kids
Cougar Mountain
We had a much needed family fun day today. We hiked around Cougar Mountain. It’s awesome, and has an amazing view of Lake Sammamish. The kids walked around. (Arkaedi Sue: “Walk? Walk? Walk? Outside? Outside? Outside?” ad infinitum)
I love our family days. We haven’t gotten so many lately, for various reasons. Mostly NPLEX board related. That is down to the last few weeks though, so once Jaime passes, life will get way more fun. Or funner. If you like the sound of that better.
Cougar Mountain is a place that makes me wish my dad lived here. It’s totally his kind of place, a huge park, woods, views of the mountains and the lake. We could easily spend days hiking there, checking out the animals and the birds. There are pine martens and muskrats as well as cougars and bears! (Mostly pine martens and muskrats. Still…pretty great.) I was interested in the variety of birds we could see and hear. I have to get him out here so we can check it out. My dad would really enjoy my old man hobbies. My kids already think I’m crazy.
They did like the woods though. They got a little tired, hiking on the mountain paths. (Viri: “Can we go home? It’s really steep.”) But they had fun, and were sound asleep by the time we drove back home. We made a slight detour to South 47 Farm, and J picked a bunch of fresh herbs. I still smell basil and lavender. Which is great. In fact, here is some lavender. Just smell the screen. Mmmm.
Three Forks Park And Rock Skipping Course
We visited Three Forks Park again today. It’s a great spot, seriously one of my favorite places I have ever been. It has mountains and rivers, basically, so it’s perfect. It reminds me a lot of the places I love in WV, but with panoramic views of the Cascades surrounding it. We are over on that side of the county because Jaime has a clinic shift in Carnation, and without that I never would have discovered the awesome places over there. Today included skipping rocks on the river and vintage motorcycles. If most of my days included those two activities with my kids and friends, I would be happy. Herc and Sarah came along for rock throwing and general hanging out. Arkaedi even said “Sarah” a few times, which was cute. This week she has added blueberries and belly button. So, Sarah is a natural next word.
Throwing rocks in water is one of Viri’s favorite pastimes, and it is quickly becoming one of Arkaedi’s. She was in super cut toddler mode again today. She made for an easy evening too. She played “toddle around and giggle at myself” for a bit, then climbed up into bed and fell asleep. If every day was that easy I would sign up for a thousand more kids. Having gorgeous summer days like today would help too. Although I can’t keep enough water and food on hand for them anymore. The really eat and drink a ton on these hot days. They are Seattle kids, trained to expect constant water falling from the sky, and fresh organic food every ten paces. The desolate wilderness of eastside is a challenge. I’m bringing a full portable kitchen staff next time.
We ended the day with a re-watching of Ratatouille. Viri is at the age where he is starting to enjoy it. We argued for a bit about the rats. He insists they are simply old or wet bunnies. I argued for a bit, but then I gave up. I can’t win an argument with him, and I eventually realize I have been saying things like “No, the RAT is cooking, there is no bunny!” and “Even old bunnies wouldn’t have long thin tails!” to a three year old.
I did get many “I love you, Papa” statements and everyone in bed by nine. So I sort of did win the day. They’ll rest up to challenge me again tomorrow. I’m able to maintain official Papa status as long as I can still throw a rock further across the river than my kids. So, eight or nine more years!
Tonight On Skeptical Baby: The Baseball Game
So, the big lesson for the day is ‘one year old girls and baseball are oil and water.’ Write that down, it will help you greatly.
We had a rough time at the Mariner’s game today. Viri was a little fussy, but not bad. Arkaedi Sue was a demon. Not a demon on wheels, thankfully, but a toddling demon in a green dress. As we were leaving, Jaime said, “Papa is going to the game with his friends next time. We’ll try again next year.”
I’ll probably take Viri to my May game, though. He’s pretty good at these things, without a grabbing and screaming girl trying to jump onto the field. I warned her, but she’s beginning the long tradition of ignoring Papa until she needs money or food. Until next season, baseball is for Papa and his friends, and possibly for a good Viri, just because he looks so great at the park.
We still faired better than the Ms, who lost 8-2 to the Tigers. They’re still leading the AL West, so no worries.
