Free-Range Kids

I just finished the book Free-Range Kids and I have to say, it's pretty genius! The concept of trusting your kids to play right outside the house while you read a book or work on something inside is something I wanted to be able to do but couldn't wrap my head around. I wanted to trust Jack enough to let him play close by 'unsupervised' but society says I shouldn't do it because it would make me a bad mother. This book spoke to me about how and why we could trust our kids. Empowering them doesn't mean we're endangering them (this is so obvious to say but to actually say "Hey, 3-year-old recently-toddler baby of mine, go forth and play. I trust you not to run away, or somehow get hurt while not under my constant vigilant supervision." That's a whole other thing.

As I type this Jack is playing in the sandbox outside and I'm sitting on the couch inside while Henry plays. I can hear Jack, occasionally I'll poke my head out to see that he's there but I'm not actively watching him. We talked about staying close to the house, coming when he's called and staying AWAY from the storm drain (I mean, hello! Did we learn nothing from baby Jessica!)

This is great because Jack is happy to get some time in his sand box. Henry is happy to play without being harassed. And I'm happy because they're happy.

Bigger than that- this is another thing I felt like I had to wait for. When we were trying to sell our house I felt like I couldn't learn to use my sewing machine because I needed a craft room to use it. I couldn't put Henry in cloth, I couldn't make preserves, I couldn't line-dry our clothes because we needed a house not a townhouse to do all those things. Also on the list was let Jack play. I clearly needed a fenced yard in order to let Jack (and eventually Henry) play outside. I'd be a derelict if I let him play outside unconfined.

Not so!

Henry showing off his prototype diaper. I'll make a few changes to the design but over all I'd call it a success!

Dino-mite!

Henry's First Birthday was a blast!I made a happy birthday banner, which will now be used for years to come, assuming I don't misplace it!The pteranodon's flew in for the event.Henry loved the balloons!Snack table all set up. Apparently my party signs are famous ('famous' might be an exaggeration...). I'm not going to lie- I love coming up with how I'm going to label the food. I usually laugh out loud while I'm making these signs!

I made 2 types of sub sandwiches: chicken and cheese for the Carnivores and hummus with sprouts for the Herbivores. Henry's Cupcake!Om nom nomnom nom nom.We were excited to have a pair of party-crashers Lindsey and Cady made an appearance so we got a pic of the Ladies night crew reunited! Good times.We also had a little Phi Sigma Pi family reunion (my big and my littles) so we took a pic of the 'family' with the next generation! Left to Right: Jack, Henry, Me Josh, Jen, Andrew, Jen, Brody (in front), Bella, Heidi, Tara

Roar!!

Happy Birthday, my sweet little boy!!

Success?

I cannot believe I made a diaper! My littlest guy is going to have the cutest fluffy booty. And I made it!

Today we'll find out if A. it fits and B. if it leaks. Wish me luck!

A year ago tonight I went into labor in my yoga class. And then I gave birth! And then I met my Henry! It was awesome!!

You would think, with today being April Fools...

That I'd have a good "gotcha" story.

I was reading Free Range Kids as recommended by Rixa at Stand and Deliver. Because I'm feeling crampy and sluggish this morning, I was relaxing on the couch while the boys played so nicely together. Jack told me that the kitchen was the storage room. And they were doing 'constructions'. "Cool!" I said. Oh, man, I was so wrong. It's so not cool!Why does Jack look so pleased with himself? After a few minutes of quiet reading and play Henry came crawling back into the living room. His chin and hands and pants were totally white. WHITE? Had they been putting holes in the drywall? What was that white stuff. I jump off the couch and run into the kitchen.

This photo was taken after I'd cleaned up about 50% of the mess.

I find Jack standing paintbrush in hand painting the pantry door with Killz Primer (acrylic based, in case you're wondering). Somehow I manage to keep my head, which is so not typical me, and I say "Okay, nobody move! Jack come stand over here." Hmmm... "I understand those orders are mutually exclusive so please come stand over here so Mommy can do clean up."

