Phosphate Smoshphate

Some of you may have seen in the news that Washington state has enacted the second strictest phosphate ban in the country. Spokane, lucky us, is the pilot county for this program. You can no longer buy dishwasher detergent with phosphates in it here. Average law-abiding citizens have found themselves running across the border to buy bootleg detergent in Coeur d'Alene.

In these difficult economic and dish-washing times, I wouldn't be surprised if people start driving to the bad neighborhoods where shady characters lurk on street corners selling Cascade out of their trunks. Then, before you know it, the price will go up and they'll start cutting the Cascade with cheap shower gel to make a better profit. Then innocent people will find their dishwashers overflowing with bubbles and damaging their plumbing with the contaminated product. Insurance companies will go bankrupt repairing the damage and will request a government bailout. The Sierra Club will protest just because they have to have something to protest about. Rush Limbaugh will rant until he turns purple. All the children of America will be forced to scrub pots and pans with their bare hands in violation of child labor laws.

All for the sake of a little phosphate . . . .

Woe is us.

A Few Stray Items

Max the Mathematician
Max competed for his school at the Math is Cool competition a couple weeks ago. They are on 4 man teams in events like team tests, brain math (all calculations in your head--no paper), relays, and college bowl sessions. Most of the public and private elementary schools in the greater Spokane area field multiple teams, so there were an awful lot of kids there. Max was pleased when he won the top individual from his school.

Max was pretty upset when he found out that Math is Cool and the Pinewood Derby were on the same night. When we explained to him that the rest of his team would have to drop out if he didn't go to Math is Cool, he recognized where his responsibilities lay. His friend Joseph agreed to run his car for him. While it didn't place, Max did get to have the fun of making the car and spending some time with his dad.

Can a grown-up use a pediatrician?
We took Natalie in for her 15 month check up. She weighed in at a feathery 18 lb. 13 oz, gaining only ten ounces in the last three months. That puts her at about the 3rd percentile for weight. This isn't a bad thing--she's just a little bean. But, the pediatrician wants to make sure she isn't running off more calories than she can consume. So we are supposed to start putting more butter on her bread, feeding her Ritz crackers with peanut butter and whisk cream cheese into her scrambled eggs! Now THAT is the kind of prescription I'd like!

Words of wisdom from Natalie
Daddy. Dad. Mom (She doesn't call me Mommy . . . kind of weird, I think.) Banana. Duck. Cow. What's that. This. Drink. Cookie. They may not be wise, but that's all the words she says, so take your pick.

Hope it is a whole lot warmer, sunnier and less dreary where you are than where we are!

How to Catch a Leprechaun

Elise is determined to catch a Leprechaun. Something at school last week sparked all this and it has been a frequent topic of conversation ever since.

Mom: So what do you do with the Leprechaun when you've caught him. Do you make him into Leprechaun soup?

Elise (wrinkling her nose): No! If you let him go, he gives you his gold.

Then yesterday afternoon Elise set up her super duper trap. The idea was that the Leprechaun would see the little teddy bear in the bowl and would come to play with it. Elise, who would be lurking around the corner, would then sneak up and push the backpack which would then tip the bowl over and trap the Leprechaun underneath. Rather Scooby-Doo-esque.

Elise's enthusiasm was infectious and got the whole family involved. Camille drew a picture of a smiling Leprechaun decoy to reassure any suspicious Leprechauns. Brett and I were summoned a number of times to approve subtle changes to the trap or to watch Elise rehearse the plan. Cameron and Natalie did their part by, shockingly, not wrecking the trap even though it sat in a main traffic area for eight hours. Max hovered around, blanketing the process with his skepticism, unable to stop himself from making comments at every turn.

After eating shamrock cookies for FHE treats, Elise announced "I have to go to bed early tonight because I have to get up at one o'clock in the night to catch the Leprechaun." (I loved the 'one o'clock in the night' part.)

