A Greta Morning

Greta, I write this blog for you and your little bro. One day when you guys are bored at work you can read about "the old days" to get through that 3 o'clock slump. Miss Greta you are a busy bee and I watched today to see how your morning went. At least what I remembered between 8-11:30 a.m.:

Three puzzles, breakfast, half hour of Curious George, Reading, Fancy Tea Party, building a block robot, playing princess, coloring books and story telling, hammock swinging, t-ball (while pretending to be Ichiro. "mommy, there is no talking in Mariners baseball, I am Ichiro"), playing catch, hill rolling, grasshopper jumps, pulling grass from Fieldy's mouth, singing, being T-rex, eating lunch #1(lunch #2 comes around 1:30), phone # practice, another puzzle, checking for ripe tomatoes, tormenting Fieldin.

Low Budget Fun

Weekend

A bit stormy, Farmers Market, lots of coffee, craft store, cutting roses, picking tomatoes, lots of dishes, lots of laundry, trips to the grocery store, a very slow computer, splashing in the pool, running through the sprinkler, practicing casting in the street, s'mores, watching the sunset instead of the video, slow cooked ribs, eating with friends, Jeffs' nummy BBQ sauce, Fieldin eating his weight in watermelon and corn, Greta eating popsicles, naps and baking. The weekend went by too fast again. Why does it do that?

Imagination

We've been a bit busy. Greta's been busy with friends and very excited about a new school year starting. I have been busy chasing the baby and wondering where the summer went....really, where did it go?. I did find something to write about today. I have a favorite quote:

"Imagination is more important than knowledge"

-Albert Einstein

So true isn't it, us adults need to remind ourselves of this. Miss Greta has been all about creative play these last couple years. She comes up with amazing stories which she acts out. She loves drama, stories, performing. This I am starting to think is her true god given talent. It has been interesting watching it blossom. She becomes her characters and then after a while she will say "I am not a cake decorator now, I am Greta again". "Nice to have you back" I say. At her age, my love was art. I would spend hours laying on the floor drawing, only stopping to eat or watch Jeopardy. I was in my own made up world when I drew. Miss Greta enjoys drawing and coloring but mostly because when she is done, she cuts out her artwork and makes it come alive with a story. Her little drawn figures dance around the table. I love watching it.

As for the babe, Gretas' whimsy has rubbed off a little. I found him alone in the playroom this morning wearing bunny ears and pointing a play wand at a toy boat. This was much different than his usual pirate attire. He seems to have an emerging love for music. He dances all day to any beat he can find, music, clanking blocks or the engine of the garbage truck. He is always listening. Then he dances to the beat. He smiles when he hears a new sound. He has an ear for it. I can't wait to see if this love of music continues.

So now I sit back, give them the tools they need, clap for their performances and envy their magical imaginations. When my imagination makes a visit I will do my best to share it with them. Sadly, it isn't as frequent as it used to be....

The Weekend

What I am remembering about this weekend...

• Jeff bringing us the bass he caught home for dinner. It amazes me how such tiny fish can smell up a home so quickly when fried.


• The smell of harvest, enjoying harvest with Greta and the awesome sunsets each night.


• Enjoying a 16 oz double shot mocha with Laurie RIGHT before the Tase T Lentil 5k. I know, I know, not proper hydration...whatever...


• Watching the baby follow Greta everywhere! Poor girl had a "my little brother is a pain" breakdown. After a good chat, she was back in love with her lil' pudger today saying" hey, scooter follow me" & "lil' brother let's play". He'd look at me like "did I hear that right?" then squeal and high tail it behind her before she changed her mind.


• Watching the kids break in the new bathroom floor with a splash flood.

And finally getting done with some home projects. This week Greta has open house at preschool before the new school year resumes the following week. Time to start waving good- bye to summer. Greta worked on Fall art projects today, she has already bid farewell.

In All The Chaos

(His morning routine. Crawling to his toys and looking for the dried peas he squirreled away the day before)
I've been slacking on this poor ol' blog. It doesn't need fed, wiped, chased after or need disgusting floor crumbs pulled out of its mouth, so occasionally I forget about it.

Life has been busy chasing after the babe and watching how he changes leaps and bounds daily. The house is in a bit of chaos with the playroom and our bedroom being moved and a new bathroom floor being put in today. At this point, I am lucky to find underwear and my toothbrush each morning.

Luckily for me, I can escape the mess instead of dealing with it since it is Lentil Festival weekend. Looking forward to the 5K walk/run with Laurie in the morning and all the other lentil fun in town.

Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy these last few weeks of summer!

On the Move - A week ago

A Quick Trip

We've been gone for awhile for a quick trip over to Puget Sound. Jeff had some work to do so I took the kids out for adventure. We spent some time at parks and the zoo.
They both love cities and are the happiest in front of the window, watching buses, taxis, trains and seagulls.

