Fairs

Well, we headed on down to the Puyallup Fair- I think safe to say the biggest fair in Western Washington, not sure about the East. Speaking of, once you get a little ways outside of Seattle, it's a whole different world out there. The towns remind me a lot of small towns in Idaho (duh) I am just surprised by them because Seattle seems like such a big city. The contrast is quick and sharp.

Anyway, it's funny to see how things change when you have kids. Exactly 6 years ago, Stephen and I were going to our first Fair together- the Western Idaho Fair in Boise. He hadn't gone much as a kid, whereas I was big into 4-H growing up and then raised 4-H lambs for 5 years and practically lived at the Fair for a week taking care of them, competing and stuff. We had so much fun that summer, I loved showing him around, looking at every exhibit, checking out all the animals, sampling endless varieties of Fair food.

Fast forward 6 years-a very different picture. Now we have 2 toddlers who both have opinions and needs and are both mobile. The big attraction was the animals and we were constantly fighting with them about petting them (since there is a sign on every pen warning you not to- that your fingers look like carrots. Ada didn't get the concept of "baby carrots"). Yes, we finally found the actual petting zoo. Instead of sampling several foods, we had to opt for the kid friendly corn dog eaten in a rush all together. Instead of pounding through the Expo building and seeing every 4-H and open class exhibit, I had to satisfy myself on a meandering stroll though one aisle and a quick peak at the art and photography. Even last year, at the Wisconsin State Fair in Milwaukee we had more "control". Ada was a compliant baby who just had to be nursed. No problem for her that it had to be in the cool of the Expo building behind the Potowanamee bingo set-up (that was my problem). So, life is all about giving and recieving. Stephen is much better at the giving than I. He's learned that if you give a child all the time they want to look at something instead of rushing them through on your agenda, she will be more cooperative and willing to give you time too (translate: fewer meltdowns in the end). Odessa got her 2 carousel rides, we all got to watch the horsemanship competition a little and I did get my coveted kettle corn.

When we were in the cattle barns, someone asked a girl with steers where she was from. When she said "Forks", I sucked in a deep breath like I'd been hit, elbowed Stephen and hissed "she's from FORKS". I wanted to talk to her about the town, but felt so silly that I was so awed by someone actually from Forks, I just shuffled past her. So, this reaction worries me slightly. Am I a "Twi-hard" a "Twilighter"? Earlier this week, I got sucked into the Stephenie Meyer posted copy of "Midnight Sun" and although I whole-heartedly think she is not the best writer, she has a way of pulling you into her characters by writing well about their emotions (an opinion gleaned from my more astute sister). After reading sometimes, I feel like I just woke up and am having a hard time sorting out what is reality and what is not. That sounds powerful, but I am easily swayed I guess. Living "so close" to Forks makes it tempting to drive out there some weekend and check it out, but deep down, I am not sure I want to be dissapointed by the reality of the town. Oh crap, I AM a Twilighter!
Stephen's birthday was a little low key. Saved perhaps by the surprise babysitters and movie night out and the new suit he got with his mom and dad's gift certificate. Next year he will turn 30 on 09/09/09. How cool is that? My sister said the Chinese are really into the numbers thing, like they loved that the Olympics started on 08/08/08. Gather, my Chinese friends, we will party in 09.

