Long long ago, in a galaxy far, far away. . .

Okay, it was really just last week, and the Galaxy far far away is probably the school playground. But, you could say we've been "star wars'ed." Our kids came home from their first days of school playing star wars. They knew every character, every plot line, the name of all the ships! This was strange because we've never seen the movies!

The icing on the cake was when Ethan came home from piano lessons and his assignment that week was the star wars theme song. You've never seen a happier boy, more eager to play the piano!!! We've been singing Star Wars for a week now. . .

With the excitement building around these movies at an alarming rate, we decided they were probably old enough to watch the movies. The boys counted down the day to Friday night for Episode IV for a week. We started with the originals, and had three movie nights while we watched the original trilogy. I was amazed at how much they already knew, and how much I didn't! I finally feel like I know the story, which is kind of fun. The boys are now supreme Star Wars fanatics!

I have a feeling it's going to be an intergalactic Halloween. . .

Could this possibly be a sign?

Could the fact that she is taking it apart possibly mean that maybe, just maybe, Emilee is getting to big to sleep in her bassinet? I mean really, she's only 7 months old. Her head only BARELY touches the top and her feet BARELY push on the bottom. So what if her brothers never slept in it for more than 3 weeks.
What's the big deal if she's never slept in her crib at night, even once. So what if we have made the family room her bedroom, right? Seven months old isn't too old, right?
It's not a big deal that she's practically sitting up in it so she can see what's going on in her bedroom, right?
Okay, Okay, I cave. Last night she slept in her crib for the first time since she was born. (at night - she has had an occasional nap in there) I was so worried about it waking Chandler up and such, but they did fine. We didn't put her in until Chandler was already asleep, so I wasn't worried about him climbing in with her either. I removed her at 4:30 after feeding her and put her back in the bassinet so that when Chan man woke up at 6 and flipped on the light it wouldn't wake her. We'll have to work on that one.

Milestones, milestones. . . at least she wasn't sleeping in a dresser drawer!!!

Mr. C

EVERY DAY Chandler and I have this conversation right around lunch time (that's second lunch, just in case you were wondering).
C - Wheeere Sheeshin? (where's Ethan?)
Me - Ethan's at School!
C - He doe an di Bu? (He go on the bus?)
Me - Yep, he went on the bus!
C - Eden doe an di bu too?
Me - Yep, Aidan went to school too! He rode the next bus.
C - (looking very disgruntled) Hummph. I nee doe an dat bu teuu. (I need to go on that bus too.)

He's just sure he's ready for school. All in good time, little guy. . .

And tonight. . .

He found this little snippet of paper that came out of a packaging tag and put it on Emilee's head and said she was "in a princess crown!" I thought it was pretty cute. It does vaguely resemble a tiny tiara. . .

I love you, Mr. C!

7 Months Old

Let's Do Lunch

Anybody hungry? Around here, chances are the answer is "yes!" Since Kindergarten began, it seems I have become a slave to the kitchen. Here's the daily routine. . .

7:00 - breakfast - also, pack a LUNCH for Ethan
10:30 - First LUNCH(For Aidan, who leaves on the 11:00 bus, and Chandler, who can't stand to have anyone eat alone)
12ish - LUNCH again (usually only for me)
2:30 - Second LUNCH (for the ravenous kids who just came home from school - and Chandler, who hasn't eaten since 10:30)
6:00 - dinner

As you can see, I make lunch no less than 4 times a day. I tried getting away with just a snack after school, but all I heard all afternoon was "we're hungry!" and then they'd eat granola bars, or something else that only held them off for an hour, then they were at it again.

If anybody has any yummy, nutritious, easy!, kid friendly meal ideas for my second lunch, I'd love to hear them. I'm getting bored with PB&J's, Quesadillias, Tuna. . .

And if you're hungry, come on over! Chances are some body's having lunch!

Out with the old. . .

I'm such a wuss. Ethan's two front teeth have started wiggling and I know I am going to miss his little grin full of baby teeth, even though they are starting to look like a picket fence because the spaces are getting so big. I'm sure I'll love his new big teeth (I know he will!), it's just one of those "end of an era" moments. . .

Sigh. . .

Sunday Afternoon

Home made checker boards.

Human totem poles.
Baby snuggles.

Story time.
The end.

Fall Fashion Show

Who doesn't love a new season? All the clothes you haven't worn for so long. . . and maybe some new ones? I just finished Emilee's new dress, and this one actually fits! Well, almost. It's perhaps a little boxy still, but she'll probably get to wear it here in a few weeks anyway. This one has smocking on the front and the back. She looks so sweet in it!

