Party In Tukwila

Final Post

2010-08-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

Well, this officially brings an end to the Party in Tukwila. Tomorrow is moving day. We are all packed (mostly) and the new house is ready for us (pretty much). We have so many good memories of this house. As I packed up tonight I was thinking about Nov 1 2003 when my mom and Anton's mom unpacked the kitchen for us while 9-month-old Monica played with the empty boxes. We've had parties, movie nights, backyard volleyball games, bridal showers, thanksgiving dinners, and much more in this house. I hope another family enjoys it as much as we have.

August 12

2010-08-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

Today, Jack's real birthday, we played with a new water toy, ate ice cream sandwiches, and had a pajama dance party.

We seem to do a lot of major things on the twelfth of August. Four years ago Jack was born. Last year on this day I had abdominal surgery. And this year I attempted to pack our entire house by myself while 8 1/2 months pregnant. I didn't quite finish the whole house, but got through all but two rooms (basically). I hate to think what we'll be up to next year on this date!

Jack's 4th Birthday Party

2010-08-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday we hosted Jack's 4th birthday party at View Ridge Park. The weather had been sunny all week, then along came the rain just in time for the party. Thankfully we had a large shelter at the park, plus lots of Seattle-born kids who don't mind getting wet!

Happy birthday, little man!

Friday at Camp

2010-08-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

Friday we gathered up our kids plus Kyle and Tyler for a day trip to Parsons. We had an awesome time... the perfect break from painting and other such activities.

Julie and her daughter Sara brought out one of their goats and chickens for the kids to hold:

We played on Pier Beach after lunch to stay out of the way of the Patrol Competition.

Sticks, rocks, logs to climb on. What more do boys need to be happy?

We took a two-mile hike up the dump road to the nature trail and had awesome views. In my state-of-excessive-growth I wasn't much faster than the toddlers, but hey-- at least I made it without going into labor. "Dr. McNellis, please report to the clearcut..."

We headed home right after campfire. All four kids were asleep by the Hood Canal Bridge.

Pt. Defiance Zoo and Jefferson Spray Pool

2010-08-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

Tuesday we took a much needed break from working on the new house and joined our friends the Rutherfords at Pt. Defiance Zoo. Here are a few highlights from the trip.

These two monkeys were hilarious. The black one was swinging all over the place like he was performing for us. Meanwhile the older white one just looked at him like he was crazy.

We were at the zoo right when it opened and got to see several of the animals get fed. The walrus dude talked to the visitors for a long time about this 330-pound wonder named "ET." I learned more than I ever needed to about walrus care! (But no, I will not be adopting one.)
At the aquarium part, everyone in our group crowded in to watch the sharks get fed. But I was literally so tired that I dozed off on a nearby bench. Pregnancy + moving houses = exhaustion!

We ended the zoo portion of the day with a ride on the carousel.

We next headed to Jefferson Park for a picnic lunch and a romp through the spray pool. Monica, Jack, and Hayden had a blast. Alex was content just to watch the chaos around him.

Henry Moses Water Park

2010-07-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

Friday, for a special treat, we joined the Martins at the Aquatic Center in Renton for a picnic dinner and water park fun. Monica was the only one of the four kids tall enough for the giant water slides, but they all enjoyed the lazy river, wave pool, and other attractions.

Northacres Park

2010-07-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I took our kids plus Abigail and Oliver to Northacres Park in Seattle. Meanwhile Sara and Nick were home finishing up packing for their trip to England. I was excited to see this park, which coincidentally is almost exactly in the middle between the Carters' house and our new place. The website promised forest trails, a playground, and construction on a new spray park to be completed next summer. Unfortunately, construction has apparently not started yet because all we found was an abandonded wading pool:

The kids played on the playground (which was pretty old and sparse) and then had a snack. They did like the cool "climbing wall" though.

After that we took a hike on the trail and watched the dogs in the off-leash area. (Kind of like a free zoo!) We only managed to walk around half the park, as the trails were rather confusing. So, not the greatest park we've been too, but maybe the new spray pool will liven up the place next summer.

Late July Pregnancy Update

2010-07-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

Well, only one month to go! I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy has gone... and how much there is left to do in our lives before this little guy makes his entrance. Everything is continuing to go well and in general I still feel the best that I have in any pregnancy at this point. Of my current complaints, heartburn is high on the list. Thank god for Pepcid AC! In fact, when we were camping we had a pretty spicy chili for dinner one night and I just decided, why wait for the eruption of fire, let's just take Pepcid WITH the meal! Another issue of course is discomfort, especially while trying to sleep at night. Trying to roll over in bed is like small earthquake taking place. Meanwhile Anton and the cat have so little room, they are practically sleeping on the floor. Anyway, none of this is unexpected and in the grand scheme of things: very little to complain about. We are increasingly excited to hold our new son and begin our lives as a 5-person family.

Daily Swim

2010-07-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

The weather has been warm. I am hugely pregnant. And my kids love the water. All of this adds up to the necessity of finding a place to swim as often as possible. Without Hood Canal right off our front porch this summer we've had to be a little more creative with finding places to swim. Yesterday we were guests of the Greaves at their neighborhood pool and had an awesome time.

Today we brought a picnic lunch to Great Nana Josie's (complete with cupcakes!) and then had a swim in the lake.

Day Sleeper

2010-07-28T20:21:00.000-07:00

Our kids seem to have opposite sleep preferences. Monica goes to bed early and is up at 6 AM playing in her room. Jack would prefer to babble and sing in his room after bedtime, but then sleep in the next day. This photo was taken yesterday at 9 AM. Sweet little guy... still sound asleep!

