spending his first night sleeping in his toddler bed. And he has already fallen out of bed once.

I know how lucky we are that a 2 year old as tall as Jake, and the climber that he is, didn’t already figure out how to climb out of his crib, but he hadn’t. Now, at least we don’t have to worry about him seriously hurting himself by falling from the top of his crib. It was interesting though to see his reaction tonight to his new bed. The first thing he did was to stand up and jump himself right off of it. I know, I know–we’re in trouble no matter what.

Here’s Jake in his bed after the amazingly swear-free conversion from the crib.

And then big sister Kate hanging with Jake in the new digs.

Wish us luck.

Rattlesnake Ridge Hike 2009

This was Pete, Tricia’s, and my second year joining Miss V and Joe on their annual hike up to Rattle Snake Ridge. We’ve had perfect weather for the last few weeks that I was hoping would continue but we woke up yesterday morning to complete cloud cover and drizzle. While it is not necessarily a bad thing for this hike, the sunshine would have been nice because we already saw Rattlesnake in the clouds and fog last year. After 2 years in a row we’ve determined we just need to head back on the next sunny day so that Tricia and I can have the full experience.

But we did of course, have an excellent time this year. The hike is 4 miles roundtrip with a 2000 foot elevation gain on a well marked trail–a very nice way to start your Saturday morning. Even with the clouds, we could still see Rattlesnake Lake.

    

But all the views of Mt. Si were completely obscured by clouds. As Joe is demonstrating.

Then we had our snacks before heading back down the mountain. Pete captured this loving shot of me and Miss V.