In no particular order

Well, it's been a funny week. I'm kind of in a bit of a funk which is strange because the weather has been nice and usually that's enough for me. I guess I haven't quite
adjusted to the changes that a new school year brings. I am longing for my summertime routine, which was really not a routine at all. I can't quite get my act together in
many ways. Zig's schedule picked up almost right in sync with the beginning of the academic year. This week we didn't see him once in the evening. He's taken on a new role which presents lots of new challenges...apparently he likes that. He won't be gone as much for too long. It was just a busy week with a deadline looming.

Fortunately, Sela is just loving school. She has a wonderful teacher and a calm classroom environment from what I hear. We were lucky to find a piano teacher one street over and the best part about it is she teaches before school! Perfect for the child who balks at having to drive somewhere after school. Sela expressed some interest in playing piano again, and I didn't give her much time to change her mind. I quickly called and got her lessons arranged. She's enjoyed it so far and practicing is going fairly well.

I've been trying to make progress on the house and dying for my kitchen table and orange chairs to come. It's late, of course. I was super excited to find this fabric I have been loving for the last year or so, but had never seen in person. I went into a shop in Seattle and they had chairs covered in the fabric. I brought a swatch home and it is perfect. A total love. The fabric is around $300 a yard which is nuts, but the colorways are something that is impossible to find elsewhere. I just happened to check on Etsy for this particular fabric and for some crazy reason someone was selling two pillows in the Shumacher dragon fabric for $90! I was so excited. I know I can't top Erin's thrift store and Craig's lists finds, but this was a find in it's own right and I felt happy after all this furniture shopping, I got a myself a little deal! We don't even have the sofa for them yet, but we have a drawing. Slow progress. Patience I do not have.



















This weekend we had a double baptism for Sela's good friend Kate, and another friend Sydney. It was very sweet. Sela went over to her primary teacher's house before the baptism and they made treats together to serve. She has such a wonderful and dedicated teacher. Such a blessing for a very important year.










































Not too much else going on to speak of. A back to school party at sela's school with bouncy houses and big slides. Rollin was way under the height limit for everything but we talked our way through it and he spent two hours charming older kids for cuts in line. He's a funny boy.

Nina is having a good time at preschool. But I have to be honest. Her preschool drive is killing me. I am having huge regrets about not putting her somewhere closer to my house. I hate the drive and it just destroys the day for me. This sounds harsh and whiney, and it is, but it's the way I feel. If I didn't love Mrs. Judy, we would not be doing it. I was up in the air about what I would do with Rollin next year, but these first few weeks have sealed the deal. It's a bit sad in a way because we do love Mrs. Judy and Rollin is crazy about the preschool, but I can't do it another year. Driving back and forth sucks the life and energy out of me like nothing else can.

We made lots of homemade playdough this week to keep them busy while I try and get a few things done in the morning. They have spent hours and hours playing with it. We even got a little fancy and scented them with some citrus oils I have. I have some major cleanup each day, but it's a small price to pay to have them occupied for a bit.








































We've enjoyed lots of comfort food this week (trying to get out of the funk I'm in) beginning with Lentil Sloppy Joes (one of my favorite meals!), tomato soup with white cheddar melts, Parmesan chicken, and Portobello Mushroom Ruebens YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today we are blessed with another gorgeous sunny day and the promise of a few more. That's something to be thankful for this time of year.

It's that time again!

We celebrated Zig's birthday this weekend. The weather was soggy, but we had a wonderful day. We had a late breakfast this morning. I made french toast with my favorite homemade oatmeal bread and then we went out for a late lunch. We all went shoe shopping for Sela but had no luck. This evening we just spent time together at home and had a simple dinner and then the birthday party! I made Zig a chocolate cake this morning. It didn't puff quite as much as I thought it would but it was still tasty. I had to replace the strawberries three times because Rollin couldn't keep his little paws off. He's so stealthy when it comes to swiping treats. Sela and Nina spent the morning sneaking around with shoe boxes and paper, string, and magazines. I found them hiding on the floor of the pantry hard at work.

The gifts were so adorable, and so funny. First Nina's. An adorable card with her signature family drawing of happy hand-holding stick people. Her second gift was her memory game with her preschool mates wrapped up for Dad. Funny. Sela made Zig a book all about dogs. She cut pictures of lots of dogs out of magazines and wrote a few words about each one. She spent a couple of hours on it. That was adorable. Then the next present was a folder. Zig said "oh, a folder. It's your folder, Sela." "No, it's my old folder from last year, Dad. It's for you to store all your special writings." And then there was the old tennis ball Sela had us all sign to give to Zig.

