Halloween Recap

Even though it is Election Night and there is probably more important things to write about, I wanted to post some photos of the kids on Halloween. Yes, I am a little far behind - refer back to post about the longest week ever in my life. 

A few months ago, I showed Mae a costume that was a cookie and milk. I said, "Mae, how cute is this. This is what you will be for Halloween." Mae emphatically replied, "No. I am going to be Cinderella." I was a little confused because Mae has never seen Cinderella, although, we do have a book of it. I continuously asked her again over the next two weeks of what she wanted to be and her answer never changed and also included, "Whitaker will be Snow White." I knew I would never change her mind so I knew I had to get on figuring out how my girl was going to be Cinderella. I decided against buying a costume and decided to try to throw something together, mind you I don't know how to sew. I knew I was going to buy a blue leotard for the top and I figured I could maybe make a [no sew] tutu that would make her look enough like the princess. I talked to my mom the ultimate sewer what she thought and my mom being as awesome as she is, she agreed to make the skirt for me. 

My mom came through and made the best costume, complete with head band and necklace. As I have reported it was a struggle to get it back here. I left Alexandria at 1:30 am in the morning to drive to Charlottesville, VA to get on a 5:20 am flight to Charlotte to Seattle so that my daughter could be Cinderella for Halloween. What we do for our children! Not to be outdid by Mae (but he was), Whitaker was a dragon. He wore the costume that Mae wore last year, although, he refused to wear the hood the entire time. 

We did what we have done for the last three years and hit up the celebration and shops in Madrona. It was a grand time all around. Mae refused to take her costume off Halloween night and slept in it that night and wore it all the next day and wore it again the next day until I accidentally tore one of the flaps - it can be fixed, phew! Even almost a week later, when I ask Mae what she would like to wear for the day she says her blue sparkly skirt. What can I say but the girl just wants to be a princess. 

A big THANK YOU to Grandma K for making a girl's dream come true. 

Marathon Recap

Two Sundays ago on October 28th, I was able to run my seventh marathon with my two best friends - my sisters. It was such an awesome experience to run the Marine Corps Marathon again and more importantly it was beyond amazing to run it with BOTH of them. Heather [my older sister] and I have run 4 marathons together but haven't run one since kids so it has been many, many years for both of us. This was Julie's [my youngest sisters] first marathon and on her bucket list. After turning 30, she decided this was the year to make it happen. Heather [my older sister] and I decided to join her on this endeavor. 

As for time, I was hoping to break 4 hours. I ran in 4:01 and was pleased as punch. I ran 4 minutes faster in the second half then the first half and felt pretty damn good the whole race. It was a total blast and I might even consider running another. 

Before the race. 

Of course, we were waiting in line for the bathroom. 

Realizing we didn't snap a picture together until we were all looking for a way home. 

Longest Week Ever

As you can see I haven't posted in almost a week. This past week has seemed like the longest week ever. I ran the marathon last Sunday (more on that tomorrow). I was supposed to return to Seattle on Monday, however, Hurricane Sandy had different plans for me. My flight was canceled. I was able to get on a flight on Wednesday [Halloween] morning after waking up at 1:00 am to drive from DC to Charlottesville, VA. I got back here at 10:30 am, just in time for Halloween. Then Thursday was Pearson's birthday and Saturday was his birthday celebration. It has felt like a for a very, very, very long week and I am beat. 

And I Am Off...

To run the marathon in DC. I am heading out the door in a few minutes to go catch the bus to light rail - I am really becoming the public transportation gal. There have been a few setbacks for the weekend mainly that Heather [my older sister] has strep throat. She is going to start antibiotics today so we can only hope she is up in time to run the race. They are also calling for wind and rain. I guess it will be just like running here!

I am not bringing my computer so I will report back when I return unless you hear from Pearson in the meantime.

Mae & Whitaker The Science Kids

When I started this post, I thought about this one show we watch over here in Cummings land. Mae watches this show called Sid the Science Kid. It was created by Jim Henson Company and is a sweet show that teaches kids about, you guessed it, science. There is a little girl on the show whose name is Mae. She looks nothing like my daughter since she has purple hair and glasses but it is funny to hear her name in the show. Today's show was about Sid and his friends visiting the science center. It made me realize that I have yet to post photos of our trip on Monday to the Pacific Science Center. 

