Ten

1. The 10 is back! I took a little hiatus from the 10 blog these last two weeks. Sometimes it takes a lot out of me coming up with ten (interesting) things to write about each week, and really, I can’t be expected to be verbally witty for your entertainment all the time. Or maybe its just that our life is that dull lately…. nah, that can’t be it. Here is my proof:

2. Kendry is walking! Or is it called cruising? Oh, who cares about those technicalities anyway?! All I know is that he is taking off from one place to the next, with the cutest and proudest expression on his face. Its hard to catch him doing it on film though; he doesn't care too much for performing on cue.

3. This last Saturday marked the beginning of our new meal planning system. Now that Kendry is eating like a horse – no more baby food for him – I’ve decided to finally get serious about planning our menu and eating more well-balanced meals. I have mapped out two weeks’ worth of meals, complete with one leftover night each week, and I purchased all of the necessary groceries on Saturday. Oh, if you could have seen my hubby’s face when I told him the total grocery bill. Yikes! But like I said, Kendry is eating his fair share these days. Meal 1 on Saturday: grilled steaks, red potatoes and corn on the cob. Meal 2 on Sunday: Tuscan Pot Pie and side salad. Meal 3 on Monday: Sloppy Joes and sweet potato fries. Meal 4 on Tuesday: Taco Salad. We’re off to a good start!

For those of you playing catch-up, Justin is the chef in our house, and he is the first one home each day so he usually gets dinner going. Up until now we haven’t made too many attempts at a joint effort in getting healthy meals planned and on the table; instead, there is often a mad scramble at 5pm as we brainstorm something to prepare and then confirm we actually have the appropriate supplies to put the meal together. All hungry and no meal planning makes the Gimlin Family unhealthy eaters. I am hoping the new plan will remedy this.

4. I have recently become one of those people who carries a book around in her purse. What does that say about me? What does that say about my purse?

5. In taking inventory of my fridge, freezer and pantry for my meal planning, I happened upon some shredded zucchini in the chest freezer. This has me almost giddy because it means I can make more chocolate chip zucchini bread, just in time for our long, laborious weekend. Many thanks to our neighbor Max for the zucchini! This recipe is dee-lish - give it a try sometime:
3/4 C sugar

3 T vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 C applesauce

2 C flour

2 T unsweetened cocoa

1 1/4 t baking soda

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t salt

1 1/2 C finely shredded zucchini

1/2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Place first 3 ingredients in large bowl; beat w/ a mixer @ low speed until well-blended. Stir in applesauce. Combine flour and the next 4 ingredients (through salt) in separate bowl and stir well w/ whisk. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating only until moist. Stir in zucchini and chocolate chips. Bake in greased loaf pan for 1 hour.

6. Here is an updated photo of Justin’s rose garden:Some of the roses didn’t survive the trip from Grandpa Wayne’s garden, but the majority of them are taking off just fine. Justin made the wooden post in the center himself; he has yet to decide which type of vine he is going to plant to climb it.

7. The house painting begins this weekend, weather permitting. I am going to leave you in suspense for now on the color(s) we have chosen. Rest assured, we will post before and after pics for you to oooh and ahhh over. And you’d better do just that.

8. Oooo, I almost forgot this one. Kendry had his 12 month appointment last week. He surpassed our expectations by weighing in at 25lbs 8oz, which is the 83rd percentile (our one year goal for him was at least 25lbs). He measured 32.75in tall (99th percentile!) and his head measured in the 88th percentile. My big and tall baby is wearing size 24m clothes these days.

9. Justin's work is sending him to Seattle again for a few days in June. I would love to come up with a quick home improvement project I could do in his absence (i.e. without his approval), like a really bold colored accent wall in the living room, or finally stealing his nightstand and re-doing it for the spare bedroom. But the truth is that I had the same intentions to complete a project the last time he was gone, and I was lucky to find five spare minutes to myself at the end of each day. Single parenthood, even for just a few days, is tough! But don't give up on me yet - I just might pull off a project. Its all in the planning ahead of time.

10. After hearing about a friend of mine completing a half marathon recently I am inspired. I have found my race (Spokane Marathon or Leavenworth Marathon, both in October) and have found an easy to follow 12-week training schedule for a first-timer. I won’t need to start my 12-week plan until July, but in the meantime I am adjusting my regular workouts so I have a good training base to work with come July. Hooray for preparing to check something off my Age 30 Bucket List!