"I'm just painting the door, and the table."

"I know, and you did a good job but now it's time to clean up." How am I going to clean this up? I immediately thought about just burning down the house and starting over. Too wasteful. Then I grabbed some Clorox wipes (also pretty wasteful, but I was desperate!) and got to work.

It's coming up. Oh thank God, it's coming up! Now it's not coming up! Some of this is dried on already!

::phone dialing::

"Hey, honey, how would you get primer off the hardwood?"

"Um... why?"

"Jack painted half the kitchen."

"Mineral spirits. On the utility sink. Go! Go! Go!"

"I'll call you in 5 minutes with an update."

We are nothing if not efficient.

Turns out mineral spirits and Clorox wipes and soap and water was all I needed. The kitchen is now actually cleaner that it was before it happened.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Henry's clothes.

So who's idea was this?

Well, they've got that whole solidarity thing down.

This might be weird but I'm most impressed by the fact that Jack used a flat head screwdriver to take off the lid. Found 2 paintbrushes (one for Henry). And managed not to get any paint on himself.

Henry was another story.

My kids are cuter than your kids

I think we all believe our kids are the cutest. (It's gotta be good for the survival of the species.) But sometimes I look at a picture of my kids and I actually think my kids are the cutest kids ever.

I can't even take it!

Angel could totally kick Edward Cullen's ass

Reasons Angel is cool:

• He's an older man (When Buffy was 16 he was 141.)


• He's worldly (granted he was slaughtering innocents during most of his globe trotting... but, hey.)


• He has perfectly messed-up hair.


• He has a soul.


• He kicked major bad-guy ass.


• Buffy could kick his ass (really, Buffy could kick any one's ass...)


• Buffy was concerned about his soul (especially that one time when he lost it.)

Angel is a champion. Yes, he loves Buffy and she is his moment of true happiness but his actions don't revolve around her. He's 5x5 when it comes to Buffy but ultimately he's about fighting evil and righting wrongs. He wants to save the world. One demon. One dragon. One supremely evil law firm at a time.

Reasons Edward Cullen is cool:

• He copied Angels hair.


• He's an older man (when Bella was 17 he was 70 something.)


• He's concerned about Bella's soul.


• He growled at people who tried to hurt Bella.

He loves Bella. He would kick ass for her. He also may have single white femaled Angel.

Where is this all coming from? You've been living under a rock if you don't know about Grey's Anatomy's episode this week. But I can't think about this upcoming episode without thinking about the awesomeness that is Once More With Feeling. Granted Angel isn't even in this season of Buffy, but is it possible to think about Buffy and not think about Angel? Can you breathe in and not breathe out? I didn't think so.

Do you watch Grey's? Are you psyched for this week's episode?

Could Angel kick Edward's ass? Who's with me?

Japa Mala

As a part of my yoga practice and my meditation practice and my attempt to seek shanti (peace) especially in the face of crazy government furlough/bad economy/uncertainty I'm using japa mala.

Buddhist prayer beads allow me to repeat a mantra or phrase to provide stability and encouragement so I can grow as a person. Like a rosary, the mantra is repeated for each bead while the bead is turned between the thumb and forefinger. It's a great way to maintain focus so it's no wonder that Christianity reinterpreted this tradition for its own purposes!

For me, it's not about religion, it's about trying to focus on something I'm trying to work on. My mantra right now focuses on seeking peace inspite of chaos.

I made my Japa Mala out of Jasper beads, wax coated string and a silver clasp.

I needed to be able to take it off for working in the garden, swimming in the ocean, etc. and I wanted to be able to have it with me at all times. It seemed just perfect that 108 beads fit around my wrist 3 times! Love it!

I will be zen in the face of chaos. I will be zen in the face of chaos. Is it working? Am I zen? I think I feel something. Perhaps a tingle...