Pumpkins

Cabin weekened

We spent a weekend at a cabin near Snoqualmie Pass and it was heavenly to be together as a family and relax. No house chores. No errands. No social calendar. Just us and lots of good food.

Truman was disappointed to learn that he could not bring his “ski boards” because there was not enough snow. He is at a stage where he will talk about something repeatedly and he spent much of the drive telling us about his ski boards and asking us about our ski boards. He was appalled to learn that I don’t have ski boards (I don’t ski often enough, so I just rent). He kept saying, “Mama doesn’t have ski boards, but I have ski boards.”

We spent most of our time relaxing in the heated pool. We also went to an OktoberFest dinner and ate bratwurst and listened to a Bavarian band. Truman watched his first Teton Gravity Research film (Jason’s favorite brand of ski movies). He kept saying, “Holy Cow” through the entire movie.

We bought the cabin owners a very nice bottle of whiskey to say thank you (and please let us borrow your cabin again).

A long weekend at home = lots of projects

Making pumpkin cookies and eating way too much candy corn.

Claiming his "fort" territory

"No timeout. I will listen to you mommy."

Stencils

Finger puppets (while watching Caspar Babypants Googly Eyes video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjFJCZCHzNY)

Running out of things to paint. Found random stuff in the art cabinet

Genius.

Star charts

I blame Jason for his posture.

I kept hearing other parents and even our pediatrician talk about star charts. I was like riiiiight. Put a sticker on a piece of paper and suddenly your child will start doing chores and stop feeding the dog boogers? I don't think so.

Clearly I don't understand toddler psychology.

I threw up a star chart (don't judge, its not my finest work).

Guess who LOVES to get a star? Guess who stands in front of his chart and admires how great he is?

Totally works. For now.

Turning 34

In my younger years, it was a big deal to celebrate my birthday with big parties and lots of friends. Mardstock anyone?  A barn party with a live band?

But the older I get, the more I want to hunker down. Eat cupcakes with Truman and fall asleep on the couch.

In a strange turn of events, Jason is in Seattle for most of the weekend painting my colleague’s mother’s condo. With our car. Which means I am in a small house, with a toddler, and no escape hatch to the playground.

So I went to the craft store and the grocery store and stocked up. I am wearing my Al’s Tarantula Ranch t-shirt. And if you know about that shirt, you can also imagine the sweatpants and big blue glasses I am wearing.

We are going to carve pumpkins and pop popcorn and eat chips for dinner. We are going to eat eggs bennies for breakfast (or maybe lunch) and make a chocolate cake from scratch. And I might just stand in my kitchen eating fancy dips and crackers and I might just let Truman watch a Halloween movie.

Instead of feeling old and boring, it feels like a dream weekend. I am not sure if that is sad or if that is the pleasure of getting older – being free to do what you want, even when what you want is nothing.

Welcome 34.