Pet Day 2015: Best Waver

Trudy attended Pet Day today at Maggie's school. She was awarded a certificate for "Best Paw Wave to Say Hi!" We think every pet received an award, but we aren't telling Trudy.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday (or maybe Saturday if I didn't have time to get to it) ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you are inspired to do the same, leave a link to your moment in the comments for all to find and see.

Family Vacation '09 - Priest Lake

Earlier this month, we braved a cross-state road trip and headed to Priest Lake in Northern Idaho for a family vacation. The weather was unseasonably cool, pouring rain off and on. This probably would have disappointed most, but we welcomed the excuse to cozy up and take lots of naps. An added bonus of all the rain was it kept the pesky yellow jackets at bay.

Kaleia used the week to do some good growing and learning how to charm.

Because Magnolia was a bundle of energy, wanting to explore every minute, Brian and I were thankful for the extra hands of Grandpa, Nana, great-Uncle Craig, and great-Aunt Sherri.

Maggie drug her great-Uncle Craig around smelling all the flowers.

She enjoyed a short ride on the four-wheeler.

Great-Aunt Sherri taught her the finer points of berry picking.

She caught right on. Of the pint she picked, about 10 huckleberries ended up in the bag.

Purple-faced and -fingered, she was a happy girl. Diaper changes the next day were not happy.

We did see some bear scat on our trip, but these were the only two bears we saw.

Otis and Trudy love going to the lake! Rain or shine they take full advantage of exploring the forest with its abundance of smells and playing in the water. Otis chased many squirrels at full speed bounding over fallen trees.

Trudy played so hard she could hardly walk.

Our other adventure was riding on the boat. We got to stop in a cove and see a bald eagle.

Maggie loved going fast.

Any time we slowed she signed for more.

All in all is was a great week. We were all a little hesitant to leave -- well, maybe not Brian. He was pumped to get back for soccer.

The Mysterious Reconstitution of the Number 2 (TWO!) and the Subsequent Demise of the Frazzles

Mathematicians in Washington state are beginning to take interest in the seemingly erroneous proclamations of a Bellingham toddler. For the sake of anonymity we shall call her Little-Miss-Hyperactive-Spaghetti-Hands (LMHSH).

One expert remarked, "I'm starting to think maybe [Little-Miss-Hyperactive-Spaghetti-Hands], who's learning to count right now, is on to something. Her arithmetic is a little unconventional--one might even say radical--but I'm starting to suspect that what would seem to be mathematical folly is actually a profound truism that could drastically alter the lives of many everyday people, not just mathematicians."

If you place a group of objects in front of LMHSH and ask her how many there are she'll tell you enthusiastically that there are "TWO!" No matter if there are five or a dozen, she will assure you that there are only two. This is what the mathematicians are so interested in, and what they are beginning to believe is in fact true: the experience of two in real life is drastically different than can be forecast based on equations such as 1+1=2.

Now let me present to you a photograph that illustrates one example of the kind of sad repercussions this radical new math can have on families. As you can see there is a table set for two (But let us be clear about this number two. This table is set for the old number two, the one civilizations have come to know and love over the last several millenia, the two that is only one more than one.) The dinner looks reasonably tasty and is even accompanied by a couple glasses of wine. But that is where the predictable pleasantries and pleasant predictabilities end, for the dinner of this couple (let us call them Mr. Frazzle and his wife Exhaustina) is not occurring at a dining room table or restaurant, nor on a picnic blanket or any other commonly used eating location. The Frazzles are eating their delicious Italian feast on a card table, in a bathroom, next to the toilet.

And the dirty diaper bin.

The Frazzles are adamant that they do not prefer such an arrangement and warn that this sort of thing is a direct result of the radical new mathematical laws professed by the toddler known as Little-Miss-Hyperactive-Spaghetti-Hands. Two is not two. It is five or six or ten. Experts believe that while LMHSH has been a leading proponent of the new mathematics she is not, in fact, the cause of the rupture. After much study it has been proposed that the small being on the right hand side of the image, while extremely cute and seemingly powerless, is the TWO! prophesied by LMHSH and is therefore the primary agent of this mathematical chaos and the attendant demise of the Frazzles.

More research is yet to be done to explain how and why a second child can more than double the demands on parents' time, but until that research is complete the Frazzles will likely need to continue to find innovative solutions for preserving their sanity.

UPDATE: The Frazzles have since vacated the bathroom and resumed more normal eating habits. They are however surprisingly proud of their creative problem solving and coping tactics. They are always on the lookout for other tips and tricks and ask that any readers with insights on how to live with TWO! share them in the comments.

