a new pet

After an adventure with Erik two little boys came running across the deck, opened the front door and cheered “We got a new pet!”

Really? May I see it?

                    

Okay, yes, this pet is an okay addition.

They found a cricket while digging in a friend’s sandbox. I am pretty sure he was hoping to spend a bit mire time snug under ground. Instead he became the object of affection and attention for two boys. He stayed in the bed of a toy dump truck (an indication that it was a bit too cool for his liking). He was given fresh grass and leaves daily. They even took a bottle cap and filled it with water for the not-so-little cricket. Other bugs have been captured and added to the back of the dump truck as friends for the cricket… they do not hang around long. 

I do wonder when the next ”pet” will arrive… and what that will be. For now I am quite happy with a cricket in a dump truck.

an ode to Phil & Teds (a half-hearted gear review)

Phil & Teds is a crazy New Zealand company.

Their website always makes me feel extremely straight laced and like I am not having enough fun parenting. 

We have been loaned a Phil and Ted double inline stroller since the summer after Euell’s birth. Here is one of those first days:

image

This is a older version of their simplest stroller. The back seat can be easily removed (I used to detach it with Euell asleep and carry it in the house where I would prop it up with pillows and he could keep napping). The front wheel can be pivoting or locked… for those times I felt like jogging (or walking with super-fast-Amy). The front seat can be laid flat (when the back seat is not attached). I read the new strollers are designed so they do not tip over when your child in the front seat hops out (in the past year Euell has gotten big enough to tip over sans front seat rider). The stroller folds up nicely to fit in the back of the car. 

But really the point is it is inline. This contraption is narrow and easily maneuverable. It works great through stores and around town. I have even been inspired to push it up (for some reason I only remember the ‘up’) trails. It has been great.

People always ask if the child in back gets frustrated because he cannot see… No. In fact around here that is often the prized seat. 

The other FAQ: What do you do if the back seater kicks the front seater? Switch them. After all the back seat is prized, so if you are willing to forfeit that seat by kicking the backside of your brother up you go. (This did not become an issue until well after that photo above was taken… wow, they were little guys.)

So that was not really an ode. I do not sing at the thought of pushing nearly 80 pounds of children anywhere. Yet I can remember those days when it was lovely to push my two little guys. And I can clearly remember joy, utter joy, at the thought of an inline stroller (Phil and Teds were the only makers of such things way back, you know, three years ago.)

There was plenty of singing… Country Roads was a favorite.

Now it is all cleaned up and ready to be sent back to the midwest for the next little cousin.

gear review: Yaktrax

Erik and quickly fell in love with our Icebugs and they became essential for our romps on the icy North Shore of Flathead Lake. The boys have generally been fine finding their way along the ice on the shore. Yet, the site of spectacular falls this winter was our gleaming driveway. I appreciate Liam collecting the morning newspaper, so I decided he either needed a helmet and padding or some traction. Local shops sell kits for studding shoes… I was wondering which pair of shoes or boots to sacrifice to ice when I thought to check on Yaktrax.  Yaktrax size XS is a women’s 2.5-6 or a men’s 1-4.5. Liam’s boots are a size 1, so we decided to give them a try. 

Yaktrax are:

  • A lightweight easy to use ice-traction device. (according to their website)
  • They consist of a piece of rubber mesh that stretches from toe to heel of your shoe or boot. The rubber along the bottom is wrapped in a steel coil. 
  • They are spike and stud-less.

                        

They worked great on the driveway. No more spectacular crashes. No more slipping at all… even with a crazy four-year-old run. The problem came with walking on the shore with very little ice (there was no need for Yaktrax for most of the walk, but he was too excited to not wear them).  

The Problem:

                     

They popped off often as Liam jumped through tall grass and brush on the walk to the shore. The popped off when he kicked the sand to point out the tracks he spotted. They popped off as he kicked at the ice and snow. This is easily remedied by looping a velcro strap through the sides of the Yaktrax and over his boot. In fact, all but the basic (Walk) model of Yaktrax include such a feature. This is actually the problem that resulted in our discovery of Icebugs. (Erik kept losing Yaktrax in the deep snow he cut through on his walk to work.)

