September Snapshots

We are still enjoying dry weather-

I can't seem to get Max to wear something other than swim trunks.

Also, I can't seem to get him to stop, ahem, grabbing himself all the time.

 

We went on a hot date to Cactus, our favorite restaurant-

 

 

Devon and Joe have gone to two concerts together the past two weekends.  Rock on, boys.

And we celebrated Donna's birthday.  Happy Birthday, Donna!

Birthday dinner was "thumbs up" even though I failed to turn on the crock pot.  Oops!

September has been a good month, full of sunshine, friends and new routines.  Can't wait to see what October brings!

(I didn't mean for that to rhyme)

:)

Closer to Home...

Last week my sister and her husband became residents of Oregon, which beautifully bridges the long I5 stretch between Washington and California, making me feel just that much closer to home.  

 

Of course, I am so happy for Aaron and Molly to be starting their lives together in a new city, in their own apartment, at a new University...  but I'd really like to talk about how their move benefits me. :)

 

1. Those 14 hour road trips to my parents' house will now have a friendly pitstop in Eugene  :) 

2. Their apartment has a guestroom- free lodging!

3. Eugene is a very nice place to visit, so lets call it my new "getaway spot" for when mama needs a break.

4. My sister/hairstylist is now only 5 hours away!

5. When my mom and dad visit Molly and Aaron, they can just keep driving north to visit us!  Which is exactly what happened last week.  My parents helped Aaron and Molly with their move, and then came to our house to play.

 

We only got to spend one full day with them, but we used that time to explore the waterfront in downtown Seattle, and we decided to ride this beast-

Yikes! Right?  The Seattle Great Wheel is the newest attraction, and it is totally worth checking out!  It travels right over the water, and it gives great views of the city, the stadiums, and even the Space Needle.

Such a fun afternoon!  Poor Joe was at school :(

 

 

 

Mom and dad, please visit again soon!
And Molly, please get that guest room ready for me!

Summer, Extended

Summer has been nice, but I am ready to welcome fall with a big high-five. 

 

Would you believe that our Seattle summer is still going strong?  The weather has been lovely- unbelievably lovely!  No one is complaining- we'll take as much sun and blue sky as we can get around here.  But, there are a few things that I'm looking forward to, such as sweaters and these new babies that now live in my closet-

 

 

 

Oh, pretty boots!  Happy birthday to me!

 

 

And Devon has a new "baby" too.  His new Seahawks jersey.  Happy birthday to him!

 

 

 

We might be nerds.

 

On a completely unrelated note, I've been meaning to share the fact that though Devon was married before, he has never been married for seven years before.  So, in my insecure mind, this means that Wife #2 just took 1st place!

 

I know, I know.  It doesn't work that way.

Anyway...

Joe is playing fall baseball, and he is becoming quite a skilled left-handed pitcher.  I didn't get any pics of him in action, but I took a picture of his reluctant fans-

I packed snacks, toys, a scooter, art supplies, and stuffed animals, yet, they'd rather roam to where they are likely to get hit by a foul ball, or to where they get stuck in nets, or to where they can make a few new friends.

 

At this particular game, Lucy discovered that she has her first loose tooth! She is so excited to lose a tooth- and a little nervous too- and she has several questions about the Tooth Fairy.  Oh boy.  It is happening.  She is growing up right before my eyes! 

This long summer has allowed us extra opportunities to swim in Merry's pool.  In fact, we are headed there today. :)

I hope that you are enjoying the final days of summer too!

 

Kindergarten Here We Come!

You knew this was coming, right?
A bazillion pictures of Lucy's first day of school?
Indulge me, please.  Behold, the kindergartner-

She was very excited and all ready for the big day!

Our school kids.

Posing with Lucy (Max jumped in our picture- the nerve!).
 

Our brick at the elementary school could use an updated family roster!

On the drive to school we sang, "Kindergarten here we come, here we come!"

She was tightly holding daddy's hand at this point.

Such a good sport, smiling for so many pictures.

Lucy and her very good friend Caleb.  They aren't in the same class, but their classrooms are next door to each other, and they were able to play together at recess.

Do we look proud or what?  I couldn't help but think that this drop off routine will be very different when we do it again in two years with Max.  I might not be smiling in those pictures, as I am expecting my boy to be screaming, "Don't make me go!!"

Lucy lined up with her classmates, and off they went!

And then there was one...

Final report: No tears from mama or Lucy- only smiles! 
Lucy's morning at school was "good" and "fun" and her favorite part of the day was recess.
Yeah kindergarten!

School Days

In a surprising turn of events, I am actually excited for Lucy to start kindergarten tomorrow.  I am not expecting any tears, but I'll let you know how it goes.

 

After a campus tour, and a fill-out-forms-and-take-school-pictures day, and a meet the teacher morning, and a kindergarten assessment, and then finally a parent-only meeting this afternoon....  I honestly feel like Can't we just start school already?

