Evergreen homecoming
Such a lovely evening Friday with Zo and cousin Bailee getting glittered up before the football game by the cheerleaders, cousin Bodie playing drums in the band, we sat with him in the end zone and Luke took Bodie's drumsticks and drummed incessantly on the ground (that boy needs drumsticks for Christmas) and Zo danced and ran in circles and Luke did "tricks" (aka break dancing...that boy needs dance classes as well) and then Luke and Zo raced around and ran smack into each other (Zo had a mild black eye after)...in other words...they completely wore Mommy out...but what a fun time...
XO
Grace in small things, September 13, 2015
- We happened on a rubber ducky race over the weekend...so charming to see all the little duckies in the river...next year, I definitely want to have the kids participate...
- Busy week this week...the kids and I are going to Grammy and Papa's Monday through Wednesday (they were going to come up, but their plans changed...and they are about to go away on a trip...and I really wanted to see them before they left.) And then this weekend over to Ben's and we're meeting some friends from ABQ too...can't wait!
- Luke when I put him to bed tonight throwing his arms around me in a hug and saying, "I'm hugging you as tight as I can Mommy!"
- THE LAST BOX from moving unpacked today. Personal photos put out. And we have dining room and breakfast bar chairs as of Friday night...it's starting to feel like a real home around here...
- Daddy helping at the end of the day today to get the playroom in order and the kids to bed on time...we've had some serious bedtime creep lately (going to bed later and later)...so good to have Daddy to help us get things back on track!
XOXO
Halloween costume try-on
My fabulous mother-in-law makes costumes for the kids each year. She figures it all out in her head, no patterns or anything. She likes to start early so she isn't rushed. This year, the kids want to be dinosaurs...Luke a nice blue triceratops and Sis a mean pink T-rex. Luke's costume's done and Sissy's is getting close...oh my gosh Charlotte has outdone herself...both kids are going to look amazing...
XOXO
Grace in small things, September 11, 2015
- Meeker Dog Trials (my first time) with Grammy and Me-Ma and the kids...hot day but how nice to sit outside in chairs in the sunshine. The petting zoo was a big hit, too, the girls running it so sweet...kids excited to pet every animal except Luke was scared of the donkey...
- Luke on the drive: "I don't call it a herd of cows. I call it a flock of cows."
- Antelope sightings today, lots of them...
- Our new dining room chairs and breakfast bar chairs are here! (A New Orleans discovery, which is cool because they'll always remind us of New Orleans.) Jeff finished putting them together this evening. They look so great...
- A bonus evening of babysitting from Me-Ma tonight, so Jeff and I can go out to dinner. Off to get the kids tucked into bed so we can go...
XOXO
Grace in small things, September 9, 2015
- Kids meeting another 3-year-old at the park this morning and playing together so beautifully...there was an elaborate project with a metal slide and wood chips going on...
- Friends who are there for you when you need them
- Luke, after dinner: "Mommy, am I treat available?" (We usually say "treat ready".) And, outside a church: "Mom, is God inside?" (A question I didn't know how to answer.) And: "Mom, what is electricity made of?" (Another question I didn't know how to answer, but at least you can Google that one.) And, when Zo took his toys in the bath: "Oh, Zoey! You're messing up my day!"
- 40 degrees in the morning and 80 degrees in the afternoon...ah, fall...
- "Tea Rex"...our new favorite book (which always for some reason needs to be read in tandem with "Rhinos Who Surf")
XO
Grace in small things, September 8, 2015
- Up early with Jeff, who had to be in to work early, but then I fell back asleep (which never happens) and woke at 8 AM to the sound of the kids playing "Elsa and Anna" upstairs. Totally fine without me...it's one of the first times something like that has happened. (Of course, now it's 10 PM and I've been upstairs 10 times trying to settle them down for the night, so...)
- Zo coming down for breakfast and cartoons (we've been watching "Super Why!" in the mornings lately) dressed as a cowgirl, which is the costume of choice these days and one of my favorites...
- Reading "Firefly July" in Luke's bed mid-morning before getting dressed, and then later building an elaborate train set-up in the play area
- Kids refusing to let me cut their fingernails. "Daddy has to do it!" Luke said to me, "because he does it better!"
- The upstairs is spic and span and laundry done. Trying to do some housework each day to stay on top of it...seems to be working...
- Getting to talk with both my mom and my dad today...
- A nice little hike with Jeff after work, two big deer off to the side of the path on our hike up and some of the leaves just starting to turn...
- Doing a quick grocery store run with Sis, she had a little cart and was the cutest shopper, zipping around the aisles. She wanted to bring home a present for her brother, too, which was super sweet
- A big, extra-warm bath for the kids tonight by chance vs design. (Lately their baths have been on the cold and shallow side). Zo in the bath: "Mommy, our bath is so deep and warm and cozy tonight!" Must do more of those...
- Luke, 9:30 PM, coming downstairs: "Mommy, can we please go out and see the stars? I need to see the stars every night." And I know he's looking for ways to stay out of bed, but how can I say no to his warm little body snuggled in my lap, looking out into the black of our expanse of stars like Jeff and I do every night*, explaining to my son about the Milky Way? Just for a minute. So lovely...
*We have a pact to spend at least two minutes out on our porch every night we're here no matter what. The porch at night is our thing right now...the view and the stars are so amazing. (And have I mentioned the shooting starts? They're like nothing I've ever seen.) There's some combination of faux fur, electric blankets and down comforters in the works to keep us warm as the temperatures drop...and drop...and drop...
XOXO