Whoa, random thoughts!

Does this new background make our blog look like a myspace page? I don't think I want that. Speaking of myspace...the other day I was thinking that with all the popularity of blogging lately, they are kind of like the myspace for families.



Marisa and I got into a lengthy discussion about where the line is that you should try to balance between the two ends of the following spectrum...far left being: sell everything you own, move to Africa, spend the rest of your life in sackcloth and ashes helping only others and never doing anything to benefit yourself...and the far right being: spend all of your time and money on you and your family doing nothing for other people unless it in some way benefits yourself. We couldn't come to a good conclusion...what are your thoughts?

P.S. This is Marisa, I just uploaded some of my recent scrapbook pages to www.scraplove.com, you can view them at Scraplove.com

Good old U of MD - Dental

For all of you x-baltimorons that went to dental school with me you know how the nazi-perio department wields an unchecked sword of domination that makes school difficult in ways that do not make you a better dentist. I know that vindication is not something that should bring me joy, but I couldn't help but be happy to hear that some disgruntled student sued the school about the perio department and succeeded in putting them on probation.

See the following notice:

"On May 27, 2007, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery/Dental School,
University of Maryland (BCDS), received a formal complaint [from the
Commission on Dental Accreditation] (CODA) regarding the Doctor of Dental
Surgery (DDS) program detailing the following:

1.The accredited program has not developed and implemented a procedure to inform students, annually, of the mailing address and telephone number of the Commission on Dental Accreditation in accord with the Commission’s “Required Notice of Opportunity and Procedure to File Complaints with the Commission” policy

2.Students are not provided with written notification regarding the clinical course requirements and methods of evaluation in advance of the clinical courses (Educational Effectiveness Standard 2.3-Instruction)

3.Students are not provided with the defined competencies needed for graduation in a timely manner (Educational Effectiveness Standard 2.7-Curriculum Management)

On receipt of the complaint a Self-Study committee was formed and a targeted discovery process was initiated following the CODA “Guide for Responding to a Complaint against the Dental Education Program.” Course directors were asked to immediately audit course materials with respect to the standards cited. The Office of Academic Affairs independently carried out a similar audit process. The fact-finding also included senior dental student and recent graduate focus groups. A communication plan was developed, which included notification to all faculty by email of the formal complaint and subsequently an Open Forum was held for all BCDS Faculty on June 15th, 2007."

Shots and Superglue

Today I had an appointment with the pediatrician for Caeden scheduled for the afternoon. It wound up being a good thing because in the morning Trey split his head open! Becks is still obsessed with cleaning supplies and made a big puddle of water with the swiffer wet jet on the wood floors in the living room. Trey didn't see it and went running through it, slipped and flew headfirst into the edge of the french doors. It was really just a little gash, about 3/4 inch long, but it sure did bleed a lot at first! The pediatrician used a glue called dermabond to glue the edges back together, it's purple and you can see it a little in the picture. Trey was super happy to not have any needles involved!

Caeden got his shots and after the first one, he shocked all of us and smiled at the nurse! But then he was back to a normal baby and screamed at the second, third and fourth shots. But now we are home and he is smiling again - we are so blessed to have such a happy baby!

P.S. We had our neighborhood garage sale this Saturday and Trey sold cookies on the sidewalk like last year. He made $12.75, used some of it to buy a lava lamp off our neighbor and some skittles at the store, and said he wants to send the rest to Uncle Spencer on his mission because he doesn't get much to eat in Alabama. Right now I'm having some sugar cookies and milk (my favorite recipe from the Good Housekeeping cookbook) and they are SOOOOOO good!

2 going on 5

Bex loves to put the head set on and walk around the house talking to me during my commute or to his Grandma Calderwood. He is a little behind on his ability to speak, but as always, he likes to say a lot. Even Marisa w/ that mother's special ability to translate their own toddler's language has a hard time with him sometimes.

Two times today we had people ask us if he is four years old, once at a wedding and another time at our neighborhood garage sale. They are blown away that he just turned 2 years old four months ago.




Late edit: I guess the constant drool and wet neck on his T-shirt should give away his young age.

Sweet Music

A few months ago our friend Jodee tagged me to post some info about myself for others to get to know me better. I never did and remember that every once in a while which makes me feel guilty. To get rid of that guilt I have posted the following...

