Checking In to Say Hello

We attended a "Babes in the Woods" program at the local nature center. Grant was so interested and outgoing. He will probably fall in love with all his teachers just as I did...well until 5th grade when I officially started hating them with all the voraciousness of hell spawn (but they deserved it...those wicked #%ckers).

Then we spent the weekend at the lake with relatives. I had many moments of reflection where I had the "AHHHHHH...this is why we moved!!!!" revelation. Grant was holding hands with uncles and playing hard with his cousins. Grant is now being raised with his family surrounding him...and memories and lifelong relationships are being created!!! YAEEE

I call this series of pics....ode to strawberries. Silly and cute! He loves to put them on his finger tips.

Another road trip awaits. I gotta say...not clocking in at a regular job....has its perks!

Bloomin Onion

Just popping in to wish you a freakin fabulous weekend! We will be relaxing and rejuvinating in a no internet type venue.....so....I leave you with this quote from an unknown source (at least to me) that is my mantra as of lately. Hope you find it meaningful.

"Bloom where you are planted"

Strider Bike Review

After debating whether to get Grant the super cool Likeabike or the Chinese made Skuut....we ended up getting a Strider. It is actually Grant's birthday present (July 7th)...but why have it stored away when he can be enjoying it...so he has already been riding walking it around...and loving it.

Pros:

Affordable...$90 instead of the whopping $285+ for the Likeabike Mini

Super small...so even low on the chart one year olds (like Grant) can sit on it comfortably and safely.

The Strider is built for children 1 - 5 years of age - the seat raises with height.

Available at your local homegrown bike shop (at least it was for us) - so no shipping and handling charges

No assembly required...the store did that for us. Whew.

Appears to be very sturdy and should last 5 years.

Grant immediately took to it and has certainly improved his balance and coordination already

Should allow Grant to ride and enjoy a bike at a younger age without the need for training wheels.

It looks cool...and kind of bad ass...which is almost sad for a toddler...yet I find it somewhat appealing...forgive me.

IT IS FUN and he definitely LOVES it. Makes a great birthday present!

CONS:

Made in China

The bottom of the seat post is kind of sharp and we had to modify it so Grant's heel doesn't keep getting scraped!

Could get scary (for Mom) once he becomes comfortable ...and fast. However we intend to use a helmet as soon as he starts truly riding it and hope to instill safe riding practices early on.

It has full range steering whereas the Likeabike and Skuut have limited steering which is certainly a safety feature. However, Grant likes making tight turns and has thus far enjoyed the steering ability.When speed comes in to play, it could be more of a concern. This was one feature of the Strider that I am do not like...at least for the very young.

Summary:

Overall we like the bike (so does that make it a like a bike...or I suppose it is a likethebike). Everyone who sees it comments on how cute and small it is and most of them have never seen anything like it. However, we are in the Midwest so balance bikes are just now becoming all the rage. Grant certainly gives it two thumbs up. When he really starts scooting on it I will take a video for your viewing and reviewing pleasure. Right now he just walks it around, mostly standing up. However he has just started sitting on occasion and does get some true scooting in. If money is no option and or you plan on having a baseball league sized family....go for the Likeabike if at all possible. However, if you are like us and think $100 is more than enough for a bike...Strider certainly gives Skuut a run for it's money and should be considered while shopping around.

Peace out

Goodbye George & Hello Reusable Bags

The comedian George Carlin died yesterday.....whoa is me.

That dude was awesome...peace out George. Thanks for pushing the envelope.

"The wisest man I ever knew taught me something I never forgot.

And although I never forgot it, I never quite memorized it either.

So what I'm left with is the memory of having learned something very wise

that I can't quite remember." -GC

"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." -GC

Now lets move on to a product review.

You probably know that reusablebags.com is a great place to shop for such things.

This online store is where I purchased these top o' the line bags for my family.

Pros:

Very sturdy

Holds A LOT of stuff...these are the size of a traditional paper bag...but with handles!

Stays open for easy packing and folds up flat...just like paper bags.

