Seven Wonders of Garrett

1. His sense of humor. Sometimes his jokes make sense...and sometimes they don't. But one thing's for sure, he's always trying to get a laugh. (Sometimes I think kids should come with disclaimers...I never said his jokes were always appropriate.)

2. His obsession with Legos. Some kids play sports, some kids ride bikes, some kids learn karate or read. For Garrett, there is nothing he would rather do than build Legos. You name it, he can build it. It's his favorite hobby, his passion and his first choice when he has free time. And when he's not building them, he's on the website learning how to do everything from make stop-motion animation movies out of them to how the pros build new prototypes. I have to say that I find it refreshing that there is a still a toy that is not virtual, that is creatively limitless and reinforces useful skills (like math, symmetry, fine motor). If only they offered "Legos" as a major in college...

3. His memory. From almost the time Garrett learned to talk (and he was an early talker), it was evident that he had a remarkable memory. To this day, as I try to recycle toys from the older boys to the twins, many of the toys are met with protest by Garrett, followed by the background of the toy ("No, Grandma gave this to me on my third birthday at Chuck E. Cheese", or something similar). This is a blessing and a curse (see #4).
4. His negotiating skills. I guess it helps that he has the memory of an elephant, but when it comes to negotiating, Garrett has mastered the skill. I'm not sure he even realizes he does it; it's his way of being persistent to get what he wants. It would be much easier if his points weren't reasonable, thought-out and opportunistic. Just watch what you say and what you promise, because he WILL remember (see #3).
5. His love of animals. Garrett has always felt connected to dogs, cats, birds and animals in general. He loves to talk with them (if you ask him, he'll tell you he speaks "duck"), share affection and take care of them. He was devastated when we lost our sweet Sequoia and has been begging for another dog- or any animal he could train, tarantulas included (see #4...)- but we settled on a 2.5 gallon fish tank and a few fish. Something tells me, however, that this negotiation isn't over.
6. His art. There is no question he's creative, but Garrett is also a talented artist. Some of the pictures he has drawn have blown me away. And he'll draw everything from comic books to landscape sketches to instructions on how to build a satellite. He has discovered one of the greatest gifts of drawing- the he can draw anything he can imagine (and what interesting insight into his seven- year-old mind...).
7. His heart. No matter how Garrett chooses to express himself, there is always passion behind it (desirable or not). I still (and probably always will) think of him as a puppy- big for his age, a little uncoordinated, but full of love and affection and just wanting some attention. He is loyal, compassionate, honest, hard-working, and at the end of the day, loves to be cuddled and feel special. But don't we all?

Whether he grows up to be an engineer, a vet, a lawyer or an artist, what a privilege it is to watch him grow up.
Happy 7th Birthday, Garrett! We love you!

Thank You. Sorry. I Love You So Badly.

This was the very thoughtful poster Blake surprised me with (also part of the message from church that weekend- another gift to know that they ARE listening, even when you think they aren't).

It's hard to read from the photograph, but it says "Thank you. Sorry. We love you so badly. Happy Mother's Day". You can't really see the drawing of me eating cookies saying "yummmm", but that's at the bottom right. Thanks to the twins for the beautiful coloring job.

Garrett was equally thoughtful and creative with his card.

His words of gratitude are very appreciated and I love that he calls me a "big pretty sunflower". But most of all I enjoy knowing that the reading time we spend together is as special to him as it is to me.

It really is true- mother's don't need gifts, we just need to know we are loved and appreciated!

But when we do get gifts, a flower in the form of Lego's is a perfect gift from my Lego-lover Garrett, and the "flower trophy" (as Ella named it) that Blake built is perfect from my son who loves to build and use tools.

A very special thank you to Brian for his shining example of unconditional love. How lucky am I?

By the way...I love you so badly too.

Tri'ing it Out

It's official...Brian is a triathlete!

Checking out the competition and the course.

First the 400 meter swim in San Diego's Mission Bay.

Not an official "event" but practically a sport in itself...changing out of the wetsuit while running, and changing into your biking clothes, then a running mount on your bike for the 9 mile bike ride.

And then running without your bike for a 5K.

All to successfully finish the sprint triathlon.

It was his first go at completing all three legs of a sprint triathlon and he did GREAT! It was the first of several scheduled this year and he intends to continue down this path while working up to a full triathlon eventually (quite a challenge, which you already know if you've ever tried training for just ONE sport to race...). But if anyone can do it, it's him. Congratulations on your first of many and may you swim like a fish, ride like the wind and run like the gingerbread man.

