Favorite Things: Sammamish Farmers Market

Don't wear perfume in the garden - unless you want to be pollinated by bees. ~Anne Raver

During the summer, every Wednesday written in the calendar is "Farmers Market".

We love the little farmers market. I have a weird infatuation with the lady who sells eggs.

Someday I would like to have chickens and collect their eggs.

Weird - I know.

Everyone gets one treat

Homemade Ice Cream


Due to the 'diet' my treat was always an apple.

And I discovered a new apple I am in love with - Ginger Gold. We had an apple tasting evening with the missionaries. The missionary from Alaska thought there were only 3 kinds of apples. Something a visit to Washington will teach you.

One Wednesday Wesley stole my apple and ate it. So I bought him a cookie and we traded.

Things Every Mom Should Know

"The years teach much which the days never knew." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love to read Parents magazine while going to the bathroom (why waste such valuable time?). I came across an article tonight. I think if I knew this woman - we would be the best of friends. Her name is Kacy Faulconer. She wrote an article in the September 2009 issue titled
"39 Things Every Mom Should Know"

And i LOVED her advice.

Here are my favorites (my comments are in italics):

#2 - Don't make birthday parties a huge deal (amen!!)

#3 - Do your chores while kids are awake. Using up naptime to wash dishes or clean the bathroom is truly soul-crushing. (don't you know one of my favorite things to do is nap? it's so important to your body and mind)

#7 - Don't beat yourself up in you have to use a bribe (we all do it!)

# 9 - Buy cheap shoes when kids are little. Feet grow faster than you think

#10 - That stain won't come out. And it's okay (The sooner you accept this, the better) - this applies to me as well. Despite Tom trying to teach me how to properly eat for years, I still spill and quite frankly - I don't care!

# 15 - Answer this question: What is the worst thing that can happen if your kids sleep in their clothes? (or wear pajamas all day long?)

#23 - Teach your children to make their own breakfast - and allow enough time so they can do it without pressure (Preston knew how to make his own breakfast by the time he was 2 years old. This is a vital part of being a member of our family. Frozen Wholewheat Blueberry Eggo Waffles are a necessity!! The other day Preston got Wesley out of bed, gave him a bottle, and when I came downstairs for the morning they were cuddling watching TV, can you tell I encourage independance in our family?)

#31 - It's fine to brag about yourself to your kids (I totally do this!!!! and I think you should too!)

and I saved the best one for last - I thought I was the only one out there that does this - so it made me feel SOOO good to hear that another woman shares my wonderful idea (well, it's a good idea to me):

#24 -" I can't stress this enough: Use duvet covers on your comforters and forget about a top sheet. Not only will you thank me for this advice, but your kids will thank me as well when they are leaving to make their bed!" (Top sheets are the biggest waste of time and money - just get rid of them and buy duvet covers that are cotton!)

now I shall compile my own list for you. To Be Continued.....

Things "I Believe" Every Mom Should Know

What Do I Believe Every Mom Should Know? Just like my friend Kacy Faulconer says: "When it comes to raising children, everyone is an expert"

My "expert" advice:

1 - Don't fold your laundry. Your children don't care and they will mess it up anyway. (Thanks to the confidence Carlen gave me that I was being "efficient" I decided to openly confess my non-folding method).

2 - Figure out something to do each night to decompress. For me it's play computer games (thanks to Carlen for introducing me to Diner Dash). We all need something to take our brain somewhere else for a few minutes (okay, maybe an hour!)

3 - Believe in Karma: Don't judge other moms because it will come back to bite you in the rear end and HARD!

4 - Read "The BerenstainBears" to your children - it will teach you life lessons and give you good parenting tips. Has anyone else noticed that Mama Bear is all knowing and the authors make Papa Bear seem less intelligent than the children? How do those authors REALLY feel? Sometimes I think about asking Stan Berenstain - why he didn't stand up when Jan was dissing the Papa - or maybe he really is wise and knows the truth :)

5 - Only do laundry one day a week. Buy enough clothes for your children to last a week or more. Then sit at home one day (usually this is Monday for me). What' not done, can wait the following Monday. Of course you must make an exception and turn on the washer when your little one tinkles on the bathroom rug!

6 - When you are having a problem - ask EVERYONE's advice. And try it all.

7 - Watch Supernanny to learn how to do Time Outs correctly. And get lots of ideas for Positive Reward charts.

Lastly - Don't listen to expert advice. Mother Instincts & Promptings from above are by far the best advice you can follow.

More "Advice" For You

#8 - Let your children eat French Fries (especially sprinkled with sand)

#9 - Look your children in the eyes when they talk to you.

#10 - Tell your children that freckles are angel kisses. I still know the true source of mine - Even at my age I still get angel kisses. Especially in the summer. Angels must love warm weather.

#11 - Let your children eat by themselves at an early age - even if they get yogurt or cake all over. Eating messy is so much fun! After 30 years experience, I am an expert. Ask Tom - he isn't even sure how I do it.

I Will Just Keep Going and Going - Until Someone Stops Me!

#12 - Be Silly. Make sure there is laughter in your house. Teach your children to make others laugh. Lucky for us we have one of the best teachers in our house (Tom).

#13 - Listen to your mother. Even at age 30 - we must still listen. Lucky for me I have a great mother who I want to listen to! (Love you mom!) This really is her angry face.It makes me laugh. But it used to really PISS me off!

#14 - It's important for your children to have pets.

(and make sure and rescue pets from the side of the road)
FYI for Denny - these are not snakes. They are hermit crabs!

#15 - Speaking of snakes.... urg! snakes..... although it is hard for me I make a sacrifice by going over to the snakes and lizards at the Petstore. But when I do, I always say, "Ewwwww - gross"
Advice: make sure your children know where you stand on important issues (like snakes).

PS: - More advice coming your way......

#16 - Allow your Brother-In-Law to teach your children about matches:

(and my pyro mother won't be left out of fire lessons!)



#17 - Children will teach your patience. Most things will wash to shore if you just sit back and wait.

#18 - Vanilla McDonalds Vanilla Cones are THE BEST. Always help your children "clean their ice creams" - even when you are on a diet" (Enjoy food! - REALLY enjoy it!)

That's all folks - my advice lessons are over.

Feeling Hot Hot Hot

The time will come when winter will ask you what you were doing all summer. ~Henry Clay

Summer was unbearable for 2 weeks in Seattle - hitting a record high 107 (are you thinking Seattle, really? Yes - seriously!). We went to grandma's at 10am and came home at 10pm.

Here are the lazy summer photos to remember in winter.

(Mom and I jumped in the lake - first time since they moved into the lakehouse. The water was so warm it wasn't even refreshing. But it was cooler than outside.)

What did we do this summer? A whole lotta nothing. And enjoyed every moment of it.

Take The Boys To The Ball Game

A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz. ~Humphrey Bogart
(Branden would agree with this too)

While the boys were at the game living their food dreams through Preston - Heidi and I were at home enjoying smores - delicious smores.

I am not strong

I do not have willpower

Branden and Tom are devoted.

Diet Score for Today - Branden and Tom won! By a landslide.