Woodland Park Zoo - take 3

A ride on Gerritt's favorite carousel


Inside the turtle shell


Gorillas - mother & baby (cosleeping at its best)


Inside the cave

It was another slow Monday & I was wondering again what to do with the kids. The weather forecast promised a sunny day in the 70s. So when I gave Gerritt a choice of Woodland Park Zoo, library or the Kelsey Creek Farm this morning, he chose the Zoo.
It was our 3rd Zoo visit this year & for only $10 ($5 parking & $5 entry fee with the Microsoft Prime Card (instead of the usual $16.50)) we bought ourselves 5 hours of great outdoor adventure. We spent about $20 on food, but it made me feel better knowing that part of the proceeds benefit the Zoo. We arrived at the Zoo at 10 am & stayed until 2:30 pm, hard to believe. Weather did a trick on us by sprinkling for about an hour, however, the sun came out later, as was promised.
We visited our favorite jaguars & gorillas & also visited different Zoo areas. We saw the komodo dragons, the bug exhibit, sloths, & pink flamingoes. Sophia slept blissfully for at least 1.5 hours so we got lucky. Gerritt's favorite part of the trip was the Farm & the farm animals. He got to pet the goats & the miniature donkey. He also "rode" the tractor & watched a video of a chick hatching.


Beautiful flamingos - a miracle in the Northwest


Gerritt petting a goat


Gerritt riding the tractor

While at the Zoo, we had another "pooping" adventure. Gerritt got the urge to go "poo poo" while at the outdoor park. There were no restrooms nearby so I just told him to squat & go on the grass. Luckily, there was no one around to criticize me for bad parenting, or give us both the dirty looks, so Gerritt was able to poop in peace. I then discreetly disposed of the evidence by picking it up with a wet wipe & putting it in the garbage. It's funny to write about this now, but I was really panicking at the time. The only way to prevent such incidents with a potty training toddler is to stay home, which is not realistic. So I often have to get creative. This reminds of another Mom's blog entry about the joys of using a public restroom with 2 kids. It's certainly not a walk in the park.

My Goofy Kids

The famous Downward Dog yoga pose - Gerritt's signal for "Wipe me, please!"


The goofy kid making a hat out of his diaper


Everyone wears a hat today!

Gerritt is turning out to be such a goofy kid. His happiness is contageous & he often makes us laugh. I wrote down a few things he said during the past week:

"Awww, cutie pie!" when looking at something adorable (an animal or a baby, for example)
"I am comfy cozy," answering to whether he's comfortable enough.
"I am a kitty cat!" answering to my question about why he's licking my pants.
"Mommy, my pee pee is so big! Do you have a pee pee, Mommy? Can I see it?" acknowledging his erection.
"No, I am a good boy!" his response to me calling him a bad boy (which is very rare, I hate the "bad boy" term & strive to criticize the behavior, not to attack personal character)

Our latest way to have fun in the evenings is to dance to the Lady Gaga's music. We hold hands & run fast in circles, stomp our feet & create funny dance moves. Usually we are both sweating by the end of our dance session & Shon is laughing & unable to focus on his work at the computer. I can't remember the last time I've had this much fun. Who said you can't exercise with kids?
The other day Gerritt put a diaper on his head. Perhaps the latest library book called "Apples & Oranges - Going Bananas With Pairs" by Sara Pinto gave him this idea? You can read the following on one of the pages, "How are trousers and underpants alike? They both don't make good hats." Then you see a picture of 2 women drinking tea with trousers on the head of one & underwear on the head of the other. It's simply impossible to go a day without laughing when Gerritt is around!
Watching Sophia often makes me smile as well. She loves to climb everything - the toy kitchen table, the couch, the stroller, & the equipment at the playground. I have to supervise her carefully. One time I found her standing on the seat of Gerritt's tricycle. It's a miracle she didn't tip over!
We have finally got her used to the tooth brushing. She was absolutely terrified of the tooth brush every time she saw it & we gradually went from her being held down by both of us to her opening her mouth willingly. She now protests when I brush her teeth, but cries rarely. She usually wants to chew on the brush a little longer after I am done brushing & even attempts to brush my teeth.
Another new development with Sophia is that she started to use the potty occasionally. She has the habit of sitting on the potty & saying "pee pee," so every time she does it I take off her diaper. She usually puts her hand between her legs to feel the urine coming out - it's almost as if she can't believe it's really happenning! Her favorite pastime involves taking shoes off & attempting to put them back on. She literally can spend hours doing just that. She hates socks, so most of the time she is barefoot. Sophia's favorite foods are strawberries & tomatoes. If she sees either of them she will cry until she gets it even if she just ate. She has made quite a progress in learning the alphabet letters & now can name A, B, C, E, F, J, K, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, & Z. Simply remarkable! Every time we do the letter exercise her face lights up & she looks so proud of herself. Sophia now notices letters everywhere including her brother's t-shirts, grocery packages & books.
My reading adventure with Gerritt continues & he enjoyed the following books for the past 3 weeks:

My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza
Waiting Out the Storm by Joann Macken
Elmer and Rose by David McKee (Gerritt's favorite)
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll
Once Upon a Dragon by Jean Pendziwol & Martine Gourbault
When the Library Lights Go Out by Megan McDonald & Katherine Tillotson
Clockwise: A Time-Telling Tale by Sara Pinto
Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres
The Royal Mice, the Sword & the Horn by Loretta Krupinski (Gerritt's favorite; pretty advanced, but he was able to make sense of it)
Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
Maisy Goes on Vacation by Lucy Cousins (Gerritt's favorite)

The Puyallup Fair

Sophia enjoying the corn on the cob


At the petting zoo


The train Gerritt & I rode


The Racing Car ride


The Chinese Dragon ride


Sophia & the giant pumpkin


The clown show


Sophia & her baby in the car ride back home

Today my husband took a day off work in order to take us to the Puyallup Fair. The Fair takes place every year & offers a variety of fun activities such as concerts, rodeo, rides, fair exhibits, treasure hunt, animal exhibits, etc. I really enjoyed the Fair even though I am not a fan of crowds. It reminded me of the Carnival in Russia I used to attend with my Dad when visiting him during the summers off school. My parents divorced when I was 4, so starting in the 3rd grade my Mom put me on the train to take a 7-day trip from Tynda to Moscow where my Dad would pick me up. The times were simpler then as I was able to travel by myself with some help from other sympathetic adult travelers.
It was a beautiful sunny day & Sophia promptly fell asleep about an hour into the Fair giving us about 2 hours of uninterrupted fun family time. With my husband as the designated babysitter, Gerritt & I rode most of the rides. Gerritt really wanted to go onto the Ferris Wheel, however, didn't meet the height requirement. He wasn't disappointed for long as he soon discovered many other rides to enjoy including the Fire Truck, the Chinese Dragon, the Racing Car, The Motorcycle, & even the Big Slide which he & I did together. We also visited the petting zoo where Gerritt touched the chicks, rabbits & goats. The highlight of the day was a clown show that included a cute Boston terrier climbing the ladder & performing other smart tricks. The show ended with the audience covered in toilet paper (just like the Blue Men Group show I once saw in Vegas) - totally unpredictable & fun! After many unusual sounds, sights & experiences the kids were wiped out. Thank goodness for the double stroller! Another fun fall outing for us! A year ago getting out of the house was too much work. We are sure becoming more brave as the kids grow older. We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful city & look forward to experiencing more of what it has to offer!

Kelsey Creek Farm - Take 2

Rabbits!


A group hug: Anna, Kate & Gerritt


Gerritt was very excited to find a pumpkin


Kids running toward the photographer - me!


Hiking in the woods


The thrill of the day - the horse allowing the kids to pet her


Sophia & Mommy

We had so much fun at the Kelsey Creek Farm last Monday that we've decided to go back for another visit this week. The Farm has become one of my favorite places to relax. The kids & I all love the outdoors. What's there not to love? Fresh air, listening to singing of the birds & the bubbling of the creek, hiking in the woods, observing the farm animals up close, & having a picnic outside. We also picked & ate blackberries right off the bush, gathered & studied the leaves of various shapes & colors, felt the coolness of the creek water & threw a few rocks into it & even saw a coyote far, far away. It's like we were trying to absorb all the colors, smells & textures of the fall. We played hide & seek in the woods & probably scared most of the wildlife with our screams. Gerritt & I have collected the mountain ash berries & had a great family time making mountain ash berry necklace & bracelet later that evening.


The lovely mountain ash tree berries


Gerritt hard at work


The end result!

Chocolate Chip Coconut Walnut Cookies

With fall weather around the corner & after several requests by Gerritt, I've finally decided to bake some cookies. The cookies had to include chocolate chips (just like in one of the Dora the Explorer episodes) & be void of dairy & eggs (so that I could enjoy eating them too). I didn't have to search very long by modifying a recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks - Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair. These cookies have a delightful aroma (if you love chocolate & coconut that is) & are best served warm with a glass of cold milk.

Chocolate Chip Walnut Coconut Cookies

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup melted extra virgin cold-pressed coconut oil (I like the Fresh Shores brand) (may use butter if you wish)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup chocolate chips
a handful of unsweetened coconut flakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine oats, flour, salt in a bowl; set aside. In a separate bowl mix together maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract. Add wet ingredients to dry mixture & mix well. Stir in nuts, chocolate chips & coconut. With moist hands form dough into 3" cookies & place on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden on edges.