That Wonderland- IKEA

So last night was our first trip to an IKEA. Amazing, considering we have been married for 4 years and have been buying only used and cheap furniture those entire 4 years. I guess because it seemed that everyone was buying it, so I was stubborn and wouldn't get interested. Well, we have several furniture needs, so Stephen finally showed me online how cheap their furniture was and was so gung-ho about getting something THIS WEEKEND that we hopped in the car and drove to Renton.
The many, huge parking garages were our first impression of the "compound". Stephen wanted to take the girls in the stroller, knowing intuitively this was going to be a long shopping trip. He marvelled at the "families only" parking complete with signs of strollers and a walkway as only a transportation planner would marvel. As we fell into line with the streams of people headed towards what we assumed was the store we remarked how the atmosphere was a little like Disneyland, so enormous, so organized. "Do you think there will be long, roped lines to see things?" Stephen joked.
My first reaction to the store was "Arrrghhhh". Huge showrooms full of furniture, making it hard to single out the one piece you were looking for. They were all very pretty and alluring, making you wish you could just take the whole room home (isn't that the point?). Finally we made it to the areas where most of the nightstands were grouped together, the bookcases, etc. This, I could do. After much debate, 2 shoes thrown out of the stroller and a sock, 2 whining kids and one escapee, we made our decision. Ada was now darting into the aisles, terrorizing people with her chubby ankles and shoeless feet. I took the kids towards the entrance while Stephen picked up our jig-saw boxes 'o furniture.
The kids saw the playland and stood with their noses pressed up against the glass, gazing at the massive blue ball room. The kids playing inside mercilessly pelted them both with balls, hitting the glass where they stood. I have never seen anything so pathetic. I gathered them up to go see if they could get in and play. Alas, you have to be 3 and potty trained to play in their wonderland of fun. I tried to explain this to Odessa, feeling she did not understand. We went back to sit and she stood on the bench, gazing hungrily at the ball room and said "I done being 2, I get 3 now." She proceeded to try and convince me that she was all done with being 2 and now it was time to turn 3 and play on the ball room.
I distracted them with the food area. We got an ice cream cone, cinnamon roll and Swedish meatballs. Well rounded meal- ha!- but all so cheap! We finished waiting for Stephen while I marveled at such a place. Where else can you get 5 meatballs for a $1 and a hide-a-bed sofa in the same place?
Once our boxes o'furniture fit in our car, we were completely satisfied with the experience. I still think the place is a bit ridiculous, but I love it all the same just as I love all warehouse stores where I can get a bargain. As we drove home, I made a deal with Odessa: once she is going potty all the time in the toilet and wearing big girl undies, we'll go back just so she can play in the big blue ball room. She was so thrilled, I actually think this may work. She came and got me this morning, so far, so good.
Speaking of warehouses, this week I finally made the trek to the nearest WinCo Foods. I was giddy. You should see the bulk section. You should see how wide the aisles are. You should see how many other people have kids and how one person actually picked up something Ada threw from the cart and handed it to me with a smile. It probably took me 2 gallons of gas max to get there and I spent no more than 2.48 per pound on 3 different meats! Everything was cheaper, the selection was awesome, I am so happy. You have to understand- cooking is my favorite part of being a mom and wife and WinCo is my all time favorite grocery store. It doesn't help that you have great memories shopping there as a tike with your mommy and then worked for the store as well when you got older- I feel like I am still vested in the company or something.
This week is Stephen's birthday, so it will be fun. I made homemade cupcakes tonight which Odessa COULD NOT wait for. When we were finally enjoying them, frosted with sprinkles and all, I remarked something to Stephen about freezing some for his birthday if he liked them enough. Odessa interrupts to say to me "oh, don't worry about my birthday mommy, it's perfect" as she took a big lick of her frosting. Talk about giggle fit!

In Brief- not really

Well, our camera is now re-broken, so photos will have to wait. For those of you long time Hunt blog readers, you will recall the super glue camera fix. No one expected it to last forever. I think we will skip the repairman this time and maybe invest in a new camera. Suggestions anyone? Hey crazy Asian photo taker (you know I am asking you).

We spent a lovely Labor day weekend in Boise at the Hunt family reunion aka Nana's birthday bash. Stephen's parents bought the house next to them years ago, so with all their kid's families, we filled both houses up with fun. The food was great, the company was great, Boise is great. I have come away from both of my last trips there wanting to move home! That is a first. I have always appreciated visiting home, but now I guess I've turned that corner when it's time to settle down and I would really like it to be in Boise. Oh, I could go on and on about how much we like Seattle and that these feelings are just a product of me not being 100% comfortable living here yet, etc, etc. But honestly, it's more than that.