In spite of her efforts, there was no Leprechaun in the trap this morning. Elise told us that she was just too tired to get up and spring the trap. But she did find the following tiny note, written in green ink "Elise, Nice try, but us wee Leprechauns are very smart and very quick. Better luck next year. You didn't get my gold, but I've left you some of my silver." It was signed Finneus McCloud and had a quarter tucked underneath.

So, the Leprechauns are safe for another year and Elise's enthusiasm is intact.

Tonight, we will be enjoying our annual dinner of corned beef & cabbage with Irish soda bread. My kids think it is as crucial to the holiday as turkey is to Thanksgiving. It is one of those traditions you wouldn't dare break. Max is especially excited about the cabbage. Go figure!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Our House . . .

Where every day is a potty . . . I mean Party!

(Don't you wish potty training was this much fun every day?!)

At our house you sit in a colander in the rocking chair just because you can.

It is a house where some curlers make you feel like a princess.

And you don't even mind when your sister wraps
you up in a blanket and totes you around like baggage.

Run Like the Wind, Bullseye!

Go, Brett, Go!
Saturday Brett ran his first half marathon along the banks of the Snake River between Pullman and Lewiston. He was still not completely over this nasty cruel bug we've had but decided to give it a try anyway. I wasn't even sure he'd finish because when he'd run 5 miles a few days before he came home coughing up blood. Not pretty.

Not only did he finish, but he finished in 2:07, just a few minutes shy of his original, healthy goal time. He was hammered, but he did it.

Melissa came and ran some support legs with him to help out.

Doug drove Melissa and gave Brett someone to make faces at.

Next year, Doug will be running with Brett and Melissa, so they'll have to make faces at me instead! Or maybe Ken. :>)

Happy Pictures

A little Conga anyone?


One morning last month I heard a lot of movement and laughter coming from the living room. When I went to check it out I saw all five of my kids lined up in their pajamas, looping their way through the living room, dining room and kitchen in a conga line . . . complete with 'Dada dada da DA!' sound effects. They were obviously delighted and having so much fun together. Even Natalie and Cam were fully into it. So, of course the camera had to come out.

This picture is a little blurry, but I think it shows the spirit of the moment better than the other.


Tooth Fairy Duels Boy?


Actually this is one of Camille's favorite outfits in which to dress Natalie. You'll notice that there is a small pink teddy bear protruding from the waistband of the tutu. Whenever she tucks the bear in, Camille says "Okay Natalie, it's time for your conscience" then sings 'Always let your conscience be your guide.' If you missed the reference, think Pinocchio. Most days we find Natalie dressed up in some sort of garb.

Fortunately Natalie is eager to participate in any of the kids games. She loved it when Max armed her with a K'Nex sword and taught her to sword fight. She loves tackling Elise when she hides under a blanket. And she'll even give wrestling with Cameron a shot. She is secure in the knowledge that she is well-loved and fully expects to participate in everything we do.

A few days ago we were a bit rushed for family prayer, so we just quickly stood in a circle in the kitchen. As Brett was getting ready to call on someone to pray, Natalie clasped her little hands together and walked into place in the circle, looking up expectantly at us for confirmation that this is what she was supposed to do. It was one of those sweet, joyful moments that parents don't forget and that make all the rest of it worth it.

"Ohhh . . . FLU!"

I know, 'flu' isn't a swear word, but it sure feels like it should be. We have had the most nasty virus at our house the last week. We are so steamrolled it isn't even funny. Brett, of the excessively sturdy immune system, is still feeling awful even on day seven. I, of the correspondingly excessively crappy immune system, doesn't find that comforting since I'm only on day four!

The kids have been sick, too, but not as bad as their parents. We're holding our breath hoping that our aged bodies just didn't deal with it as well as their sprightly forms. What we're really afraid of is that they have another milder bug as a preview to catching this nasty, cursed thing that we have.

I think Brett will have to abandon any time goals he had for the half marathon on Saturday. Crossing the finish line will pretty much be a huge victory in and of itself. As for the 5k I was going to run the weekend after . . . only if someone drags me with a four wheeler. Hey, maybe that is an idea! It couldn't make me feel worse than I already do!!

Happy Health,
Love,
Brett and Kim