Brea's Fifth Birthday

***Should have been posted in September 2013***

We were out on the Oregon coast for Brea's special day once again! We had spoken to her ahead of time and she had some ideas planned out for the day's festivities and the most exciting thing she wanted to do was to go "fish for crabs". Yes, after hearing about her cousin's escapades on the dock crabbing, she wanted to try it out. We went to Kelly's Brighton Marina a few days earlier to scope out the deets and to make sure we'd be going at prime time to get some good eating. So Friday bright and early we made it out to the docks.

The kids were so excited as we got our license and made our way down the gangplank to retrieve our traps, bait and buckets. They watched entranced as the fish guts were attached to the net and we carried it over to the edge of the dock. There were not many people out at 9:30am crabbing so the kids had their pick of the BEST place to launch our traps. They soon discovered that crabbing meant a lot of waiting... luckily we had some games to distract us. After catching near to 30 crabs, we finally got two that were male and size appropriate. Then watched as it was cooked for us.

Getting ready for the feast!

The kids were thrilled to get to see all the cleaning and each got to eat the heart. I was particularly proud of Rhys who was willing to try. He discovered pretty fast though that he much preferred the "fishing" portion to the eating part. Brea meanwhile could not get enough - this probably had to do with the cup of melted butter they provided to us that she would have drank if I didn't stop her.

It was pretty funny as we enjoyed our fresh seafood, people would approach and say happy birthday to Brea, comment on how great of an idea it was to celebrate there. I have never tasted crab so sweet. It must have been because we caught it ourselves.

Dear Brea,

I hope your really enjoyed your special day. I loved spending it with you and watching your wonder and excitement. You are growing up quickly and I know these days are flying by. I love how you love to have time with your books. I love hearing the conversations you have with your little brother when you look out for him and give him advice. I love how you remind me that you are still very little when you come to me for a cuddle. This next year is going to bring so many new changes and you'll be experiencing lots of new things. I'll be here for you as always. I wish you the most amazing year yet and I can't wait to see you discover it all.

xoxo
Mommy

Run!

Brea has been very interested in the KM club at school but unfortunately, the time isn't feasible for her after school. Craig has picked-up running again now that the weather is improving and he's been doing great! Well the kids have been watching him and when Brea was younger she often went on runs with him. So he decided to do an impromptu KM Club for her. He set it up to start at the kilometre markers on the trail near us and timed it all. The kids were so close to their 8 min goal and missed it by just 10 secs on their first try! Pretty good, in my books!

Stretching it our with Daddy!

Kabob Night!

The kids, well, more Rhys, has been really interested in helping with cooking. I decided kabobs would work well for dinner and then the kids could customize as they wanted. Brea has been lucky at school to have a great group of parents who organize a cooking project every month for the kids and one of the "snacks" they created was kabob-wiches. So she felt she was a pro with the skewers and directed Rhys A LOT (as usual). Luckily, the little guy didn't mind, he was having fun. Craig did his sherry marinade for the meat and it was totally delish! Even Rhys who normally isn't a huge fan of meat was all over it, I guess it tastes better when you're the chef :o)

Check out the intense concentration!

St. Patrick's Day

We've been doing some leprechaun crafts and the kids are curious about St. Patrick's Day so we read a little book this morning which led to a whole bunch of questions. Mostly, they were interested in the whole rainbow and pot o' gold thing. Brea was very interested in how tricky leprechauns could get in order to divert attention away from their treasure. She was particularly worried about wolves finding their treasure for some reason. I went over some stories of how they could make forest paths go in circles or confuse people on where the end of the rainbow really was or how they could make the treasure hunters get lost. Meanwhile, Rhys who was listening intently decided to put in his two cents.

R: "Mommy, we won't get lost because of leprechauns."
Me: "Oh, really Rhys? And why is that?"
R: "We have our bracelets!" - their uncle and auntie gifted some RoadIDs for them
Me: "So that will help you not get lost?"
R: "Yeah! If we get lost, we can show people and it will give us IDeas!"

Trying to get out of quiet time

Rhys and I were cleaning up in the kitchen after lunch and I was giving thought to dinner tonight and how I should start on the pasta sauce. Rhys has been trying to wiggle out of his naps but we've maintained some quiet time daily, today he wanted nothing to do with that either.

Me: And what would you do instead of quiet time?
Rhys: Help you with cooking.
Me: Really? What kind of experience do you have cooking? What can you do?
Rhys: I'm good at cooking, I can cook with a spoon and cut an egg.
Me: Don't you mean crack an egg?
Rhys: Yes, in the kitchen, I do it with you. I can cook! What can you do?

The Start of School!

Brea is off to kindergarten!!!

She has been quite anxious in the week leading up, some nightmares even but it's been a few days now and I think she's liking it. Here are a few pictures of the very first day off to school. I am so thankful to have been able to be there to walk her.

Showing off her glitter.

Packed and ready to go. Thanks Auntie Signe for the beautiful lunchbag, she was double checking to make sure I would use it for her first day.

When we went to pick her up after her first day (which was only for a couple of hours) she told me it was good except "everything was so rushed Mommy, it was too quick, there wasn't enough time to do everything." Her teacher told me that Brea was great though the very first thing she questioned the teacher about was whether her supplies were alright - I had dropped them off the week before. What can I say? She has me as her mom and I can be neurotic like that.

Day 2 brought this gem:
Me: "So what happened in school today Brea?"
Brea: "Well, when I got to school, I put my bag on my hook and sat on the bench where I'm supposed to and I changed my shoes to my inside shoes, then we were going outside so I went to the bench and changed my shoes to my other shoes, then when we came back inside, I had to change my shoes to my inside shoes and when we went home I changed my shoes to my other shoes again!"

There you have it, kindergarten is going to be a year with a lot of changes :o)

Conversation with kids: Hands

So, we were having dinner tonight when I looked over at Rhys with his soup and see that he is using his right hand today. Our little guy has yet to decide which hand he's going to go with and it seems to oscillate every day and activity.

Me: "Rhys which hand do you like to use better for eating?"
Rhys:
"This one!" - he's his right hand with the spoon
"Is this my right hand? Is this my 'shaking' hand?" - he mimes a handshake
Me: "Yes, that is your right hand, good remembering!"
I watch as he takes a few bites.
Rhys: "Actually, I like this hand better." - he switches the spoon over to his left side
Me: "Well, you know your Grumpa uses that hand to eat and so does your Uncle Kent. Daddy, Brea and Mommy use the right one. Which one are you going to use more?"
Rhys: "This one!" he exclaims holding out his right hand

Sigh, I think this is going to take a bit more time still.

Meanwhile, Brea has been watching this from across the table and not to be outdone, she says:
"I use my right hand, it's my favourite hand! But I can use my other hand too!" - she switches her spoon to her left hand and attempts a bite
"It's just not as cooperative."