Nana turns 90 this year, thus the birthday bash. It was so fun to see lots of pictures of her life and hear and read some of everyone's memories about her. She is one awesome grandma, I couldn't touch her accomplishments on this blog if I tried. She is a tiny lady, such tiny feet! But so full of life and fun and hard work.

My sisters and I (I have 3) are starting our 3rd round of the Biggest Loser contest. I am trying out the dental diet plan. I had my cavity filled yesterday. I didn't want to eat for about 6 hours afterwards. I figure anything that makes me shudder at the thought of putting food in my mouth isn't all bad. At least if I had to be that uncomfortable (I didn't do well with the Novocaine) all I brought home was a lack of appetite and not another baby- I just kept thinking, was labor this bad? I think the adrenaline of giving birth does miracles- there is no adrenaline involved with dental work and I apparently can't cope well. I did get my trays for my free whitening though. I wear them for 30 minutes twice a day and can't eat for another hour after that. That is 3 hrs a day, no eating allowed. Another weapon in my arsenal for my fight for weight loss!

If you haven't read Breaking Dawn and want to, stop reading this paragraph. It contains "spoilers". I had a dream shortly after finishing the book where I had a c-section and my body was "frozen" in it's current state immediately after. So the baby fat was there, no chance to get rid of it. I was relieved in the dream that there was such a good excuse, and even woke up thinking that I had a supernatural reason for why my middle won't just shrink back to it's original size!! It was so comical, I have laughed about it for days.

More later about my recent domestic adventures when I get the pictures downloaded (words just won't do it justice). Suffice it to say, we have been busy, busy, busy and that's how I like it best.

A little bit ironic, don't ya think?

So I got my teeth cleaned this week for the first time in 3 yrs. Hey, don't judge. Grad school loans don't include dental coverage. As with most appointments of this kind, you kind-of prepare. Like when you style your hair before getting it cut or clean your house before the cleaning lady comes. So I flossed my teeth the night before, made them bleed and super sore the next morning since I obviously haven't been flossing regularly. Perfect condition for my exam. An exam where they take sharp needle-like instruments and poke them into your gums around every tooth five times to measure how recessed they are and how much blood comes out so they can tell you how close you are to getting gingivitis, gum disease and losing all your teeth. Honestly, when in the pre-exam interview I said I had a high tolerance level for pain, I was thinking of giving birth and stuff. You know they give you a local anesthetic for stitching you up after giving birth. So you feel one needle, not 60! Don't think I blame the hygienist, I think she did a good job. I blamed myself the whole time for not flossing regularly AND for flossing just that once the night before- such a mistake. The cleaning was state of the art with a high powered squirt of water that blasted the plaque away and cleaned under my gums. I laid there wishing I were just giving birth again.
Another irony this week. The Olympics. Like a lot of Americans, we have been staying up late to watch sports events we feel are important enough to miss sleep for. The result is being so tired the next day, the last thing I want to do is exercise. It's been an Olympic effort just to get through the day with the girls. When you watch these athletes, there is always a little pang of "wow, they are so fit, I wish I were in better shape" and then you feel like a slug the whole next day on account of watching them! (Anyone know why they broadcast so late? It's from 9pm to 1am here!) And isn't it ironic that I would skip out early on church volleyball to come home, sit on my can and watch the women's gold medal beach volleyball match?