Kramer-Martin Campout: Day #3 Mount St. Helens

2010-07-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

On our way home Sunday we went to Mount St. Helens National Monument. I'm embarrassed to say having lived here all my life, I have never been there, so we were ALL excited for the trip. It was definitely as cool as everyone says and we had perfect weather for it. Since the mountain blew on Anton's 5th birthday, we considered the trip a makeshift birthday party for him.

Here's Jack and Tyler all ready to see "the bolcano!"

Informational movie about the blast. The kids thought it was so awesome to get to go to the movies on a camping trip.
Mount Adams in the east. The view of the volcano was spectacular and we all found the science and story of the mountain fascinating.

We had a great Kramer-Martin campout. Time to plan next year's adventure!

Kramer-Martin Campout: Day #2 Camp Baldwin

2010-07-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we visited Camp Baldwin, BSA. Tim's brother Greg joined us for this part of the trip as well. Tim worked at Baldwin for four years in high school and college. We had a great time and I have now checked yet another camp off my list to visit (I'm trying to hit all the camps in WA and OR in my lifetime). Here are some photos of our visit. The first is the staff dining hall. They do all provisional cooking at Baldwin (meaning the patrols cook and eat in their campsites all week). The idea of having 3 staff meals a day sounds good to me!

Their waterfront area is minimal and I believe the lake is man-made. They don't offer many program items here, but then again, troops probably don't choose Baldwin specifically for the aquatics.

Baldwin has mountain biking and mountain boarding right near their climbing wall. There is a makeshift mountain boarding course set up, which I'm sure is a big attraction for the scouts.

Campfire bowl:

The camp is huge with lots of hills. The kids did very well hiking around, but someone needed a ride from Dad towards the end.

At last, the corral! Baldwin has a horsemanship program with around 40 horses in residence. The kids had fun watching them and feeding them.

As with all my scout camp visits, here's a mini evaluation....

Negatives:

-As many troops have described to me, Baldwin is very hot and dusty, being on the east side of the mountains. Not my idea of a great time, but they can't do much about it.

-As with Camp Hahobas, the camp lacks a central lodge or historical building that encompasses the heart of camp. However, because of winter snow I had to remember that they tear almost everything down in the fall making it difficult to have many permanent structures

-Aquatics was fairly nondescript as I mentioned before. The lake is pretty, but the camp is not particularly scenic. Campfire bowl doesn't have a view for example.

Positives:

-HUGE property that extends to outpost areas. Lots of potential here and it sounds like they make good use of it with hikes and horse overnights.

-The horse program seemed awesome and is clearly a defining feature of the camp program.

-While I'm not wild about provisional cooking, Baldwin clearly has a good system down that works well. I doubt this will be the death of the camp, the way it was at Omache.

-Several interesting programs (like mountain boarding) that will attract older scouts.

-I did not see their staff in action (although some of them looked awfully young compared to what you see at Parsons), but just by visiting we could tell there were elements of pride and tradition that is so important in delivering a quality program.

We were exhausted after our trip to Baldwin. The kids were real troopers and we all left hot and dusty. There was time for one more swim in Trillium Lake before dinner and another campfire.

Kramer-Martin Campout 2010: Day #1 Timberline Lodge and Trillium Lake

2010-07-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

We made it! Let's go exploring... C'mon Smokey! Timberline Lodge, here we come...

Wow- snow in July! I couldn't believe how many people were skiing and snowboarding on such a hot day.

View of Mt. Hood from behind the lodge
We walked all over the lodge and visited the "museum" area in the basement. We saw the spot where Tim proposed to Keri. I threatened to make them re-enact it, but in the end I let them off the hook.

The timber beams and columns were so impressive. Definitely something from the past.

Mt. Jefferson is just peeking out in the background.

Time to set up our campsite. We stayed at Still Creek campground, which is in the Mt. Hood National forest. We had two adjacent campsites. Our plan was to use one site as a "home base" for meals and campfires. We started by setting this up at the Martins' but soon realized that theirs was not big enough. Rather than take down the net tent (which we always put over the table) the boys just walked it down the road to the other site. It was one of the more humorous spectacles I've seen.

Finally, our little campsite all set up:

Before dinner: time for a swim! It was a 5 minute drive to Trillium Lake from our site.

And finally that evening: s'mores on the campfire. What could be more perfect than that?

Kramer-Martin Campout: A tradition in review

2010-07-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a fabulous camping trip in Oregon with the Martins. We started an annual campout together back in 2004 when Monica was 1 1/2 and Kyle not even a year yet! Here's a glance at campouts past...

2004: Lake Ozette and the Washington coast

2005: Mount Rainier

2006: Lake Easton State Park

2007: Hurricane Ridge and Sequim Lavender Festival

2008 and 2009 we were on full summer staff at Parsons, so we moved K-M Campout to Brinnon and called it good. The Martins would come to Parsons to see a campfire, go for a hike, etc. But this year Kramer-Martin campout returned in its full glory. Stay tuned for details in the next entry...

Tukwila Spray Pool

2010-07-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

Today we took a short trip to the Tukwila Spray Pool with the Martins. Monica whined all morning that we weren't going to a "real" pool and apparently just down the road Kyle and Keri were having the same argument. But funny thing... the minute I turned into the parking lot and the kids saw the spray pool it was suddenly the coolest thing ever and they couldn't wait to go in it. We stayed for about an hour until everyone's lips were blue. Monica especially liked the bucket that dumped on you every minute or so!