And an extra congrats to Renee on her first tri swim relay.

Mommy's Helpers. Or Not.

I can finally say that having twins is getting a little easier. Sometimes. With their increasing age of 2 1/2 comes more opportunities for independence and autonomy. We get to teach our toddlers how to put clothes on...put their dishes in the sink...clean up their toys...brush their teeth...get up into their booster seats...and so on and so forth. There is no doubt that while this takes an initial investment of patience, I am paid back with valuable time and freedom to not have to meet every moment's need. So we want this; we encourage this; we need this.

And then I am quickly reminded that the twins' interest in learning isn't just to know how to be "mommy's helper". They are curious about a lot more than that. And while I've made no effort whatsoever to teach them these things, here are some of the other (they might argue valuable) skills they have managed to teach themselves:

*how to work the water dispenser on the refrigerator (let's just say I don't need to mop quite as often and there is always a towel handy)
*how to turn the outside hose ON (and somehow not understanding how to turn it off?)
*how to assemble- and more importantly- DISassmble sippy cups
*how to unlock and open the back sliding glass door (gaining unlimited access to the back yard when ever they want)
*how to work the volume control on the tv (great for getting mommy's attention when I'm otherwise occupied)
*how to open the inside door to the garage (which gives them access to all their "stored" toys...for which they have no interest in trading out)
*how to undo the child lock for the pantry (at least they lock it back up when they're done)
*that the step stool is portable...making a whole other level of things within reach (and that any box or bucket turned upside down can be used as an adequate substitute)

If I can look past the messes, the frustration and relinquishing some control (quite a challenge for a self-professed Type A), then I can appreciate the wonder and amazement of their little minds in discovering the world around them, and the self confidence they build when they learn a new "skill". Even if that means they are giving themselves mud baths...right after I've given them a real one.

Happy Mother's Day to the Moms of the world...you make the world a better place!

The Dresser- a noun AND a verb!

If you know her, have seen her, or just know OF her, then you know Ella just LOVES to dress up. Constantly. And not in the sparkly-fluffy-princess-meet-barbie type of way...more in a bathing-suit-pajamas-cape-and-helmet kind of way. Okay, so she's very unique in her fashion sense. I guess the point is that she doesn't need a designated costume to express her creativity.

In most circumstances I consider this a good thing. Four kids ago it might have stressed me out knowing that a trip to the store would engage stares and curious smiles from strangers at her peculiar get-ups. But now I'm so used to it, that it doesn't even occur to me to offer an explanation about that day's outfit (or, more accurately, that moment's outfit), unless the person asks about it. Expect for maybe the "gas mask" that people thought she donned at school pick-up the other day--it's a "firefighter mask" and has NOTHING to do with current world events. Come on, people, she's TWO.

She has a thing for bathing suits...and hats...

and goggles...

Ella sporting her "duck feet" as she calls them (yes, those are gloves on her feet).

Here she was channeling "Andy" from Toy Story as she held Woody and "skated" away on her "skateboard" (who knew there were multiple uses for a xylophone?)

The down side? Her ongoing wardrobe changes (we're talking 8-10 times a day) mean that there are clothes....E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E...while her dresser sits empty. No matter how picked up her room is before quiet/nap time, it is inevitably turned upside down and inside out by the end of it.

Before quiet/nap time...

...and after...

I've given up folding her clothes, sorting them and neatly putting them in the drawers. I've given up doing multiple loads of laundry daily because I don't know what's clean and what's not. I've given up trying to pick out her clothes and encouraging her to dress in "cute" outfits (or even "girl" outfits, for that matter). It's a never-ending battle that, quite frankly, I'm too tired to fight. It didn't take me long to realize that dressing up is THAT important to her...and staying sane is THAT important to me. And the kicker is that at the end of the day, her absolute FAVORITE thing to wear is...you guessed...her birthday suit! Perhaps she would be better nicknamed the UNdresser.

The Hills are Alive With the Sound of...

Runners. Thousands of them. There were occasional cheers, clapping, shouts, bells and yells from bystanders, but mostly it was the sound of thousands of rubber soles gently and rhythmically drumming the pavement that was deafening and no competition for my ipod. It struck me several times throughout the race as oddly beautiful. We were all there for different reasons, but all had something in common. Two things, actually- running and a "goal", whatever that might be. You could argue that we were all glutton for punishment for running a notoriously hilly course, but regardless, we were all there because we were trying to achieve something. That's when I realized that running is a labor of love and that I could say that I really was enjoying myself. The view wasn't so bad either.