Animal tendencies

We had a great time last week when my mom came for an impromptu visit. We visited Pike Place, Golden Gardens beach and Discovery Park. She had to endure our "heat wave" while she was here, but did a great job and kept the girls happy and tried to put me out of work with all her helping around the house. One day we were at a tiny park nearby when she noticed a large embankment of blackberries across the street. She immediately took the girl's sand castle bucket and loaded it up. The next night we sent Stephen over and he came back with almost a gallon of blackberries. They are some of the sweetest I have ever tasted.
Now I know where I got my "black bear" tendencies from. Turns out my dad is even worse than my mom, he can't pass by a wild bush without stopping and picking. When I was 6 months pregnant with Odessa, Stephen and I took a 10 day trip camping along the Oregon Coast in August. There were blackberries everywhere and I could never walk anywhere without stopping to pick. Even at historical sites and forts, I was picking berries rather than looking at the sights. Stephen nicknamed me his "little black bear". I always knew that I got my hoarding-food-tendencies from my mom. I feel like a squirrel sometimes. Now I feel part squirrel, part bear. Thanks to mom and Stephen, we made blackberry coffee cake, blackberry pie and a batch of jam while my mom was here. Although it wasn't the best weather to be heating up the house with all the baking, it was worth it in the end. And now I have freezer jam to last all year. Stephen and I decided we could eat most anything if it had that jam on it. Maybe if Stephen can pick some more, I can make jam for my friends for Christmas gifts!
She also cut Odessa's hair. I still have to shape it a little because of all the calicks Stephen bestowed on her, but it looks so much better. Thanks mom for everything!

Odessa-isms

Thanks to Kristyn for the inspiration behind this post. All toddlers say cute things. Although it's usually a lot more funny to parents and grandparents than anyone else, here we post for all to read and hope that some will make you laugh.

This picture is her being a dinosaur.


this is word for word:
Odessa had her toy phone to her ear, came up to Stephen and I (who were conversing) and said
"Shhhhh, I'm on the phone!" in a whisper.
Then, into the phone- "Oh, that's great." pause . . . " Sure, how're you doin'?" . . pause. . ." Are you kidding? No, don't worry about that".

On the playground as I attempted the swinging platform thingeys, she caught me totally off guard when I heard her call across the playground: "Try it Mommy, you can do it. C'mom Mommy!"
and when I had completed "Good job Mommy!"

A sweet moment: I was putting Ada down for a nap, had her laying across my lap and asked her if she wanted me to sing her a song. Odessa came into the room, and said "I wanna sing with you". Ada watched her, mesmerized, as Odessa sang along to "Hush Little Baby", every verse. It was so sweet in her baby voice, looking into Ada's face. She has never sung with me before. I didn't know she was listening so well all those times we sang it to her.

Odessa gets 2 treats for going potty in the toilet. Sometimes when I get her treats, I help myself to one for going potty all day myself : ). One day as I was pulling up Odessa's shorts after going to get her treats (I hadn't given them to her yet), she caught a whiff of my breath and said in a disbelieving tone - "Hey! you're eating MY treats!"

Coming up to me, after she had gotten down from the dinner table, glancing at my empty plate: "Good job Mommy, eating your dinner all gone!"

We tried to persuade her to eat some raw spinach, she looked at the forkful with disdain and said "No, it's like . . . leaves!"

Trying to load a Sesame Street game for her on the computer:
"Try harder, you can do it!"
still loading . . .
"Try harder!"
"Odessa, I'm doing it as fast as I can."
pause . . . thinking
"No, I'm the rabbit and you're the tortoise". (it took me a moment to understand her Aesop Fable application)

We practice new words with Odessa a lot. She will try and copy our words, so we repeat them for her. Turning the tables on Dad at the park:
"Bumblebees are called flies. Say it. FLIES."
She has continued to do this with us. "Ada is asleep. Say it. ASLEEP."

At the breakfast table, the window is open.
Odessa: "what's that noise?"
Me: "what noise?"
Odessa: "Uh huh."
a moment later
Odessa: "What's that noise?"
Me: "cars?"
Odessa: "no"
a moment later
Odessa: "What's that noise?"
Me: "I don't know."
Odessa: "Hmmmm" (cupping her hand to her ear very dramatically) "sounds like a rooster".
"I have a cow and horse, I live on a farm. "
She went on to explain how to take care of animals on the farm. Looks like we need to head back to our rural roots.

the art of driving in Seattle

Warning: the following may contain disparaging remarks about the roads and driving skills of people in Seattle. While not wanting to give offense to my Seattle native friends, the following are my narrow-minded and passionate opinions about traffic in the Emerald City. Consider yourself warned.