I love my family...
Sometimes I try to be a PIMP...
I like to dance...
Despite what Marisa thinks, I have cried before...
Jubal Sackett is one of my heros...

Me, my bro and my sister are all big music people. Although our styles vary somewhat we like to share what new music we have with each other every now and then. Kristin gives me a lot of the new R&B, I pass on the techno and Cody gives me the alternative music. You can always get to know someone better by seeing what music they listen to.

ATB	9 PM (Till I Come)
Aly & A.J.	On The Ride
Aly & A.J.	Rush
Angels & Airwaves	The Adventure Final
Ashley Parker Angel	Let U Go
ATB	Hold You
Azzido Da Bass Ft. Johnny Blake	Lonely By Your Side
Bananarama	Look On The Floor
Barlow Girl	Never Alone
Beatfreakz	Somebodys Watching Me
Beck	Epro
Beck	Lost Cause
Billy Currington	Must Be Doing Something Right
Bob Sinclar	World Hold On
Bodyrockers	I Like the Way (Radio Edit)
Brooke Hogan Ft. Paul Wall	About Us
Calvin Harris	Acceptable in the 80's
Carrie Underwood	Before He Cheats
Carrie Underwood	Don't Forget To Remember Me
Carrie Underwood	Jesus Take The Wheel
Chamillionaire Ft. Krayzie Bone	Ridin' (Radio Edit)
Chris Brown	Say Goodbye
Dan Balan	Ma Ya Hi (Dragostea Din Tei) [Numa Numa Mix]
Dierks Bentley	Every Mile A Memory
Dierks Bentley	Long Trip Alone
DJ Encore	Another Day
Dj Icey	DJ Icey - Sailing (2001 Remix)
DJ Kosmonova	Take Me Away
DJ Tiesto	As The Rush Comes
Erica	Relations
Escanor	Open Your Eyes
Evanescence	Call Me When You're Sober
Fall Out Boy	Sugar, We're Going Down Swinging
Fall Out Boy	Thanks For The Memories
Fergie	Big Girls Don't Cry
Fergie	Fergalicious
Fergie	Glamorous
Ferry Corsten	Fire
Freeloaders Ft. The Real Thing	So Much Love to Give (Milk & Sugar Remix)
Freemasons Ft. Siedah Garrett	Rain Down Love (Walken Edit)
Gaelle	Give It Back (Eric's Wollman Dub)
Gym Class Heroes	Cupids Chokehold
Hawk Nelson	Take Me
Hilary Duff	Stranger
Ian Van Dahl	I Will - Edited
Ian Van Dahl & Marsha	Castles In The Sky
Iio	Is It Love
Iio	Is It Love - Chris Ortega Remix
Iio	Rapture
India Arie Ft. Akon	I Am Not My Hair
Jamiroquai	Canned Heat
Jenna Drey	By The Way (Al B Rich Radio Mix)
Jessica Simpson	A Public Affair
Jibbs	Chain Hang Low
John Mayer	Waiting On The World To Change
Jojo	Too Little Too Late
Jon McLaughlin	Beautiful Disaster
Justin Timberlake	What Goes Around
Justin Timberlake Ft. T.I.	My Love
Kaskade	Be Still
Kaskade	Be Still - Extended
Kaskade	Stars Align
Katharine McPhee	Over It
Kay Cee	Escape
Kelly Clarkson	Walk Away
Laut Sprecher Ft. Katie Skate	Omnibus
Lil Jon Ft. E-40 & Sean Paul	Snap Yo Fingers
Lonestar	Mountains
Madonna	Hollywood
Madonna	Hung Up
Madonna	Jump
Maná	Labios Compartidos
Miss Jane	It's A Fine Day (ATB Remix)
Modeselektor	Silikon
Mozart	Mozart - Carmina Burana - O Fortuna
Mr. Capone-E Ft. Twista	Don't Get It Twisted (Radio Edit)
Nelly Furtado	All Good Things Come To An End
Nelly Furtado	Man Eater
Nelly Furtado	Say It Right
Nelly Furtado Ft. Timbaland	Promiscuous Girl
Ne-Yo	Because Of You
Ne-Yo	Sexy Love
Nick Lachey	I Can`t Hate You Anymore
Nick Lachey	What's Left Of Me
Nonpoint	In The Air Tonight
O.A.R.	Love And Memories
ok go	here it goes again
P.O.D.	Goodbye For Now
Panic! At The Disco	The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage
Perpetuous Dreamer	Dust
Pink	Who Knew?
PPK	Resurection
Rascal Flatts	My Wish
Rascal Flatts	What Hurts The Most
Rihanna	Pon De Replay
Rodney Atkins	Watching You
roger sanchez	another chance (full mix)
Safri Duo	Bongo Song
September	Cry For You
Snow Patrol	Chasing Cars
Stardust	Musics Sounds Better With You
Static Revenger	L-L-Love Club Mix
Stefy	Chelsea
Stunt	Raindrops
Supermode	Tell Me Why
Tegan and Sara	Not Tonight
Tegan and Sara	Where Does the Good Go
Ten Second Epic	Count Yourself In
Ten Second Epic	The Last Song I Will Ever Waste On You
The All-American Rejects	Can't Talk
The All-American Rejects	It Ends Tonight
The All-American Rejects	Move Along
The All-American Rejects	My Paper Heart
The All-American Rejects	The Last Song
The Killers	Somebody Told Me (Dance Remix)
The Raconteurs	Steady As She Goes
The Similou	All This Love
Tristan Prettyman Ft. Jason Mraz	Shy That Way
Variety Beats	New Numa