Age 30 Bucket List

WARNING: 30TH BIRTHDAY AHEAD

With only two months to go until I am forced to accept the fact that I am officially THIRTY YEARS OLD, I am quickly running out of time to check items off my Age 30 Bucket List. Not that I’m arriving at 30 with nothing to show for it. In fact, I’m pretty happy with the big ticket items I have accomplished to date:

1. Earned my Bachelor’s Degree (2003)
2. Got married (2005)
3. Bought a house (2006)
4. Had a baby (2009)
5. Completed a triathlon (2005)
6. Went on a cruise (2003)
7. Got a tattoo (2003)

I realize at the mere age of 30 it seems a bit morbid to start a real bucket list. I certainly don’t intend to "kick the bucket" any time in the near future. And if I am fortunate enough to inherit the longevity from my mother’s side of the family, I should still have a good 60 years left to check off things like traveling to Italy, going sky-diving and/or bungee jumping, ice-skating at Rockefeller Center, and taking a real road trip with my sisters (Fairbanks to Anchorage and vice versa doesn’t count, girls). Can't you just see the Binder sisters in our 70s and 80s driving down Highway 1 in a vintage red convertible, our blue hair blowing in the breeze?

Being the goal-oriented person that I am, I feel like I should commemorate this milestone birthday by setting some goals for my 30th year (i.e. goals that I intend to achieve by my 31st birthday).

Here is what I have so far:

1. Complete a half marathon (October)

2. Get pregnant with Baby #2

3. Take the boat tour into Hells Canyon (this is a local tourist activity)

4. Take my hubby on a REAL vacation so he finally sees what all the fuss is about (perhaps I should also put this on Justin's Age 30 Bucket List)

5. Finish reading the Twilight saga (I have been halfway through the first book for three months now)

6. Eat an "Idaho Spud" candy bar (just cuz I need a quirky eating goal)

This list is a work in progress. Any suggestions?

Sunday Sunbathing

This last Sunday afternoon was a bit overcast, but still exceeded 80 degrees, so we brought out Kendry's wading pool for the first time and let him at it. I swear it was hot enough outside to do this, but you would think I was letting my child freeze judging by this picture.

Okay, now he is getting the hang of it.

How can you not melt at the sight of this toothy grin?

Daddy was inside making us homemade pizzas for dinner, so Kendry kept his seat warm for him. And by warm I mean with his bare buns. After all, whats an afternoon in the wading pool if you can't enjoy it in the buff?Don' t I have just the cutest sunbathing buddy?

Oh who am I kidding? My kiddo is as fair-skinned as I am. Sunbathing, shmunbathing! We were both coated with 50 SPF and were still wanting for an umbrella to hide in the shade.

I'm convinced Kendry couldn't have cared less about the pool that afternoon. His main source of pleasure came simply from playing outside sans clothing.

All together now: "If you're naked and you know it, clap your hands!"

THE BIG ONE

After taking a week off from the blogging world, I'm finally ready to catch up and share some of the details of Kendry's 1st birthday bash.

Leading up to the party I really didn't think we were following in the footsteps of "those parents" (you know who you are) and going completely overboard with the party. No designer invitations, no three-tiered cake, no pony rides - just a simple BBQ with friends and family. I did, however, put on my crafty mom cape to make a few of the party decorations, a "1" birthday shirt, a 12 month photo banner, and a tiger birthday cake - tasks that I'm told I will have to repeat for the 1st birthday of every single child I conceive hereafter, lest there be any accusations of preferential treatment toward our firstborn. At this moment the very thought of doing it all over again makes me want to curl up under my crafty mom cape and take a nap. That being said, I did have a lot of fun completing these projects and was very happy with how they turned out. The fruits of my labor:

The "1" Birthday Shirt

The Banner & DecorAnd the Tiger Cake (animal themed party)

The day started off rainy - not a good start for a BBQ. But it subsided as the day wore on, and by the party's end we were all in the back yard, basking in the sun.

Someone apparently explained the saying "its my party and I'll cry if I want to" to my son, as he acted a bit spoiled throughout the day. In his defense, he was sick a good part of the week leading up to his birthday, thus receiving a lot of extra attention. As soon as party guests started walking in the door Kendry wanted to be outside, then inside; then he wanted to climb up the porch stairs, and then back down, and then up again. You can't win with this kiddo and his constant need to explore and climb on everything!

He started acting hungry, and rightly so as he hadn't eaten since his 7am breakfast, but then had a meltdown when I put him in the highchair and tried to feet him a hot dog. There was just too much going on and he had to be a part of it. The whole scene started to remind me of the book "The Berenstain Bears: Too Much Birthday", where Sister Bear is so excited for her party, but all the festivities overwhelm her and she finally bursts into tears. (FYI: this book is a great one for a kiddo's personal library.)

Finally, we made it to the big cake moment, which turned out to be pretty anti-climactic, as I'm sure most 1st birthday parties are since the birthday kiddo has no idea what all the fuss is about is anyway.

As you can see, Kendry wasn't too keen on diving into his cake. Or perhaps it was simply the fact that I was trying to help him eat it. Once I left him alone with his own cupcake the two of them formed a beautiful (and very messy) friendship.

