Carter.

I have so much to say about this boy lately.  Ah, age 4 is so much fun.  Full of wonder, full of spunk, full of questions, and full of budding independence.  I wouldn't trade a thing, and I am doing my best trying to drink in each and every quirky, funny thing this sweet boy does.  I am such a fan of him!

At then end of May (yes, over a month ago!), he finished this year of preschool.  He was slated to miss the last day and end of the year/graduation party because we were to be in Idaho for Berkley's graduation, which I still need to blog about.  But his amazing teacher (she really is the best), held a mini celebration for him during class on his last day.  I was subbing, so wasn't there, but she emailed me the pictures.  How sweet of her.  You may realize that all the kids AND adults are in their pjs- she also moved the end of the year 'PJ Day' to that day so Carter could participate since she knew how he was looking forward to it!

Carter has grown up so much this year.  He was so excited to go to 'pee-sool' and loved it.  He also really loves his mama, so there were a few days of tearful goodbyes.  Thankfully those were the exception and not the rule.  Usually he sent me off with an, "I love you!", a "Drive Seeeefe!", a hug and a wave.  By the end of the year he was able to negotiate other kids to some extent and also let an adult know if he needed help or had a problem.  He also identified several of the kids in his class as 'friends'.  So proud of him and the big kid he is becoming.

With the coming addition to our family, there were times this year where I considered moving him to a different preschool next year.  We love 'our' preschool, but it's a cooperative, which means that families participate in different aspects of the running of the preschool; mostly by fundraisers and working in the classroom 2-3 days a month.  With all the unknowns of our adoption, I wasn't sure we could pull it off.  I still don't know what the future will look like in that respect, but one morning I went to pick Carter up and he told me he had to talk to his teacher.  He went to her, and voiced his concern/hurt/dismay/issue over something.  I have no idea what it even was now, but to watch him deal with something, especially when I was right there and he could have buried his head in my leg or acted out for me instead of approaching an adult and actually talking?  I realized then that I would move Heaven and Earth to keep him at that preschool next year, especially considering all the unknowns that the next several months of our lives may hold.

It's just all going so quickly.

From June 17 . . .

 

And, it's a wrap.  Contrary to what I thought on Day One, we made it through the week, the month, the semester, and even, the year.

Maddy's year went pretty much exactly how I thought it would.  She loved her teacher, so, so much.  She had to learn to navigate being a 10 year old girl and being friends with other 10 year old girls.  She learned tons of Spanish, excelled in Math, and wrote more stories than I can count.  Today, she was so sad, heartbroken even, to say goodbye to 4th grade.  It was truly a great year for her.

Garrett's year also went so well.  Thankfully, after the transition of that first week, things improved drastically!  (That post makes me belly laugh even now.)  He loves his teacher.  He didn't try to ditch school on Spanish days, even speaks a little espanol now and then, and showed his propensity for all things math.  He is a full fledged reader now, and a writer as well.  He made new friends, grew closer to old friends, and also developed a great sense of independence.  I don't know when the last time he begged me, or even asked, to walk him in to school.

Dear Mrs. Muldoon, I've had a great two years with you.  I like doing math and writing.  Thank you for being my favorite teacher.  I hope you have a good summer.  By Garrett.

So thankful that it's been a good year for these kids.  We're thrilled summer vacation is here, but I have to say it's a little bittersweet.

Ah, Summer.

There are several post waiting in the wings, but for now, this:

My boys tumbled down the stairs this morning, arms full of books.  Garrett in a too-small soccer outfit (short shorts, anyone?), with my stop watch around his neck, to time his summer reading, of course.

Carter, completely, totally, bare naked.  Only wearing a huge grin.  Carrying books, singing , happy.

We're all happy to have a morning at home.

Where does he get these things?

Carter:  Mom, I really want you to sign me in for swimming lessons!

(He actually wants me to sign him UP for swimming lessons.)

Me:  Okay, well, I'll try to call the pool tomorrow and see when you can do it.  Maybe that week when Sissy and G are at Tilikum.

