Makes me Smile...

You know you've had a positive influence on your child when she offers to fix the tear in her backpack with your trusty roll of Duct Tape! I must be doing SOMETHING right!!

...gotta love it!

"Favorite Activity?" ... Sinking ... errr... Swimming??

So, as I was emptying out Ellie's backpack last Friday, I sorted through all the letter and shape tracing to see if there was anything worth keeping. I came across this assignment Ellie did in class. It deeply disturbed me... What does it look like to you?

My first thought was that her "favorite activity" was swimming (either with Daddy or maybe her friend, Julia -- both starting with "J"). The problem with that is she has never gone swimming with Julia. Moreover, she doesn't even KNOW how to swim. So, maybe she likes to SINK. Gulp.

At this point I was thinking Jeremy and I need to have a talk. Hoping that I was wrong all-together and there was another explanation for the creepy two people holding hands under some water-like wiggly lines, I asked Ellie. Immediately, she corrected me. She flipped the page upside down (explaining that she had made a mistake when drawing it) and continued to tell me that it is a picture of her and JESUS holding hands. (!)

"How sweet," I thought. I then asked her what she meant by this picture ... what WAS her favorite activity? She went on to explain that her favorite activity is "Walking on Water with Jesus." I realized there were a lot of layers here to unravel from her little mind. I asked her if she had ever walked on water with Jesus. She responded, "Well, not really. But I could anytime I want." We had a very cool and interesting conversation.

These are interesting thoughts. What would your favorite activity be? I'll tell you, this would not have crossed MY mind! I would have thought swinging, playing, time with family, etc., etc. but what a wonderful, joyous adventure it would be - and is- when our favorite activity is walking by Faith - through the calm and the storms - with Jesus.

This little 5-year old sure does give me a lot to think about!

First Few Signs Fall is Here - Today

Well, I have a little bit of time while Josie and Gideon are napping - and we need to pick Ellie up from school. I considered ALL my options as to what to do with my two hours. After all, usually I am still wrestling Gideon into bed at this time - -but today he crashed. For some reason today was different. I suppose I could fold laundry, or divide the rest of my irises, or even plant my tulip bulbs (I couldn't resist!). Those seemed like fun. I could even clean my room, tidy up the kitchen, paint over the bullet-hole spackle spots on the wall, or wait on hold and deal with the insurance people. *Sigh* Yah, all those things would be good. But I just don't "feel" like doing any of them right now.

You see, the Dayquil just kicked in, and I feel good for the first time all day. I just want to sit and enjoy this feeling while I can still breathe through my nose and don't have a sinus headache! So, I decided to pick up my camera and document the impending season change we are experiencing here. Summer has packed up and seems to be leaving us. Autumn is upon us ... and who knows when that Pacific Northwest "switch" will be flipped and the rains will come ... and come... and come!

So, besides the school kids, backpacks left all over the house, empty lunch boxes, and random pumpkins -- here are some pictures I took just today in my "free" time that scream "AUTUMN!" to me:

The Cowboys' Flag is Poised and Ready...

the Front Door is Decorated with leaves and my Hydrangeas

Jackets have been unearthed -- and left all around...

Sidewalk Art has been neglected --- and soon will be forgotten

The Maples are Ready to Burst into RED Flames!

... As are the Sumacs!

The Garden has bunches of Garlic ready to eat (or plant) -- and some Tomato Holdouts (that probably won't make it...)

My Summer Flowers have gone to seed (like this Crocosmia)

... And my Coneflowers are still going strong

The Hydrangeas - once bright Blue - are now dried and washed-out.

And - even more so - the Skies carry an eerie mark of change...

... Yup -- it's FALL! ... And, look at that! I even have time to do something else this afternoon!!

Puyallup Fair! '08

This past weekend, we were able to go to the Puyallup Fair. It's a pretty big fair, and we go every year. If nothing else, to get the family "portrait" done ... in the photo booth. We've been doing this now annually since before Jeremy and I were even engaged!

Anyway, this year we got to go with a bunch a guests. Mom Wadle and Papa Ray were in town, so was Uncle Alex, and dear friends, Mike and Barbara Klein. It has been a terrific "Indian Summer" here in Tacoma -- the first sunny September I can remember in the 4 years we've been here!! In the past, we have braved RAIN to go to the fair ... this year, we braved CROWDS! With the 70+ degree weather (which is HOT here), EVERYBODY was out enjoying it!

