Weekend Highlights
1. Gigi had her first sleepover Friday night. Lulu was destroyed. I said, “We’re just loaning her out.” Lulu cried, “No! Families have to stick together!”
2. I blame this mindset for Lulu coughing in my face, elbowing me in the ribs and trying to remove every visible mole from my skin after worming her way into our bed at 6 am.
3. We took the girls to see Chimpanzee Saturday. While Pea Daddy and I loved it, it was a little too Circle of Life-y for the girls. The girls wanted to leave when things got hairy. Who knew chimps were omnivores? We all do now.
4. We have ants. Pea Daddy laid out some bait for them this morning, telling the girls it was their “special food.” I said, “Honey, they just watched chimpanzees hunt and viciously kill monkeys, I don’t think telling them you’re getting rid of the ants is going to traumatize them.”
5. Simply my trying on a pair of Vibrams at the store this weekend traumatized Pea Daddy. “I’m married to a frog,” he said.
Ribbit, ribbit, baby. I didn’t buy them. Yet.
6. No trip to the mall would be complete without putting our grubby paws all over the iPads at the Apple store. Gigi played some Scrabble.
Yes, that’s “GAS.” They immediately tried to recruit her at the Genius Bar.
7. Today we took the girls to Silver Creek Falls, the scene of our first date almost exactly ten years ago to the day. There was no nervous small talk this time, just debate about whose turn it was to carry Lulu. Baby Bjorn needs a model for four year-olds. I’d strap that kid on in a heartbeat.
8. I’d tell you more about our weekend, but the rest of the family is in the middle of root beer floats and a House Hunters marathon. And you know what Lulu always says.
“Families have to stick together.”
Truth.
I got a small foot in my mouth this morning when Misty decided to wake up at 4:30am….. bicarb soda mixed with powdered sugar is a good natural “food” for making ants “go away.”
I’ve also heard good things about cinnamon. But I’ll try the soda/powdered sugar thing tomorrow. Thanks!
Find yourself a Mei Tai and you can carry Lulu anywhere! Seriously! I love that you all went back to your first date spot!
Googling Mei Tai…
I’ve totally lugged my 4 year old around in my Ergo (which was purchased for our one year old of course). All the weight is on the hips so it’s actually pretty comfortable even with a heavy kid!
I agree an ergo would be a good option as well! I use an ergo now with a 2 year old.
I was going to recommend an ergo as well. Especially if she will ride piggy back style!
Ergo goes up to four years- we regularly have to carry our 3 year old who is the size of a 4 year old. We also saw Chimpanzees and my kids liked it. I was shocked about the monkey hunting!!!
I second this! I carry my 3 1/2 year old in the Ergo still and he LOVES it.
That’s awesome! (smacking myself for giving away Baby Bjorn…)
hilarious, I didn’t even see these comments when I posted my Ergo recommendation above… clearly they’re well loved
If there’s ever another Pea Baby, we’ll be getting the Ergo. Thanks!
Ugh. Vibrams – not a fan
However, I do loving wearing/carrying my babies! Ergos are awful for me – way too puffy in the shoulder straps. I’m a big fan of Kinderpacks (made in the US by a WAHM). they have a preschool size that goes quite high up in weight for bigger kids. We love our kinderpack(s) and it’s great to take the almost 3 year old to the beach and on hikes and he snuggles up and enjoys the world.
So thumbs down on the Vibrams but you could save your money and buy a dope Kinderpack instead!
Yeah, I may have talked myself out of the Vibrams. I’m now looking at the New Balance Minimus. Much less Froggy. Kinderpacks sound awesome! Thanks for the tip!
I’m shocked on both accounts! I love Chimpanzee so much. I learned quite a great deal…about chimps AND humans. I wish the girls had been more into it.
Yea, I felt the same. I am pretty sure I have seen the same look the mom had when Oscar was playing and she was holding his foot- on my own face!!!
That’s so neat that you got to take the whole family to the scene of your first date – and 10 years to the day, that’s pretty cool
I know lots of people swear by Vibrams, but I think I’m still scarred from when toe socks were in style. I pretended they were comfortable because I wanted to look cool (since nothing says cool like obnoxiously bright, striped toe socks) but they were not pleasant to wear at all!
The funny thing is you have to buy toe socks to wear with the Vibrams!
You will love the Vibrams! i have a pair that’s 5 years old and a boring brown color. Guess it’s time to buy a new pair in some fancy color! I use them often when costuming stunt shows, they are great for trampoline work!
I found a grey/purple pair of the KSOs online that are a lot less “froggy” looking
I have vibrams that are not toes but hug your feet similarly. They are awesome- minimal shoes
I have these! Although they look more pink to me. i absolutely love them for things like lifting, bodyrock type home workouts, & hiking/walking activities. Best part: my boyfriend got them for me! [He knew I was dying for them!] So even though he thinks they are ridiculous, he can’t complain!
I wish Pea D would just go ahead and buy them for me.
Be careful with the Vibrams. Manatee had them and got a stress fracture. I couldn’t buy the 5-toed version due to my obnoxiously long toes (which is a whole other story). I wear them to look cute but not to run.