So a couple of weeks ago I had suggested we hit up the Pacific Science Center. Go figure, the morning I proposed it I thought the weather was going to be pretty mediocre, instead it was beautiful and the last thing I had wanted to do was to be inside.  Since that day, Mae has annoyingly asked everyday to go to the science center. Her wish was granted this past Monday when the weather was absolute crap and we had nothing to do. We also decided to take the bus there.

Note and a small deviation from topic: This is our second bus ride in less then a week. We took the bus last Friday to go to the downtown library to find some Disney princess movies for movie night. (We scored Snow White, which we watched). Mae is a pro on the bus since Grandma C has taken her a bunch but I have yet to venture out with both kids on it. Hence, I decided to bite the bullet the other day and attempt it. While I was sitting with both kids on the bus, a middle age gentleman got on the bus with the bus driver's assistance. He was wearing a bright orange vest and had a button that said, "I am blind and deaf." In that second, I realized that if that man can do this day after day I sure as hell can  ride the bus with both of my kids and not think once about how annoying it is.   

The Pacific Science Center didn't disappoint Mae or me for that matter. First off, unbeknownst to me, the day we went was the 50th Anniversary so it was only $1 for me to get in and $.50 for Mae. Along with a the tons of buttons  that my kids got to push (why do kids love buttons so much?), there was a whole toddler section complete with a water section, music room, and computers, dinosaurs, a planetarium, a butterfly room, bugs, life sized games, and so much more. We didn't explore even half of the place but we were there for over two and half hours being our own little scientists. At one point, we came to a display on the solar system. I was going through the planets with Mae and said, "Here is Earth where we live and here is Pluto." Of course, she instantly responded, "That isn't Pluto Mickey's dog." Perhaps we weren't being little scientists but kids. 

Already a pro at riding the bus. 

One is looking one way, the other is looking the other way. 

The red shoes. 

Despite the rain and cold, we are excited about our adventure. 

We got to the science center a little early so we had to wait for it to open. I miscalculated how long the bus would actually take. 

Science in the making. 

I don't know what it is about buttons but my kids just love pushing them. 

A music room in the toddler section. Whitaker, of course, eating the stick. 

A family that drums together....

This is Whitaker checking out the dinosaurs. No joke this was his face. For reals.  

This is Mae checking out the dinosaurs. She wasn't necessarily scared but it had her on her knees. 

Beefing up on her chess gamed. 

Checkers with cones. 

More games. 

I was certain Whit was going to kill a butterfly. 

They had these laminated cards with pictures of each kind of butterfly. Whitaker carrying it around.   

Mae actually wondering what each butterfly was. I was more concerned that Whitaker was going to kill a butterfly then  what they were. 

Here is Whitaker demonstrating the science of motion.  Let's just say the woman in the stoned wash jeans and teal coat didn't find his demonstration as amusing as maybe his mother would. I am sure if there was a butterfly in is way they wouldn't have had either. He laid on the floor and push the laminated paper along the floor. He thought it was brilliant. 

On the ride home and still in good spirits. 

Checking out the scenery. 

Weekend Update

This weekend was a good mix of seeing friends, spending time with our family, and getting some much needed household cleaning done. We also got family photos taken. For as much time as I wondered what we were all going to wear and the expense of paying for them, I can only hope they come out decently. 

Saturday night Mae and I had a slumber party at Kate and Nora's house. As you can recall, a month or so ago, we attempted to have a slumber party with the girls. This time I decided to partake. I would give the night a C+. Kate would probably give it an F and I don't blame her one bit. I had the fortune of sleeping downstairs and sweet, sweet Kate got woken many times by Mae's nightmares. Furthermore, they also woke Nora up. So although, I got to sleep pretty soundly for the night, neither of the Milad ladies got to enjoy a good night's sleep. Here are photos of the girls being buddies

Mae has really gotten into dressing up. She frequently wears her dragon costume from last Halloween as you can tell from the photos above. She also likes pretending to be a pirate and affectionately refers to herself as Pirate Mae. Pirate Mae came out a few times this weekend. Mae always says, "If you want to be a pirate you got to say ARGHHH!"

And then there is Whitaker who is a complete animal and is an abundance of energy. Along with being constantly on the move and having no concern for his safety or the safety of things, he has taken to jumping off this stool at the end of our bed into a pile of blankets. This was all his doing and thinks it is hysterical. I think it is cause for a broken bone one day. He are some photos of him jumping on the bed and then deciding it would be smart to stand on my bedside table.