They are nicer than Icebugs or other studded shoes as they can easily be removed and tucked in a pocket until one needs them. I still keep a pair for me in the car… just emergencies or unexpected ice on a trail. They are also quite affordable (especially this time of year).

But they really are not necessary at all if you choose to scoot across the ice like a seal.

                   

gear review: Carhartt Insulated Bibs

Cool and wet fall = mud.

After washing mud crusted snow pants three days in a row I needed a change. The snow pants were not going to make it until December at this rate. When the boys were little(r) I layered warm clothes under their rain gear. This worked great, but now that they seem to spend even more time crawling around (pushing dump trucks over rock piles), I was not willing to subject rain pants to such treatment. Cheap snow pants cost less than rain pants, yet I wanted some outer ware that would last.

A discussion with Erik had us loading up for a trip to Murdoch’s and coming home with two pairs of Carhartt insulated bibs. 100% cotton duck outer layer with a quilted polyester liner makes for burly, warm gear. Thankfully they were on sale. 

                    

They were doused with a can of Camp-Dry and hung outside for two days. I am not sure the Camp-Dry was really necessary, but Erik was. 

These bibs have been Liam’s winter uniform… yet he does not live on a farm or have a snow machine. Although I am certain he would be happy heading out to slop the pigs every morning… in his Carhartts.

Why do we love our Carhartt bibs?

  • They get better with washing.
  • No child will ever be able to wear out a pair before out growing them.
  • They are warm.
  • My boys have yet to get wet through them.
  • Ankle to knee zippers.
  • Carhartt brown amuses me.

What do we not love about our Carhartt bibs?

  • The suspender closers are tricky. (see photo below)
  • The sizing is a bit odd. We bought a size four for the two-year-old because the torso length was too short in the toddler sizes. We just roll up the legs and hope they will fit him for years. 

                      

I am having a hard time not buying a pair for myself.

some confusion about gear reviews

I started this blog with the intention of collecting a good list of kids’ gear and gear to help their adults. I am quickly realizing that many things kid-related change as fast as I form an opinion about them. This leads me to wonder if I should bother writing a review on something that has already been ‘up-graded’ or discontinued. Oh well… I probably will. This may at least help someone else somewhere make a decision.

Or know what to look for on ebay or craig’s list.

developmental milestones

As a new mom I decided to pay little attention to developmental milestone charts as I knew a few too many parents driven a bit insane by “milestones”. I knew most kids are fine, surely mine would be too. (I did have a clue, as I am a pediatric nurse.)

None of those charts hit on two key milestones:

  1. Throwing up in a bucket (instead of all over everything and everyone)
  2. Getting thumbs into mittens and 10 fingers into gloves 

I am pretty sure our boys have now mastered both.

Oh, growing up is great.

sweet peaks

A few weeks ago there was an article in the Flathead Beacon about Don Scharfe… the owner of Rocky Mountain Outfitters. The article mentioned that the year Don turned 50 his goal was to climb 50 peaks and that this past year he turned 60 and with that came the goal of 60 peaks. (Which he far surpassed.) This got me thinking about the lack of summits in my life. The last ‘peak’ I can recall climbing was actually a butte. Hum.

                    

                                                                      Liam’s first and my last summit

So I have been toying with the idea of setting the goal for Liam (okay, really for myself) of climbing five peaks with him as this is the year he turns five. I feel quite free to use the term ‘peak’ loosely… ‘summit’ is probably a better term. I was running ideas though my (stuffy at the moment with a blasted cold) head and decided to search google for “easy peaks in the flathead”. Number three on the list was Sweet Peaks… a peak I have enjoyed a little too often. It looks like it is time to close the computer and get out a map.

ice + rods + boys

Ice fishing has been a frequent topic of conversation around our home. I think its source was Trolls on Ice, an article in Montana Outdoors. It was written by a friend and features his son, so it took on particular significance. I remember reading it over breakfast and not having any idea how strongly my boys where going to hold on to it. 