And that was his take for the evening. A card, a memory game with last years preschoolers, a book of dogs, an old folder, and an autographed tennis ball, and tons and tons of hugs. Gifts only a parent could appreciate, and he certainly did!

Quote of the Day

Nina: "Dad! Don't forget to tell everyone at work it's your motorcycle birthday party today!!!"

If you know Zig, you will find humor in this.

And No, there's no motorcycle. That I know of. The kids just asked him what kind of party he was having several days ago and he must have played along and said "motorcycle."

Tree house

Eric and Ben have been working very hard the past few weeks to get the treehouse done. It's turned out to be a much bigger project than I thought, of course. Somehow these projects grow in scope without my knowledge! It's like a guest house in the trees. I think there will be heat in it for winter and the porch that wraps around the whole treehouse is covered so the kids can enjoy it even in the rain. The kids are very excited to see the finished product!

Tucker Willis Park

We tried out a new park today about 15 minutes from our house. I picked Sela up from school and told the kids we were going on a special outing. We stopped for ice cream cones on the way, which alone was a huge deal to them. They told me how much they loved me and a million "thank yous" the whole ride to the park. It was pretty funny.

This park was fantastic! We didn't do too many park outings this summer because we were so content here at home, but it was over 80 degrees today and I had heard from friends that this park had lots of water spray toys. It turned out it had something for everyone. Sela and Nina loved the merry-go-round. You don't see those much anymore and I remember loving them as a kid. I remember Erin getting stitches on her chin from one wild ride at Lady Bird Park! Rollin did get drug around a few times and fell on his face, but he survived and figured the thing out eventually. They also had this rope climbing tower and Rollin almost went to the very top in an attempt to emulate Sela. Everywhere we go, people always ask me how old Rollin is because he is totally nuts. At St. Ed's yesterday, he jumped off this play structure and it was about 8 feet high. He landed on his feet and there was a collective gasp amongst the other parents. Anyway, at the rope tower, I was threatening him with anything I could think of to coax him down and when he got close to me, he jumped without warning and almost knocked me to the ground. We called it a day when the kids were sufficiently worn out, but I have a feeling we'll be back.

St. Edwards

I'm afraid to check the forecast for this coming week as we have been totally spoiled with two amazing weeks of sunny weather. It's been wonderful. We pick Sela up at the bus and she and Nina do not come back inside until dark, except for snacks of course. Sela hasn't brought any homework home yet, so it feels like there is still so much time for her to play and do her own thing afterschool.

On Friday I took Rollin and Nina over to St. Edwards to play at their great play area and do some hiking. Well, I guess the real reason I went was to eat lunch at the Bastyr cafeteria. I love that place. If I lived closer, I know I'd eat there several times a week. It's all vegetarian, but no matter what it is, it's always great and very fresh. Anyway, we had so much fun exploring. I let the kids lead the way. At one point, Nina just wanted to lay down together in the grass , so we did. And then Rollin wanted to take off in the Ranger's golf cart, so I hauled him off crying. But all in all it was a perfect afternoon. Zig is at some strategy meeting this weekend at Salish Lodge so on Sunday morning I took the kids back to St. Edwards before church. Sela felt she had missed out on the Friday outing. We did some more walking and hiking around and it was such a gorgeous morning. Rollin led us on a hike down to the water where he immediately got soaked and then wanted to run around naked because he was cold. Oh boy. Good thing little free spirits are very accepted around these parts. No one batted an eye.

Sela found some tree bark and made a couple of boats that she piled up with rocks and floated near the shore. Rollin fell asleep on the way home which got him very rested and WILD for church. My goodness, that boy! I crashed this afternoon and talked on the phone for two hours with Erin while the kids tried to get my attention. Bad mommy. She said they are doing a 2 hour block church pilot in several wards in Virgina. Ooooh, now if that doesn't sound like a great deal!! I could have used that today :)

Tree Huggers

There is a lovely little maple tree right outside our bedroom window and in some ways it reminds me of the story of "The Giving Tree." The kids have spent hours and hours in the tree hanging from it's branches, reading, writing, sketching and playing house. It's the perfect climbing tree for younger kids and there are plenty of little spots to perch and hang. Rollin gets in touch with his inner Tarzan and Nina has found her own lounging spot, just right for her size. With the tree also very close to my kitchen window, I mostly love that I can watch them hang and twirl and sometimes tumble as they explore their little corner of the world.