We had a great time on the kiddie rides. This was Gideon's first year for rides -- last year he was just learning to walk!! He loved it... and, not surprisingly, Ellie did as well!! They rode motorcycles, flew spaceships, drove trucks, etc., etc. The funniest thing - hands down - was Gideon on the "fun house" thing. You know, those obstacle course-type things that are basically a truck that the kids go through ... usually run through ... and you think, "what a ticket rip off!" Well, Gideon spent the most time on this "ride"

As they were pushing him up the first ramp, I tried to tell people that, though he was tall enough, he was not "big" enough to go on it. But, as usual, nobody listened to me. I guess it was a good thing this time -- for it proved very entertaining for all the bystanders. He DID make it all the way through. But had to discover how to overcome each little obstacle as he came to it --- and that took awhile. The funniest was the suspension bridge section. Gideon CRAWLED across it... was were all hooting with laughter, but the kids behind him didn't think it was too funny. It was quite the social experiment!!!

All-in-all, we had a wonderful time at the fair this year. We're hoping to make it an annual thing with Mike and Barbara, and Mom and Ray... and, Alex, you, too!! :)

Things are quiet now, as the kids have TOTALLY crashed. Jeremy won't be travelling this week, MOPS starts, and so does our Young Adults' group. It's sorta busy, I guess. But certainly not overwhelming. I just may finish the kids' room if I find time during naps!!!

What's "The Best Thing About" YOU?

Often times, I am humbled by the things that come from my kids ... especially Ellie. Mostly because, so far, she is the only one who can form and communicate thoughtful responses to situations and various questions.

Lately, I was touched by Ellie's response to a question on her homework. The kids were asked to fill out a sheet asking a few questions about themselves. They drew a picture of their family, wrote their names, birthdates, etc. But the best -- and most surprising -- was the line "THE BEST THING ABOUT ME IS:" Here is a picture I took of Ellie's work. (Oh, to be a fly on the wall! -- the Tacoma public school system is in for quite a ride! ...)

Boy, could we learn a lot from her!! The truth is, once Jesus becomes "the best thing" about us, everything else just falls into place --- and completely pales in comparison to that! "From the mouth of babes," right?!

Project #1

I wrote this up awhile ago ... and now am just about done with the kids' room -- paint turned out great. Now I just need to do the cool picture hangers! :) I will post finished pictures soon!

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So, here is a run-down of my first house project of the Fall. I have been needing to repaint Ellie's room. She and I painted it with vines and cute bugs when she was 2 --- and it was so adorable!!! Well, now Gideon shares a room with her and it is just sad. I really want him to feel like there is some "boy" in there ... outside of his sporty sheets.

On top of that, with the moving scare last fall --- and now 3 kids (in the 4-bedroom house) --_ I have realized that I need to do some "neutralizing" of the bedrooms for a couple reasons: So that it may be versatile in decor to the kid(s) living in it, and so if we do move in the next few years to a larger house, the rooms are ready to get cleaned and staged with little work.

Now, those of you who know me, know that I have a hard time "de-personalizing" areas I live in. I can't help it ... I just sorta "leak" myself into the space. So, knowing this, I have to be creative as to how I (we) display out personality!!

Here's the plan. Number one: Paint the room. I need to prime over the vines and bugs (we are keeping the "skylight/dome" in the center of the ceiling). I will then paint the walls a boring "Almond" color. Here's the thing, though, I am going to paint a kind of stripe/moulding band about 3/4 of the way up in a slightly darker shade ... and then take the white to the top. I am going to do this band right where the West wall begins to slant into a roof ... this will allow me to add some pizazz to the otherwise boring walls -- and make it interesting with the ceiling painting.

The next challenge was to figure out a versatile, practical and cool way for each kid (or kids in this case) to display THEIR personalities. I have this idea -- and just need to figure out how to make it actually work. I am adapting the IKEA and PBTeen cable system to be cheaper and for walls. What I am going to do is take a wire and string it across sections of the wall... the ends will be held to the wall with those picture frame screws with the circles at the top. I will have inexpensive plastic frames hanging from the wires with a series of other hooks and wire -- mixed with the alligator clips that are often used for window treatments. The idea is to have a sleek-looking, industrial but very cool display of art. The inexpensive frames will be hung at different lengths, made of plastic and 8.5x11 inches -- the size of a standard piece of paper. The kids will each have their "galleries" and can change their artwork or chosen pictures as they so desire.

