Happy Halloween 2015

The kids had a great Halloween this year!  Luke was kylo ren from the new Stars movie, episode 7, coming out in December.  Sydney was "Ella" from the Disney movie that came out this year and Ava was a rainbow unicorn.  I had fun making Ava's costume this year.  Sydney enjoyed wearing makeup! 

We had a potluck at Ava's friend, Elyse's house that was fun!  It was a rainy year but luckily the rain did let up while we trick or treated.  Lucy came out with us this year and she was a witch dog! 

I was lucky enough to help with Luke's Halloween party and then was able to join Sydney's party and Ava's!  What fun!

Great Mommy moments

Lately I have had such beautiful moments intermingled with the every day, ordinary moments. Those seconds of hearing your child say something so profound that you thought they could only say it after at least a half of a lifetime of living. It's those special nighttime moments when you talk about faith, compassion, or religious beliefs and just hope that a fraction of it might make some sense.  

A few weeks ago as I lay in bed with Luke at night.  This is the time that we talk about everything for a good 30 minutes to an hour every night just one on one.  He said, "Mr. Walter's was talking about math, and I think that "adding" looks like a cross that Jesus had and you can add any number... It all works.  But multiplying looks like an "x" and it does things like skip counting.... And that is not good."  I think I paused in awe at his ability to think so deeply.

Yesterday, We all went to our school district "Great Pumpkin Race."  Ava, for some reason has always been so scared to compete and we reassured her that she will do well and of course all we care about is her trying her best.  So this was a big deal for her!  We were all so ecstatic when she placed 5th in the race of about 50 girls especially when she said if she would of used the bathroom before she ran, she could of run faster.  Of course I was so proud that she finished

5th! But My heart warmed when I saw Luke's excitement as he saw his sister round the corner and finish so close to first!  He was Soooooooo happy for her and then he said "I prayed for this to happen..  I prayed for Ava to win a pumpkin!"  And then Ava was so cute and humble when she won!  I told her that her buddy Ben from school was running and she wanted to go meet him after the race and give him her candy she had won and tell him what a great job he did! Just all on her own! 

Then Luke ran and did so well!  Such a hard worker and he ran so fast!  Tonight He said to me out of nowhere that he doesn't understand why his mind reads so much faster and better than when he reads out loud.  How insightful!  To be able to know yourself and articulate like that at the age of 8 just astonishes me.   Yea, Luke may have to spend more time practicing and learning than other 8 year old boys but he knows himself so well and is so loved by all the kids in his class that he will have no problems with his social emotional skills when he is an adult. I reassure him all the time that he doesn't have to make the best grades in school to have a happy life!  He just needs to continue to work well with others, try his best and focus on what he enjoys and is good at... That will ensure he is successful and happy in life!  It's about balance! 

Lastly,  Sydney is officially walking everywhere!  No more "mommy, carry me."  Just incredible... For me and my back!  

Field trip pictures!

Sydney and I had such a great time at her fieldtrip! Just her and I with her best buddies and some of my mommy best buddies!

Pumpkin patch week

This week we visited 2 pumpkin patches.  Sydney and I had our annual field trip at the Farm.  The Ostrander's and I met at a different pumpkin patch we have never been to named Thimas Family Farm.  The kids loved it!  Luke, Daddy and Stdney ride on a monster truck!  The kids got to shoot paintballs and apples.  We also got to uncover gems in a sifter!  It was a lot of fun!

Views from the plane

Cuba...

Miami

Sunrise in Miami...

Happy 15 year anniversary to us!

Steve and I decided to take a mommy/daddy only vacation to Aruba.  We honeymooned here 15 years ago.  This time around we were a lot more adventurous as we took an off-road jeep ride off the rugged northern coast of the island.  We drove by the the California Lighthouse, the gold ruins, natural bridge, and then swam at the natural pool.  At one point, as we were off roading through the volcanic rock I thought we may never see our children again.  Alas, we made it through sweaty palms and all.  It was a lot of fun but poor Steve wasn't feeling too hot.  

It is really hot here.  95 as a high, 83 as a low.  The trade winds do a great job of cooling us off.  We ate dinner on Tuesday night, at Simply Fish, with our feet in the sand watching the sunset.  The food was delicious!  Afterwards, we hit the casino and Steve doubled our money!  I think we have plans to return tonight. 

 Our flight back to Miami and then Seattle leaves on Sunday afternoon. We miss the kids a lot!  This is the first time we have both been on vacation away from them for a week.  Nana has done an amazing job keeping up with a busy schedule of a 8, 6, and 5 year old! She truley is a selfless, energetic and loving grandma! We can't thank her enough for her bravery! 

As I reflect on our last 15 years together, I feel so blessed to have such an amazing husband, 3 kids that make our lives so fun and rewarding and an amazing life in Seattle, Washington.  I could not of married into such a wonderful family. I miss our sweet doggy too! 

The palapa' see enjoy reading under!

The rocky northern coast...

The gold ruins...

Our view from 6715

The incredible conch shells I found on the beach, up North away from the hotels. 

One of the many iguana's we see lurking around!

Ava's beautiful drawing

Ava drew this for me tonight when she got home from school!  Completely new art style for her! I love it! 

Hidden surprise cake and happy 2nd bday Graycie!

Sydney and I baked a birthday for our family to celebrate Graycie's bday!  She is 2!  We put some "hidden surprises" of twix and Milky Way bars inside!  The kids loved our special cake! 

13 weeks!

And her teeth are as sharp as ever! Not loving this phase because of all of the bites but I know this wan't last forever!  She is 12 pounds.  Up from 8 pounds 3 weeks ago!

Parkour boy

He does his moves all over the house.  Spider-Man going up the Hallway molding, obstacle courses at the playground and on the couch!  Today was the first day of his fall parkour class he takes with Jack and he loves it!  He started a month ago and I have never seen him his fire shine so bright with any other sport! Today he did 2 flips in the foam pit all on his own.  I am so proud of him and love what this does for his confidence!

Sleepy Syd

She would sleep everyday if I let her!  Today she fell asleep while she was waiting for her nails to dry!

The devastating windstorm

The dreadful tree!

We just completed our yard from a massive renovation about 1 month ago. Mother Nature had different plans for us.... She unleashed her fury and the neighbor's 100 year old cottonwood tree shed it's upper layer on half of our yard.  

Unfortunately home insurance does not reimburse for landscaping plants... Just structures.  Half of our fence got knocked out but the cost of that is below our ridiculously high deductible.  Even worse, the tree that we want cut down and removed does not even belong to us.  As I pray that it will be taken care of by our neighbors, steve and I will begin to pick up the pieces of our once beautiful yard.  Maybe this is opportunity to change something around and make it more beautiful? 

The eve before the first day of school 2015

This year feels different than the rest.  I feel like Luke and Ava are ready for school this year.  Ava is feeling nothing but excitement!  She was placed in a class with a great teacher and 3 of her friends.... Pea, Kaitlin, and Sammy! I can tell that Luke has some anxiety, he is finding diversions to obsess about rather than think about school.  He kept talking about the PSP he wants for Christmas and was somehow magically thinking he would get after Parkour today.  It struck me as odd when he started crying about it and then I could tell at that very moment, his tears had nothing to do with the PSP and everything to do with going to school.  He is excited to start to school but it is a change and that always causes anxiety in Luke.  Poor buddy!  I just scooped him up and snuggled with him on the chair as we talked about how to manage his thoughts and the fact that he will miss me.  I reassured him that he is not alone alone and all kids feel that way and are nervous.  He has Amy to visit if needed for support and he can even call me if he wants to. He got the teacher he wanted, mr. Walters and he is excited about that! He is acquaintances with 2 kids in his class. 

I know it is going to hard to say goodbye as we walk them to school tomorrow but my intuition tells me that they are ready for this stepping stone... This new layer of independence. And Sydney is ready to  have some time to find herself as an individual and not just Ava's sister. She has never truly had alone time with me and I feel that it will be just what she needs to turn a new corner. 

School starts in 5 days!

Can't believe the day is almost here!  Both Luke and Ava are excited for school to start.  Luke has Mr. Walters  as his teacher and Ava has Mrs. Schumaker.  Both got the teacher's they wanted!  Ava is with most of her friends! 

I am excited for them both and looking forward to getting some alone time to spend with Syd!