Tequila

2010-07-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

Today Jack opened up the kitchen drawer (yes, we basically have only one) and asked for the "Husky music thing." He meant the bottle opener that plays "Tequila" when used. I found it for him but had to grab a bottle of Alaskan Amber out of the fridge to gently activate the song without actually opening the bottle. Then I mindlessly left the bottle of beer on the counter and left the room. A few moments later (when the song had ended) I went back into the kitchen. Jack had opened the fridge, taken out another bottle of beer, and was trying to use the opener on it. I burst into laughter to which an annoyed Jack said, "What Mommy? I just want the song!"

Hooray for 3.0!

2010-07-19T22:52:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Amy was kind enough to coordinate a celebration for our new addition. It was great to see some girlfriends, especially high school friends who are not all in the area but miraculously were able to join us. I felt ultimately spoiled and celebrated!

Jack must think that having a new brother means nothing but fun for him because here is what he did with the balloons I brought home:

Girl Scout Day Camp- Day 5

2010-07-17T02:10:00.000-07:00

At last: our final day of camp. Monica's troop started the morning on the rock wall. We then visited the beach where we had lunch. In the afternoon they helped clean up camp, indulged in the "chocolate potluck," and performed a skit for the rest of camp.

Monica spent the week dirty, sun-kissed, and smiling. I can't say I have developed any more appreciation of the "scouting" aspect of Girl Scouts, but am glad I spent the week out in the woods with my daughter and her trorop.

Girl Scout Day Camp-- Day 4

2010-07-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today was the kind of day I like to see at day camp: deliver my little Brownie scouts to different activities, then sit my pregnant self in a camping chair to "supervise." The girls mostly worked on advancement today, finishing two badges and starting two more. They did yoga, dance, and made elephants at the woodcraft station. Also (not pictured), they looked at insects under magnifying glasses and had a visit from a local pet shop owner with several animals in tow. The day ended with making s'mores.

Girl Scout Day Camp- Day 3

2010-07-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

Wednesday our unit started off the morning taking a group photo. Then in groups of 5 they took turns doing a service project with other campers (building picnic tables) while Nicole and I tried everything to keep the rest of them busy. In the afternoon, the fire truck arrived to raise the ladder and facilitate the "egg drop." (Package an egg carefully, see if it breaks when dropped). Unfortunately as you can see, our troop's little egg suffered a painful death. The girls were disappointed but their spirits were soon lifted by ice cream cones.

Camp Names

2010-07-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

One of my least favorite aspects of Girl Scout camping is the tradition for scouts and adults to choose "camp names" for their nametags. Running around day camp this week have been "Blondie," "Flower," and "Cotton Candy," for example. The purpose is to provide another layer of youth protection (lurking strangers don't learn girls' real names) and supposedly it is fun for the campers. I have to ask though: if it is such an important scouting method then why haven't the Boy Scouts started using it?

Monica decided to be "Great Wolf Lodge" or "GWL" for short. When choosing my camp name (and realizing I had no choice in taking one) there was only one possibility:

Girl Scout Day Camp- Day 2

2010-07-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

Today our happy campers started out with field games (sack race, bubbles, frisbee etc.) then followed with a day that seemed full of crafts. Monica worked especially hard on her birdhouse. She and her troop even learned proper hammering technique and the basics of how to use a drill. At the end of the day they got to give their troop cheer to the rest of camp.

Girl Scout Day Camp-- Day 1

2010-07-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

Today was Monica's (and my) first day of Girl Scout Day Camp at Salt Water State Park. Monica was a camper of course and I am one of her unit leaders. As with all things Girl Scout I will try not to be too cynical. The upshot: Monica and friends had the time of their lives and that's all that really matters.

Each girl brings a 5-gallon bucket with lid to serve as storage for rain gear, water, food etc. It also doubles as a seat for program activties. Here she is all ready to go this morning:

Her troop watched a presentation by the Point Defiance Zoo. They met an owl named Honey and learned about habitats.

In addition to a scavenger hunt, finding the camp mascot, songs, and various craft activities, the girls decided on a unit name, cheer, and flag. Here is Monica with two friends working on the flag:

More fun ahead tomorrow!

Cool at Last

2010-07-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

I can't say how grateful I am that the temperature is no longer an unbearable 96. Normally I enjoy warmer weather but with pregnancy I could wear a bikini in January and still be too warm (not that anyone wants to see that).

However, my wonderful husband installed an air conditioning unit in our bedroom window which made all the difference. Sleep at last!

Rest in Peace, Eddy!

2010-07-11T17:05:00.000-07:00

Camp Parsons lost a family member last weekend with the passing of Ed Dayton. I've known Ed since I was a kid at Parsons and have lots of memories of him: work parties, UW tailgates, and New Year' Eve on the Enzler's boat. However, my favorite memory is that he and McNellis acted as chauffeurs for Anton and I from our wedding to reception and reception to hotel. McNellis drove and Ed was the DJ and bartender (for later of course). You can read Ed's obituary here. He will be missed!

More Saturday Fun

2010-07-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday afternoon we headed to Pump it Up for Hansie's 4th birthday party (son of Anton's cousin Dana).

Monica, Jack, and their other cousin Lauren spent most of the time running around together and going on the rides. Here they are on the giant silde... Monica's front weight pushed the little kids behind her:

Shannon was one of the few adults brave enough to "pump it up" along with the kids. She and Ben jumped right along with the rest of them, as you can see in the photo above. Their weight made an even more exciting ride for the little kids.

