The Devil's Crayon

So, yesterday was a bad day. It started off with Shelby at the doctor's office - she had developed an owie on her leg that got infected. Long story short, they took a culture and are now testing it to see if it is a MRSA infection. As a precaution, the doctor prescribed an anitbiotic......

This led to phase two.....Walgreens. We've never been incredibly impressed with their Pharmacy. However, it is close to our house and had a convenient drive through. So, on the way home from picking up Camden from Preschool, I swung through the drive through and picked up Shelby's prescription. I get home with the kids, unload the bags of medicine and out rattles a bottle of 1/2 inch pills. I think to myself, "eh?" and then get really irritated that they gave us pills instead of a liquid. Long story short...there is another Shelby Lee who also had a prescription to pick up and we got her's too. So, the lessons here are A) be sure to double check your prescriptions (even if the bottle has the correct name!) and 2) Walgreens on Military and 288th is lousy.

Then, after kids were in bed and I thought I had a nice evening of folding laundry came phase three. I unloaded the dryer and immediately realized that I had managed to wash and dry a red and an orange crayon. I found it rather amazing just how badly it managed to cover EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF CLOTHING. Luckily for Matt, this load was comprised of everybody else's clothing, including some nice work pants and jacket of mine. Grrrrrrrrrr.

SO, then it was off to figure out a way to try to salvage a full load of clothing. I found a home remedy on the internet that I figured would either blow up the garage or get the crayon out. I'm not convinced that all of these ingredients are necessary. In fact, I'm sure that there's one in there that is the magic one....but I didn't really feel up to a science experiment and just dumped them in, figuring that the clothing couldn't really be any MORE ruined so what could it hurt? Anyway, here's what it is, for all the moms out there who will experience the devil's crayon as well:
2 max amounts laundry detergent
1 cup Oxiclean
1/2 cup 20 mule team Borax
1 cup shout liquid
1 cup white vinegar
HOT water in washing machine, let soak for about an hour with clothes, run a full cycle, then rinse. It was pretty amazing...it worked. The clothes still smell pretty chemically, though, so I think I'll rinse them a few more times (and we'll probably all get cancer...except Matt).

So, thus ends this day. Shelby's leg is already looking a lot better and she really likes the antibiotic. Anyone recommend a good pharmacy?

Pumpkin Soup

Here's an update on the last week or so. It is hard to find time to post very often now that school is back in session. Anyway, Matt got this wonderful picture last week of the kids - look at those eyes! Can you tell they are related?

Last week we visited the YMCA for a story night. Camden got to wear his Buzz Lightyear costume and we made a pumpkin (he even cut it out all by himself). He got to rummage through some straw for candy - all the other kids came out with armloads. Camden returned with one red lollipop, that was enough for him.
Shelby sort of showed off her two bottom teeth.
Today Camden's preschool visited a pumpkin patch. Matt got to go with them and enjoyed taking a few pictures of the fun.

When they got back to school they decorated their pumpkins. Camden somehow missed putting on any eyebrows and kept bringing up the subject until we penciled some in with a sharpie. The hair is an especially nice touch, don't you think?

This last weekend we enjoyed a pasta dinner from Pizza Hut with Grandma Cochran and Grandma and Grandpa Lee. Shelby enjoyed it too, as evidenced by her face, clothes, bib, high chair, floor....


And, finally, here are the kids playing. Shelby really loves playing with Camden and especially loves grabbing his hair and clothes. Camden is making up games to play with her and loves making her laugh.

YMCA

We've decided to join the YMCA - for the past three Saturdays we've spent time in their pool and had a lot of fun. Today Camden was a lot more comfortable in the water, even dunking his head under a few times. Shelby enjoys splashing and kicking too.


Not much else is going on around here recently. Here are a few recent pictures and videos.

Last Sunday we visited Carpinito's Fruit Stand in Kent - it was a fun place and Camden helped shuck the corn on the cob we later took home and ate with dinner. The Fuji apples we picked out were so juicy and sweet too - much better than the ones we've been getting at Safeway.

Here's our pretty little girl in her warm jammies, hanging out on the couch with dad.

I realized I hadn't taken any pictures of Shelby with messy food face. Here she is with some peas everywhere. I should add that Shelby finally has a tooth! It broke through last week and thus ended a few days of endless crankiness.
Camden and his friend Buddy (who is now named Baby Oliver Buddy) wearing hs favorite "baseball jammies" (which have footballs on them, by the way, but there's no telling him differently...)

And, some videos - Camden singing and playing his "guitar" and a discussion about making sour faces.

Lock Keeper

Today Camden, Shelby and I met up with some friends at the Ballard Locks. What a wonderful place to explore with little kids! The weather even cooperated and the sun came out right as we began our lunch overlooking the boats pass through the one of the locks. We will definitely be going again.

Here are two tugboats about to go through...

Camden watches a barge carrying construction equipment go by
Shelby wasn't sure what all the hubub was about Here's all I could get of the construction equipment barge - I didn't whip out the camera fast enough. Shelby and Levi held hands for a little bit. It was so cute. They are one month apart in age (she's older).Camden and Grant watched Salmon through the fish ladder viewing windows. Those salmon are big! Grant is only four months younger than Camden. We are blessed to have found some friends with kids so close in age to ours (and especially because Camden and Grant have become such good friends).
Here is a little clip of Camden and Grant playing together.

I didn't know who Stan Rogers was, but I found a song for this blog and took a listen. He sounds a little bit like Roger Whitaker (just a bit...) and there's a beautiful chorus...

"Each day you tend this lock, you're one day older, While your blood runs colder."But that anchor chain's a fetter And with it you are tethered to the foam, And I wouldn't trade your life for one hour of home.