Signs of Fall

I had to say good-bye to my favorite summer drink - ice tea - and hello to my favorite cold-weather drink - hot tea.
This cute little guy dropped in just in time for Fall. Thanks, Mom!

I've discovered that it's impossible for me to take a photo of Emma in the close-up mode unless she's sleeping. Way too much motion! We broke out the long sleeve dresses and tights this morning. Of course, this afternoon it's supposed to be 80! Gotta love Idaho!

More signs of Fall to follow...the trees are just starting to turn.

Project #2

Wall-hanging for our meal-time graces

Today's 30-minute project

The space on the front of my refrigerator has outgrown the space needed to display the kids' art projects. We've got a large blank wall in our office over the kids' table.

Items needed:

One piece of molding with a flat surface (Lowe's cut mine to 5')

Two pieces of scrapbook paper

Modpodge (spread on the molding, apply the paper, press out air bubbles)

6 clamps (I tried to find the ones that you can screw in...no luck! In the office section at Wal-mart, they had packages of 2 with magnets on the back. I cut a piece of thick double-sided tape to fit the back of the magnet, superglued it to the magnet and then superglued it to the board)

Picture hangers for the back

I saw this idea at a friend's house in Portland. She had also photo copied pictures of the kids, cut them into squares and modpodged them on the board in between the clamps.

A river ran through it!

Nice and dry at my house before the race

One hour later...not so dry anymore! But still smiling!

The first river of many we saw along the way.

Trying to show the thousands of people behind us. Also shows the dark, foreboding sky.

The view from the two-mile mark, looking down on our destination.

Two-mile mark

One of the "Tuxedo Men" that greeted us at the finish line.

The finish line!

Waiting for our ride. Mom's holding up the pole!

Yes! We did it!

Those of you that read this from Portland might think these are photos from before we moved. We've been here a month and didn't see any clouds until Friday morning. This morning, the deluge began. I felt like I was back in Western Oregon! It would have been o.k. if I were sitting inside watching it from the warmth of the house. However, Mom and I were downtown at 8:00 with thousands of other women, standing in the rain and thunder and very close lightening to walk the Women's Celebration 5k. Even though we were all wet and cold before we even started the race, there were smiles to be seen everywhere. Women were dancing to the music as we waited for our turn. Cameras were snapping. There were tons of young girls...from stroller-age to preteens. Whether they were huddled under an umbrella or bravely standing in the downpour, they were smiling.


For me, this was a personal achievement. When I started my weightloss in 2006, I decided that I'd enter a walk once I reached my goal of losing 35 pounds. 60 pounds later, I finally did it. I got up early on a Saturday (that's pretty normal with my early-rising kids), I stood in the rain, I walked the course and finished it. It made it even more special to have Mom with me.

Look up!

Sometimes, as I go about my day, I forget to look up. I'm so busy trodding along with my face looking down...down at the cleaning, the cookings, the toys on the floor, the crumbs on the floor, all kinds of things on the floor...that I don't notice what's going on around me. The little things. When I went out to get the paper one morning this week, I looked up and this is the face of the moon that was staring back at me. Gorgeous!

That night, as I came around the corner at the end of my walk, I looked up. There was a beautiful sunset...almost missed by me.

This morning, I looked up and saw the first clouds we've had since we moved here in mid-August. But aren't they beautiful clouds?

It's so good to be with the kids. They constantly remind me to look up. "Mommy, what's that?" "Mommy, why does that happen?" "Mommy, look at that beautiful bird." I so appreciate the little child...they aren't spending their lives worrying about what needs to be done at home, at work, at school. They are exploring, being curious, asking questions, looking up. I hope to be more like one of these little children...start looking up more often at the beauty around me.

Just a little dirt on the kids...

June 2004 - Ryan - While in Idaho, Nana told Ryan that she had chocolate icecream. He said, "I don't like chocolate icecream. I like regular ice cream, because I'm a regular guy!"

January 2005 - Ryan - I was "explaining" to 2-week old Emmalee that she needed to go to sleep at night. Ryan said, "Remember, Mommy, she does not understand!"

September 2005 - Ryan - "Kindergarden must be pretty."

Mom - "Why?"

