She Is Our Sunshine

Pumpkin Picking 2010

We headed out to a different farm this year to get some pumpkins. Goodness knows I can't just pick a few up at the store. So, we headed east of the city out where Mount Hood and Mount Adams (shown behind Campers) can be seen in all their glory:

Suz was bound and determined, BOUND AND DETERMINED I TELL YOU, to pick out and carry her own pumpkin for as long as she could. You may not have picked up on this yet, but she is Independent With A Capital I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T.

And then there's the Zig, who took six times as long to pick out his pumpkin, because as Pa duly noted, "He had to find just the right one to love." Yes. That's our Zig.

And here are the three pumpkins with their proud new owners:

And that's the exciting pumpkin picking tale I have to tell.

Campers Turns Nine

My baby boy is now nine. Which is odd, because in the nine years he's aged, I've gotten older by just two. Huh! Mom Math!

He wanted his personal logo on his birthday cake this year. Why does he have a logo? Well, because his daddy is a graphic designer and therefore, Campers knows how to design graphics. He created the logo himself and uses it on his notes and artwork. Pa's boy.

I, on the other hand, have massive arm-bending skills that cannot be surpassed. Try that, Campers!

But guess who's excited to turn nine?

And guess who was hogging the ice cream while said nine-year-old was hogging the attention?

Happy ninth birthday, Campers!

Simple Woman: October 10, 2010

For today... October 10, 2010 

Outside my window... is a lawn full of green grass again. The grass stays green and full from September - June but (unless it's watered) goes brown in the summer. ("Summer.") 

I am thinking... about the eight pieces of bacon Pa had for one meal this weekend. It was his (belated) birthday breakfast and his request was for a "pot of bacon" at the end of the rainbow. I live to serve, and to sing "Happy Coronary Day to you..."

I am thankful for... a few smart friends who convinced me to overlap as much of my kids' schoolwork as possible. I was attempting to teach the boys two separate eras of history, and it was driving me to the loony bin. So now--we're all doing American History (and science, and writing, and and and) together and I feel a little less manic. Always a plus.

From the learning rooms... I'm having the boys learn to hand-draw the world map. I know! Exciting!

From the kitchen... Comes a big batch of lemon blueberry muffins that we ate in one day. "We" being, "I had four."

I am wearing... my fat jeans (see: "muffins") and the same fleece I've been wearing daily for the past two years. Campers has informed me that he doesn't recognize me if I'm not dressed in burgundy fleece. It's the little things.

I am creating... a ten-year plan that includes working in the library at the local community college. I'm thinking that might be the best way to help my kids afford a higher education. And no doubt they'll go right along with my plan. As you do, you know.

I am going... to finish season three of The West Wing this week. Oh that show! Is so great! I love, love, love the characters, and the writing, and how it teaches me about government in a relatively painless way. TV shows, for the win!

I am reading... a book called The Core. It's good, solid information for how to give kids a classical education.

I am hoping... to get a Plan Written Down On Paper for how to handle my other blog (Stretch Mark Mama). I've had several people tell me I need to get that gig back up again. I do. I really do.

I am hearing... the sound of all three kids playing Pass the Pigs. Love that silly game.

Around the house... is a brand-new crock pot that will likely last about 2.3 months. I've got some issues with the quality of the previous four crock pots I've owned. Issues!

One of my favorite things... is our library's online site where I can put books on hold from the comfort of my badonkadonk sitting in a chair at home. Seriously! Long live the internet!

My plans for the week... include prepping for my baby's ninth birthday next week. The Campers will be nine. years. old. *shaking head*

Here is picture I am sharing... of the kids on a recent field trip where they had just hiked to the top of a butte. They had chosen to sit beside each other, which just warmed my Mama Bear heart.

Midwest Tour 2010: County Fair

The kids got to take in the county fair while we were "back home," which was a real treat seeing as all three of them are reaaaaaaaally into All Things Cute And Fluffy.

