iMagiNe cReAtiVe nAme hERe

We are here, we are here, we are here!!!!

I'm still here! School just started, and I am trying to get into a routine now that my baby is in kindergarten (photo of my youngest three below...). I am hoping to get more of a regular blogging schedule down (don't laugh). I've been doing scads of reading and resting from our very busy summer. Soooo looking forward to my favorite AUTUMN!!!! Read: pumpkin ale, stews, apply yumminess....I could go on. Just love love love this season.

Anyone still reading out there??? Would love to hear from you!

(from l-r: Timothy 3rd; Frances 6th, & Lukas kindergarten -woohoo!)

field trip...

 

Last week I went with Lukas on a preschool field trip. It was the perfect day for it, and the farm & surroundings were really beautiful. The children got to meet and feed some of the animals which was a hoot!

   

Only a couple more weeks of preschool left! Kindergarten is looming and this mama is experiencing such mixed emotions about that.

 

::every day in February:: day 22: 'happy...'

Check it out!!! Our little 3rd grade knitting group and its teachers/adult volunteers that I've mentioned before (here & here) made 152 baby hats!!! I am in awe! Go knitters!!! The little hats are winging their way to the Save the Children Foundation and then to places where there are babies in need of them. Makes me so happy...

 

Oh, yes....

back to school 2009-2010
Originally uploaded by iMagiNe cReAtiVe nAme hERe

They're going back....woohoo!!!!!

the end...

The end of school is in sight! My kiddos have worked so hard this year, and I am so proud of them! As any parent knows the end of the school year can get rather hectic with concerts, parties, picnics, special presentations, etc. along with plans being made for next year. Whew! Our calendar is packed! I was delighted to find today free of a visit to the school so Lukas and I have been at home cleaning and doing laundry (oh, joy!). I am eagerly anticipating the more relaxed pace of summer.

Here are 10 things I'm looking forward to this summer:

1. sleeping in past 6 AM.
2. reading, reading, reading
3. eating fresh produce from our backyard garden and CSA farm
4. going to the pool with the kiddos
5. thunderstorms and days spent lounging inside reading, playing games, and napping
6. visits with faraway family & friends
7. trips to explore nature
8. fewer socks in the laundry
9. learning how to preserve our harvest (see #3)
10. buying new school supplies

Timothy's robot...

Timothy's robot
Originally uploaded by iMagiNe cReAtiVe nAme hERe.

I love this!! I am going to try to embroider it onto...hmmm...not sure yet! I traced it today and will be trying to figure out what I want to transfer it onto for stitching. I love how he mirror wrote his name too!

time...

Lukas (2) started preschool this week - hurray!I love this photo of himbecause it is sooo Lukas. He really was happy though...see? He has the same teacher that Timothy had when he was 2 which I love! He wore his new tiny black low Chucks and an old (but still serviceable) backpack and looked like such a BIG boy. Yes, he did cry a bit which tugs at my heart strings, but I believe this bit of time apart is good for both of us.  My older kiddos started school in August and are doing great. Timothy is now in kindergarten and looks so grown up in his school uniform (I love love love love school uniforms!!!). Frances started third, and Miss Lydia is in fourth. They all like their teachers and are fully back in the swing of the school routine. One of my goals for this school year is to become more proficient with my sewing machine and make a wearable garment. We'll see how that goes!

Our weather has been cooler this week which has me thinking of fall, my favorite season. Our backyard garden has done well, and I have a kitchen table filled with heirloom tomatoes that I need to turn into marinara sauce tomorrow. I love being in the kitchen in this type of weather (remember we don't have central air so summer heat makes my kitchen literally an oven). I need to bake some bread too. Happy times ahead! Tonight I'm using (hopefully!) all of our pear and cherry tomatoes to make a Jamie Oliver recipe. I need to make this one again (fantastic stuff!) soon to use my eggplants.

A...

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

.
First day! Lydia is a BIG third grader now and Frances is in second. Time flies!  Lydia is holding her new writing journal where she writes her stories (she tells us that she will be a published author one day and make lots of $$!). Frances is our social butterfly and was looking forward to making new friends today. It always cracks me up when she tells me that she has a new best friend but can't remember her name!

In honor of the beginning of school, I am going to attempt to blog through the alphabet. I always like reading these on other blogs so let's get going!

A is for...

• animals...I grew up with a Welsh Corgi named Duffy. He was the cutest thing! We got him as a puppy, and I remember he was afraid of thunder storms. I had the lovely job of policing the yard if you know what I mean, and oh, how I hated that job. I want to get a dog now. We already have two cats. Am I crazy?! 4 kids and a puppy?!?

• asparagus...is growing in my garden! We will be able to harvest it next spring for the first time. I've enjoyed watching this strange plant grow. I just finished reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and she has a lovely chapter devoted to asparagus. Great book by the way!  My favorite way to fix asparagus is to toss it whole with olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper and roast/broil until crispy and delicious.

• agua...(tricky, huh?) Water is our main beverage around here. This summer I purchased a SIGG water bottle at my local Wegmans and love it! We have finally broken the habit of buying plastic water bottles. My girls take a thermos of water in their lunches too.

• apple cider donuts...my favorite autumnal treat! Our local orchard makes and sells these sugary gems. I can't wait for fall weather and the first trip to the orchard. mmm...

Let the wild rumpus begin...

Today is Lydia's first day of kindergarten!!! She was a bit nervous at the bus stop (so was I!).DH and I followed the school bus to school like the geek parents that we are. I walked her to her class after she got off the bus. I did not cry...yet. :)

...Cinderella backpack and lunch box (they attach to each other! Isn't that cool?!)
...bye baby!

Today is also Frances' 4th birthday so I am on emotional overload. Lydia gave Frances a b-day present this morning before she left for school (a My Little Pony in pink rain gear). More on the b-day tomorrow. I need to go knit now to calm my nerves...