Ever since moving here, I have made some keen observations about traffic, roads and driving here in Seattle- especially in comparison to Chicago. You would think as a transportation planner's wife, I would have some sympathies in that direction, but I have to say my views continue to exasperate and stupefy my husband.

Pedestrians: What the heck? They think they run the streets here, as if all cars are moving in subjection to them, like they are the ones that have given us permission to be on THEIR streets. You weigh 150 pounds, I am driving a 2 ton piece of metal. If my light is GREEN, it might be in your best interest to get the heck out of my way. Don't cross the street just anywhere and don't assume you can step off the curb just as my light is turning YELLOW!! I am coming from Chicago where the art of running yellow lights was born and perfected (especially in the burbs!!) You can ask witnesses- if there is someone in a non signalized crosswalk, I will be the first to come to a screeching halt and block all traffic my direction and yell and honk at traffic coming in the opposite direction to fight for the right of that person to cross in a crosswalk. But people here think they can cross anywhere and you will come to a screeching halt. This is because as a pedestrian, all you have to do is approach the curb and people will come to a screeching halt for you. I have had this happen to me and I try and embarassingly wave them on "GO you idiot, you have the right-of-way, you are setting a horrible precedence!"

Streets: I tried to give myself a couple of months to understand the layout of the streets in my common "routes". This is pointless. I have never seen a place made of so many crazy intersections, one way streets that turn into 2 way and then back to one way, streets broken into 10 fragments and all named the same, streets that curve and change names, then curve and change names again, streets you cannot turn off of or cross, streets that forbid left turns at one intersection, then at the next and the next. How am I supposed to turn left? How am I supposed to get anywhere without getting lost 4 times? I was told by a woman who is big into history and has lived here for more than 25 years: the 2 original city planners could not agree on a layout for the streets of Seattle. One was an alcoholic. They finally smashed the 2 plans together and that is what we got- a drunken, smashed-up system of roads that make you dizzy to look at on a map, let alone drive. I have to Google 2 separate trips- one to get there and one to get home because you can never just come back the way you went.

Driving: It has been said of Seattlites that they are passive aggressive. Wow, that's an understatement. In Chicago, everyone drives both aggressively and defensively. This means that traffic flows fairly well- in and out like a river that flows around obstacles like parked cars, cars turning left, cars merging into traffic, etc. A river of honking, cussing, speeding and swerving, but a flowing river nonetheless. Driving downtown Chicago is like playing a video game to me. All senses are on high alert, you need to poise your hand on your horn for needed communication, you have to watch every corner of peripheral vision for possible obstacles (pedestrians have to watch the heck out for you) and you must have excellent instant reflexes. In Seattle, no one uses their horns, not even if someone unknowingly pulls right out in front of you, nearly killing you and themselves. I find that I can't honk or communicate with other drivers or pedestrians without feeling like a great big schmuck. So I just swallow it and it smolders until we get a post like this (passive aggressive). The concept of merging seems foreign here. No one seems to get the idea that to keep traffic moving, they have to speed up or slow down and let people in. Instead, it seems to make sense to them to keep moving at your speed so you have to come to a screeching halt and stop all traffic behind you as well. I wouldn't even write this if it hadn't happened to me repeatedly, both on and off the freeway.

Cars: Pure amusement. For every Hummer I saw in Chicago, I see a Mini or Smart Car here. For every Lexus in Chicago, I see a Subaru. For every SUV, a compact car and/or hybrid. There are equal amounts of BMWs and Mercedes. I've had no Limo sightings here, a daily occurrence in Chicago. I had a Hummer sighting the other day for the first time. It was like spotting a black bear as you drive along through the mountains. I looked for obvious vandalism on it- I'm sure it's been keyed a few times. No clue how it fits into the parking spots at places like Safeway or the mini garages in the homes here.

For all the wonderful things about Seattle that I tell people, I have to stop short on the driving experience. So when you come to visit, just leave the driving up to us. Meanwhile, I am doing my best to convert the city to the speeding, swerving, honking river one passive aggressive driver at a time.