This moment- A watchfull eye

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. -Amanda Soule



Yes I can can

It only took 2 days, 40 pounds of apples, 3 batches of applesauce, 1 newbie canner, 1 expert, and 1 very helpful and hungry little man (and a fussy little lady) to make 18 pints of applesauce and 7 quarts of sliced apples.
The little man mastered the apple pealing/ slicing/ coring contraption.

He really liked watching the apple peel come off in long curly strings and how the apple looked like a slinky when it was cut. But I think that he liked eating the apples the best.

Listening for the jar lids to go pop was almost magical.
I had a great time canning. Now that I have done it once I know that I can do it again and I will.
We have already discussed how we will do things a little different next year.

Chomper

Yesterday it happened.

The little lady got her first tooth.

And she is very proud of it.

Butting heads

I love how creative you are. I dont think that your wheels in your little head ever stop moving. When you start imagining you can do and be anything.

I love it when you tell a story and your face lights up. Like today when you were telling me all about the slugs. Its amazing to watch your personality come out.

I am sorry that you get frustrated with me and I do with you. Hopefully soon we will find a way that our two personalities can mesh a little better.
I love you my little man and thank you for being you.

Day number five

Today marks the fifth day that the little lady has worn panties.
Some days she has had no accidents and others were filled full of many accidents and me about ready to give up and just put a diaper back on her.

But I have not given up.

Isn't she so cute in her little panties?
I have had a very hard time finding her some that fit her little bum. The 2T ones fall off but they work, the 18 month training pants fit but they are hard to find and bloomers fit her great but they are not really panties.

Maybe one day I will find some time that I can sit down and make her some that fit her perfectly and until then I am just going to love on these two amazing kids.

Head in the clouds

That is how I felt today (well... really this whole week).  I dont know if it has to do with the weather change, the alignment of the planets (like my sister keeps saying), or if it is just my lack of sleep these days. Whatever it is I hope I find my way out of it soon. I have things to do.
Fall is in full swing here in the Pacific Northwest. I have lost count of the rainy days already. The rain is good (thats what I have to keep telling myself). The rain is helping our pumpkins grow. The hubby and little man are really excited about our home grown pumpkins. The hubby even picked up some massive pumpkin seeds at the fair. The seeds say that they grow 500 pound pumpkins. So we will see if we can grow massive pumpkins next year. This year we will just have to settle for our normal sized pumpkins.

Here is a picture from the fair. The little man does not look very happy, maybe he was trying to look tough with all his tattoos. See the massive pumpkin over his left shoulder. That's what our magic seeds are going produce.

Speaking of the fair, we had a great time. We went with some good friend of ours an the kids had a blast exploring, riding rides and just being kids. Next year the little lady will be able to explore the fair also. She spent most of her fair experience in arms. When ever we took a break I would try and find a patch of grass that she could explore.

We took a trip to Costco tonight and the little lady had her first cart ride. She made it about half way through the store before she found her way back into my arms. She was so cute sitting there next to her brother.

Hopefully the clouds will be lifted tomorrow because I got apples to pick and apple sauce to make.

Happy Saturday

Exploring

Just a short stroll away from our camp site was a river that we decided to go exploring in.

At this spots the water was nice and calm. There was a wonderful large beach and bank to play on and we had the whole area to ourselves.

The littles were able to explore.
The little man had fun playing in a large hole that he called the 'baseball field'.

He also explored the water looking for fish and whatever else he could find.

The little lady spent most of her time exploring the sand.

Until she did this.

And I threw down the camera (the hubby picked it up) and I made this face.

And she made this face.

And of course she got very sad that I tried to take the sand from her mouth.

As soon as I got as much sand as I could out of her mouth she was shoveling handfuls of it back in there.

Yuck!

There is no way that sand tastes good.

Hopefully by the next time we make it down to the river she will learn that sand is not for eating.

We made it

Through the first day of school.

The day started off like any other. I first heard his little feet go pitter patter stomp stomp down the hall and then I was greeted with his smiling face.

I asked him if he remembered what today was and he thought really hard about it and exclaimed 'School.'

When it was time to get dressed he knew just what to wear. His green loud car shirt, basketball shoes and his tie.

Before I had time to really grasp what was happening we were in the car half way to school. My little man, my first born was going to school.

We found the right spot to hang his coat and backpack. He greeted his new teacher and washed his hand and found a seat for breakfast. I stayed and watched him eat. He was fine, but it was me that needed to stay. I wanted to stay all day but I knew I couldn't.

When it was time to get up from the table we walked around the room together looking for just the right spot to play. Then he spotted the basket with the cars and I knew it was time for me to leave. He gave me a kiss and I walked slowly to the door.

Deep down, well not too deep, I wanted him to cry for me or run after me or at least be a little sad that I was leaving. But he didn't. He just sat right down and played with the other kids. It not that I want him to be sad I just wanted him to need me. I did not cry as I walked up the stairs. I was happy for him.

It makes me happy to know that he can make it in the world with out me but it is also sad at the same time.

Tomorrow is day number two and I wounder what it has in store.

Young grasshopper

As I held you in my arms today I still felt like I was holding you as my little baby. When did you get so big?


Now it is time to let you go. You are off to your first day of school. I am full of so many emotions I dont know what one to pick.


I have butterflies in my stomach for you. It not because I am scared or nervous I think that it is because you are growing up so fast and there is nothing that I can do to stop it.



I think know that this is much harder for me than it is for you.



Have fun young grasshopper. I cant wait to hear about all that you did all by yourself.

Our trip to the mount

Since we were just a few miles (30 some) away from Mount St Helens we decided to take the drive.
Oh what a drive it was.
The 30 some miles of winding roads and the edge of the hill side on the other. It took us over an hour to make it up the steep hill side. Our truck had a half a tank of gas when we started the trek and we were on E as we came down. But it was worth it. The views were stunning.


When we got to windy pass it sure was windy (I guess that how it got its name).
There was also a large set of stairs that lead to the top of a of a look out.


Once we got up to the top we sat down and had a picnic.
To my amazement the little man walked all the way up AND down.


This was just day one of fun filled family vacation.
*My legs are still feeling the burn*

This moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. -Amanda Soule

Many pictures to come.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend.