Drake Day

 

It's been a while since we've visited Drake Park, I'm always shot back in time when we go there, remembering piles of trips myself as a kiddo.

I may have a picture just like this of myself as a wee... I think the shaggy ridiculous sheep dog Jiggs we had for a wee little while is in it, sniffing the camera... will have to see if I can't dig up that pic!
 

 

 

They were big in suggesting places to take pictures...

 

Like under the steps ( why? I have no idea!)

They have done that hand-holding tightrope walk every time we've ever come here. Love that it's just this natural thing they do with no prompting.

It was a very vivid day here in Central Oregon, with the deep dark grumbly storm clouds that were punctuated by super bright chunks of sunlight. My favorite thing about fall is the turning of the leaves. Always stumps me how one tree can be completely turned while others of the same variety are still green. It was a fun last minute plan!

Bonus, my kids are gorgeous, which makes little photo trips in to the past that much more fun.

Eight Amazing Years.

It was hours and hours and hours into my SECOND induction before you decided you might as well come over and in to my arms. More than likely you just didn't want to hurt my feelings by making me wait any more. I have never before in my life longed to meet another person like I longed to meet you. I fought to bring you in to my life for years, and then you were there. You, my daughter, were the first bold burst of color in a life that I didn't even know was black and white. You absolutely and unequivocally changed who I am to the core of my being. There aren't words to express my gratitude for you and everything that you are. The world was quiet and you burst in to song.
I remember the first time you squished your face to mine, pressing with all your teeny tiny might in a wide mouthed gooey wet kiss. It was a true moment. When you pulled back you had this giant grin on your face, like you were saying I DID IT!! You've been kissing me ever since, and I do know how lucky I am that you do so. When you get hurt, more often than not you are the one that ends up comforting me, your inborn sense of empathy is so amazingly strong.  You cuddle up to me, pressing as much of your body to mine as you can, and softly pat my cheek (or shoulder, now that you're older). The pure good in the world shines out of you, my sweet girl. I don't know how that happened, your mama is too flighty for that depth of goodness, and your daddy is too quiet to express it.
I ALWAYS forget something whenever I leave the house. It's a running joke, as you know, that Mom is just unable to leave the front door without immediately coming back in to grab that one thing she forgot. You've taken to employing a verbal check list for me, now. Every time. "Mom, do you have your purse? Your phone? Your water? Did you bring your homework? Do you have the keys?" I love it. I LOVE IT. It's not even a joke with you, you see a need in your flighty Mama and you fill it, sincerely and with love. That's who you are, Raegan. I see you. I do, I really see you. And I am in awe. I love you so much, Raegan. Happiest of birthdays to you on this day, I have a hard time believing it's been Eight years, you have been in my heart forever. You change the world for good in each and every moment and will always be the best obsession I've ever had.
Love, Mama

First Day of First Grade: Kael

Today was your first day of school, what did you think of it?


Nice. Fun. Nice.

What was your favorite part?

Playing at recess. Um, nothing else.

What did you have for lunch?

What did I have for lunch? Fishy crackers, the big ones that are big fishy crackers. Two of them. Um, And, lets see…um, hmmm, big fishy crackers and one zucchini I took a bite out of. Sliced. Haha, did you write down my coughs?? ( no, I did not). Are you going to write down everything I say Mom? ( yes) HAAAAHA HAHAHA HAAA!! Hey guys, say something she’s writing down everything I say! Earrings, hahaha, earrings, hahaha ha haa. ( you’re weird) goofball, haha haha!! The End hahaha!!! HEY PRETTY LAAADYYYYY!! (okay that’s enough)

BACK TO QUESTIONS, silly! Were there lots of new friends or lots of old friends in your class?


New ones, I actually didn’t make any friends.

Who was an old friend in your class?

Azize, well there’s ones that were in my class and ones that were not in my class. HEY PRETTY LADY!! HAHAHA~~ ( THAT’S ENOUGH OF THAT, MISTER!)

Who is your teacher?

Mrs. G.M., aaaaah, Mrs Reeve, Mrs Smith, and Mrs Goofball, haha. Um. I don’t remember her name. ( It’s Mrs Neff)

Did you like her?

She’s nice. Um she lets us play outside a lot of times.

What is one thing you’re really looking forward to this school year?


There’s actually nothing that I’m looking forward to.

Today was a full day, what did you think about that?

That it was nice. The End now for good.

 

First Day of Second Grade

Today was your first day of school, how did you like it?