Smocking on the front
and the back
Fashion show!
Rolling down the catwalk. . .
And cute new tights with built in shoes to match. We are ready for fall! Love it!I love playing dress up with my dolly!

The Glorious Season of Fall

Oh fall! The leaves change. The snap in the air. Football! People hanging realistic corpses and shrunken heads from their trees. Yes, it's truly beautiful, isn't it? Come on people! What is wrong with this picture?

Tonight I walked into Fred Meyer with all four of my children to buy some yogurt to put in their lunches tomorrow. And there to greet us, by the customer service desk, was the ugliest, life size, green faced, animated, talking witch. Aidan (who is very sensitive, I admit) took one glance, heard the voice and literally hit the floor, curled up in a ball, put his hands over his head, and started screaming. Not yelling, or crying. Screaming. Like someone was going to I don't know what. I literally had to drag him halfway across the store (with the giant race car cart in tow with the other three kids) before I could even begin to console him and help him to understand. Fred Meyer is lucky there wasn't a puddle on the floor.

Why? Why does the world feel the need to scare children senseless? Last year when I was in LA at Halloween time, I was shocked to see in San Marino (a NICE neighborhood) dead bodies hanging from trees, corpses rising from the ground, ugly bloody heads greeting you at the gates. All extremely realistic. At Million dollar homes. Really? This makes you happy? When you look out your windows in the quiet of the evening and see the bloody body hanging from your tree you think, "oh how delightful!!! Ah yes, life is good!" I don't get it.

I talked to the manager at Freddy's tonight and told them I would be taking "what's on my list today" elsewhere until after Halloween unless the witch was moved into an appropriate Halloween related isle. He obliged and said it would be moved tonight. Thanks Freddy's. That was decent of you.

Don't get me wrong. I have always loved Halloween. I love the children at the door and passing out candy, and the cute kids in costumes, and eating the candy, and the excitement all around. I can even stand a little bit of "fun creepy" stuff like spider webs, your second grade teacher dressed as a witch with a wart on her nose. Whatever! But I would just like to say I think some people take it way too far. And unfortunately, the list of stores I can't walk into with Aidan until after Oct 31st just keeps getting longer. . .

Okay, I've ranted. . .

My little Peanut

We knew Emilee was smaller than her brothers, by a lot. By this age, all the boys were over 19 lbs, and right around the top of the growth charts. Emilee seems ot have a different plan. Today she weighed in at just 14.03 lbs at 6 1/2 months old. The 10th percentile. 10th!!! A 40% drop down the chart. Her height remains at 75th%, and her head at 10%, right on from where she's been from birth. So she's growing just right, she's just getting SKINNY!!! She gets to have her weight checked again next month to make sure she doesn't go down any more. What can I say! She's my peanut!

Missed it by one. . .

This post is for my sweetie, who is forever letting me know when we have reached a
new milestone of mileage on the Camry. "look hunny! 85,000!" "Ooo! It's 88,888" Or, equally as exciting, "Check it out! 92,929.2!" I love that guy. . .

Heaven Scent

and why I soon need a haircut. . .

Cinder-fella

First Day, Part 2

Today was Aidan's first day of Kinder! 12:00 just couldn't come fast enough this morning as he awaited his orientation. He was so excited!

Here he is with Mrs. Dalton, a real teddy bear of a teacher. There are only 16 children in his class. I have a feeling they're going to get along great!
And, she plays the Ukulele. So they sing a lot. It's so cute!
Aidan got to ride home with Ethan today on the Bus. Nothing could have thrilled him more! I dashed home to make sure I beat them so I could. . .
. . .take his picture of course! Great first day Aidan! It's going to be a great year!

First Day, Part 1

Today was Ethan's first day of Second Grade. It seems to have gone well and so far we are really liking his teacher! No Tom and Jerry on the first day this year, and an actual letter of introduction home for the parents! How novel! I think we've got the "Mrs. Leininger" of Hillsboro (according to parent reports), and I couldn't be more thrilled. Here are some first day pics. . .

Chandler is so excited the bus is coming! But so sad he's not getting on. . .
Ready to start the day!
Off you go little man! Learn something new today!

Deep Thoughts

It's the last day of summer break. The new chore charts are on the fridge. The clothes are laid out for tomorrow. Lunch is packed. We did all of our little back to school traditions tonight, including special family prayers. And then, Gordon sat on the bed with Ethan for a good 15 minutes talking about the ins and outs of 2nd grade. A good long father son chat about all the excitement to come, what to expect, etc.

As the discussion was winding down, Gordon asked Ethan, "Well, do you have any questions?"

Ethan's reply: "Yes. What do you do when you're on a submarine and you run out of air?"

Oh yes, tomorrow is going to be a great day. Happy Back to School!