If you happen to know more than 25% of these songs let me know and I'll see you in a while new light!

Spit up and Strawberries

On Monday I tried to give Caeden some rice cereal for the first time. Of course it was a two-steps-forward, one-step-back kind of process (like the Paula Abdul song Opposites Attract, for those of you who had the tape Forever Your Girl) but he sort of got the hang of it by the end and finished the bowl, which was probably a whole tablespoon.
He seemed to think it was hilarious to be eating by a spoon, maybe he realizes it makes him big like his older brothers. Trey did the same thing when we first started feeding him with a spoon, he just laughed and laughed.

Today we went to "Grandpa's Farm" in Hobart, not too far from our house, and I think it must have been named after the extremely old man who was telling us to stay in our rows, all the kids started calling him grandpa all by themselves. We picked a ton of strawberries, they were just so red and yummy that it was hard to stop! So far I've made 2 batches of jam, frozen 4 pans of individual ones and sliced a big bowl for strawberry shortcake and that's just one of our two flats! Seriously, what am I going to do with the rest of them? It's taken me all day and the kids and my kitchen are all sticky. Beckham was super cute and helped me pick the whole time and said "thank you!" every time I put a berry in his box, and he helped me stir the jam when we got home. Caeden just sat there in his carseat and watched us for a long time until he started to get hot and fussy. We went with our friends from the "old ward" (before the split) and it was fun to talk to the other girls while we picked. Trey was at school, he said he didn't care if he missed it but he did eat his share of strawberry jam when he got home! It was definitely the best berry picking experience I've had as a mother!

In other news, our friend Ronnie came to visit for a couple of days while he was looking for jobs in the area. We didn't take any pictures but it was fun to hang out and talk and we wish we could see him and his family more often.

Boys and herbs

Close family and friends will remember this picture from two years ago. We got together with some college friends and went on a bike ride through a 2 mile tunnel in Montana. It was our first time to takes kids on a bike ride w/ a trailer. We didn't think to put down the plastic cover over the screen cover. Needless to say, when we made it out of the tunnel we found that some mud drops made it through the screen cover and got the kids dirty. Despite the mud, Bex seemed to have a fun time because he didn't cry and thus didn't find out about the mud until we got back into the sun.



Two years later and with Caeden almost the exact same age to the day, we happened to do another bike ride. Being the third child has benefits that your parents learned how to parent on your older siblings. Caeden had a warm, dry and fun time.

One of the things that define Marisa and me is that we like to cook together and use herbs out of our garden. We started with the usuals like Basil and Oregano. We went to a big nursery down the road that specializes in unusual and hard to find plants. There we got Chocolate Mint, Grapefruit Mint and Pineapple Sage. We added this to our Orange Mint and Lemon Balm. They are fun to throw into things like ice cream and yogurt. The picture below is our harvest today of Sage, Oregano, Lemon Balm and Orange Mint. We pull it out of the garden to cook and save some for the winter in both dried and frozen forms. One benefit to the rainy Washington winters is that some of these plants will grow year round.

