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What should we do while mom cooks dinner...

Before and After

So I am approaching 40.

Peri menopause has set in...I know from the hot flashes, not from the foul mood. There has been quite a bit of reflecting going on for me lately. Looking back, looking forward, looking at today. What have I done, have I done what I should (not always), do I do what I need to...why am I still going to school, why is this taking me so long. Am I a good mother, friend, wife, sister, daughter? Some days yes, some no. I feel a little muddled up. Where is the time going? Where are the sweet babies that were so little? They grow up so fast. Some days I am so sad and some days I want to celebrate. Is that normal even? Hm.

Here are some pictures that reflect what's been on my mind. If only digital photos went back further, but you know...Before and after...

October is here!

Biology has mama very busy and a little (a lot) stressed. But we still have some time for fun!

Miss Kate had her very first field trip to the apple orchard. We took a wagon hay ride, visited the chickens and horses, and had apples with her friends.

There may have been a little bit of pink hair dye one weekend...(Darker than expected, by the way, but it will wash out someday)

Then there was Halloween decorating. Rach was not as unhappy as she looks in this shot!

Fancy footwork Kate trying on her costume (Abby Cadaby)

And last but not least...Mr. October! Rachel's first snowman of the season last night. Katie says his name is Eddie.

Happy October!

A New Post for Mom

Oh, it's been quite a while. So long that my mom said she was worried that I don't have any good things happening anymore. See, I have so many important, interesting blog posts rattling around in my head and just have not taken the time to get them out. So I just avoid my blog and pop around from favorite blog to favorite blog looking for some inspiration. Kind of in a funk you could say. But! Here are some things making me smile these days...

Fall Soccer Games

First Day of Preschool
Mister Camel

Monkey on a Tire Swing

Sheep Love

Goat Friends

Pretty Giraffes

Upside Down Bird Faces

Climbing on Frogs

Swing so High I Touch the Sky!

Back to school

Yippee!! First day of 6th grade. This morning, my mom's club is having a back to school celebration for the moms! So far, so good. Rach was up at 530am to get a good breakfast, dress in her cool new school clothes (I was on the sewing machine hemming pants after they went to bed last night), and put on her shiny lipgloss(!)

Happy first day of school!!

So long summer!

Yesterday we sent summer out with a bang. The girls ran, climbed, slid and laughed for 8 hours straight. (Today Rach told me every bone in her body hurts) What a great way to say goodbye to summer vacation...

This was Katie snoozing while I made dinner. Bedtime was a breeze, and this morning went off without a hitch. As a matter of fact, as I type this at 7am, the littlest is still asleep. A very rare thing. Ahh...

Chasing Summer

Summer is fading fast. So many of the blogs I follow are talking about "chasing summer", and we are doing the same. Our days are spent with friends, visiting the farmers' market, playing outside, soaking in the toddler pool and running through the sprinkler. There are still a few things I want to do with these warm long days...

Here is a peek at the last few weeks around here:

Fun at the beach

Here was a rare (by rare, I mean the only one in about 3 years) day alone at the beach for mommy...

Reading with sissy

Mountain climbing. Really? Time to do some more baby proofing around here.

Baking the perfect sandwich bread. You can find the recipe here, my new favorite blog!

Tomorrow Rachel will have her end of summer bash. I will be sure to get out there and get some pictures of that! Then it's back to school for her and for me! And little Kate will start Montessori School in September. Wow.

Change is in the air.

Summer fun

Yesterday was a great day! Katie was a sweetie pie all day...whew. Before leaving, she got her baby dressed and packed up for the trip.

Then we met our friends Heather and Carter for some local blueberry picking in the morning. The orchard was loaded with beautiful juicy berries, and Kate had a blast helping me pick. Her baby was good too.

Blueberry picking was followed by some time in the toddler pool out on the patio, then lunch. After lunch, we picked a nice juicy tomato from our deck garden. Katie looked tentatively at me and asked if she could eat the big tomato. Why not? Yum...

Later, she decided to suit up in her tutu and "go to dance class." She was thrilled to take a car ride wearing only her tutu, diaper and crocs to deliver a treat to a friend.

Bedtime even went smoothly...what a relief. Now let's see if we can have a repeat of that today.

Oh! I finished my first real sewing project a few days ago. A little gym bag for Rachel (who is at her dad's for a couple of days). I hope she loves it as much as I do...

Overwhelmed

We have been back from Newport almost a week now. Still trying to dig out from the aftermath of packing/unpacking and such. So, I have had very few good things on my mind, even though they are still happening all the time. I hope to be back to posting and smiling again soon!