A Taste of Summer

Well we had a taste of summer this weekend and we decided to bite and chew and enjoy every last tasty morsel. We did it up right because we don't know how long it will last or how many true summery days we will get this crazy season.

The kids splashed in the sprinkler, ran around wearing the bare minimum and threw water balloons.

The adults sat in chairs toasting in the summer sun and threw water balloons at each other.

We ate outside, the kids on a picnic table and the adults in chairs munching on veggies, grilled burgers and hotdogs.  Dessert was a special treat.  I love any excuse to try something new.

Bakerella did it again.  That woman is amazing.  These are her latest sweet treat, cookies and cream cupcakes.  I followed her recipe to the letter, except for the part where Betty Crocker stepped in and helped with the cupcake batter.  Thanks Betty.

"Sun is shining. Weather is sweet.  Make you wanna move your dancing feet." -Bob Marley lyrics
We capped off the evening with some dancing.  The kids showcased their best moves.

What did you do this weekend to enjoy the sunshine?

Our Version of Sleep Training

The title of this post could also be "Sleep Training for Dummies" (that's me) or "What to do When You Are a Slave to Your Children's Bedtime. "

The truth is, in preparation for Sarah's arrival into this world I read a lot of sleep books.  Baby Whisperer.  Happiest Baby on the Block.  No Cry Sleep Solution. are among a few of the books I read in hopes of becoming a sleep expert.  I wasn't.  Actually, I was an expert at all of the different methods, but was less successful at applying them or making them work for our family. Things did not go well, Sarah was waking multiple times in the night from about three months old and I read more sleep books.   The Sleep Easy Solution was also perused.  Dr. Sears' website became my go to place to make myself feel like there was light at the end of the tunnel.  Finally, at ten months old, Sarah began sleeping through the night and we never looked back.  She needed and still does need a lot of sleep, so she was a 7-7 girl and we liked it.  Sarah was also relatively easy to get to bed.  Stories, snuggles and good night.  That was it.  It was so easy.  Even when we transitioned her to her big girl bed, bedtimes were a breeze 95% of the time.  Then she turned three and she got scared of a lot of things and claimed she could not fall asleep by herself.  Last June we started laying with her every night to help her go to sleep.  Then last August, when Jack gave up his crib at the ripe old age of seventeen months, we started laying with him too because if you didn't he would just wander out of bed.

This month, we were away for three weekends and I realized I am a slave to my kids' bedtime.  It was downright painful at some points.  So last Sunday, we decided it was time to end all of this laying with our kids at bedtime.  It was cutting into our adult time and it was messing with our own sleep as we would often fell asleep with our kids and we would wake up twenty minutes later, forty minutes later or even an hour later.

Last Sunday, we started a sticker reward chart for both kids and explained the new bedtime routine.  I know some people are against reward charts, but this one is working well and it helps the kids keep track of how many nights they have been able to fall asleep on their own.  Sarah is even doing some math which I like.  I hear her saying things like, "I have five stickers, I only need two more to make seven."

This week, after our usual teeth brushing, stories and snuggles we take a chair and sit in the doorway of their rooms for ten minutes.  After ten minutes we leave whether they are asleep or not.  On the nights that Captain Canada works late, I sit in the hallway between the two rooms.  Most nights, Jack does not need anyone to sit for him.  The next step is to stay upstairs for ten minutes, but not sit in the chair anymore.  This has been way less painful than I anticipated.  Apart from some major stall tactics from Sarah, there has been very little resistance. I am happy to report, we have had seven days of not lying with our kids for bedtime.

Like anything with parenting, you have to do what works for you and your child(ren).   You need to take all that parenting information and advice that is out there, weed through it and pick out what makes the most sense for you and your family.  So although it won't work for everyone and is certainly not perfect, we feel like this week, we have made progress.  And if you see Jack and Sarah at Toys R Us tomorrow picking out new toys, please don't judge:)

Tell me, what is something that worked for you and your child in the sleep department?

Wordless Wednesday: He Shoots He Scores

We Did It: Tent Camping with Two Kids

We just returned from a weekend of camping in Fort Ebey State Park near Deception Pass in Washington State.  It was our first attempt at tent camping since having kids.  Luckily we had the H family with us so we could get our bearings and ride their coat tails.

View from the bridge at Deception Pass

Our new instant pop up tent.

