seussical

On the way home from school I told Poppie we were going to see a play. She answered, "Oh good! I love the play! We could run... we could jump... we could kick my beach ball..."

We watched Seussical mucical. It was great - even little guy sat still to watch it.

I though of you the whole time, Erica! I was picturing you up on stage. I read a million Dr. Seuss books to Miss P before bed, and I was surprised and delighted to learn that I still know the Lorax by heart. I guess reading it twice a week for four years will do that to you.

trip to the playground

Loading the bus.
Taking time to smell the flowers.
The little climber. We can't keep him off anything!
Nothing says Aspen like taking the dogs for a walk in a doggie stroller!
Cody kickin' it on the walk home.

Here we are spending a lovely day at the playground. We took the bus in and walked home. Poppie walked most of the whole way home - three miles. She might be a long distance hiker some day like Gene.

a great toy

My good friend Kristi's boys outgrew this wooden train set, and now Poppie and Cody (and Gene and I) get to enjoy it. I've always liked this toy, but now I absolutely love it. It's great in so many ways; it builds spatial relationships and problem solving, it involves team work, it teaches about magnets, it's dramatic play, and it takes concentration to get the trains around the track in one piece.

Three cheers for Thomas the train!

The only drawback is that I've has the Thomas theme song stuck in my head for going on two weeks now...

the times, they are a changin'

So you, my faithful readers agree it's better to eat local non-organic produce that organic produce that comes from far away. I'm glad to know this, because I've been wondering, and I trust you guys a lot. So I'll keep shopping at the fruit stand. Yum.
It's a scary time we live it, because food is becoming so... what, f**ed with. Most of the food I see at the grocery store is, first of all, full of sugar, coloring, and preservatives, and then on top of that, it's packaged in plastic, which leeches into the food. It's really depresses me when I think of the options out there. I love my family... and myself, and because of that I really try to fill us with the healthiest food I can find - even if it is more expensive. Is it worth saving a few dollars to eat herbicides, pesticides, and artificial sweeteners? Will we end up paying for it latter when I, or someone else is fighting cancer? I really really really hope not.
The latest change I'm trying to make in our home is to eliminate the daily use of food related plastic. No more prepackages plastic cups of applesauce in lunches, no more plastic sippy cups everywhere we go. No more Nalgenes. Well, that's my idealistic goal - I still carry a Nalgene everywhere I go. I'm far from perfect. (And by the way, Evenflo now makes glass baby bottles, you can order them online.)
I know some people might roll their eyes at my fight against convenience, but it's really important to me. The generation above me especially thinks we are a little fanatical, but when our parents were growing up EVERYTHING was organic. There only was organic. Everything was fresh and local and probably really delicious. Water came from the well, pies were made in the kitchen with apples that were picked from the tree. (I'm drooling thinking about it...)
As Gene and I try our hardest to raise strong, upstanding, resilient, healthy kids, this is something I end up thinking about a lot. I hope I'm not preaching too much. I'm just passionate about taking good care of my family, our bodies and the earth. I think it's really all we've got.

help me!

Who needs help, Cody? Poppie? Gene? Me?

We are all ok now. no more tears.

I think this picture is kind of funny (i know i'm mean to say this) because Cody never cries, and Poppie never wants to hold him or have anything to do with him...it's just unfortunate timing.

gitty'yup

fruit sand

There is a local fruit stand across the highway from our house. We often walk or bike over there to get afternoon snacks and produce. I aviod driving the car at all costs, and this fruit stand can help put off the drive into town to go to the grocery store maybe all summer!

The other day we bought a bunch of cherries, tomatoes, greens, and the best cucumber I've ever tasted. When we got home, Poppie ate all the tomatoes that I thought would last us a few days. What a little rabbit.

growing up

"Can Poppie come out to play?"

My first reaction was to say NO and shut the door. She's only two and a half, after all. But I remembered my manners, and invited our little neighbor boy in and they played for a while. She showed him all "the guys" (stuffed animals), and they philosophised about if the biggest cow is the daddy cow or just a pillow. Before long they were snuggled up on the couch under Blankie. Poppie doesn't snuggle or share Blankie with just anyone, so I relaxed and came to accept that she really is grown up enough to play with the older neighbor kids.