Sidenotes:
Why cook with coconut oil?
Coconut oil has no trans-fats & is one of the richest sources of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). MCFAs permeate cell membranes easily & don't require lipoproteins or special enzymes to be utilized effectively by the body. MCFAs are easily digested, thus putting less strain on one's digestive system. MCFAs are sent directly to one's liver, where they are immediately converted into energy rather than being stored as fat. MCFAs in coconut oil can actually help stimulate body's metabolism, leading to weight loss. Since insulin is not involved in the process of digesting the MCFAs in coconut oil, you won't get the carb-related spikes in your blood sugar level. Coconut oil is also rich in lauric acid, which does wonders for the immune system & thyroid health. Coconut oil can be used for stir-frying or sauteing vegetables, eggs, poultry & fish; added into smoothies; used to make own mayonnaise, in salads & on popcorn (instead of butter).

Kelsey Creek Farm

No, you can't ride the tractor!


Sophia loves to explore!


Sunflower & bees

Yesterday I got an unexpected day off work (another cancelled shift at the hospital). It was a cloudy day, however, it wasn't raining so I didn't want to waste a whole day staying indoors. I loaded the kids into the van & took them to the Kelsey Creek Farm. Both Gerritt & Sophia were thrilled to see live farm animals out in the pastures such as horses, sheep, chickens, geese, pigs, cows, goats & rabbits. Gerritt kept running around the Farm & announcing in a voice full of excitement, "Look, Mommy, horses(or insert another animal)!" The best part was that Sophia didn't have to stay in her stroller for the entire outing. She is a good enough walker now that I trusted her to walk all over the Farm grounds. She was a bit wobbly, however, didn't have any big falls. She kept smiling & almost ran away from me a couple of times.
The park features hiking & jogging trails, picnic areas, a playground, wetlands, creeks & forests. We visited the historic Fraser log cabin & admired the growing pumpkins as well as the herb garden nearby. It was so wonderful to enjoy fresh air & cut back on the amount of daily TV. The kids got hungry pretty quickly & had a snack of bananas, string cheese & oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookies I packed with us. Gerritt ate 2 cookies & was so hyped up from chocolate, he refused to nap that day. Sophia fell asleep in the car on our way back & slept for another 2 hours after getting home.
Gerritt pleasantly surprised me by requesting to urinate while still in the car prior to our arrival to the park ("I have to go pee-pee, Mommy!"). He proudly wet the grass ("like [our dog] Spike") once we arrived. About an hour into our outing, he announced that he had to go poo-poo & started taking off his pants & squatting in the middle of the street. Lucky for me, I was able to take him into a portable potty nearby (I can only imagine a mess he would have made if I didn't catch him in time). We've been so focused on potty training, I must have missed teaching him about the toileting privacy somewhere. However, I am not complaining - I haven't changed Gerritt's poopy diaper in over 3 weeks & love it!


Horses!


The Farm House


A gentle hug for his sister

Bathing, Doll Houses, & Dora

"Look, Mommy! Bubbles!"


Gerritt's favorite bath toys


Gerritt - the king of the castle (or doll house, in this case)

Friday is finally here & even though I have to work tomorrow, somehow, my mood is a little brighter & my shoulders are a bit more relaxed. My husband & I took the kids out to a Korean restaurant today (an event, I must say, since we are usually afraid to go out with them). Gerritt ate a big bowl of rice & washed it down with some barley tea (completely refused to try anything else), while Sophia nibbled on bean sprouts, seaweed & pieces of pork dumplings... We had to cut our meal short when Sophia started screaming & laughing at the top of her lungs. She started doing it regularly this past week & enjoys it tremendously. She & Gerritt usually compete who can scream louder.
This week Gerritt is in love with taking bubble baths & has had one almost daily. He plays with the bath toys he inherited from Luly (an octopus, 2 fish, Sponge Bob & a crab). He pretends the animals are sinking into the "ocean" or completely covered by the "ocean waves" (the bubbles), so he rescues the little critters over & over. The best part of the bath is when Gerritt drains all of the water out of the tub & puts the toys away after he is done. He has been insisting on dressing himself for the past week, so it is always fun to watch him putting on his diaper & pajamas. He has been buckling himself in his car seat as well, & I really struggle with patience as I watch him try again & again while my lunch minutes are ticking away. He is getting better & faster, I must say. I am only happy to support his newfound independence. The more he can do for himself, the more time I can devote to his little sister Sophia, or just take a deep breath myself. I've been working non-stop, it seems, ever since we became a family with 2 kids in diapers under the age of 3.
Gerritt also loves to play with doll houses. I have finally sorted out a few big boxes of toys given to us by Luly prior to her move. I was pleasantly surprised to find several plastic doll houses, furniture, miniature people & animals (did I mention Gerritt now loves fairies?), little cars, bikes, kitchen, doll clothes - you name it. We now have a perfect activity for rainy days at home, which are so frequent during fall & winter in the Northwest.