It was not all sunshine and lollipops on this camping trip.  I mean really is it ever all sunshine and lollipops?  We were camping with not one, but two 2 year olds so there was a lot of head shaking followed by a no or  a no way.  Those two year olds decided Saturday night was party night and both were very resistant when it came time to sleep. We had a defiant four year old along for the ride, so there was that.  I had a battle of the wills with that same four year old and her walking stick and it would be generous to call the battle a draw. At night the Schwartz Chronicle family all slept on the same queen size mattress which is not comfortable for anyone over the age of four.  Unpacking isn't that fun.  Last night our house looked like a campsite that had a few too many cold ones and threw up.  So really why did we do it?  Why would we do it again?  Why when I look back on the weekend do I start thinking about when we can do it again and where the hell can I get another air bed for dirt cheap?

Here are some of the reasons that it was all worth it:

Watching the kids play together and make up games outside.  There were explorer games, chasing games and games that involved catching escaped babies.  In preparation for the camp fire, they collected leaves to put into the fire.

Sitting around the campfire is one of my favourite things about camping.  The kids liked it too, especially when the marshmallows came out.

The fresh air, the outdoors and the evening sunsets made a pretty spectacular package.

Our camping buddies.

Mr. Jack in silhouette.  Check out those eyelashes.

An afternoon at the ocean where the kids played and we enjoyed the air, sun and water.  As Michelle said,  "Isn't this the best?  This is what summer is all about."

Josh catching some waves.

Jack was afraid of the loud waves, but thought it was funny when I got my feet wet.

The kids loved catching things in their nets.  It was usually rocks and sand, but an adventure all the same.

Emma and her chicken wing digging in the sand.

I love this photo of Jamie playing in the water

Look, I can take a photo once in a while

Spending the weekend with good friends who understand that a morning Starbucks is a must also made it worthwhile.

*Already noted for next time, group photo taken at the beginning of the weekend when we are more clean and less greasy.
** Where is Jack you ask?  He refused to be in the photo and was in the car watching a movie.  How old is he?  Oh that's right, he is two.


How do you feel about tent camping with kids?

Wordless Wednesday- Hanging Around with Princess Sarah

Sarah has been attending pre-school day camp this week.  She has been loving all the things that go along with her day camp.  She gets to see her pre-school teachers, play with friends and learn about things that interest he. I have been enjoying the time one on one time that I get with Jack.  The part I am not enjoying is the 11:00 p.m. bedtimes that go along with day camp.  It seems that they have quiet time in the afternoons and she keeps having naps.  Sarah has not napped since she was 2.5 years old and so the naps are wreaking havoc with our bedtime routine and schedule.   We have a lot of time to hang around together in the evenings while I am waiting for her to get tired.

Love is.......

We just returned from a weekend vacation with Captain Canada's family.  Our trip took us to one of my favourite cities in the world, Seattle.  We go to Seattle quite often and I have written several posts on my recommendations for an exciting kid friendly vacation.  So rather than bore you with all the details, I am going to spend some time tooting my own horn and tell you how I made some sacrifices and gave out a lot of love this weekend.

Love is taking your kids swimming four times in a two night hotel stay.  P.S. There was no hot tub.

Love is carrying your 36 pound toddler around downtown Seattle for a half an hour, with a full diaper.  My son does not smell like roses.

Love is kissing your husband good bye and telling him to have a good time at the Mariners' game while you entertain your two kids for five plus hours in a hotel room.  I am not going to lie, we did leave the hotel room for a couple of hours.

How did you show the love this weekend?

I am linking up over at Bees with Honey for Let's Bee Friends Friday.  Check it out.

Siblings: From Screaming to Loving in 3.5 Seconds

Their new favourite fight usually starts out kind of casual.  They argue discuss whose turn it is to pick a t.v. show or whose turn it is to get into the bath first or whose turn it is to get out of the bath first.  The discussion argument quickly escalates to their go to move,  both are screaming at the top of their lungs, "Stop yelling at me."
Their finishing move is they both dissolve into screamy, yelly tears.  Jack sometimes tries to use his hands to get what he wants, but not in a good way.  All in all, sibling fights are alive and well at the Schwartz Chronicle household.

But this love in occurred today.  Jack could not get enough of his sister's snuggles and Sarah could not stop huddling and cuddling him. So despite the yelling, screaming and the unresolved issues around turn taking, they do love each other.

Weekend Round Up: Trying new things and cruisin' with cousins

It was a busy weekend away.  Jack and Sarah were in their glory because they had a visit with Nana and Pa were able to spend a full twenty four hours with their cousins, E and A.  This included lots of play time, trying new things and a sleep over.

