Jack with time on his hands ...

What will an eight year old boy do while on break from school do with his time ...

***I especially loved the fact that he got out his spy glasses with the lights to put them on under his pillow-head. His creativity is continuing to come out in little bits that are usually very surprising to me and make me smile yet again at him! Here is to creativity and a two week and two day break from the normal school routine.***

Gingerbread houses round #2 ...

After making his second gingerbread house of the season, Jack told me that he REALLY REALLY likes making these houses!

Molly is fun to watch as she concentrates so very hard at making her houses. Her house ended up with a "sidewalk" of icing adorned with red hots that is so very creative and what I thought was the best part of her house.

The final houses "lined" up on Parker Lane. Oh I just remembered something ... these are gingerbread CHURCHES! The friend that made them for us and hosted the party made churches and not houses. The kids thought it was so very cool!

Random car pictures ...

These are our pictures on our way to get the Christmas tree this year. I decided that a couple of pictures snapped while driving there would be fun. Enjoy!

The wreath I made ...

A friend of mine bought a wreath maker this year, so I went to her house and made our door wreath this year. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! and free. I can't wait to do it again next year. (Don't you love the blue berries that I used in there for some fun unexpected color!)

Christmas pictures ...

This year I decided not to torture the family by trying to get a family picture by the tree to use as our Christmas card ... last year was way too much for me! Besides, Kyle has been out of town for almost a week so our chances of capturing one have been a bit limited. I did, however, capture a quick picture of Molly a couple of weeks ago right after church. I had the camera there because a friend's son was being baptized and she wanted me to take pictures. Molly, usually, does not mind posing for pictures right now! I got a couple of really good ones.

So long story to say ... isn't she adorable! and so grown up!

Gingerbread houses ...

Jack's gingerbread house ...

Molly's gingerbread house ...

Yesterday was Jack's class holiday party at school. Instead of the usual stations, one of his teacher's daughter, who is an architect student, came in and gave a little "lesson" about making models, drawing building, perspective, etc. Then the kids got to do a little drawing of a house with a christmas tree, then they got the surprise that they got to make their own gingerbread house. They loved it and were really into it all. It was great! Molly got to tag along with me and make her own. Jack's house did fall apart on the way home, but he did not care - it was a little faulty in its construction to begin with! Molly's is very well built and a little more organized. I smile and laugh a little inside to see the differences between the kids in this "project" - don't you!

Best birthday present ever ...

Jack received an erector set for his birthday this year, and to my surprise on my birthday above is what he built all on his own. He started it and Molly got in on the action. I thought it was brilliant and could not pass up taking a picture of it - of course!

What creative kids they are!!

Molly turns 6 years old ...

some classic faces of Molly in her new Grammy-made hat

she is amazing and challenging all at once that when i look at her, i can only smile and be amazed at God's goodness to Kyle and i

Jack turns 8 years old ...

some classic Jack faces, and a reluctance to have his picture taken

i can't believe my baby boy is eight years old - i love him so

Adele ...

If you have talked with me lately about music, you would know that I am a HUGE fan of Adele - especially her 21 album. I like to listen to it ALL the time. I like to listen to it LOUD. I like to listen to it as I RUN on the treadmill with my air drums going! I like to listen to it in the car. I downloaded the album and burned a CD for my personal use, so I like to listen to it in the house while I clean, knit, and whatever else. I even like to dance around the house as I listen to it doing all those "chores."

Why do I divulge all this information to you all ... well, I heard somewhere recently that Adele is one of those singers that people love because you can sing along with her and she makes you think that you are as good as she is singing.

She transports you into thinking that you are famous singer! I can really sing!

What does this say about me ... what does this say about my secret desire to be able to sing ... what does this say about me as a closet dancer .... well, come to my house and experience Adele with me and my inner songtress!

Runaway pumpkin run ...

So yesterday, I ran a half marathon with some friends up in Lebanon, Oregon. It was a perfect fall misty Oregon morning. You were supposed to "dress" up for the race, of course real serious runners would not bother with such trivial things! We did wear tutus and that is how far we went. It was Davina's idea, but she was not able to run due to a really bad sinus infection. So ... we wore them in honor of her! I ran my fastest yet ... 1:37. I was third in my age group - and even got a glass for such an accomplishment. I was 36th overall. I felt pretty good. I was not anticipating doing as well because I had not trained as hard or as long compared to my Seattle race back in June. I guess I really do have a competitive spirit - Coach Morrill would be so surprised and proud of me!

Hope you had a great Saturday!

Molly, first lost tooth ...

