The carnival food was a bonus for the pregnant lady.

It’s not exactly true that we didn’t see any cherries. There were a couple options for purchasing cherries but only in wee quantities for a colossal price. A local informed me that in the local newspaper I might find some orchards selling cherries for a fair price, especially if you do the picking yourself.

Now we’re talking!

I want to dedicate this post to my father-in-law and his great wisdom. I hope he doesn’t mind. Since Richard and I have been married I have been introduced to many Gordon-isms that I thought were clever but I didn’t really understand. Now, as I have children of my own and they get older and find more ways to make parenting difficult I have come to really appreciate the meaning of his phrases.

When I was in Peru I got really irritated with people who would take what we were giving out (shoes, blankets, clothing) even if it wasn’t the right size or they didn’t need it. They just took it because it was free. I commented on this to one of my travel companions and she pointed out that we are the same way in the United States. I immediately thought of various dental conferences I have attended where people take the Oral-B plastic bag and fill it with pens, frisbies, and various other freebies with company logos printed on them. I’ve done this myself, only to either throw those items away or give them to a second-hand store. (Except the pens.)

So I determined I would not be one of those people who are addicted to hand-outs. But in spite of this, and in spite of my chronic rhinitis, and also because it requires a second mortgage to take your family to the movies, I took the boys to the free movie. I also don’t like to break rules but if you think getting in to the movie is expensive wait until you hit concessions. So I guiltily smuggled cookies into the theater.
Mom! That flash is too bright!

We had a good time. And I loved me some Moto Moto.

After the movie we went to Carl’s Jr. for lunch. Richard and I have long been disgusted with the marketing campaign of Carl’s Jr. I feel like my cholesterol goes up just from watching the commerical. But alas, CJ’s has a play structure and in the spirit of rainy day summer fun I decided to indulge the boys. It’s really too bad that Pita Pit or Costa Vida don’t have play structures.

I hate play structures for all the obvious reasons. Germs, bullies, etc. But today I discovered a new reason to dislike them. Eli is small. I’ve always known this, and selfishly enjoyed it because his clothes fit longer and it is easy to hold and carry him. But today after his repeated efforts to climb up where the other kids his age and Cameron’s age were playing he was frustrated and disappointed. He was forced to play in the area meant for the little kids, too small to climb. He was surrounded by toddlers still learning to walk. I received many compliments on his language abilities but I reassured the on-looking mothers of his actual age. For the first time I wished he were bigger and he could reach the steps (or maybe shelves is a better word?) up to the slides and tunnels.
Oh, and one more reason I hate play structures. If your child is anything less than angelic you have to make a fool of yourself when it is time to go home. You can choose between begging, pleading and shouting threats up into the tunnels. Or you can awkwardly climb up into the maze yourself to retrieve him. Both are humiliating.

Something about the summer… everything is just better. Even on a cloudy day you can enjoy the warm weather and the green grass. If only I had a nice camera and my kids were wearing preppy clothes, that would just be too perfect.

While I was terribly annoyed with my visit the other day it wasn’t a reflection on the Dr. My Dr. is wonderful. At my first visit with her she was very attentive. I alternate visits with the Dr. and the nurse practioner, and although this wasn’t the case at the last office I went to I am told this is pretty standard.

So I would still love your feedback, great doctor-but lousy staff. Do I stay or go?

I don’t want to be a dr. hopper. Working in a dental office I am aware of how irritating the dr. hoppers are. Skipping from office to office to get the free comprehensive exam or the free teeth whitening and then moving on. That is why I am opposed to such offers but that is an entirely different post.

I left my last Ob-Gyn because I heard some things about his personal life that made me question his character. I had always been happy with him as a professional but morality typically crosses professional and personal lines. So I chose someone new.

Yesterday at the office of my new Ob-Gyn, after depositing my cup in the wall (I was pleased to compare my hydration to that of the much more yellow cup still remaining on the shelf) I went back to my room and waited.

And waited.

And waited. For 40 minutes. My back hurt sitting on the exam table and so I lied down and nearly fell asleep. Finally the nurse practioner came in and we listened to the heartbeat.

Big moment.

But by the time I was in the upright position again she was saying to me “Looks like you’ve done this before and you don’t need anything else from me!” as she hurried out the door.

Approximate time spent waiting: 45 minutes (add 5 minutes in the waiting room)
Approximate time spent with health care providor: 5 minutes would be generous

I called Richard and told him I wanted to switch doctors again. He said no. It’s a good thing I have him in my life to keep me from being the person I don’t want to be.

A friend of mine told a story on her blog about the odd choices her son made when allowed to eat whatever he wanted. I don’t recall what he chose, but it took her by surprise.

The other day I was sitting here at the computer and Cameron came in with a lettuce wedge. Although I’m not sure why, I tried to take it away. He insisted that he wanted it and it finally occurred to me that it was lettuce, not cotton candy. So I let him eat it.
I mentioned in the fall that my mom and I signed up for a Community Sponsored Agriculture co-op. In the fall you pay money that is used to plant. In the spring and summer your money is a credit for you at the farm. My mom and I took our first trip out there last week and I came home with onions, asparagus, carrots and bok choy.

Bok choy.

I had no idea what it was or what to do with it. But today was that day, the day before grocery day where the selection is nil. So I got online and found a recipe for bok choy soup. It was delicious.
What does this mean for my family? Just the idea of my four year old eating a lettuce wedge for a snack and me eating bok choy soup for lunch brings visions of hairy armpits and L.L. Bean. Someone help me.

So just to keep myself grounded I bought frozen chicken nuggets and white bread on my grocery run. I haven’t had white bread in a really long time.

Every year the Greek Orthodox Church in downtown Boise hosts a festival/fundraiser with delicious food. My little brother Evan is currently serving a mission in Greece and this last week marked one year for him. It seemed fitting to celebrate his One Year Anniversary at the Greek Festival. Richard took the boys to a father & sons campout so I went to the festival with my parents and my sister Lori and her husband Sean. A meal out with adults and no children is always a pleasure. MMMM….GYROS. We thought of you Elder Hall and the delicious food you get to eat and the beautiful cities and ocean you get to view.