After the party we all headed to Aunt Elizabeth's for a BBQ dinner, and more fun on the slip-n-slide. It was excellent Copstead fun!

Kramer-Carter Waterfight 2010

2010-07-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

After a Friday night sleepover at the Carters, we all put suits on for their slip-n-slide, waterballoons, and a BBQ lunch. The Dads especially got in on the fun!

Greenlake Wading Pool and More

2010-07-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

Thursday was supposed to hit 95, and I think it was at least that hot! After breakfast I packed a picnic lunch and the kids and I headed to the Greenlake wading pool before visiting Grandma for a few hours. The wading pool was busy, but blessedly cool.

Here's a photo of Monica at the same wading pool in 2005:

After the wading pool we stopped at Baskin-Robbins for ice cream. Letting your children eat ice cream in the car on a 90-degree day is like trying to score on a 1-on-2 fastbreak without drawing a foul. We each had a cone, but of course Jack only ate half of his before calling out the dreaded "I'm done!" So I drove most of the way to Grandma's while trying to devour TWO melting ice cream cones. I'm sure I was in violation of the hands-free driving rule. But we made it safely, even though I had a mild case of brain freeze.

Kramer Twins

2010-07-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

Times two and times three!

Spa Treatment?

2010-07-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

Monica and Maria did several rounds of rolling in the sand and then washing it off in the sound. It was pretty funny to watch. Mia and I joked that some upscale Seattle spa could charge $200 or more for the experience. I can just see the description now:

Indulge yourself with a therapeutic exfoliation with fresh sand imported from Penn Cove. Then wash away stress with a refreshing rinse of Puget sound salt.

And the fun just continues...

2010-07-06T14:37:00.000-07:00

With no rest for the weary, we headed to Whidbey for the day on July 5. The kids especially loved seeing ALL of their Kramer cousins.

Caleb and Sam making ice cream with Grandpa Gordon:

Raising the repaired flag pole:

Swimming with Uncle Erik:

With Great Nana C:

Cake Bosses

2010-07-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

For dessert on the 4th of July, we had each "pair" of kids at the party decorate a sheet cake with berries, sprinkles, and frosting. I was especially impressed by the littlest kids, whose cake could have turned into an inedible disaster.

Artistically delicious... and patriotic too!

I-D-4 2010

2010-07-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

We had our traditional 4th of July bash at Nana Josie's this year. Despite the rain and a record number of guests, everything went really well. We started with the usual: bike decorating, parade, and picnic lunch:

The kids snuck in a swim and some turns on the slip n slide before the rain began. A few of them were less than thrilled, but for the most part I heard shouts of "It's not cold!"

At last it was time for the big fireworks show over Cozy Cove. This was the first July 4th that I let both kids stay up for the 10:15 viewing. They were so cute, all cozy together in the camping chair.

1, 2, 3!

2010-07-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

Splash, Spin, and Smile

2010-07-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had an action-packed day with Anton's twin brother Erik and his family who are in town from back East. We went to the Magnolia pool and had lunch at a playground. The kids' pool was a toasty 96 degrees: a child's dream, a pregnant woman's nightmare! But despite this we had a great time and Jack did not turn blue after 20 minutes for once. Since Anton and Erik are identical we had several discussions about who-looks-like-who among the cousins. I think I've finally concluded that they all look like each other depending on the mood and moment!

Fish School

2010-06-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

This week Monica and Jack are attending "Fish School" (swim lessons) at the Renton pool with Kyle and Tyler. After a few tears on the first day everyone now seem to be having a great time. They especially like playing in the fountain after class!

Weekly Happenings

2010-06-29T21:53:00.000-07:00

Here are a few recent photos including our goddaughter Ella's 2nd birthday, several games of bocce ball, and tickle-fest with Dad:

Homecoming

2010-06-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Nanie is home!

Staff Week 2010

2010-06-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

We had a great week at Parsons with my parents. The weather was great in the end, and we got in some good hikes and swims. Monica and Jack especially enjoyed playing with the Perkow girls and spending time with Nana and Grandpa (including frisbee and the guitar!)

Strawberry Festival Weekend

2010-06-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

Saturday the four of us attended the Marysville Strawberry Festival with Buck and Tina and family. But first the kids had to check out their new inflatable water toy!

At the festival, Monica and Jack enjoyed the Kids Carnival, especially the train and bouncy house.

It got a little late to stay for the parade, so we opted for pizza at Buck and Tina's instead. Then Auntie Tina offered a bubble bath to Monica and Jack and Kealy, their neice. Bubbles and water are fun BUT...

Turn on the jets and it's crazy awesome!

Last Day of School

2010-06-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

The kids had their last day of school last Wednesday while I was in Spokane. Anton took the day off from work to be present at all of the festivities. Jack and Tyler got to try out graduation caps:

Monica sadly said goodbye to her teacher Mrs. Hanson and her St. Francis friends.

But was excited to attend the all-school swim party with Kyle in the afternoon!

June Pregnancy Update

2010-06-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

Well, Anton's mom is still recovering in Spokane and has not been able to come home yet. So tomorrow I am headed over for a couple of days to

~~do my tour of duty,~~

~~get on my father-in-law's good side,~~

~~vacation in the sun,~~
help out so Anton's Dad can have a break in Seattle.