I took them on a looong walk to give them a few art lessons and introduce them to the art of blown glass like this...

The little guy got to go to his first Mariners game(which he LOVED!) and the kids got some nice treats from our friends there...As you can tell Fieldin was enjoying himself.

And me and my girl on one last art walk before we headed out of town and to a quick stop at Grandpa & Grandmas.

The kids are happy to be home with their toys. The little guy is crawling and VERY fast. He has been mobile for awhile but now he can get into trouble even faster. Greta is calling him "scooter" and enjoys playing chase with him especially now that he can keep up with her pace. He pulled himself up to standing on a neighbors step Saturday. His balance is improving every day. Walking is not far away.....

Daydreaming

When I was young,

I would lay in the grass,

on the shady side of the house,

daydreaming.

I never imagined I would be one day joined

by two.

Making pirate ships, bunnies and shapes out of clouds.

Home Is Where You Drop Your Hat

Sunflower & Bee
Originally uploaded by inthewheatfields

I am going to talk a little about our home today because I've been thinking about it alot lately. I have become something that I thought I would never be...a homebody. I am sure our home is more in shock of this than I am. I've never really LIVED in our house much. Sure I hammer lots of holes in the walls, paint it pretty colors and make a mess of it but I never have really gotten to know the house very well. In all honesty we haven't spent lots of time in it over the years. We travelled, ran errands and played outdoors. When we were inside we were busy making memories and not paying much attention to it. Lately I have been getting acquainted with the house. I've learned where to jump over creaks in the floor, as to not wake the baby. To appreciate the amazing sunsets, the breezes and the way the light hits the walls in late afternoon. I feel sad that it took me so long to appreciate it. It isn't too big or too small. It is quiet and low maintenance. Really, it is just right. I am not sure if the house is used to us living in it so much, but I am sure it will get used to the knicks,dents and overwhelming noise. I am sure the house will grow to love us as we have grown to love it...well maybe.

While I Read Harry Potter......

So I needed to read a book today. I miss holding a book sometimes. There isn't much time for it these days. So as I relax on the sofa reading Harry Potter I take a moment to look around and see...The baby who is making noises like a pirate. "arrghh" he says. Should I be concerned that he speaks "pirate" before he can say "bye,bye" I am sure I should be. While watching the baby giving me his two toother grin while wielding a pirate sword of fine guilded foam, my eyes wander to Jeff. He is laying on the floor like a wounded soldier, hoping to find some extra energy. He only moves when the baby starts to eat pieces of the weekend paper. Then he finds inside himself lightening fast speed before resuming his fetal like position on the floor. "He really needs coffee" I think. Greta...where's Greta? I find her at the table doing a puzzle, while telling a story of pixies in pixie hollow. Something about fairy wings and every fairy doing what they are supposed to...sounds like a good place. Then I stop and think...which is more entertaining really? my family or Potter......hmmmm.

What I Learned From Roller Derby- Lesson 1

1. It is not easy to make yourself fall over and over again, even for a klutz like me.
2. A mouth guard can save you from a concussion.
3. I will be going through a lot of duct tape because I'm pretty rough on my skates.
4. Roller skating, fake falling and roller drills make me very sore. I haven't hurt this bad since I ran x-country in high school and that's saying alot.
5. My body is getting older....
6. There are people more competitive than I am.
7. Roller Derby is as cool as I thought it would be.
8. Keri is a great friend for cheering me on and not laughing hysterically at me. I am sure it was hard to hold it in. :)

I'll keep you all posted on my roller derby experience. Right now, I am going to take some ibuprofen, lay in the fetal position and HOPE I can get out of bed tomorrow morning.......

Who Knew?

I was thinking yesterday about my life. Not intense contemplation, just thinking about how my life has come about these last ten years.

WHO KNEW I would say things like " I don't know, the last time I saw that book you had it in your pants."
WHO KNEW I would live in a small town and know the difference between wheat and hay fields.
WHO KNEW I would be lucky enough to marry a man that thinks watching his children grow is way more important than more money and a fancy title.
WHO KNEW I would have two children. They make it impossible for me not to believe in miracles.
WHO KNEW I would be living in our first home 7 1/2 years later in the same town, when our original plan was "maybe a few years..". I admit it, it's grown on me.
WHO KNEW I would become a good cook.
WHO KNEW I would start drinking coffee when I never drank soda for 10 years.
WHO KNEW I would find enough patience to grow a green thumb.
WHO KNEW that I would find weekends at home as fun as traveling around the country.
WHO KNEW I would meet so many interesting people along my journey.
WHO KNEW I would start a blog and share my thoughts for the world to see.
who knew?