Halloween 2010

It was a busy Halloween. So many costume choices, what to wear, what to wear. I wish I had a photo of Noah in his storm-trooper costume and giraffe mask. (it's the costume I was silently rooting for) Finally the lure of the sea chanties and dancing princesses could not be resisted. The kids went for outfits they've been known to wear on a daily basis. Ahhh... comfort in the everyday wear. (I think it's like me wanting to stay in jammies all day)

Happy Halloween from us!

I'm a banana slug

Went for a walk today in Tryon Creek State Park with our friend Darcy today. It was a lovely crisp fall day and perfect for a walk.

Princess L was not inclined to go for a walk, or a hike, or leave the house for that matter, but we went anyway. First there was the refusal to wear her boots, then the discussion over which jacket/coat/sweater she wanted to wear. Then there was the tear filled episode over the car seat. Yes, the car seat. We recently moved N into a booster seat in the car and switched L over to his old car seat. Because N had outgrown his car seat L got it into her head that she had also grown out of hers. Well, not the case at all. Patrick has just always like N's better so we switched them, thus leaving hers at home, at the ready. But, nothing could convince her it wasn't too small. I continued to buckle her in anyway, and off we went. (When talking about our day at dinner this evening, she promptly told Daddy about the too small car seat)

We arrived at the park and she still didn't want to wear her boots (even if they are pink), it wasn't raining and appeared dry and it was only Monday, so I let it go. Off we went. It wasn't really a hike it was a meander. A lovely meander at that. L stopped to look at leaves and to pick up piles of dirt. She spotted a banana slug and while squeamish remained fascinated by it for the remainder of the walk. She wouldn't be hurried for anything. (a lesson for me in there somewhere I'm sure) and really just wanted to "be".

There was time for Pooh sticks off the Red Fox Bridge. Or in our case Pooh Leafs as leafs were more abundant then sticks. I'm pretty sure L's favorite part of the game is the dropping of the item and not the waiting to see it pass under the bridge. Why? Because as soon as it hit the water she's run to the other side and declare herself the winner (with nothing in sight yet) and then say, 'let's play it again!' And so we did...a lot. No matter, I like Pooh Sticks/leafs.

All in all for someone who didn't want to go she was a trooper and had a good time in spite of herself. Although at bedtime tonight she insisted the only thing she did all day was , "miss my brother

, N". Clearly, it's taking time to transition into this new life. But, we'll get there.

She did sing a lovely LONG song all the way home. It had many many verses about slugs, bats, monkeys, spiders and worms. I could only remember bits and pieces of it. What I could remember I share with you below. Enjoy!

I'm a banana slug

sticky, dirty slug

I'm beautiful, but I don't like to be touched.

I'm a little bat

I'm hanging upside down

I see a beautiful princess

but I'm too short....

I'm a little monkey

swinging on a tree

I fell and I have a princess Band-aid (c) on my knee

Struggling

Hey y'all. I'm struggling with my new role as a stay-at-h0me mom. Which means I'm struggling to find things to write about, as I don't want this blog to become a whine-a-thon. I really enjoy writing and I love to write about my kids. But, I'm not quite able to put pen to paper or even fingers to the keyboard with much joy right now.

I knew the adjustment to they stay-at-home lifestyle would be difficult. I always said I wasn't the stay-at-home type. But, I also said I'd never be a mom, and if I was I wouldn't be a good one. Both of those statements turned out to be false, so who's to say I could n't make the next leap? I mean, obviously, I am a mom and I think I'm a pretty good one . But, I think part of the secret to my success was knowing my limits. But, I truly believed things and times had changed and I would LOVE the new chapter in my life. Oops, I don't love it. And that breaks my heart a little bit. Because, I really wanted to love it. I really wanted to jump in with both feet and relish the experience. But, I'm a fish out of water and it's hard.

This is a choice that I made and even proposed. This is what is currently best for our family and it's not forever. I don't think of it as a jail sentence, and I know Ms. L and I will find out groove. I just hope I don't lose my own groove in the meantime.

