It Doesn't Take Much

May 20, 2014 by Kate Felton in do

O: The car is too hot. I won't get in the car. I guess we will just have to live here.

It was hot last week. No, scratch that. It was mind-boilingly, unreasonably, unacceptably hot last week. I wore my bathing suit cover-up in public because I couldn't imagine putting on real clothes.

hot, sweaty, and cranky, even if she doesn't look it

One day, we went to Pamper and Play, and you should seriously check them out, and not just for their wonderful air conditioning.

air-conditioning and an adorable, tiny, retro-kitchen, and a wonderful staff that watches your children while you enjoy some peace in the PARENT'S LOUNGE (that is a real thing with wifi and coffee)

One day, we went to school and melted at the park and sniped at each other for the rest of the day, except while we had a french fry party on the floor in the girls' air-conditioned bedroom.

One day, we just stayed home. Now, we don't have a pool, heck, we don't even really have a yard. I had thrown away last year's kiddie pool the week before because someone small, blond, and adorable had thought that it would be fun to fill it with rocks and potting soil, and it was genuinely too gross to salvage.

Instead, I filled three plastic storage tubs with water, grabbed a ton of small cups and two grown-up paint brushes, and set them to work.

P washed her precious rock collection.

O repainted my stairs.

When they started to lose interest about two hours in, I pulled out a tray of ice and frozen teething toys.

They drew on the cement with half of it, and ate the other half. Win?

When that lost its novelty, we had popsicles. When O snuck the last bite of P's popsicle, it was time to come inside.

There were a few casualties. Poor Fred, the teddy bear, got an unexpected and un-needed bath. P did attempt to wash Sam, with Poor Fred as a sponge, much to Sam's displeasure, but all and all it was a very enjoyable day.

I often try to do too much, or even worse, I often feel bad about what I can't do, what they don't have. We have made this choice, to live in this city, to live in this small space, to forgo a yard, to not live in what, I image, is a more typical suburban neighborhood. Most days, I feel good about that choice and genuinely believe that there are positives that outweigh the negatives.

The day we stayed home during the heat wave was one of those days. It really doesn't take much. Most of the stuff is superfluous. In fact, it might even get in the way. Play is so much easier than we grown-ups imagine it to be.

But I still really wish they had a garden.

Last year's bounty, our closest garden approximation.

Sunday Guest Blog: Finding a Magical World

April 13, 2014 by Kate Felton in sunday guest blog

O: We are in the porky pine needle forest. If you wake the porky pine, it will poke you.

Kate and I have spent late nights planning adventures to museums, aquariums, zoos, or [insert other culturally/historically/scientifically relevant places here] with the lofty hope of not only entertaining our little ones, but enriching their lives. These trips are fun, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming for all involved. Today, however, I was reminded that to a nearly-four-year-old, a walk with the dog around the block can be a magical adventure all by itself.

Hungry ghosts live in this tree. To pass, you must stop so they can nibble on your hair.

Don't forget to stop to smell the flowers.

This is the porky pine needle forest. Shhhhh...you might wake the porky pine and get poked.

While we will keep planning and going on those far or at least farther flung adventures, to be honest, when viewed through the eyes of a nearly-four-year-old, this nearly-forty-year-old found that walk around the block pretty magical too.

Shake, Rattle, Roll, Repeat

March 19, 2014 by Kate Felton in do

O: I missed it. I missed the earth shake.

We had an earthquake this week, a pretty good shake. O slept through it and P was eating a banana and therefore, barely noticed. We live right at the epicenter, so while family and friends who live relatively close by barely registered it, we certainly felt it. It was not the biggest quake I've ever experienced, I grew up here and remember Northridge, but it was the first time I can remember that an earthquake really scared me. I lay in bed afterwards wondering, if this had been the big one, or if it was a precursor to the big one, what would we do, where would we go?

We are prepared. We have supplies and water in a safe spot. We know how to turn off the main gas line. We have a point of contact outside of California that all of our family knows to get in touch with in case we can't call within the state. We have a spot, a local park, where we would meet if we were separated and our home wasn't safe. Still, it is different, somehow, with two tiny people. The idea that my arms holding them wouldn't be enough to keep them safe keeps me up at night. There will be another one, it is only a matter of time.

planning to add some toys and basic art supplies to our home and car kit

This weekend, we are going to check all of our supplies, pull them out, replace what might need replacing and add a bottle of whiskey for good measure. This rumble was a good reminder. We live on a living planet. There are things we can do to be ready when she sneezes.

Here is a list of resources that Jim (code name: Captain Safety) used to help put together our home and car emergency kits and some resources on teaching children about earthquake safety:

United States Geological Survey: Talking to kids about earthquake safety

Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety: What to do before, during and after an earthquake

Our Pre-packed Emergency Kit -We purchased a kit from this company for a family of four, but we have supplemented it with other things from the resources above.

Humming Birds and Trumpet Vines

March 15, 2014 by Kate Felton in go

P: AAhhh egg canto black plaaa.

O: She said she is going to find a spot where the flowers will grow, because that is the spot that will make them happy.

We are too sick to go to school, but too well to stay home, and the weather has been beautiful, so we ventured out to the nursery. There is a small family-owned nursery that has been around for generations, just a few blocks from us.

While wandering the rows O spotted a humming bird's nest. She admonished me not to disturb the mama while I took her picture, but was perfectly delighted when I offered to scoop her up so she could get a closer look.

Is it spring yet? It sure feels like it.

We found a climbing trumpet vine, with pink flowers. It looks healthy enough and the man assured us that it would thrive in our very shallow, full-sun, flower box outside our front window.

Every morning, on waking, O rushes to the front window to update us on the vine's progress. So far, we have gotten a new flower every day, well worth the twelve dollars and fifty cents, especially if you include the fresh air, the humming bird's nest, and the sense of accomplishment.

They have the most beautiful orchids. I have yet to bring an orchid home. I tend to kill plants, not with neglect, but with an abundance of love, a good metaphor for my parenting (I'm working on it). Perhaps, next time, I'll bring an orchid home to practice mindful neglect.

Rainy Day at the Huntington Library

March 03, 2014 by Kate Felton in go

K: We are going in. Do you remember the two rules about museums?

O: Quiet talking and no touching.

K: Right.

O: But those are the two hardest things in the whole widest world. I know, if I feel like feeling a painting, I'll just touch my nose instead.

I've been in rehearsal for Much Ado at the Long Beach Playhouse for the past month and family time has been hard to come by. We used our first day off after opening to go to the Huntington Library. It was drizzly and glorious, and I had a new camera.

P had about 6 wardrobe changes due to excessive puddle jumping

We stayed outside for nearly our entire visit. The children's garden was a huge hit.

Pink bear really got into the microscopes

Then, we attempted the main house.

After a pep talk about museum etiquette and promises of cookies, we visited several galleries and touched our noses a lot. O thought that The Blue Boy looked very sad because he didn't have any one to play with. I agree. I wonder what she'll think of the Gutenberg Bible. Maybe next time.

We took selfies in the bathroom (babies and buttons), had a subpar lunch at the cafe (packing a picnic next time), and had, by all accounts, a stellar day.

The camellias were all in bloom and it was nice to forget we live in a city for a minute, and even nicer to be back in that city when we were were done.

Can't recommend enough, a thirty minute drive and a world away.

Where do you escape to when you only have an afternoon?