Flying Babies

We took some pictures like this a year or so ago. The boys love it because they see the cropped images and think that they must have been flying.









Don't worry, in July...six years and no drops. BTW, all these pictures are real even though they look like we put a cut out pic of the boys over a fake sky background.

Slacker

After having Marisa make one post I immediately become a slacker and don't post for over a week. Anyway, here is our week in review.

Bex is pretty agile for his age and runs circles around his friends. As a father that makes you happy, but the other side of the coin is having a monkey that can escape easily. This past week he figured out how to climb up and open our gate to get out of our yard. Luckily, we heard it open and found out the first time it happened. Now we have to keep it locked.

This weekend was Maple Valley Days. That is the city that we live in. It is basically a small fair w/ rides and booths and a parade.
I grew up with a cowboy father in yuppie-ville so I turned out to be a mix of both. There was plenty of proof that I live in the same type of area. Lots of yuppies on the side of the road watching the Tractor Club drive by on their old tractors. It was pretty cool and the boys loved it.
The following picture is what really made me realize we live out on the edge of the sticks. I don't think I ever saw this group in any of the Salt Lake City parades I went to as a kid.
We live on a corner and have a rock wall along one side of our house. It is hard to water and we really didn't want to put anything there that would take much maintenance. So after we moved in we planted a few strawberries. Now the whole area is covered with them.
Nothing better than home grown strawberries!

Sum-mer Sum-mer Sum-mer TIME!

The weather has been so nice here lately. So nice, actually, that we have decided that two summers in this 90-degree kitchen are two too many and we are getting AC next week. We took the kids to Lake Wilderness twice and to a pool this week and spent as much time as possible outside in the sun. After we got out of the pool the kids didn't want to leave so Trey put on Carson's sunglasses and chilled out on the lounge chair, staring off into the distance. Beckham had a different idea and climbed up the back of the chair after we took his swim diaper off, exposing himself to the world.

I've been training for a sprint triathlon and today was the big day. After only 5 hours of sleep I got up with the birds, loaded up the bikes with my friends and headed up to Lake Sammamish for the race. It was my first triathlon and I was a little nervous but now after doing it I'm excited to do more, even though right now I think my body is telling me otherwise. The lake was warmer than I expected and the swim went well, except that after I rounded the first buoy I didn't turn sharply enough and got off course and then I was fighting the current to get back on track. My transition was slow because I had forgotten to untie my shoes beforehand so I had to sit down and pick out the double knots. I definitely didn't do great on the bike but I knew I wouldn't, I've been a lot slower than most of the girls I was training with. All I heard the whole hour and 2 minutes was "on your left!" Maybe next year I'll rent a road bike for the race, I really like my cute new green mountain bike but today I felt like a kid on a 10-speed! After being on the bike for that long it feels so weird to run at first but I just kept running and at the halfway point I felt better so I picked up the pace and was happy with my 5K time. Overall I did about 15 minutes better than I thought I would, so I'm proud of myself but there's definitely a lot of room for improvement in my next triathlon. I liked cross-training and it was a great way to get back into shape after having Caeden. It was an amazingly beautiful day and it was so fun just to be there with all of the energy and excitement. Here's me and two of my training buddies, Tracie and Shaunie. These girls are great because they make me look tall! Just kidding, these girls truly are great. No, Shaunie's not smoking a post-race joint, I really don't know what she's doing but I looked even worse in the other picture so this is what you get!

Sister Tait, our friend from Maryland, asked for some recent pix of the boys so I tried to take some in the backyard, and then I remembered why we never post any pictures of all three of them... because I never get any good ones!

Here's what happens if you try to take pictures of the kids for too long. I love the starting-to-be-distressed, "I'm-getting-squished-and-slipping-down-at-the-same-time" look on Caeden's face. And yes, I actually haven't killed all the plants in our yard yet, maybe I can find my inner green thumb after all. Except that I got these hanging fuschias this year, they seemed like such a good idea but they require more water than my mind has capacity to remember.