Feeding the Homeless

We have been trying to make it a family tradition to feed the homeless on Christmas Eve morning.  We have done it 3 or 4 times so far (although not consecutively) and enjoy it every time. It is such a neat and strange experience to bring hot foods and table and just set up at a park in Seattle and soon homeless people start pouring in.  There are many many families who do this and so the homeless can be quite picky.  So much food and goods to choose from, but they are always have been gracious and kind.  

 Here is Soren making some hot cocoa for a gentleman.  This was the first time my kids were old enough to start doing the serving. It was lots of fun to see that.  Soren took his job very seriously and did good work.   Some people looked like classic homeless people, but others looked like they just came from a place with a hot shower and a laundry facility.  We were able to chat it up with some which is always the highlight of the experience.

My New Hearts Desire!

Yesterday the boys and I skipped school and drove 4.5 hrs to Eugene Oregon and then back for a total of 9hrs in the car before the day was through.  Why you might ask?  To test ride this beauty!

This is not just a Triple Tandem bike.  This is a triple tandem bike that can break down into 2 suitcases for
- easy storage
- easy car travel
- easy plane travel
- easy train travel
- easy elephant travel
- easy camel travel

See where I am going with this?  This bad boy is going to open up the door to possibility.  For 3 years I have been biking with both boys attached to me.  Xander in a seat on my handle bars and Soren in a trailing bike.  It was awesome.  I got a work out, we could go fast, and I wasnt' constantly scared someone was going to biff it, landing in the street and die, or not stop fast enough and get hit by a car, or miscalculate their speed and fly into the lake - all things which have been near misses for us.  Last summer was the first time they were not connected to me.  I loved seeing them ride on their own and was ecstatic when they lost the training wheels.  However after 10 minutes I quickly realized the bummers about "family bike rides" - predominantly the speed of the bike and fear of dismembering limbs.  And so one day I let myself fantasize what type of bike I would like.  I had decided a triple tandem that breaks down would have to be it.  But who makes those. I mean really?  But I flipped my lap top open and in 20 second googled "folding triple tandem" and got a hit.  WHAT?!  They actually make these?  Although expensive it is not fiscally impossible.  And although the store is far, still close enough to try out.  OH MY GOODNESS!  My heart started racing and my mind started running.  "I think I need this" was my conclusion.  I have been working extra shifts and talking to people who knew me about it.  And although this bike made everyone laugh, they all concluded, "yes, I think you need that."

So, yesterday, we did it.  We rented 6 movies from Redbox, set up the portable DVD player, hit he store for snacks and made the drive.  Xander was pitifully sick.  He coughed for the first 5 hours straight and at one point had a fever.  But, if we were at home, he would probably be watching TV all day anyway, so why not in the car I rationalized.  We went on a 45 minutes bike ride to see what the bike was like.  The boys were so close to me I could hear them each talking.  I loved their happy chatter and conversations we had.  I could feel the "turbo boost" they would give when they pedaled hard.  Several times Xander lost his footing on the pedals and we devise a system to work as a team to help him.  I was officially IN LOVE.  I adore activities that require people to work well together as a team.  My favorite sports are team sports.  Anything that encourages that in my family with an air of adventure makes my heart start to flutter.   True the bike is like a semi when it turns and you can feel sideways wobbles, but that is the cost of any tandem.  The bike itself is sturdy and strong, even at the joints. It is well made.

And soooooo.......we bought it on the spot.  Along with mud flaps, a rear cargo rack and adjustable pedels for a better fit for Xander.  Come April (it is custom build and we got a discount if we wait several months) we will be biking in style.  I am already day dreaming of biking and camping Hawaii, no driving Fridays, and dropping and picking up the boys from school with the most awesome ride ever.  I hope people will see us all over town riding this thing and say to themselves, "oh there goes that one biking family.....with all their groceries.  I even day dream how to carry lumber home with it. I mean seriously, isn't that so cool?  Okay so Home Depot runs maybe extreme, but a girl can dream right?  I hope to build many many memories with my boys and this thing.  Thank you Bike Friday!  I can't wait for April!!

Breakfast Bites

While we were eating our waffles this morning this event occurred.

Quinae:  "Xander take that thumb tac out of your mouth.  I don't like that!"
Xander:  "Why?"
Quinae: "Because if you swallow that it could poke a hole in your intestines and spill poop all inside your body, making you very sick and you might even die."
Xander (mater of factly stating): "But then I will get to see Jesus."
Quinae (chuckling):  "Yeah, then you will get to see Jesus.  But you won't get to see your Mom, Dad and brother again for along time.  Pro's and con's ya know."
Soren: "Yeah and they don't have toys, or even video games in heaven.......but they might have food." (a residual point from a previous conversation a few days ago.)

Ah, I love these conversations.  You should note that 15 minutes earlier when they sat up for breakfast, the boys got into a fist fight, punching, slapping, hitting and pushing.  I think someone took someones toy, or maybe chair.  I can't seem to keep all the reasons for the countless fist fights and name calling that is done in our house.  Soren can de-escalate pretty quickly, but once Xander is in that mood it is pretty darn hard to flip him, but I had success with this method (an idea given to me from a friend who did this with her girls when they were little).

Quinae:  "There will be no breakfast unless you apologies....... and hug each other."  I was in the mood for a show.  Soren quickly did so in a sweet manor.  Xander literally crossed his arms turned his back to us and said, "Hmmmf"  Ah, the show I was waiting for.
Quinae:  "That is fine Xander. You don't need to do it.  Only do it if you want to eat breakfast." Some snorting and grunting then came out of Xander followed by a teeth clenching and the words barely escaping his lips, "Sorry Soren."  I would normally not except this, but seeing how it was a multi step process, with the harder of the 2 steps still needing to be done, I let it slide."
Quinae:  "Okay, now hug him."
Xander:  "I am not hugging him."
Quinae:  "Good.  More waffles for me."
More grunting and flexing of the muscles in frustration continues.  Then a quick jump off the stool and hugging of Soren's stool leg followed.
Quinae:  "The stool is not Soren."  More protests and a pitiful lean onto Soren was claimed to be a hug.
Quinae:  "That was weak.  Okay now I want you to both give each other 3 compliments to each other, taking turns."  Now I was enjoying the power hungry boys gives a mom at breakfast time.
Soren quickly begins. "Xander I like your hair.....and your shirt.  That is 2 Mom."
Xander:  "I like your teeth."
Quinae:  "Uh, okay now you have to do one about something you think they are good at.
Soren:  "I like it when you made my Christmas list."
Quinae:  "What?  That didn't happen.  Did you make his Christmas list Xander?"
Xander:  "Yeah!"  He then proceeded to show me his transcription of Soren's Christmas list.  He then felt so proud of himself and how nice he was."
Xander: "I like it when you clean the bathroom for me."
Quinae:  "What?  That didn't happen.  Soren did you clean the bathroom for Xander?"
Soren: "Yeah.  Once I did."
Quinae:  "Wow, okay, um, last one.  I want you to say why you like having the other one as a brother."
Soren:  "Xander I like when your so crazy."  Then Soren acts out how crazy Xander is, which looks like he is having a seizure.
Quinae:  "No, no, no, lets not promote craziness, do another one."
Soren:  "Xander I like when we read books together."
Xander:  "I like playing legos with you.......when your nice." He adds as a jab.

Ohhhhh!  The love I was looking for - attained!  It is a Christmas miracle!  Hot waffles for everyone!  Okay some were less hot, but I did flip Xander's switch.  The rest of the morning he planned things he could do for people for Christmas.  If only he could remain in this mode longer.  I must become a master Xander "switch flipper."