Ups and downs

Definitely having a cold beverage at 8pm tonight once the kids are put to bed ( I hope they go to sleep! Bedtime is hard lately)

Highs
-enjoying a pumpkin spice latte alone in target in silence!
-Abby telling me she loved her teachers after picking her up
– a tear free drop off
-The first half of going out to lunch with the kids when we were having a pleasant time
-Watching them make kites with ribbons and paper (Andrew’s idea)
-seeing Abby’s room after she cleaned it herself
-Hearing Andrew ask ” can we go fly our kites?” after making them

Lows
-the second half of going out to lunch when Andrew started to get restless and stand up and drop his bagel every minute
-the ride home meltdown
– the afternoon meltdown
– when they dumped a box of cheerios on floor

Look what Andrew did to his wall


Kyle left a nail in his room accidentally. Kids crack me up!

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Growing up

Today I had to shop in the “girls” clothing section of Target for Abigail:( no more baby/ kids section for her.

It was a lot of teeny bopper stuff. Ugh. I could only find one outfit for her

Today was their first day of school


They had a blast! No tears this year- first time for that! They kept saying they couldn’t wait to go without me:) they had to go with me Friday for open house.

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Summer Summer!

Well the seasons are changing. I can tell by all the football games, the Duck t-shirts all over today for game day and school and work starting. We had a wonderful summer. I am sad for it to end. I will end it by looking back on all the wonderful memories.

Here are some highlights:

-ballet camp for Abigail- the camp focused on signing and dancing at the same time. She put on an incredible show the last day of camp. We are so proud. She is still listening to all the songs and doing her performance. Andrew knows them all by heart too.   

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-Amazon pool- the kids did 4 weeks of swim lessons. I got to swim laps since they both are 3 and up now and do the classes without me. I loved swimming again and the kids made a lot of progress in swimming. Abigail now knows all her strokes- she learned butterfly and back stroke in her class. Andrew now does the big kid class, goes underwater and blows bubbles. They both love the slide now and they fell in love with their swim teachers. Some days we were there 11-5pm! We had a blast. they loved the afternoonm swim going in the big pool and dancing to the music they play in the afternoon. I love going with them there because it reminds me of my childhood summers spend at Paradise Manor in River RIdge doing swim team, getting cheese sticks from the snack bar and going swimming at night with my dad, siblings and cousins enjoying the radio music they played. I remember being there at dark- you can swim at night without getting cold in Louisiana:) Here are my little swimmers:

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-camping trips– the kids love camping! At the end of one of our trips Abigail announced she wished we were staying another week

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-our garden plot- the kids are really into it this year. They really take ownership this year picking out their own plants to grow. Andrew grew a huge sunflower that he started at school. Abigail’s bean plant from school grew very tall. They love picking all the vegetables whenever we go.

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Abigail with her morning glories and bean plant

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-lazy days to do with what we like- on Andrew’s birthday he got to pick what he wanted to do and he picked biking. I loved being able to just do what we wanted with no schedule to follow  

-beautiful weather- this year was a true Oregon summer . We haven’t seen rain since June. It has been a lot of sunny days great for the pool . It has been just gorgeous- a perfect Oregon summer. We even had a week of weather in the 90s. I loved it!

-visits with old friends and family- i had two teacher friends come visit from Beaverton and Salem. It was fun to see old friends and catch up. My grandfather has been here visiting , my brother Ben came a few times and two of my siblings have moved home. It’s been great spending time with everyone.

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We spent our last day of summer at the park the three of us. I can actually sit and read on a blanket while they play now:) (only for a bit at a time but it’s nice). We spent a leisure morning at home and then went to the park last minute and canceled our other plans. It was nice to have an empty lazy day to do with what we wanted. I loved watching them run and scream with joy in the sprinkler . Such little things bring such joy to children.

  

  

Magical evenings

One of my favorite things about summer is evening walks- I love going out walking in shorts. Tonight we went with my dad and showed him our secret spot where we play badminton and pick figs and blackberries.


I staggered bedtime tonight- went beautifully- Andrew and I got I have some time reading together, Abby got to stay up with Kyle and then she and I read a Samantha American doll book. After reading it she copied off the character in the book and set up a special box to hide gifts for family members for Christmas:) so cute!

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Quote of the day

Abigail: “i like dad’s smoothies and Andrew likes mom’s. It’s good we both have our own option. I tried mom’s; I spit it out”

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Fall

I had my first day back to work today and Abby started ballet again. It felt good to get back in our old routine as sad as I was about summer ending. I got to run while Abby was in ballet and catch up with a friend. Andrew just hangs out in the stroller enjoying the view and his snacks. He is a little angel on these runs, doesn’t say a word just chills out and let’s me get my me time. It felt great to get a great workout and all sweaty running in the sun. 80s here his week:) Abby did great at her first day back with a new teacher this year. She panicked a little but then did he class and is now in love with her new teacher:)

Here is Andrew at the driving range today-


You should see how far he hits! He is just amazing at golf and baseball. Strangers are always commenting on how far and hard he hits! My little jock:)

Abby’s first haircut:


We cut off just a little, her baby blonde curls:(
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Quote of the day

Abigail explaining why she doesn’t use her playroom: “we play games that don’t need toys”

Lately they love playing baby where Abby is the mom and Andrew is the baby. They also like performing songs for each other. Thy sit patiently and listen to each other perform:)

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Quote of the day

Andrew sitting in a packed car about to leave for our camping trip : “we have so much junk!”

It is packed to the ceiling!


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Happy birthday Mom!

Well my grandfather and I worked all day on my mom’s party. We made Indian chicken curry from the family cookbook topped with chutney and cilantro (so good), Grandpapa’s fruit salad and fruit tart ( the cream had Cointreau) . Everything was delicious!

It was quite a day trying to cook with the kids- we burned the cookie dough for the tart the first time, then Abby got a bee sting and Andrew threw a tantrum. My dad saved the day by whisking the kids away so we could finish. I got to cook in silence , it was wonderful!

We all worked together to put on a great party! Teamwork! Seb finished the curry while I wrapped gifts, Andrew and my dad put together my mom’s new lawn chair and Grandpapa did the glaze for the tart ( apricot jam, water and sugar), Hayley helped Abby make a card for my mom, and Claude set the table.

It was a fun night!


It was incredible! Totally worth all the work!


Grandpapa spoiling the kids with cookies-


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