Like Archie the Cat, for instance:

And bunnies:

And ponies, after Little Miss Suz got over her fear of the beasts:

And thanks to Grandma, the kids even got to ride a couple of rides, which is a lot more fun than simply looking at them, which is all they get to do when Ma and Pa Cheapskate are in charge of the fun ("fun"):

The other nice thing about going to the county fair is that we got to see Everyone We've Ever Known, all the while smelling a mixture of pig poo and funnel cakes. Win with a side of win!

Midwest Tour 2010: Old School

While I was visiting my folks in Ohio, I took the kids to see my old grade school. It doesn't happen to be a school anymore, mind you, seeing as eighteen gazillion years have gone by since I was a kid. Fortunately, it still has most of the same (though now rusty, and likely unsafe, which is a code word for "fun") playground equipment that was around way back when.

Late this summer, Campers learned how to make his way across the monkey bars, and he got to show me his new skill at My Old Playground Where I Learned The Same Exact Thing. Bliss!

And here's the Zig swinging on my swingset, probably wondering if he'd go so high he'd fling himself around the top bar:

The kids liked the tornado slide, I mean, WHO WOULDN'T, but I let Little Miss Spazzy Pants climb the Rather Unsafe Ladder just once. Once. My blood pressure couldn't take any more than that.

While we were out at the "school," my Dad took the kids on a tour of the fire station, which used to be the bus barn, for those looking for a little regional history. I realize that might be none of you, but still. Did I mention my school is no longer a school and that I am old with a side of old? Why yes, I believe I did. Anyhoo, Zig tried on Grandpa's fire helmet while we were taking a tour the "school." Good times.

Midwest Tour 2010: Cousins

I'm working on a real update about our trip to the Midwest, but for now a couple of pictures will have to do.

The kids got to see their (only) cousins on my side of the family:

And a good handful of their cousins on Pa's side of the family:

Good kids; good times.

Simple Woman: September 5, 2010

For today... September 5, 2010 

Outside my window... is a pumpkin plant that came up voluntarily in part of our yard. It's taking over many square feet and *kinda sorta maybe* looks like it *might hopefully* have a pumpkin growing on it. Which would be a first for our black thumb kind of luck. The kids have no idea that pumpkins don't grow in grocery store bins.

I am thinking... about how this was possibly the coldest summer I've ever experienced. 60-some degrees most days. Roughly seven total days that went above 90. I don't generally like the heat, but still. 70s would have been nice, Mother Nature.

I am thankful for... Ziggy's baseball camp he went to last week. It met Monday through Friday, for three hours each day. Because it was the last week of summer break around here, the class size was super small, so Ziggy got a lot of one-on-one help from some really great guys. And he had so, so much fun.

From the learning rooms... we have finished four weeks of school. We are now in the middle of a four-week break while I recover from the miscarriage and pack for my trip to the Midwest.

From the kitchen... I've got plans to make cinnamon rolls. Comfort food. 

I am wearing... jeans being hooked together at the waist by a rubber band, or what I like to call "redneck maternity clothes." I'm really looking forward to my belly shrinking back down to the good ol' muffin top.

I am creating... a dent in the couch from all the "resting." Which you can imagine is right up my alley.

I am going... to spend the week watching Berkeley Square. BBC TV helps the medicine go down.

I am reading... about how it's very common to gain weight after having a D&C. Apparently, that's due to a mixture of hormones, hormones, and depressing hormones. I mean, I don't mind looking pregnant if I'm really pregnant, but I have a feeling I'm going to have a few uncomfortable conversations in the future. Right on.

I am hoping... to get a couple school-year field trips planned out this week. We have a great group of families we do field trips with each year, and each mom takes a turn heading up one or two trips. It works out well.

I am hearing... the sound of my three kids growing. Seriously. What was in that cold, summer air? Miracle Gro?

Around the house... is a well-used game of UNO. Definitely one of our favorite games right now. Even if it does send Pa and I to the brink of insanity while waiting for the boys to stop giggling and horsing around when they should be laying down a card. The thought! They're having fun!