Finally, an ice fishing date was set. Last Friday. Friday came. It was 22 degrees and the wind was relentless. Would this deter two little boys? Not in the least, even though their parents were wishing to sit indoors with hot cups of coffee and warm cookies. After a trip to town (to gear-up) three o’clock was upon us. Erik looked concerned but I just kept layering up the kidos. I assured him fish were not needed. I assured him that ten minutes on the ice with fishing rods would thrill our children. I tucked them in the car (and went back in the house for some hot cider).

After two and a half hours (and a set sun) I thought about going to look for them… then I heard a car door. Liam came running in cheering: “We had so much fun! We did not catch any fish! Dad threw us around the ice!” Euell popped in the door with his own “Yeah!” and some hopping. Erik entered last with a dismayed look on his face… “hours ago I started asking them if they were ready to go home”. 

                    

cross-country skiing (with boys and without sleds)

I have been wondering if I would be able to convince Liam to ride in his KinderShuttle this year… then I began to wonder if I would need to convince Liam to ride… then I had to wonder if Euell would ride if Liam was not. Hum, If You Give A Mouse a Cookie seems to be a theme in my life.

Yesterday I decided we needed to ski. I convinced myself not to think too much or give my boys too much time to develop their own plans. A half hour before we headed out the door I asked each kido if he wanted to ski… cheers of “Yes” and some fancy dancing ensued. Does everyone want to ski the whole way or should I bring a sled? “Ski, ski, ski!”

Alright, we were out the door with three sets of skis and two sets of poles (they decided that was fine because they each only needed one pole). And it was great. Liam needed about five minutes of coaching before he was gliding along in my tracks. Euell started out strong, and while he skied the whole way, the last two-thirds he wanted to hold my hand. Sweet, but not too quick.

                         

The system we eventually settled into:

  • I skied ahead breaking trail, then skied back over my trail to Liam
  • Liam skied up the my trail and occasionally a little further (singing and shouting ‘hello’ to anyone within half a mile)
  • At our meeting point Liam and I would have a quick chat and then I dashed back to Euell, who was happily standing in the exact spot where I stopped holding his hand
  • I would turn around and we would ski up toward Liam, who would wait for me to start breaking trail again.
  • Repeat for two (yes, two) hours!

A few times I felt like I was back in crazy-new-mom-mode. (Like when I was convinced it was not a big deal to carry kids in packs on both your front and back… at the same time… around town. Yeah, they make strollers for situations like that.) Then I would look at those two little guys on their skis. They said they were having fun. They looked like they were having fun. I was having fun. I was even getting a bit of a workout when I was up breaking trail by myself. It was not the peaceful (silent) ski I had the day before. I was not what I have always loved about cross-country skiing… but it was what I love about having two little boys.

                        

something

I have always been a chronic list maker. Long ago my day started with a piece of paper and a pen along side my breakfast. After Liam was born the lists I had once found so helpful began to taunt me. I could not even get a list written, let alone check anything off. I am pretty sure “write list” was written on the top of a piece of paper at least once. I was not willing to kick the list habit but I began limiting myself to three things. Three carefully chosen goals for the day… one check would mean 33% of my goals were complete (much nicer looking than the 5% per check off). Then Euell appeared and there were many a day where my three items were “breakfast, lunch, and dinner”. 

Now we have moved along a bit. My list are slowly getting longer. But today we were in the throws of post-Christmas-family-time-withdrawal. Nothing, nothing, was getting done. Reading, drawing, even putting stickers on paper was not working. I looked out into the snow and 16 degree weather and already felt cold and tired. So I got up, took a few deep breaths and opened a cookbook. Fig, olive oil, and sea salt challah was going to be my something. Euell quickly joined me at the counter while Liam cut paper at the table. I turned off the radio (as it seems to encourage loudness) and we were all working quietly. As the counter was being wiped clean and the dough was resting in a oiled bowl the phone rang… neighbors inviting us sledding. Getting out the door was not quick or easy, but it did get done. Hours were spent running up the hill and giggling down. The run got longer. The running turned to walking. Cheeks turned red. And I breathed a little easier talking to an adult for a few minutes and realizing that doing something tends to clear the path for another thing.