Arkaedi Sue is a funny kid, because she’s so easy in some ways, but she does not sit still. Viri is pretty laid back. He plays, he needs a lot of attention, but he can be quiet and calm. At her age, he would sit through an entire game without a problem. Arkaedi runs and screams and tries to leap to her death fifty times an inning; but if we stay home for an entire day she just runs laps around the couch and laughs and sings. It’s strange. I’m glad my kids are different, of course. I love their distinctiveness. I wasn’t aware it was possible to have a matter and an anti-matter version of siblings, however. Live and learn.
The funniest aspect of it is her skepticism. She often gets this look, a “I’m not doing that” look that we have termed skeptical baby.
She’s destined to be the serious and athletic FBI agent partner to her sensitive and thoughtful brother, I suppose.
Hey I should pitch that as a series. “Arkaedi and Taviri, they’re cops. She’s the olympian with a no nonsense attitude who shoots first and asks questions never! He’s the Harvard PhD who has a heart of gold! See them Thursdays on FX in ‘Red and the Doctor!'”
Or maybe, “Two Barkers With Bite!”
Those are terrible names. Now you see why I don’t regularly pitch TV shows to networks.
Golden Gardens In April
We visited Golden Gardens again today. It’s always one of my favorite parks, and today was a nice day to be outside. Herc and I listened to the ramblings of my insane children, which is always amusing. They both had a good time, and were stuffed with yummy vegan goodness from Wayward Cafe, so it went fairly well.
Viri is starting to be a little rough with Arkaedi, which we’re trying to head off at the pass. I really lost my patience with him a few times this week, and I feel bad about that. Both because it isn’t fair to him, being three and all, and because it doesn’t work. He behaves better when everyone keeps calm. Today we calmly talked to him, and modeled how to act around the baby, and he was much better. She was happier, even, as though she sensed the change in mood when we reacted to his behavior. I think she really did get a sense that it was being dealt with calmly, and responded well to that.
It’s easy to be rough with kids. They drive you nuts, and you want to smack them for hurting their sibling, or throwing food. But it just doesn’t get results. If I lose it and smack his bottom, I feel bad and he just continues to misbehave. When I keep my voice calm, and explain the situation, he behaves. It’s strange, and maybe a little counter-intuitive. I get better results when I stay calm, though, and I can’t argue with the evidence. Always start with the reality of what is in front of you, I say. When I see good results from my actions, when everyone leaves the situation feeling better, I’m going to note that. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get the best resolution to the problem for my entire family. It says a lot about the nature of the world that measured reactions get to the heart of the problem, and start the peace process.
I still have a lot to learn about keeping my voice calm, and moving slowly and deliberately. I’m really learning this year what a spastic little man I can be. Good to know, I guess. Another thing my kids have taught me. I’d better not start a list of what they teach me though, it could get embarrassing when that list far surpasses the list of things I teach them. Maybe I can pay Viri back with teaching him to throw a curveball. Of course, knowing him, by the time I get around to showing him a pitch he’ll have a whole repertoire and be pitching AAA ball. I just need to resign myself to being a spring board for the best members of my family that will come after me.
I can’t throw a good curve anyway.
Day at Beach, with Rainier Looming
Another bizarrely perfect day today. Chilly, but great. I took the kids to Golden Gardens and we watched the trains. Well, me and Viri watched the trains, and Arkaedi was obsessed with the ocean. To the point of saying “WA! WA!” which is incredible interest from an 11 month old baby girl. This nice weather may actually carry me through the winter now. I can possibly hold out until May!
It got me thinking of what my friend texted me about being parents: our kids do get such a range of experiences, and it’s great when we can really bring them something that expands their world. Living here, I have the opportunity for mountains, rivers, the ocean. In the natural environment alone there is a daily reminder of the beauty and power of life. I’ll never forget my first time seeing the ocean. Due to geographic and financial circumstances it was tough to get there, but my kids can see it every day. Easy to take these kinds of things for granted, and we do. But it’s wonderful to be reminded of these things.
After that we came home and Viri and I played puppet shows with Arkaedi. I really am enjoying this stage of my life immensely. I make some mistakes, I get irritated and fail my kids in little ways, true. But I still make sure they get a quality of life that is very good. They learn, play, and grow. I hope I am doing my part to guide them to their destiny.
One amazing aspect of this recent weather is that we get to see Mt. Rainier every day. It’s incredible. I do wish they had kept the native name, Tacoma or Tahoma. I forget what it means. I think it’s “One who comes here to loom menacingly over the horizon and make glaciers, and is all out of glaciers.”
I may be mistaken. Still, having Tahoma standing watching you would be better than Rainier.
And So On... 