Cabin Fever

"Lemme 'splain": It rained for 4 days in a row here in town. Very welcome, considering the drought, but it's hard to stay in for 4 days with 2 kids...especially when I am one of those weird homeschool moms. I am with my kids ALL DAY LONG.  We all had the "fever", and Daddy time at the end of the day was so fun because Ryan would be silly with the girls and help them get some energy out and I just got to sit and stare at the wall Goldie Hawn-style in Overboard "bah bah bah bah....". This is the game that Ryan and Kate made up one day and played again recently. It looks cruel, but she actually thinks it's as hilarious as we do. I swear.

In preparation for the Game. 

GO TIGERS!

First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Kate's first day of kindergarten! She was so excited to get started, genuinely excited, which made my job much easier. It took all of an hour, and that was doing extra stuff because she wanted to keep working. I am not sure if we'll ever know why God called us to make this choice for Kate and our family and I plan on taking it day by day. But homeschooling, especially for someone who adamantly and passionately knew I was never ever the homeschool type of mom, is not as scary as I always thought it sounded.  But I think you can see in her face a little bit of "mmm, yeah, mom. choosing to obey with a happy heart here, okay?" 

First Day of School. No, Daddy, we did not learn black and white. We learned that God made the light and darkness.

"ooo, piity" in Kate's dance recital costume.

And one more thing God uses to humble me: I was so proud of myself today sticking to the timeframes of homeschool and spending time with both girls. I even ran on the treadmill, got a shower, folded a load of clothes and made supper (and I mean made it, not just heated it up).  But while I was cooking, I put the water on to boil and thought "man, there must be something in the eye on the stove that is burning." It burned my nostrils. Smelled foul, then putrid, then noxious fumes began to permeate the air in the kitchen, quickly overpowering the yummy smell of "made" food.  I realized I turned on the wrong eye of the stove. So instead of the water boiling, the dense plastic funnel for my stand mixer was baking onto the stove and dripping down into the eye.  I had to open all windows, send Kate outside to play (so as not to inhale the noxious-ness) and close all doors to bedrooms. Just a reminder that I'll never really have it all together....nor do I need to.

You better believe I'm still going to use it! Just check any loaves of bread I bring you for stringy pieces of plastic...

Happy Burns Day!

August 11 is our anniversary and also Kate's birthday. My friend Mary lovingly dubbed it Burns Day a few years ago, and that is definitely what it has become. What's really sweet is Kate is old enough to know it's not just her day and voluntarily wishes us happy anniversary. We've been married 7 years now, and Kate was born on our 2nd anniversary. One funny story: I was in labor at 12 midnight at our apartment and we decide to exchange gifts before heading to the hospital. I had gotten Ryan a snazzy walking/hiking pole for all the excursions he was planning after the birth of our child, and I received a 20 degree mummy sleeping bag. Nothing said love like denying what phase of life we were entering and ignoring the fact that I weighed over 200 pounds. He (and I) have both come a long way...

Kate had 8 little friends over for a luau, which was a glorified playdate outside in the baby pools with cupcakes. Last year was so hot, so we thought pools would be perfect...it was too chilly for them and we ended up watching a movie given by the Fuller girls and playing dress up. With leis, of course. Then family came over after dinner for brownies and ice cream. It was a fun day! 

 

Our first anniversary, and Belle. 

Kate's Birth Day. I am amazed at what we've been a part of in her little life.

Pumped about her party!

Little people shoes - thanks for the idea, Greta!

Enjoying cupcakes and snacks.

Clara Mozingo gave a matching dress to Kate - and they were twins all day!

Happy Birthday Kate!