After being told he couldn't watch more Dora :-)

Gerritt loves anything to do with Dora the Explorer so the little pink backpack with Dora's face he inherited from Luly became an instant hit. For the past couple of days he's been playing a game of surprising us with presents. He would hide a toy (usually a small car) in the backpack. After putting the backpack on & running around the room for about a minute, Gerritt would stand in front of me & say, "Mommy, I got something for you!" Then he would proudly present a little car from his backpack. I would hug, kiss & thank him. Then Gerritt would do it again & again. He just really enjoys surprising people with things! It is never dull at our house.

Goodbye summer!

Gerritt, Anna & Kate making the most of the small pool in the back yard


Gerritt sharing his stuffed animals with the girls


Having fun at the swing

As usual, summer went by so quickly. It is hard to believe that fall weather is upon us, but is impossible to deny the air chill in early mornings & earlier sunsets. We've finally painted our office (both my Mom & I), finished the window & floor trim (my husband), & painted the outside of the house recently (no more orange). I have already accomplished one of my garden goals for this fall - I planted hundreds of tulip, daffodil, grape hyacinth, & hyacinth bulbs! I left a beautiful garden behind when we moved from our Mountlake Terrace house, so I've been meaning to plant spring flowers for almost 2 years now. Gerritt has even helped me with digging & putting the bulbs in the ground.
Sophia is walking, walking, walking! She loves to be independent & get around on her own. She'll check out every room in the house: bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, & even garage. It's easy to tell which room she visited, since its floor is usually littered with things she found interesting. I just had to repair my 1st set of ripped books recently thanks to her (Gerritt never found book ripping that exciting). Sophia is still always hungry & eats about anything you put in her mouth (pizza, banana, soup, yogurt, toast, tomatoes, etc., no matter the sequence). She is starting to learn about letters (our lessons take place in the tub while bathing) & already knows letters E, O, & K. She & Gerritt love to watch Dora the Explorer series (no more Caillou, Curious George, & Word World).


Sophia loves to play with flags & even fell asleep once while holding the flags of South Korea & Russia (What a coincidence!)


The kids with their nanny Irina

Gerritt has made big strides with the potty training & has been pooping exclusively in the potty for the past week (he even takes off his pants all by himself). We taught him to do the downward dog yoga pose right after pooping to make clean up more convenient. So funny to watch! Gerritt is so proud of his progress that after the deed we always have to find daddy to show him the "goods," even if he is in the back yard, shower or still sleeping. :-) The pee-pees are harder to catch, but Gerritt is starting to ask when he needs to go. He has perfected his Cars movie floor puzzles & can do 4 in a row with an amazing speed (they are for children 5+ years of age, by the way). If one of the puzzle pieces falls on the floor, he can, somehow, tell which of the 4 puzzle boxes it came from! Gerritt started the Spectrum Academy last week & fell in love with it. We've decided to take him there in the mornings only (9 am - 12 pm) 3 times a week (on my work days) to socialize & learn new things. He feels secure enough not to take his comfort toy (brown stuffed dog) with him to classes even though he still sleeps with it & a multitude of other stuffed animals (2 bears, rabbit, dalmatian, & his "old doggie").


Puzzle master at work

He is one of the oldest & biggest boys in the class again, but there isn't much we can do about it. He could go to the older group if only he was born 2 months later (the curse of October/December-born children). My friend is so determined for her daughter not to start school with a class of much younger children, she's doing everything she can to get her into the gifted child program & skip the 1st grade all together. Of course, her daughter can already read & write in English & Russian & do additions & subtractions at the age of 5. I want Gerritt to enjoy his childhood & be carefree for as long as possible, so I don't allow myself get obsessed with getting him into the best school & with the best teacher as well as busying him with a multitude of extracuriccular activites. This wise article "What should a 4 year old know?" sums it up perfectly:

- Your child is not a trophy & childhood is not a race.
- Every child will eventually learn everything he needs to know at his own pace.
- The most important things your child should know are that he is loved unconditionally; to trust his instincts about people & how to keep himself safe; not be afraid to follow his interests & imagination; & to laugh & act silly.
- Being the smartest or most accomplished kid in the class doesn't have any bearing on being the happiest.
- One of the biggest gifts we can give to our children is a simple, carefree childhood.
- The children need more of their parents (not toys, after school activities, lessons, play groups, etc.) & deserve to know they are a priority & we truly love being with them.

I totally agree! However, it's soooo difficult not to be competitive. Just recently, after watching a video of a 3-year-old girl pointing to various countries on a world map with such ease (a daughter of a Facebook friend), Gerritt & I made a trip to the store to buy a large world map. 3 evenings later he is able to find Russia, South Korea, Greenland, & USA. No pressure whatsoever! :-)