golden math: december 2008

+ 2 x 3 x 3 x 3200 = are we insane?

this year for christmas we decided to travel up north to see our families. since jeff's family and friends in idaho falls had not met willow yet and hadn't seen nate--or the rest of us--in about 3 years, we decided to DRIVE! yes, we are insane. 

nate's first christmas we drove up. he was about 4 mos old at the time. then the next year, we did it again. he was about 16 mos that time. after that, if we have gone up north, it has been by air. but flying precludes idaho falls. my parents have come down regularly to visit, but jeff's folks have not been able to do so.

we felt it a drive was needed this year. nate was old enough (entertained by dvd's, books, and toys) to tolerate the drive--mostly. willow was young enough (not mobile and wanting to go, go, go) to tolerate the drive--mostly. we were just dumb enough to do it. i was itching for a good road trip. and finally, it had been just long enough for us to forget how difficult, painful, torturous it is with children. it used to be fun! and to a point, it still is.

this is what it did the night before we left. 

oh, and it didn't stop. i think los alamos got about 20 inches or more of snow from that storm. the roads were snow packed and icy until we got to colorado.

pit stop to make some yellow snow by the side of the road.

suddenly he had to GO!

we stayed the first night in provo in a hotel with an indoor pool. i love the person who thought indoor pools were great for hotels. love them!

pit stop in layton to see some friends. thanks for the playtime jenn!

(i won't be posting the other pictures because jeff took them while sitting down. we'll just say they aren't flattering.) but nate did get to play with ryan's guitar! rock on ry-man!

idaho falls stay-over.

we got to stay with the Berggrens in their house that was not-quite complete the last time we saw it, and we had an absolute BLAST! (that color is in honor of their guest room.) nate got to stay in kole's room, so he had a bit of an extended sleep over. kathryn got to watch willow, which i understand thrilled her no end. jeff and i got to see our good friends and eat some good food and have some good fun. 

i have more pictures, but they are on a disposable camera that hasn't been developed yet. [mental note, must get pictures developed!]

jeff's folks.

seriously, why can't everyone look in the same direction at the same time?

we have a picture that is very similar with nate and ralph at his first christmas.

golden math lesson #2

+ 2 - 1 + 2400

that would be, two children, one parent (me), and an airplane trip to see my parents (2400 miles round trip).

i've lost track of the number of times nate has flown at this point in his life. but this was willow's very first plane trip. and my first with two kids.

all in all, it wasn't too bad. nate is old enough to handle himself pretty well in the airport. he's getting better about listening when he really needs to. willow slept a bit on each part of the trip. nate and willow both slept on the way up out of salt lake. we had a late flight up (left at 5 pm and arrived in spokane at 10 pm), so they were inclined to sleep anyway. the trip back wasn't as late but was still bearable.

this is not something i want to do every day, but now i know it can be done. (so i don't want to hear any more whining about "i can't fly with two kids by myself." yes, you can! if i can do it, you can do it. no more excuses.)

i find two things unfortunate . . . first, i forgot to take a picture of willow on her first plane trip . . . bummer . . . and second because nate will be in school next fall, willow will not get the opportunity to fly or see my parents as much as nate has gotten to in his 4 years. i guess that's the way of the younger child.

golden math

+ 2 – 1

we are testing the new golden math right now. jeff left for a business trip yesterday. our first our-of-town-overnight trip since willow was born. he comes back friday.

we will pass this test if jeff finds a sane wife and two living children at home waiting for him.

so far, so good. we kept pretty busy yesterday . . . school, lunch date, play date, swimming, early bedtime for both kids. today we have a playdate and possibly a trip to albuquerque this evening. tomorrow we have school again. then papa comes home.

actually, it is a bit more mellow here without papa. but don't tell him that because we love him and rely on him greatly and we don't know what we would do without him.