C:  Would it be regylar swimming or swimming lessons?

Me:  We could probably do either- which would you prefer?

C:  I think swimming lessons means learning.  Like, lesson means learning.  So I want that.

How can I turn that down?!?

Porch Swing

Between my cousin's house in Idaho, and the cabins at Pacific City, we were reminded several times how nice it would be to have a porch swing.  So, the weekend after Maddy's birthday Joel went to Lowes and found just the one. 

Garrett was at Grayson's birthday party and Maddy was sleeping off a slumber party, so Carter and Joel got to work.

We used to have a fire pit in this spot, but the vines didn't like that too well.  So we moved the fire pit and it was the perfect size and location for this swing.  We've already used it SO much.  I sit out there sometimes in the morning and sip my tea.  Joel and I sit there to talk and soon we are joined by our 3 babes.  I think it's going to be a good thing.

Now, I just need a little table so I can set my tea/coffee/wine/margarita/iphone/book/magazine down.

Happy Mother's Day: 2010

From May 9.  And written on May 10!  But here we are, over a month later!  Because I was in a fight with my computer!

We had a nice day.  Joel spoiled me, I enjoyed a nice morning bike ride with my mom, (and we saw a bald eagle perched on a tree right by her house!), we had lunch out with Joel's family, and the best thing?

My kids.  Oh, they were so so sweet.  Lots of snuggles and hugs.  Sweet cards and coupons.  Madeline made me breakfast in bed- ALL BY HERSELF.  Those kids just about make my heart burst.

 

Scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh strawberries.

We enjoyed the sunshine and planted pots.  I usually buy Joel's mom and grandma a hanging basket for Mother's Day.  This year though, we went to the nursery and purchased a bunch of colorful plants, and an empty basket.  The ladies picked their favorites and our kids helped plant them.  It was a fun time out in the sunshine and it feels so good to have my pots planted!  The cloud and rain rolled in eventually, but we sure enjoyed our afternoon in the warmth.

Joel's cousin came down for the afternoon and the kids always enjoy playing with him.

Sweet Baby Miles!  We hadn't seen him since his birthday!

Love you Mom!  Happy Mother's Day!

Birthday Happenings: Part 3 (Edition, Madeline)

(From May 7-8.  Yes, over a month ago!  And I actually wrote all of it on May 12, but am just now getting around to getting the pictures organized.  Awesome.)

Joel and I with our TEN YEAR OLD.

For Madeline's 10th birthday, she requested a camping trip.  If you know me (and haven't heard this story yet), you may have spit your coffee all over your computer laughing.  I don't typically love camping.  I don't love being cold or dirty and I don't love all the prep that goes into a camping trip.  Especially a camping trip with nearly double the number of people in my family.

Plus?  Maddy requested camping at the beach.  In May.  We live in Oregon, and if you don't, let me just tell you that camping at the coast in early May = a very high probability of pouring rain, with a strong possibility of gale force winds, and a 100% chance of sand.  Bleh.

I said, "Maddy, really?  Camping at the beach in May?  With a whole bunch of kids?  That sounds cold and wet!  And like torture?  Why do you already hate me?"  Some of that I didn't say out loud.  You can guess.

Madeline responded with a very dramatic, "You just don't like to CAMP!"  She already has the teenage angst down, Help Us Please.  (Serious.)

And so, for my lovely daughter, a camping trip was planned.  Thankfully camping in small cabins at a campground with an indoor pool still 'counts' as camping.  (As a side note, if one more person tells me it doesn't 'count' as camping I may punch them in the head.  My laundry room smells like campfire still, I had to bleach my cooler, and my car is still sandy with wadded up socks.  It's camping.)

She asked for her 3 bffs- all of them friends since they were babies or early preschoolers.  Sweet girls and how blessed we are to have such good friends for our kids.  She also wanted her brothers to come, in the boys cabin of course, and requested that Grayson join us.  He hasn't missed one of her birthdays yet!  (I think?)  I reserved 2 cabins, one for the boys and one for the girls.  Thankfully my awesome husband loves camping and whenever my enthusiasm started to fade, he jumped in!

