Happy Happy

A full moon and snow today. Funny how birthdays go.... another day, sweet phone calls

and messages, a dinner with my family. Friends coming over

for hugs.... how it used to be about gifts when you were young

but as you get older you see the true gifts are just the people themselves with their

arms around you tight, their smiles reflecting yours.

Today

Today the sun was sought, cookies were made, long naps had by the littlest.

A few jobs are more complete, the floor is semi-clean, and baths were taken.

I smiled more and I just didn't feel as heavy.

The fire crackling, the fish tank bubbling, Joe reading to Abby, and the moon comes out again...goodnight.

These Days

It feels quiet in the blog world for me. Hard to write when things feel unsettled.
I feel like some days its all i can do to get through... laundry, tired kids, tired parents, feeding people.
Maybe its the light going away here, or the weather getting colder, hormones getting crazier.
In the middle of me I go from unsettled to full anxiety it seems.
I'm trying to work on myself... ways that i can find reprieve from my chattering brain.
I'm trying to eat a little better and sleep a little more.
I'm trying...

Our genie/belly dancing girl on Halloween







Wessy jumping out of the rocking chair

"Abs, will you go pick some beets?"

"Sure mom."

Yeah... Papa is home!

Wessy

This morning Joe brought Wes into bed as he was leaving for work.
Wessy says, (high pitched) "hiiieeee Mama."
sweet.

beautiful

A bit sad for Saturday morning but its so beautiful.

Orcas Island

A trip to Orcas Island for out 10th anniversary.

So lovely.

10 years...

Our sweet little cabin near Deer Harbor

The view from the cabin out to the water.

Looking West

Goodbye Orcas... hopefully we will see you again soon.

How do you write about 10 years together, a whole lifetime since we walked down the grass aisle in the field. Strange how it seems like so long ago and yesterday at the same time.

A few days of just us.... so nice.

ER and Fairies

He is fine, after a trip to the ER with a really high fever and what i learned are myclonic seizures. Apparently they can be totally normal when you have a high fever like your nervous system is irritable. It was a bit scary for momma with his fever so high and this jerking, calls to the doc on call at midnight and of course it would be on a night Joe was working nights. He was super brave having to get a urine specimen and blood work, the ER doc said he just had a virus, that we were to just treat the symptoms. After a second night of little sleep and being covered in vomit this morning he is finally looking better, playing, smiling with no fever left. This is the first time he's really been sick, ughgh i hate it. Hoping we all sleep like rocks tonight.

Tonight in the bathroom while Wessy was taking a tub.

Abby: Momma did you know that there is a Wessy fairy?

Me: What do you mean?

Abby: I mean there is a fairy inside of Wessy, its his soul.

Me: Like there is a fairy with wings and everything inside him?

Abby: Yes, exactly.

Me: Wow, i really like that, that means maybe when each of us die our soul fairy gets to keep living and playing.

Abby: Yeah, that is what i think anyway.

There are times as a parent that you are able to separate yourself from this "job" as being responsible for their safety, morals, and general upbringing and are able to just see them for their own people and how magical they truly are.

Soul Fairies, I think its brilliant.

Awhile

Us girls heading down the road to the corn field to pick some fresh corn for dinner. Yes the girls purposely got lost and then wanted found quickly. One of those perfect sunny fall weekend days. hmmmm.












Abs at La Push- a day trip to see some stormy waves. I love that we have been coming here since she was tiny, that this place will be part of her.


Little Wes looking at the water








Abs and Joe at Rialto Beach.

Starting to feel like Fall

One of my favorite sunflowers growing in the garden right now.














One of the pumpkins starting to get orange!!

Soccer has started. She has the same coach she has had for the last 3 years and she is thrilled. Another cool thing- they have numbers this year and she got my old number "7."

Little Wes standing up when he is supposed to be eating- knowing he is being a stinker and apparently loving it. Great.....

1st Day

Happy 1st day of 2nd grade!! back to 5 acre opening ceremonies complete with singing, circle dancing, introducing all the kids AND bagpipes.... sweet..sweet...sweet and one girl with this grin on her face the whole time.

As I watched her, I understood why a mother would starve herself to feed a baby; how there was always time and room for a child to curl close to her side; how she could be soft enough to serve as a pillow and strong enough to move heaven and earth.
- Jodi Picoult from the Plain Truth

Thanks Hannie for the book, i loved it. I also had a hard time putting it down. Was reading with one hand and making coffee with the other, walking around the house putting laundry away and reading. :) hehe.

The Rain

A quiet day at home today, all of us home. I got to go running for the first time in a couple months probably, it was hard. Always baffles me that i can run 13 miles and don't run for a month or so and 3 miles feels hard. ughgh, back at the start again. I came and got Wes to walk the last mile, him in the stroller. It was barely sprinkling when we started out, the air warm. On our way back it really started pouring rain. I love it when it rains hard like that, tipped my head back, smiling and stuck my tongue out to catch the water. I put the cover over his stroller so he wouldn't get soaked but he kept pushing it back. He wanted to be in the rain, too. His body was all still and at the end he just looked up at me and smiled the biggest smile, with his hair soaking wet and barefeet sticking out. Times when you see something of yourself in them so clearly, makes your chest so tight for all the love you feel.

La Push 2010

As a kid I remember these vacations with other families, tons of kids playing all day. We had our first mini- vacation like that out at La Push for 4 days. The weather was perfect, everyone in the water, wet-suits and boogie boarding, sharing meals, campfires, kids playing all day, and tons of laughing and just "being." horray!





The pictures never do this justice












Sunset under the Yates' awning.


Us girls and two of the "littles"





Joe and Wes hanging out up on the rocks. If Wes was on the sand he seemed to just make a b-line for the water. hmmmm... his papa's son? :)




Wes thought the long board was pretty cool.

The big kids the first night we got there. They couldn't stand it, eventually they all got wet even though it was basically night.

Eating dinner at the campsite. 6 adults, 9 kids and 3 motorhomes. Sooo much fun.

Whaaat we have to go home...? well as long as I can drive!

Wessy at La Push











Brrrrrr.... putting on cold- still wet, wet suits in the morning to go surfing.

Abs in her driftwood

Morning at La push

Alex, Jerry, Joe and Abs on the beach