Last December, when the Passports With Purpose Fundraiser surpassed our goal to raise $80,000 to build two libraries in Zambia, we had another goal that we were more quiet about... to visit in person, meet the kids, and bring back stories and pictures about how our libraries helped the community. It was sort of "pie in the sky" at the time, and I'm just thrilled to announce that Expedia has stepped in to make that goal a reality!
You made this happen!
Thanks to Expedia's generosity, myself, Beth Whitman, and Michelle Duffy will visit one of the two libraries on May 10. Just a few short weeks from now.
This is going to be en emotional trip for me. I'm just beyond thrilled to be able to see the library first hand, and to learn more about Zambia. I know it will be emotional too, to interact with kids who have so little. In the back of my mind, I know I'll be contrasting lives Zambian kids lead with my kids back home and the life we lead in Seattle. I'm also nervous about leaving my kids for so long - though we'll only be on the ground for a few days, the long flight times mean I'll be gone for just over a week, returning just in time to celebrate Eilan's 3rd birthday.
Join in
If you helped build this library by making a donation or sharing information about Passports with Purpose with friends, we'd love your participation!
While we can't bring you all along in person, we hope to bring you along virtually. This is Africa, after all, so we're doing it the "old school" way, with postcards and pictures. We hope to gather hundreds of them to bind in a photo album and deliver to the school. It's a great way to show the kids in Zambia how many people, from around the world, worked together to make their library a reality!
Sharing family photos and postcards is a great way to connect
Here's What To Do
Send us your postcard (or postcard sized pictures). It can be a postcard from your hometown, a trip that meant a lot to you, or a picture of you doing something you love. Don't forget to write a note on the back!
We'll be posting some of our favorites online, so let us know if it's not ok to share in that way - we promise to respect your wishes
Put your picture or postcard in the mail by May 1 - you can send it to: Passports with Purpose, P.O. Box 16102, Seattle WA 98116.
Follow Along
I'll be posting about my trip here, but if you want to follow along as the trip unfolds, I'll be putting up pictures and thoughts as we go on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Here's where you can find me:
Beavertail - a fried dough treat available on Whistler Mountain
We seem to be hearing a lot about poutine lately, but for my money the Canadian kid-friendly food of choice is the Beavertail. Fresh, warm fried dough dredged in sugar and cinnamon. Where did we try this delicacy? There's a takeaway stand halfway up Whistler mountain, which makes it the perfect fuel in the middle of the long run down. Before you put your gloves back off, you can just wipe your fingers in the snow to remove the sticky sugar. MMMMM.
With higher than average temperatures in much of the country, and kids headed off to spring break, it may seem like a strange time to be writing about skiing. If you're ready for some warmth, just file this away for next year, but if you're hoping to get in one last run read on (and know that there has been so much snow in Whistler this year that the ski season has been extended until May 28)
Darya's "Official" Whistler Ski School photo from 2011
Last year, my kids took their first ski lessons at Whistler. Those lessons were successful enough that we decided to make the leap and enroll them in weekly ski lessons at Powderpigs, about one hour east of Seattle. It was a big investment - both financially and in terms of our time (lessons last a full day on Saturday or Sunday for 8 weeks).
We started the ski season worried that the kids might beg out after a few weeks, and thinking that those lessons would be enough skiing for everyone, but after a few weeks, both kids had their ski legs and were waking up early on Saturday mornings, ready to hit the slopes!
Chaotic mornings at Powderpigs are followed by a quiet lull as all the kids hit the slopes
Wouldn't it be fun, we thought, to take the kids back to Whistler mountain and let them revisit the place where they had their very first ski experience? For once, we'd be the perfect parents, taking the kids exactly where they want to go instead of interspersing playgrounds with museums and other "brain food!"
NNOOOOOOOOOOO. Was the resounding answer from the kids! "The lifts are too big," "The ski runs are too long," "The mountain is too cold" Those first ski experiences and their impressions at the time, had grown out of proportion with reality and their new skills. We pressed on, of course - sometimes you need to conquer your fears over and over again in the process of learning a new skill.
We arrived under cover of darkness, and the kids, remembering just a little, had tons of questions. "Can we ski with Daddy," (yes) "How many lifts are there" (20 on Whistler, 17 on Blackcomb), "Are there other kids to play with" (yes, it seemed half of Seattle was in Whistler that week). Finally "How long is the drive to the ski slopes?" asked Darya, not knowing that our hotel, the Westin Whistler was just steps away from the Whistler Mountain Gondola and Whistler Kids ski school. With that much anticipating, morning was like an unveiling, and boy were the kids suprised to wake up and see that we were right in the middle of the action!