We loved this porch swing!  (And now have one in our back yard!)

I carefully watched the weather report as the day drew near.  And somehow, I must have done something right in my life because the weather was perfect.  Like unbelievably, incredibly, amazingly, PERFECT.

The kids were perfect too.  So was the campground.  And the cabins had little heaters and a clean bathroom/shower house nearby.  Plus a indie coffee shop just across the street.  It was really, really, perfect.

Friday we swam and had a campfire.  The kids played in the woods; near enough for us to hear them, but far enough for them to feel independent.  They all snuggled in on the couch for a movie, that they all agreed on.  Amazing!

Saturday went way too fast!  My mom came over and helped with breakfast, and then she took the kids back to the little forest and played games while Joel and I cleaned up and packed up.  Then we all headed to the beach where Dave, Judy, and Molly joined us for a gorgeous couple of hours playing in the water, exploring the tide pools, and climbing the big sand dune.  Judy and I even climbed it- we had to, in order to maintain our 'cool mom' status!  We had hoped for a late check out so we could utilize our camping spot for lunch, but no luck.  So?  We had tacos, prepared on the ground in the Pacific City parking lot.  It was pretty much awesome and then we sang to the birthday girl and ate cake as fast as possibly because we had to hit the road.  Maddy opened her present in the car as we were all wiping sand off and throwing dishes in the car!  By the time we got home, I was tired.  Exhausted.  But the good kind of exhausted, the 'I-love-my-kids-so-much-and-I've-climbed-a-huge-sand-dune-and-gotten-just-a-touch-of-sunburn-and-can't-wait-to-get-sand-off-me-and-crawl-into-my-own-bed' kind of exhausted.

Proof.  We are AT THE TOP.  Too bad we don't have sound here, so you could hear us huffing and puffing and gasping for breath!




The Chef's Assistants help prepare lunch!  (Thanks, Ladies!)


Birthday Lunch!  Hurry!


M requested Strawberry Cake.  I tried this recipe and it was DELISH!

Madeline requested donations to Toukoul, the orphanage where her sister will live before we go to get her, in lieu of birthday gifts.  Grayson and Molly gave her a huge bag of games and school supplies for us to take over!  So exciting and fun!

All in all it was a very successful camping trip.  To sum it up, I'll quote Grayson.  Joel overheard him say to Garrett, "Oh man.  This is one of the best times of my life."  Then later, he said to Joel, "This is one of the best times of my life.  Is it one of the best times of your life, Joel?"

Berries.

(from Tuesday, June 8)
It's been a ridiculously cold and wet spring here.  I mean, we've had some incredible and gorgeous days in the mix, but in between?  Cold and wet.  And lots of both.

Somehow, these guys know how to suck up the sun when they can.

Just a few ripe ones daily.  There's always a sneaky one out there trying to get the few berries from the day, whether it be a kiddo, a Daddy, or a Papa! 

Today, it was these two.  They played outside (no rain today, just cool and gray), and I kept checking on them out the windows.  Then I couldn't find them.  The play structure was bare.  The trampoline was still.  No one was running in the grass.  And then?  Sure enough, they were quietly picking (and eating!) berries.

Soon there will be so many that we can't keep up.  Evenings when Daddy gets home will be spent catching all the red ripe berries that they can, so I can make jam and crisp and smoothies with the ones that aren't eaten straight off the bush.  But this early part of spring always makes me chuckle when we all race for those few fresh berries.

Oregon Trail!

I have so much to blog about.  But I'm so tired!  And I'm trying to clean my house, really clean it.  (It's futile, FYI.)

Plus we've had all kinds of end-of-the-school-year things going on- like Berkley's High School Graduation!  More about that later, but on the way home from said Graduation, we stopped at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City.  Maddy's been studying the Oregon Trail.  She missed a couple days of school AND the big Oregon Trail reenactment, so her teacher asked her to do a little presentation on the Center.  Here is what she (we) came up with!  Maddy took all the pics with her own camera, chose them, and came up with the captions!  (There's sound as well!)