Today was the day that Molly has longed for for quite some time ... she lost her first tooth!! I pulled it out after a couple of days of it being really loose. It came out with a little yank. She is so very excited to put it under her pillow and receive the much anticipated $1 in the morning. I am so very excited because she lost a tooth. I am not just waiting for the "big" tooth to come in and promptly fill up what little space is there to once again confirm to Kyle and I that she is going to need some major dental work in the future - there is no room for "big" teeth in her mouth. Oh well ...

Just a fun picture of Molly ...

Such a serious face!

Molly, the kindergartener (2nd year) ...

Molly's first day of school was eventful. She was so full of hope and excitement as we took pictures, drove to school, dropped Jack at his classroom, but then .... fear overtook her. I did not really notice. She was shy going into the classroom and saying hello to Mrs. Kasey, but I thought nothing of it. We looked for her cubby and then sat at a table for some puzzle work. It was time for class to start and me to leave, and that is when it happened .... tears, tears, tears, and MORE tears! I ended up staying an extra 45 minutes and then quietly left after they had lined up to go out to the playground for the rules. When I returned for pickup, she was fine with smiles on her face as if she had been there for a whole year and it was old hat! Oh, the drama that we can have with this wee little one!!

Football season has begun ...

Saturday brought us the beginning of yet another football season, as I am sure most of you already know. The kids were more than ready for it. We hosted folks to watch the Ducks lose to the Tigers, but the kids took it in stride. Jack watched most of the game, while Molly entertained herself and others outside blowing bubbles (as seen below!). At least the Rams won, right?!

Molly, the bubble machine ....

Blackberry Strawberry Blueberry pie ...

Before ...

After ...

The inside ...

This new recipe is wonderful. It was a bit more runny than I wanted or expected but that could probably be attributed to me putting too many cups of fruit and not increasing the tapioca in it. Oh well, here is to making another one and enjoying it once again!

Jack is in second grade ...

Jack had a great first day of second grade! He liked his teacher and took to heart our encouragement to make new students to heart by spending the day with James (a new student from Coos Bay). There are times that your child can make you proud, and today was such a day. Here is looking forward to a good year at a new school with two teachers and LOTS of new friends. He has also started flag football. Two thoughts ... much more intricate than soccer (there are actually plays and positions to learn!), and he is over the moon that his dad is helping to coach and will be there at every practice and game!

Backpacking ...

I have not yet shared my thoughts and photos of my backpacking trip this summer in Colorado. This is what I am going to share with you right now, and you will have to come back for more at a later date ...

Just found ...

The only thing missing ... Kyle!

I look at this picture, and these are my thoughts ....

1. people think Molly looks like the spiting image of me, but all I see is Kyle in this picture

2. people think Jack looks just like Kyle, but all I see is me in this picture

3. i guess it really is in the eye of the beholder!

4. i love to look at pictures like these and think about the personalities that one can not get a sense of from the picture. however since I live with these two kids, I can look at this picture and it makes me smile that much more because I have the cherished privilege of knowing their voices, their moods, their joys, their tears, the way they love each other, the way they are growing up, the things they love, the food they hate to eat! so while I LOVE to take pictures to capture a moment, I think that it is the living that I love more. the picture just gives us a way to a memory and make one smile all the more.

(by the way, this picture was taken on mother's day after church by kyle!)

Today...

I am carless, so what is a girl to do .... spend time in the kitchen.

There is the smell of a blackberry, blueberry, strawberry pie baking in the oven - a new recipe, of course! (pictures to follow!)

There is the smell of a flank steak in yummy spices marinating and waiting to be grilled on a beautiful summer evening!

There is the smell of blackberries boiling on the stove for a first try at canning blackberry jam!

There is the wonderful sounds of two kids happily playing together all over the house on a much needed day at the house.

Want to come over tonight? You are welcome to come...

Last year's school work...

So today I finally got around to cleaning out the craft area, and I found some of the kids' school work from last year. I guess it is appropriate that I post their work from last year since we are starting a new year a week from today!

Molly wrote this at the end of the year ... "My favorite part in kindergarten is being special person." Molly learned to write phonetically last year, which is a treat to read how they think words are written. Nice handwriting ... don't you think!

This time Molly wrote ... "I went to Dickey Joe's over the weekend and got a hamburger and a cone dipped in a bowl."

Molly wrote ... "On the weekend I got a slushie."

My kids have never really LOVED to color or draw, so imagine my surprise when Jack brought home his art spiral and I laid my eyes on his drawings. Enjoy ...

"Cat in the Hat"

"A gopher and a tennis ball"

"A pigeon"

All of Jack's drawings were based off of books that they had read together in class. They are in reverse order of when they were drawn. I have hope that he might come to LOVE to draw in the years ahead and that his talent is just going to be harbored deep inside of him until he comes across that amazing art teacher that awakens it inside of him and he thinks of himself as an artist! One can dream, can't they!!