Field Trip

Today we took a field trip with Mae's class to Oxbow Farms (45 minutes outside of Seattle). The day was perfect - weather, kids, farmers, and entertainment. Despite there being no animals on the farm (instant entertainment for kids), the children were all highly entertained with Farmer Luke and Farmer Sarah and their wonderful world of magic beans, giant chard parade, pumpkin patch, plant tunnel, and apple picking.

This is the face of excitement.

Following Farmer Sarah to the next location but doesn't want to give up her apple.

Watching Farmer Sarah play leap frog over pumpkins.

Plant tunnel. Still won't let go of the apple.

Farmer Luke leading a rainbow chard parade.

Mae with Teacher Connie

Family Shot (sans Pearson)

Whitaker enjoying the sun on the farm.

My little pumpkin.

Enjoying a "tractor" ride.

Preparing for her role in Footloose.

Let's Get Ready...

for some football.

I have yet to point out a.k.a. "gripe" that we are knee deep in football season. My gripe isn't with the actual game. I enjoy a cold beer at a bar with friends while enjoying a game or two (less a reality with two kids). However, with the creation of Fantasy Football, football has taken on a whole new meaning (at least in this household). Sunday is devoted to not only watching football on TV but also constantly checking a phone or computer for player stats ALL day. Enough gripe.

I thought I would share with you what does make Sunday great - my irresistibly cute "Bear." As you can also tell from the photos we got out the exosaucer recently and he is hard at "work" everyday.

Cheering for his team.

f

Every Thursday for a Year (Week 20)

Just like Christmas

Remember that feeling you got the morning before Christmas. The anticipation. The wonder. The excitement. The mystery. The hope that THE gift that you asked Santa, agonized and lusted over for the last year would be under the tree for you the next morning.

The adult day version of that for ME has happened. I have begged for a new computer for the last year. I have anticipated coming home and being able to download all the music I wanted, post pictures of my adorable kids, and email folks on my very OWN computer. This past Sunday, Christmas happened. I walked into the Mac store while in Portland and walked home with a computer in hand. And when I unwrapped it on Sunday night at home, it was like opening my first Cabbage Patch Kid.

Folks, it is the little things.

**This dream would not have been possible without the generous and kind donation of my husband, Pearson F. Cummings, LLC.

Every Thursday for a Year (Week 19)

I Wish For

Last night I told Pearson that I wished for more hours in the day. I also - without realizing - repeated the same thing to a friend this morning while running. All this repeating about wishing for more hours in the day, made me think that there were many other things that I wished for on a daily basis. So here is my wish list: (This list does not include big things that I wish for, such as world peace and ending world hunger)

• Read the newspaper and not get all my news from Facebook


• Have more patience with my children, husband, and dog


• Be able to enjoy my time with my children without trying to clean up the house and their toys


• Own a full size washer and dryer (I think that I have said this onebefore)


• Be romanced (and more importantly accept romance)


• Have a playroom in my house


• Live closer to my family


• Have a limitless budget and time to travel


• Be able to eat french fries for every meal and not gain an insane amount of weight


• Get 4 hours of sleep and still kick some butt all day (goes hand in hand with more hours in the day)


• NOT enjoy TV as much as I do


• Get a new couch (can actually afford one just don't see the point considering Whitaker throws up all the time)


• Be a great friend, who always remembers to send birthday cards and give gifts "just because."


• Savor every minute I spend with my two little favorite people in the whole wide world [Mae and Whitaker]


• Have a clean kitchen despite cooking three meals a day and two snacks in it

I am sure that I have many, many more trivial wishes but this is the short list for day.

Trying To Get Back on Track

Heather, my sister, pointed out today that I haven't posted on the blog in quite awhile. To which I said, "I posted recently." To which she said, "You just posted saying that you haven't posted, which isn't really posting." Fair point.

In fact, I have started many posts - one about Mae starting preschool, Whitaker's 4 month letter, and my girls weekend - but can't seem to wrap them up (I promise I will finish them). One thing that I have failed to write about is that I have FINALLY seen the benefit of siblings and having kids this close together.

Mae has always been luke warm about her brother but recently she has started to gravitate towards Whitaker. Whitaker has always adored Mae. He tracks her with his eyes for most of the day and now he reaches out to grab her. She can now make him laugh more than either Pearson or I. She insists on giving him a kiss and hug before naptime and bedtime. She even goes over and tries to play with him throughout the day. It is never gentle play but he never seems to mind and loves, loves her attention.

Here are some recent photos of the two of them together. They are becoming quite the pair. He also is about to be her size.

I love how Whitaker is looking at Mae.