 

At the parent meeting today, I filled out yet another form with Lucy's emergency contact information, but on the other side of the paper, there were some new questions.  These questions were about Lucy.  What are your child's academic strengths? What activities does your child enjoy outside of school? What are your academic concerns for your child? What are your child's social characteristics?

 

Oh my, I had never really thought about Lucy in such an objective manner, describing her to a complete stranger. I did my best to give good answers, and I'll admit that I used my eraser a few times, trying to find the right words to express my thoughts, as though this was a graded assignment to determine either how well I know my child or how well I've prepared my child for school. Oy.

 

I hope that I earn an A+ as a kindergarten mama.

 

Here is what I wanted to write:

 

Lucy will do just fine in school, and she will fit right in with all of the other kids.  But please make sure that you appreciate her sweet little perfectly-round face.  Her dad and I especially like the dimple in her chin.  When she giggles, she covers her mouth with her hand and shrugs her shoulders, and it is super cute- you won't want to miss it!  She loves to dance and sing, she loves being a girl, and she loves pink. I hope you enjoy our Lucy!

 

"Meet the Teacher" morning

 

 

************

 

Joe's first day of 8th grade was "good".  That's it.  That's all I got from him.  "Good."  I pried a bit more, finding the right questions to ask, and learned that he likes his teachers, he has friends in all of his classes, and he memorized his locker combination.  "Good" is good, so I feel good. Good!

 

 

What I remember vividly about my first day of 8th grade is that boys' voices were deeper, girls suddenly had boobs, boys seemed to like looking at girls' boobs, my new denim overalls were awesome, and most of the girls had grown taller than the boys, and my science teacher had the nickname of "Mr. Pick-and-Flick" because he was known to pick and nose and flick his boogs.  I'll bet that when I got home from that first day, and my mom asked me about school, I probably said, "Good. It was good." :)

 

 

*************

 

And the other monkey has no desire to go to school.  Ever. 

 

 

 



42

Today was a special day.
Why was it a special day?
Well, it wasn't because Lucy gave her daddy a lovely ballet performance early this morning.

And not to be outdone by Lucy, Max sang a song for daddy from behind the couch.

Yes, it was all very amusing.

But that isn't why today was special.

And it isn't because today was the last day of summer vacation and school starts tomorrow, though that is pretty darn exciting (Can I get a WOOP WOOP from the mamas out there??).

And it isn't because the sun was shining and the sky was crystal blue, but you all know that a sunny day in Seattle is a reason to celebrate.

No, no, no.  Today was special because it is Devon's birthday!!

My honey turned 42 today :) He had to work all day long, but we visited him and brought him some frozen yogurt and sang "Happy Birthday".

I think that he had a nice day, he definitely felt loved and celebrated, and at 42 he is feeling as young and frisky as ever!  A doctor recently told Devon that he was "well preserved" for his age, and I suppose that at 42, "well preserved" is a really nice thing to hear!

So, to my sweet, loving, handsome, hard-working, fun, and well preserved husband, a very happy birthday to you, and may 42 be a fantastic year for you!

My Heart, Times Three

Lucy needed some attention this morning.
She was being a stinker,
and I knew that some extra mama-love would snap her out of her funk.
So I picked her up and held her on my chest like I did when she was a baby.
I held her bum with one of my hands, and her arms flung over my shoulders and rested down my back.
Her feet hung down to my knees,
and I held her head on my shoulder and pressed her little face toward my neck.
I realized, she is huge.
Yet,
she is my baby, forever.
Next week she will start kindergarten,
and I can't even talk about it.
Sigh.

She is ready for school, and she will love it.
I'm not so sure if I'm ready!


And Max wrestles more than he snuggles. 

He shoots imaginary webs from his wrists and answers to the name Spiderman. 

He pees on the wall- his aim needs improvement- and says, "Oh, sowwy mom. I peed on 'da waw adin." 

He nearly needs a translator, and we love him for it.   

He has two cowlicks in his hair which make the shape of devil horns. 

He climbs onto shoulders and heads, he head-butts groins, he sits on my foot and clings to my leg like a little monkey.   

He tells me that he "wuvs" me. 

He likes to hold my hand. 

And he wants to marry me or Lucy someday.

Oh, be still my heart! 

 

 

And Joseph,

oh, Joseph.

One more year before high school.

So crazy.

After 7 years as his mom,

I am still learning how to be his mom-

how to navigate our relationship and how to be who he needs me to be.

I've learned a lot this summer,

and I think that this school year is going to be better than the last.

(it has to be!)

 

 

He is beginning to give up his toys-

passing them along to Lucy and Max.

He is beginning to ask for more freedoms,

and he is learning that trust and freedoms go hand-in-hand.

I see a young man emerging,

though he still likes to be tucked in at night.

:)