Very cute about going back to your first date. Ahh, yes, the grand memories of awkward small talk when you are trying to gage what the other person thinks…Exciting, but I think I liked being married more.
I definitely like being married more–lugging kids around and all. I’m fairly prone to stress fractures–had two playing college basketball, so thanks so much for the info!
I love my vibrams…I don’t run in them but walking is super comfy! You should totally get them…frog comment and all
Good to know. What I really want is a minimal shoe for weightlifting, walking and sprints. I tried on some Merrills but it just felt like zero support. I loved the way the Vibrams felt. They were like Spanx for my feet.
I highly recommend them! I have six pairs and they are wonderful. It takes time to ease in to going from all the cush to barefoot because you walk a bit differently…no heel strike. They are wonderful to work out in! I find my feet are stronger and I only have foot pain when I wear shoes not good for my feet….but I have to every so often.
Get the ones I have! Vibrams but without the scary frog feet. I love in them! I didn’t even know they were Vibrams until the sales guy told me. They are called Wonder Glove, I believe. I’ll show you Thursday.
Okay, show me Thursday! I’ll be there…promise!
I have the same one’s I think. I love them
I feel like I’m the only person who has no desire to try Vibrams. Ha! Maybe I’m just scared of the lack of extra cushion. I think it’s lovely you went back to the scene of your first date; so cute! And a gorgeous background!
Don’t worry, I have no desire to try them either but for an entirely different reason! I can’t stand the feeling of my toes being all separated.
Gotta love a good house hunters (or anything on Bravo or even the E channel) marathon.
Ants. I would rather have a rat than an ant. I hate ants! Good luck getting rid of them!
Oh man, you can keep your rats! Ewww!
“Families need to stick together”…well said Miss Lulu, well said!!!
This is the third event in a series of eery events this evening revolving around vibram shoes. My fiance and I first watched a TED talk about how our bodies run better with bare feet, then we talked about getting some vibram shoes, then checked REI and found they had them in the outlet section on clearance, so we bought two pairs for $40 off, then we checked your website to get a banana bread recipe and the shoes popped up again! I think it’s a sign from the universe that you should get them
Also, I think this is the first time I’ve ever commented, so I wanted to say thank you, thank you for all the delicious recipes!
REI is where we went. Thanks for commenting! You’ve helped convinced me to get the frog feet…
If you get the black Vibrams, your feet will look less froggy. My husband still hates them, but whatevs
Good tip, thanks!
You will love Vibrams! I have a boring brown pair that are about 5 years old. I started using them then to costume the stunt shows I design for. They work great for trampoline work, btw =) Think I am going to have to get me a pair in a fun, new color!
When camping, we use baby powder to keep the ants out. Good luck with that!
Stunt shows? I’m intrigued!
No comments from me on vibrams, ergos or ants but just wanted to say, nice posing Gigi!
Right? Geesh.
I love number one! So adorable. That was like my sister and I when we were little…before all the fighting started. lol.
“I’m married to a frog.” <—- lololol. So "fitting" that the Vibrams were green. My boyfriend has a yellow pair and he loves them. Many of my friends do, too. I'm sure I'll buy a pair some day, but it'll definitely be weird running around in something that resembles toe socks
Yes, families have to stick together!
Especially when it’s rootbeer float + show time. Mama Pea, I have never tried on Vibrams but I’m kind of creeped out by how they look. If you are interested in the whole running barefoot philosophy, there are other shoes that have thin soles made for this purpose, maybe you’d like to try those? Or when you’re running, you can take off your shoes and do some quick, short sprints barefoot on the grass (that’s something I learned from my running coach).
P.S. Love the family picture!
I am looking into other, less froggy looking shoes, but dang, those Vibrams felt so good in comparison!
Awww, I can imagine how lonely Lulu must have felt. So cute. Soon she’ll be going to her own! Too soon for Mama Pea, I’m sure.
I did know chimps are omnivores! They mainly eat small bugs and whatever is easiest to catch and kill. I think gorillas are the same.
I have Vibrams on my wish list. I’ll take the plunge one day. Probably when they aren’t trendy anymore, haha. I’m so 2000-late.
Um, let’s just say they don’t just eat small bugs…
Oh dear. Thanks for the heads up. I might not want to see the movie. I’m like Gigi and Lulu when it comes to animals being killed. Humans in movies… doesn’t bother me so much so much to see, lol. Backwards, I know.
The Planet Earth segment on Chimps ruined me for ever watching anything about them again. It was traumatic
Now I am curious on what that entailed…
It’s pretty much what you described, but a bit more violent, and in the end you learn that not only are they omnivorous, but they are also cannibalistic.
*shudder*
Yeah, I wondered about that. If they eat monkeys, well monkeys don’t fall far from the tree (literally).
It’s pretty jarring when you find out that these creatures you thought were adorable your whole life are so brutal. This is what separates man from beast, I suppose.
I sure wouldn’t want to carry a 4 year old on my back all day, taht’s for sure! Glad you had a fun weekend!
Fun weekend!
