First Snow

This was the view that greeted me when I looked out my bedroom window this morning:

Here are a few shots out the front:

I knew it was supposed to snow, but never expected this much accumulation. Usually the first snow of the season is a slight dusting that melts within hours, so I was a bit surprised by what I saw. I love this kind of snow-- it stays around just long enough to enjoy briefly, and then melts before it has time to get brown and grungy. Perfectly beautiful.

Books Always Welcome

When I see things like this my heart just melts. Ginger is such a good big sister to read to her brothers (especially since Big wants to read his new book about 50 times a day!). Big loves to look at the picture of the "dun-nut" (dump truck) the very best. 

I think that reading is super important, so I'm grateful that my kids all love it. I try to take the kids for regular visits to the library, and will always make room in the budget for some new books, too. Growing up in Oregon, I often struggled to find something (anything!) to read while it rained. It's not that my folks didn't have books, just not enough to last the number of rainy days. 

So, I will always try to make sure my kids are able to find something to read if they want. Especially if it allows me to come into a room to find scenes like the one pictured. It makes me happy. Books will always be welcome here.  

Older Than He Looks

Apparently Big is older than he looks.

A while back, I taught Big to hold up one finger and say he is "1". That lasted about 2 days. Obviously, based on his current behavior, he feels that I was in error and have no idea what I was talking about (just for the record, he turned 17 months old today). 

Now, when I ask him how old he his he says, "Eight!" When I question his honesty and ask him to tell me the truth he says, "Ten!" (He used to say "six" followed by "three"-- I guess he's aged since then).

His inflated age may be in his imagination, but his large size sure isn't! He is remaining true to his "Big" name-- as was illustrated today when I struggled to fasten his size 2T pants while he yelled "Tight! Too tight!" 

(Okay, I'm not practicing some form of baby torture by putting him in skinny jeans or anything-- they were fresh out of the wash and just needed to stretch a little. But, I know, really! Size 2T! Pretty soon he'll be wearing size 3 with a six inch cuff!) 

Big isn't my only child to suffer from delusions of age or maturity level. I'm reminded of a conversation I had with Pen right after she was accepted into preschool (she was not quite 4 years old).

Me: "Aren't you sooo excited to go to preschool Pen?"

Pen: (after a pause) "Yeah."

Me: "What's wrong? You seem really nervous. You'll have a great time, you know."

Pen: (with a little dismay) "Well, I just don't know what I'm going to teach the children."

Me: (after a shocked pause) "Ummm, don't you know that you are one of the children? You're not going to be a teacher there!"

Pen: "What?! Oh, okay. Then I'm excited."

I still find this conversation amazing. I knew at the time that she didn't really believe me when I told her she was one of the children, but I think she was so relieved that she wouldn't have to teach that she went along with it. She's still just "going along with it", I can tell.

Disgruntled

I have been feeling a bit like a disgruntled employee lately. My hard work is going completely unrecognized! I have been suggesting some changes that could be made in the workplace to make my job more enjoyable and to make my tasks easier to complete, but to no avail!

I have been trying to convince my child employers to expand their own job titles and descriptions to help alleviate some of the backlog of work, but my pleas are either ignored or answered with an outright, "No!"

They'd better give me a BIG Christmas bonus!

Too Cool

"Hey, what up?! I'm starting a hip-hop group-- anyone wanna be part of my posse?"

Lovely Fall

Today we experienced what I consider to be some great fall weather. We had a little bit of everything-- rain, wind, clouds, sun, all with a slight nip in the air. Going out to enjoy it for a while was a must.

Big loves being outside:

Bud, looking nervous (he knew I was about to discover he was covered with berry juice from a neighbor's bush):

Ginger, having a great time:

I know this picture's blurry, but I just had to post it. Check out the look on her face:

I love this time of year-- sunburn is less of a worry, the temperatures are cooler (but not too cold yet) so the kids can stay out for longer without getting overheated, the air is crisp, the leaves are turning, I can wear shoes without feeling like my feet are going to overheat and pop like sausages.... As I do every year, I happily say good riddance to summer and welcome all that the lovely fall season has to bring (I can eat soup!). 

Pen's 10!!!

Today is Pen's birthday. I can't believe she's 10! I made her requested dinner (potato chowder, cornbread muffins, green salad), and dessert (chocolate cake, frosted with chocolate pudding). 

I thought the chocolate cake frosted with pudding was too brown-blobish, so I bought some strawberry marshmallows Pen has been wanting to try, sliced them up and fancied up the cake a bit. I don't think it turned out too bad:

  

Here's Pen opening her first gift:

Thanks, Auntie Art!

Opening the necklace Bud and Big picked out:

Happy Birthday, Pen! 

Blowing out the candles in 2 tries:

Big sure does make a cute gift!

Thanks to all who came to help celebrate! We love you, Pen!