Our Super Low-Key Fall Break

We kept things super low-key over fall break this year. Knowing that we're going on vacation for the whole week of Thanksgiving made us feel like we didn't have to go too crazy on planning things to do. 

I took the kids to the library, which is always a hit, and we spent the first few days of break just hanging out, reading, and playing with the neighbors. Nice and relaxing. By Sunday, though, the kids were ready to get away from the house. 

Rophone drove us up into the canyon on Sunday afternoon for a family hike. It was heavenly. One of my favorite activities with my favorite people. What could be better?

You can tell from that last photo of all the kids that we had a few low-blood-sugar sufferers at the end, there. Edith struggled a bit the whole time, saying when I asked her if she loved going on the hike, "I loved it, but I didn't enjoy it". We really had such a great time, though. But, yeah, definitely time to head home. 

Even though we made a conscious effort to keep things low-key over fall break, by the last day I was feeling guilty. Seeing all of the fun (and expensive!) things people were taking their kids to do (practically every waking moment during break, it seemed), I felt like maybe I was a bad mom. I was so afraid that my kids would go back to school the next day feeling gypped. 

But, I had promised Big that at some point during fall break we would work in the yard. So, feeling guilty that we weren't doing some fun and exciting activity that we can't afford, Big and I spent the whole morning of the last day of fall break working in the yard. I'm so glad we did.

As we were working Big said, "I can't believe I got to go on a hike AND work in the yard over fall break!" He was so happy about his good fortune. His grin was huge, his eyes were sparkling, he was absolutely beaming! All of my guilt dissipated. 

I know that not all kids get that excited about doing yard work, but I think we can get so caught up these days with unrealistic (and exhausting!) expectations of what we need to do in our free time, that we forget that it really can be so simple. I realized that if I always packed our free time with planned activities then that's what the kids would come to expect. If we didn't do them, they might think they had a "lame" vacation. 

No one is putting pressure on me but me (and what I see on social media), but what if the kids started pressuring me, too?! Yikes! That would be awful! I hereby declare that I will continue to force my children to use their imaginations to figure out how to fill their own time. We will participate in planned, fun activities, but infrequently enough that they remain special. I will continue to dedicate myself to keeping my kids' expectations low! 

That is my mission. Thanks for a fun fall break, kids!

Trikes and Hikes

It seems like we've been spending most of our time this fall going on hikes and tricycle rides. Pretty much perfect. We even got Rophone to join us for a few of our neighborhood tricycle rides and Edith was in heaven. Ginger and Big even came along once, too! Awesome. 

Edith was thrilled when her Halloween costume arrived. She wore it for about a week straight, until I made her take a break to let the sore spots made on her collarbone by the straps heal. 

For that whole week, we took Wonder Woman out to fly her invisible jet. It was such a blast watching her.

I tell you, Edith can be whining all day and then I take her on a tricycle ride and it's like this:

Riding her tricycle makes everything right in the world. You can tell. Until we get back home again, anyway. That's when we pull out the hot cocoa. :)

This girl just cracks me up.

We got to go on a hike with Grandma Gorilla and her dog, Sammy, one day. It was a lot of fun. 

What a blast. We've been having such a great fall so far!

The Baller

Big has been playing basketball again over the past month. I made this little side-by-side comparison picture the other day to show how nothing much has changed.

(I still can't believe that he could dribble and even get off the ground for a jump shot with good form like that when he was two.) Anyway, although it looks like nothing much has changed (except for the fall-away jump shot he's trying to add in this year), there really are a lot of things that are different-- even just since last season. 

Big really worked on his rebounding, scored more (most games he had double doubles), and tried really hard this season to pass to the younger kids so they could make a basket, too. So nice to watch him try to help his teammates. 

I am most amazed at Big's court sense. When one of his teammates is bringing the ball down the same side of the court that he's on, he instinctively moves to the weak side so as not to crowd his teammate and to be ready for the pass or to get the rebound. It's so fun to watch him play because of that. And he still has a blast playing, so that makes it fun to watch, too. 

So, I guess that the two things that really haven't changed is that he still has a natural ability and a love for the game-- the two most important things to have besides height (please be tall, please be tall…). 

I wasn't able to get great pictures of him playing this season, but I think I got a few I can share. 

Yes, that girl is super tall. 

A determined race for the rebound. He won the ball. 

Big made a shot at the buzzer in one of his games and then ran around the court with a huge grin on his face and his arms out wide in celebration. A dad from the opposing team was next to me and he asked, "Does he watch a lot of basketball?" I replied, "The games are usually on after he goes to bed so he just watches the highlights." The dad smiled as he watched Big and said, "Ah. That explains it." So funny. 

Big has his last game tonight and, I have to admit, it's kind of a relief. The short one-month seasons are just about perfect at this age, and I know I have another season to look forward to in the winter. I can hardly wait! We love watching you play, Big!

Sweet Sixteen! Wha??

I guess I'm not completely caught up yet. Last week, Pen turned 16!! Seriously, how can that be true?? Here's a little photo collage that I posted on Instagram to commemorate the occasion:

We haven't had her friend party yet, but I do have some pictures from our low-key family party. It was really pleasant and relaxing, actually. Pen opened two presents, each containing a certificate-- one for some money for clothes and another for tickets to see her favorite band in concert. You can tell from the photos that both made her pretty happy. I really loved watching her open them.

I made Pen a flourless chocolate cake to celebrate. Making a new recipe for a birthday always makes me a little nervous, but it turned out great. It was like eating the inside of a truffle. Not too gross, if you're into that sort of thing. :)

Okay, now here we go…

Success! The candles are all out and no hair caught on fire! Happy Birthday, Pen. We love you!