Made from 50% recycled content..including plastic bottles

The produce bags are made of organic cotton and are very large

Made using fair wages / fair labor

Washable

Makes a great gift (I gave a set to my parents)

Are handy for carrying anything..not just groceries. I use them for overnight trips, picnics etc.

Helps make a difference in the war against the plague of plastic bags:

"Over a billion single-use plastic bags are given out for free each day. But as the old adage says, nothing comes for free. Here are some facts to illustrate the actual costs paid by our environment and society for the fleeting convenience of unlimited, free, single-use plastic bags. To see the real costs, we must look at the "cradle to grave" multiple impacts and the effects of each phase of a bag's life."

Cons:

You have to remember to bring them into the store with you for them to work :)

They are pricey ($50 plus shipping) - but you are getting a set of 8

They are not as pretty and cool as other brands

They are so big that sometimes they may be filled too heavy for some folks (so they need to remind the bagger to fill them only half way etc)

Overall...I am very happy with this set...

thanks Marissa for the recommendation!

Summa Summa Summatime

Ahhh...back at home after a week on the road. Just playing catch up now. Boy the freedom of not having an outside of the home job...well ...it rocks. Free as a butterfly... a butterfly with an almost 2 year old that is. So for now..I want to just veg out and share with you pics from our recent adventures.

Within days though...I promise to review 3 V interesting and V intriguing products that we have been using for awhile now....

ACME PET reusable bags,

the Strider balance bike &

the Funtainer sippy cup.

Yes I really do look this crazy

Paula has now left the internet

Yeeeee Hawwwww as Grant would say hehe. We are excited about another road trip! Getting on the choo choo tomorrow morning ....off to see new worlds and meet other cultures. Wont be online for the week....so you take good care of yourself and make sure to come back to visit this weekend.

Miss you

Happy Daddy Day

To celebrate Dad we did what dad does..golf. It was Grant's first golf game. We kept cool by eating watermelon slices and ice cubes. He really enjoyed the first nine....then he and I headed home to let daddy relax and enjoy the last nine. I am just starting to learn the game. It would be a nice thing for us to share together...and driving the cart is so much fun :).

Happy Fathers Day to all the good daddys out there! Keep up the good work.

More of the Grant on Guitar

Its a short piece...but I love how you can see his mind working...composing...making sounds from the length of the guitar..and then suddenly ending...as any moody composer would :)

Singing in the Rain

Tap tap tapping away.....

singing all my blues away...

Getting ready for daddy day!

Bubbles Bubbles Bubbles

Happy Hump Day folks. Whats happening? I cant believe its basically mid June already! Where does time go anyhoo?



Some updates:

**I WON something!!! Even more surprising...I won something online! It really can happen. Eco Mama blessed me with this ROCKN California Baby (a fav of mine) tote stuffed with tiny products. THANKS Mama! Your too good. Please do go visit her. She always has great info on ways to create deeper shades of green within your own busy life. Grant is hooked up for a while now. Still need their sunscreen though.





Here he is enjoying the bubble bath



**I am online again for real this time (fingers crossed). Turns out the guy who installed it the first time (2 weeks ago) failed to do his job. He was lazy I suppose and did not replace the archaic reuters that they are always supposed to replace when they come across them. At least its taken care of now. Ahhhhhhhh. Breath in breath out.

Grant met his second turtle at the park...now we are always looking for turtles and frogs (which he met at the last lake visit)


** I did not get the fancy job that I didnt really want but did apply for and did get in the top 5 of 81 and very possibly the top 2 (they checked references). By the time the rejection letter came, I was disappointed. No one likes to be rejected even if it is "not for personal reasons".

** Grant (now 23 months old) has a fever. Came on last night and we spent over 2 hours wiggling in discomfort and eating ice cream for healing. Today he is lethargic and needy..but honestly its easier on ol mom than his normal high energy stunts. Poor baby



**I did apply for a library position...as the children's programming assistant. Its part time...10am - 2pm and would be fun even if its certainly a move down financially and career wise. However..it would be hella fun and would keep my resume active.

**I like not having a job (hell ya)...but staying with Grant 100% of the time is harder than working and I knew that was going to be the case.

**We have nice neighbors and Grant has friends. Living in the hood ain't so bad :)

Waking up Daddy