My running store Groupon expires on Thursday and I am still agonizing over the “to Vibram or not to Vibram” question. I don’t know why this is so difficult to decide – every time you bring it up, you have loads of commenters that are all for it….
Looks like a beautiful hike and a gorgeous day for it! Terrific family picture too! Root beer floats…total yum!
I haven’t had one of those in years!
I know…it’s just hard to pull the trigger on something that looks so odd. Why don’t you do it first and tell me what you think?
Sounds like you and the family had a beautiful weekend, minus the lulu sadness
I hear those vibrams rock, I would get PINK! I mean how fitting right
Happy Monday! <3
Hope your move went smoothly!
I just love your little family
And ahahahaha – Pea Daddy’s comment about the five fingers was pretty funny. I actually laughed outloud…good thing I had put my coffee down to read this post! 
I love our little family too. So blessed. God is good! Thanks for letting us share.
here’s a plug for the vibrams . . . . i have a pair of sprints. i LOVE them. i wear no other shoes except to church (still waiting for vibram to come out with a Sabbath-worthy model). my feet used to ache at night, for no good reason. i never wore heels or uncomfortable shoes. i got my vibrams Christmas 2010. after 2 days of wearing them, my feet stopped hurting. 2 days!
right now i’m on a mission to lose my leftover baby(ies) weight. i’ve made myself a chart to motivate and document my progress. when i reach my goal, i’m rewarding myself with a new pair of vibrams!
and, we love your recipes! thanks for sharing. anytime i make something new and yummy, my girls (5, 3, 2) ask, “Does Mamma Pea make this?”
You’ve convinced me! Thanks, Rebekah. I think I love your little girls
So glad you had a good weekend with the girls! You will love the VFF’s for lifting + walking. They allow you to use so many new muscles. Just don’t start sprinting in them…especially on the treadmill.
Right!
I am on board with something to strap in a four year old…i have a stepdaughter that I would love to not have to carry in one arm…they are heavier than they look
Truth!
I love your blog!! I am just getting in to the vegan lifestyle and this blog is really helpful!! I was wondering what kind of lotion and body wash people use, Everything has so many chemicals!! Thanks
Sounds like a traumatizing weekend all around!
Oh man, this post just reminds me that I need to get out to Silver Creek Falls again ASAP!! I went out there last summer when my in-laws were in town and have yet to be back. Shameful, considering I live only about 45 minutes away from them. Aren’t you just loving the weather we’re having right now? I’m thinking of excusing myself from the computer, putting on my bikini and sunblock, whipping up a batch of margaritas and laying out by our inflatable kiddie pool! Gotta soak up the sun while I can… I have a feeling it’s not going to last
Oh I love this post! Happy 10th date-versary!!
Aww, Lulu – that girl melts my heart. So glad you guys had a “sticking together” kind of weekend. Love to you all.
Ha! Seth and I had a very similar exchange a few weeks ago when I tried on some Vibrams–you know, “just to see how they feel.” I thought they were super cool and comfy, but Seth told me that I looked like my neighbor (an elderly gentleman), who happens to speed-walk in Vibrams around the neighborhood. I am determined to get a pair someday…perhaps I should register for them?
Ah, what a nice weekend with the family. Love the trip to the falls that you went on!
We should have taken you there when you were here! (stupid me!)
Aww! Love the first picture of the girls with the horses. So cute!
Weekends were meant for families to stick together! Hope you enjoyed every single minute of it (well, minus the chimps eating each other!).
Love the family hiking pic.
It makes me smile. Hey- the vibrams remind me if Kermit. 
“It’s not easy being green.” he he.
love the family picture !!
Hi Mama Pea,
I don’t know if you would know this, but I thought I would go ahead and ask. I am an avid gym go-er and struggle with getting enough protein after hard workouts. I tried protein shake powders and find that they upset my stomach no matter how little or how much I use. Do you have any suggestions that might be better?
Thanks so much!
What kinds upset your stomach? That might give me some more info to go on
Recently, it’s been the Velocity brand. I’ve tried a few others similar to this.
Sorry to keep asking questions…what’s the protein source in that? Whey? Soy? Something else?
No worries! I appreciate you helping me! Ummm, it says under ingredients that it has Whey Protein Concentrate? Does that help?
Yup! So apparently it’s the whey/dairy that’s causing problems for you (but it could also be the sweetener they use). Here’s a post re: my favorite dairy-free protein powders–hope it helps!
http://peasandthankyou.com/2011/05/17/protein-power/
Sounds like a fun weekend! Thanks for the heads up about the chimp movie… I won’t take my younger kiddos!
i’ve ordered that same pair of Vibrams you tried on! Can’t wait till they arrive so I can freak out my husband. LOL
What a beautiful family shot! I love you guys. The only thing that would have made that outing better is if you were wearing Vibrams. Ribbit.
I saw some (not sure if they are the same brand) in a 7.5 at the Beaverton Ross store last night, $35 : )
A bit nervous about Chimpanze now – my daughter’s second grade class is going tonight . . . I was planning on taking my little guy too . . . yikes!
Honestly, it isn’t that graphic and it may just go over your kiddos heads. My girls have pretty good attention spans and they lost interest pretty quickly. Good luck!