With all of this, the house not selling yet, and other end-of-the-school-year things, having a baby seems to be the last thing I remember to think about these days. Oh my back and hips remind me frequently that I am pregnant, but for some reason I don't realize too often that a baby will inevitably follow. For example, we are supposed to go camping with the Martins at the end of July. When it looked like we might move at that time I told Keri, "Well if it doesn't work in July we could just go camping on Labor Day weekend." She looked at me like I was crazy to which I said, "What?" She said, perplexed, "Uh, aren't you having a baby right about then?"

"Oh, right. I forgot!"

See what I mean?

Anyway, we are are pleased that every indication (ultrasound, tests etc.) points to a healthy baby boy on the way. I am right on track with my normal massive weight gain (thank you, cocoa puffs) to produce a healthy size kid. I am most excited that school is done for the year because I no longer have to choose between my three work-friendly maternity outfits and can just roll out of bed in basketball shorts and a t-shirt every day.

The weather outside has only been 70 degrees max, but I have already reached my temperature limit. I am constantly hot, especially at night, and haven't worn a sweatshirt in a week. Oh dear, this could be a long summer. With no Hood Canal at my doorstep this summer, I will probably alternate between a bathtub full of ice cubes and flashing the neighbors while trying to make the most of our new in-window air conditioning unit. If you come over for a visit, make sure you knock first!

Despite the agony of first trimester nausea, this pregnancy has gone quickly. Only two more months to go!

First Water Fight of the Summer

2010-06-15T14:54:00.001-07:00

I bought 500 water balloons yesterday. That should last us a couple of days. :)

End of First Grade

2010-06-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Monica's last day of first grade. How time flies! Here she is at yesterday's end-of-the-year class party enjoying a bowl of ice cream.

Horsie rides with Dad!

2010-06-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Pretty Fly for a White Guy

2010-06-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

Jack and Tyler

2010-06-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

Making faces,

splashing in the bath,

and dressing up in fancy jewelry...

...That's what friends are for!

Good News

2010-06-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

Good News in general from us Kramers. Anton's mom is continuing to improve. It will still be a long road but we have reason to hope and celebrate.

Yesterday Anton and I headed to his parents' house to take care of some chores for them while they are away. At 5pm when we were about to leave, I got a call from an agent wanting to show her clients our house. Yes! More good news! Unfortunately I had been slacking off on keeping it perfectly tidy and had to rush home to do some last minute clean-up before they arrived. I also had a crock-pot full of Teriyaki chicken cooked in the kitchen. This posed an interesting predicament. I put the crock-pot in the driveway to cool while I cleaned, then put the kids, the crock-pot, and a bag of uncooked rice in the van. We pulled out of the driveway just as the potential buyers pulled in. I was going to head to the Martins to finish cooking our dinner and feed everyone but it was already late and we were all hungry. I couldn't fathom waiting 20 min for rice to cook. So we headed to the local McDonalds... yes, with a crock-pot of hot teriyaki chicken in the car. The whole thing was so crazy and ridiculous and I was so exhausted I let the kids order whatever they wanted and even said yes to the 2-for-1 apple pie deal offered by the girl behind the counter.

Whatever.

I guess tonight's menu is leftover teriyaki.

Pondering

2010-06-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

Star of the Week

2010-06-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

Monica is "Star of the Week" at school. She was SO excited, you'd think she won the lottery. She wrote lots of facts about herself on her poster, and included a photo of herself backpacking at Lower Lena last summer.

Whidbey Weekend

2010-06-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

We had a great holiday weekend at Great Nana C's on Whidbey Island. My parents came to visit for the day on Saturday. Nana Barb's chocolate cupcakes were a huge hit:

At Sunday's farmer's market held at Greenbank Farms, Monica and Jack enjoyed swinging and learning about bees with their cousin Lauren:

Then it was time to go clamming. We found huge, yes HUGE clams. Not so good for steaming, but definitely good for grinding up for chowder. The best part was watching the three kids scream, squeal, and laugh over finding clams, picking them up, getting squirted, etc. It was like a home-grown comedy show.

We also spent a fair amount of time reading and snoozing:

It was a very Northwest weekend, and I don't mean just the weather. The kids are old enough now to start teaching them more about marine life on the beach and how to do things like catch crab, clams, etc. We've also started to help them learn the names of the mountains, bodies of water, and other local areas. Our kids may not get to go on an exotic vacation every year, but I hope they will grow up with a knowledge and love for the area we call home. Plus if we can cover the heights of the Olympic mountains before they are on camp staff, they will be ready to ace their Marmot test!

Bridge to Brownies

2010-05-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

Monica and her troop are now officially Brownies. Here are a few photos from tonight's Bridging Ceremony:

Congratulations Monica!

For Sale!

2010-05-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

Anyone want to buy a house?

Here's one listing, and another version too.

Glorious Garden

2010-05-25T13:03:00.000-07:00

Our garden has never looked so good. I'll give credit to Anton for most of the manual labor, Nick for the artistic eye, and Gordon for the donated plants. He and Jack put in a couple more today.

Finishing Touches

2010-05-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

The Carters generously offered to help us put the finishing touches on our house and garden before it gets listed Monday. Tomorrow the carpet cleaners will seal the deal. Anton and Nick competed for the "most awesome jeans" award:

The kids enjoyed rolling down the freshly cut lawn:

All done!

How could anyone turn this down?

S'more Gardening

2010-05-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

We spent this morning gardening at Grandma's with my parents and Uncle Buck and Auntie Tina. I learned that:

1. Horsetails are nasty weeds.

2. Compost does not smell good.

3. Six people gardening together is the way to go.

We ended with lunch, birthday gifts for my mom and Grandma, and S'mores for dessert!

