End of Summer, Start of School

 The pictures are all out of order.  We have two birthdays at the end of the summer.  I am now a mom of a ten year old.  Ten sounds so grown up and Miri acts so grown up.  I guess I'm an adult or something.  It sometimes feels as if I'm playing house.  I don't feel like a mom of four in her thirties.  I remember as a teenager that thiry-year-olds seemed so old.  They aren't.  Well, maybe a little because fifteen-year-olds now seem so young.  They are still kids.  Don't tell them I think that.  They would be so offended.

 Ben finally agreed to play soccer this year and he takes it very seriously.  It's interesting to see your children face the same activities in such different ways.  Sam throws himself around and tries to find fun in the game.  Sometimes, that means falling down in a crazy way after every kick.  I mean, what's the fun in just kicking?  Ben is focused.  He moves and kicks very deliberately and thoughtfully.  I like watching them.

And they've all started school  Aaron and I are the only ones home.  Afternoon at my house is so quiet.  Ben, Aaron and I have lunch.  I take Ben to school and Aaron goes down for a nap.  I have a minute to myself.  Phew.

Mount Timp

At the beginning of the summer I said to Spencer, "I need a thing.  You know, something that I go do that has nothing to do with our house."  It had to be something cheap (read free) and something that I could do alone or with the family.  I decided that hiking could be my thing.  As a stay-at-home mom with a very busy husband, I don't get out much.  There has to be a real reason for it.  I couldn't just say, "I know, I'll hike more this summer.  It will be my thing." I needed an end goal.  Mount Timponogas became that end goal.  Having lived on both sides of that mountain I have always wanted to climb to the top.  Now was my chance.  I had my thing. 
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I knew it was a long hike so I planned to do a lot of hiking during the summer to get myself ready.  This was a good idea, but in reality I could only manage one to two hour hikes regularly and a few three to four hour hikes.  I probably should have planned hikes by distance rather than how long they took me.

 We started the trail at 6am.  It was beautiful and lush.  We followed a stream and eight waterfalls all the way up to the lake just below the peak. I couldn't believe the flowers.  I'm sure Spencer got sick of me going on and on about the flowers.

 We hiked for a couple of hours and came to this little beauty.  We had to make it to the top of the green part and than around the tall part in the middle.  My description here is very technical, no?

Four hours of hiking up, up, up and the top of the mountain came into view.  This is the point where I thought that maybe reaching the top wasn't my goal anymore.  Maybe all along I just wanted to climb part of the mountain.  I didn't turn around. I kept going....



....all the way to the top.  My left knee is still hurting like crazy and I have a bit of a sunburn, but I am so glad I did it.  It was a wonderful experience.  It was long and hard and I almost cried, but I made it. Yay! 
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I think my next thing should involve chocolate or something.

Where to Start

It's been a while. Here is a bit of what we've been up to this spring and summer.

 We went to California and Miriam swam with dolphins.  I'm not sure there is an activity that better suits a nine-year-old girl than swimming with dophins.  Dancing with unicorns?  Kitten shopping? 

 Easter.

 Sam and Miriam are reading a ton this summer.  As a reader, this makes me exceeedingly happy.  Seeing them read to their younger brothers, well, sometimes I break out into a happy dance.

I love my garden.  Potates, leeks, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, herbs, carrots, peas, jalepenos, tomatillos, squash in many varieties, raspberries, strawberries, oh my!  We planted a peach tree this year and I have been dreaming about my very own asparagus patch. 

 The kids are getting older and bigger and sometimes sillier.

And little Aaron.  He is so delicious I could eat him up and at the same time he is so scream-y and kick-y and contrary I could just eat him up.
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I have had a rough time since his birth, not only because having four kids is some kind of crazy, but I experienced postpartum depression this time.  I've never had it before.  I still feel a bit unsure of myself.  I hold back, afraid of my emotions.
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If you step out my front door, walk east one block and north two blocks, you will step onto a trail and up into the mountains.  It is this that has helped me the most.  I am able to take a step away from my everyday life and climb among the rocks and trees almost daily.  I wouldn't have gone out this much if it weren't for our high maintenance German Shepherd.  God brings things together in our lives in interesting ways.  Here is a house near the mountains and a puppy that needs lots of exercise so that when you are struggling and your days are dark, you will be able to find a place to draw near to God and His love when you need it the most.

Happy Halloween

I know it's a bit past Halloween, but I love seeing the kids in costumes. We finally had a scary costume this year and Miriam looks particularly scary here.

The Most Wondeful Time of the Year

I love this time of year. The food, the smells, the weather, my birthday. I mean, really it's the best time of year. It helps that I'm coming to the end of my nursing self phase. I'm ready to be me again. That sounds horrible, but I really feel like a different version of myself when I'm pregnant and nursing.

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We went a little mad and bought a puppy last month. She's a wonderful Germand Shepherd. We adore her. The peeing on the carpet has been minimal and we get out walking and hiking more.

Miriam chopped her hair. This is actually a month's growth. The hair lady was pretty nervous when Miriam requested such a short cut, but after I assured her that Miriam is confident in her choices she cut away.