Kindergartener!

Too tired... oh so tired....

look for real post soon.

zzzzzzzzz

Surfs up dude

N fell in love with the ocean this camping trip.  He had a blast.  We couldn't get him out of the water until his lips were blue and he was shivering.  Even then it was a battle and only with promises that he could go back in, once he was warm, could we successfully keep him out.

He started out slowly, like any sane person at the Oregon coast where the water is shockingly cold, first running in and then running out giggling all the way.  He'd come back in for a few seconds.  Laugh uproariously when the waves hit and then scamper back to dry land. But it didn't take long.  Before we knew it he was begging to be on the boogie board and in the water ready to call, "ride the waves, dude!"

Finally, we put the kids in suits and traipsed back down to the beach.  L was content to dig and roll in the sand (yes, like a puppy).  N strapped on his life jacket and marched straight to the shoreline.  He was determined.  And while the actual boogie boarding idea was not a success, there was much joy to be had.  He and Patrick stayed in the water for what seemed to be hours.  They chased the waves back towards the horizon, giggled and laughed as the waves returned the favor chasing them to the shore.  They'd stand still and jump as waves came crashing in.  It was a sight of pure joy. 

In addition to being pure joy to watch it was a snapshot into how much he has grown and changed since our last camping trip.  Last year he put his toes in the water once deemed it too cold and that was that.  Nothing could get him in the water again (last year it was in the 90s, this year the high 70s).  

Last year he was content to dig in the sand and climb on a few logs on the beach.  This year he wanted to try everything.  He climbed to the top of the dunes at Cape Kiwanda, went on a nature hike, earned his JR Ranger badge and roasted his first marshmallows.  There's no stopping this kid and his curiosity.

No dogs in the bathroom

 In this world there are those who follow the rules and those who don't.  And somewhere in the midst of this are three year old girls.  Ms L currently is a rule follower.  Every time (and I mean every time) we went to the bathroom while camping she would stop and point out the signs at the entryway.  "That's me when I 'm a grown-up," she'd say pointing at the woman.  "See, you can tell because I don't have a dress on now."  She would then remind me, "no smoking and no dogs allowed in the bathroom."   We discussed what to do if we saw smoke in the bathroom (I was speaking of the smoke that comes from a fire, as I wasn't about to get into a moral/health discussion about smoking with her in the bathroom)  We decided we would tell a Ranger right away.  I did not address the issue of what to do if there was a dog in the bathroom, didn't think it would come up.  Oh, silly, silly mommy. Really, I should have seen this coming.  After all the gods certainly would want to reward such diligent behavior. "no smoking, no dogs"   Didn't Miss L deserve a chance to show off her skills as a good rule follower?  SIGH... Final morning, off we go (for what seems to be the umpteen-millionth trip to the bathrooms).  First things first.  Stop at the men's room to what, see if the sign has changed since we last walked by?  "Look Mommy, it's the boys' room.  There's N, when he's a grown up"   Around the corner we go, stop,  "Look it's the womens' bathroom.  That's me!  No smoking and no dogs allowed"    We go in, and while waiting our turn, sure enough, in walks a woman with her dog.  "MOMMY!  There's no dogs allowed in the bathroom.  No dogs allowed." She waits, briefly as if expecting me or someone to do something. (woman with the dog does a fine imitation of a wall, and hears nothing) "Well, I guess we'll just have to tell the Ranger."    ...and scene.

 

LRW - Bee Whisperer

This photo has nothing to do with this post.  I just thought it was cute. She's a cowgirl in this photo.  And yes the dress is on backwards, the boots are pink and it's a winter cap.  Gotta a problem with that?

So, Ms. L's new favorite thing to do?  She likes to stare at the bees in the lavender bush.  She will then say, 'these are my bees'.  Tonight she began catching bees in with her fingers (thumb and index)  She'd look at them and  say, 'they won't bite me, mama'  then she let them go.  I'm not sure how many she did this with before I began to count. But when I did count, I noted she had  gently caught 10 bees, checked them out and set them free.   Who does that?