It was good.

Who is your teacher

Um Miss Grant, well Gilbertson. She’s really nice. Pretty much that’s it.

What are some things you did?

Well we have our own job and mine is librarian and so that makes it so I’m, ok, so, I’m just and Today she asked me to do the couch and I was the only one who did everything because Logan was in the group and he didn’t do anything. I put the dog underneath it well it isn’t a real dog it’s stuffed. So it was real fun.

What did you have for lunch?


What I had for lunch was a burrito like in a tortilla like this kind ( taco shell) and it had this kind of beanish-meat, it’s squishy like beans and it kind of taste like beans, but it’s actually meat with cheese on it.

What was your favorite part?

My favorite part today, well it was fun because the fun part that I had was actually doing tha math part and counting to 100 cuz she didn’t tell me not to do that side and I’ actually did that side and she said three more minutes and I didn’t do that side yet and I was like ZOOM and I got that side done, and I was the first one done because I’m the fastest.

What is one neat thing you remember about today?


We get four recesses, you know. And the four recesses one of them I forgot my jacket but the next recess OK I ran to tha place where it was and I played with my friend Alyssa this game with lava on the floor but actually it was rocks. Then the lava if somebody gets stuck in it we don’t grab them, we thump on the thing instead and so that makes the lava dance and then we can escape.

Lots of old friends or lots of new friends?


Lots of old friends. Pretty much all the new friends are boys but one new friend is a girl.

What else can you tell me about second grade?

I don’t really remember the rest of it. I don’t know. That’s all.

BMX Obsessed

ready... set....

GO!

Big fall, cracked his helmet open. Thank goodness for the helmet. 

not that it stopped him at all...

My kids are glowing. They are revved up, excited and glowing. It took ONE trip around the loop on this track for Raegan to just explode with confidence and WHOOPS and "the crowd goes WILD" excited. Once we put Kael on a bike that fits him it was hard to get him OFF of it. BMX. Went to our first race last night, that just made it all worse, lol!! I think we may have a new awesome family obsession! Hunting down a new bike for Rae today ( it was bike shopping for the next size up that led us here in the first place) and perhaps getting one the next size up for Matt and I to play with as well....... Good grief. But you know what they say, "the family that plays together stays together..." and that's the plan.

And the BIG DEAL of the day IS........

Two days ago, Kael took a header down the slide when he was attempting to surf down rather than slide. Landed on his face on the metal slide walls and knocked his front tooth loose. A visit to the dentist today confirmed that he'd snapped the root on one of his front teeth, chipped the root of the other, and both were beginning to abscess. Sweet. Kael's first baby teeth were taken out today and Mama was a mess.. but while I'm not thrilled on his behalf about the tooth-hole he's going to have for the next few years, he could NOT BE more gawdamn cute right now. The lisp is KILLING ME. He doesn't know, thank goodness, that he could ask for the moon and instead of replying with my usual "some day" I'd be on the phone looking for a long ladder to get it for him.
When we took the gauze off after getting home and he got a first glimpse at his new look, he turned to me with a stunned expression on his face, then burst in to grin and said;

" Oh my GOSSHH, Mom!! My new thmile is THO CUTE!"



And it most certainly is, my boy. Sorry you didn't get to wiggle and pull like all the other kids, but you were so amazingly brave today that you earned the same lost-tooth merit badge.
I am SO proud of you.  

There's a visitor on the porch..

Spied a giant visitor on the back deck the other day.. She must've been at least 5 inches long.



And the next day we spied another of these visitors on the front deck....

I'm tempted to paint something purple, just to see what happens.

Finger Weaving Goodness

Showed her once, and that's all it took! Raegan has made a good dozen friendship bracelets and necklaces, & seeing her sitting at her safety pin pillow just makes me all gooey inside. I'd spend HOURS each day as a kiddo doing just exactly the same thing, it is just crazy plumb awesome seeing my wee little me doing the same thing now.

 

 

Three Creeks, Rainbow Hunt

You'll have to double click the picture to really see it all, and WHOY NELLY do I have a story for you! But part of our Saturday Adventure this weekend at Three Creeks was a rainbow hunt. I think we did pretty good! And.. we LIVED to tell about it!!

 

National Gepgraphic Mimic

 

Raegan's just so dang creative! Have GOT to get that girl some actual paint brushes, not the cheap plastic ones that come with water color. Just imagine what she'd do with peace, quiet, and CANVAS!