Doesn't this picture make you want to eat a tomato like you eat an apple? Delish. Aaron was delighted when I picked this tomato and handed it right over. Little baby giggles over a tomato. I'll have to remind him of this when he's four and refusing tomatoes.

And picking pumpkin, the classic fall outing. We found this rockin' place that sells giant pumpkins for only $3.

First Day

I can't help but post the first day of school. It's such an exciting and scary time of the year for both the kids and me. We've decided that it's time for the kids to get themselves to and from school. It is only six blocks away and they don't have to cross any busy streets. It's just time. I took them on the first day and I know I'm a responsible adult and all now, but I still feel like such a dork in a helmet. Yeah, yeah, they're safe, good example to the kids, just do it anyway and quit your whining, right.

The sun came out just before the school bell rang. It was lovely.

Miriam really wanted a Justin Bieber backpack but I just couldn't do it. We compromised with some Bieber pins to put on her backpack. I'm so glad she didn't like the "Bieber Fever" pins. She said, "I don't really have Bieber Feber." She might, but I'm glad she doesn't think of herself has having it.Sam was a bit nervous for his first day of first grade. He wanted me by his side for the entire process. The teacher gave me a look as I walked him to his desk. Yes, I know he is not in Kindergarten. We just wanted one last goodbye.

Four

I have a sweet, smile-y picture of my four kids, but I like this one better. I can't believe I have four. We laugh, holler, cry, play, and try to do our best. I love having them all home for the summer even though our laundry is rebelling and the kitchen refuses to stay clean. Come on over for raspberries and some homemade ice cream (if you don't mind a lot of noise and a little mess).

Kids at a Wedding

My brother John was married on Saturday. It was great to be a part of the celebrations. Unfortunately for me, I missed most of the ceremony because, well......

Three-year-olds aren't particularly interested in people getting married. Moving chairs and fighting over who gets to sit on mommy's lap are much more engaging than listening to some guy talk about love and happily ever after.

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There were flower girls,

a flower thief,

and sleepy family members.

You know, a typical family wedding.

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet

Sam is six. He is happy and wiggly and loud. When we say "no" he thinks we mean "maybe" or sometimes even "yes". He really likes to laugh and so he can't help but be silly. Sam really thinks about things and somehow has great focus amidst he foot stomping, summersaulting ways. Whenever we plan family outings or activities we always have to consider the "Sam Factor." If there is water on the outing, how likely is it that Sam will fall in? Are there breakables or is quietness important? Watch out world, my Sam will soon be grown and ready to take on anything. I love my little Sam, who isn't really very little anymore.

Welcome, Welcome

I am so happy to have another son. I can't stop kissing him. I forgot that newborns smell so delicious.

I have the "welcome Christmas" line from a song in The Grinch stuck in my head, except I sing it "welcome Aaron."

And I cannot even begin to express the utter relief it is to not be pregnant. (sigh)

Almost Done

Just thought I'd post a picture of my giant bellly. I'm sitting at a four right now. How is it possible to be a four and not be in labor? I am not amused. Hey, maybe I'll have him today.

Here are a couple more....

All right Jessie, I found some more halloween pictures. I'm just a little slow. It's the downloading of pictures that gets me.

I turned an old bridesmaid dress into a Rapunzel costume for Miriam. It's fun to make fancy girly things for her every halloween.

Argh

The giant-ly pregnant me didn't get many halloween photos. I stole this from my brother. Ben as a "mean pirate."

Eight is Great!

Thanks to my brother Spencer for taking lovely pictures of our lovely eight year old. Her baptism day was just right. There was such peace in our home.

It has been wonderful to watch Miriam grow. I have noticed her mature in so many ways this last year. Baptism at eight makes much more sense to me. Seven really is too young and at eight she is ready for the power that her confirmation has given her. Remarkable. The joy of being a part of a child's life is beyond words.

Been a While

I don't have much to say, but here are some pictures and maybe that will help. I love, love, love my garden. These are my peas, just flowering. Lately, we've been out every day picking ridiculous amounts of raspberries.

We have been enjoying this not-so-hot summer with trips to the resevoir and Lagoon. (I forgot my camera for the Lagoon trip. I'm pregnant, did I say that? I forget a lot of things, like egg yolks in lemon pie. Dangit!)

The kids just keep growing. I don't know what to do about that. Sam is five, Ben turns three this month and Miriam will be eight next month. My new baby will come in December. It's a shame that my rear gets so large when I'm pregnant. I just try not to pay attention.

Don't Forget Your Shoes

This month has felt like a week. We have begun work on our new house. We spend the weekends knocking out walls, taking out cabinets, throwing away pink toilets and sinks, pulling up carpet and layers of very glued down laminates, and tearing out wood panelling. What's worse than wood panelling? Cheap, cardboard-like panelling.

This could be horrible, but I find myself singing as I work. We have a house. We're creating a home for our children. I get to pick the moulding, the colors, the floors, the cabinets, the toilets........ home, home, home.




And then, let's not forget that Christmas is in five days. This means that when the molasses candy for the neighbors doesn't work out the first time around, the neighbors get a warm smile for Christmas from the Edwards family this year.



Bundle up. It's cold out there.

Yahoo!

We gots us a house! Let the work begin!