"Cupcake? What cupcake?"

Next up: a clean shirt and birthday presents! Still not understanding the concept of opening gifts, Kendry ate the decorative tissue paper while I opened the presents for him. But, just like his daddy, you can always get his attention with a good book.

It was a wonderful 1st birthday party. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate our beautiful little boy! And special thanks to Andrea and Angela for taking pictures throughout the event. Who knew that its nearly impossible to take photos and video while throwing a party for 20+ in your house and keeping up with your 1 year old son? I may consider myself one heck of a multi-tasker, but even I know my limits.

I did, however, manage to snap one incredible photo of my boys:

Ten

1. We had an insane wind storm here on Monday. Justin even found a giant trampoline blown up into a tree about a block from our house.

As for our own property, we’re pretty sure that our freshly-planted dahlias perished after being whipped around all day by 50mph gusts. Much to Justin’s disappointment, the ugly, dying tree in our front yard did not come crashing down atop Justin’s vintage 1993 Nissan, which would have answered his prayers for 1) the eyesore of a tree to be gone, and 2) a new vehicle. Instead, the tree simply lost a few more limbs, making it that much uglier.

2. A tragedy has occurred at Costco, my friends. For all you fellow Diet-Coke-from-the-tap addicts, please know that your next visit to the Costco concession may leave you a bit disoriented and grief-stricken, as I certainly was last night. Where I once enjoyed my heavenly-tasting, bottomless Diet Coke off the tap for just fifty-nine cents has now been infected by Pepsi. I bring this horrific news to your attention so you won't freeze at the concession register, money in hand, with your mouth open in total shock, wondering exactly what alternate universe you have stumbled into. I'm sure the clerks at our Costco are still making fun of my reaction.

3. Kendry has recently developed an interest in "helping" with household tasks. If I get the broom out, he wants to use it too. The other night I was wiping down a door in the house and he promptly crawled over, picked up a washcloth on the floor beside me and started wiping the door with me. But his favorite chore is helping with the laundry. Here is proof this kiddo is being trained in the proper manner:

No comments from the peanut gallery on my son's obviously too small pajamas. The little sprout grows out of a pair each week!

4. I’m fairly certain the LC Valley holds the record for the most vehicles painted camouflage per capita. Do you suppose there is a category for that in the Guinness Book of World Records? And I’m not just talking pickup trucks either; I think I’ve even seen a camo PT Cruiser. Its embarrassing really.

5. Repeat after me: Never store cookie dough in your refrigerator to be made into cookies at a later date! Sure, we mean well when we say: "Oh, I'll just save this little bit of dough to make some fresh cookies when my in-laws arrive this weekend." But let's be honest - that dough would be lucky to survive 24 hours in this cookie dough junkie's fridge. So tonight I will be using said dough to bake exactly TWO delicious chocolate chip cookies in anticipation for my in-laws' arrival.

6. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

7. We have been blessed to make it through the first 51 weeks of Kendry's life without an incident of illness. Oh sure, he started out with a little jaundice and had a few minor sniffles here and there, along with the occasional teething fever, but otherwise he has been an extremely healthy baby. No ear infections, sinus infections, or flu. No swine flu or pink eye either, even though both hit a few of Kendry's daycare peers. No sir, my tough little man got his immune system from his mommy. Ain't nuthin gonna take our antibodies down! Except for the hand, mouth and foot disease, that is. 'The cattle disease?' you ask. No, this is a human virus that apparently spreads just as easily as a cold, and is treated pretty much the same way, with plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, and Tylenol when needed. So Kendry's 52nd week of life was a little rough as he started out with a fever on Monday (which Mommy thought was just due to teething), followed by the breakout of little ulcers in his mouth, thanks to the virus. After a few days of very little food intake, he now appears to be making a full recovery just in time for his 1st birthday bash. I told you he was one tough cookie.

Wait - did someone say 'cookie'?

8. My "I Believe" statement from last Friday appears to have worked. Earlier this week they were predicting rain for Kendry's birthday; today they are predicting sunshine. Hooray!

9. Happy Birthday to my sis, Stephanie, and my brother-in-law, Jeff! I will be kind and not announce to everyone just how old you are turning this year; but I will point out that you are both older than me.

10. While Justin worked in the yard last Sunday afternoon, in preparation for the birthday BBQ, Kendry and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and headed down to Swallows Nest Park. The playground at this park is designed especially for toddlers, complete with a black, cushioned mat that covers the ground around the play structure, making it level and soft(er) for the still-unsteady toddlers. Being currently fascinated with stairs, Kendry went up and down the stairs at least twenty times before I finally had to show him there was more to the play structure than just stairs.

I snapped a few photos as he played, hoping to catch a monumental “1 Year Old” photo, and then realized that I definitely should have cut his hair before this photo op. YIKES!