One of my favorite things... is our local community center and all their reasonably-priced, kid-friendly classes. It's been a great summer of getting to know other kids and letting the boys be under the tutelage of other adults. And they both did well, which was really encouraging to me. Sometimes I wonder.

My plans for the week... include packing and prepping for a twelve-day trip to Indiana and Ohio. I leave this Friday with all three kids to visit family and friends back 'home.' Looking forward to it.

Here is picture I am sharing... of the kids have a picnic in their "spaceships" out in the backyard. I believe that was Campers' idea. As usual.

In Which Labor Day Weekend Takes On A Whole New Meaning

So the quick story is: I was pregnant. And now I am not.

-------------------------

I know!

And now for the long version. For the three of you still reading.

Yes. Imagine our surprise. A fourth child. That would come forth from the womb. 

We had always wanted a fourth child, and for those who've followed our story, have spent the last three years attempting to adopt from Taiwan. And then from Oregon. And then after much work and expense, we decided to shut all that down and shout from the rooftops that we were DONE DONE DONE and henceforth gave away nearly every single last baby item that we could.

Rookie mistake.

So. Once Pa and I got past the shock (and the shock, it was palpable), we finally moved on to acceptance--and dare I say it--excitement. Well, as excited as we get. You know. "Excited."

And because my body knows only one way to do pregnancy--the hibernation way--I outgrew my fat regular clothes at four weeks. FOUR WEEKS. When the child was the size of a pea. A PEA! 

We had held off telling the kids, well, most people really, until my nine-week appointment when I'd go to hear the heartbeat. Which at this point you've likely guessed--there was none. Wasn't really anything there to have a heartbeat, actually. 

My midwife, who was spectacular (I might add), sent me off for this ultrasound and that ultrasound and this test and that test and all points led to the same conclusion: no child. My body just hadn't got the message yet and was still acting (and looking, my word) pregnant. 

Knowing that we were heading into a holiday weekend, and that I'd be getting on a plane in a week to travel 'home' for a while--I knew my only option was to schedule a D&C. So that's how it went. This past Friday I had the surgery and have spent the rest of the weekend "laboring" to get my body de-pregnant. Which I am told will take two weeks. So you know, good times.

The happy news is that I got to entertain the nurses, anesthesiologists, doctors, and surgeons all along the way. If there's one thing I do well under stress, it's make people laugh. So that was oddly rewarding. And the other happy news is that I had friends who took good care of my kids at the last minute, day after day, while I buzzed in and out of my appointments. 

For those concerned about our loss, I can assure you that this miscarriage was far less devastating than the first. It was still a loss, and one that will take a while to process, but we are doing well. And feeling particularly grateful for our health and the three kids we already have, who, I might mention, were superstars in taking care of me and have been helpful and kind through the whole roller coaster ride this has been.

(I decided to close comments on this post but if you want to e-mail me, you can.)

And that is all the news that is fit to print, this here Labor Day Weekend 2010.

Fish Tale

At the end of the school year, the kids and their homeschool friends (and families) went fishing at a stocked trout farm. Now, I don't know about you, but my memories of fishing include eight hours of searching for worms followed by eight hours of sitting in the hot sun. Where, I should mention, I was holding a heavy pole that I baited myself and was likely being eaten alive by mosquitoes.

But kids these days. Got it so easy.

We showed up at the farm where there were poles, buckets, and containers of worms ready and waiting to be used. And the pond was a virtual breeding ground of trouty goodness, which means every kid made a catch or two and therefore got to fish sans meltdown and tears.

What's the fun in that?

(Oh. I kid.)

Joking aside, it was a fun trip and a great way for the kids to fish without a bunch of hassle or expense. And we topped it all off with a group cookout on the grounds, where most families grilled their fresh fish, and we grilled a package of hot dogs. As Pa likes to say, "I like a little distance between me and my food." Me too, me too. 

(We ended up eating our three small fish at home the next day. Cooked them in the oven. As God intended.)