The view from our room at the Westin Resort and Spa in Whistler, BC
The mountain still looked huge, but suddenly those lifts weren't so intimidating. The kids threw on their ski gear and practically ran out the door and down to ski lessons. Despite all the layers, it was possibly the fastest I've ever seen the kids get dressed.
Curious for sure, but suited up and ready to face the day
And they returned at the end of the day exhausted, and happy, and proud beyond belief. They had conquered the mountain that had loomed so large in their imagination.
Reunited after a long day of skiing, the kids have a quick cuddle before they start bragging about their accomplishments
This trip was sponsored by the Tourism Whistler who generously covered our lift tickets and my ski rentals. Whistler Tourism did not request that I express a particular point of view, and my writing always reflects my own opinion and experiences. We paid for our own hotel room at the Westin Resort and Spa, Whistler and all of our meals.
The pictures we bring back from the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (just north of Seattle) each April belie the reality of the experience. The truth is that the fields are a big muddy mess! It's tons of fun though, with activities for kids and a chance to pick up both reasonably priced cut flowers and bulbs of your favorite varieties to plant for next year.
Eilan begged to wear his Wizard costume on our plane ride to LA earlier this month, and then showed it off to every flight attendant and passenger who glanced his way. Adorable, right?
Admission to America's nearly 400 national parks is free during National Park Week! This year the dates are from Saturday, April 21 and runs until Sunday, April 29.
This year my kids wore Patagonia's down sweater vests under their ski jackets to keep warm, and they worked just great since they're lightweight, breathe well, and don't cause friction with other layers. It would be a pricy purchase, if I hadn't bought them on an end-of-season closeout last year. Now's your chance, Amazon has Patagonia Down Sweaters beginning at $40
Weekly deals always represent a savings over standard rates or represent a special package that is attractive to families. Advertisers may purchase a listing in DeliciousBaby's weekly deals, and I verify that the deal is available at press time and that it would be attractive to DeliciousBaby readers. Some links may be affiliates links, which means that I receive a small commission if you make a purchase at the site (don't worry, it doesn't cost you more) If you are interested in information about being listed in DeliciousBaby's weekly deals post, please send me email: debbie AT deliciousbaby DOT com.
PeaPod Plus Portable Children's Travel Bed Model P201
I have long recommended the PeaPod Portable Travel Crib for parents who would like a portable sleep environment for their children when they travel. So today, when I heard from a reader that an infant had died of suffocation on a PeaPod bed, I felt a responsibility to help spread the word. My recommendation would be that if you own this product, you discontinue using it until we get more information about its safety. If you are considering buying it, please don't (I have also removed my recommendations for the PeaPod from my product guide.)
I confirmed the report today with the mother, Christine Whelan Moyers who had put her 5 month old son Daniel to sleep in a PeaPod Portable Travel Crib. Heartbreakingly, he suffocated in the crib's non-breathable lower siding. Christine has just received word from the doctor conducting the autopsy that Daniel died of suffocation, not SIDS. While the official autopsy won't be available for a few more weeks, she asked that parents spread the word about what happened, first posting the news on Amazon.com and Twiniversity.
Christine, my heart goes out to you and to your family.
Christene's Post on Amazon.com
I have not yet received a reply to my request for more information from KidCo, and I will update this post when I do.
If you own a PeaPod please discontinue using it until we have more information about the safety of this product. If you are considering buying one, please think again.
Everest in a Cherry Tree at University of Washington in Seattle
Seattle isn't exactly famed for its cherry blossoms, but trees seem to be everywhere - in front yards, along streets, and in parks (in the fall, it feels like Maples are everywhere, funny how that works).
The best place for cherry blossom viewing is at the University of Washington's central quad, where the grass is carpeted by pink leaves falling from the 60+ year old trees. Friends of ours host a cherry blossom viewing picnic each year, so eating Japanese food and climbing the trees has become a fun annual springtime ritual for my kids
Sometimes you just do what works. On our most recent trip to Whistler, that meant buying Everest a plain hot dog at the most fashionable hot-dog shop I've ever seen after he politely sat through our fabulous-but-not-to-his-liking meal at the restaurant next door.
About Me I'm Debbie, mother of three delicious kids and I write about traveling with little kids. That's my daughter in the backpack and my son in Paris on Halloween.
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