Overall the kids are pretty good at using their manners. Of course, sometimes they need to be reminded-- but then again, so do many adults these days. Noah is so good at it though, that he has taken to covering all of his bases for proper polite questioning structure. As you can see in this video, a standard Noah request is, "Please may could I have..." And he reeeeeaaaaallly wanted one of the muffins I had just taken out of the oven.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Cheese.
You can tell quite a bit about the kids from their random candid pictures. Pull out the camera these days and Hannah strikes a pose with a toothy grin and a funny arm gesture. When Noah sees the camera, though, he does something like this (his "scary face") or says "cheese" so intently that his eyes are squinched closed and he looks like he's in some kind of pain.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
"In this town we call home, Everyone hail to the pumpkin song. This is Halloween!"
This year marked our first real Trick-or-Treat action. After some play time at Papa and Grandma's house with cousins, we suited up and joined the throngs of revelers in Maywood. (Okay, maybe there weren't exactly "throngs" when we went out at 6:30, but there certainly were when we headed home from my folks' house around 8:00.)
Somehow, I'm guessing it won't take too long before the children will not be satisfied with only visiting 7 houses of neighbors we know. Next year may have to be an epic trek as they realize how many possible doorbells they can ring right in our sweet little neighborhood. I'm pretty sure, though, that Papa and Grandma's will always be their favorite stop-- and not just because they hand out full size candy bars, either!
Somehow, I'm guessing it won't take too long before the children will not be satisfied with only visiting 7 houses of neighbors we know. Next year may have to be an epic trek as they realize how many possible doorbells they can ring right in our sweet little neighborhood. I'm pretty sure, though, that Papa and Grandma's will always be their favorite stop-- and not just because they hand out full size candy bars, either!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Pumpkin Patch!
Love the place we found this year! A student told me about it and I'm so glad we went. It's called Bushue's Family Farm and it's located out in Boring, off Orient drive and Bluff road. There are pre-picked pumpkins, or you can go out in the field and pick your own. Hannah and Noah both liked petting the goats and sheep and checking out the little pigs and chickens. I saw ducks on the little pond when we went on our cow-train ride (see pic). They also do hay rides and apparently have a hay tunnel/maze in the barn too, although we didn't check that out since Hannah and Noah are a still a little small and Hannah is not a big fan of the dark right now.
What was most refreshing, though, is that it is simply a small, family run farm. The mom was feeding the sheep and goats when we got there, the dad and his sons were getting the tractors ready for hay rides, letting the pigs out, playing with the big old black lab roaming around. No overt commercialism, no overpriced snacks, no crazy crowds and bustle. Just a simple, fun spot. It costs a couple bucks for the rides and/or the maze, and of course the pumpkins and other fall squash and veggies and flowers are priced accordingly. But the rain held off for us, the kids had fun and we made off with 4 sweet pumpkins to carve-- it was, without a doubt, 20 bucks well spent.
What was most refreshing, though, is that it is simply a small, family run farm. The mom was feeding the sheep and goats when we got there, the dad and his sons were getting the tractors ready for hay rides, letting the pigs out, playing with the big old black lab roaming around. No overt commercialism, no overpriced snacks, no crazy crowds and bustle. Just a simple, fun spot. It costs a couple bucks for the rides and/or the maze, and of course the pumpkins and other fall squash and veggies and flowers are priced accordingly. But the rain held off for us, the kids had fun and we made off with 4 sweet pumpkins to carve-- it was, without a doubt, 20 bucks well spent.
Highlight Reel
So, since I have been a blog slacker (see previous post) here is a quick pictorial of highlights from August and September. August was full of trips to the park, a visit with great grandma Peterson, and camping (no pics, just vid). September ushered in the landmarks of Hannah's first day of preschool and Noah's 2nd birthday party.
August got skipped
...and so did September apparently.
When school begins again, I find I have no time to do things like update the blog. Actually, that's not necessarily true. I could find time if I really tried, but the beginning of the school year is hectic, and exhausting and (lately) a little bit sad, so I simply don't. I clean house, I do laundry, I play with the kids, I grocery shop and I cook-- but I don't blog. I know that this is me packing my weekends trying to feel like I'm still managing the household, and trying to avoid thinking about what I'm missing out on when I return to the daily grind. And this year is certainly grinding, the most ever, with more students, new schedule, less prep time and continued looming turmoil of contract negotiations.
But, every moment with my family reminds me that I am undeservedly blessed, the simplest things are the most sublime and, in the end, my priorities are exactly where they should be. The rest, by faith, will take care of itself.
When school begins again, I find I have no time to do things like update the blog. Actually, that's not necessarily true. I could find time if I really tried, but the beginning of the school year is hectic, and exhausting and (lately) a little bit sad, so I simply don't. I clean house, I do laundry, I play with the kids, I grocery shop and I cook-- but I don't blog. I know that this is me packing my weekends trying to feel like I'm still managing the household, and trying to avoid thinking about what I'm missing out on when I return to the daily grind. And this year is certainly grinding, the most ever, with more students, new schedule, less prep time and continued looming turmoil of contract negotiations.
But, every moment with my family reminds me that I am undeservedly blessed, the simplest things are the most sublime and, in the end, my priorities are exactly where they should be. The rest, by faith, will take care of itself.
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