School Visit

2010-05-21T23:08:00.000-07:00

Today Monica visited her new school, Our Lady of the Lake. She spent from 1-3pm with the first grade class so she could meet her new classmates. She was very excited, but also very nervous. The girls in the class were so excited to meet her and play with her that I think it was overwhelming for Monica. However, she soon opened up and had a good time. By the end of the day she said, "It feels like I'm already in the class!" I know there are still some emotional ups and downs ahead, but I think we're off to a good start with one of the zillion transitions coming up for us.

We are still working 24-7 on the house, or at least it feels that way. We are almost done! Unfortunately, while it will be a relief to have it ready and on the market, then comes the stressful part of hoping it will sell. Perhaps if I leave some free cans of mountain dew on the counter it will entice buyers. :)

Weekend Blitz

2010-05-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

I barely have time to breathe at the moment, as we are trying to get our house on the market a week from today. Here's a quick update of the progress made this weekend. A huge thank-you to the whole Martin family who pitched in and helped on Sunday.

The kids had time for some swimming / skinny-dipping:

And we all took time in the evening to celebrate Anton's and Mom K's birthdays.

Crucial Levels

2010-05-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying collecting boxes. Every day after school I park the minivan in front of the Burien liquor store (usually two kids in Catholic school uniforms seated inside) and pick up some more. I'm sure it's quite humorous to see a noticeably pregnant lady picking up carts full of boxes labeled Black Velvet, Wild Turkey, and Jose Cuervo. The stack you see in this picture are all empty (this stack is higher than the stack of packed boxes). I guess this means I should actually start packing these now.

Sort it Out

2010-05-11T19:29:00.001-07:00

Jack loves to sort. He especially enjoys opening random board games, finding anything match-able and sorting it. Here he is sorting a deck of playing cards. Future blackjack dealer?

And so it begins...

2010-05-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

We are getting our house ready to put on the market, as we are moving (somewhere) this summer. Here is phase one of boxes. As we used to say on camp staff, "Prepare for the onslaught..."

Mowin' with Dad

2010-05-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

Jack followed Anton around the yard for over an hour yesterday. It was seriously adorable. He would even mimic Anton if he stopped to clear grass chunks from the wheels or something. When they came inside for lunch, Jack said, "That was a fun morning, wasn't it Dad?"

May Pregnancy Update

2010-05-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

Monica snapped this photo of me Friday. (Isn't she a good little photographer?) For those of you who want to see a belly picture, this is as close as you're going to get! I keep knocking on wood because, except for first trimester nausea, this pregnancy has been the easiest so far. Yes it's somewhat awkward and uncomfortable in general, but my hips and back have been pain-free so far. I've even managed to walk hills or stairs a few times for a "work-out." Several of my students have been a little slow to catch on and will suddenly get a surprised look and exclaim "Mrs. Kramer, you're pregnant?" To which I reply, "No, actually, I just carry around an extra 15 pounds for fun!" I enjoy their look of horror.

Anyway, our little guy moves and kicks frequently. Everything at the doctor has been textbook perfect so far, and we couldn't ask for more!

Supermom by Monica Kramer

2010-05-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

"The most special gift I could give my mom would be... Mountain Dew!"

I bet I'm the only Mom in Monica's class to get that gift!

Grandparents Day 2010

2010-05-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

All four grandparents made it to Monica's school last Friday for Grandparents Day. Grandpa Mike didn't stay long enough for the photo because, as he always says, "You know some of us have to work for a living!" :)

Monica was thrilled to have her grandparents visit her at school.

Pre-Mother's Day

2010-05-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

Today I snuck over to Jack's preschool for their Mother's Day celebration. I got a few pictures of him with his classmates in the gym and in the classroom.

Chocolate and Sunglasses

2010-05-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

Here's what we did at Buck and Tina's last Sunday:

I think that pretty much sums the day up!

Assume the Position

2010-05-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

Here's Kyle and Tyler asleep on our bed sometime around midnight last weekend.

Dinner Dance

2010-05-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

Saturday night Anton and Monica attended a German festival with Anton's parents, Nana, plus Greg, Mia, and Anja who were up from Oregon. (Due to the late hour, Jack and I stayed behind.) The evening started with Anja doing Monica's hair and ended with the girls dancing with their Nanie.

Geography?

2010-05-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday in the car...
Kyle: Monica, have you ever ridden the Max?
Monica: Mom, have I ever ridden the Max?
Me: No but you've ridden the lightrail which is similar. The Max is in Portland.
Monica: Where is Portland?
Me: In Oregon.
Kyle: It's in another CONTINENT!
Me: You mean another state.
Kyle: Yeah, right. Another STATE!
Later...
Monica: Why do people speak different languages?
Me: Because people come from other places where different languages are spoken.
Kyle: There's a different language for every STATE!
Me: You mean country? (I know, not exactly, but close enough.)
Kyle: Yeah, right. Every COUNTRY!

Morning Conversations

2010-04-30T12:43:00.001-07:00

This was my conversation with Jack at breakfast today:
Jack: When I grow up I want to be a teacher.
Me: Oh, just like mom and dad?
Jack- Uh-huh!
(Quiet thinking.)
Jack: What do you want to be when you grow up, Mommy?
Me: I still haven't decided yet, Jack.
Jack: You can be a fire-fighter, or maybe a painter!
Me: Those are good ideas.
Jack: And Daddy can be a football player!

