Wow, we've been busy! October is gone, November is here!

We've been carving pumpkins...


We discovered that Able loves rainbows nearly as much as apples...


No surprise, but Charlie loves firetrucks...

We trick-0r-treated...Seb went somewhere else, so no pics of him!





We've been crafting a lot, but now it's time to focus on the Christmas gifts.

Some of us have found the need to sleep...

Super Charie has come into existence!

Somebody had a birthday.

Tony is very antsy for snowmobiling season.

Oh, yeah, we carved some pumpkins! :)


And Charlie got a new bed. Every night it's like a Where's Waldo cartoon, he has this need to bring everyone to bed.


I hope November is half as much fun!

Be the Peace you Want to see in the World

Sometimes it is hard to be who you want to be. I find myself tired, my husband in an ugly mood, the toddler is sick, I forgot to eat...and then I act in ways not my usual normal. This movement comes at a very important time for me, it's a good reminder to be the mom/wife/employee I want to be, and who others want to see. My children deserve a loving, warm, strong mom. My husband deserves for me to the port in the storm I need in him. I really need a job with a schedule, not these crazy shifts all over the place, and the best way to do that is to continue doing the best I can at the hospitals where I already work, and then when a shift opens up they will think of me.

So. My intention is to continue striving every day to be that Woman that I know I can be. To love my family, to smile, to work hard. And to continue to find new ways to cope with stress, as I'm constantly advocating to my patients. I CAN do this, and knowing that others are doing this makes it easier.

Do you want to join us?

{this moment} Friends on the First Day of School, and A Reflection

{this moment} - A Friday ritual began by Amanda at Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment you want to pause, savor and remember.

Apples Apples Apples

We brought home a LOT of apples from Hubby's mom. Thanks, Nana! Saucing a bunch up today, we'll have fried apples for dessert, and we'll see if there are any left. I doubt it, they taste so yummy.



It seems that there is always one mascot apple that I'm loathe to cut up. This one probably weighs a pound and a half!



How many people have a birds nest on their dinner table? This one was found in one of the apple trees where we picked the apples. I need to find it a home. (Excuse the back to school pile of papers...)



We don't have a nature table, at least not right now. The one we were using became my chairside table. I do try to keep some things about the season on the center of the dining room table, though. And thanks to Mamaroots, we have a new friend this month! Abel Loves Apples. He's been given his own harvest and pumpkin patch to care for. A friend has a scroll saw that isn't being used, and has promised it to me. When it arrives Abel can have a few apple trees to care for, too.

Family Trip to the Zoo

It was amazing. We had a wonderful family adventure to the zoo, and nobody melted. The weather was cloudy, and occasionally drizzly, but nobody got cold. We were all full of smiles. Nobody complained about the food from home (fried rice, full of veggies, packed into a tiffin box, thank goodness for the carrier, it was still warm.

These pictures of the kids were taken in our Zoo's new Serengeti exhibit. But really, this a true snapshot of our life. Babybug is ALWAYS zooming around. That boy is a mover and a shaker. All of my kids fascinate me, who they are becoming, who they've been, and where that is leading. They are amazing, all of them. I get the older two, they are a lot like Hubby and I, however, the little one...he's an enigma.




The chase continued around a big ol' baobob tree in the courtyard for several minutes. It was hilarious!

Hubby and I were having fun, and maybe he looks a bit tired here, we were waiting for the train to start. Babybug has this look of awe and wonder that I adore.



Caveboy rides again, with his side kick, Cavegirl. Really, they are in a log in the Pacific Northwest exhibit. But pretending is fun!




This was the beginning of Caveboy in 2009. He crawled into some rocks on the lava flow and we discussed how it must have been for prehistoric man to live in a cave. So ever since he's been Caveboy! Cavegirl didn't get to go on that adventure, she was busy doing other things, like fishing. Ever since, I never pass up opportunities to call him Caveboy. Hee hee.

Our Ekone Trip

We spent a wonderful weekend with some dear friends on Ekone Ranch. A wonderful time was had by all! Ladybug had a horseback lesson on Grasshopper, 25, who has trained many kids to ride, apparently including the instructor herself. The instructor was one of the most perceptive teachers I've ever met, she knew how to match the children with the horses, emphasizing that each horse had a different lesson to teach.


Ladybug is hoping to go to summer camp there next year. However if that is to happen, much saving needs to be had by all. It will be a lot of work for her, but very worth it.



Babybug had a great time throwing rocks, climbing hills, eating dirt (and ACORNS, oh my!), and getting carried by mama. Just he and I climbed a mountain. It was amazing.


We were treated to some amazing sunsets thanks to the forest fires in nearby Lyle.



My bestest friend's daughter has quite a fire for the outdoors. She was constantly catching bugs and frogs and investigating their magnificence. She also rode an amazing horse. I swear they are both smiling.

Charlie and the hat (and Dada, too)

Mama finished Charlie's hat to match his pants (oops, forgot to take a picture of the pants. Oh, well it will have to wait until tomorrow).

Charlie had to try it on. Yes, I know the ends aren't woven in yet.

But, you know, when you are 8 months old there are always more things to do.

Like trying to crawl AND practicing your vowels.

And playing with balls.

And trying to crawl again.

Then you wonder...how do I get rid of this thing?

And life is good.

'Til you see Dada wearing your hat. Why is he wearing my hat? (Mama says he's just goofy.)

And back to the ball again.

So proud of himself.

Growth

I realized today that I've changed. Matured. Learned to appreciate things more. Able to give and receive compliments so much easier. Appreciate the little things easier.

What was it that brought these changes? Three years of school? Charlie? Being over 30?

I don't know.

Tonight I got to ride MIL's horse. What a beautiful experience! Difficult, but beautiful. She's done a good job training the horse. It was hard work, though, the horse thought she'd see what she could get away with, and I had to keep working working working to get her to behave.

10 years ago I might have been frustrated that I didn't get it all right. Now, I'm just thrilled to have gotten something right.

Thanks for the lessons. I've needed them.

Hello again!

So a while back, I was just a full time college student with a part time job, 2 school age kids, and a busy life, who planned on graduating in June 2009.

Now, I'm a full time college student (taking the summer off, ouch to the budget) with 2 school age kids, a 7.5 month old baby (6.5 months adjusted thank you very much), who graduated on June 12th, but won't receive her degree until December. Still have a busy life, by the way. Hee hee. My pregnancy with Charlie threw the whole world into chaos (why I haven't posted in nearly a year and a half), but he's the coolest thing since sliced bread (well, maybe since Taterbug was born in 2001). Hubby and I have celebrated an amazing 11th year of marriage, and here I am. Never thought I'd find myself here. School was just a pipe dream in October 2005, and 2 children were the max.

And now the object of my affection...