Ironically, it was those same foot-drumming-partners-in-running that ended up causing me the most frustration. It's normal to start a race as a swarm of people, each starting strong and vigorous, with a sense of excitement in the air. I expected that...for the first couple miles. But it never really seemed to loosen up. Much of my time and energy were spent dodging and dancing around other runners (especially on the hills), trying to find a path and some space to find a comfortable cadence that I could maintain. I'm not sure that ever happened. So while I was much more prepared mentally and physically this time around for the distance, I had not anticipated that major distraction. But, at the end of the day, it's not about what happened around me...it's about what happened within me. I didn't get discouraged, I didn't let the monstrous hill intimidate me, I didn't doubt that I could finish and I didn't give up. I trained hard, stayed positive and ran to the best of my ability, and in my mind, that makes me victorious. I've said it many times over...the journey is the reward; the medal is just the reminder.

My stats:
gun time: 2:05:56
chip time: 2:03:04
official pace: 9:24
gps calculation (factoring in additional .35 mile covered due to weaving): 9:09 pace with an adjusted finish time of 1:59:52

Red Hawks, Blue Dragons and Tired Twins

To be honest, I was relieved when both Blake AND Garrett announced they both wanted to play spring soccer. I was a little conflicted about having them on the same team since I have been trying to let each child find what they love and are good at to minimize competition with each other (and Blake just happens to love and be good at soccer). But since the boys were okay with it, I decided it would make my life easier too...and I was looking forward to having them at the same place, at the same time, and (hopefully) on the same team. Well, one out of three isn't bad, right?

As it turns out, although they are close in age, Blake was bumped up to the next division because he is already 8. So, while they play at the same field on the same day, they play an hour apart and on different teams. Since there are no weekday practices and games are kept to an hour, it is worth the 3 hours total we spend on the sidelines. Even if we do end up sacrificing naps for the twins.

Blake is on the Red Hawks team made up of mostly 9-10 year olds and is doing great! Since he's pretty tall for his age he fits right in and since the game is 4 on 4, he gets plenty of action. Blake is still not very aggressive, but he's really showing good control over the ball and can be counted on when it comes to passing. He's already showing dramatic improvement and his team has won all their games so far! Go Red Hawks!

Garrett is on the Blue Dragons and is loving his first experience with soccer! He gives 110% when he's on the field and really puts his heart into it! And the best part is that he loves it! Even after having to deal with being intentionally tripped by an opponent and running off the field in tears. After a short pep talk, he got right back out there and left it all out on the field. Way to go Garrett! I was extremely proud of the courage and determination he displayed in getting back in the game after he felt humiliated. Isn't that why we stand for 3 hours on the sidelines...so they can have opportunities to build their characters and learn how to adapt to winning and losing in life? I hope he can hold on to that moment for years to come.

Of course, all my observations are based on the limited amount of time I actually get to watch soccer, since my eyes are usually fixed on the two two-and-a-half year olds who are usually overtired (since soccer conflicts with nap time) and don't understand why the Tired Twins team doesn't get to run around on the field with their brothers. So they try to pass the time looking for bugs (and trying not to squeeze them)...

playing with rocks, eating LOTS of yummy snacks they don't usually get, and discovering the special "backpack" of toys that they only get at soccer. The twins are getting a little easier to manage but by the end of this long day the twins are making themselves makeshift beds with clean diapers for pillows and our picnic blanket for covers...when they aren't climbing INTO the stroller begging for a nap!

Only to fall deep asleep on the way home- at 4:30pm. Oh well, it's just one day a week. A small price to pay to see Hawks soar and Dragons slay.

What's New(s)?

One of the coolest things about being a Cub Scout is the opportunity to learn about new things- like news casting. Garrett's Tiger Cubs den recently had the opportunity to tour a local tv news station (KUSI) and see all the things that go into making a news cast.

They were able to tour the control room with all the screens and buttons,

the news room where all the news comes in,

and how it all comes together on the set.

This is where they shoot the sports casts.

They even got to experience the magic of the green screen

and witness an actual taping of a news break update. How cool is that?

Future news casters? Future news makers? If so, we can say it all started here...thanks to KUSI!