Ryan - "Because there's a garden in it."

September 2005 - Ryan - "Mom, I don't like the girls in my class."

Mom - Why?"

Ryan - "They are crazy all of a sudden. They almost give me a heart attack all of the time!"

September 2006 - Mom - "Your sister is crazy, Ryan."

Ryan - "Yep, she's never out of the mood of playing!"

October 2006 - Ryan came home from kindergarden and told me that he got in trouble and the teacher was going to call me. He asked if I could not answer the phone for the rest of the day.

May 2007 - Emma talking about a 3-year-old boy at the store - "He's a cute little fellow!"

May 2007 - Ryan was helping me get dinner ready for company. I said, "See how much work it is being the mommy?" Ryan said, "Yeah. Good thing I'm going to be a daddy!"

September 2007 - As Emma and I were getting ready to leave for swimming lessons, I said, "Ready, Freddy?" She stopped what she was doing, looked up at me and said in her best gangster voice (not sure where that came from!), "Did you call me Freddy? You don't want to call me Freddy!"

October 2007 - Ryan was tackling Emma. I came over and lifted him off of her. Emma popped up and said, "Thanks, Mom. You saved my life!"

November 2007 - Emma was not watching where she was going and walked into a wall. She turned around, pointed at the wall and said, "You can't hit me like that, Wall!"

January 2008 - Bob was still here when the kids woke up. He told Emma goodbye. Emma said, "Does Daddy have to do to the office to grow more pokeys?" (The kids name for stubble on Bob's face when he gets home from work).

March 2008 - Emma wanted to dance, so I put on some nice opera music by Il Divo. She said, "Mommy, that's not pretty. That's scary!" I put on Bon Jovi. "Mmmm, that's pretty!"

April 2008 - We were eating, and Emma wasn't eating. I told her that she couldn't have her cookie if she didn't eat her dinner. She looked at me with sad eyes and said, "Mommy, you're breaking my heart!"

September 2008 - Emma didn't want to finish her spaghetti at dinner, so she told me that it gave her a "noodle ache."

My little chef

If you spend very much time in my house, you know that there are always chocolate chip cookies in either the cookie jar or the freezer. Dad pointed out to me the other day that the cookies seem to have been missing since we moved in. Since he's stopping by here bright and early tomorrow morning, we decided to make cookies. Rather than true chocolate chip cookies, the kids requested the swirled chocolate/peanut butter chips. Yum! Ryan started out as my helper. However, after cracking the eggs, he went off to play with his dad. Emma climbed up on the chair and helped out. This is the first time she's been able to help through the whole process (or at least the parts that didn't involved a 375 degree oven).

She loves the mixer...keeps turning it up higher and higher.

Who could resist a helper as cute as this?!

Self-portrait while they're baking.

Mmmmm...milk, warm cookies and a Barbie tea set. Would could be better?

She even washed dishes for the very first time. It's so nice that, at this age, they think it's fun! She even multi-tasked and washed the floor in front of the sink. :)

The finished product in my new cookie jar from Grapples. If you live and have never been, give me a call...it's an awesome place Mom and I visited this past week. Thanks, Jamee, for the information on the store!

"You're wearing that?!"

Ever since he was born almost eight years ago, Ryan's been my sweet little boy. Yes, he can be onery and a bit exciteable, but he's always been one to come and cuddle in my lap. He still lets me read to him every night, give him a kiss and hug good-bye at school (although, now that he's in second grade, that's been moved to a new location...behind the building so no one will see), and he'll still grab my hand occasionally while we're walking somewhere. In his eyes, I could almost do no wrong. Well...things have changed. We've reached a dreaded stage of our relationship...the stage where I can embarrass him.

Tonight, we wanted to do some exploring on our bikes. It was late...almost dusk...and a little chilly. There are many little hungry friends flying around at night, desperately searching for any portion of our bare skin. So, I took off my skirt and put on some sweats and a long-sleeve shirt. I came out of the bedroom, ready to go on our bike ride. When, to my suprise, I hear, "You're wearing that?!" Nope, it didn't come from my husband (I don't think he's ever said that to me). It came from my sweet little seven-year-old boy. I was a bit surprised and asked what was wrong with what I had on. He informed me that it would be embarassing to him because, Mom, don't you know that only boys wear sweats. I should really go put on a pair of jeans. He'd wait for me.