And later in the car with Monica, who was drawing on her magic-board:
Monica: Ugh! This is so hard!
Me: What are you doing? Trying to trace your hand with the pen?
Monica: Yeah. Are you tracing your hand too Mommy?
Me: No I'm driving the car, remember?
Monica: Oh yeah, right.

Almost a Brownie

2010-04-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

Monica and her Girl Scout troop are only one month away from "bridging" to Brownies. The requirements for this transition include completing one Brownie badge, among other things. On Monday she and her friends earned the "Scout Ways" badge, which included sewing this sit-upon to be used in the outdoors. The bridging ceremony is scheduled for the end of May!

Dinner with Coach J

2010-04-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

Last night we had the privilege of eating dinner with UW women's basketball coach Tia Jackson. Even better, the meal was home-cooked by her mother. My dad bought the event at the women's basketball auction. We had a great time and as you can tell, Coach J loves kids!

Scott & Kristine's After Party

2010-04-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

Monica fell asleep on the way back to camp Saturday night. After they were both tucked into their beds in Queets, we got to hang out with camp friends for a while before getting some rest ourselves. Sunday we enjoyed the beautiful weather on Hood Canal before finally heading home. Scott and Kristine flew off to Hawaii this morning. When they get home we'll be helping Kristine move out of her apartment and look forward to hearing about the wedding events from their point of view. Kristine and Scott have been dear friends of ours for a long time now and we were honored to be intimately involved in their wedding. We wish them all the best. Hyas Kloshe!

Scott & Kristine's Reception

2010-04-26T19:11:00.000-07:00

Here are several photos from the reception, including square dancing, Anton's toast, and finally the other visitor who also made an appearance...

Scott & Kristine's Wedding

2010-04-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

I have so many photos from Saturday and the ceremony, I wasn't sure what to actually post. The day started with a hike around camp (always the best way to start a day) followed by a hair appt for Monica who wanted her hair CURLY! Anton was a groomsmen, Monica was the flowergirl, and Anton's brother Chris officiated. Many of our camp brothers were there, including McNellis, McEdwards, the Jaingas, A. Bode, Greg King, and the Perkows. Our friends the Carters and Martins were in attendance as well.

Scott & Kristine's Rehearsal

2010-04-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

Friday afternoon we headed to the peninsula for Scott and Kristine's big wedding event. Monica, Jack, and Maria were instantly drawn to the horses at the wedding site: The Farm Kichen.

We proceded to rehearse both inside and outside in case of rain, followed by dinner at an Italian restaurant in downtown Poulsbo. After dinner the kids all went next door with babysitters to paint pottery and eat ice cream. We pulled into camp late to stay for the night. We were greeted by a chipper McNellis and sidekick James Boyle. We knew it was going to be a fun weekend...

Sneak Peek

2010-04-25T20:39:00.000-07:00

It was a fun, fabulous, and full weekend. End result: Scott and Kristine are indeed married. More to follow later...

Big Feet, Little Feet

2010-04-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

I thought this comparison was cute, plus I could show off my pedicure from last Saturday. :)

Eagle Landing Park

2010-04-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

Sunday after church we headed to Eagle Landing Park right here in Burien. It's a wonderful little gem with a trail, staircase, and beachfront. Monica counted 295 stairs... no wonder my calves are sore!

Scott and Kristine's Excellent Bachelor/Bachelorette Adventure

2010-04-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday we launched a day of fun for Scott and Kristine to celebrate their last week as single people. The day started early for the boys. Scott, Anton, Mike, Greg, and Tim hiked Rattlesnake Ridge and apparently had a great time. Tim managed to get a few photos:

Meanwhile, Kristine and I and her two sisters headed to lunch at Cactus and then an afternoon at Frenchy's day spa. Kristine got the full bridal pampering. The rest of us just opted for nails.

Finally, everyone came together at our place for a BBQ dinner. We were a little cramped inside due to rain, but the sun came out after dinner just long enough for the kids to run outside.

The decorations, food, and good campany all made for a great time.

Now it's time to gear up for the wedding extravaganza ahead next weekend!

Canticle of the Sun

2010-04-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

Friday I attended the all-school mass at Monica's school because her class was acting out the "Canticle of the Sun" by St. Francis as part of the homily. Monica and another student were "snowflakes."

I was sitting near Kyle who flashed me a shy smile:

Preparation Stage

2010-04-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

All week we had been shopping, cleaning, crafting, and sleuthing in preparation for Scott and Kristine's bachelor/bachlorette BBQ at our house. The decorations were particularly ingenius if I do say so myself. In addition to balloons and the lovely yellow door, we traced Jack to create bride and groom models of Scott and Kristine. They were definitey the hit of the night.

Little Moments

2010-04-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

Daffodil Parade

2010-04-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

Saturday we headed to Tacoma to watch the Daffodil Parade and have lunch with Rob, Courtney, Hayden, and Alex.

The multitude of princesses felt like a throwback to the 50's, but Monica liked it. :)

Hard to believe, but this was my first personal encounter with Seafair Pirates.

Later, Jack tested out life with a little brother.

Saturday night we celebrated Abigail's 9th birthday at Red Robin.

"Weekend" Away!

2010-04-06T22:33:00.000-07:00

Anton and I just returned from a two-day anniversary getaway while the kids hung out with Nanie and Grandpa Gordon. Apparently they visited with Great Nana C as well as took a trip to the Children's Museum. Meanwhile, Anton and I had our own brand of fun... we started with a stop at Camp to visit with Ken and see the progress on the Silver Marmot Grill. The work is coming along nicely and will be a fantastic upgrade for the summer:

From Camp, we backtracked to Suquamish where we stayed at the Clearwater Resort. It's a beautiful spot right on the water and includes a hotel, pool, spa, casino, and four restaurants. It was the perfect combination of comfortable luxury and a nature escape.