My next idea is to prep the closet doors and paint them with a magnetic primer. I will then repaint the doors (which is on my list anyway!). Since we have stainless steel in the kitchen, the kids can hang picture with magnets, use the alphabet letters, and the leap frog letter thingy they love!

As you can tell, all my ideas are with the intent of (#1) easy versatility for kids changes (#2) no holes in the walls --- less repair if and when we move.

You may have noticed that, besides boring "Almond", I have not mentioned fabrics or colors. Well, I'm not really concerned about those things for now. The kids are not into anything permanent -- and we have no idea who will end up where in the house. So, for now, their beds will be all "them" - as they get to choose their comforter/quilts. And the window coverings will stay neutral white/off-white. The art will add color ... but it will be eclectic, able to be easily set for selling, versatile and pretty darn cool!

Juggling Act or Short Bus?

Well, Ellie had a wonderful first day of school. Kindergarten here is all day long - and proves to be a long day for the kids (I can only image what it is like for the poor teachers!). When asked what her favorite part of the day way - predictably, she answered, "RECESS! We got 3!!!."

The tricky thing, I found today, was HOW to get to school. The school is only about 4 or 5 blocks away (breaks down to about 10 minute walk). It is a gorgeous walk - Sound views to die for (!), century-old houses (and cobblestone roads), bad sidewalks, and a great downhill walk - there . There is no parking lot, so parents park in the neighborhoods to collect their kiddos. This means driving would actually take longer to transport us all than walking! So, my plan is to walk as much as we can. We have all our rain gear and, I thought, are ready for that great "wet-sock" PNW weather.

After today, I realized that I am now going to shop around for a double jogging stroller ... with rain shield. I'm sure I'll have no problem finding one. Craigslist is my friend! This realization came upon finding Gideon too big for all our other strollers - which are more for infants and toddlers. So, this is the transport for now ... me (my kids' original "short" bus... or, maybe not too short...). One thing is for sure... I will have AWESOME legs come summertime! As you may have noticed, I mentioned that the walk is a gorgeous downhill one -- to school. That means FROM school can prove to be quite the leg burner! -- I still need to explore different streets and their inclines. I just hope I don't look like this come spring! Yikes!

Our First Day of School!

Today, Ellie went to her first day of school. As much as I wanted to linger around the school once she was situated, I had to go.

It's mind-boggling to think that my kid is in school now. When Ellie was a baby, everybody told me time would fly by and to drink in every minute --- boy, they are sure right about that! The funny thing is, it honestly seems like yesterday I was being told that. Now, here I am, five years later and walking my daughter to school. It's so odd!

<-- From this, to this -->

Seeing a kid off for that first day of Kindergarten is very much a bittersweet thing. Ellie is SO ready for school. She is one of those kids that was just CREATED for school -- the challenges, the learning, not to mention the social aspect of it all! By the time we took ten steps onto the playground she had already made a friend -- and when that friend skipped off (to her second grade class), there was another to take her place. That's Ellie. She has this built-in radar for people.

But it wasn't all smooth. Ten steps to a friend -- three more to two skinned knees. Yup. Ellie was the very first patient for the school nurse this year. I have a feeling they will become quickly acquainted. Ah, I love my little "Mary Katherine Gallagher" (if not familiar .. Google a SNL clip and you'll see!)!!! There she was -- and the next thing I knew, her skirt was over her head and she was crying. Fortunately, she is not easily embarrassed - and the pride aspect of it all had no effect on her... it just hurt. I was proud of her for remembering to put on some shorts under her skirt, however. It seemed to me the attention she got for #1 being the first patient and #2 having cool "school" band aids was well worth the price.

Things are quiet here for now. Except for the newly found voice of Gideon! I wonder what this year will hold for us. Whatever it is, I know the Lord will surprise us - and entertain us! So keep posted. I'm absolutely positive we will have fantastic stories to come!!! :)

She forgot to give Daddy a hug...