A little bit of sadness ran through my heart...I'd could no longer do no wrong in his eyes. I'm just another adult putting a crimp (or is it cramp?) in his style. So, with a long face, I turned and took the first step into the next stage in our relationship. I went to my room and changed my clothes.

After all, I'd much rather embarrass him when lots of his friends are around in broad daylight.
(Smile)

Mom! I'm bored!

"Mom! I'm bored!" I'm so happy to report that I haven't heard that highly annoying phrase

since we moved here. It came out occasionally in Oregon; it sure is a nice excuse to put the kids to work! Anyway, the kids have been enjoying their new home. Ryan had his first fieldtrip to the zoo just four days after school started. They are studying frogs, and the zoo happens to have a frog exhibit today. Dad came up and watched Emma, so I was able to go and volunteer. I tried to get a better picture of Ryan, but he just moves too fast!

Emma and I get to walk to the school twice a day to deliver and pick up Ryan. Last week, she wore her backpack every day. I think she looks so big in this picture!

We've spent a lot of time riding bikes. I'll walk along with Emma while she rides her Radio Flyer. When Ryan gets home from school, we'll put Emma in the carrier on the back of my bike and ride around the neighborhood.

My wonderful friend, Betty, suprised me with a flower delivery. What a great way to start a day! Everytime I saw them, I thought of happy times. Thanks, Betty!

Emma reading to her baby "Emma."

When we were kids, we went to the races quite a few times in the summer. I remember the

smells and sounds like it was yesterday. We joined Dad at the races...a first for Bob, Ryan and Emmalee. We knew that Ryan would love it, but we weren't sure about Emma. It's loud, long and can get kinda boring if there aren't any crashes...

Yep, Ryan loved it...

Bet you can't tell if Emma did!?

Just in case you haven't guessed yet!

Disclaimer: for those who may think I'm a bad mom for exposing her ears to this, she did spend most of the evening with ear protection on.

Even though we were about 10 feet back from the fence, Ryan liked using his binoculars.

Mom and Dad have beautiful, huge gardens on the farm. They are always kind enough to share their bounty.

Mom and I spent one afternoon putting up 35 bags of corn for winter. Yum!

The tomatoes actually taste like tomatoes! So much better than the ones available in the stores.

To welcome us to our Wednesday night Bible study, Katheryn shared her blackberries with us. I made a yummy cobbler.

We went exploring one Friday evening. We headed downtown to the MK Nature Park. The kids loved it. They had so much fun running around a blind corner to see what treasure could be found. There are fish throughout the park...sculptured metal fish, live fish in the streams, and huge tanks filled with huge fish. We also found a great playground. The kids did a little swinging.

Whee!

My afternoon soundtrack

Because I love fresh air, I've been trying to avoid the air conditioner as much as possible. That means that my windows in the house are open for most of the day. After Emma goes down for her afternoon nap, I move from room to room unpacking boxes and putting things away. There's a sound that follows me from room to room that brings happiness to my heart.

From about noon to 2:45, the sounds of children's laughter can be heard coming from Ryan's school. They alternate their recesses, so there are kids out playing the entire time. I love the image that the laughter brings to my mind. I imagine the quite playground...abandoned as the kids sit in the classroom (hopefully) learning. Then, the sound of the bell. I love that Boise still uses the old noise-as-can-be school bells. (Beaverton's were very quiet...not even sure they could be heard outside). Before the bell has even stopped ringing, the doors open and the playground is flooded with kids moving as fast as they can. I remember trying to fit as much fun as possible in those fast 15 minutes. As I watch from a few blocks away, it looks like monkeys crawling and running all over.

As they play, there's no holding back...kids are so good at just letting out what they are feeling. We adults tend to hold back, just in case someone is watching that might not approve. Kids let the laughter out and think nothing of it. To me, there's no other sound like the sound of children laughing. There's a certain kind of freedom in it that seems to be lost as we get older. Wouldn't it be great to get that freedom back? To feel something...to show it...and not worry about what others might think?