The pool was awesome, especially for kids... it had a zero-depth entry and shallow shelf to play on including an area between the rocks that had jets. The other half was deeper like a normal pool. Anton and I didn't get down to the pool until later in the evening and found it a bit chilly, so we opted for the hottub outside instead.

Anton on the beach with the Agate Pass Bridge in the background. It was cool to see the bridge from a different angle.
Beach side of the hotel:
Sleepy Anne:

Tuesday we went for a hike on the Grand Forest Trail on Bainbridge. It was an easy saunter but still gave the impression of deep wilderness.

And now back to real life. Dishes, laundry, sibling squabbles, and home projects await me. It's always good to get away but always good to come home too.

Our 8th anniversary... wow!

Easter Weekend

2010-04-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a few highlights of Easter weekend. We finally got to meet my cousin Valerie's baby boy Jonah. Hopefully it gave our kids a little taste of life with a little brother!

Uh-oh, is it really this hard to get three kids to look at a camera? Oh dear.

Egg hunt at Great Grandma's:

Easter outfits:

We attended church Saturday night because a friend of Monica's received first communion at the vigil mass. It was a very late night and we opted for a quiet Easter with just the four of us. We saved Easter-egg decorating for Sunday morning.

Here are the finished products:

But I liked this one the best :)

He is risen!!!

Pool Fun

2010-04-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

Friday night after a traditional Good Friday fish-stick fest, we went to the (very chilly) Tukwila pool for family swim with the Martins. Later, while the kids practiced intertwining sleeping (see below) the adults watched The Knife Video, one of our absolute favorites!

Ultrasound Update

2010-03-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

It's a BOY!

Weekend Update

2010-03-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

... with Anne Kramer, not Seth Myers!

Here's what else we did this weekend (in no particular order):

On Sunday Keri and I took the kids to the mall. I finally found a sunhat for Monica:

Best place to nap:

Hunger Retreat, our last BIG retreat of the year, was taking place this weekend. I had the overnight shift, which was blessedly uneventful. Here are the participants learning to line-dance in the gym:
Headband sunglasses:

Sorting Easter decorations and plastic eggs:

Mo reading to Jack:

Going for a bike ride with Kyle:

Easter "Eggs"

2010-03-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning I decided it was time to make the house for festive for the upcoming holiday and season. We're going to hold off on dyeing real eggs until next weekend, so instead we decorated paper ones. It was a glittery, gluey, macaroni-y mess!

Martin Time

2010-03-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

Keri sent me these cute ones.
Monica and the boys:

At the mall... who's drivin' this thing?

Great Depression?

2010-03-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

Today Monica helped me make homemade laundry soap. For the recipe click here. My mom teased me when she heard we made our own soap, saying something like "Geez, back to the 1930s!"

Although I bet they didn't use the Cuisinart back then!

Breakfast of Champions

2010-03-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

Every day Jack eats the exact same thing for breakfast. Kind of like his maternal grandmother. He has honey nut cheerios, toast with cinnamon, and a glass of milk. He refuses to begin eating until all three items are placed in front of him. Oh well, at least he eats!

Spring Search 2010

2010-03-22T19:54:00.000-07:00

Well another year of Search retreats is over. This one had special meaning, as it was Father B's last Search. That didn't stop the fun (and sillies) from breaking out, as you can see below.

Dirt Devil

2010-03-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

Anton's Dad planted some raspberry bushes here today. Jack was apparently VERY helpful, espcially when it came to moving dirt around and looking for worms and bugs. Grandpa was nice enough to leave some extra dirt here, which Jack has been moving around from place to place ever since.

Springing Spring

2010-03-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

All four kids were in the backyard yesterday, enjoying the freshly cut lawn by Anton. They were a grassy, dirty, sunny mess by the time they came inside for dinner.

Kyle was out there too, but soccer stars are too busy for cameras.

Cozy Mornings

2010-03-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here's what Monica and Jack enjoying doing on Saturday mornings. Just enough space for each of them. What will we do with three?

Happiness is...

2010-03-11T20:48:00.000-08:00

a chocolate donut!

March Pregnancy Update

2010-03-09T16:28:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged much about the pregnancy yet. There wasn't much to tell about the first trimester: I was generally nauseous and lethargic for two months. Not pretty. It was all I could do to make sure that the kids were fed and had clean clothes to wear. Thankfully that has all passed now and I can regain my place among the living. One of the more humorous elements so far has been my ~~cravings~~ preferences for certain late night snacks. It started with cottage cheese and peaches, then it was cream of wheat with brown sugar. I had a short love affair with English muffins, but now it's just yogurt. It's no wonder that I'm already out of most of my regular pants and jeans. Yesterday Monica helped me sort through my tubs of maternity clothes, as you can see in the photo. We had fun giggling together over the items that were probably out of style already when I wore then 7 years ago when pregnant with her! All the clothes are still too big so I am stuck for a while with yoga pants and sweatshirts. Work has been so hectic recently (we have two BIG retreats coming up) that really how I look is the last thing I'm concerned about. Monica and Jack continue to be excited about a new brother or sister. We find out at the end of this month whether it's a girl or a boy, assuming he or she is cooperating during the ultrasound. Jack keeps saying "when the baby is born I'll play with it!" Poor guy will be sorely disappointed when the little one only eats and sleeps for the first few months!