Down time before bed Friday night.

I saw first hand this weekend how experiences and exposure shape a child's confidence.  I know this is not exactly a new concept, but something as obvious as that becomes so much more meaningful when you see it in action.  Sometimes, I am quick to expect my kids' confidence and abilities to transfer from one activity to another and that is not always the case. Sarah and Jack have had very little exposure to trampolines.  This weekend while spending time with their cousins, they had plenty of time to play on a trampoline.  At first, they were a little afraid of the trampoline, very cautious and doing almost no jumping.  They gripped the walls of the trampoline tightly when others were jumping.  But, by the end of the weekend, they were enjoying their time on the trampoline and doing jumping even while others were jumping.

It was also their first time on a slip and slide.  At first, Jack and Sarah would run up to the slip and slide and stop. Next they tried running on the slip and slide, not quite sure how to make that transfer to a sliding position.  After several more turns, a little help from Uncle N and after watching their cousins, they got the hang of it.

Jack and Sarah also were introduced to the world of guinea pigs this weekend.  We don't have pets and so it took a little warming up before Sarah would hold them with comfort. Captain Canada and I incorrectly called them hamsters, Jack heard us and called them "hamburgers" for the rest of the weekend.  The guinea pigs may have heard Jack calling them hamburgers because every time he went near the cage, they scurried for safety.  No one wants to be thought of as fresh meat, especially when there is a hungry toddler involved.

With the help of Captain Canada, Sarah played her first poker game this weekend.  Her favourite part?  Stacking and re-stacking the chips.

This was not his first rodeo. Jack had no problem jumping into a game of street hockey.

The kids had a blast this weekend and were exhausted.  Sunday morning, they were both napping by 10:30 a.m.
This weekend I learned to be patient and with most things, familiarity breeds confidence.

Ebb and Flow

Ebb and flow, ebb and flow.  These words have been flowing in and out of my brain this week as we all adjust to our new "normal" for the summer.  I am fortunate that I get to spend the summer with my kids.  I get to enjoy time with them outside and inside.  We revisit old favourites from previous summers and Sarah will almost always ask, "Did we used to go here when I was a little baby?"

We also check out new places and create memories on new adventures.  It is what I strive for because when I look back on my own summers of childhood, there are so many good memories.  I remember playing outside with my sisters riding bikes, playing kick the can, going to the beach.  I remember family vacations of camping and driving across Canada.  I am sure within those moments there was screaming, crying, embarrassing moments at restaurants, sunburns and mosquito bites.  But those things have fallen to the cutting room floor of the film that has become my summer memory reel.  The movie that plays in my head as I watch my kids enjoy summer.

This week there has been many good times, some great times and there have been tough and frustrating moments.  Times where I wanted to give myself a time out.  In the whole scheme of life these tough moments were small, not a big deal.  We are not talking about fighting cancer or having to stay inside all summer.  Sometimes I need to remind myself, my tough moments are not a big deal. We are talking about screaming fits, fighting siblings and tantrums.  This week I was told that I am a mean mommy and I am not liked, but I was also snuggled tightly and told I am the best mommy in the whole world by the same four year old.  Ebb and flow, ebb and flow.

It was impossible not to catch Sarah's over flowing excitement about her first ever ballet class.  Monday afternoon it was operation ballet outfit search.  We found her the whole outfit and I practically had to rip it off her Monday night before bed.  Her first ballet class was a huge hit.  Unfortunately, I watched very little of it because Jack was screaming like a banshee to go to the park and the instructor said, "You're going to want to take him out."  Rats!

The ebb and flow of our night time and sleep patterns continues. Just a few weeks ago, Jack slept in his own bed all night and by himself six out of ten nights.  But with a poof, that pattern disappeared and he is back to waking for snuggles and sleeping partners.  We love his snuggles, but are constantly trying new things to get him to stay in his bed.  Sarah sleeps with a stuffed wolf.  It is to keep away the tiger that is in a recurring dream that she has.  We are hoping to get Jack to feel the love for a stuffed wolf and then he will feel less lonely in his bed.

Update:  Jack fell asleep hugging his wolf.  Let's see if he stays that way.

What's summer without marshmallows to hold and squish and eat?

This is just a snippet of our summer so far.  I know there is much more to come.  Places to visit and memories to create.  I am sure there will also be forgettable moments.  More moments for the cutting room floor.  It's all about ebb and flow.