The boy just loves to sing...

Here's a little video of Noah singing "Zacchaeus was a wee little man". Such a cutie.

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.

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.

Go West

Amid the record setting heat of this week, creativity in cooling has become a priority. I've never had to deal with such successive days of scorching heat with little ones. One or two days in the 90s, sure. But multiple days breaking into the 100s and no real cooling at night? As a native Oregonian this is sort of like Bizzaro world. So, seeing the forecast and contemplating two cranky toddlers (and, to be honest , mommy too) I decided to get serious and make a plan.

Tuesday morning we ventured out early to Peninsula Park (in North Portland) and the kids had a great time playing on the multiple play structures in the brief hours of cool, then after a picnic lunch they splashed and ran and laughed in the watery portion of the playground. We headed home just in time for naps and the thermometer reaching 90, and spent the hottest portion of the day indoors.

But, I know myself. Two days and two nights with no real cool down is apparently my limit. I needed reprieve, albeit temporary, so I asked Hayes to play hooky from skate camp on Wednesday and come to the beach for the day. I can't think of the last idea I had that was this good. Despite a bit of a rocky start (my kids are not really good car travelers sometimes), once we got to the coast I knew it would be gloriously refreshing. We ran, we played in the sand, we got our feet wet, we flew a kite, we forgot to put sunscreen on Noah's ears (oops!) and Hayes' legs (oops again!) but even a mild sunburn was worth the relief I think. We made it home just in time for a bubble bath and bed. We knew our limit and heeded the call West-- our own little manifest destiny.

It's not me, it's Vous

After a walk around the paddocks to see all 15 horses and meet the two colts, Bethany brought her horse, Vous, into the barn so the kids could get up close and personal. After a little hesitation, Hannah and Noah pet and brushed Vous. And, Hannah started to feed her a carrot, but got a little spooked once the big horsey mouth got close to her tiny hand so she let Beth finish feeding her the snack. Hopefully, we'll visit again and the two will be bold enough to sit on her, maybe go for a walk in the arena. Either way, it was fun for the kids to glimpse a working barn. Thanks, Bethany!

Just plain sweet.

I love how often my kids sing. I try to capture bits of it sometimes when they aren't paying attention, but inevitably they catch me with the camera and stop, or start being extra silly about it. Finally, they are getting to the age when they let me record them but only because they want to see the video as soon as they are done. In fact, almost all of my recent videos end with one or both of the kids yelling "let me see it" and lunging toward the camera, or like in this one-- Noah wouldn't even finish the whole song before wanting to check it out. I guess that's okay, considering they let me capture cuteness like this. (You may have to turn the volume up a little for Hannah's rendition; she sort of whispers the middle portion.)