ZOO LIGHTS (Tacoma) - If you haven’t experienced the magic of the zoo at night, this year is your year! Head over to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma to experience the zoo at night. This event will be running now until January 5th. You can also find discounted tickets at your local Fred Meyers! More information at pdza.org/zoolights. REINDEER FESTIVAL (Issaquah) - Haven’t gotten the chance to visit Santa this year with your kids? Well now you can visit Santa AND his reindeer's at the … [Read more...]
Why Parents of Pre-teens can’t keep nannies!
Or maybe it's just me... So as my kids have gotten older, I've had a much harder time keeping nannies. They love our house and the kids at first; then slowly the kids take over and they become the worst version of themselves they (and us) have ever seen. No offense nannies, I love so many of you and hope you all know that. My kids have learned from the best right? Mom: entrepreneur, successful business woman, manager of the household (at least from what they can see), and expert negotiator of … [Read more...]
First Babysitting Gig
I've been in the nanny business for 20 years now. For 4 years prior, I was a part and full time nanny, and for about 6 years prior to that I was the neighborhood babysitter. I remember when my Mom came to me and said she had received a phone call from a friend that asked if I could babysit for their daughter. I'm pretty sure my Mom was shocked and surely didn't see me as ready for that responsibility. And so it began. My launch into being the best babysitter my neighbor had ever seen! I … [Read more...]
Babysitter Horse
In the country, the term babysitter is used with horses that are specifically great with kids. For example, older horses that have previously been great competition horses in all kinds of rodeo or ranch work eventually get to semi-retire. This basically means they are no longer working hard day in and day out because they have slowed down a little. Or maybe their body can't take the demands of competition anymore. They are after all, athletes.You are probably wondering what the heck I'm … [Read more...]
Farm kids in the summer
We have lived in the country for 3 years fulltime and 4 years part time. When summer is coming, the city mom in me starts researching camps and classes trying to figure out what we are going to do for the summer. Then a point comes every year when I remember- this is camp! My friends start inquiring when their kids can come and how long we want to keep them. I think for this reason living in the country is my very favorite thing in summer. The kids decided the other day to make a … [Read more...]
Datenight with a twist!
I am 6 months post delivery. I have not been able to get my body back to it's pre pregnancy place. As a result, going on a datenight in a small town has some challenges. Since I'm nursing I don't drink much so that's out. Working out 5 days a week trying to get this body back doesn't exactly make me want to eat out at a restaurant. That doesn't leave much for options. So I have started asking my husband to take me on trail rides. It's a dual bonus. I used to compete on my horse now I … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding a teething 6 month old.
I love breastfeeding. In my fast paced type A world it is a great way to slow me down and make me focus on what's really important. Like the time I will never get back with my last baby and the bond it creates for us both. Enter the bottom two teeth. My worst enemy. I have no problem producing milk but this stage of the game is a killer. We are easily distracted by kids interrupting, dad walking in, the noise of the phone. In any case, things happen that disrupt the flow. My baby has … [Read more...]