Our Cuties on Valentine's Day

"Troodles" looking "Too cute"

(They came home from doggie daycare on Friday with stickers on their heads from their Valentine's day party.)

"Big Handsome"
(Our vet's office nicknamed him that)

Future Heartbreaker

Magnolia wash Trudy?

Last night, when Trudy came to check on bath time, Magnolia was standing at the tub edge, wash cloth in hand.

"Magnolia wash Trudy?"

Trudy backed away as Magnolia seemed to consider the possibility. Then Splat! The washcloth just missed Trudy's head and landed on the floor.

It was probably just a coincidence, but it made me laugh either way.

While Brian was in Portland...

Magnolia, Trudy, Otis, and I headed to Everett to stay with my parents. While we were there...I taught Magnolia how to play Mexican Train.

My mom was rejuvinated by Magnolia after spending the last three weeks caring for my ill grandfather. (That's the same chair she rock me in)

Nobody made it through the movie (Alvin and the Chipmunks) we tried to watch.

The dogs wrestled with their cousin Murphy.

In an effort to save some money, I asked my sister Alli to give me a haircut. It was her first girl haircut besides her own. I think she did a pretty good job.

After a long morning of yard-saling, Taylor and Maggie sacked out on the couch.

My dad enjoyed talking "philosophies" with Magnolia.

But adhering to his own fatherhood philosophy of only dealing with education and entertainment, quickly passed her back when she started to get fussy.

He also decided this weekend that he can never eat guacamole again after an unfortunate incident at Azteca. Let me just say that I spent the majority of our time at the restuarant in the women's restroom cleaning up Magnolia, myself and the carseat. Warning to all other new parents: If your child has been in their carseat for a long time and you suspect they might need a diaper change, do not pass them across the table to an eager grandparent without first checking said diaper.

The proud parents of...

the Tails-A-Wagging "Pets of the Month!"

Trudy and Otis attend Tails-A-Wagging, a doggie daycare, once a week. Yes, we take our dogs to daycare. When you have two 50 lb high-energy dogs and no yard, doggie daycare once a week is a must!

The staff has affectionately nicknamed Trudy and Otis "the crazies" because they seem to have an unending supply of energy and enthusiasm. Tails provides lots of playtime, training and even teeth brushing. They often receive report cards similar to the ones I've included.

As "Pets of the Month" Trudy and Otis get a free day of daycare and their bio posted on the Tails-A-Wagging website. The bio is hilarious and I encourage you to read it!

If Magnolia never makes honor roll... at least we will still have this.

Lots of people have been asking how the dogs are with Magnolia... Just take a look!

A walk in the woods requires a bath

Yesterday, my sister Alli and I took Magnolia and my two dogs for a walk on North Lake Whatcom Trail. We stopped 1 mile in to let the dogs swim and take some pictures of cute Maggie. One of the wet dogs shook near the camera, thus the blurred spots in the pictures.

Magnolia sported her new bear hat made by her Auntie Alli. It matches her dad's favorite hat with the addition of ears.
Maggie got hungry on our walk. So I fed her while sitting on a log by the lake. But later when we were going over a bumpy part of the trail, she decided to spit it all back up. Alli and I cleaned her up the best we could while in the woods. When we got home I discovered that her hair was crusty with dried milk. Brian and I decided it was a great time for her first real bath.

Not so bad at first...
Then, it got worse.

What a cute toosh! (This one is especially for you Jodi)

Then Maggie and I sacked out exhausted from a long day in our favorite napping places; me in my chair and she on my chest.

For all of you that can't get enough pictures, I started a flickr account for Magnolia pics. Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/magnoliarush/ to view more from these events. You should be able to share and print any favorites. I'll be working on putting some older ones on there too, so check back often.

Double Precious

After seeing the last blog post, Otis got jealous and insisted on being included.

Precious!

Welcome Home Maggie!

"Maggie, are you ready to go home?" Her first time in her car seat.

Tired Brian carrying Maggie and the rest of our stuff to the car.

This mirror used to be empty :)

Here we are! We used the garage stairs to limit the climb for the recovering mommy. Once inside I gave Magnolia the tour of our house. We unpacked our stuff and began to get settled at home again. Then we headed to our doggie daycare to pick up the dogs and introduce them to our new family member.

Otis checking Magnolia out.

Back home: "Who's the human puppy??"

To our surprise, Otis, the one that normally wants to greet everyone with a lick, briefly sniffed Maggie and then went to find his bone. Trudy, on the other hand, was very curious.

Smooch!

Then it was time for our first diaper change at home. Papa does the majority of them.

She blessed us with a diaper full of transition poo.