Self Portrait Day

I love this time of day, my coffee, my computer, silence in my home, wrapped in a warm blanket, the sun still sleeping and peace all around me.  just for a short moment, I wanted to capture this short moment.  ahhhhhh...

What to my wondering eyes should appear...

a baby doll and cow refridgerated with cheer!

Sweet November

days with daddy continue to be adventurous for Charlie and Mary Kate.  Charlie likes to refer to the river as "My river" and it doesn't belong to anyone else.  dad convinced him at a young age that the river belonged to him. 
2 days away from my family was surprisingly nice but I was defnintely ready to get them back in my arms.  this week is American Education Week, a lot of preparation for parents and family members coming on Friday.  Nothing more adorable than five year olds singing out of tune, half of them starrinng at the ceiling and the other half at the floor, no matter how much we practice we will be surprised at "showtime"!

What doin?

"What doin, Mommy?"  "I am cleaning up the make-up you spilled on the carpet, Mary Kate."

"What doin, Mommy?"  "I am cleaning up the calamine lotion you spilled on the carpet, Mary Kate."

"What doin, Mommy?'  ...

loving having Daddy at home during the day.  there is a sense of peace in our home and I don't ever want it to go away. 

participating in amazing project that started from a small seed (literally).  Bloom grocery store is our partner for the Blooming Buddies Edible Schoolyard at my school.  We dreamed of a "kinder"garden and it has certainly come true. Tuesday we harvested spinach, lettuce and radishes.  The students cut, washed and prepared the veges for the Bloom executives that attended our school today.  The children sang songs about planting seed and going green.  It was beatufiul, this whole process has been beautiful.  I do love what I do.

Halloween, Happy Birthday and HOPE

Our Halloween was spent on a scenic steam engine in Maryland.  A day to certainly remember.  Both good and bad.  A few unexpected challenges along the way up the mountain, made for a very long day.  However, the kids slept the way home and woke-up just in time to Trick or Treat.  Mary Kate said a lot of, " I a bug!  I do it"  Charlie did a lot of explaining to Mary Kate the process of Trick or Treating (such a good little man).

Happy Birthday Patey Girl.  My girl turns 2!  And man, is she 2!  Loves her "pretties" (barretts, necklaces, shoes).  Instead of blowing out her candles, she decided to touch the flame.  Big bro had to show her how it was done and he was happy to have a moment about him that day.  The first true signs of jealousy were apparent in Charlie boy.  Oh, those tough lessons in life.  What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger.

However, there are moments in life that test our ability to cope, understand and have patience.  N was let go from his job this week.  While it was not a surprise, reality is quickly setting in and an overwhelming feeling has come over the both of us.  I am reminded daily as I look at this beautiful purple flower that appeared on Tuesday, this is a true sign of happiness for N.  This small plant sits on our windowsill and has been there for about 6 years.   I have always found them to be a bit strange and somewhat of a nuisance.  N, however, loves them and tends to them weekly.  Never, in 6 years of their existence in our home, has it ever bloomed.  Yes, the dark day of losing one's job, also may open a window or door to a bright new future ahead.  I have to believe that N's future is bright and that it will all come together for him and our family.  Nick, I love you and I believe in you!

Pumpkin Carving Party

The rain held off for all of us to enjoy a fun filled day.  Chili, pumpkins, apples, chips, popcorn, country ham, Octoberfest Sam Adams, and a featured film!  I love this party, I love the excitement on the kids' faces when they scoop the gooey guts of the pumpkin, chase eachother in the leaves and while voting for the spookiest-goofiest-most creative-classic pumpkin! 

Preparations

I feel like I prepare for a lot of things and a lot of preparation seems to be involved in each one.  However, when the event takes place everything has gone well.  We have been preparing Mary Kate for a colonoscopy and endoscopy the last four days (not pretty) and yesterday was the big day.  All went well and our little girl is truly a fighter and one tough cookie.  Running on tip-toes to the surgery room, decorating her "sleepy mask" with stickers, wanting to run/walk to the car all by herself, eating a hamburger for dinner, nothing seemed to phase her.  Yesterday, as we were driving home after picking up Charlie from Mimi's and we were listening to the kids in the back seat arguing about how Patey is not big yet and she begged to differ.  We both laughed and N asked me if the thought ever occurred to me (knowing the risks of surgery and possibly the worst outcome of results) what would happen to Charlie if he lost his sister.  It sounds dark, but yes, the thought would occasionally creep up on me and then I would push it out of my head.  I told N that I have been praying a lot.  Putting my faith in God and my savior and giving them my worries.  I feel that I have learned to not ask God for anything, but to pray to him to bring me peace and the people I love peace in whatever comes our way.  I don't think he has control over what the outcome may be, but God can certainly take away fear, pain and suffering.  As far as the outcome for Patey Girl, swollen Lymphnodes that, at this point, are not abnormal.  We will slowly reintroduce dairy and Mama will make her a delicious-full-of-dairy Birthday Cake with ice cream on November 2nd!

Other preparations that have taken place...
Pumpkin Carving Party this Saturday (featuring, carving, Chili, Movie showing "Great Pumpkin  Charlie Brown", and bobbinng for apples)
Pirate bedroom decor for Captain Hook himself
Numerous assessments in Kindergarten for upcoming conferences ( can you sort by size, shape and color, then graph it?)
Patey turns 2, shopping at yard sales and thrift stores for gently used toys.  Found a great shopping cart for her down the street at a yard sale.  She is going to love it!

preparing for fall fires