Category: Uncategorized

We did the Wizard of Oz since Abigail is so into it. I read her the book a while back.

Abigail’s activities at school today- riding bikes, pretend picnic, leaf art with salt

She is really into art this year! She is more interested in it than the past and she is mature enough to really sit and have a longer attention span for it.

Andrew’ s day included- train story for storytime, painting pumpkins, snack, quiet time   

Andrew during family meeting after I asked if anyone had an issues to talk about: “I have a issue”

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At dinner we all share what we are thankful for; Andrew said “preschool” tonight. Now I won’t stress about the tears he sheds when I leave after drop off!

He is growing up! He is talking more like a grown up. I am blown away by what he says sometimes. Tonight he was waiting for Abby to share a toy and starting counting on her “one , two, three” until she handed it to him!

He will come to me out of the blue to talk about his feelings. “I was sad today at school. I miss you”

My baby is growing up into a sweet boy!! I love hearing him talk. I eavesdropped today while he shared a story with his teacher about going to the pumpkin patch. He is a little boy now and a sweet, smart one at that.

an old friend said that once after I had cooked for her. I’m realizing she’s right. Like the other day when I saw that rainbow. So I’ve been noticing those little things that mean a lot to me-simple pleasures-

hot chocolate on a cold night- the other night we had the best time all going and getting getting hot chocolate and then drinking it out in the cold watching a little of a football game.

watching my kids run with smiles on their faces

hearing Andrew speak French

hearing Andrew translate a story for Abigail!

snuggling with Abby to listen to a book on tape

picking out books leisurely at the library with the kids

reading to my kids as they look at me with big eyes

harvesting pumpkins from our garden

a girlfriend loading me up with snacks for the kids when she knew I was going to have a rough few hours being taxi

a friend inviting me over for coffee to talk when she knew I was having a rough time

a friend bringing an extra coffee for me at a playdate

the silence in our house when the kids are asleep:)

playing trains with Andrew

stomping puddles!

the feeling after a haircut

a clean house

listening to Enya while doing chores

cooking with Abigail

tonight it’s a hot cup of cider enjoying the silence of sleeping kids after a long day!

What are your simple pleasures?

  

Well we went tent camping for the first time with the kids. They did great! And they loved it! Here are some pictures of our adventure-

Our sites were right along the river. It was beautiful . Andrew enjoyed watching the firshermen

reading by the fire

making smores-

They loved using flashlights, eating smores and sitting by the fire. I look forward to our next trip in the spring/ summer.

Andrew: “I’m tired”

Kyle “You had a tough day?”

Andrew: “I had a tough day”

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Andrew: Abby loves me so much”

Abby : “I just love you a little bit” and then she showed a tiny pinch with her two fingers!

   

So today I totally got into a mood, maybe it’s the weather, etc. But then on our way home Abigail and I spotted a rainbow, a huge one on this yucky rainy, gray day. We stared at it the whole way home. The kids were in awe. We even spotted a second one. It’s amazing how that rainbow turned my day around. It reminded that life is beautiful as well as yucky sometimes:)

  

Tonight I made two types of tomato sauce, froze my applesauce, started on pear zucchini bread, made tomato soup, bruschetta, and pesto! More processing tomorrow…

Well life has been good lately. Wednesday we had such a good time- harvesting everything in our pj’s in the garden. Doing our daily goodwill drop off! Hanging at home- working in Abby’s room- hanging up hooks, a new light switch cover, cuddling and reading, making cookies together. Abby did her 1st lemonade stand ! She and her friend made $9. Super fun playdate!

Then we headed to Cozmic with friends and family to see Zany Zoo. The kids were real brave. Andrew touched a huge snake. We even saw a guy from our church sing with his band after for a bit. He was really good. What a fun day with the kiddos!

The other night Andrew and I went on a date down the street from Kyle and Abby! Kyle and Abby went to Sweet Basil and Andrew and I went to Ron’s. Then we went to different frozen yogurt places. Abby wanted to have Daddy Abby time so we separated and had one on one time. Andrew and I had a great time hanging out together.

Well we sold my little white car on Saturday. I cried. Sounds silly but I guess it’s all the memories I made with that car. It was my first car. My parents and I bought it together when I was 17. That is the car my mom and I drove from New Orleans to Eugene in 2000. It’s the car I had through high school, the college years, and my twenties. It’s the car that got me to work all those years. I commuted with it for almost a year Beaverton to Salem. It’s the car I took to drive my students in for fieldtrips. I even found Bullwinkles tickets in it from the last fieldtrip I took them on. I think a student even threw up in it on the way home. So bad memories but lots of good ones. So I cried thinking about all those memories and thinking how I had to say goodbye to this car that has been with me through all that. I cry now as I write it thinking of all those great times. So bye bye white car, thanks for being so good to me! And to Kyle- he got to use you for the last 4 years.

I’ll have to find a picture of it during its glory days in the 90s for a comparison:)